Chapter 172: Chapter 110: First Head-on Confrontation with a Mortal Transformation Expert; Breakthrough to the Bone Tempering Realm; The Cries Outside Seven Stars Castle...
HUMMM—
A low thrum seemed to resonate from within his body.
It wasn’t a real sound, but a vibration at the very level of his existence.
Under the assault of his surging vitality, the tough bottleneck shattered!
In that instant, the flow of vitality through Chu Fan’s body accelerated several times over, creating a rushing sound like a roaring river!
A feeling of power, many times greater than before, welled up from deep within him, instantly flooding every inch of his muscles and every one of his bones!
His five senses sharpened once again, and he could "see" all 206 of his bones undergoing a wondrous transformation as they were scoured and nourished by his surging vitality—
Their density increased, their structure optimized, and their surfaces seemed to gain a faint metallic sheen, growing tougher and more compact!
A solid feeling of a "firmly established foundation" arose spontaneously.
His Vajra Undying Body had actually started to grow stronger again!
This was the Bone Tempering Realm...
The five stages of Foundation Establishment: the Blood Nourishing Realm, the Blood Refining Realm, the Bone Marrow Forging Realm, the Bone Tempering Realm, and Entering the Realm of Strength.
Once the Bone Tempering Realm was achieved, the body’s foundation advanced once more. The toughness of one’s bones directly affected their strength limit, their physical endurance, and how smoothly they could transition into the subsequent stage, Entering the Realm of Strength.
Chu Fan’s eyes snapped open, a sharp glint flashing within them like lightning in the dead of night before vanishing.
He subconsciously clenched his fist, and his knuckles let out a crisp CRACKLE.
A formidable power gathered in his fist.
He stood up and walked out into the courtyard, taking stock of the changes in his body.
He walked up to the large stones outside the courtyard and began to punch them, one after another.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
The loud impacts echoed ceaselessly.
He was actually sending the large stones tumbling with his strikes!
’Not only has my strength exploded, but my coordination, flexibility, and even my five senses are much sharper...’
A look of joy appeared in Chu Fan’s eyes as he felt his newfound strength.
The sluggishness and feeling of powerlessness he’d experienced due to the difference in their Realms when he fought Duan Tianhong had now largely dissipated.
Although the gap in their Primordial Qi was still a chasm, he had at least taken another solid step forward on the path of Foundation Establishment, closing the distance to Mortal Transformation just a little.
The exhilaration of breaking through the bottleneck and ascending to a higher level of existence welled up in his heart.
It was like toiling long and hard in the fields only to finally see a bountiful harvest; all his efforts and risks were now paying off...
Chu Fan looked up at the radiant morning sky, his heart filled with vitality and hope.
His next goal was the final stage of Foundation Establishment—Entering the Realm of Strength!
Just then, Zhao Tianxing returned with Li Xingxuan.
In the past, Li Xingxuan would always avoid Chu Fan, but today, for the first time ever, he approached him proactively.
"Well, look what we have here! An honored guest!" Chu Fan smiled.
"Hmph!" Li Xingxuan snorted. "I just heard you gave my sister a rare Treasure Plant, so I came over specifically to thank you."
"Thank me... by coming empty-handed?" Chu Fan raised an eyebrow.
Li Xingxuan immediately rolled his eyes.
Chu Fan chuckled and said, "Just kidding... Young Master Xuan, how much do you know about Duan Tianhong?"
"Huh?" Li Xingxuan was taken aback. "Why are you asking about that show-off?"
Chu Fan said, "I actually want to know what the specific Cultivation Realms of Senior Sister Qingxue and Duan Tianhong are."
"I’d only heard they were both at the Mortal Transformation stage, but I don’t know anything about the Realms that come after."
"Hmph!" Li Xingxuan snorted. "Still dawdling in the five stages of Foundation Establishment, and you’re already thinking about the Realms after Mortal Transformation?"
"But you’ve definitely come to the right person!"
"Once you break through the five stages of Foundation Establishment, you achieve Mortal Transformation. The stages after are poetically called the Ninefold Celestial Palace and the Circulation Secret Treasure! In simple terms, there are nine realms, and each realm is divided into five heavens..."
"That Duan Tianhong and the various gang Hall Masters are mostly in the first realm, the Spirit Awakening Realm."
"My sister is at the Fifth Heaven of the Spirit Awakening Realm, her strength far surpassing Duan Tianhong’s. That scoundrel is merely at the First Heaven of the Spirit Awakening Realm."
’First Heaven of the Spirit Awakening Realm?’ Chu Fan mused, rubbing his chin.
’So that’s the lowest level after Mortal Transformation?’
There was truly an unimaginable gap between a Martial Artist who hadn’t broken through the five stages of Foundation Establishment and someone who had achieved Mortal Transformation.
Last night, he had played all his bottom cards and even used a Provocation Technique to make Duan Tianhong abandon his weapon and fight with his bare hands, yet he still hadn’t gained much of an advantage.
And that was with Duan Tianhong still recovering from serious injuries...
But then again—
’If Duan Tianhong hadn’t been wearing his Inner Armor, specifically that Iron Crotch, I probably would have beaten him half to death last night!’
’Especially that kick...’
’Without that Iron Crotch, wouldn’t that have crippled him?’
Chu Fan narrowed his eyes. "Young Master Xuan, do you know about Duan Tianhong’s Iron Crotch?"
"You know about that?!" Li Xingxuan was astonished. "Not many people know about this. How did you find out?"
"I just heard it from someone," Chu Fan said. "I was just wondering what kind of person would wear an Iron Crotch..."
"It’s all because of my sister," Li Xingxuan said calmly. "That scoundrel was always posturing in front of my sister. He wouldn’t learn his lesson even after she beat him up a few times. Finally, he really pissed her off, and she nearly crippled him with one kick..."
"After that, he started wearing the Iron Crotch—ahem, it’s an awful name, but it’s really just a piece of Inner Armor."
"You absolutely must not spread this around. If he finds out, he’ll definitely go crazy!"
HISS! Zhao Tianxing, who was standing to the side, sucked in a sharp breath.
Duan Tianhong wore an Iron Crotch because of Senior Sister Qingxue... Chu Fan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
’That scoundrel was trying to protect himself from Senior Sister Qingxue, but by a twist of fate, he ended up protecting himself from me!’
’If it weren’t for that Iron Crotch, that kick last night... Even if it hadn’t killed Duan Tianhong, it would have taken a layer of his skin off!’
...
An incense stick’s time later, the North City Gate of Cyan Yang City slowly closed behind them, like a great beast shutting its maw, cutting them off from the clamor and lights of the city within.
Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing, longbows slung over their backs, stepped onto the main road leading to White Tiger Mountain.
The distance of over a hundred li was not considered far for two skilled martial artists, but they didn’t rush, wanting to preserve their strength.
By the time the first stars appeared and the moonlight struggled to pierce the thin clouds, a massive, shadowy silhouette that seemed to swallow the light appeared at the edge of their vision.
They had arrived at White Tiger Mountain.
Before they had even drawn near, a cool air, mixed with the scent of decaying leaves, damp earth, and unknown plants, drifted over to greet them.
