Chapter 56: Breakthrough
Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Breakthrough
Chen Li’s Heart Spirit sank into his Inner World.
Inside his body, what was once dark and silent began to blossom with specks of light as one Profound Acupoint after another was forced open.
The points of light grew more numerous and dense.
The joints of his limbs, the great dragon of his spine, his internal organs, and even the very tips of his hair... Countless Profound Acupoints—large and small, bright and dim—were pierced and illuminated one by one by the vast Inner Qi.
Each illuminated Profound Acupoint was like a miniature Dantian, beginning to spontaneously generate a suction force that devoured the surging Inner Qi.
OMM...
After an unknown amount of time, the final, hidden Profound Acupoint was completely forced open and lit up.
The three hundred and sixty-five Profound Acupoints throughout Chen Li’s body trembled lightly in unison, producing an inaudible yet perfectly harmonious resonance.
The immense Inner Qi that had filled his meridians was rapidly diverted and absorbed into these three hundred and sixty-five Profound Acupoints.
Three hundred and sixty-five Profound Acupoints, corresponding to the number of a full Circulation.
The inside of his body seemed to have transformed into a boundless, cosmic starscape.
Dazzling stars reflected one another, their light flowing between them to form a mysterious and vast stellar map within his body.
The flow of his Inner Qi also underwent a fundamental change.
With a mere flicker of his will, Inner Qi could now erupt from any Profound Acupoint instantly, moving as easily as his own limbs, without the slightest obstruction.
It no longer needed to be mobilized from the Dantian. The Inner Qi flowed faster and stronger, even giving off a sense of being endless and perfectly smooth.
The Second Level of the Spirit Realm, the Profound Acupoint Pass: Complete!
Chen Li opened his eyes.
He let out a long breath of turbid air. The breath condensed like a bolt of white silk, lingering for a long time before dissipating.
’The Profound Acupoints are open, and the stellar Circulation is formed.’
A satisfied smile graced the corners of Chen Li’s lips.
At the same time, the system’s notification sounded again.
[Congratulations, Host, for breaking through the Profound Acupoint Pass, the Second Level of the Spirit Realm. Reward Issued: Qiankun Ruyi Staff.]
As the system’s voice faded, a stream of information flooded Chen Li’s mind, and the phantom image of a dark, heavy staff appeared in his Heart Spirit.
’A weapon?’
Chen Li paused, then examined the description closely.
Qiankun Ruyi Staff: A Divine Weapon forged by Emperor Yu, possessing the power to shake mountains, sunder peaks, overturn rivers, and drain seas.
He extracted the staff from the system. It had a golden ring at each end, with a section of Black Iron in the middle engraved with dragon patterns and phoenix seal script.
The body of the staff looked simple and unadorned, yet it exuded a profound weight capable of suppressing mountains and rivers, along with an ancient, eternal Dao rhythm.
"What a treasure!"
Chen Li was overjoyed.
The staff he currently used had also cost him a great deal of effort back in the day.
He had waited for months before the blacksmith found a piece of Profound Iron to forge into it.
It could shatter ordinary swords and sabers with a single blow and could be considered a Divine Weapon in its own right.
But compared to this Qiankun Ruyi Staff, the difference was like that between the clouds and the mud.
With a slight shift in his thoughts, the True Intent of Qiankun Qi Wandering Dragon Staff trembled gently in his Divine Sense, and the Inner Qi from the three hundred and sixty-five Profound Acupoints in his body began to flow naturally, as if he had already formed a mystical connection with the Divine Weapon in his hand, giving rise to a feeling of wielding it as an extension of his own body, with perfect, effortless control.
...
「The next day.」
Chen Li went to find his eldest son, Shouheng.
"Father, I’ve broken through to Blood Refining."
Chen Shouheng told his father the news as soon as he saw him.
After a year back home, his eldest son had become much more composed.
Ever since his budding youthful infatuation had been brutally crushed, he had been depressed for a while, lacking interest in everything he did.
Youthful crushes are a path everyone must walk.
One only matures after experiencing more of life.
The last time he’d seen Mu Yuanying, Chen Li had offered to arrange a marriage for him, but Shouheng had only said he wanted to find someone he truly liked himself.
Later, after the incident with Linglong, seeing him so downcast, Chen Li had asked again, but was rebuffed each time.
So Chen Li had let him be.
It seemed now that he had finally moved on.
Chen Li handed him a Dragon Blood Bodhi Heart. "This medicine will be of great benefit to your Blood Refining. Refining it might be painful, but you should be able to endure it."
"Father, what is this?"
Staring at the fruit in his hand, which radiated a scorching aura, Chen Shouheng knew at a glance it was no ordinary item and couldn’t help but ask.
"Just take it."
Chen Li didn’t elaborate.
Shouheng had already accepted in his heart that his father was a hidden Martial Dao master, so he was no longer surprised by any treasure he produced.
Seeing that his father wouldn’t say, he didn’t press the matter.
He immediately sat down cross-legged and carefully placed the dark red fruit pulp in his mouth.
Unlike when Chen Li had taken it, Shouheng’s experience was far more agonizing.
His skin instantly turned crimson as countless tiny blood vessels bulged and writhed. It was as if he was about to explode from the force.
Waves of excruciating pain washed over him, and his consciousness was nearly drowned by the agony and the berserk will within the dragon’s blood.
It took a full two hours.
Chen Shouheng had finally digested most of the dragon blood essence.
The searing pain that felt like it was forging his body and soul slowly receded like a tide. His closed eyelids trembled a few times, and he finally struggled to open them.
CRACKLE...
A faint yet powerful sound of cracking bones emanated from his knuckles.
"So strong!"
Feeling the unprecedented, immense power surging through the fibers of his muscles, Chen Shouheng couldn’t help but be amazed.
"Hiss! I’m about to reach the Third Stage of Blood Refining, Great Success!"
He couldn’t help but cry out in shock, sucking in a sharp breath.
The four stages of Blood Refining are Entry-level, Minor Achievement, Great Success, and Perfection.
The First Realm Blood Strengthening: Bone marrow produces blood, increasing the total volume and strength of one’s qi and blood.
The Second Realm Blood Tempering: Qi and blood are concentrated and condensed until firm.
The Third Realm Blood Activation: Vitality is stimulated, forming a torrent of qi and blood.
The Fourth Stage, Divine Treasure: Qi and blood begin to merge with the spirit, reaching the Peak of External Cultivation in preparation for Blood and Qi Cultivation.
Realizing this might be one of the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures he’d never even seen before, Chen Shouheng’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. He chuckled slyly and said, "Father, are there any more of these precious herbs? How about giving me another one?"
Chen Li laughed and cursed, ’This little rascal really hasn’t changed a bit.’ "Don’t be so greedy. To be able to take even one of a treasure like this is a massive stroke of luck. And you want another?"
"What a shame!" Chen Shouheng sighed dramatically, a forlorn look on his young face. "I was just thinking of saving one for my little brother."
...
After breaking through to Blood Refining, Shouheng returned to the martial arts hall.
He mainly went back to ask his master for more knowledge about the Blood Refining Realm and to further hone his Tiger Subduing Fist, hoping to develop Fist Intent as soon as possible.
After his eldest son left, the burdens on Chen Li’s household became much heavier.
Fortunately, most of the work was already being done by hired hands, so he didn’t have to do it all himself.
What surprised Chen Li was that in August, Liu Yun was pregnant again.
Originally, Chen Li had wanted her to rest for two years to properly recuperate.
Therefore, he had been carefully calculating the timing on many occasions.
But perhaps it was because she was worried that her firstborn was a daughter, or perhaps it was because women who have just given birth are particularly fertile.
During that time, Liu Yun had been exceptionally clingy with Chen Li.
From time to time, she would even try some new tricks that left Chen Li unable to resist.
Because the interval was too short, and she was still nursing.
Worried that the pregnancy would harm Liu Yun’s body, Chen Li had the kitchen helper make her chicken soup stewed with deeply nourishing medicinal herbs like ginseng and astragalus every day.
But every time Chen Li checked her pulse, he could still feel a faint, almost imperceptible weakness deep within it—a sign that her Primordial Qi was severely damaged.
"Your qi and blood are still weak and unstable."
Chen Li released her wrist and frowned, instructing her to eat more and not be picky about her food.
"I understand." Liu Yun’s eyes grew warm, and her voice was soft and weak. "It’s just... I’ve been feeling anxious lately, and my appetite isn’t good. I can’t stand the smell of greasy food."
She was well aware of her own body’s condition, and she knew Chen Li treated her very well.
It was just that in this world, as a concubine, her heart could only be truly at peace if she could give birth to a son.