The Pill Sect's Body Tempering and Surging Undercurrents

The Seven Stars Sect's mountain gate was hidden between peaks shrouded in mist. The vermilion gate was inscribed with the characters "Seven Stars," exuding an ancient and solemn aura. As Ji Rushuang led Chen Fan and Lin Xiaohu through the gate, the disciples on duty were shocked to see Zhou Daoyuan tied to a spirit beast carriage. However, none dared to ask any questions – Ji Rushuang was the Sect Master's personal disciple and held the ledger containing evidence of his crimes. She had already used a Communication Talisman to report the entire sequence of events.

"Brother Chen, although our sect primarily focuses on immortal cultivation, the Sect Master has always been open-minded and won't look down on you for being a martial artist," Ji Rushuang explained as they walked, her fingertip tracing the spirit herb garden by the roadside. "The Pill Room is ahead. I'll take you to see the Sect Master first, and then I'll arrange your accommodation."

Lin Xiaohu stared curiously at disciples flying past on their swords in the air and whispered to Chen Fan, "Brother Fan, everyone here can fly. It's amazing." Chen Fan patted his shoulder, but his gaze fell on the distant training grounds – several immortal cultivators were sparring with spells. Fireballs condensed from spiritual energy clashed with ice arrows, creating a tremendous spectacle. Yet, he keenly sensed that while the spells were flashy, they lacked the raw, physical power of the Martial Path.

Inside the Sect Master's grand hall, Chu Xinghe, the Sect Master of the Seven Stars Sect, sat on a rosewood chair. His hair and beard were white, but his complexion was ruddy, and spiritual energy flowed around him as naturally as water. It was clear at a glance that he was a peak expert at the Nascent Soul Realm. When he saw Chen Fan, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes: "A martial artist at the Grandmaster Realm, yet his physical body and Blood Essence are so robust. That's quite rare."

Ji Rushuang presented the ledger. Chu Xinghe perused it for a moment, his expression gradually darkening. "Zhou Daoyuan, that unfilial disciple, colluded with Black Wind Stronghold to embezzle spirit herbs. If not for young friend Chen exposing him, who knows how much longer he would have harmed the sect." He looked at Chen Fan, his tone gentle, "You saved Ruoshuang and eliminated a traitor for the sect. Ask for any reward you desire."

Chen Fan cupped his hands. "This junior only seeks a quiet place to cultivate. I would be immensely grateful if I could use your sect's elixirs to aid in Body Tempering." He recalled the records in the Martial Path Elixir Scripture: if a martial artist could temper their physical body with spiritual energy elixirs, they could accelerate the breaking of the Mortal Body Shackles. This was crucial for him to break through to the Martial Venerable Realm.

A look of approval flashed in Chu Xinghe's eyes. "A pragmatic young man indeed. Ruoshuang, allocate the quiet room in the West Courtyard to young friend Chen. The Pill Room will provide them with ten Body Tempering Pills each month." He paused and added, "However, the Xianyun Sect and our sect have had friction in the past. Given your special status, try to avoid going out for the time being, lest you attract trouble."

In the following days, Chen Fan dedicated himself to cultivation in the quiet room of the West Courtyard. The Body Tempering Pills Ji Rushuang sent were pale gold and dissolved upon entering his mouth. The medicinal power flowed down his throat into his dantian, merging with his internal True Energy and transforming into a warm current that permeated his limbs and bones. He circulated his True Energy according to the methods of the Martial Path Elixir Scripture, guiding the medicinal power into his bones and meridians. With each circulation, he could feel his physical strength slowly increasing. The lingering stagnation in his meridians from his breakthrough to the Grandmaster Realm was also gradually disappearing.

Lin Xiaohu was assigned to help out at the Pill Room, learning to identify spirit herbs from the medicine boys. Although he had no Spiritual Roots, he was meticulous and, in less than half a month, memorized the properties of dozens of spirit herbs. Even Ji Rushuang couldn't help but praise him, "If Xiaohu were an immortal cultivator, he'd definitely be a great candidate for alchemy."

One early morning, as Chen Fan was meditating in the quiet room, he suddenly heard shouting outside the courtyard. He got up and walked out, only to see two disciples from the Pill Room surrounding Lin Xiaohu. One of them pointed at the overturned medicine basket on the ground and yelled, "You mortal child! How dare you damage high-grade spirit herbs! Can you afford to pay for it?"

Lin Xiaohu's face turned red. "I didn't do it on purpose! The wind blew the basket over!"

"Wind? I think you deliberately damaged it, trying to help your martial artist brother steal spirit herbs!" the other one said, reaching out to shove Lin Xiaohu.

Chen Fan stepped forward, seizing the man's wrist with one hand. He released a slight burst of True Energy, causing the man to grimace in pain. "This is a sect's grounds. Is it the Seven Stars Sect's rule to lay hands on a mortal child?"

Seeing Chen Fan, the two disciples' expressions changed drastically. The news of Zhou Daoyuan's capture had already spread throughout the sect, and everyone knew this martial artist was not to be trifled with. They sullenly withdrew their hands, leaving behind a threat, "You just wait," before slinking away.

Lin Xiaohu rubbed his arm, feeling wronged. "Brother Fan, they did it on purpose. They were the ones who knocked over the basket just now, and now they're blaming me."

Chen Fan frowned. In the past few days, some disciples had been pointing fingers at them, even deliberately making things difficult. At first, he thought it was prejudice stemming from his identity as a martial artist. But the tone of those two disciples just now carried a deliberate hostility. As he was pondering this, Ji Rushuang rushed over, her expression grave. "Brother Chen, something has happened. Zhou Daoyuan committed suicide in his prison cell."

When they arrived at the prison cell, Chu Xinghe was standing beside the body, his face grim. Zhou Daoyuan lay on the ground, black blood lingering at the corners of his mouth, his fingers tightly clutching a shattered black token – inscribed on the token was the cloud pattern of the Xianyun Sect!

"It was someone from the Xianyun Sect," Chu Xinghe said in a low voice. "They killed Zhou Daoyuan to silence him and to frame us. They want the sect to mistakenly believe we killed him to silence him, thereby instigating conflict between the two sects." He looked at Chen Fan, "The disciples who harassed you earlier were likely spies planted by the Xianyun Sect. Their goal was to provoke you into acting within the sect, thus giving them an excuse to deal with you."

Chen Fan's heart grew cold. The Xianyun Sect had already infiltrated the Seven Stars Sect, with even their elders becoming their pawns. He suddenly remembered Zhou Daoyuan's last words before he died: "A Nascent Soul Elder from the Xianyun Sect is coming." It seemed the enemy had already set a trap, not only to kill him but also to annex the Seven Stars Sect!

"Sect Master, the Xianyun Sect has wolfish ambitions. We cannot just wait to die," Ji Rushuang said anxiously. "Why don't we send people to other sects to ask for help?"

Chu Xinghe shook his head. "The Xianyun Sect is powerful; other sects may not dare to offend them. The only way now is to quickly increase our strength and prepare for what's coming." He looked at Chen Fan, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes. "Young friend Chen, the martial path you cultivate is different from ordinary martial artists. If you can break through to the Martial Venerable Realm quickly, you might become the key to resisting the Xianyun Sect."

Chen Fan clenched his fists. Breaking through to the Martial Venerable Realm required breaking the second layer, the "Mortal Body Shackles." This not only demanded a massive amount of medicinal power but also entailed enduring unimaginable pain. However, he knew this was no time for hesitation – the threat of the Xianyun Sect, the crisis of the Seven Stars Sect, and Lin Xiaohu's safety all compelled him to become stronger.

"Sect Master, please rest assured. This junior will give his all," Chen Fan said, bowing. "However, breaking through to the Martial Venerable Realm requires a large quantity of Body Tempering Pills. I request the sect's continued support."

Chu Xinghe nodded. "You may use the Body Tempering Pills from the Pill Room as you wish. Ruoshuang, you should also help young friend Chen study the Martial Path Elixir Scripture more, to see if you can find a way to accelerate his breakthrough."

In the days that followed, Chen Fan entered a state of frenzied cultivation. He sealed the doors and windows of the quiet room, piled it high with Body Tempering Pills, and swallowed three pills each time he circulated the Burning Heaven Art, letting the medicinal power surge within him. True Energy and medicinal power merged, constantly impacting his bones and meridians. The pain, as if all his bones were being crushed and reassembled, caused him to faint several times. But each time he woke up, he gritted his teeth and continued – he knew that every extra bit of pain endured brought him one step closer to the Martial Venerable Realm.

Ji Rushuang would bring him new pills daily, sometimes leaving behind a few elixir formulas to help him adjust the rhythm of his body tempering. She discovered that Chen Fan's physical body absorbed medicinal power with far greater efficiency than ordinary people, even converting the spiritual energy in the elixirs into True Energy. This was in perfect harmony with the "Nourishing Martial Arts with Spirit" described in the Martial Path Elixir Scripture. Yet, something that even ancient Martial Immortals found difficult, Chen Fan had achieved unintentionally.

One late night, half a month later, an astonishing aura erupted from the West Courtyard. The stone door of the quiet room was shattered, and Chen Fan's figure hovered in mid-air – he had actually comprehended the ability of temporary levitation at the moment of breaking through to the Martial Venerable Realm! The True Energy around him condensed into pale golden protective energy, covering him like armor. With every breath, there was a resounding roar, as if Blood Essence was surging like a river within his body.

"Martial Venerable Realm... I've finally done it!" Chen Fan opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing within them. He could clearly feel that his physical strength had increased more than tenfold. His True Energy had also transformed into a purer True Qi. A casual punch could tear the air apart.

Footsteps sounded from outside the courtyard. Chu Xinghe and Ji Rushuang rushed over and were both shocked to see Chen Fan suspended in the air. Chu Xinghe murmured, "Martial arts can be this powerful... Perhaps you can truly break the shackles of 'Spiritual Roots and Destiny'."

Just then, the sect's alarm bell suddenly rang through the night sky, and an urgent Communication Talisman landed in Chu Xinghe's hand. After reading it, his expression changed drastically. "The Xianyun Sect has arrived! Three Nascent Soul Elders, leading over a thousand disciples, are already outside the mountain gate!"

Chen Fan slowly landed, retracting his True Qi into his body, but a fierce fighting spirit ignited in his eyes. "They're finally here. This time, I won't run anymore." He turned to Ji Rushuang. "Miss Ji, please take care of Xiaohu."

Ji Rushuang nodded, worry in her eyes. "Be careful."

Chen Fan followed Chu Xinghe towards the mountain gate. In the darkness of the night, his figure stood tall and straight like a pine. The power of the Martial Venerable Realm flowed within him, and the movements of the Sky Shattering Fist coursed through his mind. He knew a great battle, concerning the survival of the Seven Stars Sect and the dignity of the Martial Path, was about to begin.