Boom!!!!!!
That earthshaking roar, as though it had come from the dawn of the universe, exploded deep within Lin Chen's Dantian Sea of Qi, its echoes trembling through his soul long after.
The indestructible barrier of the Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer finally shattered beneath that terrifying impact, which had gathered every one of his trump cards and all his will! Like fragile glass, it burst apart with a crash, turning into dazzling golden rain that scattered into nothingness!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!!!!!
Like a divine dragon of the nine heavens breaking free from its final shackle! Like a world-destroying tide bursting through the restraints of the Nine Nether Underworld!
Vaster and more boundless! More surging and violent! More condensed and weighty! A brand-new stream of Qi, carrying even a faint majesty as though it could commune with the power of heaven and earth, rushed madly into Lin Chen's Dantian Sea of Qi, which had already expanded to its limit, like the waters of a celestial river after a dam burst!
At this moment, his Dantian Sea of Qi seemed to have truly become a boundless golden ocean! Every drop of "seawater" was liquid Qi condensed from the purest energy, containing unimaginable, terrifying power!
At the center of the Sea of Qi, tiny ripples began to appear upon the surface of that ocean of liquid Qi! It was no longer merely spinning, but seemed to have come alive, rising and falling in regular tides! Each rise seemed capable of stirring the power of heaven and earth beyond him! Each fall seemed to be gathering even greater might!
At the same time!
Lin Chen could clearly feel his limbs, organs, eight extraordinary meridians, and every part of his body undergoing a rebirth-like transformation beneath the nourishment and cleansing of this new Qi!
The strength of his body rose another level! His muscles and bones became tougher! His flesh and blood more solid! Even the surface of his skin faintly shimmered with a treasure-like glow! Ordinary blades and swords would likely struggle to harm him in the slightest!
His Spiritual Power was also greatly tempered and strengthened by this baptism of breakthrough! The range of his perception expanded once more! His thoughts moved faster! His control over his own strength reached an entirely new, meticulous realm!
Most importantly!
He felt as though an unprecedentedly subtle connection had formed between himself and this world!
He could more clearly sense the Spiritual Qi flowing through the air! He could faintly grasp the path of the wind, the rhythm of water, the heat of fire, and the heaviness of earth!
He even had a powerful premonition... as long as a thought crossed his mind, he could force the vast liquid Qi within his body out through his flesh and turn it into a tangible attack, wounding others from afar!
This was the most distinct hallmark of the Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer... Qi Projection!
Only upon entering this realm could one truly break free from the category of "ordinary martial artists" and begin touching the threshold of the "extraordinary"! Compared with the Body Tempering Realm Sixth Layer, its strength was as far apart as heaven and earth!
"Body Tempering Realm... Seventh Layer!"
Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes and softly uttered those words.
His voice was not loud, yet it seemed to carry a strange magic that made the air around him tremble faintly.
The sharp, blazing golden light in his eyes was gone. In its place was a deeper, more restrained darkness, like two ancient wells whose depths could not be seen. Starlight occasionally flowed within them, yet they contained terrifying power sufficient to devour all things!
An invisible, powerful aura carrying a faint pressure of heaven and earth naturally spread from his body!
This aura could no longer be easily concealed or disguised as before! It was the "bearing" naturally produced after a leap in the level of life! A majesty belonging to the strong, difficult to hide!
Feeling the unprecedented power within him, as though he could control everything, and sensing that subtle connection with heaven and earth, Lin Chen revealed a smile from the bottom of his heart, brimming with powerful confidence and disdain for the world!
From a cripple unable to cultivate to the Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer!
It had taken less than five days!
This was simply an irreproducible miracle! A legend enough to overturn everything Qingyang Town believed!
And the one who had created this legend was Lin Chen himself! Along with the mysterious and unfathomable Myriad Dao Furnace within his body!
"Qi Projection..." With a thought, Lin Chen slowly raised his right index finger.
He tried guiding the golden, liquid-like Qi from his Dantian Sea of Qi to his fingertip.
Buzz!
The air above his fingertip twisted faintly. An exceedingly thin yet incomparably condensed wisp of Qi, glowing with a faint golden radiance, slowly gathered and extended outward as though it possessed life!
Though this strand of Qi was only an inch or so long and as thin as a hair, the penetrating and destructive force contained within it left Lin Chen with no doubt that it could easily pierce solid rock! It could even pose a fatal threat to a Body Tempering Realm Sixth Layer martial artist!
"It really works!" A flicker of excitement flashed through Lin Chen's eyes!
This was the power of the Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer! The ability to turn invisible Qi into tangible attacks! To kill without form, impossible to guard against!
He tried controlling that wisp of Qi, making it circle and dance around his fingertip like the nimblest of sprites. The Qi moved with his thoughts without the slightest sluggishness. Clearly, his control over this new power had also reached a remarkably high level.
"With the ability to project Qi, my actual combat strength has risen by at least thirty percent!" Lin Chen nodded in satisfaction.
If he faced Lin Bao again now, Lin Bao likely would not even have the chance to strike. From several yards away, Lin Chen could pierce him through with a single finger beam of Qi!
Of course, Lin Chen had not forgotten that his explosive increase in strength also brought new problems.
That was how to continue hiding it.
The aura and pressure of the Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer were far harder to conceal than before! Especially the ability of Qi Projection—once used, it would inevitably expose him!
It seemed that during the official Family Test, he would have to be even more cautious! His disguise as "Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer Early Stage" would require even more refined acting to maintain!
However, Lin Chen was not worried about this. With his current control over his power, along with the unfathomable assistance of the Myriad Dao Furnace, he was confident that as long as he did not court death, he should not be exposed so easily.
As Lin Chen immersed himself in the joy of his surging strength and his thoughts, he did not know that the terrifying energy fluctuations and heavenly phenomenon caused by his breakthrough had, though extremely brief and concealed as much as possible by the Myriad Dao Furnace within him, still alarmed certain presences deep inside the Lin Family residence!
Deep within the Lin Family residence, inside an ancient and tranquil secret chamber.
The family head, Lin Xiaotian, sat cross-legged with his eyes shut, surrounded by a dense purple glow. Clearly, he was cultivating some profound technique.
Suddenly!
He abruptly opened his eyes! Two terrifying rays of light burst forth from them! His gaze instantly pierced through the thick stone walls and turned toward Lin Chen's small courtyard!
"This fluctuation is so powerful! So pure! Did someone break through?!" Lin Xiaotian's face was full of shock and disbelief!
In that instant, he had clearly sensed an incomparably terrifying energy fluctuation, one that even made his heart tremble slightly, flash through some corner of the Lin Family residence! The intensity and purity of that fluctuation were absolutely not something the Body Tempering Realm could possess! It had even faintly touched the threshold of the Foundation Establishment Realm?!
Moreover, mixed within that fluctuation was an exceedingly familiar aura that made his heart suddenly lurch!
Was it Lin Chen?!
How could that be?!
That direction was precisely the dilapidated little courtyard where Lin Chen lived!
Could it be... could that boy have broken through again?!
But how was that possible?! He had only displayed Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer Early Stage cultivation yesterday! Only one day had passed! How could he break through again? And cause such a terrifying fluctuation?! This completely defied reason!
Unless... unless he had concealed even deeper strength before?! Or something truly earthshaking had happened to him?!
Lin Xiaotian's heart pounded wildly! Countless thoughts flashed through his mind!
He dearly wanted to rush over at once and investigate!
But in the end, he forcibly suppressed the impulse in his heart.
He knew that Lin Chen was now covered in secrets! Going over rashly might not yield any answers and could instead provoke Lin Chen's wariness and resentment!
"Potential test... gray..." Lin Xiaotian thought again of that strange result, his gaze becoming deeper and more solemn. "It seems the Potential Stone cannot necessarily be trusted completely! This Lin Chen is far more mysterious than I imagined, and far more important!"
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes again, but the excitement and resolve in his heart only became firmer!
No matter what had happened to Lin Chen! No matter what secrets he hid! He had to firmly keep this child in his grasp! He would be the hope of the Lin Family's future!
Meanwhile, in another dark and damp room thick with the smell of medicine.
Great Elder Lin Zhenhong watched with a livid expression as his grandson Lin Bao lay unconscious on the bed, his right hand wrapped layer upon layer in bandages. Beside him, several of the Lin Family's best physicians were trembling as they reported the situation.
"Great Elder... Young Master Bao's bones have been set, but... but the meridians in his wrist were completely destroyed by an extremely domineering force... I'm afraid... I'm afraid..." The physician's voice grew softer and softer, filled with fear.
"Afraid of what?! Speak!" Lin Zhenhong's voice was icy, like the frost of the Nine Nether Underworld.
"I'm afraid... Young Master Bao's right hand... will... will no longer be able to cultivate..." Gathering his courage, the physician spoke in a trembling voice.
Bang!!!
Lin Zhenhong slammed his palm onto the table! The hard redwood tabletop instantly split into pieces!
"Trash! A bunch of trash!!" he roared, his eyes filled with boundless killing intent! "You cannot even treat an injury like this! What use are you?!"
Just then!
A terrifying energy fluctuation flashed past from afar like a clap of thunder!
Lin Zhenhong suddenly raised his head! A trace of uncertainty flashed through his eyes!
"Hm?! Such a powerful aura! From that direction?!" He immediately determined the source of the fluctuation: it was the courtyard where that little bastard Lin Chen lived!
"Could it... could it be him?!" Lin Zhenhong's heart suddenly sank! An extremely ominous feeling instantly engulfed him!
Impossible! Absolutely impossible! That little bastard had only been at the Fourth Layer Early Stage yesterday! How could he break through again within a day?! And cause such a powerful fluctuation?!
Yet that aura was so clear!
"Someone!" Lin Zhenhong shouted sharply.
"Yes!" A trusted guard immediately answered from outside and entered.
"Go investigate at once! What was that energy fluctuation just now?! Where did it come from?! Go, now!!" Lin Zhenhong's voice was urgent, carrying a trace of panic he could not conceal!
He had a powerful instinct! If that fluctuation had truly been caused by Lin Chen, then that little bastard truly... truly could not be allowed to live!!! His rate of growth had completely surpassed Lin Zhenhong's control! If he were allowed to continue developing, it would not be long before the entire Lin Family answered to him! By then, would Lin Zhenhong's branch still have a good end?!
He had to... he had to act soon! Even if he had to pay any price, he had to erase Lin Chen completely!
A mad and vicious light flickered in Lin Zhenhong's eyes!
Meanwhile, Lin Chen, standing at the heart of the storm, still knew nothing of the outside world.
He remained immersed in the powerful sensation brought by his surging strength.
He slowly drew in the aura around him. The pressure belonging to the Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer gradually faded, returning once more to the "ordinary" state of "Fourth Layer Early Stage." Of course, this disguise was now smoother, more natural, and more seamless than before.
He glanced outside the window. The sky was already bright.
Only one final day remained before the official Family Test began.
"My strength is already enough to handle the test, and more than enough at that." A confident curve rose at the corner of Lin Chen's lips. "Next, it is time to consider what comes after the test."
After the turmoil surrounding this test and his complete falling-out with the Great Elder's branch, he knew that remaining in the Lin Family was no longer safe. That old man Lin Zhenhong would never let matters rest and would surely think of every possible way to deal with him!
Although he had the "protection" of the family head Lin Xiaotian, Lin Xiaotian valued the Lineage's interests and stability more. He might not truly go to war with the Great Elder for Lin Chen's sake. Besides, Lin Chen did not like placing his own safety in the hands of another person's "goodwill"!
"The Lin Family is only a novice village in the end." Longing and sharpness flashed through Lin Chen's eyes. "I need a broader world! Stronger resources! Harsher trials! Only then can the Myriad Dao Furnace unleash its true might! Only then can I truly take control of my own fate!"
Leave! He had to leave the Lin Family as soon as possible!
This thought became incomparably clear and firm in his heart!
But where should he go?
His gaze could not help drifting beyond the window, toward the rolling Green Peak Mountain Range shrouded in morning mist!
That was a vast, primordial mountain range stretching north of Qingyang Town. Demonic beasts roamed rampant within it, and dangers lurked at every turn, but it also concealed countless opportunities and treasures! It was said that deep within those mountains, there was even a passage leading to a broader world!
Perhaps that would be his first destination after leaving the Lin Family?
He could train there, hunt demonic beasts, refine their essence, search for heavenly treasures, and improve his strength! Once he became strong enough, he could consider where to go next!
A vague plan gradually formed in Lin Chen's heart.
Of course, leaving the Lin Family would not be easy. He was still a Lin Family disciple, and after having "shone brilliantly" during the test and drawn the family head's "special attention," slipping away silently would likely not be so simple.
"It seems I still need a suitable opportunity." Lin Chen's eyes flickered as he began carefully making his calculations.
Perhaps... he could make use of the rewards from this Family Test? Or use the upcoming Three Great Families Competition?
One thought after another collided and flashed through his mind.
A longer-term and more thorough plan slowly began taking shape in his heart...
Before you continue