Qi Projection, Might of the Seventh Layer!

Boom!!!!

That sound, like the universe's birth, a soul-shaking roar, exploded deep within Lin Chen's Dantian Sea of Qi, its aftershocks lingering.

The indestructible barrier of the Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer, under that terrifying impact that condensed all his trump cards and will, finally shattered like fragile glass! It dissolved into a sky full of brilliant golden light rain, vanishing without a trace!

Whoosh!!!!

Like a divine dragon of the Nine Heavens breaking free from its final chains! Like a world-ending tide breaking through the shackles of the Nine Nether Underworlds!

A new True Qi, vaster, more surging, more condensed and heavy, even carrying a hint of majesty as if it could communicate with the power of heaven and earth, poured into Lin Chen's Dantian Sea of Qi, which had expanded to its limit, like water from a breached heavenly river!

At this moment, his Dantian Sea of Qi seemed to have truly transformed into a boundless golden ocean! Every drop of "seawater" was condensed liquid True Qi formed from the purest energy! It contained unimaginable terrifying power!

In the center of the Sea of Qi, the surface of the liquid True Qi began to show subtle ripples! It was no longer simply rotating, but as if it had gained life, it began to ebb and flow rhythmically! Every surge seemed to draw in the power of heaven and earth from the outside! Every ebb seemed to be accumulating even greater power!

At the same time!

Lin Chen clearly felt that his limbs, internal organs, and meridians were undergoing a metamorphosis, a complete transformation, under the nourishment and scouring of this new True Qi!

The strength of his physical body had once again ascended a notch! His bones had become tougher! His flesh and blood more solid! Even the surface of his skin faintly glowed with a soft treasure light! Ordinary swords and blades would likely find it difficult to wound him even slightly!

His mental power had also been greatly tempered and enhanced in the baptism of this breakthrough! His range of perception had expanded again! His thoughts operated more swiftly! And his control over his own power had reached a brand new, microscopic level!

Most importantly!

He felt that an unprecedented, subtle connection had been established between himself and this world!

He could more clearly feel the spiritual energy of heaven and earth flowing in the air! He could faintly capture the trajectory of the wind, the rhythm of water, the heat of fire, and the solidity of earth!

Even... he had a strong premonition! As long as he willed it, he could project the vast liquid True Qi within his body out of his body! Transforming it into a tangible attack! Injuring people from a distance!

This was the most significant mark of the Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer... Qi Projection!

Entering this realm, one had truly broken away from the category of "mortal martial artists" and begun to touch the threshold of "extraordinary"! Their strength, compared to the Body Tempering Realm Sixth Layer, was simply a world apart!

"Body Tempering Realm... Seventh Layer!"

Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes, softly uttering these words.

His voice was not loud, but it seemed to carry a peculiar magic, causing the surrounding air to tremble slightly.

Within his eyes, the sharp and piercing golden light from before was gone, replaced by a deeper, more restrained darkness, like two bottomless ancient wells, occasionally flowing with starlight, yet containing a terrifying power capable of devouring everything!

An invisible, powerful aura, carrying a faint pressure of heaven and earth, naturally emanated from him!

This aura could no longer be easily contained or disguised like before! This was the "momentum" naturally generated after a leap in life's tier! A majesty belonging to the strong, difficult to conceal!

Lin Chen felt the unprecedented, all-controlling power within him, the subtle connection between himself and this world, and a genuine smile, filled with powerful confidence and disdain, appeared on his face!

From a useless person who couldn't cultivate, to the Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer today!

It took less than five days!

This was simply an unreproducible miracle! A myth capable of overturning the understanding of the entire Qingyang Town!

And the one who created this myth was none other than Lin Chen! And the mysterious Myriad Dao Furnace within him!

"Qi Projection..." Lin Chen moved his mind and slowly raised his right index finger.

He attempted to guide the liquid golden True Qi in his Dantian Sea of Qi to his fingertip.

Hum!

As he did, the air around his fingertip slightly distorted. An extremely fine, yet incredibly condensed wisp of True Qi, emitting a faint golden glow, slowly condensed and extended as if it had a life of its own!

Although this wisp of True Qi was only an inch long and as thin as a strand of hair, its penetrating power and destructive force made Lin Chen have no doubt that it could easily pierce through hard rock! It could even pose a fatal threat to a martial artist at the Body Tempering Realm Sixth Layer!

"It really works!" A flash of excitement crossed Lin Chen's eyes!

This was the power of the Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer! The ability to transform formless True Qi into tangible attacks! Killing people invisibly! Making them defenseless!

He tried to control the wisp of True Qi, making it hover and dance around his fingertip like the most agile elf. The True Qi moved with his thoughts, without any obstruction. Clearly, his control over this new power had also reached a considerable level.

"With this Qi Projection ability, my combat effectiveness has increased by at least thirty percent!" Lin Chen nodded with satisfaction.

If he were to face Lin Bao again now, he probably wouldn't even give him a chance to make a move, being able to pierce him with a True Qi finger strike from several yards away!

Of course, Lin Chen did not forget that along with the surge in strength came new problems.

That was, how to continue hiding?

The aura and pressure of the Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer were far more difficult to conceal than before! Especially the Qi Projection ability, which would inevitably be exposed once used!

It seemed that during the official Family Test, he would have to be even more careful and cautious! That disguise of "early stage Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer" would require even more exquisite acting skills to maintain!

However, Lin Chen was not worried about this. With his current control over his power, and the Myriad Dao Furnace's unfathomable auxiliary abilities, he was confident that as long as he didn't court disaster, he shouldn't be easily exposed.

Just as Lin Chen was immersed in the joy of his surging strength and contemplation, he was unaware that the terrifying energy fluctuations and celestial phenomena caused by his breakthrough, although extremely brief and as much as possible concealed by the Myriad Dao Furnace within his body, had still alerted certain existences deep within the Lin Family mansion!

In the deepest part of the Lin Family mansion, within an ancient and secluded secret chamber.

The Patriarch, Lin Xiaotian, was sitting cross-legged, his eyes closed, surrounded by a dense purple halo, clearly cultivating some profound technique.

Suddenly!

He abruptly opened his eyes! Two terrifying beams of light erupted from his eyes! His gaze instantly pierced through the thick stone walls, looking in the direction of Lin Chen's courtyard!

"This fluctuation is so powerful! So pure! Did someone break through?!" Lin Xiaotian's face was filled with shock and disbelief!

In that instant, he clearly felt an extremely terrifying energy fluctuation, one that even made him feel a tremor of palpitation, flash and disappear from a corner of the family! The intensity and purity of that fluctuation were definitely not something attainable by someone in the Body Tempering Realm! It even seemed to vaguely touch the threshold of the Foundation Establishment Realm?!

Moreover, mixed within that fluctuation was an extremely familiar aura that made his heart lurch!

Could it be Lin Chen?!

How is that possible?!

That direction was precisely the dilapidated courtyard where Lin Chen lived!

Could it be... could it be that brat has broken through again?!

But how is that possible?! He only displayed a cultivation of the early stage of Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer yesterday! And it's only been a day! How could he break through again? And cause such a terrifying fluctuation?! This is completely illogical! Unless... unless he had hidden deeper strength before?! Or perhaps some earth-shattering fortuitous encounter truly happened to him?!

Lin Xiaotian's heart pounded wildly! Countless thoughts flashed through his mind!

He desperately wanted to rush over immediately and investigate!

But in the end, he forcefully suppressed the impulse in his heart.

He knew that this child, Lin Chen, was full of secrets right now! Rushing over rashly might not yield any answers, and could instead arouse his vigilance and displeasure!

"Potential test... gray..." Lin Xiaotian recalled that bizarre result again, his gaze becoming even deeper and more solemn. "It seems this Potential Stone isn't entirely trustworthy! 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 determination in his heart became even more resolute!

No matter what happened to Lin Chen! No matter what secrets he hid! He had to firmly control this child! He would be the future hope of the Lin Family!

Meanwhile, in another dark, damp room filled with the heavy scent of medicine.

Great Elder Lin Zhenhong was looking with a livid expression at his grandson, Lin Bao, who lay on the bed with his right hand wrapped in layers of bandages, still in a coma. Beside him, several of the Lin Family's best physicians were nervously reporting the situation.

"Great Elder... Young Master Bao's bones have been set, but... but the meridians in his wrist have been completely destroyed by an extremely overbearing 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 frigid depths of the netherworld.

"I'm afraid... Young Master Bao's right hand... will never be able to cultivate again..." the physician said, mustering his courage, trembling.

Bang!!!

Lin Zhenhong slammed the table violently! The solid rosewood tabletop instantly shattered into pieces!

"Trash! A bunch of trash!!" he roared, his eyes filled with boundless killing intent! "You can't even cure such a minor injury! What use are you if you can't do this?!"

Just then!

A terrifying energy fluctuation, like a clap of thunder, flashed and disappeared from afar!

Lin Zhenhong's head shot up abruptly! A flicker of uncertain surprise flashed in his eyes!

"Hmm?! This aura is so strong! Is it from that direction?!" He immediately pinpointed the source of the fluctuation: it was the courtyard where that brat Lin Chen resided!

"Could it be... could it be him?!" Lin Zhenhong's heart sank violently! An extremely ominous premonition instantly enveloped him!

Impossible! Absolutely impossible! That brat was only at the early stage of the Fourth Layer yesterday! How could he break through again in a single day?! And cause such a powerful fluctuation?!

But that aura was so clear!

"Guards!" Lin Zhenhong barked sharply.

"Here!" A trusted guard outside the door immediately responded and entered.

"Go investigate immediately! What was that energy fluctuation just now?! Where did it originate?! Hurry!!" Lin Zhenhong's voice was urgent, carrying a hint of undisguised panic!

He had a strong intuition! If that fluctuation was indeed caused by Lin Chen, then this brat... he truly couldn't be kept alive anymore!!! His growth rate had completely exceeded his control! If he were allowed to continue developing, the entire Lin Family would soon be under his command! At that time, would his own lineage fare any better?!

He must... he must act quickly! Even at the greatest cost! He had to completely eliminate him!

A mad and ferocious glint flashed in Lin Zhenhong's eyes!

Meanwhile, Lin Chen, at the center of the storm, was completely unaware of everything happening outside.

He was still immersed in the powerful feeling brought about by the surge in his strength.

He slowly restrained his aura, and the pressure belonging to the Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer gradually receded, returning to his previous "mediocre" state of "early stage Fourth Layer." Of course, this disguise was now more refined, natural, and seamless than before.

He glanced out the window; the sky was already bright.

Only one day remained until the official Family Test began.

"My strength is already sufficient to handle the test, even more than enough," Lin Chen's lips curved into a confident arc. "Next, I need to consider what comes after the test."

After the turmoil of this test, and having completely fallen out with the Great Elder's faction, he knew that his continued stay in the Lin Family was no longer safe. That old fogey Lin Zhenhong would definitely not let it go and would find every possible way to deal with him!

Although he had the "protection" of the Family Head Lin Xiaotian, Lin Xiaotian valued family interests and stability more. He might not truly go to war with the Great Elder for his sake. Moreover, Lin Chen did not like to place his own safety on the "goodwill" of others!

"The Lin Family is, after all, just a novice village," a yearning and sharp glint flashed in Lin Chen's eyes. "I need a broader world! I need more powerful resources! I need harsher trials! Only then can the Myriad Dao Furnace unleash its true power! Only then can I truly control my own destiny!"

Leave! He had to leave the Lin Family as soon as possible!

This thought became incredibly clear and firm in his mind!

But where should he go?

His gaze drifted out the window, towards the rolling Green Peak Mountain Range shrouded in morning mist!

It was a vast, boundless primitive mountain range stretching north of Qingyang Town, teeming with ferocious beasts and fraught with danger, yet also hiding countless opportunities and treasures! Legend had it that deep within the mountains, there were even passages leading to a wider world!

Perhaps that would be his first destination after leaving the Lin Family?

He could go there to train, hunt beasts, refine their essences, search for rare natural treasures, and increase his strength! Once he was powerful enough, he could then consider his next move!

A vague plan began to form in Lin Chen's mind.

Of course, leaving the Lin Family wouldn't be easy. He was still a disciple of the Lin Family, and after his recent "brilliant performance" during the test, he had attracted the "special attention" of the family head. Slipping away unnoticed would likely be difficult.

"It seems I'll need a suitable opportunity," Lin Chen's eyes flickered as he began to ponder carefully.

Perhaps… he could leverage the rewards from this family test? Or, perhaps the upcoming Three Great Families Competition?

One idea after another collided and sparked in his mind.

A more long-term and meticulous plan slowly began to take shape in his hea