The setting sun melted into gold, dyeing the clouds on the horizon a dazzling orange-red. Its lingering rays passed through the layered eaves and dense branches of the Lin Family estate, casting mottled, kaleidoscopic shadows across the bluestone paths.
Like an arrow loosed from the bowstring, Lin Chen darted through corridors and paths where light and shadow intertwined. His steps were light yet hurried, carrying an irrepressible excitement and urgency. With every breath, he seemed to sense the low hum of the mysterious furnace within his Dantian, as well as the profound rhythm emanating from the completely transformed, perfectly tailored Basic Qi Refining Art in his mind.
His trip to the Scripture Repository had yielded far more than he had imagined!
The Myriad Dao Furnace could not only refine the essence of tangible matter, but also the intangible information within cultivation arts, even optimizing and deducing them! Such heaven-defying means were simply unheard of and unseen!
He was now immensely glad that he had chosen the seemingly most ordinary, most basic Basic Qi Refining Art. Precisely because it was basic, its framework was the most stable, its circulation the widest, and it was most likely to contain the essence of the Great Dao in its utmost simplicity. After the Myriad Dao Furnace had discarded the dross and retained the essence, then optimized and deduced it, this cultivation art had been reborn. Its cultivation efficiency and potential likely surpassed many of the so-called high-tier arts in the Lin Family's Scripture Repository!
Faster! I have to be even faster! Lin Chen had only one thought in his heart.
He had to seize every second! Only six days remained until the Family Test! Within those six days, he would raise his strength to heights great enough to shock everyone and make every enemy tremble in fear!
Before long, that familiar, dilapidated little courtyard appeared before him.
Compared to when he had left, the courtyard seemed even more desolate. Even the afterglow of the setting sun could not dispel the chill and bleakness here. But in Lin Chen's eyes, it was no longer a symbol of humiliation and despair. It was the perfect place for his secret rise and phoenix-like rebirth!
Without pausing for even a moment, he pushed open the courtyard gate and slipped inside, then quickly bolted the old wooden door from within. Though it was merely a crude latch and offered little real protection, it at least gave him a sliver of psychological security and prevented unnecessary prying eyes.
After finishing all this, he immediately walked to the center of the courtyard and stared intently at the mountain-like pile of discarded medicinal dregs in the corner.
These would be the "fuel" for his next push toward a higher realm!
Although refining flesh and blood essence at the Crimson Flame Pig farm produced better results, there were too many people there, too many watchful eyes, and the risk was too great for prolonged cultivation. Moreover, while the Vitality Essence purified by the furnace could greatly strengthen the body and blood vitality, it seemed less direct in improving true qi cultivation than these medicinal dregs containing the Medicinal Power of various herbs and plants.
Perhaps combining the two was the best cultivation method! First use the medicinal dregs to raise his cultivation realm, then seek an opportunity to refine flesh and blood essence to temper his body!
Lin Chen took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the excitement brought by obtaining a heaven-defying cultivation art, striving to restore his state of mind to the stillness of an ancient well. On the path of cultivation, nothing was more taboo than impatience and restlessness.
He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. Rather than immediately communicate with the Myriad Dao Furnace, he first began circulating the brand-new Basic Qi Refining Art in his mind.
He wanted to thoroughly familiarize himself with this cultivation art first and experience the immense difference between it and the "original" version!
Bzzzz!
As the cultivation art began to circulate, Lin Chen's body seemed to transform into an invisible vortex in an instant!
The surrounding Spiritual Qi, as though summoned by an irresistible call, surged wildly toward his body at a speed several times faster than before—perhaps even more than ten times faster!
If someone had watched from outside, they might even have vaguely seen a tiny Spiritual Qi cyclone form around Lin Chen, while the air itself seemed to grow several degrees thicker!
So fast! Lin Chen was stunned.
This was merely the speed at which the cultivation art itself guided Spiritual Qi! If it were paired with the Myriad Dao Furnace's active absorption and refinement... what kind of terrifying sight would that be?!
Spiritual Qi entered his body and raced along the new, optimized route through his meridians. Lin Chen could clearly feel that this route was far simpler and smoother than that of the former Basic Qi Refining Art! There was almost no sense of obstruction whatsoever! Spiritual Qi galloped through his meridians like the tamest of fine steeds, easily guided and refined!
Its refining efficiency had likewise increased by severalfold!
In merely a short while, he felt the true qi in his Dantian grow a little more condensed! His realm, having only just broken through to the Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer, was also rapidly stabilizing under this efficient refinement!
What delighted him even more was that as the cultivation art circulated, streams of subtle yet pure energy continuously nourished his meridians and body! His entire body felt warm and full of life! This was clearly an additional effect deduced by the furnace, one the original cultivation art did not possess!
Perfect! Simply perfect! Lin Chen praised inwardly.
With this cultivation art, even without the Myriad Dao Furnace, his cultivation speed would be enough to rival those so-called Lineage geniuses! And if the two were combined...
Lin Chen no longer hesitated!
After familiarizing himself with the circulation of the cultivation art, he immediately divided off a portion of his focus and connected with the Myriad Dao Furnace within his Dantian Sea of Qi!
"Furnace! Open! Refine the medicinal dregs!"
Bzzzzz—!
The mysterious black iron fragment erupted with dim light once more! A domineering suction force instantly enveloped the pile of medicinal dregs in the corner!
This time, Lin Chen did not reach out to grab them. Instead, he guided them directly with his thoughts!
Large amounts of medicinal dregs rose from the pile as though pulled by an invisible force, transforming into streams of gray-black torrents that surged continuously toward Lin Chen's body!
The moment the essence of these medicinal dregs, laden with mixed and impure energy, entered Lin Chen's body, it was instantly seized, broken down, and purified by the Myriad Dao Furnace!
Hiss, hiss, hiss—!
Within the furnace, invisible flames blazed fiercely, incinerating all impurities, toxins, and useless energy to ashes! What remained were streams of incomparably pure Medicinal Power energy, each of a different color!
At the same time, the optimized Basic Qi Refining Art within Lin Chen's body was also circulating at high speed!
The cultivation art guided the surrounding Spiritual Qi, while the furnace supplied an endless stream of pure Medicinal Power!
The two were like two rushing rivers, eventually converging within Lin Chen's Dantian Sea of Qi!
Rumble, rumble!!
Lin Chen felt as though his Dantian was about to explode!
Unprecedentedly vast energy crashed through his limbs and bones like a tsunami!
His cultivation rose wildly, as though he had boarded a flying vessel, at a terrifying speed that could only be called soaring to the heavens in a single step!
Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer early stage... stabilized!
Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer Mid-stage... breakthrough!
Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer late stage... breakthrough!
Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer peak!
In less than two hours! Lin Chen's cultivation had crossed two minor stages once more, shooting directly from the early stage of the Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer to the peak of the Triple Layer! He was only one step away from the Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer!
If outsiders learned of such speed, their jaws would surely drop!
An ordinary martial artist, even a gifted genius, would need at least several months or even half a year of hard cultivation to progress from the early stage of the Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer to its peak! Yet Lin Chen had done it in less than two hours!
The domineering might of the Myriad Dao Furnace, combined with the terrifying efficiency of the optimized cultivation art, produced an effect that was simply heaven-defying!
"Too... too fast!" Even with Lin Chen's steadfast will, he was shaken by this terrifying rate of advancement!
He could clearly feel that the amount of true qi within him was several times greater than when he had first broken through to the Triple Layer! The strength of his body and blood vitality had also improved considerably under the nourishment of true qi!
He even had the feeling that, with his current strength, if he faced Wang Teng again, he might not lack the power to fight him even without using the Myriad Dao Furnace's special abilities, relying only on his realm and physical strength!
Of course, that was merely a preliminary estimate. Wang Teng was, after all, at the Body Tempering Realm Fifth Layer. He had certainly cultivated the Wang Family's exquisite martial techniques, and his combat experience was far beyond Lin Chen's. The true outcome remained uncertain.
But this undoubtedly gave Lin Chen immense confidence!
"Still not enough!" Lin Chen's eyes burned. "I'm only one kick away from the door of the Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer! Today, I'll press forward in one burst and break through it!"
He looked again at the pile of medicinal dregs, now visibly much shorter, and a crazed gleam flashed in his eyes!
He would squeeze these medicinal dregs dry, turning them into the provisions for his charge toward a higher realm!
Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Chen immersed himself in cultivation once more!
The Myriad Dao Furnace operated at full power! The optimized Basic Qi Refining Art was pushed to its absolute limit!
Man and furnace seemed to become a bottomless black hole, madly devouring the remaining energy within the medicinal dregs!
Spiritual Qi surged through the little courtyard, and energy roiled! Even the air twisted slightly under the intense concentration of energy!
Time slipped rapidly away amid Lin Chen's frenzied cultivation.
Night descended once again. The stars and moon gave no light; only the faint radiance emitted from Lin Chen's body as his cultivation art circulated, along with the profound black glow of the Myriad Dao Furnace, reflected one another in the darkness.
The pile of medicinal dregs in the corner dwindled rapidly at a visible rate.
Finally, when the last handful of medicinal dregs was completely devoured and refined by the Myriad Dao Furnace, the energy accumulated within Lin Chen's body reached an unprecedented peak!
He could clearly sense the solid barrier preventing him from entering the Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer, right before him!
"Break for me... BREAK!!!"
With a furious roar in his heart, Lin Chen mobilized every strand of true qi within him. Like a raging dragon roaring as it galloped, it slammed viciously into that invisible barrier!
Boom!!!
A thunderous blast like the splitting of heaven and earth exploded within his Dantian Sea of Qi!
That solid barrier trembled violently beneath the impact that contained all his strength and will!
Crack... crack-crack...
Fine fissures spread swiftly across the barrier like a spiderweb!
It's done! Just a little more!
Lin Chen was overjoyed and was about to mobilize his final trace of strength to crush it completely—
Yet at this critical moment, an unexpected change suddenly arose!
He abruptly felt that the energy within his Dantian seemed... unable to continue!
The medicinal dregs had all been exhausted!
Without the continued replenishment of external energy, the strength accumulated within him alone seemed to be just a thread short of breaking through this realm barrier, which was even sturdier than before, in one decisive push!
"Damn it!" Lin Chen's heart sank!
Could it be... that he would fall short at the final moment?!
If this attempt failed, not only would all the vast energy he had accumulated before be wasted, but forcing the breakthrough might even damage his meridians! The next attempt would become even more difficult!
What should he do?!
Where could he find energy that could be refined immediately?!
The Crimson Flame Pig farm? No! It was deep into the night. Going there rashly would draw too much attention! Besides, there was no time!
Pills? He did not even have a single spirit stone on him, much less the means to buy pills!
Could it be... there truly was no way?!
Lin Chen's heart instantly sank to rock bottom! Enormous disappointment and unwillingness engulfed him like a flood tide!
Just as he was about to give up in despair—
Bzzzz!!!
Within his Dantian Sea of Qi, the Myriad Dao Furnace, which had been silently operating all this time, suddenly erupted without warning in a black radiance more brilliant and dazzling than any before!
That radiance was profound and dark, yet seemed to contain supreme power capable of swallowing heaven and earth and refining all things!
Immediately afterward, an extremely faint but exceptionally pure stream of energy, carrying a trace of strange fiery aura, slowly seeped out from the furnace itself!
Although the amount of this energy was tiny, its quality far surpassed the medicinal dregs energy and Vitality Essence he had refined before! It was even purer and more condensed than Spiritual Qi!
The instant it appeared, it fused into Lin Chen's nearly collapsing breakthrough energy like the final touch that brought a painted dragon to life!
Boom!!!!
It was as though he had received the strongest possible aid!
That breakthrough energy, which had already lost its momentum, instantly erupted with unparalleled might as though pumped full of hot blood! It slammed viciously into the realm barrier covered in cracks!
Bang—!!!
A muffled yet incomparably distinct explosive sound rang out!
The solid barrier blocking Lin Chen from entering the Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer could no longer endure. Like glass smashed by a giant hammer, it exploded with a crash and completely collapsed!
Crash—!
Like mountain floods bursting forth, like rivers flowing backward!
Even more turbulent, condensed, and pure true qi instantly filled Lin Chen's Dantian Sea of Qi! The expanse of his Sea of Qi expanded again, and the quality of his true qi underwent a qualitative leap!
An aura far stronger than the Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer erupted from Lin Chen's body, sweeping through the entire courtyard! Even much of the dust on the courtyard walls was shaken loose!
Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer!
He had succeeded!!!
Moreover, this was no forced breakthrough! It was the Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer with an incomparably solid foundation and incomparably vigorous true qi!
"Hu... hu..." Lin Chen gasped heavily, his face filled with the relief of surviving a calamity and an indescribable wild joy!
That had been too close! Just now, he had truly been only a tiny bit away!
Had the Myriad Dao Furnace not released that mysterious and pure energy on its own at the final moment, this breakthrough attempt would certainly have ended in failure!
"The furnace... can actually store energy? Or does it itself contain some kind of origin power?" Lin Chen's heart was filled with doubt and shock.
He could sense that the source of that pure energy had not been external. It had come from the furnace itself, from that mysterious black iron fragment!
Did that mean the furnace itself was a massive source of energy?
Or perhaps, while refining all things, it retained a portion of the purest origin energy within itself for times of need?
Lin Chen tried to probe the inside of the furnace with his consciousness, but it remained a chaos he could not penetrate, its core mysteries beyond his sight.
No matter what, he truly had it to thank this time! Lin Chen's heart filled with gratitude.
He rose to his feet and stretched his limbs, feeling the surging, roiling power within him, far stronger than before!
Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer!
In just a little over a day, he had risen from a cripple unable to cultivate all the way to the Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer!
Such speed was simply horrifying beyond belief!
If people like Lin Zhenhong and Wang Teng learned of it, their eyeballs would likely fall out from shock!
Lin Chen clenched his fist, feeling the explosive power coursing through his fingertips. A cold, confident smile curved his lips.
Now, he had absolute confidence that he could crush Lin Bao in the Family Test seven days from now! Perhaps even... face Wang Teng head-on in battle!
Of course, he would not be satisfied with this.
More than five days remained until the test!
He would continue improving!
The Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer was still not enough! He had to become stronger! Strong enough to make everyone look up at him! Strong enough to strangle every threat in the cradle!
Only...
Lin Chen glanced at the now completely empty patch of ground in the corner, and his brows drew together slightly.
The medicinal dregs had been exhausted.
If he wanted to continue advancing quickly, he would have to find new, higher-quality "fuel."
The flesh and blood essence of the Crimson Flame Pig was a good choice, but the risk was too great, and its effects seemed more suited to tempering the body.
Pills? Spirit stones? He was still penniless.
Cultivation arts? The basic cultivation arts on the first floor of the Scripture Repository no longer held much meaning for him. As for higher-level cultivation arts and martial techniques, he was not yet qualified to access them.
"Looks like I'll have to think of another way..." A thoughtful glint flashed through Lin Chen's eyes.
Perhaps... he could "borrow" some cultivation resources from those who had bullied him?
For example... Lin Bao?
A bold plan quietly began brewing in Lin Chen's heart.
Before you continue