Crimson Scale Armor

Time slowly passed.

In the blink of an eye, two years went by.

Every morning, in the courtyard.

The five little ones sat cross-legged neatly on the ground and began drawing in qi to build their foundations.

Huang Yueyang stood nearby with a ruler in hand, supervising them.

Beyond that.

Several brand-new little lives had also arrived in swaddling clothes.

They were precisely the fruits of Tang Yijing's two years of diligent cultivation.

When Chen Sheng saw them, he could not help sighing inwardly:

"Who would have thought that Yi Jing has quite a bit of my style."

Fire Room.

Chen Sheng sat cross-legged on a Jade Meditation Cushion.

Before him stood an Alchemy Furnace blazing with fierce flames.

"Exhale—inhale—"

His deep breathing echoed through the room, carrying a peculiar rhythm.

Chen Sheng held his hands before him.

He slowly circulated his Hand Seal, his finger seals shifting without cease.

Every seal drew forth the fire qi surging from the furnace, gradually absorbing it into his body.

A streak of firelight coiled around his body like a Crimson Dragon wrapped about him.

His entire aura grew even more scorching.

At this moment.

He focused his mind upon a certain region within his body.

It was a brand-new meridian, arduously opened under the simultaneous impact of Mana and fire-baleful power.

After a long while.

Chen Sheng slowly opened his eyes. Looking inward at the newly opened meridian within him, a smile appeared in his eyes.

"It worked!"

"Two years of hard work were not wasted—I've finally entered the gate!"

After the joy subsided.

A thought stirred in Chen Sheng's mind.

His hands instantly formed the most crucial hand seal of the first layer of the Crimson Flood Dragon Burning River Seal.

Mana from his Dantian immediately surged into that newly opened Hidden Meridian as readily as an arm obeyed a hand!

As the Mana was driven forth.

A layer of fine crimson scales emerged.

At a visible pace, they spread from his right shoulder.

In an instant, they covered his entire right forearm.

Spiritual Light burst forth, forming an endlessly circulating protective barrier.

"This is the Crimson Scale Armor!"

With a thought, Chen Sheng slapped his Storage Bag.

A jet-black, top-grade Ghost-Head Broadsword immediately shot out.

It spun through the air, its cold gleam flashing!

Using precise Mana control over the blade's edge, he guided it slowly across the protective light barrier.

Sssst!

A faint scraping sound rang out.

The Spiritual Light on the crimson-scaled barrier rippled slightly, yet not the slightest mark was left behind.

"According to the Cultivation Method's records, the Scale Armor Seal's defense rivals a top-grade protective barrier. It truly lives up to its name."

"Let's try again."

Chen Sheng formed the Weapon Control Technique with one hand and adjusted its direction.

The Ghost-Head Broadsword transformed into a streak of black light and cleaved with all its strength at the outermost edge of the scales on his right arm.

He knew what he was doing.

Even if it split the scales, it would not harm his physical body.

However.

There was only a crisp clang.

The black light struck it, raising nothing but a shower of sparks and leaving behind a deep blade mark.

The protective barrier shook for a moment, then swiftly steadied.

The scales over his body gradually repaired themselves as well, and that blade mark soon returned to normal.

Delight immediately rose in Chen Sheng's heart:

"Its defense surpasses even the Golden Light Talisman. An ordinary Qi Condensation Late-stage cultivator cannot harm me at all."

He stroked the crimson scales covering his right arm, and another thought soon arose:

"Now that I've entered the gate, all that remains is to cultivate step by step."

"Soon, the crimson scales will completely cover my body, and I'll fully master the first layer."

Several more days passed.

Chen Sheng was drinking tea in the courtyard.

At the southeastern corner.

The Stone Chamber used for secluded cultivation opened with a boom.

A gentle figure slowly emerged from within.

The Spiritual Energy around his body was perfectly rounded, clearly refined with painstaking care, without the slightest leakage.

Qi Condensation Seventh Level!

It was Qin Yuan.

Upon seeing his master, he immediately strode forward and cupped his hands in salute:

"Greetings, Master."

Chen Sheng was happy for him as well. Chuckling, he patted his Disciple on the shoulder:

"One attempt, one success. Not bad, not bad!"

Qin Yuan revealed a modest smile:

"It was all thanks to the breakthrough experience Master bestowed upon me."

"I painstakingly tempered my Mana for a year, then took an Apricot Yellow Pill to stabilize my Dantian before taking the pill to break through."

Chen Sheng immediately laughed heartily at that.

Back then, he had drawn upon his Father-in-law's experience of breaking through.

It had failed!

Afterward, he had also consulted his own and his wife's experiences, summarizing a few tricks and passing them on to his Disciple.

Who would have thought he would truly break through in a single attempt!

Chen Sheng smiled.

"Today, you've broken through. It's an auspicious day."

"Later, I'll have your Master's Wife cook a few good dishes. The two of us will have a proper drink and celebrate."

Qin Yuan nodded. "Yes."

At dusk.

Huang Wangyou made several dishes for them, then went off to meditate and cultivate.

Her sixty-year limit was right before her eyes.

Every day, Chen Sheng pushed her to cultivate diligently.

At the Stone Table.

Master and Disciple sat down and drank several cups.

"Master's Wife's cooking is always this delicious."

Qin Yuan picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and praised her.

Chen Sheng laughed heartily.

"Your Master's Wife's talent for cooking needs no introduction. It ranks among the best."

After three rounds of wine.

Chen Sheng asked directly:

"Yuan'er, what are your plans from here on?"

At his words, unease welled up in Qin Yuan's heart.

He pondered for a moment before slowly speaking:

"Like Senior Sister, this Disciple now devotes his heart to the Dao and has no feelings for romance..."

Chen Sheng laughed heartily.

"Don't worry, I won't urge you."

"Wasn't I the one who shielded you from your Master's Wife?"

"Speak your mind boldly."

Qin Yuan immediately let out a breath of relief.

"Thank you, Master. This Disciple intends to follow Senior Sister's example and spend several years gaining experience around Thousand Mechanisms Workshop."

Chen Sheng heard him.

At once, he understood this Disciple's thoughts.

He merely wanted to train for a few years, then go find Chen'er.

Chen Sheng could not help sighing inwardly.

Qin Yuan had learned every one of his skills.

Nor could he offer this Disciple a better path.

Could he force him to remain at the Pill Workshop?

Several decades later, would that not merely produce another 'Chen Sheng'?

If he failed to achieve Foundation Establishment, he still had another life. Qin Yuan did not!

After pondering for a moment, Chen Sheng nodded.

"Then be careful."

Qin Yuan nodded.

"Rest assured, Master."

Another year passed, and the peach blossoms had all fallen.

A wooden box sent from afar appeared in Huang Wangyou's hands.

It was something Tang Xichen had mailed back.

Chen Sheng stood at her side as well.

"It's even a Secret Box. Let me try."

Chen Sheng quickly tried several deciphering Hand Seals.

At last.

On his fourth attempt, he successfully opened the wooden box.

Inside lay a letter and a Jade slip.

He opened the letter.

The familiar handwriting.

Tang Xichen quickly wrote that she had received a letter from home.

She again asked after the family's circumstances.

She also stated that all was well with her at present.

She had successfully cultivated to the Qi Condensation Ninth Level.

Moreover, she had organized a demon-hunting team that had gained some renown within the city.

At the same time.

She had unexpectedly obtained a complete, superior Body Refining Method.

She had already begun cultivating it, and it had benefited her greatly.

She had also sent the method back.

She specifically instructed them that this method could help one break through the Blood-Qi Barrier; anyone aspiring to Foundation Establishment could cultivate it.

Chen Sheng chuckled.

"A superior Body Tempering Cultivation Method—not bad. It seems Chen'er has taken another step toward Foundation Establishment."

Body Refinement Cultivator methods were not particularly hard to find.

What was rare was one that was complete and sustainable, with all manner of secret medicines for support and no lasting hidden injuries.

The Cultivation Methods of many Body Refinement Cultivators could not be sustained.

Once they became stuck at a certain realm, it became difficult to advance further.

There were also body cultivators, formidable in battle, yet burdened with many hidden injuries.

Though their blood and qi were abundant, it hindered their advance to higher realms—truly cutting off their own path ahead.

At the same time, Body Refining was a gold-devouring road.

Compared with ordinary qi cultivation, it consumed resources several times over, something most people could not sustain.

Huang Wangyou's gaze fell on the final lines, and she could not help but chuckle softly.

"Looks like this Cultivation Method was sent specifically for Yuan'er!"

Chen Sheng burst into laughter.

"Couldn't it have been for her nephew or niece?"

Huang Wangyou rolled her eyes at him.

"You know perfectly well, yet you pretend to be confused."

Several days later.

Chen Sheng committed this Body Refining Method to memory.

Then he handed the Jade slip to Qin Yuan.

"This is the Body Tempering Cultivation Method your Senior Sister sent back. It will help you break through the Blood-Qi Barrier."

"Cultivate diligently."

Qin Yuan accepted the Jade slip and nodded lightly.

"This Disciple understands."