Battle Saint Body

True Person Li Shui said to Fang Chen with a smile, "Fang Chen, in recognition of your outstanding performance in Spirit Flame Valley this time, the Sect has decided to award you a second-class merit. Your previous debt of one thousand and ten Spirit Stones from the Enforcement Hall's punishment has been canceled, and you've been rewarded with five hundred Contribution Points. In addition, you've earned a one-year exemption from missions. This means the Sect won't assign you any basic missions for the next year."

"Really?"

Fang Chen looked at True Person Li Shui, disbelief etched on his face. He hadn't expected such generous rewards from the Sect for earning just one second-class merit.

"Yes!"

True Person Li Shui nodded slightly and said, "Your Contribution Points have been recorded and can be claimed and used at any time!"

"Thank you, Elder!"

Fang Chen was overjoyed and immediately bowed deeply to True Person Li Shui.

"Alright, you can go back now!"

True Person Li Shui said to Fang Chen with a smile.

Fang Chen bowed slightly to True Person Li, then left the Merit Hall with Liu Yu, a disciple from the Enforcement Hall.

After Fang Chen left, a young girl walked in. She wore a light green gauze dress, with red cloud patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs. Her face was pretty, her skin fair, and beneath her curved eyebrows were eyes as bright as autumn water. She looked up at the entrance of the hall, her brows slightly furrowed, and asked Elder Li Shui, "Master, since you think so highly of this Fang Chen, why don't you take him as your disciple directly?"

True Person Li Shui chuckled softly and said, "No rush. Today, I'll first establish a good connection with him, and then observe him for a while longer!"

Taking a disciple was not a trivial matter, especially since Fang Chen had no Spiritual Root. He didn't dare to rashly accept him. If he were to take Fang Chen as a disciple, and Fang Chen's cultivation couldn't advance later, he would be ridiculed.

"Mm!"

The young girl nodded slightly and then said to True Person Li Shui, "Master, I want to try the Li Shui Sword Array again!"

True Person Li Shui's lips curved slightly, and he said, "Of course, follow me!"

After speaking, True Person Li Shui turned and walked towards a small door on the side of the hall. Although True Person Li Shui's cultivation was not very high, his combat power was definitely among the Nascent Soul Elders of the Glazed Sword Sect, as he excelled in formations. Many cultivators in the ninth transformation of the Nascent Soul realm could not break through his Li Shui Sword Array.

The young girl immediately followed True Person Li Shui out.

After Fang Chen walked out of the Merit Hall, he felt much lighter, as if a great burden had been lifted.

Liu Yu, the disciple from the Enforcement Hall, directly summoned his flying sword and said to Fang Chen, "Junior Brother Fang Chen, please come up. I'll give you a ride back to Dog Head Ridge!"

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Fang Chen bowed slightly to the Enforcement Hall disciple and then stood on the flying sword.

"Let's go!"

The Enforcement Hall disciple immediately controlled his flying sword and soared into the sky with Fang Chen.

Dog Head Ridge.

Li Yanshan and Elder Yun were playing chess under the large elm tree.

Li Yanshan placed a chess piece on the board and looked up at Elder Yun, saying, "Elder Yun, do you think that boy Fang Chen can make it back alive?"

Elder Yun sighed softly and said, "It's difficult!"

Elder Yun understood that although Fang Chen had the Body Protection Spiritual Jade he gave him, he had offended Zhang Tielin. It would be too easy for Zhang Tielin to kill Fang Chen. Based on their years of experience, the chance of Fang Chen returning alive was extremely slim.

Although Fang Chen was from Dog Head Ridge, they had helped him as much as they could. As for whether Fang Chen could return alive, it would depend on his own fate.

Just then, a rainbow light directly appeared above the large elm tree.

Li Yanshan and Elder Yun immediately looked up and saw an Enforcement Hall disciple controlling a flying sword, bringing Fang Chen back.

The Enforcement Hall disciple lowered the flying sword, and Fang Chen jumped off. He then turned and bowed slightly to the disciple, saying respectfully, "Thank you, Senior Brother Liu Yu!"

"You're welcome, I'm leaving!"

Liu Yu smiled slightly at Fang Chen and immediately flew away on his flying sword.

Fang Chen turned to look at Li Yanshan and Elder Yun, a smile on his face, and said, "Uncle Li, Elder Yun, I'm back!"

"This..."

Li Yanshan and Elder Yun were both stunned. They hadn't expected Fang Chen to return so quickly.

Li Yanshan asked Fang Chen, "Fang Chen, what exactly happened?"

Fang Chen smiled at Li Yanshan and said, "Uncle Li, Elder Yun, I earned merit!"

"Earned merit?"

Li Yanshan and Elder Yun were both taken aback.

Fang Chen nodded and continued, "Yes, last night the outpost in Spirit Flame Valley was attacked by a group of Bloodthirsty Evil Crows. They suffered heavy losses, and the outpost was almost leveled..."

Fang Chen recounted what happened at the Spirit Flame Valley outpost last night.

"What? Your cultivation broke through to the third level of Qi Refining?"

Upon hearing that Fang Chen's cultivation had broken through to the third level of Qi Refining, Li Yanshan's eyes widened instantly, as did Elder Yun's.

They both knew that Fang Chen had no Spiritual Root. Just a few days ago, Fang Chen was being chased by two Handymen in Thousand Bamboo Ridge and only broke through to the Qi Refining Realm by chance. Yet now, in less than two days, his cultivation had soared directly to the third level of Qi Refining.

Fang Chen immediately circulated the Glazed Qi Refining Art, and a powerful aura emanated from him. On the surface of his body, three layers of faint Body Protection Spiritual Light appeared.

"It really is the third level of Qi Refining!"

Li Yanshan and Elder Yun exchanged glances, both taking a deep breath. Such a terrifying rate of improvement was hard to match even for cultivators with a sixth-grade True Spiritual Root.

Elder Yun and Li Yanshan both strongly suspected that Fang Chen truly had no Spiritual Root. They couldn't believe someone without one could cultivate so quickly.

Li Yanshan stared at Fang Chen, frowning, and asked, "Fang Chen, do you really have no Spiritual Root?"

Elder Yun also looked at Fang Chen with suspicion.

Fang Chen nodded vigorously. "It's the absolute truth. If you don't believe me, you can check!"

With that, Fang Chen extended his hand towards Li Yanshan and Elder Yun.

Elder Yun immediately reached out, grasped Fang Chen's wrist, and probed his body with his Spiritual Sense. His Spiritual Sense entered Fang Chen's Dantian, where he only saw the Black Iron Sword. He found no Spiritual Root.

Elder Yun released Fang Chen's hand, looking at him in disbelief. "This is truly strange. Without a Spiritual Root, how could your cultivation advance so rapidly? How did you do it?"

Li Yanshan couldn't help but ask Fang Chen, "Yes, how did you do it?"

Fang Chen repeated the explanation he had given to True Person Li Shui at the Merit Hall.

After hearing it, Li Yanshan and Elder Yun both wore expressions of disbelief.

"A genius! Truly a once-in-ten-thousand-years genius!"

Li Yanshan stared at Fang Chen, unable to help but exclaim in admiration.

Elder Yun also spoke, "Fang Chen, your physique might be the legendary Battle Saint Body, rarely seen in ten thousand years!"

"What is this Battle Saint Body?"

Fang Chen looked up at Elder Yun with a confused expression.

Elder Yun leaned on his cane, gazing slightly upwards towards the exit of Dog Head Ridge, his eyes a little distant. He began, "The Battle Saint Body is said to be one of the most powerful physiques in existence. Even legendary physiques like the Chaos Body, Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo, Primordial Sacred Body, and Xuanhuang Hegemonic Body would struggle to contend with it!"

"As the name suggests, the Battle Saint Body is born for battle and strikes fear into the hearts of all. Their cultivation method involves constantly breaking through their limits in combat, which is terrifying!"

Fang Chen was shocked by the description of this fearsome physique. He hadn't realized such powerful bodies existed in the world.

He had heard of physiques like the Chaos Body, various Sacred Bodies, Divine Bodies, Spirit Bodies, and Hegemonic Bodies. He knew these physiques were incredibly formidable and made cultivation progress by leaps and bounds.

However, Fang Chen knew he was not the Battle Saint Body Elder Yun described. He was just an ordinary person without a Spiritual Root. The reason he could break through in combat was because he possessed the Floating Immortal Sword.

He looked at Elder Yun and shook his head. "Elder Yun, I have an ordinary physique. I don't even have a Spiritual Root, so I couldn't possibly be the Battle Saint Body you mentioned!"

"Heh heh, I was just guessing. Whether you are the Battle Saint Body or not, it doesn't matter. As long as your cultivation can continue to improve, that's what's important. Congratulations on completing the mission ahead of schedule and earning a second-class merit!"

Elder Yun smiled at Fang Chen and congratulated him.

"Yes, congratulations! You've really struck it lucky, kid. This trip to Spirit Flame Valley has been incredibly profitable!"

Li Yanshan also sincerely congratulated Fang Chen, happy for his achievements.

"Thank you, Elder Yun! Thank you, Uncle Li!"

Fang Chen immediately bowed slightly to Elder Yun. Despite his increased strength, he still held deep respect for Elder Yun and Li Yanshan.

Li Yanshan said to Fang Chen, "Let's go to the market. Uncle Li is treating today, and we must celebrate properly!"

"Yes, we absolutely must celebrate!"

Elder Yun chimed in.

"Woof woof..."

Little Six also barked excitedly, as if agreeing that a celebration was in order.

Fang Chen smiled and said to Li Yanshan, "Uncle Li, if we're treating, it has to be me treating today. Let's go!"

"Hahaha, alright! If that's the case, we won't stand on ceremony!"

Li Yanshan laughed heartily, then brought over the little donkey, letting Elder Yun ride it. He and Fang Chen followed behind the donkey, and they left Dog Head Ridge together.