Treasure Ship

Chen Fusheng wished he could hack it down with a single slash!

He had always felt that this was the drawback brought by the Evil Tiger Diagram. It was nowhere near as satisfying as having his hearing and sense of smell grow sharper.

Moreover, his sturdy muscles and bones were scalding hot, as though a pair of fire tongs were trying to drill out from beneath his skin!

"Is this feeling... a breakthrough?"

Chen Fusheng sat down on the ground and released the energy stored within his muscles and bones, forming surging waves of heat that burst forth.

This was the life essence nurtured by his physical body. It radiated outward and blended with the energy in his qi sea.

Boom!

His qi sea trembled violently, and the golden energy spinning within it surged by a large margin!

As the energy blasted out through his pores, it formed two layers of energy shielding around his body, signifying the second level of the Star Guiding Realm.

Immediately afterward, the energy returned to his qi sea. Yet under Chen Fusheng's urging, the qi sea's energy pierced through every muscle and bone in his body. His physical strength surged and spilled outward, stretching his robes taut.

"This is the unique aspect of the Furnace Contemplation Method. The body's energy can return to the qi sea, or it can be drawn out to course through the body."

"Normally, I can hide the energy in my qi sea. That way, no one else will discover anything wrong with my constitution."

Chen Fusheng was pleasantly surprised. He had perfectly resolved the drawback of his strengthening constitution, though the matter of Teng Lin still weighed on him.

"Outer Sect Disciples can also temper their bodies through body-hardening methods. I can instead disguise myself as someone proficient in Fierce Tiger Fist."

After pondering for a moment, Chen Fusheng had just stood up when his body suddenly swayed violently, nearly making him fall to the ground.

"What the hell?"

Chen Fusheng felt that the ground was unsteady. He soon discovered that his own body was actually uncoordinated!

The muscles and bones inside him were as hard as javelins, almost piercing through his skin.

Smack!

Chen Fusheng rolled up his sleeve, raised his arm, and suddenly grabbed and pulled at it. His muscles and bones shook violently, and tearing pain immediately came from his flesh and skin. Blood even began to seep from his pores!

Although the pain was not especially severe, his flesh and skin were actually as flimsy as wastepaper. This left him utterly horrified. Had something gone wrong with his cultivation?

"What... I understand now. My muscles and bones have become powerful, but my flesh and skin still aren't strong enough. They're almost unable to contain my bones."

Only then did Chen Fusheng realize that flesh, muscles and bones, the five viscera and six bowels, meridians, blood... these were all vital structures that made up the human body.

If he focused purely on shaping his muscles and bones, wouldn't the foundation of his body become severely unstable over time?

"The next stage requires shaping the flesh and skin, using them to wrap around the muscles and bones. It seems I need to cultivate this Spirit Snake Diagram. The spirit snake is a demonic beast, and its hide is soft yet tough."

Chen Fusheng examined the densely packed heavenly pillar engravings. Then, struck by a sudden inspiration, he smoothly guided the remaining energy from the Evil Tiger Diagram into the Spirit Snake Diagram.

"Hm? The Spirit Snake Diagram is only emitting a faint glow?"

Chen Fusheng frowned. He continued gathering the energy of heaven and earth to replenish the Spirit Snake Diagram, only to discover that its charging speed was several times slower.

Chen Fusheng gave a bitter laugh. "It seems the Spirit Snake Diagram is stronger than the Evil Tiger Diagram. As for the diagrams that come later, like the Flood Dragon Diagram, the energy they require will probably be enormous!"

"It seems that trying to accumulate capital and speed up my cultivation in the short term is unrealistic."

Chen Fusheng sighed. "You can't eat hot tofu in a hurry. I'll take the path of cultivation slowly."

Seeing that dawn was approaching, he leaped down the mountain. Along the way, he adapted to his uncoordinated body.

There was a Large Market City on the banks of the Black River. The things traded there included rare fish, demonic beast materials, precious medicinal herbs from the river, and more.

Chen Fusheng was just about to ask for directions to Black River Hall when a booming voice came from behind him.

"Fusheng, why aren't you working at the Dining Hall this early in the morning? What are you doing here?"

Chen Fusheng turned around and looked at the burly figure who had called out to him. His eyes immediately lit up.

"Lie-ge!"

Chen Fusheng had always respected Wang Lie. At first, when he had taken Wang Lie's place in completing the rough-labor assignments, he had thought Wang Lie was very difficult to get along with, mainly because of his explosive temper.

But as time passed, Chen Fusheng discovered that Wang Lie was merely cold on the outside and warm on the inside. He also paid extremely well.

Wang Lie was a famous figure in the East Courtyard. At eighteen, he had reached the seventh level of the Star Guiding Realm, and his hopes of becoming an Inner Courtyard disciple in the future were quite high.

A young man and a young woman were also with him. One of them was a slender youth in white, with a face as handsome as jade and a slightly arrogant bearing.

When Chen Fusheng looked toward the other, a girl in black, he was instantly dazzled. She looked like a peerless beauty who had stepped out of a painting, with a cold and stunning air and an exceptionally proud figure.

Information about her flashed through Chen Fusheng's mind. Mu Zhen, the Outer Sect's number-one beauty. He had once caught a distant glimpse of her.

She was only sixteen, yet she had already reached the ninth level of the Star Guiding Realm. She was a genius, and even Inner Courtyard disciples were among her many admirers.

"Lie-ge, I was planning to go fish in the Black River..."

Before Chen Fusheng could finish, Wang Lie glared at him and suddenly pressed a large hand onto his shoulder. "With that frame of yours, are you enough to feed the fish?"

Hm?

Wang Lie gently pressed Chen Fusheng's shoulder.

A trace of surprise flashed through his eyes. These bones were rather hard...

Had he successfully entered the Star Guiding Realm, or did he possess a special constitution?

He knew that some ordinary people had a chance of awakening their physical potential during their first meditation and cultivation, thereby causing their bodies to grow stronger. This was a sign of a special constitution.

Although this offered no particular boost toward reaching the Other Shore Realm, it granted extraordinary combat ability in the Star Guiding Realm, making such a person a special talent.

"Lie-ge, I've already entered the Star Guiding Realm and chosen the mission to capture spirit fish," Chen Fusheng said.

"Old Lie, this is your friend? He dares to go capture spirit fish right after entering the Star Guiding Realm?" the young man in white interjected with a mocking laugh.

Wang Lie remained composed. "He's a little brother of mine. Old Bai, don't laugh. You didn't have that kind of nerve back then, did you?"

Liu Bai's tone was unpleasant. "You call that nerve? I went out on a boat for three months straight, and I couldn't even fish up a single scale from a spirit fish."

"That was because your luck was bad. As a newcomer, he might just have explosive luck and haul away an entire nest of spirit fish. Aren't you blessed now?" Wang Lie roared with laughter.

"I'm blessed?" Liu Bai's expression darkened. "Wang Lie, what do you mean? You're adding someone at the last minute, and you're even bringing along a rookie?"

"Lie-ge, I'm just going out to try my luck. You all go about your business. I won't bother you." Chen Fusheng turned and left.

However, Wang Lie's large hand remained pressed on his shoulder. "Old Bai, I'm risking my life to accompany you three hundred li along the Black River. What, you can't even let me bring my little brother?"

Three hundred li?

Chen Fusheng wondered if he had heard wrong. Everyone knew that ordinary people's activities on the river were limited to a few dozen li. If they went beyond a hundred li, they might encounter attacks from demonic beasts.

Even the lowest-level demonic beasts were at the Star Guiding Realm. They might even run into a demonic beast of the Other Shore Realm.

Three hundred li was even more dangerous. With their lineup, how could they possibly retreat unscathed?

Liu Bai's expression was ugly. Wang Lie was no ordinary seventh-level cultivator. Although he did not possess a special constitution, he had mastered the body-hardening Vajra Fist. With the added strength of his physique, his combat power was no weaker than that of someone at the ninth level.

Of course, the most important thing was that Wang Lie had always been fair and upright in his dealings. When going out on missions with him, there was none of the infighting and other aggravation that made people's lives miserable. That was the key point.

Thinking of this, Liu Bai turned to Mu Zhen for help. However, the cold and stunning girl merely continued scanning the surrounding stalls. She had no interest in their conversation.

Liu Bai immediately lost heart. They had happened to run into Mu Zhen, and he had boldly invited her along. She had also gone out for a bit of fun out of curiosity.

"Fine, fine. It doesn't matter if a few more people board my treasure ship. But let me make this clear first: he has no right to share in our catch."

Wang Lie naturally had no objection. He was treating it as taking Chen Fusheng out to broaden his horizons.

"He actually has a treasure ship?"

Chen Fusheng was astonished. Even the lowest-level treasure ships could restrain demonic beasts and escape from demonic beasts of the Other Shore Realm. Yet he had heard that these things cost an absurd amount.

With a treasure ship leading the way, he wanted to make the trip as well and gain some experience along the way.

"Lie-ge, you forced me into the group like this. Isn't it a little inappropriate?" Chen Fusheng asked as he followed the group. Who would be willing to take a rookie three hundred li into the Black River?

"It's fine. Liu Bai is a good person. And now that you've become a star master, you'll have to integrate into the cultivators' circle sooner or later."

Wang Lie had also come from poverty. He had fought his way forward step by step to achieve what he had today. If Chen Fusheng's cultivation caught up, they could go out and undertake missions together in the future.

More importantly, they knew each other well. Every year, most of the star masters buried in the Ten Thousand Li Black River were killed in internecine conflicts!

When the group reached the bank of the Black River, Liu Bai patted the yellow pouch at his waist. Brilliant rays of light burst from its opening, and a yellow boat the size of a palm flew out.

"He even has a storage pouch?"

Chen Fusheng was completely dumbfounded. Then he noticed that Wang Lie was looking at him somewhat strangely.

"Lie-ge, what's wrong?" Chen Fusheng asked nervously.

Wang Lie looked at Chen Fusheng, then at Liu Bai. He thought to himself that his little brother was better-looking than Liu Bai. More importantly, he was sturdier. If he cultivated him properly, he would definitely have a brighter future than Liu Bai!

Besides, Chen Fusheng was not yet fifteen. He was still a virgin. Once he grew into his full height, he would absolutely be in high demand.

"Fusheng, get acquainted with Old Bai over the next few days. Make sure to ask him for guidance about the road of life."

Wang Lie pulled Chen Fusheng aside and earnestly lectured him. "This treasure ship and storage pouch were both gifts from Liu Bai's Inner Courtyard girlfriend for his hundred-and-eightieth birthday."

Chen Fusheng's eyes widened. A hundred and eighty years old?

"Lie-ge, I don't have that kind of future!" He shuddered.

Wang Lie sighed with emotion. "The road of life is long. You might not reach the Other Shore Realm even after struggling for decades. If you lack talent, you can only take shortcuts. Fusheng, you have a bright future. I have faith in you!"

Wang Lie gave his shoulder a hard slap, admiring how tough those bones were.

Chen Fusheng's expression was terribly unnatural. Wang Lie laughed and cursed him. "I'm doing this for your own good. How can you cultivate without resources? You have neither connections nor a background, so you can only take the shortcut!"

"During the new-book period, I need to compete for recommendation slots, so I can't update too much. Otherwise, I'll miss out on some of the recommendation spots for new books. Once this period is over, I'll make it up to everyone."