Xiantian Transcends the Mortal, Bronze Skin Iron Bones

Han Zheng returned home, setting the bottle of pills Yuan Longshan had given him on the table. He rubbed his brow and let out a long breath.

Earlier, Li Jingzhong had told him the sky over Black Stone County was about to change, urging him to focus on martial arts and not get tangled up in all this messy business.

Yet now he found himself caught in the open and covert struggle between the Incense Cult and the Demon Extermination Division—there was nothing bigger than this.

Such was the helplessness of being in the game; without strength, one could only be a pawn, and he had no idea when he might become the one laying out the pieces and making the moves.

Besides, even if Han Zheng wanted to avoid it, he couldn't. From the moment he had transmigrated, he had already made enemies of the Three Harmonies Gang, and sooner or later, he would be drawn into the situation.

Pushing aside these useless thoughts, Han Zheng carefully examined the bottle of pills.

Whether in the game or not, strength alone was the foundation for survival.

After the medicinal bath, Han Zheng's cultivation had already soared, reaching the Peak Acquired Stage.

Originally, Han Zheng had planned to accumulate more experience and seek an opportunity to break through to the Innate Realm, but now that opportunity had arrived.

On the pill bottle were three small characters: Spirit Nurturing Pill. The moment he opened it, the fragrance of medicine filled the air.

Unlike the unpleasant smell of the medicinal bath, the scent of the Spirit Nurturing Pill was rich, and the aura it emitted was almost intoxicating.

He poured a pill into his palm. It was only the size of a thumb, perfectly round and blackish-red, so smooth it looked like a pearl.

Swallowing the pill in one gulp, Han Zheng instantly felt as if he had swallowed a ball of fire.

The fire wasn't violent, but the moment it entered his stomach, it ignited all the internal energy within his three hundred and sixty-five acupoints.

Vast inner qi surged through Han Zheng's body, even causing a faint glow to emanate from his skin. The qi churned, rattling the table with gusts of force.

If Han Zheng didn't release this power, he might soon suffer from meridians bursting and die.

Without hesitation, Han Zheng immediately channeled all this energy into every inch of his flesh, skin, and bones.

The early stage of the Innate Realm, Bronze Skin Iron Bones, required using inner energy to constantly wash and refine the flesh and bones.

For normal people, this step would be excruciatingly painful, but for Han Zheng, who had sacrificed his sense of pain, it didn't matter—he only had tactile sensation left.

Han Zheng could feel the inner energy flowing and scouring through his bones and flesh, constantly destroying yet also nourishing them, allowing them to regenerate.

Humans are born in the Innate Realm, but as they grow in the Acquired Stage, impurities continuously enter the body, turning the innate body into an acquired one.

The Xiantian Mortal Transformation Realm was a process of cleansing the body and returning to the innate state.

The Spirit Nurturing Pill released its medicinal power in Han Zheng's stomach like an unending blaze, continuously supplying energy.

Han Zheng could even clearly sense a strange change in the texture of his flesh, skin, and bones.

Half an hour later, the pill's medicinal power had completely dissipated, and the flame died out.

With no replenishment after the final surge of inner energy scoured his bones, Han Zheng finally exhausted his strength.

Han Zheng frowned slightly.

This feeling was very uncomfortable, like stopping halfway through something.

It wasn't like practicing edging; a full breakthrough was much more satisfying.

Last time, after killing Feng Yuan, he had gained 30 points of Vitality Essence. Han Zheng had sacrificed all of it for 300 points of Satiety and entered the Gluttonous Crucible to cultivate.

The Innate Realm tested not only talent but also control over power and perseverance.

Without the aid of pills, Han Zheng directly restored his inner energy, then refined his flesh and blood, exhausting his strength before refining again.

Han Zheng's talent was average, and his physical constitution was also very average.

If he were a talented martial artist from a major sect, his body would naturally have fewer impurities, and he wouldn't need to refine it over and over like Han Zheng did.

Martial artists from the lower classes were inherently more disadvantaged than those from major sects or noble families; they had to spend more time just to get started.

After cultivating for a full three hundred days in the Gluttonous Crucible, with his Satiety completely drained, Han Zheng still hadn't stepped into the Innate Realm. He was still missing that one last feeling.

From the Acquired Stage to the Innate Realm—a major threshold in martial arts cultivation.

Some people might never cross it in their entire lives.

"Just one thread away," Han Zheng muttered, shaking his head with slight helplessness.

If talent wasn't enough, hard work had to make up for it. If hard work wasn't enough, then he'd have to cheat.

He cultivated until dawn. Instead of going to the martial arts school, Han Zheng asked a nearby disciple to take a few days off for him to Li Jingzhong, saying he was groping toward the Innate Realm and would be in seclusion, so he wouldn't be coming to the school.

Li Jingzhong already knew Han Zheng was close to the Innate Realm from last time, so it was normal for him to ask for leave to go into seclusion.

But Li Jingzhong thought Han Zheng was preparing for Foundation Establishment in the Innate Realm, laying the groundwork for a breakthrough. He didn't expect Han Zheng to be only a hair's breadth away from breaking through.

Over the next three days, aside from buying a pile of steamed buns to eat, Han Zheng spent all his time cultivating.

It wasn't until the third night, when the last trace of impurities in Han Zheng's bones and flesh had been thoroughly cleansed, that he officially stepped into the Xiantian Mortal Transformation Realm, forging Bronze Skin Iron Bones!

Han Zheng looked at his hands and the skin on his body.

He had once had some scars, but now they were all gone, leaving only smooth skin.

The calluses on his tiger's mouth from practicing punches had also disappeared.

Of course, this transformation was a one-time thing. If he got injured later, there would still be marks, unless he cultivated some other body-tempering technique to refine his flesh again.

He rubbed the teacup between his fingers a few times.

Those slightly fair hands now worked like a crusher, grinding the white porcelain cup to dust!

Han Zheng could feel, almost firsthand, that his strength had taken a qualitative leap.

His bones were no longer the white of ordinary bone, but gave off a metallic sheen and luster.

Calling up the Gluttonous Crucible, Han Zheng checked his stats.

Name: Han Zheng

Cultivation: Xiantian Mortal Transformation Realm, early stage (Bronze Skin Iron Bones)

Martial Arts & Skills: Houtian Realm "Iron Elephant Skill" mastered, Houtian Realm "Vajra Fist" mastered.

Innate Realm "Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill" proficiency 65%, Innate Realm "Vajra Demon Subduing Seal" proficiency 18%, Innate Realm "White Ape Through-Arm Fist" proficiency 10%, Houtian Realm "Blood Fiend Saber Art" proficiency 15%.

Current Status: Pain loss, internal energy depleted.

Breaking through to the Xiantian Mortal Transformation Realm had also sent the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill's proficiency soaring.

"Eh? You broke through to the Innate Realm this fast? Even with the Spirit Nurturing Pill the boss gave you, that speed is astonishing—no less than the elite disciples of the major sects."

The voice rang out abruptly in the courtyard. Han Zheng startled, instinctively grabbing the hilt of the Wild Goose Feather Saber beside him and whipping around.

Zhang Tianyang stood in Han Zheng's yard, having appeared there at some unknown moment, eyeing Han Zheng with a hint of surprise.

Han Zheng's heart was pounding with shock—he hadn't sensed a trace of how the man entered the courtyard.

Was Zhang Tianyang at the peak of the Innate Realm, or the Profound Gang Realm?

Li Jingzhong was late Innate Realm, but even he hadn't put this much pressure on Han Zheng.

Zhang Tianyang was only one minor realm above Li Jingzhong, so why did his strength feel leaps and bounds greater?

"I owe it all to Lord Yuan's Spirit Nurturing Pill. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had the foundation to complete Foundation Establishment so quickly."

"Tsk, don't be modest. That speed is already remarkable.

Even the youngsters in the Demon Extermination Division, with pill assistance, need a month or two to finish the tempering. Anyone who can complete it within ten days and forge Bronze Skin Iron Bones is a genius."

Han Zheng let out a dry laugh.

Strictly speaking, with the pill's help, he'd taken over three hundred days—ten months—to fully complete the tempering.

At that rate, he was no genius; he was barely mediocre.

"Since you've broken through to the Innate Realm, I came today to remind you: Gao Kaiyuan is about to trace things back to you.

Everyone else has been cleared of suspicion. You're next on the list.

Black Stone County is small. If the Three Harmonies Gang wants to investigate someone, you can't hide for long.

I've been stalling by finding excuses to arrest some of Gao Kaiyuan's men, but I can't push too far, or it'll raise suspicion."

Han Zheng nodded. "I appreciate the heads-up, Lord Zhang. It's time I made my move."

Truth be told, even if Zhang Tianyang hadn't said anything, Han Zheng had planned to act once he broke through to the Innate Realm.

In the Houtian Realm, facing Gao Kaiyuan at late Innate Realm, he had no chance of victory.

Only by reaching the Innate Realm could he stand a fighting chance.

Zhang Tianyang nodded in satisfaction. "Go ahead. Just stir the waters enough, and leave the rest to me."

Han Zheng hadn't taken the benefits without delivering—that pleased Zhang Tianyang.

With that, Zhang Tianyang leaped and vanished from Han Zheng's small courtyard.

After a night of recovering his internal energy, Han Zheng rose early the next morning to scout out the Three Harmonies Gang's current situation.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you'll never be defeated.

In truth, ever since Han Zheng learned the Three Harmonies Gang was tied to his death, he'd been gathering intelligence on them. He'd already formed a plan in his mind.

Though Han Zheng had now stepped into the Innate Realm, he'd seen Gao Kaiyuan's strength firsthand.

The late Innate Realm Shattered Jade Hand could split metal and crush stone—far beyond what Han Zheng could match now.

So to deal with Gao Kaiyuan, a frontal assault was out of the question. He'd have to strike from another angle.

The grudge between Gao Kaiyuan and First Gang Leader Cao Bin was the opening Han Zheng had chosen.

The Three Harmonies Gang's Hall was in the West City. Han Zheng had never seen what it looked like—before, lacking strength, he'd done his best to steer clear of them.

Now that he was ready to move against Gao Kaiyuan, he at least needed a thorough understanding of the gang's setup.

But as Han Zheng passed by Shenghe Hall, he spotted Li Feng arguing with a few others at the entrance.

At the head was a burly, scar-faced thug with a fierce look, grabbing Li Feng by the front of his robe and glaring. "Old man, what's your game? Daring to shortchange our gang leader's Spiritual Medicine? You got a death wish?"

Li Feng, usually so refined and polite, now stood with his clothes in disarray, face full of terror.

Shenghe Hall had some sturdy laborers, but none dared step forward.

Behind that thug was a pack of glaring, vicious-looking ruffians.

Li Feng pleaded in a low voice, "I really didn't shortchange your gang leader's Spiritual Medicine. That batch—Young Master Cao asked for it, and you did too. If I gave it to you, how would I explain it to Young Master Cao?

The Head Shopkeeper ordered that the bill for this batch hasn't been settled yet, so I can't just hand it out recklessly."

"You're afraid you can't explain it to him, but not afraid you can't explain it to us? Looks like you don't take us seriously at all—time for a beating!"

With that, the thug swung a palm down toward Li Feng's face.