Sarira!

"The Golden Bell Shield is truly more difficult than the Boyhood Art. If I want to cultivate it to the tenth level, Refining Qi into Gang, reaching the same realm as the Boyhood Art, it will likely take another two to three years of arduous training!"

Tang Jie scratched his head, feeling a bit troubled. He was still not satisfied with his progress.

But there was no helping it; cultivating internal energy was like this. It required years of accumulation. One couldn't just have an epiphany and instantly become a first-rate or super first-rate master.

Fortunately, Tang Jie was still young. If he continued cultivating, he would eventually reach higher realms!

Dawn was breaking. Although it was still snowing outside, Tang Jie took his Iron Cutting Saber and began practicing his saber techniques in the courtyard.

Skills would become rusty if not practiced daily. Tang Jie maintained the habit of practicing his saber for half an hour to an hour every day!

"Practicing so early again?" After Tang Jie finished his saber practice, the sky had already brightened. Du Jue woke up and prepared to go down the mountain to fetch water. Seeing Tang Jie in the courtyard, he was already used to it.

For the past year, Tang Jie had been diligently practicing martial arts every day. His dedication had even startled Du Jue, who was also a martial arts enthusiast. Du Jue finally understood why Tang Jie had such profound cultivation at such a young age. It wasn't just his astonishing talent, but also the far greater amount of sweat and effort he had put in compared to ordinary people!

"Uncle-Master Du Jue, I'd like to ask for your help. My Golden Bell Shield has reached the seventh level, and I need to start with hardening exercises. Could you spare an hour each day to practice with me?" Tang Jie said to Du Jue.

Once the Golden Bell Shield reached the seventh level, one could begin hardening exercises, which involved striking the body with weapons like staffs to strengthen its ability to rebound and withstand attacks. Perfecting this meant being able to control the rebound force at will, with it automatically triggering upon heavy impact.

This process would be very painful, and one couldn't persevere without great willpower!

"Okay... You... What did you just say? Your Golden Bell Shield reached the seventh level?"

Upon hearing this, Du Jue, who was about to say "okay," suddenly reacted and spoke with disbelief.

Du Jue knew Tang Jie's talent was extraordinary, and his progress in cultivating the Golden Bell Shield would definitely be much faster than others. However, in Du Jue's estimation, even if Tang Jie's talent far surpassed his own, cultivating the Golden Bell Shield to the third or fourth level in a year would be the limit.

But now Tang Jie was saying he had cultivated the Golden Bell Shield to the seventh level?

Even though Du Jue knew Tang Jie wasn't someone who lied, he still found it hard to believe!

However, whether it was true or not, they would know with a single test!

"Take this!"

Du Jue shouted, and his sturdy body lunged towards Tang Jie. He channeled his Golden Bell Shield power, and a faint golden true qi flowed around his fist as he threw a punch straight at Tang Jie's chest. The fist broke through the air. An ordinary first-rate martial artist who dared to take this heavy punch with their body would have their bones broken on the spot.

"Good!"

Tang Jie's eyes flashed with brilliance, and he was delighted rather than surprised.

"Golden Bell Shield. Seventh Level!"

The Golden Bell true qi within Tang Jie's body instantly circulated throughout his entire body, covering his skin and muscles with a layer of faint gold. He didn't dodge or evade, choosing to take Du Jue's heavy punch head-on!

"Clang!"

Du Jue's fist, carrying immense force, slammed into Tang Jie's chest. But at that moment, it erupted with a resonant metallic collision sound, as if it were not two flesh-and-blood bodies colliding, but two great bells!

Hummmmm!

As the fist met the chest, a rebounding force emanated from Tang Jie's body, capable of shattering the attacker's arm and bones.

Fortunately, Du Jue was familiar with the characteristics of the Golden Bell Shield. A surge of Golden Bell Force also generated on his fist, canceling out the force emanating from Tang Jie. Golden ripples, seemingly visible, spread through the air!

The two stood firm. Du Jue stared at Tang Jie, dumbfounded, "You... you've really mastered the seventh level of the Golden Bell Shield?"

In fact, there was no need to ask. Du Jue had personally experienced it. This was indeed the seventh level of the Golden Bell Shield, and there was no mistaking it!

Du Jue wore a wry smile. Comparing oneself to others was disheartening. He had started cultivating the Golden Bell Shield when he was just a few years old, and it wasn't until he was twenty-three that he mastered the seventh level. Yet Tang Jie had reached this stage in just one year?

"What's that noise?"

At this moment, Tang Tianhao was awakened by the sound, which resembled a golden bell striking, and he pushed open the door, rushing to ask.

Du Jue glanced back at Tang Tianhao, "Your son's cultivation talent is truly extraordinary, unheard of!"

Tang Tianhao was stunned, then said proudly, "Of course. People are not all the same!"

"Good boy, I'll help you with your hardening exercises today!"

Du Jue patted Tang Jie's shoulder and smiled.

"Alright, thank you, Uncle-Master!"

Tang Jie's eyes lit up. Hardening exercises required assistance from others, using staffs to strike the body to train its resistance to blows and the Golden Bell's rebound force. With Du Jue, a martial artist, practicing with him, it would surely be twice the result with half the effort!

Not long after, in the courtyard, Tang Jie stood in a horse stance, his muscular upper body bare, motionless. Du Jue, also bare-chested with muscles like iron lumps, held a wooden staff thicker than a baby's arm and repeatedly struck Tang Jie's body.

"Bang bang bang!"

Muffled thuds echoed endlessly in the courtyard.

Tang Tianhao, watching from the side, felt a pang of heartache but knew this was an essential step in cultivating the seventh level of the Golden Bell Shield.

Even with Tang Jie's physique, after an hour of hardening exercises, his entire body was covered in bruises and contusions.

It was only because of his deep cultivation and the seventh level of the Golden Bell Shield that Tang Jie could endure it. If an ordinary person were repeatedly struck by such a thick wooden staff, their internal organs and bones would be shattered!

"Hiss..."

The pain that shot through Tang Jie's body with every movement made him gasp.

Du Jue, watching, smiled, "We'll continue tomorrow."

"Yes, I can still handle it." Tang Jie grinned, showing his teeth. The injuries on his body would take ordinary people ten to fifteen days to heal, but with Tang Jie's cultivation, they would be fully recovered overnight.

A strange glint flashed in Du Jue's eyes, "Perhaps... giving that to him is the best option."

Night fell, and Tang Jie cultivated and healed his wounds in his room.

"Senior Brother Du Jue, what did you need me for?"

In Du Jue's room, Tang Tianhao sat by the table and looked at Du Jue with confusion. Du Jue had called him to his room not long ago, so there must be something important.

Du Jue remained silent. Instead, he took a small jade box from a nearby chest and brought it to the table, placing it down.

"Open it and see," Du Jue said.

Tang Tianhao nodded slightly, also curious about what was inside the small box. He opened it, and a golden light emanated from the box, illuminating the entire room. Tang Tianhao was somewhat startled.

After a long while, the light from the box gradually subsided. Tang Tianhao rubbed his eyes and looked closely. He saw an oval object placed inside the box.

The object was golden, slightly smaller than an egg. Golden light flowed all over it, exuding an aura of nobility and sanctity that made it impossible to look away!

Tang Tianhao looked at the golden oval object, his eyes filled with disbelief. He stammered in shock, "This... this is a Sarira!"