Heaven's Secrets Lead an Inch of Time, Body Tempering Enters the First Layer

Ye Qingxuan's mind raced, and the golden script in the scroll within his sea of consciousness seemed to sense his intent, suddenly contracting inward, transforming into a scorching torrent that burst through the depths of his brain palace like a breached dam!

In an instant, it felt as if he had been thrown into an invisible great furnace.

The blood and qi throughout his body were no longer a gentle trickle but had become a surging, roaring river, scouring every inch of his flesh and every strand of his sinew and bone. From his limbs and joints came waves of excruciating pain, as if they were being forcibly torn apart and instantly reassembled, his bones crackling like popping beans in rapid succession.

At the same time, countless cultivation methods for the Indestructible Vajra Body, the secrets of circulating blood and qi, and the precise control of force were no longer rigid words but transformed into the most genuine insights, like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, all pouring into his mind.

It was as if he had already painstakingly cultivated this technique for months—from the light and heavy pressure of rubbing the skin, to the rhythm of striking the sinews and bones, to the method of coordinating with breath control—every detail was clear in his chest, turned into instinct for his body. This was no longer a mere imitation of form but a true grasp of its essence.

This upheaval, like a rebirth, came quickly and faded just as fast.

When the surging torrent of blood and qi finally calmed and returned to the meridians, Ye Qingxuan felt his entire body lighten. The burning pain from his earlier training, the soreness in his muscles, and the fatigue in his spirit had all been swept away, leaving him comfortable and refreshed, more at ease than ever before.

He slowly opened his eyes, a sharp gleam flashing briefly within them.

He raised his left arm and looked at it in the moonlight streaming through the window lattice. The skin, once bright red, had now returned to its normal color, but the flesh beneath it carried a texture far denser and tougher than before. He extended the index finger of his right hand and pressed firmly on his arm. The skin sank only slightly before being held back by a resilient force, the touch solid, like pressing against a piece of well-tanned old cowhide.

He focused his mind again, and the scroll unfurled clearly in his sea of consciousness, its script now greatly changed.

[Name: Ye Qingxuan]

[Realm: Body Tempering, First Layer]

[Martial Art: Indestructible Vajra Body (Scale: One Inch, Merit: 0/15)]

Body Tempering, First Layer!

Those four words made Ye Qingxuan's heart skip a beat. He was no longer the ordinary youth who had not even set foot on the threshold of the martial path but a true martial artist who had embarked on the journey of cultivation.

From "Not Yet Entered" to "Body Tempering, First Layer," the Indestructible Vajra Body had also advanced from a "Zero Inch" scale to "One Inch." However, the merit required for the next breakthrough had jumped from five points to fifteen.

Ye Qingxuan stood up from the edge of the bed and casually moved his arms and legs. His figure hadn't changed much, still that lean and slender appearance, but in his every gesture, there was now a steady, solid aura. He walked to the table, extended two fingers, and gently pinched a table leg. With a slight tensing of his arm muscles, he effortlessly lifted the solid wood table, which weighed at least forty or fifty catties, half a foot off the ground, showing no sign of strain throughout the process.

He clenched his fist, feeling the surging power in his palm. Now, he could take on at least two of his pre-breakthrough self!

With the Indestructible Vajra Body at the entry level, this "One Inch" scale was like having an additional tough, thick inner armor beneath his skin. Ordinary punches and kicks striking his body would have most of their force absorbed by this layer of skin, greatly reducing the pain.

And this was only the effect of "One Inch." If he cultivated it to Two Inches, Three Inches, or even Great Accomplishment, what would that be like?

Ye Qingxuan set the table down, his thoughts racing. He recalled that during his breakthrough just now, the warm current had not only helped him break through the realm but had also fully repaired his fatigue and hidden injuries, bringing him back to his peak.

This Martial Path Heavenly Machine Codex actually had such miraculous effects!

A thought surged uncontrollably from the depths of his heart. Since his body had recovered... could he train again?

Thinking it, he did it! Without a moment's delay, he walked back to the bed, sat down cross-legged, grabbed the old inner garment, wrapped it around his hand in a few quick moves, and began a new round of rubbing.

Pain!

The scorching, searing agony came again from the skin of his arm. But this pain, compared to before the breakthrough, was now easily bearable. His flesh, tougher after the breakthrough, had also increased his tolerance.

Sweat soon soaked his back again, but he gritted his teeth and persisted, performing the technique he had already memorized flawlessly from start to finish.

When his strength was nearly spent and his arm was unbearably sore, the familiar scroll appeared once more.

[Merit: +1]

Done!

Ye Qingxuan let out a long breath of stale air, feeling completely refreshed. He opened his palm, and on his burning arm, a familiar warm current was slowly flowing, repairing the damage.

He looked at the scroll again.

[Merit: 1/15]

He quickly calculated in his mind. Twice a night meant two points of merit. To gather fifteen points, he would need only eight days. No, considering that his blood and qi would recover during the day, he might even be able to train once more in the early morning.

In just seven more days, he could push the Indestructible Vajra Body another step forward, to the Minor Accomplishment stage!

The deadline set by Fierce Tiger Hall was ten days.

Time was enough!

An unprecedented sense of confidence rose in his chest. The crushing debt of fourteen taels of silver and Duan Tianbao's gloomy face no longer seemed so insurmountable or unshakable at this moment.

That night, he slept more soundly than ever.

The next day, before the sky was fully light, Ye Qingxuan had already woken up.

He didn't disturb his sister in the inner room, rising silently and repeating the previous night's training. When the familiar warm current surged again, the merit in his sea of consciousness had become [2/15].

He put on his washed-out, faded black uniform, feeling a surge of energy throughout his body, with no trace of fatigue.

When he arrived at the Fengtian Division office, the backyard was already crowded with people, but unlike usual, they weren't gathered in their own groups. Instead, they had formed a circle, and from the center came bursts of laughter and flattery.

Ye Qingxuan swept his gaze and spotted Zhang Lingxiao surrounded by the crowd.

That youth today was wearing a new black uniform of fine cotton cloth, a cowhide belt around his waist, and black cloth boots on his feet. He was gesticulating wildly as he spoke, his face full of the arrogance of a young man who had achieved his ambitions. Around him were several other young temporary constables, all craning their necks, faces full of smiles, chiming in from time to time with words full of sycophancy.

"Qingxuan, over here."

Wei Datong appeared from somewhere, tugging at his sleeve and jerking his chin toward the circle, lowering his voice: "See that, Young Master Zhang. I heard he went with his uncle yesterday to the horse market west of the city and picked out a fine horse, spending a full fifty taels of silver! Damn, the lot of us couldn't earn that in a lifetime."

His words carried that familiar sour tone.

Ye Qingxuan only grunted in acknowledgment, not responding, and walked straight to the weapon rack in the corner, taking down his standard-issue short blade.

Wei Datong caught up, still wanting to say more: "Have you heard? Chief Constable Zhang intends to have this kid go regular in two months. By then, he might even be a squad leader directly, able to boss us around..."

Ye Qingxuan drew his short blade, wiping the body of the knife with a cloth, not lifting his head: "The mission comes first."

Wei Datong, having been snubbed, muttered a few words to himself and had no choice but to go collect his own identification token.

Ye Qingxuan sheathed his short blade, his gaze passing over the noisy crowd to land on the high eaves of the rear hall.

Yesterday, he had thought about sitting up there.

But today, he thought about trampling those eaves beneath his feet.