Speed of Life and Death, Risking Life to Cultivate

[Merging Profound Nether Hand (Part 1) and (Part 2)...]

[Merging successful!]

[Obtained complete Spirit Tier Low-Grade Martial Art: Profound Nether Hand]

[Description: One of the signature ultimate techniques of the Profound Nether Sect. It draws upon the Yin Fiend Qi of the Nine Netherworlds to condense the Profound Nether Cold Force. When mastered, a single palm strike can freeze the land for a thousand miles; those struck will have their blood congealed and their souls frozen. This technique is tyrannical and sinister; it must not be practiced by those without a robust physique, or the cold poison will backfire, leading to certain death.]

Lu Chen sat on the Cold Jade Chair, watching the detailed information emerge on the panel, his eyes gleaming.

The complete version of the technique was even more powerful than he had imagined.

The original fragments could only be cultivated to the early stage of the Meridian Connecting Realm, and they were vague, missing many key techniques.

Now that it was complete, the entire technique flowed like water. From how to sense the Yin Fiend Qi, to how to guide it into the body, to how to circulate it through the meridians, and finally how to condense it into Profound Nether Cold Qi—every step was clearly explained.

"So that's how it is..."

Lu Chen quickly browsed through the content of the technique, his mind suddenly clearing.

No wonder he couldn't get started no matter how he practiced before.

The first step of Profound Nether Hand, "Qi Induction," required a special breathing method combined with the magnetic field of a Netherworld Stone to construct a "Pseudo Yin Meridian" within the body.

Only in this way could he retain the slippery and elusive Yin Fiend Qi.

And this trick was precisely located in the second volume.

"With this method, I am confident I can master the basics within three days!"

Lu Chen's confidence soared.

However, he did not start cultivating immediately. Instead, he walked back to the stone door and observed the situation outside through the crack.

At this sight, his heart instantly turned cold.

The mutation of the Water Ghost King outside was nearing its end.

Its originally pitch-black body had now turned completely dark red, like a piece of red-hot iron, radiating suffocating heat into the water.

That was a sign that its blood and energy had reached its absolute peak!

Its size had grown another circle, standing a full three zhang tall; it looked like a mountain of flesh standing there.

The scales on its body had become thicker, their edges sharp as knives, each one shimmering with a metallic luster.

The most terrifying thing was its eyes.

The originally scarlet eyes had now turned a ghastly pale white; there were no pupils, only a vast expanse of pale white.

As those eyes swept over him, Lu Chen felt as if his soul were about to freeze.

"ROAR--!"

The Water Ghost King suddenly tilted its head back and roared at the sky.

This time, the sound was no longer low and guttural, but sharp and piercing, like metal shattering against stone.

The sound waves rippled through the water, causing the surrounding rocks to crack and crumble, sending countless fragments tumbling down.

Even the heavy stone door was set vibrating, shaking loose a thick cloud of dust.

"Meridian Connecting Realm... mid-stage? Or late-stage?"

Lu Chen's expression turned grave.

Although he had never seen a true late-stage Meridian Connecting Realm expert in action, the might of the monster before him was definitely several times stronger than Li Qingyi had been.

Li Qingyi had relied on technique and agility.

This Water Ghost King, however, relied purely on raw power and physical dominance!

If he were struck by one of its massive claws, even with his Great Success level Iron Cloth Shirt, Lu Chen reckoned he would be flattened into a pulp.

Worse still, the monster seemed to have sensed Lu Chen's prying gaze.

It whipped its head around, those pale, ghastly eyes locking onto the crack in the door.

"BANG!"

A massive claw slammed heavily against the stone door.

The entire palace shook violently.

Fine cracks spiderwebbed across the green jade floor tiles beneath Lu Chen's feet.

"Damn it! This thing is trying to force its way in!"

Lu Chen's heart tightened.

Although this stone door was incredibly sturdy, it couldn't withstand a relentless bombardment from a monster like this.

Furthermore, as the Water Ghost King's power grew, its fear of the cold aura seemed to be diminishing.

Before, it had only dared to absorb the leaking cold air from a dozen yards away.

Now, it was bold enough to rest its claw directly on the door!

This meant that the door would not be able to hold it back for much longer.

"I can't wait any longer."

Lu Chen made a swift decision and retreated to the center of the main hall.

He had to be fast!

Before the stone door was breached, or before the Water Ghost King fully adapted to the cold and charged in, he had to master enough power to protect himself.

On the surface of the Nu River.

The sky had turned completely dark.

Dozens of windproof lanterns were lit on the large ship, illuminating the surrounding water brightly.

However, the atmosphere on the ship was oppressive to the extreme.

"It's been two hours."

Zhao Gang looked at the pitch-black river, his voice hoarse. "Hall Master Lu... I'm afraid the outlook is grim."

After such a long time, even an immortal would have suffocated underwater.

Not to mention that terrifying roar from beneath the water earlier, which had shaken the very hull of the ship.

That was definitely a monster that no human could contend with.

"I don't believe it!"

Wang Xiaoliu's eyes were red, his hand gripping his Water Splitting Dagger tightly. "The boss is capable! He even captured Li Qingyi; what are a few measly water ghosts compared to that!"

"Those aren't ordinary water ghosts!"

Zhao Gang shouted sternly. "Didn't you feel it? That aura from earlier... that was a demon! A Great Demon!"

"We must retreat!"

Zhao Gang glanced at the terrified yamen runners and water ghosts around him, gritting his teeth. "If we stay any longer, once that thing rushes up, everyone on this ship will die!"

"Who dares to retreat!"

Wang Xiaoliu suddenly drew his waist saber, brandishing it in front of Zhao Gang with a ferocious expression. "The boss hasn't come up yet, so no one is allowed to leave! If anyone touches the sails, I'll cut them down!"

The twenty elites of the Black Water Gang behind him also drew their sabers, staring at Zhao Gang and the others with murderous intent.

"Are you insane?!"

Zhao Gang was trembling with rage. "Do you want to drag everyone down to the grave with you?"

"If we're going to the grave, then so be it!"

Wang Xiaoliu roared, "Our lives were given to us by the Boss! The Boss is down there risking his life, and we're going to run away up here? How could I ever show my face in this business again?"

Both sides were at daggers drawn, the situation ready to explode at any moment.

Just then.

"Glug, glug..."

The water beneath the ship suddenly began to churn violently.

All the arguing vanished in an instant.

Everyone looked toward the water in unison.

They saw that the surface of the river, which had been frozen over, was now actually beginning to boil.

Countless massive bubbles rose to the surface, carrying a nauseating stench of sulfur and rot.

Immediately after, a giant tentacle—or perhaps a tail—lashed out from the water with a violent crack.

With a sharp sound, the sturdy gunwale of the large ship was smashed, a huge chunk of wood splintering as if it were made of paper.

Splinters flew everywhere.

Several nearby bailiffs screamed as they were swept into the river, disappearing without even a splash.

"What... what is that thing?"

Zhao Gang stared at the tail, which was as thick as a water barrel and covered in scales, his legs turning to jelly from fear.

"It's that monster! It's coming up!"

Someone screamed in terror.

Fear spread across the ship in an instant.

Even Wang Xiaoliu, who had been so tough just a moment ago, was now deathly pale, his hand trembling as he gripped his blade.

A monster of this size was simply not something they could handle.

"Steady! Don't panic!"

Wang Xiaoliu forced himself to shout, "Use the Armor Piercing Crossbows! Quickly!"

Several experts from the Black Water Gang scrambled to set up the three Armor Piercing Crossbows borrowed from the County Yamen, aiming them at the water.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three crossbow bolts as thick as a human arm whistled through the air and plunged into the water.

A muffled thud came from beneath the surface, followed immediately by an angry roar.

The massive tail retracted violently and submerged into the depths.

"Did we hit it?"

A surge of joy rose in everyone's hearts.

But the next second, a colossal force slammed into the bottom of the ship.

A deafening crash echoed out!

The entire vessel shuddered violently, nearly capsizing.

The sound of splintering wood erupted from the hold.

"It's leaking! The hull is breached!"

Sailors from the lower deck scrambled up, screaming in terror.

"It's over..."

Zhao Gang's face turned ashen.

The ship was going to sink.

In the middle of this river vortex, once the ship went down, not a single one of them would survive.

"Boss... where on earth are you..."

Wang Xiaoliu gripped the railing, staring into the pitch-black river water, his eyes filled with despair.

Inside the Dragon Palace.

Lu Chen had no idea what was happening outside.

He was currently in a state that was both profoundly mysterious and excruciatingly painful.

He sat cross-legged on the Cold Jade Chair, clutching a Netherworld Stone in each hand.

Following the techniques of the Profound Nether Hand, he was attempting to draw the Yin Fiend Qi from the Netherworld Stones into his body to breach what was known as the "Pseudo Yin Meridian."

It was agonizing!

The moment the Yin Fiend Qi entered his meridians, it felt like countless tiny ice blades scraping against the inside of his blood vessels.

Every inch it advanced, it sliced through his flesh and froze his blood.

Lu Chen's face was as pale as paper, and his entire body trembled violently and uncontrollably.

His eyebrows and eyelashes were coated in a thick layer of white frost.

Even the breath he exhaled froze into an icicle right in front of his face.

This kind of pain... an ordinary person would probably go into shock instantly...

Lu Chen gritted his teeth, the sound of them grinding together audible in the silence.

But he did not stop.

Because he had a trump card.

[Affected by Yin Fiend Qi erosion, blood and Qi frozen by 1%, meridians damaged by 1%...]

[Talent "Body Immunity" triggered!]

[Negative status being reduced...]

[Pain perception shielded by 30%...]

[Meridian resilience temporarily increased...]

On the panel, lines of red warning text kept popping up, only to be quickly overwritten by green immunity notifications.

The excruciating pain that would have driven a person mad became barely tolerable under the effect of his talent.

The meridians that had been frozen and torn were also rapidly repaired by the nourishment of his blood and Qi, becoming tougher and wider in the process.

It was akin to constant destruction followed by reconstruction.

With every reconstruction, the meridians' adaptability to the Yin Fiend Qi grew stronger.

One hour.

Two hours.

Lu Chen remained motionless, like an ice sculpture.

However, the color of the Netherworld Stone in his hand was fading at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The stone, originally as black as ink, had now turned grayish-white.

The Yin Fiend Qi inside had been completely drained by him!

Crack.

The two stones shattered into powder.

Lu Chen snapped his eyes open.

Deep within his pupils, a faint blue light flickered.

Inside his body, a hidden meridian had been completely cleared.

That strand of Yin Fiend Qi flowed joyfully within, no longer causing harm, but instead exuding a sense of familiarity.

The first step, Qi Induction, was complete!

But this was not enough.

This bit of cold energy was fine for dealing with ordinary people, but it was far from enough to handle that big guy outside.

He had to condense the true Profound Nether Cold Qi!

Without hesitation, Lu Chen reached out again and grabbed two new Netherworld Stones from the ground beside him.

Continue!

He was going to grind this Spirit Tier cultivation technique until he reached the entry level right here!