Accumulated Strength, Muscle Refinement Breakthrough

Dawn broke, and the Seventh Squad returned to Maple Forest County with the heads and evidence of a Tendon Refining Realm evil cultivator. The county magistrate, Zhou Wenzheng, was a mixture of shock and ecstatic joy. News spread, and the entire county was invigorated. After three days of rest, the squad set off for Qingzhou Prefecture City.

Inside the Xuntian Guard headquarters, Commander Wang personally received Li Yifan's detailed report. Upon hearing that Li Yifan, with his peak Bone Refining cultivation, had relied on his perfected Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique and Burning Wood Saber Technique to defeat an early-stage Tendon Refining evil cultivator, even the experienced Commander Wang was moved.

"Excellent! Fighting across realms and defeating a stronger foe! This battle is enough to showcase the might of our Qing Province Xuntian Guard!" Commander Wang's praise was unsparing. "After verification by headquarters, although this mission was rated as Grade B- due to the initial assessment of the evil cultivator's strength, your performance was outstanding and your merits are significant. You are hereby granted an additional commendation! The squad will share 2000 contribution points!"

The specific distribution was as follows:

Li Yifan (Captain, main force, delivered the killing blow): 1000 points

Zhao Xiong, Sun Shi (Frontline pressure, heavy injury diversion): 300 points each

Qian Xiaoliu (Key reconnaissance, tactical support): 200 points

Chen Feng, Zhang Tie (Flank assistance): 100 points each

Thus, Li Yifan's personal contribution points reached a total of 1000 points (the previous remaining 20 points had been used up in resource exchange). A substantial fortune was acquired. The entire squad received a minor commendation and was granted a one-month leave of absence.

The generous rewards sent the team members into a frenzy of joy, their admiration for Li Yifan growing even deeper.

However, Li Yifan remained exceptionally clear-headed. While defeating a Tendon Refining Realm cultivator had the advantages of technique synergy and team cooperation, it also made him deeply aware of the immense pressure brought by the gap in cultivation realms. Bone Refining followed by Tendon Refining, and only then Blood Refining. Blood Refining Realm was the basic requirement to serve as a Xuntian Envoy. To go further on the path of martial arts and face stronger challenges, he had to break through to the Tendon Refining Realm as soon as possible and lay a solid foundation for charging into the Blood Refining Realm!

As soon as his leave began, he headed straight to the Martial Merit Hall. Facing 1000 contribution points, his goal was clear – prioritize breaking through cultivation and consolidating his power!

He carefully browsed the exchange list, finally locking onto his targets:

Spending 600 points, he exchanged for a bottle of "Toughening Tendons Spirit Liquid." This spirit liquid was a rare resource for assisting breakthroughs into the Tendon Refining Realm, capable of greatly softening and tempering tendons and ligaments, thereby increasing the success rate of the breakthrough.

Spending 400 points, he exchanged for four bottles of "Strengthening Tendons and Bones Pill." This pill was an excellent medicinal pill for cultivators in the Tendon Refining Realm to strengthen their foundation, fortify tendons, bones, and ligaments, and accumulate potential for future breakthroughs into the Blood Refining Realm. Its medicinal effects were gentle and long-lasting.

With the resources in hand, Li Yifan announced his seclusion, refusing all disturbances. In the quiet room of his small courtyard, he adjusted his mind and brought his state to its peak.

Seven days later, his condition had reached its apex. Li Yifan took out the "Toughening Tendons Spirit Liquid" worth 600 contribution points. As the jade bottle was opened, a refreshing medicinal fragrance mixed with a faint sense of heat spread out. Without hesitation, he downed the emerald green spirit liquid.

The spirit liquid entered his abdomen, initially gentle, then transforming into a scorching torrent, surging like lava through his limbs and bones, heading straight for the tendons and ligaments throughout his body! Intense burning pain erupted, as if every inch of his tendons and ligaments was being roasted and stretched over a fire! This was the process of his tendons and ligaments being softened and tempered by the spirit liquid's power!

Li Yifan held firm to his spiritual consciousness, circulating the Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique, guiding it with his pure Nine Yang True Qi to assist the spirit liquid's medicinal efficacy. He also stabilized his body with the perfected Iron Bone Technique, enduring this painful process of transformation. Sweat instantly soaked his clothes, and the tendons and ligaments beneath his skin vibrated violently like strings, emitting a faint hum.

[Consumed Toughening Tendons Spirit Liquid, tendon tempering process initiated! Qi and blood are abundant, cultivation technique provides protection, enduring pain...]

Days passed. The sound of surging qi and blood grew louder in the quiet room. Li Yifan's aura continuously climbed, sometimes as hot as fire, sometimes as resilient as steel. Under the dual effects of the spirit liquid and true qi, his tendons and ligaments were continuously torn, repaired, and strengthened, becoming more flexible, more elastic, and better able to bear and unleash power.

On the tenth day of his seclusion, a sudden cracking sound, like a bowstring drawn taut and then violently released, echoed through the quiet room! The sound was crisp and loud, continuous, as if countless invisible sinews were vibrating simultaneously!

Li Yifan's eyes snapped open, his gaze sharp as lightning! He rose to his feet and casually threw a punch, producing a "crack" of air explosion! Speed, strength, and explosive power all improved comprehensively! His tendons and ligaments were now connected as one, his strength originating from his entire body, moving as easily as his own arms!

[Success achieved, breakthrough complete! Realm elevated to: Body Tempering · Tendon Refining (Initial Stage: 1/800)!]

[Qi and blood surge like dragons, tendons and ligaments resonate, strength, speed, explosive power, and endurance greatly enhanced! A qualitative leap in power!]

Initial stage Tendon Refining, achieved!

Feeling the several times stronger power within his body compared to the Bone Refining Realm, and the smoother, more majestic circulation of his true qi, Li Yifan felt a surge of ambition. Now, facing the same early-stage Tendon Refining evil cultivator, he would be far more composed!

He didn't rush to consolidate his realm, but instead continued to consume the "Strengthening Tendons and Bones Pill" to solidify his initial stage Tendon Refining cultivation and familiarize himself with his newfound strength. At the same time, he organized his learned skills, and the latest status panel information clearly appeared:

[Name]: Li Yifan
[Realm]: Body Tempering · Tendon Refining (Initial Stage: 100/800)
[Position]: Qing Province Xuntian Guard Seventh Squad Captain (Eighth Rank)
[Cultivation Techniques]:
Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique (Yellow Grade High-grade) - Perfected (350/5000)
Iron Bone Technique (Yellow Grade Low-grade) - Perfected (100/1000)
[Martial Skills]:
Burning Wood Saber Technique (Yellow Grade High-grade / Incomplete) - Perfected (150/5000)
Scorching Sun Finger (Yellow Grade High-grade) - Perfected (50/5000)
Spirit Fox Steps (Yellow Grade Mid-grade) - Minor Success (300/500)
[Skills]: Detection - Minor Success (150/300)
[Contribution Points]: 0 (Written on the panel for everyone to know current contribution point status)

The "Strengthening Tendons and Bones Pill" exchanged for 400 contribution points only increased his proficiency by 100 points, still a long way from the mid-stage Tendon Refining. Li Yifan couldn't help but sigh at how resource-intensive the martial path truly was. When the one-month leave ended, the members of the Seventh Squad reunited. Seeing their captain successfully break through to the Tendon Refining Realm, his aura profound, everyone was overjoyed, and morale was high.

Commander Wang, upon learning of Li Yifan's breakthrough, was not only surprised but also gratified. He summoned Li Yifan and encouraged him, "Breaking through in a month and entering Tendon Refining, with a solid foundation, is truly not easy! The Tendon Refining Realm is a significant watershed in martial arts. You must proceed steadily and not rush. Only when your cultivation is consolidated and you have accumulated enough can you aim for the Blood Refining Realm. At that time, you will be qualified to participate in the Xuntian Envoy assessment."

Li Yifan respectfully replied, "Your subordinate understands and will diligently cultivate without stopping, solidifying my foundation."

Commander Wang nodded, "Very good. Now that your cultivation has greatly advanced, the strength of the Seventh Squad has also risen. There are no Grade B or higher missions in the prefecture for now. You should handle more Grade C missions to gain experience and hone the team. When the time is right, more important responsibilities will be entrusted to you."

"Yes! Your subordinate accepts the order!"

A new beginning, a new journey. Li Yifan knew that the Tendon Refining Realm was merely entering the intermediate level of the Body Tempering realm, and there was still a long way to go before becoming a Xuntian Envoy capable of acting independently in the Blood Refining Realm. But he was full of confidence, determined to take steady steps forward, one by one!