Seven days later.
After sensing that the Red Blood Wine made primarily from the Frost Shadow Deer's heart had finished brewing in the White Jade Wine Pot, Chu He immediately called Zhou Haichao, the president of the Thunder Dojo.
He wasn't urging him to set out. He was asking how much longer it would take and whether the delay would affect his ability to drink and absorb the Spirit Wine.
Judging by the strength of the Spirit Machine wafting from the pot of Red Blood Wine, two or three days would be enough to strengthen Chu He to the level of an Intermediate War General.
That was even after accounting for the time Chu He would need to absorb and digest it.
Zhou Haichao replied quickly. The War God he'd contacted had recently been caught up with other matters and would probably need about another week before he could get away.
Chu He didn't need to worry much about the assessment.
He'd already arranged for several squads to keep watch near the Mist Residential District and dissuade any other Martial Artist Squads from trying to enter.
Zhou Haichao cared far more about this matter than Chu He did. After all, the resources involved were what he needed to break through to War God!
Once he'd confirmed that the timing wouldn't interfere with his upcoming cultivation plans, Chu He hung up, reassured.
"Next, it's time to get ready to drink this Red Blood Wine!" Chu He said solemnly.
After his previous experience drinking Red Blood Wine through the night, nearly to the point of exhaustion, Chu He decided to be thoroughly prepared this time. He would drink the pot of Spirit Wine in several batches over two days.
He'd spent the past seven days relaxing at home, and now he was in excellent condition.
After letting his parents know, Chu He went to the Martial Arts Hall on the second floor. He summoned the White Jade Wine Pot and set it on a small table he'd prepared beforehand.
There was also a crystal glass on the table.
Last time, he'd been in such a hurry to experience the strengthening effect of the Red Blood Wine's vital energy that he hadn't really savored its flavor.
It was like Zhu Bajie eating Ginseng Fruit—an utter waste of something precious.
Having prepared properly this time, Chu He naturally wouldn't make the same mistake.
He tilted the White Jade Wine Pot slightly. A stream of blood-red liquor flowed slowly down the crystal-clear sides of the glass and into the cup.
"Splash!"
The bright red liquor swirled in the crystal glass, gleaming like a ruby beneath the Martial Arts Hall's warm yellow lights.
A searing fragrance wafted into his nose.
Chu He lifted the glass and drained it in one go.
The spicy, burning liquor swirled once around his mouth before its heat slid down his throat and through his esophagus to his stomach.
A wave of comfort washed through him, like drinking a cup of hot water in winter.
This time, Chu He didn't get up to practice his blade technique. Instead, he sat cross-legged and began circulating the Guidance Technique recorded in the Seven Star Blade Technique.
The Guidance Technique in the Seven Star Blade Technique wasn't particularly good, but with the Red Blood Wine strengthening him, his absorption of Cosmic Energy and the flow of his Vital Energy both became incredibly fast.
At first, before drinking the Red Blood Wine, Cosmic Energy had flowed into Chu He like a gentle mountain stream.
Although his body had still been strengthened by the Cosmic Energy, the change had been gradual, and both its speed and extent were quite limited.
Without the Red Blood Wine's assistance, the penetration and absorption of Cosmic Energy had progressed slowly. Cell division and genetic optimization had also been relatively mild.
Now, after drinking the Red Blood Wine, the flow of Cosmic Energy became fierce, like mighty rivers rushing into the sea, unstoppable.
The speed and effects of the changes in Chu He's body underwent a qualitative leap.
The Red Blood Wine seemed to act as a catalyst between Cosmic Energy and Chu He's body, accelerating the absorption and conversion of energy.
The colorless, formless Cosmic Energy pierced Chu He's skin, then was devoured by every cell in his body.
Under the searing influence of the Red Blood Wine's Spirit Machine, those cells were like hungry beasts, greedily absorbing this energy.
Meanwhile, beyond Chu He's sight, in the microscopic world of his cells, the Cosmic Energy was rapidly absorbed by their mitochondria.
Cell division sped up, genetic optimization became more pronounced, and the cells shrank in size.
His muscle tissue began to optimize itself, growing stronger and more efficient.
His bones quietly became denser.
This meant not only that Chu He's body would become more durable, but also that his bones would be able to withstand greater pressure and impact.
Chu He didn't spend the entire two days cultivating in the Martial Arts Hall.
The Red Blood Wine didn't have to be finished in one sitting to work.
One sip, then another, and another...
Each time Chu He took a sip, he circulated the Guidance Technique to absorb Cosmic Energy.
Perhaps it was because he drank frequently but only took a little at a time, or perhaps it was because the main ingredient in this batch of Red Blood Wine was the Frost Shadow Deer...
Whatever the reason, this time Chu He didn't feel as though magma were erupting inside him like it had before. Instead, it was like being in a sauna or surrounded by a hot spring.
Warmth and heat.
Under the Red Blood Wine's searing influence, every cell in Chu He's body absorbed the Cosmic Energy at incredible speed.
Every cell in his body grew more active and healthier. The cells increased not only in number but also in quality.
Their vitality grew stronger, and their functions became more powerful.
His skin grew smoother, his muscles firmer, and his bones harder.
His body was undergoing an unprecedented transformation.
It was an evolution of life, an optimization of his genes.
Every breath and every heartbeat bore witness to the miracle unfolding.
In Chu He's Sea of Consciousness, as his body continued to evolve, the liquid sphere left behind when the White Jade Wine Pot had strengthened his mind began to give off wisps of white mist.
As Chu He's body grew stronger, his Spiritual Force naturally surged as well, limited only by the maximum his physical constitution could withstand.
The instant his physical constitution was strengthened to the Intermediate War General level, the liquid sphere of Spiritual Force in his Sea of Consciousness had completely evaporated into white mist. It then dispersed and merged into Chu He's Sea of Consciousness.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and the Red Blood Wine in the White Jade Wine Pot gradually ran out.
Chu He finished circulating the Guidance Technique one last time, opened his eyes, and suddenly threw a punch.
Boom!
The air exploded. The blast made Chu He's eyes light up.
His pupils had already been as brilliant as stars, but now they shone with dazzling brilliance.
"Has my physical constitution really been strengthened to the Intermediate War General level?" Chu He murmured. "Then... what about my Spiritual Force?"
Hum! Hum!
Several Flying Daggers lifted off the weapons rack on their own and began circling Chu He.
One, then another...
One Flying Dagger after another gradually joined the Flowing Light circling around him.
"Good!"
Seeing the nine streaks of light circling him, Chu He shouted excitedly.
Elementary War God Level Spiritual Force!
In a sense, Chu He could now be called a War God.
"At last, I'll have some means of protecting myself when I go to the Mist Residential District!"
Before you continue