Taking Action

Three Stages Bone Tempering Art.

This was the name of the body-tempering technique Qin Yu had chosen this time.

Qin Yu had once seen the Three Stages Bone Tempering Art in an ancient tome. Although the medicinal ingredients it used were not precious, its creator's attainments in alchemy had been extraordinarily profound. They had actually brought the effects of nearly a hundred medicinal herbs to their utmost limit, allowing those herbs to unleash three stages of power to temper one's bones and marrow.

Because the medicinal effects were so violent, anyone without an unwavering will who attempted it would, at worst, die, and at best, suffer shattered bones and marrow.

The reason Qin Yu had chosen such a ferocious body-tempering method was also out of helplessness. This body's bones and marrow were too poor, containing far too many impurities. If they were not thoroughly tempered clean, they would affect his future cultivation.

Intense pain surged over him like a mad tide. Though the pain was incomparably severe, it strangely did not numb Qin Yu. It was as though the creator of the Three Stages Bone Tempering Art had deliberately designed it this way to test the body-temperer's perseverance.

This pain continued for nearly two hours.

Two hours later, the excruciating pain vanished in an instant. Qin Yu, whose nerves had been stretched taut, was suddenly lifted from hell into heaven, nearly causing him to pass out!

"I must endure it. If I can't even withstand this trifling Three Stages Bone Tempering Art, what will I use to kill Great Demon Lin Yu?!"

Determination burst from Qin Yu's eyes as he forcibly kept himself from losing consciousness.

But what Qin Yu had not expected was that not long after the first wave of medicinal power dissipated, another wave pounced like a Ferocious Beast and instantly burrowed into his flesh and blood.

Beneath the medicinal liquid, Qin Yu's body had long since become a bloody mess. His skin had been torn apart, his bones and marrow shattered by the medicinal power, and the impurities within them had all fused into the liquid.

"Ah!!" Qin Yu threw back his head and let out a low roar. The muscles in his face twitched violently as the intense pain felt like countless sharp blades slicing apart his skin, flesh, and bones piece by piece, then smashing them apart.

When the second stage of medicinal power faded, Qin Yu felt every part of his body trembling.

Intense pain and exhaustion crashed over him like mountains toppling and seas overturning, battering at Qin Yu's heart without cease.

As long as Qin Yu relaxed even slightly, or allowed the slightest thought of giving up to surface, he would likely lose consciousness.

"Lin Yu!" Qin Yu's face was pale as paper, and his entire body was drenched in sweat as he painfully forced out those two words.

Boom!

The third stage of medicinal power surged in from every direction like countless Ferocious Beasts.

"Hngh!" Qin Yu let out a muffled groan, his teeth nearly shattering from how hard he clenched them.

"Ah!!" Qin Yu roared like a Ferocious Beast.

Fortunately, there was the Defense Array. Otherwise, Xiao Tao and Xiao Hua outside would likely have been frightened into fleeing.

"Roar!" Qin Yu continued to growl lowly as blood seeped from his mouth. It was blood forced out after he had clenched his teeth past the limit his gums could bear.

Fortunately, this third stage of medicinal power did not last long.

Buzz! A humming sound rang out from the cauldron. After the agonizing pain, Qin Yu felt every pore across his body open. An indescribable warm current rushed into him, while the skin all over his body continuously healed. The flesh and blood battered by the medicinal power greedily absorbed it, and his broken bones steadily mended within the medicinal power...

If the earlier assault of medicinal power had been hell, then this was heaven.

Qin Yu felt as though he were bathing beneath winter sunlight, and a drowsy urge swept over him.

"No, I can't sleep. After tempering, I must absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to complete the body tempering!" Qin Yu roused his spirits and circulated the Heavenly Dao Immortal Art!

Ten days later!

Qin Yu opened his eyes from meditation. Looking at the nearly solidified medicinal liquid, joy appeared on his face.

Martial Realm Third Level.

This body tempering had actually allowed him to leap from the Martial Realm First Layer, across the Martial Realm Second Level, and enter the third level.

Feeling the earth-shaking changes within his body, Qin Yu smiled. He slowly raised his right hand and lightly clenched it into a fist. Sensing the explosive strength within him, he muttered, "The Martial Realm Third Level is Iron Bones. Now that my bones have been tempered by the power of a hundred medicinal herbs, even ordinary Martial Realm Fifth Level cultivators cannot compare."

"But this is still not enough. To cultivate the Six Transformations of the Mad Demon, I must enter the Martial Realm Sixth Level, the Blood Qi Realm! Once I reach the Martial Realm Sixth Level, I should be able to use the power of blood qi to unleash the Mad Demon First Transformation. When that time comes, I will be confident of standing out at that grand gathering!" Qin Yu murmured. In his former life, he had been trapped at the Martial Realm Sixth Level and never entered the ranks of the Martial Realm Seventh Level until the end of his life.

Although the Martial Realm Sixth Level and Seventh Level were separated by only one minor realm, that small realm was a watershed. Crossing it meant truly entering the gate of cultivation; failing to cross it meant remaining nothing more than a mortal for life.

The nine levels of the Martial Realm: First Level, Meridians; Second Level, Copper Skin; Third Level, Iron Bones; Fourth Level, Organ Refinement; Fifth Level, Force; Sixth Level, Blood Qi; Seventh Level, Spiritual Power; Eighth Level, Spirit Gathering; Ninth Level, dantian.

Before the Seventh Level, even one at the peak of the Martial Realm Sixth Level was merely a mortal with a powerful body. Only after entering the Martial Realm Seventh Level and possessing spiritual power could one be considered a true cultivator.

Having learned that the Myriad Heavens Battle Sect would also send people to watch the grand gathering, Qin Yu was certain to participate. Moreover, he had to enter the Myriad Heavens Battle Sect and peruse the ancient books in its Library Pavilion to see whether he could find information about Wang Qing, Xue'er, and Lin Yu!

"There is still medicinal power within this liquid. I must absorb it completely." Qin Yu glanced at the solidified medicinal liquid and closed his eyes once more.

Three days later

"Get lost!"

"Second Young Master, Third Young Master is in seclusion. You cannot disturb him." Xiao Tao clung tightly to Qin Feng, who was trying to charge into the small courtyard.

His face flushed red, Qin Feng grabbed Xiao Tao by the back of her neck with his left hand and lifted her up, while his right hand directly slapped her twice across the face.

Slap! Slap!

Two crisp slaps exploded through the air. Xiao Tao cried out miserably, blood and crimson teeth spraying from her mouth. She was only a mortal—how could she withstand two slaps from Qin Feng, a Martial Realm Fourth Level cultivator?

"Burp! Dare stop me again, and I'll break both your legs!" Qin Feng tossed Xiao Tao aside like a sack of sand and let out a drunken belch. The stench of alcohol spread through the air as he once again tried to rush into the small courtyard.

Xiao Hua stood in the doorway, her delicate body trembling violently. Especially upon seeing the horrifying blood and teeth on the ground, she shook all over. She stared in terror at Qin Feng, who seemed like a god of slaughter, then crumpled weakly to the ground. When she saw Qin Feng approaching, Xiao Hua gritted her teeth, pounced forward, and wrapped her arms around his left leg.

"Se... Second Young Master... you... you can't go in..."

Before Xiao Hua could finish speaking, Qin Feng kicked her away. She crashed heavily three zhang away and fainted.

"No!" Xiao Tao suddenly struggled back to her feet. Her once-pretty face had swollen terribly, but determination filled her eyes. Though she did not know what Third Young Master was doing inside, she felt that this seclusion was extremely important to him. Therefore, she had to stop Qin Feng from disturbing Third Young Master Qin Yu.

At that moment, Xiao Tao did not know where she found the strength. Ignoring the injuries on her face, she frantically ran toward Qin Feng and threw her arms around his leg.

"Die!" Qin Feng lashed out with a vicious kick, sending Xiao Tao flying into the door of Qin Yu's room.

Bang! A muffled crash rang out as the door was smashed open and Xiao Tao flew into the room.

Inside the room, Qin Yu had not heard the commotion outside because of the Defense Array. When the door was smashed open, he was slowly putting on his clothes. He abruptly turned his head, only to see Xiao Tao flying toward him, blood spraying from her mouth.

Qin Yu's expression instantly darkened. He caught Xiao Tao in his arms and looked at her swollen face and the blood spilling from her mouth. A chilling killing intent spread through Qin Yu's eyes.

"Th... Third Young Master... lit..." Blood trickled from Xiao Tao's mouth as she spoke weakly.

Qin Yu forced a smile at Xiao Tao. "Xiao Tao, rest for a while. Leave everything to me." As he spoke, he carefully placed Xiao Tao onto a rattan chair nearby.

After fastening the last button of his clothes, Qin Yu slowly rose to his feet and stared coldly at the drunken Qin Feng.

"It's you, it's you! Chen, I want to tear you apart with five horses!!" Qin Feng let out a roar steeped in venom and pounced at Qin Yu like a starving tiger lunging upon its prey.

Qin Yu took a slight step back. The instant Qin Feng attacked, his body sprang upward. Both hands fiercely clamped onto Qin Feng's shoulders, and he bent his right leg, driving his knee brutally into Qin Feng's abdomen.

As Qin Feng flew backward, Qin Yu's left hand shot out like lightning. He seized Qin Feng's throat with ruthless precision and lifted him directly into the air.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

A rapid series of crisp slaps echoed through the small courtyard.