Through a simple Blood Qi sense, Qin Dongcheng could vaguely tell that the Martial Artists watching him were at least in the Skin Phase Realm, and some might even have surpassed the Flesh Phase Realm.
The value of a single low-grade Strange Treasure was already enough to tempt Martial Artists above the Flesh Phase Realm into taking action.
Even near the headquarters of the Five Elements Sect, a place that had enjoyed peace for a long time, there were bound to be people with ill intentions. Some of them were even disciples of the Five Elements Sect.
With the Heaven Concealment Art and Phantom Movement Technique protecting him—and after changing his appearance and disguise—it was easy for Qin Dongcheng to shake them off.
He mingled with the crowds, circled around a few times, and changed his clothes several times. Before long, he had easily ditched his pursuers and returned safely to Osmanthus Garden.
Only after he was safe did Qin Dongcheng take out the Blood Flame Grass and examine it closely.
About a foot long and bright red all over, it looked just like crystal, as if flames were burning within it. No wonder it was called Blood Flame Grass.
A single stalk was worth over a thousand taels of silver, while most ordinary low-grade pills cost only a few taels. The Blood Flame Grass was worth hundreds of times more.
Even many advanced and top-grade pills couldn't match the value of a low-grade Strange Treasure. That alone showed how precious these treasures were.
But in most people's eyes, Strange Treasures were worth every penny—and Qin Dongcheng was no exception.
After examining it, he spent several hours restoring his energy and spirit, then carefully tempered his foundation. Only then did Qin Dongcheng prepare to consume the Blood Flame Grass.
Something this good was best consumed sooner rather than later. Besides, cultivators in the First Three Martial Realms benefited more from low-grade Strange Treasures. Those beyond the First Three Martial Realms could still consume them, but the effects would be greatly reduced.
The Blood Flame Grass tasted good and melted in his mouth. Soon, a surging, strange power began to churn within him.
He pushed the Evergreen Muscle Refining Fist to its limit, digesting this strange power and turning it into pure, vigorous Blood Qi. At the same time, it rapidly tempered and strengthened Qin Dongcheng's muscles.
A searing heat rose from every part of his body, making him feel as if he were burning.
Evergreen belonged to wood, while Blood Flame belonged to fire. When the two combined, the power they unleashed was beyond imagination.
In just a few minutes, his strength reached its peak. Then, like a bamboo splitting through a storm, he broke through the bottleneck and advanced to a new level.
Mid Flesh Phase!
He had still needed another month or two to break through, but now he had done it in mere minutes—and the Blood Flame Grass still had plenty of medicinal power left.
Qin Dongcheng continued absorbing it. The Blood Flame Grass's effects were astonishingly good.
Before long, it had raised his cultivation to yet another peak.
The feeling of his cultivation surging forward and his overall strength rapidly increasing was truly intoxicating.
"Rumble..."
With the Blood Flame Grass's medicinal power aiding him, this bottleneck couldn't hold Qin Dongcheng back for long. He soon smashed through it and reached a new level.
Late Flesh Phase!
It truly was a low-grade Strange Treasure. That thousand taels of silver had been very well spent.
Qin Dongcheng continued to advance. Some of the Blood Flame Grass's medicinal power remained. Though it couldn't help him break into a higher realm, it could still raise his cultivation another notch.
He also had enough strength left to save some of the medicinal power to stabilize his cultivation and avoid leaving his foundation unsteady.
All that remained was to temper himself a little more and adapt properly. Then he could continue cultivating and advancing.
Powerful muscles, astonishing strength!
These were the hallmarks of the late Flesh Phase. With the aid of the low-grade Strange Treasure, Blood Flame Grass, Qin Dongcheng had broken through two minor realms and reached the late Flesh Phase.
As he felt the medicinal power dwindling and prepared to finish, a profound ripple suddenly stirred within him. It was as if his whole body had been reborn once more.
Just as he thought this cultivation session might bring him an explosive breakthrough, the shadow of Jianmu, the legendary giant tree, appeared inside him, interwoven with each of his muscles.
Lush and verdant, it radiated vibrant life, like the arrival of spring.
Muscle Refining Phenomenon!
Eternal Evergreen!
It could keep his muscles alive and vigorous, and by extension, keep his body youthful as well. His ageless appearance was just one outward sign of its effect.
Most importantly, under the influence of this top-tier Muscle Refining Phenomenon, Qin Dongcheng's lifespan would far exceed that of Martial Artists at the same level—reaching roughly twice as long.
Ordinary Flesh Phase Martial Artists lived to only about eighty. But under the effect of the Eternal Evergreen Phenomenon, Qin Dongcheng could live for more than a hundred and sixty years.
For now, the increase didn't seem like much—only a few dozen years.
But as time passed and his cultivation reached ever-higher realms, the increase would become far more substantial.
If Qin Dongcheng someday lived for several hundred years, the blessing of Eternal Evergreen would add several hundred more directly to his lifespan.
And that wasn't even counting its ability to preserve his body's vitality, preventing him from aging and keeping him young and vigorous. He wouldn't be held back from further cultivation by dwindling Blood Qi in the future.
The effects of this top-tier Strange Phenomenon were no less astonishing than Dragon Vigor Tiger Might and Heaven-Reaching Rhino Roam—perhaps even greater.
The lifespan increase alone was practically heaven-defying. This was unquestionably one of the finest Strange Phenomena in the Flesh Refining Realm.
Qin Dongcheng had never expected the Blood Flame Grass to help him break through multiple bottlenecks and awaken the top-tier Strange Phenomenon, Eternal Evergreen.
Feeling his body grow more and more vigorous, Qin Dongcheng beamed with joy.
After this leap forward, his overall strength had surged by several tenths.
With every movement, over 2,800 kilograms of tremendous force surged through him. With the boost from Dragon Vigor Tiger Might, that could exceed 5,600 kilograms.
That was already close to the strength of a Bone Phase Martial Artist—in other words, someone in the Fifth Martial Realm.
Body Phase, Skin Phase, Flesh Phase, Tendon Phase, Bone Phase... These were the first five realms of martial cultivation, also known as Body Strengthening, Skin Refining, Flesh Refining, Tendon Refining, and Bone Refining.
Aside from strength, his greatest improvement was in defense. The Flesh Phase didn't increase his defense as much as the Skin Phase did, but the improvement still far outstripped the increase in strength.
His speed had improved considerably as well. With Phantom Movement Technique pushed to its limit, he could travel at roughly a hundred meters per second—a speed that would have been unimaginable in his previous life.
A hundred-meter sprint in one second—what kind of concept was that?
With speed behind a punch, he could bring an ordinary house crashing down. It would have almost no power to resist him.
If that blow landed on a person, there was no need to imagine the devastation.
The brick-and-tile houses of his previous life couldn't even withstand a single punch from Qin Dongcheng. Even reinforced concrete buildings would only take a few more punches.
The dramatic rise in his cultivation and strength put Qin Dongcheng much more at ease. Even if he really ended up having to hunt demons and purge evil one day, with his current strength, he could run even if he couldn't win.
Strange Treasures truly lived up to their name. Even the lowest-grade ones possessed incredible power.
There were just far too few of them—not nearly enough. He'd have to find a way to get another one.
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