Treading Mountains and Rivers

A hint of a smile appeared in Chen Yue's eyes. Following the same method, he attempted to fuse the already maxed-out Roaming Mountains and Rivers with this newly acquired Eight-Step Cicada Chase.

As his intent reached it, the panel responded once again. Light flowed as the artistic conceptions of the two movement techniques blended and sublimated, discarding the dross and retaining the essence. After a moment, a new line of text appeared:

[Treading Mountains and Rivers (Perfection 9521/20000)]

"Technique detected. Spend two taels of silver to simplify Treading Mountains and Rivers?"

"Thank you, Senior Brother Yu. I need some time to digest this; I don't need to practice for now." Chen Yue cupped his hands toward Yu Kan.

Yu Kan looked over at Zhou Jingfeng, waiting for instructions.

Zhou Jingfeng pondered briefly, then said, "The movement technique has been taught. This is a good time to use the medicinal power to stimulate your blood and energy, allowing you to comprehend its mysteries. Ma Jun, is the medicinal bath prepared?"

"Reporting to Master, it's ready as you instructed. I used one dose of Tendon-Strengthening and Bone-Forging Powder, alternating between strong and gentle heat for an hour. The medicinal power has dissolved into the water." Ma Jun quickly replied.

"Good. Chen Yue, follow me." Zhou Jingfeng nodded and led Chen Yue to a quiet room at the back of the training hall.

As the door pushed open, a thick, peculiar herbal scent rushed toward them, mixing pungent bitterness with a hint of strange fragrance.

The room was filled with steam. In the center stood a large wooden tub half as tall as a man. The water inside was a deep brown, with some herbal residue floating on the surface, steam rising thickly.

Zhou Jingfeng pointed at the tub. "This Tendon-Strengthening and Bone-Forging Powder has quite a domineering medicinal nature. Its main purpose is to stimulate blood and energy, scouring the tendons and bones. Normally, it's best paired with the inner breath method of Mountain Crushing Fist, guiding the medicinal power into your limbs and core during cultivation.

However, your Mountain Crushing Fist isn't yet proficient. Using the Wave-Turning Breathing Technique to guide and absorb it won't be as direct, but you can still absorb most of it without wasting it. Get in. Focus your mind and guide the medicinal power."

"Yes, Master." Chen Yue nodded, took off his outer robe, and stepped into the wooden tub.

The water temperature was quite high, but with his Skin Refining Realm physique, he could bear it. Chen Yue sat cross-legged, letting the medicinal soup rise to his chest.

No sooner had he settled than he felt something unusual. The seemingly calm medicinal soup seemed to contain countless scorching, stinging, strange heat currents, like fine steel needles, drilling into his body through every pore, scrambling to get in.

Chen Yue dared not be careless. He immediately composed his mind and silently began circulating the Mountain-Crushing Art.

The moment the technique was activated, the effect was immediate. The heat currents, which had only been passively seeping in, seemed stimulated, surging violently into his body like a raging flood.

The inner breath of the Mountain-Crushing Art acted like a furnace, instantly enveloping and refining these mixed and domineering medicinal powers, turning them into pure blood and energy, merging into his veins, spreading to his bones and fascia, nourishing every inch of his skin and flesh.

Chen Yue quickly immersed himself in this wondrous cultivation state. Outside, the scalding medicinal power continuously poured in; inside, the Mountain-Crushing Art operated efficiently, refining and absorbing. He could clearly feel his blood and energy constantly growing and condensing.

Yu Kan stood by the tub, watching Chen Yue enter a deep cultivation state almost the moment he got in. His face showed no pain, only calm focus, indicating excellent absorption efficiency. He couldn't help but silently marvel at Chen Yue's talent once again.

Zhou Jingfeng stood to the side, stroking his short beard, a look of undisguised satisfaction on his face.

Chen Yue's performance once again confirmed his judgment. Exceptional talent, and even rarer, this focus and tenacity. Given time, he would surely achieve great things.

Time flew by in focused cultivation. About an hour later, Chen Yue felt the heat and stimulation coming from his body rapidly weaken, eventually becoming barely perceptible.

Chen Yue slowly exhaled a long, turbid breath and opened his eyes.

"Little junior brother, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Yu Kan asked, puzzled, seeing Chen Yue end his cultivation early.

Chen Yue shook his head, a little uncertain. "Senior Brother Yu, it seems the medicinal power has been used up."

"Used up?" Yu Kan was stunned.

When he had first used this Tendon-Strengthening and Bone-Forging Powder, he had stayed in the tub for over two hours. The gap...

"Maybe the Wave-Turning Breathing Technique helps with absorbing the medicinal power." Chen Yue smiled, then glanced at the panel.

[Realm: Skin Refining Realm (181/300)]

"181!"

Chen Yue's eyes lit up slightly. He clearly remembered that when he first entered the tub, his realm was 161/300.

This single dose of Tendon-Strengthening and Bone-Forging Powder medicinal bath had directly increased his cultivation progress by 20 points.

Yesterday, through hard practice of the Mountain-Crushing Art, he had improved by about 7 points in a whole day. This one dose was almost worth three days of his hard work!

And this was just the beginning of absorption. Chen Yue felt there was still residual medicinal power inside him. Once he fully absorbed that, his progress would be even higher.

At that moment, Chen Yue gained a very clear understanding of the saying "poverty cultivates literature, wealth cultivates martial arts."

The children of those great clans and wealthy families could build their foundation with various precious herbs from childhood, supplemented by guidance from famous masters. Their starting point might be the finish line that countless children from poor families could never reach even after years of struggle.

On the path of martial arts, talent and perseverance were certainly important, but resources were sometimes an insurmountable chasm.

With these thoughts in his heart, Chen Yue changed his clothes and came to the front courtyard.

Zhou Jingfeng was sitting at a stone table in the courtyard, sipping tea. Seeing Chen Yue come out so quickly, a flicker of surprise passed through his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by an even deeper smile.

He put down his teacup and asked in a warm voice, "You're out? How do you feel? Can you handle the medicinal power?"

Chen Yue stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Reporting to Master, the effect is excellent! Your disciple can clearly feel his blood and energy growing and his physique strengthening."

"Mm, good that it's effective."

Zhou Jingfeng nodded, stroking his beard. "The medicinal power of this Tendon-Strengthening and Bone-Forging Powder is domineering. The first use has the most significant effect. As you use it more, the effect will diminish.

Moreover, relying too much on external medicine will inevitably make your foundation unstable, not as solid as what you gain through diligent personal practice. Combining the two is the right path. You can take a medicinal bath every four days, paired with cultivation, to adjust your condition to its peak before the Life-Death Arena."

Chen Yue showed a look of understanding. This was like drug resistance in his past life—no matter how good the medicine, using it too much would reduce its effectiveness.

"Your disciple understands. I will remember Master's teachings!"

Looking at this respectful disciple before him, Zhou Jingfeng felt increasingly satisfied. Exceptional talent, excellent temperament, and, even rarer, neither arrogant nor impatient.

"Since you've initially absorbed the medicinal power, strike while the iron is hot and start practicing the movement technique."

Zhou Jingfeng picked up his teacup and said to Chen Yue, "Your master needs to go to the Zhou Family in a couple of days to handle some trivial matters, so I'm afraid I won't be able to supervise your training here constantly.

The essence of Eight-Step Cicada Chase has already been demonstrated by Yu Kan, and you've memorized the incantation. The key lies in diligent, unceasing practice, comprehending the balance between burst and variation within it. If you encounter any obstacles, you may ask Yu Kan at any time."

"Your disciple understands." Chen Yue nodded and walked toward the center of the courtyard.

"Simplify!"

"Treading Mountains and Rivers simplifying... simplification successful... Treading Mountains and Rivers → Roaming Mountains and Rivers!"

The result of the simplification was not beyond Chen Yue's expectations. Treading Mountains and Rivers originated from Roaming Mountains and Rivers; by executing the basic Roaming Mountains and Rivers movement technique, he could continuously increase his proficiency in Treading Mountains and Rivers.

But a new question arose in Chen Yue's mind.