Treading Mountains and Rivers

A smile appeared in Chen Yue's eyes. He followed the same method as before, attempting to fuse Roaming Mountains and Rivers, which had already reached Limit-Breaking, with his newly acquired Eight-Step Cicada Chase.

At his intent, the panel responded once more. Light flowed as the two movement techniques' insights blended and ascended, shedding the dross and retaining the essence. A moment later, a new line appeared:

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

"Technique discovered. Would you like to spend two taels of silver to simplify Treading Mountains and Rivers?"

"Thank you, Senior Brother Yu. I need some time to digest what I've learned, so I don't need a demonstration for now." Chen Yue clasped his hands toward Yu Kan.

Yu Kan looked to Zhou Jingfeng, waiting for his instructions.

After a brief pause, Zhou Jingfeng said, "Now that you've learned the movement technique, it's a good time to use the medicinal properties to stimulate your qi and blood and grasp its mysteries. Ma Jun, is the medicinal bath ready?"

"Reporting to Master, as you instructed, I used one dose of Tendon-Strengthening and Bone-Forging Powder and simmered it over alternating high and low heat for an hour. Its medicinal properties have fully infused the water." Ma Jun hurriedly replied.

"Good. Chen Yue, come with me." Zhou Jingfeng nodded and led Chen Yue to a quiet room in the rear courtyard of the martial arts school.

As they pushed open the door, a strong, peculiar herbal scent rushed toward them, a mixture of pungent bitterness and a hint of strange sweetness.

Mist billowed through the room. At its center stood a barrel nearly half a man's height. The hot water inside was dark brown, with scraps of medicinal herbs floating on the surface.

Zhou Jingfeng pointed to the barrel. "This Tendon-Strengthening and Bone-Forging Powder is quite potent. Its main purpose is to stimulate qi and blood and scour the sinews and bones. Usually, it's best to use the inner-breathing method of the Mountain Crushing Fist to guide the medicine through your limbs and bones as you train.

"But since your Mountain Crushing Fist isn't yet proficient, you can guide its absorption with the Wave-Turning Breathing Technique. It won't be as direct, but you'll still absorb most of it, so it won't go to waste. Get in, calm your mind, and guide the medicinal properties."

"Yes, Master." Chen Yue nodded, took off his outer clothes, and stepped into the barrel.

The water was very hot, but his Skin Refining Realm physique could withstand it. Chen Yue sat cross-legged, letting the medicinal brew rise to his chest.

The moment he settled in, he sensed something unusual. The seemingly calm brew was like countless strange, scorching streams of heat, sharp as fine steel needles, forcing their way through his pores and into his body.

Chen Yue didn't dare let his guard down. He immediately gathered his thoughts and silently circulated the Mountain-Crushing Art.

The moment he activated the technique, the effect was immediate. The streams of heat, which had been seeping in passively, seemed to be roused, surging into him with even greater violence.

The inner breath of the Mountain-Crushing Art was like a furnace. It instantly enveloped and refined the unruly, potent medicinal power, turning it into pure qi-and-blood energy that flowed into his veins and spread through his bones and sinews, nourishing every inch of flesh.

Chen Yue soon sank into this wondrous state of cultivation. The scalding medicinal power poured in from outside while the Mountain-Crushing Art rapidly circulated within, refining and absorbing it. He could clearly feel his qi and blood growing stronger and more condensed.

Yu Kan stood beside the barrel, watching Chen Yue enter a deep state of cultivation almost as soon as he got in. There was no sign of pain on his face, only calm concentration—a clear sign that he was absorbing the medicinal power exceptionally well. Yu Kan couldn't help but marvel again at Chen Yue's talent.

Zhou Jingfeng stood nearby, stroking his short beard, his face openly beaming with satisfaction.

Chen Yue's performance had once again confirmed his judgment. His talent was outstanding, and even rarer were his focus and resilience. Given time, he would surely achieve great things.

Time flew by as Chen Yue focused on his cultivation. After about an hour, the heat and prickling sensation throughout his body quickly faded, until they were barely noticeable.

Chen Yue slowly exhaled a long breath of stale air and opened his eyes.

"Junior Brother, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Seeing Chen Yue end his cultivation early, Yu Kan asked in surprise.

Chen Yue shook his head, sounding uncertain. "Senior Brother Yu, I think the medicinal power has run out."

"Run out?" Yu Kan was stunned.

The first time he'd used Tendon-Strengthening and Bone-Forging Powder, he'd spent well over two hours in the barrel. The difference...

"Maybe the Wave-Turning Breathing Technique helps with absorbing the medicine." Chen Yue smiled, then looked at the panel.

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

"181!"

Chen Yue's eyes lit up. He clearly remembered that his progress had been 161/300 when he first entered the barrel.

This single medicinal bath had raised his cultivation progress by 20 points.

The previous day, he'd cultivated the Mountain-Crushing Art diligently and gained about 7 points over the course of the day. This one dose of medicine was almost worth three days of hard work!

And he'd only just begun absorbing its medicinal power. Chen Yue could still feel some of it lingering in his body. Once he absorbed it all, his progress would rise even further.

At that moment, Chen Yue gained a vivid understanding of the saying that studying was for the poor and martial arts for the rich.

The children of powerful clans and wealthy households could build their foundations with precious medicinal herbs from a young age, with famous masters guiding them. Their starting point might well be the finish line that countless children from poor families struggled for years to reach.

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

Lost in thought, Chen Yue changed his clothes and went to the front courtyard.

Zhou Jingfeng was sitting at a stone table in the courtyard, drinking tea. When he saw Chen Yue emerge so soon, surprise flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by an even broader smile.

He set down his teacup and asked warmly, "You're out. How do you feel? Have you adjusted to the medicinal power?"

Chen Yue stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Reporting to Master, the medicine worked wonderfully! I could clearly feel my qi and blood growing stronger and my body strengthening."

"Mm. It's good that it worked."

Zhou Jingfeng nodded and stroked his beard. "The medicinal power of Tendon-Strengthening and Bone-Forging Powder is potent, and its effects are most pronounced the first time you use it. The more often you use it, the less effective it becomes.

"Rely too heavily on external medicine, and your foundation will inevitably be unstable. It can't match the solid gains of diligent training. The proper path is to combine both. You can take a medicinal bath once every four days and train alongside it. That should get you into peak condition before the Life-Death Arena."

Chen Yue looked enlightened. It was much like the drug tolerance he'd known in his previous life: no matter how good a medicine was, its effects diminished with repeated use.

"This disciple understands. I'll remember your teachings, Master!"

Looking at his respectful disciple, Zhou Jingfeng was more pleased than ever. Chen Yue had exceptional talent and excellent character, and, more rare still, he was neither arrogant nor impatient.

"Now that you've absorbed the medicinal power, strike while the iron is hot and start training the movement technique."

Zhou Jingfeng picked up his teacup and said to Chen Yue, "In a couple of days, I'll have to go to the Zhou Family to take care of some matters, so I may not always be here to supervise your training.

"Yu Kan has already demonstrated the essentials of Eight-Step Cicada Chase, and you've memorized the formula. The key is to practice without pause and understand the balance between its bursts of speed and its changes. If you run into difficulties, you can ask Yu Kan at any time."

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

"Simplify!"

"Simplifying Treading Mountains and Rivers... Simplification successful... Treading Mountains and Rivers → Roaming Mountains and Rivers!"

The result was exactly as Chen Yue had expected. Treading Mountains and Rivers had evolved from Roaming Mountains and Rivers, so performing the basic Roaming Mountains and Rivers movement technique would steadily improve his proficiency in Treading Mountains and Rivers.

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