Mortal Shedding, Attaining Nine, Becomes a Minor Saint (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Upon hearing Chen Ye's warning, Zuo Dongxi and Su Guang straightened up instantly, the ease on their faces wiped away, replaced by a heavy solemnity.

Zuo Dongxi asked, "Brother Chen, what exactly is the word on the Feng Family situation? Su and I have been locked away in prison; we're completely in the dark about what's happening outside."

Chen Ye set down his wine bowl and said in a low voice, "Some things are not convenient to say; speaking of them would only bring you harm. But I can guarantee that, for the immediate future at least, we are safe. As for what comes after... it's hard to say."

Zuo Dongxi and Su Guang exchanged a glance and remained silent, but the tension that had just eased in their hearts undoubtedly tightened once more.

Neither of them was a fool; they caught the implication in Chen Ye's words.

The person who assassinated Feng Yanwu was someone from within the Feng Family, and someone of no low standing at that.

The three of them had only escaped danger by clutching onto the identity of this killer.

If there were a reckoning in the future, they would truly have no strength left to fight back.

They knew better than Chen Ye just how immense the power of those noble families was.

For the time being, their lives would likely depend on this young man before them.

Zuo Dongxi was the first to nod, saying, "Then we'll keep watch. I'll arrange for a couple more brothers to keep an eye on the Feng Mansion. If there's even the slightest disturbance, we can make preparations in advance."

He quickly ran the matter through his mind, refilled the bowls for all three, and raised his own, saying, "From now on, we share in glory and we share in ruin."

"We share in glory and we share in ruin!"

The three of them immediately tilted their heads back and drank the wine in their bowls until they were bone dry.

Zuo Dongxi shook the wine pot and found it empty.

He turned his head and shouted, "Waiter, more wine! Bring the strongest stuff you have!"

All three were martial artists, and after a few pots of strong liquor, the conversation naturally drifted toward martial arts.

When they learned that Chen Ye had been training alone and had completed two Mortal Shedding stages in just two or three months, Zuo Dongxi and Su Guang nearly choked on their wine, staring at him as if he were a monster.

Chen Ye felt uncomfortable under their gaze and asked, "What's wrong? Isn't this quite normal?"

"Normal?" Zuo Dongxi said with great exaggeration, "With your talent, you're even better than the direct descendants of the four great families in the Capital City."

Chen Ye knew the four families he referred to were the Yang, Xie, Wang, and Cui families—the top noble houses of Great Jing.

He hadn't expected to be mentioned in the same breath as the direct descendants of the four top families.

"Do you know how long it took me to complete the second Mortal Shedding?" Zuo Dongxi held up five fingers and said, "Five years! It took me a full five years to do it!"

"Not to mention how many medicinal diets I consumed in between. After ten years of martial arts training, I've only completed three Mortal Shedding stages, and that's pretty much the limit for my life."

Su Guang nodded in deep agreement, "I'm about the same as him; three Mortal Shedding stages is my limit now. To break through to Dragon Elephant from here, aside from personal effort and daily nourishment, it's all up to fate."

Zuo Dongxi was quite talkative and continued, "Martial arts rely on three things: natural talent, nourishment, and training. If a martial artist wants to progress on the martial path, they cannot do without the nourishment of various refined spiritual materials. That's why we find it inconceivable that you could reach this level in just two months of hard training."

Only after hearing them did Chen Ye realize that his progress was indeed a bit absurd.

As they chatted, the topic shifted to the nuances of Mortal Shedding.

Su Guang, having spent a long time in noble families, had some insight and said, "Generally speaking, the more times you complete Mortal Shedding before reaching Dragon Elephant, the better, with nine being the ultimate number. For many noble descendants, completing five stages is considered outstanding talent. As for those who can complete nine, aside from the current Crown Prince, there is only that heir of the Xie Family. Other than them, I've never heard of a third person in the entire Capital City who could do it. At your age, completing two stages is already very rare among ordinary martial artists."

After listening, Chen Ye took a sip of wine and asked, "When I completed my second Mortal Shedding, it felt different from the first. Is every Mortal Shedding different for a martial artist?"

"Naturally," Su Guang nodded and said, "The first Mortal Shedding increases strength based on your original physical constitution. The second restores the vitality of the flesh, potentially extending one's life. The third involves the consciousness of the head, increasing the five senses and sharpening intuition. From the third stage onward, the body undergoes further changes with each shedding, varying from person to person. Once you complete nine, you reach the peak of the physical body; at that point, you can be called a 'Little Saint'. You would be able to resist a Dragon Elephant martial artist with your bare body alone."

So that was it!

Through their explanation, Chen Ye felt he had truly pushed open the door to the martial world, and everything before him suddenly became clear.

After chatting for a while longer, Chen Ye learned of several refined spiritual materials that could nourish the body and noted them down one by one.

Others might not know, but he had the Pawn System; if he used it properly, he might not be unable to attempt a ninth Mortal Shedding in the future.

Having enjoyed the conversation and finished the wine, the three rose to take their leave.

Before parting, they agreed to meet here every seven days to drink and keep in touch, sharing whatever news they had gathered.

Over the next two days, Chen Ye moved out of the carriage firm and settled into a quiet place he rented in the Capital City.

At the same time, he went to a medicinal herb shop and spent two taels of silver to buy a piece of spiritual material containing the refined substances Su Guang had mentioned.

It was a wild ginseng root over ten years old.

According to them, to shed one's mortal coil again, one could not do without the support of these refined substances.

It just so happened that the True Yang within his body also needed these substances to grow stronger.

Chen Ye picked up the ginseng, and without using any special preparation methods, he washed it clean and ate it raw, just like gnawing on a radish.

He didn't waste a single bit.

The ginseng was mild in nature and did not have an immediate effect like other medicines.

After waiting about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Chen Ye felt his body begin to undergo subtle changes.

It was as if he were standing in the warm spring sun; a feeling of warmth permeated his entire body.

The vitality within his flesh and blood was stirred, and his Dantian began to heat up. Five specks of light emerged from his flesh, flickering like stars.

Chen Ye stood in a Fixed Posture, adjusted his breathing, inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, and with a unique rhythm, mobilized the energy throughout his body. Layers of white mist began to spray from his nose and mouth.

That was the heat flowing and dispersing through his meridians, the mobilization of flesh and blood vitality, an anomaly condensed from his breath in the air.

After spending an hour, Chen Ye finally refined and absorbed the medicinal power of that old ginseng completely.

As he withdrew his energy, he felt the internal flow of qi within him had become a bit more solid than before, bringing him one step closer to his third Mortal Shedding.

Five days later, Qingfeng Restaurant.

By the time Chen Ye arrived, Zuo Dongxi and Su Guang were already waiting.

Zuo Dongxi and Su Guang sat at a table near the door, the food and wine untouched.

Seeing him come upstairs, Zuo Dongxi did not stand up, merely pushing a bowl of wine already poured toward his seat.

Upon seeing him, Su Guang stood up and lowered his voice, saying, "Brother Chen, there is news from the Cui Family."