Array-Breaking Style

Chen Ye lay on his side on the bed. Three golden lights emanated from his skin at the Guanyuan, Sea of Qi Acupoint, and Shimen Acupoint, shining brighter than they had that morning, brilliant as stars and shimmering with a lustrous glow.

A massive surge of vitality erupted from his dantian, rushing forth like molten iron, scouring every inch of his sinew, bone, and flesh.

As the excruciating pain struck, he couldn't help but open his mouth and exhale a breath of turbid air.

"Pfft!"

Once that turbid air left his body, it actually condensed into a white chain of mist in the air, shooting rapidly toward the window paper.

The window paper vibrated, and a light dusting of debris drifted down.

This sudden change left Chen Ye stunned.

The entire process lasted for the duration of a cup of tea.

Only when the skin-peeling, marrow-extracting pain receded like a tide could Chen Ye lift his head, gasping for air.

He steadied his breathing and looked down at his dantian.

The three points of starlight had vanished, sinking deep beneath his skin, no longer luminous.

Yet, the newborn torrent within his body had not subsided; it continued to surge in circles through the meridians throughout his body, like a living creature charging and roaming about.

It was even more intense than it had been that morning.

After a moment, Chen Ye slowly withdrew his gaze.

At this moment, everything around him suddenly became clear in his perception.

He could hear the rustling of night insects crawling over the roof tiles outside the courtyard wall, and he could smell the scent of medicinal dregs in the kitchen slop bucket.

The back of his hand, which had been rough during the day, now had veins coiled like the roots of an old tree, as if rejuvenated.

With a slight exertion of force, a layer of golden-gray keratin surfaced on his skin.

Chen Ye flicked his finger toward the corner of the table. With a dull thud, a piece of the hardwood corner was chipped off, and wood shavings scattered onto the bed.

[Name: Chen Ye]
[Current Martial Art: Foundation Cultivation Technique (Perfected)]
[Realm: Mortal Shedding (First Stage)]
[Can pawn lifespan to obtain corresponding cultivation progress]
[After pawning, redeeming lifespan requires double the cost; limited to talent, luck, and wealth]
[Current remaining lifespan: One year, two months, and nine days.]

At this moment, a sound like a beating drum echoed in Chen Ye's ears; it was the sound of his heart pumping blood.

Strong and powerful.

Is this the Mortal Shedding realm?

Mortal Shedding, as the name implies, is to shed one's mortal coil and change one's bones.

Only after taking this step is one a true martial artist.

He remembered that Zhang Tieyi had undergone Mortal Shedding twice and had blood on his hands; his practical combat experience would surely crush him.

His only advantage right now was that the other party did not yet know he had completed Mortal Shedding.

By utilizing this, he might be able to fight for a glimmer of survival.

Additionally, it was slightly regrettable that the improvement in his realm had not brought about an increase in his lifespan.

In the future, if he wanted to increase his lifespan, he would have to find other ways.

Just then, a new notification suddenly appeared in his field of vision.

[Foundation Cultivation Technique has reached perfection]
[Unlocked hidden move: Foundation Cultivation Technique: Array Breaking Style]
[This technique is a hidden move of the Foundation Cultivation Technique; consume seven days of lifespan to master it]

"A hidden move?"

Seeing this, Chen Ye was slightly taken aback, and then an uncontrollable joy appeared on his face.

He knew it.

The Foundation Cultivation Technique taught to him by the Gao Family was indeed incomplete.

This technique was not just for tempering qi and blood; it also contained moves for exerting force.

The Gao Family had never intended to teach him those from the very beginning.

After all, he was just a "tool," and there was no need for him to know too much.

Right now, he had only undergone Mortal Shedding once, resulting in some changes in his physical strength, but he was completely ignorant when it came to actual combat.

Even with the advantage of surprise, he still felt uncertain facing a seasoned opponent like Zhang Tieyi.

This hidden move unlocked by the Pawn System was exactly the timely help he needed.

He did not hesitate for long.

Seven days was nothing compared to what he had already spent.

"Pawn, seven days of lifespan."

[Seven days of lifespan deducted. Providing hidden technique: Foundation Cultivation Technique: Array Breaking Style.]

In an instant, the world went silent.

It felt as if only a moment had passed, yet also as if an eternity had gone by.

A flood of unfamiliar memories surged into his mind, leaving him in a daze.

Only after a few short breaths did his clarity return.

Chen Ye reached out his hand in surprise, feeling a sense of familiarity and seasoned expertise, as if he had practiced these movements for many years.

A series of techniques and mental cultivation methods had become second nature to him, as if they had always been there.

Even the coordination of his breathing and the circulation of his strength during the strikes were now perfectly clear to him.

[Current remaining lifespan: one year, two months, and two days.]

Chen Ye rolled off the bed, an urge to test his skills rising within him, much like a child with a new toy, eager to try it out immediately.

However, the room was only about twenty feet square, far too small to perform the moves.

Chen Ye pondered for a moment, then picked up the wood chips that had been blown onto the bed, crushing them one by one between his fingers to feel the way his body exerted force.

Fine wood powder fell continuously from between his fingers.

Before long, Chen Ye blew out the oil lamp, feeling satisfied.

The next day.

Chen Ye woke up earlier than usual.

He washed up as he always did, then stood in the courtyard to practice his stance.

Under the courtyard wall lay an unused stone millstone, ignored by everyone.

Chen Ye walked over, wrapped his arms around it, and effortlessly lifted the two-hundred-plus-pound millstone.

He held it steadily for a moment, then set it back down gently without a sound.

"After one Mortal Shedding, my strength has increased significantly; I have at least two hundred pounds of raw power. In ancient times, I would have been strong enough to carry a great banner."

If a warrior who had only undergone one Mortal Shedding could reach this level, Chen Ye could hardly imagine the majesty of a Xiantian warrior like Bridge Sea.

Chen Ye walked back to the center of the courtyard, slowly tensing the muscles in his arms, then channeling his strength into his legs.

The essence of the Array Breaking Style lay in gathering the body's entire force into a single point, pursuing an extreme, explosive impact.

If an ordinary person could achieve this, they could also throw a punch far exceeding that of a normal man.

Chen Ye closed his eyes and visualized the figure of Zhang Tieyi in his mind.

Two meters tall, two-foot-long arms, right-handed.

Chen Ye's feet ground a half-circle into the blue brick floor, his body spinning suddenly like a top.

His right fist broke through the air.

Snap!

The strike whistled, carrying a sharp, cutting sound.

This punch was aimed at the opening left when an opponent lost their balance.

Following that, the second punch targeted the knee as the opponent instinctively pulled back.

Then the third punch, the fourth...

The Array Breaking Style consisted of only a few moves, which he practiced repeatedly.

After trying several times, Chen Ye had a clear grasp of his own strength.

The sky grew bright.

Gao Qiaoniang had already risen, and seeing Chen Ye still practicing his stance, she walked out carrying a wooden tray.

"Today's medicine."

Chen Ye glanced at it, not wanting to make things difficult for her.

He took the pill and held it in his mouth without swallowing.

As soon as Gao Qiaoniang turned away, he spat it out onto the ground without a trace, using his toe to flick it into an inconspicuous corner.

He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and resumed his stance.

He now had only one year, two months, and one day left.

Every day was precious.

Zhang Tieyi did not come today, so there was no one to supervise him; he would certainly not waste his lifespan on such things.