Frantic Refinement

He checked the time. More than half an hour had passed since he took the Blood-Activating Powder.

One dose of Blood-Activating Powder had increased his proficiency by ten points!

The effect was far more remarkable than Lu Cheng had expected.

He had already surpassed the progress he'd made when he first learned Stance Training!

Lu Cheng felt a flicker of delight.

At this rate, even if he trained only two hours a day, he could reach Late Stage of Strength Refining before the end of the month!

Once he entered the late stage, it would take no more than another month to reach Perfected Strength Refining!

The effects of pills really were incredible.

It seemed Yunhuizi hadn't been exaggerating when he said Du Ruo could enter Qi Refinement within three years.

There was Blood-Activating Powder for the Force Refining Realm, and the Body Refining Realm had no fewer than four kinds of pills.

If they were supplied without limit, entering Qi Refinement in three years would actually be a rather slow pace.

"I don't have the East Sun Sect's abundant resources to support me."

"I'll have to fight for everything I need myself."

"So I absolutely can't afford to lose either of the upcoming contests, big or small."

Based on what he'd just used, he would need two doses of Blood-Activating Powder a day.

The fifty doses of Blood-Activating Powder up for grabs at Lin Martial Arts Hall were of the utmost importance.

Once he reached the late stage, the medicine's effects would probably weaken.

By then, he'd inevitably have to increase the dosage.

But that was a month away.

By then, with his strength advancing by leaps and bounds, Lu Cheng would surely be able to find other ways to make money.

As for the Body Refining Realm...

The resources it consumed would only be more terrifying.

The contest three months from now might be his only chance to stockpile resources. If he missed it, another opportunity might not come.

So no matter what, he couldn't afford to lose!

He had to be strong enough to take on three opponents at once—no, six!

With that in mind, Lu Cheng didn't stop. He took another dose of Blood-Activating Powder from his bag.

After a moment's thought, he gritted his teeth and took out one more packet.

Ten points of proficiency in half an hour wasn't enough!

Since pills were no longer a problem for the time being...

Why was he still holding back?

Hadn't Yunhuizi said that becoming a "Human Hero" alone made reaching the heavens as difficult as climbing a ladder?

Then would adding Qi Refinement within a year be enough?

That was right.

Lu Cheng had made up his mind to prove his worth through an exceptionally rapid pace of cultivation.

Entering the Qi Refining Realm after just one year of martial arts training was something only the legendary "Peerless Heavenly Pride" could accomplish!

With a cultivation speed rivaling a Heavenly Pride, obtaining a technique that could restore his vital qi and blood shouldn't be difficult!

Lu Cheng hesitated no longer. He mixed the two packets of powder together and swallowed them without another word.

A wave of medicinal power, several times more violent than before, dropped from his throat, like a red-hot iron spike plunging into his dantian.

The veins in his exposed arms bulged visibly. It seemed as though the blood throughout his body was about to catch fire.

Lu Cheng groaned. The veins on his forehead stood out as his body trembled uncontrollably.

Lu Cheng gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, and forced his ragged breathing under control. Trembling, he began to practice Stance Training.

As he practiced, he forced himself to breathe with each movement.

When he inhaled, the medicinal power flowed with his breath into his lungs and viscera.

When he exhaled, the congestion in his organs loosened a little.

Again and again.

Sweat evaporated from Lu Cheng's body, rising as steam like smoke from a beacon and shooting straight into the sky.

"He's insane. He's really insane!"

Everyone on the training grounds was stunned by Lu Cheng's actions.

They had heard of people taking Blood-Activating Powder to get the most out of it, but they had never seen it for themselves.

Let alone seen anyone take two doses at once like Lu Cheng.

"Could... could he already be at the middle stage of the Force Refining Realm?"

Some suspected Lu Cheng had to have reached the middle stage of the Force Refining Realm to be so fierce.

Hearing the discussion, everyone turned to look at the four senior disciples who had already reached the middle stage of the Force Refining Realm.

Especially Chen Qing.

Yet even they stood there, stunned.

Clearly, even they found Lu Cheng's actions unbelievable.

When they came to their senses, the four shook their heads again and again.

Chen Qing's expression changed drastically. His voice turned ominous:

"The middle stage of the Force Refining Realm? No. Absolutely impossible."

"Only those with the aptitude of a 'Peerless Di Hao' or better can achieve 'Hundred-Day Foundation Establishment.'"

"In other words, even Du Ruo would need three months to reach Perfected Strength Refining."

"In just half a month, she could only have barely begun to generate strength."

"As for Lu Cheng, he's only an incomplete 'Human Hero.' How could he be faster than Du Ruo?"

At his words, the others nodded in agreement:

"Exactly. How could anyone reach such a level in just half a month?"

"Even if he had reached the middle stage of the Force Refining Realm, he still shouldn't swallow two doses of Blood-Activating Powder at once."

They sighed and shook their heads.

"Lu Cheng's probably been driven mad by the contest."

Fatty and the others had arrived at the training grounds not long after Lu Cheng took his first dose of Blood-Activating Powder.

Now they watched him with worried expressions.

Seeing Lu Cheng still trembling, steam rising from his body, Fatty finally couldn't hold back.

"I'm going to get Third Chief Escort!" Fatty shouted, then raced toward the inner courtyard.

Only Zhuang Xing had originally pretended not to notice what Lu Cheng was doing.

But now that everyone had gathered around, pretending he hadn't seen it would be too embarrassing.

At the thought, Zhuang Xing suddenly jolted.

"Embarrassing? Isn't my pretending not to know, and running away from this, even more embarrassing?"

He turned to look at Lu Cheng in the crowd.

Though his body trembled and his face contorted with pain, he hadn't stopped moving through the Stance Training motions.

Not only had he not stopped, but each movement remained flawless.

"The path of martial arts means contending with Heaven, battling Earth, and wresting victory from others."

"I don't even dare take Blood-Activating Powder. What can I say about fighting for anything? How ridiculous."

As he thought this, Zhuang Xing seemed to make up his mind. He walked slowly toward Lu Cheng.

As he went, he took a packet of Blood-Activating Powder from inside his clothes.

He pushed through the crowd and stopped opposite Lu Cheng, a zhang away. Slowly, he tore open the paper packet.

"Lu Cheng, I admit you have an unwavering heart for martial arts. But how could I, Zhuang Xing, accept being left behind?"

With that, he tipped the powder into his mouth.

"Boom!"

A fierce, scorching heat swept rapidly through him.

Sweat soaked Zhuang Xing's clothes in an instant.

His eyes could no longer make out anything; all he saw was a field of blood-red.

His chest seemed ready to burst. A bloody taste he couldn't suppress trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Yet Zhuang Xing showed no fear. Trembling all over, he began to practice Stance Training.

He repeated the six stances again and again, moving faster and faster.

Gradually, a force he had never felt before rose from the soles of his feet.

It rushed up his thighs and reached his hips in an instant.

Zhuang Xing didn't stop moving, but he laughed wildly.

"It's through! I broke through!"

"Ha ha ha! Lu Cheng, I broke through! I'm coming too!"

"Ha ha ha! I'm not alone on the martial path! My path isn't lonely!"

Everyone nearby recoiled several steps at the sight of Zhuang Xing, staring at him in terror.

"It's over, it's over! Zhuang Xing's gone mad too!"

Just then, a low shout rang out from the distance.

"Move aside!"

Before the words had even faded, a wave of force pushed a dozen disciples outward from the middle of the crowd.

A gray figure rushed into the center. It was Feng Zhan.

After taking in the scene, Feng Zhan cursed, "Idiot," then quickly pressed a finger to the back of Zhuang Xing's neck.

Zhuang Xing's body abruptly stiffened, then he stood motionless.

Feng Zhan didn't lift his finger. His other hand quickly pressed against Zhuang Xing's back.

The strength in both arms flowed into Zhuang Xing's body, regulating his chaotic, violent qi and blood.

Only after a full quarter of an hour did Zhuang Xing spit out a mouthful of blood.

His eyes cleared for an instant, then his body went limp and he fainted.

Feng Zhan supported him by the back and handed him to a nearby disciple.

"Help him back to rest and watch him carefully."

Then he turned to Lu Cheng, his brow furrowing.

But Lu Cheng couldn't hear a thing around him.

He had no idea so much had happened outside.

His blood surged through his body like a tsunami.

It was as if a huge drum had been stuffed into his head, pounding with a deafening roar in time with his heartbeat.

The medicinal power wrapped around his muscles, bones, and organs like red-hot chains, tightening without end.

The moment sweat appeared, the heat evaporated it. His clothes clung to him, damp and scalding.

Even his mouth had taken on a faintly sweet, coppery taste.

All of this meant that the strength in his blood and qi was on the verge of collapse.

Taking two doses of Blood-Activating Powder together was simply too fierce.

But it wasn't unbearable.

Lu Cheng kept practicing the first nine forms of the Mystic Eagle Stance.

Once, twice, three times...

Gradually, he stopped sticking to the order of the forms and focused only on mobilizing every bit of his strength to resist the raging medicinal power.

Under the intense pain, Lu Cheng clenched his teeth. His jaw clattered as if it might shatter at any moment.

The bloody taste in his mouth grew stronger.

At last, a trace of crimson escaped the corner of his mouth, beyond his control.

But just as it slid down his chin, before it could reach his neck, the astonishing heat radiating from his body evaporated it.

"Third Chief Escort, please help him! Lu Cheng's spitting up blood!"

Fatty cried out anxiously.

Feng Zhan frowned and waved a hand.

"Don't rush. Let's watch a little longer. The boy can still hold on for now."

"Though this approach is dangerous, it's far more effective than gentler methods—by more than a little."

"The longer he can keep going, the greater the benefits will be."

Even so, Feng Zhan kept his eyes fixed on Lu Cheng, his right hand hanging at his side with two fingers held together like a sword.

If Lu Cheng showed the slightest sign of trouble, Feng Zhan could intervene immediately.

At that moment, the medicinal power inside Lu Cheng was still raging, but it had begun to shift toward something he could control.

His strength was repeatedly shattered and scattered, only for Lu Cheng to gather it back together again and again.

Each time it came together, it was a little more resilient than before.

No one knew how long it had been, or how many times he had practiced the stances.

Gradually, Lu Cheng felt his body cooling. A sliver of clarity returned to his mind.

The raging medicinal power stopped coursing wildly. Instead, it flowed along the channels it had forced open, into his limbs and throughout his organs.

The burning pain became warmth, and the warmth gradually turned to coolness.

What had been destruction became nourishment.

Lu Cheng abruptly opened his eyes.

His eyes were still bloodshot, but his gaze was utterly resolute.

He kept moving through the Stance Training motions, thanking Feng Zhan through a hoarse voice.

"Thank you, Third Chief Escort, for protecting me."

When Feng Zhan had just spoken, Lu Cheng had already begun to regain his senses. He also knew Feng Zhan had been watching over him the whole time.

Feng Zhan waved a hand and snorted.

"You really don't know when to quit. Make him do fifty more repetitions before you stop."

With that, he turned and left.

Lu Cheng answered, "Yes," then closed his eyes again and focused his mind.

But this time, it was much easier.

In his Consciousness Sea, the black figure representing the Mystic Eagle Stance Technique kept growing larger, then shrinking again.

Its movements sped up, then slowed down.

When it was fast, only afterimages remained.

When it was slow, it looked like a statue.

After a long while, it finally returned to normal.

[Twelve Forms of the Black Hawk Stance]

[Grade: Low-Grade Human Tier]

[Realm: Minor Achievement (60/300)]