What Is the Initial Realm

"What kind of martial art is this?"

Shen Yi opened his eyes, feeling as if he had broken through some sort of bottleneck. A powerful, surging force coursed through his body, completely transcending the limits of human physiology.

The previous Demon-Subduing Blade Technique and Cloud-Parting Long Fist were methods of rapid mastery created by the Demon Suppression Division by synthesizing martial arts from across the realm, and they were already considered top-tier.

After fully mastering them, his strength had become as great as an ox, and his speed as swift as a thunderbolt, which had left Shen Yi deeply astonished.

Yet, this brief manual of only seventy-eight characters allowed him to perceive an entirely new world. It carried an inexplicable sense of transcendence, as if he were on the verge of evolving into a completely new existence.

"It is no longer about excavating potential from within the body, but using external forces to refine it."

"Is progress slow because the external force is insufficient?"

Shen Yi grasped the logic behind it, but he lacked a good solution.

He had discovered during his previous simulations that the entire process of practicing martial arts was inextricably linked to his current circumstances.

If his guess was correct, if he could consume potent medicines rich in vital essence beforehand and then perform a martial arts simulation, he could use the medicinal power to accelerate his progress.

However, where would the medicine come from?

His predecessor had seemed imposing, but in reality, he was a gambler. The wealth he had squeezed from the common people, along with his salary, had all been dumped into gambling dens. It would be a miracle if he had enough money to eat until the next payday.

Moreover, each simulation consumed a year of his life, and ordinary medicine would have a negligible effect; he required true heavenly treasures to be of any use.

"Damn gamblers... I'll worry about that later."

Shen Yi looked at his remaining, still-sufficient Demon Longevity and began to pour it in with full confidence.

[The sixteenth year, you exhaust all your vital essence to nourish your bones.]

[The twenty-sixth year, the medicinal power is insufficient, and progress is slow...]

[The thirty-eighth year, your bones are more than half nourished, but collecting vital essence from ordinary food yields little effect.]

Shen Yi's expression gradually changed, and his eyes grew tense.

[The fifty-second year, after years of accumulation, the bone barriers break; the first volume of the Wind and Thunder Precious Scroll reaches minor completion.]

Only when these words appeared did Shen Yi realize he had been holding his breath for so long that he had forgotten to breathe.

However, the reward was quite substantial.

It was not just the massive transformation of his body; the bones buried beneath his flesh and skin were now like gold and iron, indestructible. Furthermore, the sense of transcendence emerging in his mind grew increasingly intense, like sweet honey, subconsciously drawing him toward it.

That miraculous realm was gradually unveiling itself to Shen Yi.

He gritted his teeth and went all in.

[The eighty-ninth year, you have grown accustomed to the slow accumulation of vital essence. Year after year, day after day, you become increasingly proficient in the operation of nourishing your body with vital essence.]

[The one hundred and sixth year, one morning, you suddenly notice a change in your skin, yet you feel no surprise, as if everything is only natural; the first volume of the Wind and Thunder Precious Scroll reaches great completion.]

This time, Shen Yi did not even pause. He felt he was getting closer and closer to that realm.

He began to pour his Demon Longevity into it with a numb, mechanical focus.

Muscles, bones, skin, and flesh—only the final barrier remained.

[The one hundred and eighty-second year, you cook your meal as usual and take a bite, but find it insipid. You suddenly feel that there is something much better to eat in this world.]

[That thing is everywhere, yet elusive.]

[You look down at yourself and suddenly realize: the so-called transcendence of the mundane world means the succulent duck leg in your hand has become a worldly trifle to you.]

[Under more than a hundred years of nourishment, your body has become the perfect vessel for that elusive thing... The first volume of the Wind and Thunder Precious Scroll is perfected.]

Shen Yi closed his eyes. That realm seemed within reach, just one final step away.

The Initial Realm represented a fresh start, a way to live a new life in this world with a different posture.

But now, he could not take that final step no matter what.

Because the seventy-eight-character mantra only went this far.

A flash of anger inexplicably surged in Shen Yi's heart. Damn it, finish writing! What is this half-baked state? How is one supposed to proceed after the mortal shell is perfected?

He stood up abruptly, intending to take a step, but his expression shifted.

The physical changes from his previous state of weakness to the perfection of the Demon-Subduing Blade Technique were nothing compared to this moment.

Shen Yi even felt a hint of confusion; he had only lifted his hand slightly, yet it felt as if he could easily overturn this small shack.

Following that, like a patient waking from a vegetative state, he began to slowly perform rehabilitation movements.

Until Chen Ji's voice called out from outside: "Time to eat."

The aroma of steamed rice wafted into the room. Shen Yi furrowed his brows, two emotions clashing in his mind: one was his habitual craving, while the other felt as if he had no appetite at all.

In the end, the former conquered the latter.

Shen Yi walked quickly out of the room.

The dwelling was truly cramped. Usually, the siblings would cook their food and return to their respective rooms to enjoy it slowly.

Today, with an extra person, Chen Ji had found a small table from somewhere and set it up in the tiny open space.

Shen Yi watched as Chen Ji carried the food into the room and closed the door for Chen Jinyu, unable to help but feel speechless: "I really am not that kind of person."

"It's not directed at you; she is just used to staying alone."

Chen Ji squatted back down by the table in silence, serving rice and wiping chopsticks for Shen Yi.

As they spoke, the wooden door opened a crack, revealing Chen Jinyu's slightly curious eyes, peeking out stealthily.

"..." Shen Yi curled his lip.

"..." Chen Ji's hand paused for a moment as he served the rice. After a brief silence, he sighed: "If you want to come out, then come out."

Chen Jinyu pushed the door open, holding her rice bowl, and came to squat beside the wooden table. She lifted the corners of her lips timidly, her quiet demeanor tinged with a hint of sweetness.

She had always been obedient to her brother, unwilling to add trouble to someone already burdened by toil and anxiety.

But that did not mean she lacked her own thoughts.

For instance, today, her brother's actions would certainly cause friction with his superior.

If it were truly to guard against that lecher, it would be one thing.

But in Chen Jinyu's view, a man who could notice the slight disappointment in other young girls' eyes while being helped up by her brother in the tea garden, and who was willing to temporarily play the role of their brother, could not be all that bad.

Thinking this, she curiously looked across the table and happened to meet Shen Yi's gaze.

The two smiled at each other.

Crack.

Chen Ji gripped his chopsticks, staring at Shen Yi with a forced, stiff smile.

You scoundrel! You aren't that kind of person? Ha! You aren't that kind of person?

"Eat." Shen Yi withdrew his gaze, feeling quite helpless.

He only had one year of longevity left; how could he have the energy for such thoughts?

He was merely in a good mood after mastering the Wind and Thunder Precious Scroll, and he found this girl, who clearly had a lot on her mind yet feigned ignorance, quite interesting.

Even if he were lucky enough to extend his longevity in the future and truly wanted to find one... or several...

Shen Yi preferred the type with a fuller figure, slightly older, with less innocence and more charm in their eyes.

Thinking of this, Shen Yi suddenly realized something. Wait...

Refining the body with vital essence, the peak of the mortal shell!

It doesn't give extra longevity? I could live two years longer just by doing Tai Chi in the park.

The next moment, the information he had missed earlier because he was too immersed in the Initial Realm slowly surfaced.

[Remaining longevity: twenty-one years]