Bone Tempering

Having obtained the complete manual for the Spirit Crane Stance, the purpose of this trip had been fulfilled.

Cheng Yang was preparing to take his leave, but Jiang Zhongwei showed no intention of letting him go. He kept talking without pause, looking as though he wanted to drag Cheng Yang into conversation until nightfall.

Cheng Yang patiently listened to him ramble for quite some time before finally finding an opening. "Hall Master Jiang, I still have matters to attend to, so I won't stay any longer."

"...All right." Jiang Zhongwei smacked his lips. Though reluctant, he could not very well force Cheng Yang to remain.

He personally escorted Cheng Yang all the way to the martial hall entrance. Watching that broad figure gradually disappear into the distance, the ball of regret in his heart surged up again, burning ever fiercer.

Two days passed swiftly.

Over those two days, Cheng Yang did nothing but practice martial arts and receive visitors. Three more factions from Qinglin County had taken the initiative to approach him and offer sponsorship, and he accepted them all.

As a result, quite a few forces in Qinglin County now had connections with him, both openly and in secret. Fortunately, with this funding, he could finally devote himself wholeheartedly to martial arts without having to rack his brains every day over where to get money.

That night, the darkness was deep and all things were silent.

Cheng Yang's eyes were half-closed, his breathing gradually deepening. The blood and qi within him had originally been as docile as mercury, as heavy and still as lead. But now, it was like a ladle of cold water thrown into boiling oil—it suddenly erupted! The surging torrent of blood and qi in his meridians crashed through his limbs and bones with irresistible force. Every impact came with a heartbeat that boomed like a drum, making the bones throughout his body hum.

[Great Mastery of Back-Piercing Stance (1999/2000)]

Only the final thread remained.

Cheng Yang did not hesitate. His dantian sank, his spine drew taut like a fully drawn greatbow, and all the blood and qi in his body surged toward that barrier.

It was the final shackle within him, a barrier formed from all the accumulated power of blood and qi from the Skin Tempering and Flesh Tempering realms.

Bang!

Like a massive hammer striking an anvil, the barrier did not budge in the slightest.

Bang! Bang!

The second strike, then the third. The torrent transformed from blood and qi battered it relentlessly. A layer of crimson spread over Cheng Yang's skin, and his entire body became like a humanoid furnace, the heat he radiated distorting even the surrounding air.

Then, an abrupt change occurred.

The proficiency lingering at [1999/2000] thundered past the final threshold. At the instant the Back-Piercing Stance reached Perfection, the foundation accumulated from four stance arts became like floodwaters dammed up for ages, finally finding an outlet.

Bang—!

An incomparably muffled explosion rang out from within his body. Before that tidal, overwhelming force, the stubborn barrier was like a ruptured dam, collapsing in an instant.

In that moment, countless fine tremors welled up from deep within his marrow. Beginning at his spine, they spread through every rib, every shoulder blade, every finger bone.

A bizarre sensation of numbness and agonizing pain swept through his body, as though thousands upon thousands of little snakes were slithering through his bones, gnawing at them, remolding them.

Crack—!

The first crisp crack came from his back, followed by a second, then a third... A chain of crackling sounds like frying beans erupted, spreading from his spine to his chest and ribs, from his shoulder blades to his knuckles. At last, even his skull and leg bones joined this symphony.

Cheng Yang clenched his teeth, veins bulging at his temples. He watched with his own eyes as the outlines of the bones beneath the skin of his arms gradually became visible. Their original grayish white took on a faint silver-gray sheen, heavy and restrained, as though every inch of bone was undergoing a tempering.

The Bone Tempering Realm had been achieved.

An unprecedented, surging force erupted from the depths of his marrow like underground magma bursting forth, flooding through his entire body. He subconsciously clenched his fist, and his finger bones crackled. An indescribable sense of fullness filled every inch of his flesh and blood.

He slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. It condensed into a streak of white in the air and lingered for a long while without dispersing.

[Perfection of Back-Piercing Stance]

His gaze swept over those words, and the corners of Cheng Yang's mouth could not help but rise.

After two and a half days, he had finally entered the Bone Tempering Realm. His two and a half days were equal to someone else's two and a half years.

He found it difficult to imagine how Qin Wudi had managed, by his own strength, to cultivate dozens of stance arts to Perfection.

Could that guy have been a cheat user too?

Whether he was or not, I certainly am.

Cheng Yang moved this body, which felt slightly unfamiliar due to its explosively increased strength, then casually performed a set of Vajra Fist. Once the set was complete, a few insights appeared in his mind. The sense of disconnect from his body also melted away, and he once again regained control as natural as moving his own arm.

"At last, I have some confidence in protecting myself."

A Bone Tempering martial artist might not amount to much in Great Xuan, but in Qinglin County, one was already considered upper-tier fighting strength. Even prominent clans would treat one as an honored guest.

As for Force Tempering Martial Warriors, one level above Bone Tempering, there were only a handful in all of Qinglin County.

"Come to think of it... it's time to speak with Master about the Ascending Dragon Conference."

Cheng Yang gazed at the pitch-black sky and murmured to himself.

The Chen Clan Martial Hall's slots for the Ascending Dragon Conference had already been decided, but Chen Feiyi had made him a promise.

As long as Cheng Yang could defeat any one of the five, he could take that person's place.

Of the five, his Third Senior Brother and Fourth Senior Brother were both Bone Tempering martial artists, while the other three were Flesh-Tempering Martial Masters.

Though Cheng Yang might not necessarily lose to his Third Senior Brother or Fourth Senior Brother with the help of his cheat, there was no need for that.

For one thing, they were fellow disciples. For another, competing against those in the same realm was tiring and yielded little reward.

He preferred fighting above his level. Using Bone Tempering to fight Flesh Tempering—he would not merely have them in the palm of his hand; he would seize victory the moment he reached out.

It was more comfortable to squeeze the soft persimmons.

With that in mind, Cheng Yang returned to his room and told Chen Feiyi about his breakthrough.

"It seems you are ready." Chen Feiyi set down his teacup, anticipation in his eyes.

Although his disciple had only broken through to Flesh Tempering a few days ago, geniuses could not be measured by ordinary standards.

Since Cheng Yang dared to come and discuss this with him, it proved that Cheng Yang had at least a seventy percent chance of success.

Perhaps he had even cultivated another stance art to Great Accomplishment.

"Yes, Master."

"Good. Tomorrow, I'll gather the five of them. Choose for yourself whom you wish to challenge." Chen Feiyi readily agreed. "I won't say much about your Third Senior Brother and Fourth Senior Brother—after all, you are only in the Flesh Tempering Realm, and the gap between Flesh Tempering and Bone Tempering is too great.

"As for the remaining three Flesh-Tempering students, let me tell you about them."

"Thank you, Master."

Cheng Yang thanked him aloud, but his mind was already racing through the calculations. He was now in the Bone Tempering Realm. Fighting those at Flesh Tempering was a dimensional strike.

After listening to his master explain the situations of the three men, he came to only one conclusion.

If he did not hold back, those three probably would not be able to withstand even two or three of his punches.