A Body of Golden Bones, Thirty-Six Thousand Pounds

The rising sun broke over the horizon.

Facing the faint morning light, Luo Chen circulated his breathing technique, combining it with stance training to move his qi and blood and temper his skin, flesh, and bones.

Three days passed in succession.

All of them were spent cultivating.

Though the days were dull, they were fulfilling.

Two hours later, Luo Chen slowly finished his practice. Feeling the qi and blood within him gradually settle, he frowned slightly.

"At this rate of progress, it will take at least half a year to break through to Bone Forging. That doesn't fit my image at all!"

Luo Chen stroked his chin and pondered in silence.

In truth, taking half a year to advance from Skin Tempering to Bone Forging was still considered quite good within the Demon Suppression Bureau.

And that was only thanks to his perfected Crimson Sun Breathing Technique. Otherwise, it would have been delayed by another two months.

"No, it's still too slow."

Luo Chen secretly made up his mind. In one month, he would break through.

That one-month timeframe was also the result of asking around and thinking things through carefully.

Legend had it that Qingyuan City had geniuses who could reach Skin Tempering in a day and Bone Forging in half a month.

Though they were scions of great aristocratic families who had consumed no small amount of precious medicines and rare materials, their talent could not be denied.

If other geniuses could do it, why couldn't I, Luo Chen?

Bone Forging in one month was perfectly reasonable!

Having made up his mind, Luo Chen began watching the monthly assessment on the Training Ground.

The monthly assessment merely tested whether reserve martial artists had improved.

There was no unified standard, since the Reserve Demon Suppression Guards had joined at different times.

The assessment standards varied from person to person, but only by showing the Demon Suppression Bureau your progress could you continue receiving its support.

"Are you Luo Chen?"

"I heard your Demon Suppression Blade has already reached minor mastery?"

"How about we exchange pointers and temper our martial techniques together?"

Suddenly,

A somewhat frivolous voice sounded from nearby.

Two youths approached Luo Chen with the swaggering gait of men who recognized no kin, their gazes carrying probing intent.

Luo Chen looked over, one brow lifting.

"What do you two mean by this?"

He did not believe he had offended anyone. Where had these two come from?

"Hehe, on the path of martial arts, only through mutual verification and sparring can one improve."

"Brother Luo, would you be willing to offer some guidance?"

One of them stepped forward, extending a hand in invitation.

Those around them who had finished their assessments all turned to look, their eyes gleaming with the desire to watch a spectacle.

"Isn't Li Qing a reserve from the Training Ground next door?"

"Why has he come here to challenge someone to a spar?"

"I heard Li Qing is Li Captain's nephew. His talent is quite good."

"Tsk, tsk. So the two have a grudge? This visitor means no good."

As the murmurs around him gradually rose,

Luo Chen slowly understood their purpose.

Li Tiankui had a grudge against Uncle Liu, but it was inconvenient for him to make a move against a junior like Luo Chen, so he had sent these two to probe him.

Luo Chen did not fear them either. He extended a hand in a gesture of invitation.

Seeing that he had agreed, the crowd immediately gathered around a Small Training Ground nearby.

Most gazes held probing scrutiny and curiosity.

Luo Chen stepped onto the Training Ground and stood facing Li Qing.

Looking at the youth opposite him, Luo Chen simply drew his blade and used the minor mastery Shouyang Demon Breaking Saber.

Li Qing also wielded a long saber. His gaze sharpened as he moved in to meet the attack.

The two long sabers collided, ringing with the clang of metal.

From that first clash, Luo Chen had gained a preliminary judgment of his opponent's strength.

Not bad, but still lacking before him.

The Shouyang Demon Breaking Saber was broad and forceful, whipping up howling gusts of wind.

The two exchanged dozens of moves in rapid succession, and sweat gradually appeared on Li Qing's forehead.

What was going on? Hadn't they said he had broken through to Skin Tempering less than a month ago?

Gradually, the hand gripping Li Qing's saber began to tremble.

Luo Chen no longer concealed himself. His saber technique shifted, and the back of his blade smashed viciously into the other man's arm.

Li Qing cried out in pain and staggered back, his long saber falling from his hand to the ground.

He lowered his head and cupped his fists toward Luo Chen.

Without saying a word, he left.

A wave of uproar broke out around them.

Gradually, words of praise began to rise.

Luo Chen merely answered with a smile, his gaze following Li Qing's retreating, bedraggled figure.

In the neighboring courtyard.

Li Qing arrived at a pavilion, clutching his red, swollen arm and lowering his head without a word.

Before him stood a burly figure. Though the man revealed not a trace of his aura, Li Qing still felt immense pressure.

"You lost?"

Li Tiankui's rough voice rang out.

It made Li Qing, who had been hanging his head, shudder. He replied with an ugly expression,

"Your nephew exchanged dozens of moves with that man, but was no match for him."

"Humph!"

Hearing those words,

Li Tiankui snorted coldly and turned around.

"He was toying with you, and you couldn't even notice that!"

"Toying with me? He hid his strength."

Li Qing's face turned green, then red, ugly beyond measure.

"Go cultivate."

Li Tiankui said nothing further, merely waved Li Qing away.

He looked out the window, his eyes filled with contemplation.

Time gradually passed.

One month later.

Luo Chen had gained a small measure of fame at the Qingyuan City Demon Suppression Bureau headquarters.

In half a month, his Shouyang Demon Suppressing Blade had reached major mastery, while his cultivation had advanced at a startling pace.

While this earned Luo Chen some modest fame,

Certain busybodies also listed him as one of the Four Great Geniuses of the Qingyuan City Demon Suppression Bureau.

The other three geniuses were already Demon Suppression Captains, and by the time they came of age, they had at least reached the Blood Moving Peak.

Yet Luo Chen was still so young, with no battle achievements to his name. His realm and strength were worlds apart from theirs, yet he was ranked alongside them.

It seemed someone was secretly building him up only to destroy him.

Some praised and flattered him, while others mocked him with disdain.

Luo Chen was not affected in the slightest by the disturbances outside. He cultivated as usual.

That night,

Luo Chen sat cross-legged in a bathing barrel.

The room was thick with the scent of medicinal herbs.

This was a Bone Forging medicinal bath Liu Xingsheng had prepared for him at the cost of over a hundred taels of silver.

He had wanted to refuse, but seeing the medicinal bath already prepared, he could only swallow those words back down.

"It's time to break through!"

Luo Chen made up his mind.

In the blink of an eye, his lifespan began to be consumed without regard for cost.

[Year One: You break through the Bone Forging barrier. Your spine is like a dragon, your strength surges, and with a swing of one arm, you wield five thousand pounds of force.]

[Year Three: You achieve major mastery in Bone Forging, tempering your body into iron bones. With a shake of one arm, you wield eight thousand pounds of force.]

[Year Ten: You achieve perfection in Bone Forging. Your body possesses copper skin and iron bones, your qi and blood increase severalfold, and with a shake of one arm, you wield ten thousand pounds of force!]

Luo Chen frowned, gradually sensing that something was wrong.

That was it?

Hadn't they said that at Bone Forging perfection, one could wield eighteen thousand pounds with a swing of one arm?

This was not a small difference. It was nearly double.

Gritting his teeth, Luo Chen continued investing.

[Year Fifteen: Deeply aware that your foundation is insufficient, you continue tempering your bones, increasing your strength by three thousand pounds.]

[Year Twenty: A trace of golden pattern gradually emerges upon the iron bones throughout your body. You name them Golden Bones.]

[Year Thirty: The bones throughout your body turn brilliant gold. Every movement carries terrifying might, and with a shake of one arm, you wield thirty-six thousand pounds of force. Golden Bones have reached major mastery!]

[Lifespan: 16/105]

Thirty years of lifespan in exchange for a body of Golden Bones.

Luo Chen did not feel pained at all. Instead, he felt incomparably exhilarated.

Within the wooden barrel, his aura churned. Strands of qi and blood coursed through his entire body, rapidly tempering every bone.

His spine coiled like a great dragon, and his strength was enough to tear Demonic Beasts apart with his bare hands.

One hour later.

The commotion from his breakthrough gradually subsided, and Luo Chen rose from the bathing barrel.

His lean, refined muscles glimmered with moisture.

Though he had suddenly gained thirty years of Bone Forging experience and immense strength, he did not feel even the slightest lack of control.

It was as though he had been born with it.

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