Chapter 327: Challenge (I)

In Wuling City, at the War God Sect branch.

Zuo Feng walked through the sect, sensing the strange looks coming from all around.

"Have you heard? That martial artist recently recruited by the Wuji Sect is incredibly formidable. Both Heng Qiming and Martial Uncle Zuo Feng lost to him."

"I heard about it too. I could not be there at the time. What a pity."

"It is said that Lin Zheyu only broke through to the Marrow Refining realm while he was at the eighth transformations of blood qi, yet in sheer strength, he was actually not inferior to Martial Uncle Zuo Feng. That is truly unbelievable."

Within the War God Sect, many people were discussing Lin Zheyu. They were all a group that loved battle and held combat and the strong in the highest regard.

"He must have cultivated a body refining technique. Although his current strength is formidable, for a genius like him to spend his time and energy on body refining techniques is somewhat unwise," a man built like an ox shook his head as he commented.

"You are worrying too much. You have heard of Zhao Hao, right? The one who relied on his lightness and movement techniques to fight Puxuan to a draw at this year's martial cultivation exchange. Puxuan has already reached eighty-third place on the Hidden Dragon List. Just think about how powerful Zhao Hao's lightness and movement techniques must be. That's Lin Zheyu, you know. Do you really think it's unwise for him to cultivate lightness and movement techniques to such a transcendent level while also refining body refining techniques?" The man's companion curled his lips as he retorted.

"

Hiss

, so Lin Zheyu is actually Zhao Hao. With that Dominance true intent he cultivates, I thought Zhao Hao had been secretly recruited by the Bull Demon Sect as a true disciple. Who would have thought he would quietly become a true disciple of the Wuji Sect?"

Listening to the discussions around him, Zuo Feng could not help but frown, his mood growing rather displeased.

Zuo Feng swept his gaze over the crowd and said in a cold voice, "What are you all standing around here for? Have you finished your tasks? Have you completed your cultivation assignments? Do you think the cultivation workload is too easy? All of you go back and cultivate. Everyone's cultivation tasks are doubled for today."

Amid the wide-eyed looks of the crowd, resentful yet daring not to argue, he slowly walked out of the plaza and arrived at the Hall of Martial Honor.

"Master." Zuo Feng respectfully bowed to the person inside the Hall of Martial Reverence.

This was his master and a sect elder, Lu Jianting. Lu Jianting sat upright and composed, glanced at Zuo Feng, and lightly nodded.

"Master, is that Lin Zheyu really someone who broke through to the Marrow Refining realm with eight transformations of blood qi?" Zuo Feng voiced the doubt in his heart.

From appearances alone, Lin Zheyu was noticeably younger than him. Yet in terms of strength, lightness, and movement techniques, and combat awareness, he was stronger than Zuo Feng. Even with the powerful physique and near invincible strength at the same realm that he took pride in, he had actually lost to Lin Zheyu. This dealt a blow to Zuo Feng's pride.

He had broken through to the Marrow Refining realm with nine transformations of blood qi, and his physical strength was nearly invincible among those of the same realm. Only martial artists in the Marrow Refining realm who followed the path of body refinement, or genius martial artists who broke through with nine transformations, could possibly stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

Zuo Feng knew that Lin Zheyu was highly proficient in lightness and movement techniques, having cultivated them to a transcendent level. In his view, someone who had cultivated lightness and movement techniques to such a stage could not possibly have so much time to cultivate body refining techniques. This was also the reason Zuo Feng had been so shocked upon witnessing Lin Zheyu's astonishing strength.

"I do not know. Lin Zheyu's origins are extremely mysterious. The first trace of him appeared in the Southern Barbarian Region, and that place has already fallen, leaving little information to investigate. He claims to come from the northern lands. People were sent to check, but no relevant information was found. It may be true, or it may be false, but none of it concerns you," Lu Jianting said calmly. Although no powerful momentum qi emanated from him, he still gave Zuo Feng a sense of natural authority without anger.

"Your natural talent is outstanding, but your temperament is lacking. If you were to fight Luo Manghan at equal strength, you might not even be his match. Luo Manghan's repeated defeats, followed by repeated battles, his lack of fear in combat, his lack of fear of losing, and his lack of fear of the strong are the temperament that a War God Sect martial artist must possess. No matter what Lin Zheyu's true foundation is, what you must do is use every means to overcome him, defeat him, and treat him as a stepping stone on your path forward."

Lu Jianting's voice grew louder and louder, eventually booming like a great bell and making Zuo Feng's vision swim.

"Yes. This disciple will strictly follow Master's teachings," Zuo Feng came back to his senses and replied respectfully.

***

At the back mountain of the Wuji Sect, by the Waterfall Deep Pool, Lin Zheyu lay sprawled on the ground, completely drained of strength. He had pushed himself too hard just now, and his bodily energy was almost entirely depleted.

Gurgle, gurgle.

A rumbling sound came from his stomach as a wave of hunger washed over him.

"I’m hungry again. Having a powerful physique is certainly good, but it also makes one hungry much more easily," Lin Zheyu muttered softly.

After recovering a bit of strength, he propped himself up with both hands and sat upright. He took out Essence and Qi Pills from his robe, swallowed three of them, and only then did the hunger fade away. His powerful physique gave him an astonishing digestion speed, requiring him to consume large amounts of high-energy food every day to meet his body's needs.

Even if I were to claim that I am a Blood Qi realm martial artist, no one would believe it now

.

The strength of his physique was now so overwhelming that it left no room for doubt. Among martial cultivation techniques, there were many powerful body refining methods. However, the efficiency of body refining techniques was far lower than strengthening the physique by increasing blood qi. To rely on body refining techniques alone to cultivate the physique to Lin Zheyu's level while still at the Blood Qi realm was almost impossible.

Forty years old was a watershed for martial artists. For those who had not undergone tendon tempering and marrow cleansing, their peak would arrive around forty. After passing that age, they would begin to decline. If one relied solely on body refining techniques without taking the path of tendon tempering and marrow cleansing, the body would enter a period of decline before the physique could ever reach Lin Zheyu's level.

This was why martial cultivation placed such importance on condensing blood qi. The greatest difference between the Marrow Refining realm and the Blood Qi realm was the overwhelmingly powerful physique. If the physique was somewhat weaker, it was still possible that it belonged to a Blood Qi realm martial artist who had trained through body refining techniques.

However, the power of Lin Zheyu's physique was something ordinary Blood Qi realm martial artists could never achieve. After Elder Yang and Sect Master Huang Baizhong witnessed the strength of his physique, they never once thought of the possibility that he might be a Blood Qi realm martial artist.

***

The roar of the waterfall echoed across the entire back mountain, and the splashing spray of water formed a brilliant rainbow in the sky.

Lin Zheyu changed into a fresh set of clothes and prepared to leave. After breaking his limits, he needed proper rest. In this state, it was not suitable to continue cultivating.

"Martial Uncle, Martial Uncle!" Just as he walked out of the back mountain, he ran into Huang Youwei, who was hurrying over.

"Are you asking me to step in again?" Lin Zheyu said with a smile.

Helping Huang Youwei once came with generous compensation, enough for him to exchange for a technique manual from the third floor of the Heavenly Blessing Pavilion.

"No. I do not have any extra contribution points left to ask you to act," Huang Youwei muttered.

After transferring five hundred contribution points to Lin Zheyu, his own balance was nearly depleted. Contribution points in the Wuji Sect were difficult to obtain. Someone like Xiao Shu, who stood watch at Virtuous Benevolence Hall, only earned thirty points a month. To earn more contribution points, one had to take on much more difficult tasks.

"I thought you had gotten into trouble again." Lin Zheyu smiled and walked outward as he said, "I have not eaten yet. Do you want to go together?"

"No. I still have something to do later. I came to let you know that the contribution points have already been transferred to your name," Huang Youwei said.

"Many thanks. If there are more good opportunities like this in the future, remember to come find me." Lin Zheyu laughed heartily. He had agreed to act back then precisely because of Huang Youwei's great sincerity.

"Definitely, definitely!" Huang Youwei laughed awkwardly and bade farewell to Lin Zheyu before leaving.

With such an expensive cost to ask for help, being able to request it once was already difficult. If Heng Qiming had not gone too far back then, he would never have been willing to spend this money.

"

Sigh.

With no contribution points left to spend, I can only ask my parents for help, and they will force me into intense cultivation again," said Huang Youwei as he sighed softly.

As a second-generation martial artist, his need for contribution points was not particularly great, nor did he value them too highly. However, obtaining cultivation resources from his parents in exchange for contribution points was no easy matter, and he was about to fall back under their control again.

Once Huang Youwei's contribution points were credited, Lin Zheyu went straight to the Heavenly Blessing Pavilion. He had had his eye on a certain technique there for a long time, but lacked enough contribution points to exchange for it. Master Huang Baizhong only provided resources for cultivating the Azure Tide Boundless True Technique and did not wish Lin Zheyu to be distracted by other pursuits. If he wanted to exchange for techniques, he could only rely on himself.

"Greetings, Martial Uncle."

"Greetings, Martial Uncle."

Along the way, the inner disciples on duty greeted him respectfully.

He entered the Heavenly Blessing Pavilion and moved through without obstruction, arriving directly at the third floor. There were quite a few interesting techniques on the second floor as well, but Lin Zheyu currently devoted all his energy to the Azure Tide Boundless True Technique, the Great Strength Vajra Fist, and condensing blood qi. These other techniques were interesting, but not worth dividing his focus. The technique on the third floor, however, was different. It was worth it.

"Greetings, Fifth Elder."

Upon arriving at the third floor, Lin Zheyu clasped his fists and bowed to the fifth elder on duty today. The fifth elder was named Xu Kuiyang and belonged to the same generation as his master, Huang Baizhong. By seniority, Lin Zheyu should address him as a martial uncle. Judging by appearance, however, Xu Kuiyang looked much older than Huang Baizhong.

From Huang Youwei, Lin Zheyu learned that Xu Kuiyang was already one hundred seventy two years old, while his master Huang Baizhong was one hundred eighty. For Grandmasters who cultivated longevity extending techniques and consumed Life Extending Pills, the maximum lifespan was three hundred years. Huang Baizhong had only just passed his prime, and his physique was only just now beginning to show signs of decline. Xu Kuiyang, however, had already entered decline much earlier.

Although Xu Kuiyang was younger than Huang Baizhong, due to the gap in strength and insufficient comprehension talent, as well as his limited attainment in the Tortoise Breath True Technique, his lifespan was much shorter. Even after consuming longevity-type medicinal pills, he would likely only live a little past two hundred twenty. By contrast, Elder Yang was already over two hundred thirty, yet remained extraordinarily vigorous, still able to fight a peak Force Transformation realm yao martial artist to a standstill. This was partly because he had once been a Grandmaster realm powerhouse, but also because he had cultivated the Tortoise Breath True Technique to perfection and practiced other techniques that sealed life energy.

"So it is Zheyu. Have you encountered difficulties in cultivation and come to look for a technique?" Xu Kuiyang asked with a genial smile when he saw Lin Zheyu.

"My cultivation has been progressing smoothly. I am simply very interested in a certain technique and came specifically to exchange for it. Thank you for your concern, Elder," Lin Zheyu replied respectfully.

"I heard you made it onto the Hidden Dragon List. To possess such battle strength not long after joining the Wuji Sect is impressive. Work hard and see if you can enter the top thirty of the Hidden Dragon List and suppress Xiao Shi of the War God Sect," Xu Kuiyang said with a smile.

"Yes. This junior will certainly give his utmost effort," Lin Zheyu said.

Lin Zheyu was not surprised that Xu Kuiyang learned of this so quickly. Xu Kai'en, as Xu Kuiyang's grandson, mentioning the matter after returning was only natural. Moreover, the Wuji Sect had dedicated information channels and personnel responsible for reporting news. Even without Xu Kai'en, Xu Kuiyang, as an elder, would soon have known.

"What technique do you wish to exchange for this time?" Xu Kuiyang asked.

"This junior wishes to exchange for the Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art," Lin Zheyu said.

There were far fewer technique manuals on the third floor than on the first and second floors, but every single one was a premium work. The shelves only displayed introductions to the techniques, while the actual copies had to be obtained from the fifth elder. The Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art was a manual Lin Zheyu discovered while browsing various texts and reading technique descriptions on the third floor to broaden his knowledge.

It was a secret art focused on cultivating the spirit and soul.