Chapter 383: Secret Realm (I)

Refining pills was a time-consuming and labor-intensive task. Especially when refining complex medicinal pills like the Primordial Pill. From preprocessing the herbs to drawing the earth fire and refining them into pills, the entire process took a whole afternoon.

"These are thirty-three Primordial Pills. It has been too long since I last refined them, so the quality is somewhat inferior, but it will not affect their use. Take one before cultivation each day, and it will last you for a month."

The third elder handed over the medicinal pills.

"Many thanks, Third Elder," Lin Zheyu said respectfully.

The medicinal pills were round and yellow-brown, only half the size of a glass bead. A single tiny pill placed in the palm emitted an extremely rich herbal fragrance. Lin Zheyu gently squeezed it. It was very hard, almost like stone, with the energies of various herbs fused under the refinement of earth fire.

"The Primordial Pill is unlike other medicinal pills. It is as hard as crystal and needs to be soaked with blood qi to assist absorption," the third elder explained with a smile when he saw Lin Zheyu curiously examining it.

Other medicinal pills, once refined, were easily absorbed by martial artists. This was the advantage of medicinal pills over medicinal decoctions. But the Primordial Pill was different. It was not prepared for ordinary martial artists, but for those with a solid foundation, at least in the Marrow Refining realm.

"You have nothing urgent to return to, so stay in the main sect for a while. Old Fifth and I will work overtime to refine a year's supply of Primordial Pills for you, in case we are tied up in the future and it affects your cultivation. Otherwise, I would become a sinner," the third elder said with a smile.

Having witnessed Lin Zheyu's extraordinary talent in the Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art, he regarded him as the next Dao Child. Such monstrous talent even astonished the third elder. In over two hundred years of life, he had only seen a few geniuses of Lin Zheyu's caliber, not even enough to count on one hand.

No, those geniuses were not even comparable to Lin Zheyu. After all, Lin Zheyu had been exceptionally recruited into the Wuji Sect. Before this, the training, guidance, cultivation techniques, and resources he received were far inferior to those of top sect disciples. Even so, in less than two years after joining the Wuji Sect, he rose rapidly like a rocket, defeated Liang En, and ranked twenty-fourth on the Hidden Dragon List, becoming the number one among the younger generation of the Wuji Sect. Such talent was terrifying.

"Is the situation already this severe?" Lin Zheyu could not help but ask.

Back in Wuling City, he had already sensed the situation was tense. Almost all the experts at the Force Transformation realm and above in the sect were occupied with various missions. Even Guo Wenzi, whom he used to see often, had not appeared for months until she completed her mission recently.

"There are some troubles. Although it does not yet threaten the Central Plains, it is steadily approaching. By then, even an old bone like me will probably not be able to stay behind and enjoy leisure," the third elder said with a smile.

He looked at Lin Zheyu and asked, "I saw your fight with Liang En that day. You did not use your full strength, did you?"

"If you went all out, would you be confident of entering the top ten of the Hidden Dragon List?" the third elder asked curiously.

For a genius like Lin Zheyu, even though he was a Grandmaster realm expert and the third elder of the Wuji Sect, he still showed him sufficient respect. He did not test Lin Zheyu's strength directly, but chose to ask instead.

"

Hmm...

The martial artists in the top ten of the Hidden Dragon List all possess extremely monstrous talent. I have not fought them before, so I cannot be completely certain," Lin Zheyu said hesitantly.

He felt that being ranked twenty-fourth on the Hidden Dragon List was already enough and did not wish to climb higher, as that would draw too much attention. The higher the ranking, the greater the support the Hidden Dragon Tokens provided to martial artists, but Lin Zheyu relied mainly on Origin Force for cultivation, so the tokens were merely an added benefit. He believed that being within the top thirty was sufficient. The Hidden Dragon List was shrouded in mystery, and it was said that reaching first place would grant tremendous fortune and opportunity. He had little interest in that.

No matter how great the fortune or opportunity, could it be greater than the Origin Force he possessed? Exposing himself before powerful immortal cultivators for the sake of an unknown fortune was an extremely unwise choice. Lin Zheyu believed that behind the Hidden Dragon List, it was definitely controlled by powerful official immortal cultivators of Great Wei.

"

Haha...

No need to be so modest. Where is the spirit you showed before? Even without cultivating the Primordial Wuji True Technique, you already possess such strength. Once you cultivate it, your power will surge again. By then, even the top three of the Hidden Dragon List may not be beyond your reach," the third elder said with a smile.

There was something he did not say: the Primordial Wuji True Technique was known as one of the most powerful true techniques in the Guanghua Region. Back then, the founding ancestor of the Wuji Sect relied on this technique to develop the sect into the undisputed strongest sect in the Guanghua Region. Unfortunately, since the ancestor, no disciple had been able to cultivate the Primordial Wuji True Technique to Perfection.

"Yes. I will do my best," Lin Zheyu said.

He felt somewhat helpless. After entering the Hidden Dragon List, it had become a burden. Lin Zheyu had already obtained the subsequent cultivation technique. In a few years, he would begin condensing true strength and advance to the Force Transformation realm, so he would not remain in the Marrow Refining realm for long. By then, the Hidden Dragon List might become troublesome. If he did not carry the Hidden Dragon Tokens with him, he did not know whether the Hidden Dragon List could still detect his advancement to the Force Transformation realm. He would need to test this in the future.

***

Lin Zheyu stayed at the main sect for a week. The main sect did not have a place like the Waterfall Deep Pool behind Azure Tide Pavilion that was suitable for him to break his limits. With his physical strength, if he used heavy armor for weighted training, the required weight would be terrifying to match a physique comparable to a Force Transformation realm martial artist. Thus, he could only temporarily abandon limit breaking and wait until he returned to Azure Tide Pavilion.

Knock, knock.

Opening the courtyard gate, he saw the familiar Xie Biao at the entrance. Lin Zheyu found him reliable and attentive, so he had asked him to visit when free, and would occasionally guide him.

"Martial Uncle, He Yuhan from the Azure Rainbow Sect has arrived and wishes to challenge you," Xie Biao said.

"Has she arrived?" Lin Zheyu asked.

"Yes. She is waiting at the martial arena. Martial Uncle Liang En has already been defeated by her," Xie Biao replied.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"I see. I will be back soon. Will you wait here or come with me?" Lin Zheyu asked calmly.

"Martial Uncle, I will accompany you and cheer for you," Xie Biao said respectfully.

Lin Zheyu nodded and headed to the martial arena.

***

Guanghua City was the largest and most prosperous city in the Guanghua Region, housing many top sect headquarters and more genius martial artists than Wuling City. After defeating Liang En, many martial artists frequently came to challenge Lin Zheyu, mostly out of curiosity to see the Wuji Sect's newly risen top young disciple.

At the martial arena, many disciples were already gathered, excitedly waiting for the battle.

"You have arrived," Liang En said calmly.

Recently defeated by Lin Zheyu and now again by the rising genius of Azure Rainbow Sect, Liang En was naturally in low spirits. Standing beside him was Qiu Baoyu. They stood close together, their expressions somewhat intimate, which surprised Lin Zheyu. He had not expected this simple fellow to win her over so quickly.

Could the methods from my previous life really be this effective?

Lin Zheyu muttered inwardly, not placing any importance on the upcoming battle.

"Senior Brother, are you two together now?" Lin Zheyu asked curiously.

"Not yet," Liang En said, his face slightly flushed as he shook his head.

"Senior Sister Baoyu, we meet again. Are you not with Senior Sister Wang Shuxian today?" Lin Zheyu teased with a smile.

Although Liang En said not yet, anyone could see it was almost there.

"Shuxian has gone on a mission," Qiu Baoyu said gently. "Junior Brother, do your best and defeat He Yuhan of the Azure Rainbow Sect."

"Of course. I will avenge my senior brother," Lin Zheyu replied with a smile as he walked toward the center of the arena.

He Yuhan had been waiting for some time. Seeing Lin Zheyu's relaxed and indifferent demeanor, as if he did not take her seriously, she frowned slightly.

"I am He Yuhan, here to seek your guidance!" she said calmly.

She was an ordinary-looking woman, but years of martial training had given her an excellent physique. Combined with her cultivated true intent, it enhanced her presence, making her no less impressive than many mortal beauties.

"I am Lin Zheyu. Please advise," he said with a smile, clasping his fists.

He glanced around and saw many disciples of the Azure Rainbow Sect. When he spotted a man with sharp brows and eyes like an eagle, he inwardly sighed.

This fellow had indeed come. It's troublesome.

The man was Yin Zehao, the number one among the younger generation of the Azure Rainbow Sect, currently ranked thirteenth on the Hidden Dragon List. On the way here, Lin Zheyu had heard from Xie Biao that Yin Zehao was a battle fanatic, more like someone from the War God Sect than the Azure Rainbow Sect. Whenever he found an interesting opponent, he would challenge them regardless of their ranking.

"Looks like I cannot win too easily this time," Lin Zheyu muttered.

He feared that an overwhelming victory would attract Yin Zehao's interest. If Yin Zehao challenged him publicly, refusing would damage the Wuji Sect's reputation, yet Lin Zheyu did not want to deliberately lose. The best approach was simply not to draw Yin Zehao's attention.