Chapter 668: Minor Breakthrough (1/2)

Chapter 668: Minor Breakthrough

When Xiao Chen cultivated the fifth layer of the Firmament Body Tempering Art, he had experienced a similar torment. However, it was not as intense as this time. Furthermore, when the Medicinal Energy spread, the pain seemed to double.

Xiao Chen did not rush into consuming that Spirit Freezing Pill. He relied on his tenacious willpower and endured the pain from the tempering.

The night passed in a flash, and the dawn quickly brightened the sky. As the sun rose and set, Xiao Chen completely lost track of time.

With the aid of the Firmament Body Tempering Art and the Dragon Jelly Ointment, Xiao Chen’s physical body rapidly grew stronger. The pain that he felt was like maggots gnawing on his marrows, continuously wearing down his will.

As long as Xiao Chen circulated the Firmament Body Tempering Art, that pain would gnaw at him relentlessly as his strength increased.

If Xiao Chen stopped cultivating, that pain would end. At this moment, a cultivator’s willpower and mentality were extremely important.

One might be able to endure loneliness, withstand temptation, have excellent talent, exceptional physique, and outstanding comprehension.

One might be ruthless to one’s enemies, not showing any mercy.

However, if one did not dare to be ruthless to oneself, unable to endure the pain of tempering their body over and over again, they could not become a peak expert, could not stand out from the crowd and look down on everyone.

Endure! Endure! Endure!

Xiao Chen roared in his heart, having no intention of giving up. The Firmament Body Tempering Art circulated continuously. Only when that pain exceeded the limit of what he could bear, almost causing him to faint, did he crush that Spirit Freezing Pill with his teeth and consume it.

Instantly, a bone-chilling feeling soothed the heat raging in his body, decreasing the pain that went beyond his limits.

The Spirit Freezing Pill could not completely eliminate pain; it could only decrease it. However, when Xiao Chen used it, it allowed him to retain his consciousness—an excellent use of it.

The Spirit Freezing Pill would not last very long, so Xiao Chen made full use of his time and cultivated. He prepared to surpass his limits in one go. Each time he transcended his limits, he would make a small breakthrough in the Firmament Body Tempering Art.

Not long after, the Spirit Freezing Pill’s effects wore off. Xiao Chen immediately stopped cultivating because the pain would make him faint. Trying to endure longer would end up wasting more time.

The water splashed as Xiao Chen stood up from the tub and got out. As he casually wiped off the medicinal liquid on his body, he could feel a strong Vital Qi as he clenched his fists.

“Ka ca! Ka ca!” The bones in Xiao Chen’s body started crackling. Formless energy spread out uncontrollably. A violent wind blew within the room, causing some items to explode, their fragments flying in the air.

This was not the end of it. An acupoint at the bottom of Xiao Chen’s right foot burst open. As it emanated azure-colored Dragon Qi, he felt tremendous explosive power fill his right leg.

Joy appeared on Xiao Chen’s face as he said, “I reached Small Perfection in the Firmament Body Tempering Art’s sixth layer. My Vital Qi grew stronger by fifty tons of force, and I finally opened another acupoint. My defensive powers are probably more than twenty percent stronger than before now.”

He turned his head and looked at the tub. The Dragon Jelly Ointment in there had been more or less used up. So he simply emptied it out, pouring it all away, and refilled it with fresh water.

“I still can use the Dragon Jelly Ointment two more times; that is two more opportunities. Furthermore, there is still the Blood Refinement Pill and the Yellow Spirit Flower. I should be able to reach the late phase of the sixth layer. After that, I should be able to reach the peak of the sixth layer’s late phase,” Xiao Chen mumbled to himself before entering the tub and cultivating again.

Ten days later, Xiao Chen had consumed all his Spirit Freezing Pills, the Dragon Jelly Ointment, the Blood Refinement Pill, and the Yellow Spirit Flower.

The results were as Xiao Chen had expected. The Firmament Body Tempering Art reached the late-phase of the sixth layer. His Vital Qi strengthened by one hundred tons of force. Now, without using Quintessence, his Vital Qi was now capable of six hundred and fifty tons of force.

Xiao Chen had not suffered in vain for the past few days. He had also not wasted the Medicinal Pills that had cost him several hundred thousand Superior Grade Spirit Stones. Now, if he fought Situ Gang, he would be able to put up a fight without having to use Quintessence; Situ Gang’s vast Quintessence would not force him back like last time.

Aside from the acupoints on his right leg, he also opened two acupoints on his left leg. Each foot had twenty acupoints. In order to maintain balance, he intended to open the acupoints of both legs concurrently.

This way, he would avoid having a right leg with high explosive power but an ordinary left leg—a condition that would limit the flexibility of his movement in combat and would be easily noticed by his opponent.

Xiao Chen walked out of the cultivation room and arrived in the large yard. Then, he carefully took out the half drop of Dragon Marrow and the Monarch Blood Grass.

These two items were worth cities. Even now, Xiao Chen still could not believe he had them. Indeed, it would not be too much to call them a spectacular windfall.

However, no matter what, these two items were really sitting in his hands now. They could raise his strength significantly.

As for the other matters, there was no point in thinking about them. So why would Xiao Chen do so?

The Monarch Blood Grass was a golden color with a scarlet line down the middle. The stalk of Spirit Herb looked very ordinary, seeming to belie its fame.

However, Xiao Chen’s sharp Spiritual Sense could detect the might of an ancient sovereign from the herb. Although the might was now very faint, it was definitely there. The pressure that it gave off was tangible.