Chapter 155: Chapter 154: Conserving Strength

’Heart Fire Nurturing Skill’

’Essence and Foundation Strengthening Skill’

’...’

Wu Chen examined the four Cultivation Technique manuals in his hands and nodded in satisfaction.

Zhuang Bo had spent three days traveling between the secret realm and Refining Valley, and now the copied editions of the last four Organ Refining Realm Cultivation Techniques from the valley, along with related medicinal pills, had finally been delivered to Wu Chen.

"The items in the storage bag have been tallied, for a total of ten thousand, three hundred and six Contribution Points."

"Since these four Organ Refining Realm Martial Arts manuals are sect-defining treasures, they are a bit more expensive, at one thousand Contribution Points each."

After explaining the details, Zhuang Bo returned the Jade Pendant and the storage bag to Wu Chen.

The Contribution Points in his Jade Pendant, combined with some he had left over, still amounted to a staggering sum even after deducting the four thousand points for the four Organ Refining Realm Martial Arts.

Six thousand, four hundred and thirty-two points!

After Zhuang Bo left, Wu Chen lay down comfortably on a grassy slope. He crossed his legs and casually began flipping through the Martial Arts manuals, not paying much mind to how many Contribution Points were left in his Jade Pendant.

At this point, Contribution Points were just a number to him.

’I wonder if the other sects’ Organ Refining Realm Martial Arts are duplicates of these.’

’But there’s no rush. I should wait a few days. Acting too hastily would be too crude and conspicuous.’

Wu Chen muttered to himself, temporarily setting aside the thought of exchanging for more Martial Arts. Instead, he focused on the few manuals before him.

It took him only four hours to finish reading all four of the Organ Refining Realm Martial Arts manuals in his hands.

[Heart Fire Nurturing Skill Great Success Proficiency +1]

[Heart Fire Nurturing Skill Great Success Proficiency +1]

[Heart Fire Nurturing Skill Great Success...]

When he finished the last manual, Wu Chen closed the book and focused his gaze on his panel.

He saw that the point allocation for the first Martial Art was nearing its end, which meant he was about to advance.

’Deep Red, we’re amazing!’

Wu Chen praised inwardly, then looked at the other three Martial Arts manuals waiting for points to be allocated.

’Four books will only take half a day.’

Wu Chen glanced at the flickering numbers on the panel, estimated the time it would take, and then ignored it, looking up into the distance.

There, Xue Hongling was arduously practicing her blade skills and Body Technique.

After admiring her agile figure for a while, Wu Chen drifted off to sleep.

「When he woke again, the sky was dark and filled with countless stars.」

He stared intently, and the stars in the sky seemed close enough to touch. The night wind brushing past his ears was so clear it was as if he could perceive its very texture.

As the wind swept over him, the rises and falls of the surrounding terrain became clear in his mind, even though he wasn’t looking.

Even with Xue Hongling still practicing her blade in the distance, Wu Chen could discern the flaws and shortcomings in her techniques just by listening, whether it was the strike of her blade or the shifting of her stance.

’The five viscera correspond to the human senses.’

’So this is the wonder of the Organ Refining Realm?!’

Wu Chen brought up the panel and, just as he expected, saw his realm had increased:

[Deep Red Host] Wu Chen

[Martial Arts Realm] Organ Refining Realm, Sixth Layer

(Qi Power: Earth-Shaking Bull) (Stamina: Unending Flow)

[Martial Arts & Cultivation Techniques] ’Bone-Eroding Wind Blade - Momentum’ ’Nimble Swallow Step - Momentum’ ’Purple Sun Breathing Skill - Perfection’ ’Heart Fire Nurturing Skill - Perfection’ ’Essence and Foundation Strengthening Skill - Perfection’...

After the point allocation for the four Organ Refining Realm Martial Arts was complete, his realm had leaped from the Second Layer of the Organ Refining Realm to the Sixth Layer.

His progress could be described as advancing by leaps and bounds.

’It’s just...’

Wu Chen gave a wry smile in his heart. ’A normal person might not even need five Organ Refining Realm Martial Arts. Perhaps with just two or three manuals focused on refining specific organs, they could temper and solidify their qi.’

’And then break through to the Blood Coagulation Realm.’

’But after five Martial Arts manuals, I’ve only just reached the Sixth Layer of the Organ Refining Realm.’

However, he quickly shook his head, having already analyzed the pros and cons:

’Others have limited lifespans, so they can only take shortcuts, using two or three Martial Arts manuals to quickly break through to the Blood Coagulation Realm.’

’That method is fast, but it undoubtedly leaves them with an unstable Martial Arts foundation. Even if they reach the Blood Coagulation Realm, they’ll be in the weakest tier.’

’For me, five manuals only got me to the Mid Stage of the Organ Refining Realm. It’ll probably take ten to break through a major realm.’

’My advancement speed is certainly slow, but the advantage is that the qi in my five viscera is solid and profound. In the same realm, unless I’m facing someone with a special constitution or from a unique race, no one will be my match.’

’This was already evident in the previous realms.’

’Most importantly...’

Wu Chen closed his eyes to carefully perceive the changes.

Although the qi within his five viscera was suppressed, he could sense that the qi stored within them was much more profound than it had been during the day, before his advancement.

If it was just a wisp before, now it was a current, tightly condensed into a ball.

’Refining Valley’s Organ Refining Martial Arts follow the path of nurturing and accumulating power, a path that increases physical strength and might.’

’That ’Essence and Foundation Strengthening Skill,’ which nurtures the kidneys, also speaks of abstinence to nurture power.’

Wu Chen was lost in thought. ’This is Refining Valley’s way, suitable for swinging a great hammer and fighting with greater strength.’

’In that case, if there are techniques for greater strength in a fight, are there also Organ Refining Realm Martial Arts that provide an enduring breath, suitable for pairing with a Body Technique?’

Wu Chen rubbed his chin as a thought struck him, his eyes lighting up.

’If I have two or more types of Organ Refining Realm Martial Arts, doesn’t that mean I can switch between various forms?’

When running, his qi would be like a continuous, unbroken thread; when fighting, his qi would be like a great, surging river.

’Then, by accumulating a large number of them, I can merge them.’

Wu Chen’s eyes grew brighter. ’Who knows, maybe an Organ Refining Martial Art that surpasses all known grades could be born!’

But he suppressed his excitement. After all, whether it was advancing his realm or merging Martial Arts...

The prerequisite for all of this was a massive number of Martial Arts manuals.

And that was precisely his biggest predicament at the moment.

’I used to think my humble background prevented me from accessing a large number of Martial Arts.’

Wu Chen grumbled to himself, feeling rather helpless about the situation.

’But now, even as the Sect Leader of four sects, I still have far too few Martial Arts.’

’Sigh, just how high does one’s background have to be to be considered high!’

Wu Chen gently shook his head, clearing the stray thoughts from his mind. He looked toward the graceful figure in the moonlit distance and said softly,

"Take a rest. Training constantly will be counterproductive."

"You should know the saying, ’haste makes waste’."

Hearing his words, Xue Hongling did indeed stop.

She sheathed her blade and walked to a nearby pool to wash off the sweat.

Compared to the territory of the Blood Slaughter Sect, the region where the four sects were located was much less contentious. Everyone had their own demarcated territory.

There was certainly competition, but it was nowhere near as intense as in the Blood Slaughter Sect, where fights to the death could happen at the drop of a hat.

Moreover, with the children of several Sect Leaders and the personal disciples of Elders guarding the borders, the Blood Slaughter Sect and those wandering martial artists couldn’t easily overstep their bounds.

Even the occasional person who slipped through was usually just after things from the secret realm.

So, he didn’t need to be overly concerned for Xue Hongling’s safety in the distant pool.

Still, Wu Chen thought it over and decided it was probably best to go over and keep an eye on things himself.

Just in case someone was brazen enough to sneak over.

’Forget it. If I really go over to ’help’ keep watch, the young woman probably won’t appreciate my good intentions. Not a good idea, not at all.’

He shook his head, dismissing the idea.

After all, with his current hearing, he could even hear a mosquito landing. How could anyone possibly act right under his nose?

So he wasn’t worried about anyone sneaking up on her.

A moment later, after a SPLASH of water, Xue Hongling walked back and sat down cross-legged about ten feet from Wu Chen.

She hugged her knees, gazing blankly up at the full moon and the starry night sky.

"What’s wrong? Is being melancholic a talent of yours?"

Seeing the young woman’s hair glistening with water droplets, the delicate dampness of her neck, and the unconcealable sorrow on her cool face beneath the bright moonlight, Wu Chen couldn’t help but grin.

He didn’t understand why Xue Hongling still looked so sorrowful, even after he had brought her to the territory of the four sects.

’Is it because of the Blood Palace Seal? What’s there to worry about!’

He watched her tightly clench her wrist and gently shook his head.

With his current vast amount of Contribution Points, he could, of course, effortlessly exchange them for the Organ Refining Martial Arts of the other sects.

He could then break through to the Blood Coagulation Realm in less than a day.

Then, he could try to dissolve the Blood Palace Seal on Xue Hongling’s wrist.

But patience is a virtue. He had just acquired the techniques from Refining Valley. If he immediately turned around and sought out the other sects—not to mention his relationship with the other three wasn’t as harmonious as his with Refining Valley—the act of frequently exchanging for Martial Arts would likely attract the attention of powerful experts, causing unnecessary trouble.

Wu Chen quietly watched the young woman’s slender figure beside him.

He knew that if he went over now, sat beside her, wrapped his arm around her, and whispered some words of comfort, maybe she’d play reluctant but eventually agree...

No!

’I must practice abstinence to nurture my power.’

Wu Chen decisively crushed the thought.

After all, the appearance of the gray mist was only about ten days away.

This was the time to nurture his Qi Power.

And every last bit of that nurtured power had to be saved for the gray mist!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.