Volume One, Chapter 13: The First Trial of Body Refinement

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At the summit, inside the Baopu Hall.
The Transmission Elder, without permission, barged in unannounced.
Although Gou Yi tried to stop him, as a junior disciple, he had no authority to restrain his senior uncle.
With a single palm strike, he was sent flying!
“Senior Brother, come out!”
“I’ve heard it all—Zhao Fusheng from the Third Outpost of Gouzi Forest is your newly accepted disciple, isn’t he?”
“Hah, you must have taken the Sect Leader’s words lightly!”
“The sect strictly forbids using private connections to take disciples. Have you forgotten?”
“To accept such a fool as a disciple of the Sixth Peak? This century, our Sixth Peak will hardly be able to hold its head up!”
The Transmission Elder thundered angrily in the hall.
Like rolling thunder shaking the mountains!
Bang.
The rear hall door opened; no one appeared, but a headless demon corpse was thrown out.
“Guess which of our Sixth Peak’s young disciples did this?”
The Transmission Elder was originally disdainful.
Slaying demons was commonplace for their sect.
What was so unusual?
But out of respect for the authority of the Sixth Peak leader, he narrowed his eyes and examined the corpse carefully.
His gaze immediately froze upon inspection.
“Shuiyue Break?”
“Jiang Xuehen…”
It was already known on the peak that Shi Changkong had lost a bet, and the ancient sword had been handed over to a junior newcomer.
That person was none other than Zhao Fusheng.
Moreover, Zhao had been confined to the rear cliff facing the wall for disrespecting Baopu Hall.
Clearly, this demon was not slain by Shi Changkong.
There was only one possible explanation…
Just as the elder was about to speak, the Peak Lord’s deep voice came from behind the hall.
“Look more carefully.”
The Transmission Elder took another closer look, and the solemn expression on his face changed to one of astonishment.
“Body Refinement… Level Four!”
“He hasn’t mastered the nine essentials of basic Body Refinement, yet relying on the advanced Shuiyue Break, he killed a Level Four Body Refinement demon?”
A scoff echoed inside the hall.
“Can’t you tell that’s a jackal demon?”
The Transmission Elder was dumbfounded, eyes wide, speechless for a long moment.
Jackal demons never appear alone; they always come in packs!
Unless the opponent’s cultivation greatly surpasses theirs, it’s impossible for even senior patrol or mountain guardians to handle them alone.
“Hiding one’s true strength is a wise tactic.”
“Let him be.”
… The Transmission Elder fell silent.
“Another matter.”
“Recently, Ning Xia has been in secluded meditation.”
“If you keep barging in recklessly, be prepared to get beaten!”
Bang.
The rear hall door was firmly closed.
…
At the Third Outpost of Gouzi Forest.
By afternoon, Senior Brother Pangtou came with 200 stalks of fairy ronce grass.
He repeated, “Junior Brother, if you need any exchanges in the future, just come to me.”
“Looking forward to a pleasant cooperation!”
Because of this junior brother, he had gained business.
The demon corpses sent to the summit were highly valued by their master!
Such a relationship was worth cultivating well!
“Alright.”
Zhao Fusheng smiled obediently, especially as he looked at the pouch summoned from the medicinal bag, filled with fairy ronce grass that only high-level disciples could acquire.
They were on equal footing.

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Once the supplies were secured, he continued wielding his sword!
Each swing allowed the pills crafted in the alchemical furnace to be absorbed through the meridians and condensed core, nourishing his spiritual energy.
Growing stronger bit by bit!
1256, 1257, 1258...
He persisted in this routine.
Much like the past when he survived by chopping branches and stoking charcoal alongside his grandfather, selling in every household.
Now, the sword in his hand was like the axe of those days.
Except back then, the axe was swung by his grandfather.
Now, the sword in his hand was swung for his grandfather!
Huff!
Huff, huff!
Again and again, repeatedly.
Until utterly exhausted, he rested.
But resting did not mean idleness.
He supplemented with pills, then refined himself using the microcosmic cycle method!
Perhaps in this lifetime, he could never cultivate the superior spiritual roots of immortals for a ten-thousand-year lifespan.
But for his grandfather, he had to persevere!
His inner core continuously refined and cleansed.
His breath grew increasingly robust.
With each sword swing, the sharp sound of air slicing first rang piercingly, then the sword’s ringing echoed, and finally it became a shrill whistle!
On the river surface, splashes turned to waves, then the river was briefly cut into two sections…
…
During this period, senior brothers came once to check on his progress.
“How’s your mastery of the nine essentials of Body Refinement going?”
Two visitors appeared, both wearing mocking smiles.
“Junior Brother, don’t blame me. If after a week you still can’t master these basics,”
“Then you’ll have to go to the Transmission Pavilion and strengthen your fundamentals!”
“This will surely become a joke among the mountain disciples again!”
The other simply covered his mouth and chuckled, whispering, “Junior Brother, with your level, better not force it...”
“Why not just be a farmer in the countryside? Isn’t that easier?”
Zhao Fusheng responded with a hum and respectfully cupped his fists.
“Reporting to Senior Brothers and Sister, I indeed still have much to learn.”
“But…”
Zhao Fusheng stepped outside, gathered his energy in his dantian, and swung casually.
Suddenly, sword energy roared sharply, shaking the air!
It seemed as if it could tear the eardrums apart!
Both covered their ears, unable to respond for a long while!
But this sword only sliced a leaf on a tree branch.
“Shuiyue Break?”
“The move isn’t bad, but the power, energy flow, and absorption are ordinary.”
The two examiners advised.
Little did they know, beyond that leaf, wind rose a hundred paces away, slicing through the perennial demon fog on the opposite riverbank.
“So, does that mean I’m qualified now? Can I avoid going to the Transmission Pavilion?”
The two examiners waved their hands.
“No need for that.”
“But I advise you to be steady and learn step by step.”
Then they left.
Hidden behind the house, Yun Yao stared blankly.
“Didn’t expect him to advance two levels in just seven days!”
“Level Four Body Refinement, even stronger than those two fools from the summit.”
“Hah, sigh.”
But after a cold snort, her gaze darkened.
“He has aptitude but doesn’t practice day and night…”
“Something must have happened to make him like this!”

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…
The rat demon tribe was later coaxed and frightened into coming by Yun Yao.
At that time, Zhao Fusheng’s medicinal fields had just matured.
“Elders, please try this.”
Zhao Fusheng offered the medicinal pill.
The white-bearded tribe chief beneath the hood showed a hint of surprise.
Due to their status, they were often met with cold stares or bullying from other demons!
A simple “Elders,” paired with sincere eyes, moved it deeply.
A warrior dies for those who understand him!
Momentarily, it accepted the pill, risking its usual caution.
Gulp!
After a moment, it clutched its abdomen, eyes wide with astonishment.
“Chief, what’s wrong?”
The nearby rat demons whispered.
The chief’s eyes reddened with tears!
“Elders, our tribe has hope!”
The rat demons were stunned.
“Could it really be true…”
Rat demons usually lurked in dark corners along riverbanks.
Their frail bodies, even using abdominal pill cultivation, gained little benefit.
Moreover, hoarding cultivation energy attracted predatory demons coveting their pill energy!
So they mastered hiding; if cornered, they resorted to bribing with gold and silver for survival.
Their gold and silver came from mining, found by digging tunnels.
It was a desperate measure!
Soon, Zhao Fusheng refined his first-grade “spiritual medicine,” and the entire stock was sold out the first night!
He earned his first batch of silver—fifty taels.
Much more than selling charcoal!
“Senior Brother, is there any Blood Cloud Ginseng or Thousand-Year Ganoderma?”
“Yes, but mostly in high demand!”
“Help me grab some in auctions; anything extra, consider it a favor!”
Besides buying more seeds, the rest of the money was entrusted to Senior Brother Pangtou to purchase high-grade herbs.
The profit was over ten taels.
A lucrative job!
“Don’t worry, Junior Brother, I have connections.”
“All will be handled in no time!”
The third stage herbs had concentrated medicinal properties.
Combined with the special effect of the Xuán Pìn Alchemical Furnace multiplying efficacy several times,
The lasting effects meant he no longer needed to take pills daily!
His cultivation accelerated rapidly. After just over half a year,
He reached Body Refinement Level Five, only three levels shy of completing the Body Refinement phase.
Then he could enter Foundation Establishment!
A critical stage for becoming an immortal.
His grandfather had always dreamed of this.
Now, his once frail body was much stronger, taller, his youthful face matured,
The once heavy breath inside him was gone.
Not only was he light and tireless, but also condensed streams of fierce energy.
An invisible, imposing aura!
Like a breeze he could command.
But one day...
“Yun Yao, come and take a look; it’s been three days.”
“Why is my abdominal pill showing no improvement?”
Zhao Fusheng earnestly asked Yun Yao, who stayed beside the curtained room.
After checking his energy channels, she bluntly said, “You’ve hit a bottleneck.”