17: Chapter 17 Transformation of Strength

Shen Wuchang's small courtyard was surrounded by mountains on all sides, with only a single winding mountain path leading to the outside world. The Yuan Qi here was abundant and the environment was quiet and elegant; it was indeed a good place for cultivation. Chen Yuanji settled down here, waking up at 5 AM every morning to practice Zhan Zhuang for four hours, followed by boxing. In the afternoon, he would sit in meditation to nourish his Qi and study the Legacy within the martial gods remains. At night, he continued to Cultivate until midnight before resting. His days were simple and fulfilling.

Shen Wuchang was as good as his word. Not only did he not pry into Chen Yuanji's secrets, but he also provided a large amount of cultivation resources: Yao Beast flesh, Body Tempering medicinal liquids, and healing Medicinal Pills. These things were worth a fortune in Qingzhou City, but to Shen Wuchang, they were merely stock. Chen Yuanji was not polite either, using them as needed; in martial dao cultivation, resources were indispensable. Su Xiaohu also cultivated along with him. Her progress was very fast, and in just one month, she had developed Bright Force and showed faint signs of a Breakthrough toward Dark Force.

"Xiao Hu, the Bloodline in your body is not ordinary," Chen Yuanji said. "Ordinary Yao Race members would not have your cultivation speed."

Su Xiaohu lowered her head and remained silent for a while. "Mother said I have the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Bloodline, but the Bloodline hasn't awakened yet."

Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox! Chen Yuanji had seen this name in the Record of Martial Dao Knowledge in Another World given to him by Elder Xuan. It was one of the top Bloodlines of the Yao Race. Legend had it that an adult Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox possessed the power to destroy the heavens and the earth, being no weaker than Shentong Realm or Faxiang Realm experts of the Human Race.

"Why hasn't your Bloodline awakened?"

"I don't know." Su Xiaohu shook her head. "Mother said that the Awakening of the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Bloodline requires an opportunity. Some people can never awaken it in their entire lives, while others awaken it when they encounter danger."

Chen Yuanji nodded and did not ask more. All he could do was teach Su Xiaohu Guoshu, so that she would have the power to protect herself even without Awakening her Bloodline.

One night a month later, Chen Yuanji sat cross-legged under the old locust tree in the courtyard, with the martial gods remains and martial dao source stone spread out before him. The ancient jade in his bosom grew slightly warm, and the three powers intertwined, slowly flowing through his body. He had already mastered the third stage of Dark Force, "Wrapping," reaching Perfection in the third stage of Dark Force. Next was Transforming Force. Transforming Force was the third Realm of Internal Family Boxing. At this Realm, a Martial Artist could use the subtle perception of their skin—"Listening Force"—to predict the direction and strength of an opponent's attack. In this other world, this meant he could predict the attack trajectory of a Shentong Realm expert and dodge in advance. More importantly, Transforming Force allowed one to use "Neutralizing Force" to dissipate an opponent's attack power into nothingness.

"The core of Transforming Force lies in 'relaxation'," Chen Yuanji recalled the Legacy within the martial gods remains. "Only by being relaxed enough can one perceive the opponent's power, and only by perceiving it can one neutralize it." He took a deep breath and relaxed every muscle in his body, from his toes to the top of his head, from his skin to his bone marrow, relaxing layer by layer. This was not a simple relaxation, but a state of being "relaxed but not slack," where the muscles were loose, but the tendons and bones were stretched taut, and the blood and Qi were still circulating.

"Buzz—" A low resonance came from within his body, similar to when he broke through to Dark Force, but deeper and more lingering.

Chen Yuanji closed his eyes, sensing every minute change in his body. The fine hairs on the surface of his skin stood up slightly, not because of the cold, but because the perception of his "Listening Force" was extending outward. He could feel the flow of Yuan Qi in the air, the crawling of insects and ants beneath the ground, and every tremor of the leaves blowing in the wind outside the courtyard. This perception had already surpassed the scope of ordinary people and even exceeded the Divine Sense perception of Guiyuan Realm Martial Artists. It was not Divine Sense, but "Force." Perception at the Transforming Force level was the perception of "power"; anything with a fluctuation of power could not escape his perception.

"I've broken through." Chen Yuanji opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing and vanishing within them. He stood up, walked to the bluestone used for practice in the courtyard, and lightly pressed a palm against the stone surface. There was no sound or vibration, and the surface of the bluestone remained intact, but Chen Yuanji knew that the interior of the stone had already changed.

"Brother Chen, you broke through?" Su Xiaohu ran out of the house and asked curiously when she saw Chen Yuanji standing before the bluestone.

Chen Yuanji nodded and reached out to stroke the bluestone. Fine patterns appeared on the stone's surface, like rippling water, exquisitely beautiful.

"So beautiful!" Su Xiaohu exclaimed in admiration.

Chen Yuanji smiled and was about to speak when his expression suddenly changed. His perception captured a powerful fluctuation of Yuan Qi rapidly approaching from a hundred miles away. It was five experts at or above the Shentong Realm.

"Tiandao Sect," Chen Yuanji said in a heavy voice.

Shen Wuchang also walked out of the room, his expression grave. "They came so fast." He glanced at Chen Yuanji. "Kid, take Xiao Hu and leave through the back mountain. This old man will hold them back."

"Elder Shen, you alone..."

"This old man is in the Void-Piercing Realm," Shen Wuchang interrupted him, his tone flat. "Five Shentong Realm experts are not enough to fill the gaps between my teeth."

Void-Piercing Realm! Chen Yuanji's heart jolted. The Void-Piercing Realm was the first stage of the Three Realms of Heaven and Man, standing above the Faxiang Realm. Even at his Peak, Elder Xuan was only at the Peak of the Shentong Realm. Shen Wuchang was actually in the Void-Piercing Realm!

"Don't just stand there, go quickly." Shen Wuchang waved his hand. "Remember, keep heading east and don't look back. Once this old man has dealt with these scumbags, I'll go find you."

Chen Yuanji did not hesitate any longer. He grabbed Su Xiaohu's hand and ran toward the back mountain, with the Wuzhui Horse following behind, its four hooves flying. Behind them, Shen Wuchang soared into the air, his grey robes whistling in the wind. His Void-Piercing Realm Aura was as vast as an abyss or an ocean, pressing down until the entire mountain range trembled.

"Little brats of the Tiandao Sect, this old man is here! Who dares to be insolent!" His voice was like thunder, echoing through the valley. In the distance, five streaks of light stopped in the air. Leading them was a White-Haired Elder with a sinister countenance and an unfathomable Aura.

"Shen Wuchang, you really are here," the White-Haired Elder said coldly. "Hand over Chen Yuanji, and the Tiandao Sect can let bygones be bygones."

"Let bygones be bygones?" Shen Wuchang laughed loudly. "Your Tiandao Sect slaughtered one hundred and thirty-seven members of the Qingqiu Tribe, and you call that letting bygones be bygones?"

"The lives of those Yao Race members are not worth mentioning."

"Whether they are worth it or not isn't for you to decide." Shen Wuchang formed hand seals, and countless grey lights surfaced around him. "Come then, let this old man see what you lackeys of the Tiandao Sect are made of."

The five streaks of light pounced on Shen Wuchang simultaneously. Six figures collided in the air with a thunderous roar that shook the entire mountain range. Chen Yuanji did not look back, pulling Su Xiaohu as they ran desperately toward the east. Behind them, the aftershocks of the battle were like a hurricane, uprooting trees along the way and shattering mountain rocks.

"Brother Chen, Elder Shen..." Su Xiaohu's voice was trembling.

"He'll be fine," Chen Yuanji said, though he didn't quite believe it himself. Five Shentong Realm experts, plus a White-Haired Elder who was at least at the Peak of the Shentong Realm... No matter how strong Shen Wuchang was, two fists were no match for four hands. But he could not look back; looking back meant certain death.

"Go!"