Chapter 179: Breaking the Hundred-Point Barrier, Breaking Through to Professional Level!

"Hey, Lao Zheng, we meet again so soon?"

Seeing Zheng Xu frozen into a large lump of ice, Pei Han was not surprised at all.

Getting mixed up in a fierce duel between two monsters, how could one end up well?

"If you're still alive, blink your eyes."

Pei Han rubbed his hands and asked.

"……"

Zheng Xu's body had already stiffened, his flesh and blood frozen, as if sealed inside a block of ice.

"Looks like he's dead."

Pei Han sighed, as if witnessing a hero of a generation fall and die prematurely, and in grief added:

"As the saying goes, when a person dies, the light goes out; gold and silver are vulgar things, neither brought at birth nor taken at death. These things you left behind, I'll keep them for you first."

He casually picked up a stone, clanged and clattered for a while, smashing the outer ice shell.

Then he searched carefully, and indeed found a few things.

"Life No. 1 that enhances physical ability! Brain Domain Activator that briefly boosts Spiritual Field Power! Lao Zheng, this is cheating—the competition rules, excluding defensive equipment, do not allow carrying any medicines!"

Right in front of Zheng Xu, Pei Han stuffed them into his own bosom.

Then he pressed the other person's wristwatch, set up an Electronic Marker, and called the Rescue Team.

Zheng Xu, completely frozen and unable to even move his fingers, struggled to open and close his mouth.

Judging by the lip movements, he was probably offering deep greetings to Pei Han's female relatives.

He never expected that Zhou Yuanchen, who also cooperated with the Ying Clan, would help Qin Shi and stab him in the back.

Caught off guard, he didn't even get to use his trump card before being kicked off Copper Mountain.

"No need to thank me, Lao Zheng, friendship first, competition second."

Pei Han grinned at the corners of his mouth, full of smiles.

He didn't expect to pick up a bargain like this—truly an unexpected joy.

He placed Zheng Xu and Ji Yuqi side by side, then continued climbing the mountain himself.

"Not bad luck—passively eliminating two strong competitors, my chances of making the top three have increased quite a bit."

Pei Han couldn't help but feel grateful to Qin Shi; if not for him kicking himself down, where would this opportunity come from.

"Try once more, see if I can flip over Copper Mountain."

……

……

"Do you plan to take this 'Blood Flower' now?"

After easily dealing with Zheng Xu, who intended to cause trouble, Zhou Yuanchen returned to the original steps, looking at Qin Shi and saying:

"This item is extraordinary, containing very strong vitality factors. Not only does it boost Qi Life Force, it even has a sublimation effect. I advise you to wait until half a foot is about to step over the Professional Realm threshold before swallowing and refining it, to maximize its value."

Qin Shi had already divided that Blood Flower into two halves; this thing, once picked, shrank quickly, becoming only the size of a palm.

He glanced at Zhou Yuanchen, who had been beaten by Gro Xux but still maintained a peak momentum.

This guy wasn't walking the Old Martial Arts Limit Breaking Path either, so how was his endurance so strong?

Having fought several battles in a row, he took a heavy palm from Ji Yuqi, then clashed with Gro Xux's residual will, endured for a long time, and finally carried away Zheng Xu, whose strength was not weak.

Even if it were me, with an Old Martial Arts body that broke the Three Great Limits, it would still be no small consumption.

"Could it be that this guy has some special constitution, like the Saint Body or Spirit Body of the Ancient Era?"

Qin Shi muttered to himself, while Zhou Yuanchen secretly groaned, a trace of regret rising.

His Medical Insurance Quota was almost exhausted; Gro Xux's residual will was too fierce, nearly knocking out a quarter, and he also had to recover from the injuries Ji Yuqi caused.

"A loss! Indeed, managing finances must remain absolutely rational, cannot let emotions rule!"

Zhou Yuanchen silently admonished himself; just now he had been moved by Qin Shi's enthusiasm, and thus voluntarily undertook the arduous task of facing Gro Xux's residual will head-on.

"Next, I must stay calm!"

"Old Zhou, you mean, this flower can let someone break through to Professional Realm?"

Qin Shi toyed with the Half Blood Flower, feeling it slightly heavy in hand, quite cold.

Looking closely, he discovered the "flower stamen" was a lightly jumping blood-colored Core, radiating a faint glow outward.

"This is the materialized remnant of the Netherworld Great Demon Gro Xux, can be understood as the 'essence blood' of a god-demon creature. Even top experts of Professional Realm Levels One and Two would find it hard to obtain."

Zhou Yuanchen admired the clearly veined blood-colored Flower Petals, praising:

"The benefits of this thing are many; the most obvious ones are: first, stimulating Flesh Vitality to complete limb reshaping—not limited to missing hands or feet, even so-called 'Dao Injuries' can be restored."

Qin Shi's eyes flickered suddenly, as if catching a key word.

The "Dao Injury" Zhou Yuanchen spoke of was a term from the Ancient Era.

Essentially, it was trauma created by a "Trait."

For example, Qin Shi's Perfect Grade Electric Shock Military Saber had the "Slay Life" Trait.

The flesh-and-blood Giant Creature summoned by the Secret Sect believers was directly completely exterminated, with no possibility of healing.

When the Martial Path enters the "Professional Realm," various inheritances transform decay into magic.

By absorbing Xiang Zheng from the outside world, blending Heart Momentum, one endows moves with Qi Jin possessing extraordinary "Traits."

Such as "Explosion," "Toughness," "Iron Bones," "Power Firmness," and so on.

The higher the Ranking of Professional Realm, the stronger the various Traits.

He Lanchan and Qi Wuxiang's third encounter in the Star Cup was precisely a clash of Traits.

One contained all phenomena, the other extinguished all things, fighting until the competition planet Xing Qiu nearly shattered.

"Lao Liang's Lame Leg should be a 'Dao Injury.' Otherwise, with his Professional Realm Flesh Vitality, it should have healed long ago."

Qin Shi narrowed his eyes, pondering whether to leave the Half Blood Flower for Lao Liang.

He still had a ways to go before the Hundred Point Threshold of the Professional Level.

"However, flesh regeneration isn't of much use to us. Vitality purification is the effect that makes one's mouth water — it makes the Flesh Vitality inside a Mortal Body instantly pure, as if it had been tempered and extracted."

"The richer and purer the Vitality, the greater the chance to Promote to Professional Level!"

Zhou Yuanchen was in high spirits; obtaining this Half Blood Flower meant his entry into the Professional Level was as good as done.

Thinking of this, the pain of heartache over his Medical Insurance Quota couldn't help but lessen considerably.

"Lao Zhou, if you eat it, wouldn't you directly ascend to Professional Level?"

Qin Shi's tone was playful; if Zhou Yuanchen broke through to Professional Level, it basically equaled locking in the Top of the Hundred Strong Competition.

"Rest assured, Xiao Qin."

Zhou Yuanchen waved his hand, saying grandly:

"Although I'm cooperating with the Ying Clan and agreed to eliminate you, keeping you out of the Hundred Strong Competition championship. But we fought side by side, there's camaraderie; once I break through to Professional Level, I'll sweep away all contestants in the Core Area, ensuring you advance as the runner-up."

Obviously, Zhou Yuanchen believed that once he fully stepped into the Professional Realm, he would be enough to sweep the Great Rift Valley and become the undisputed Champion of the Hundred Strong Competition.

As for Qin Shi, in terms of threat level, even taking into account Top-Tier Weapons, Martial God Inheritance, and the various factors of Old Martial Arts practitioners liking to break through in battle, at most he could only reach a Fifteen Billion level Strong Enemy.

"Lao Zhou, I really didn't misjudge you, loyal and righteous, meaningful enough!"

Qin Shi smiled faintly; he indeed recognized Zhou Yuanchen's strength.

But the Old Martial Arts faction has always adhered to one saying: who is strong and who is weak, only fighting will tell.

Moreover, being able to fight a battle against such a powerful opponent, and then using Combat Retrospection.

Wouldn't that be gaining a Half-Step Professional sparring partner out of thin air!

However you think about it, it's not a loss!

……

……

"The Blood Crystal has been taken."

At the end of the Great Rift Valley, surprise flickered in Xu Sheng's eyes; as the Chief Examiner, he held first-hand information, not a rustle of wind or stir of grass in the trial could escape him.

"Zhou Yuanchen and Qin Shi joining forces... Predecessor, the disciple you chose, his temperament seems a bit different from other high disciples."

Xu Sheng looked with a startled gaze at the white-haired old man sitting in a wheelchair beside him.

Old Martial Arts practitioners are often lone wolves; besides fellow disciples, they rarely team up.

Back then Shen Zhangyuan was the same, fighting through all parts of Hengzhou, making many enemies.

"Xiao Qin is easygoing in character, clever in disposition, his popularity is indeed not bad."

Lao Zhang nodded slightly; he had discussed with Lao Liang, and both agreed Qin Shi didn't seem like Old Martial Arts root stock, that fighting spirit of striving to win was on the weak side, often revealing a still-water-runs-deep calm and tranquility.

To sum up simply: doesn't like fighting, likes developing.

"As it stands, the two contestants who reached the summit of Copper Mountain first are Zhou Yuanchen and Qin Shi. First and second place will probably be decided between the two of them."

Xu Sheng laughed:

"Predecessor, does your Nanhuang Dao Guan have a Secret Technique for winning as the weak against the strong, fighting across levels? Zhou Yuanchen's Foundation accumulation has been enough for a long time, he just lacks an Opportunity for breakthrough."

"Getting the Blood Crystal, he now has this Trace of Opportunity too; the probability of breaking through to Professional Level exceeds ninety percent."

Lao Zhang's eyelids drooped, a look of worry flashing across his face.

The Nanhuang Dao Guan's Inheritance, the Universe Furnace Secret Canon, was created by him.

Family knows family business.

The Ru Shen Ti's formidable aspects can only be truly exerted upon entering the Professional Realm.

Especially the few killer moves, their requirements for Qi Life Force are extremely strict.

"Rest assured, I respect the competition rules, I won't go so far as to interfere with the results. As long as Zhou Yuanchen doesn't use lethal force, even if he beats Xiao Qin crippled, I'll accept it."

Lao Zhang heard the implication in Xu Sheng's words, worried that if Qin Shi couldn't beat Zhou Yuanchen, he would ignore the rules and brazenly attack.

To a certain extent, Xu Sheng as Chief Examiner yet staying by his side was precisely to prevent the Nanhuang Dao Guan from being a sore loser.

The Hengzhou Martial Association made this consideration naturally because Lao Zhang did have a prior record.

The Nanhuang Dao Guan's protectiveness of its own is quite famous.

……

……

The sun rose, dispelling the chill; the first ray of Sunlight shone into the Great Rift Valley, falling on the Copper Mountain thrust upside-down into the ground.

Zhou Yuanchen and Qin Shimai crossed the nine hundred ninety-nine steps, successfully reaching the summit.

The "Mountain Peak" top was like a wide flat terrace that had been shaved level, almost able to accommodate an entire football field.

Fierce wind blew, incomparably violent; strands of airflow scraped past like steel knives, capable of sweeping a person into the high sky.

"Really not easy, didn't sleep all night, only now climbed here."

Zhou Yuanchen panted heavily, bending his waist and crouching low to avoid bearing the brunt of the strong wind Impact.

"Going down further is the trial endpoint."

Qin Shi looked into the distance; the Great Rift Valley winding over a thousand kilometers looked like a long thin earthworm.

"Xiao Qin, I'm going to consume this Half Blood Flower now."

Zhou Yuanchen regulated his Breath, activated his Medical Insurance Quota, returning his body and mind to peak condition.

He wasn't worried Qin Shi would take the opportunity to sneak attack; this was equally heavy trust.

Furthermore, he had specially purchased a personal safety Insurance policy, as well as emergency rescue.

Under the double safeguard, he could choose to Breakthrough anytime, anywhere.

"Lao Zhou, go all out without worry."

Qin Shi made a gesture of encouragement, and he was actually quite looking forward to a battle with a Professional Realm genius.

"What a pity, such a pity. If you hadn't offended the Ying Clan, with your terrifying potential of fifteen billion, you would have been more than enough to become the Twin Stars of Hengzhou's new generation alongside me."

Zhou Yuanchen let out a low sigh, gathered his scattered thoughts, and sat down cross-legged with difficulty.

Qi Life Force held nothing back, releasing fully; strand after strand of dazzling Light Radiance seeped out through flesh and body toward the outside.

In just a few Breaths, Zhou Yuanchen had condensed a massive "Light Cocoon."

He had clearly entered the "Breakthrough Stage"!

"Professional Realm, Hundred Point Threshold……"

Qin Shi observed Lao Zhou; he had never seen what a genius's breakthrough looked like.

"Estimate it'll take several hours to complete."

As that "Light Cocoon" grew larger and larger, approaching three meters in height, it resembled the egg of an ancient Creature.

The heavy pulsing inside the Copper Mountain also became increasingly distinct.

As if a great drum existed between Heaven and Earth, being beaten by a Spirit.

Qin Shi's eardrums throbbed jump after jump, almost shattered by the shock.

He operated the Self-Cultivation Furnace on one hand, and on the other settled his Spirit in the Inner Landscape, activating Resonance.

With a tranquil mind, he carefully captured the rhythm and cadence of that thunderous booming.

"This living Copper Mountain, its pulsing is like…… Breathing. Like a towering Giant Spirit, personally demonstrating the cultivation Breathing Method process to you.

But I won't learn it; once learned, if I immerse myself in it, I might be assimilated by Gro Xux's Residual will."

Through the Spiritual Resonance of the Inner Landscape, Qin Shi gradually comprehended a Breathing Method vastly different from the norm.

Imagine oneself as a towering mountain rooted in the earth; through a special frequency of internal and external Breathing, extract Energy Factors from the outside world, and condense a "Core" within the Hundred Bones.

"Like the breathing of the earth's pulse vibrating, inhale long nine times, exhale short three times; use Flesh Vitality to temper the Mortal Body, increasing the density of muscles and Bones."

Qin Shi's heart burned hot, yet he had no choice but to endure and restrain himself.

That Netherworld Great Demon named Gro Xux was far too sinister, deliberately placing such a high-spec Breathing Method in the open to incite greed.

"But my Xu Kong Meditation Method has a higher Shu Zi than yours."

Qin Shi resonated spiritually for a long while; after roughly an hour of contemplation and insight, he fully obtained Gro Xux's "Mo Shan Breathing Method."

His body and mind united as one; he summoned that Xu Kong Altar and directly refined away the Breathing Method that secretly accorded with the Copper Mountain Pulse.

"I only need the Secret Technique to increase muscle and bone density; as for the other 'Impurities', they are useless."

……

……

Crack, crack, the sound like eggshells shattering reverberated across the mountaintop.

Zhou Yuanchen's Short Hair stood on end root by root, his Gaze sharp as knives, almost spraying substantive Light Radiance.

His cross-legged body quietly floated up, as if shedding the shackles of the earth's Gravity; with every inhale and exhale, the Xu Kong tides surged around him — that was Energy Factors being captured and extracted.

"So this is the wonder of Qi Life Force at a hundred points, stepping into the Professional Realm."

Zhou Yuanchen's every Pore relaxed open, experiencing a sensation of ecstatic comfort.

He suddenly shuddered, shattered the Light Cocoon, and it scattered piece by piece like flying feathers, dispersing.

Then he looked at Qin Shi and said softly:

"Xiao Qin, the Champion of this Hundred Strong Competition is destined to have no connection with you."

……

……

Watching Zhou Yuanchen's breakthrough, Qin Shi's Spiritual Field Power was like a mirror surface, reflecting surging cold flames rising tens of meters, vast and boundless, freezing a thousand li.

In the state of Spirit residing in the Inner Landscape, he also saw even finer details — for instance, a very familiar Symbolic Emblem.

"No wonder! This guy is so fierce; turns out he's a Loan client of the Entropy Sea Bank!"

(Chapter End)