Chapter 9

What kind of martial art is this?

Shen Yi opened his eyes, as if shattering a bottleneck; powerful energy surged through his body, utterly surpassing human limits.

The previous Demon Subduing Blade Technique and Cloud-Pushing Long Fist were speed-focused methods created by Zhen Mo Si from compiled martial arts across the land, already considered top-tier.

After completing all cultivation, his strength became like an ox's, his speed like flying thunder—leaving Shen Yi deeply shocked.

But this seventy-eight-character scripture made him feel an entirely new world, a strange sense of transcendence, as if he were ascending into some new form of existence.

"It's no longer about excavating potential from within the body, but using external force to refine it."

"The external force is insufficient, so progress is slow?"

Shen Yi understood its mechanism, but had no good solution.

He had already noticed during prior deduction that the entire process of cultivating martial arts was intimately tied to his current state.

If he wasn't mistaken, if he could swallow a potent essence-rich herb before deducing the martial art, he could use the herb's power to accelerate progress.

But where would the herb come from?

His predecessor had seemed powerful, but was in fact a gambler who squandered all looted wealth and salary at gambling dens; the money he had left barely sufficed until next month's pay.

And each deduction took him a full year; ordinary herbs had negligible effect—he needed true heavenly treasures and earthly essences.

"Gambling addicts really deserve to die… I'll deal with it later if I get the chance."

Shen Yi looked at his still-ample demon lifespan and confidently poured more in.

【Year 16: You exhausted all essence, nurturing every bone in your body.】

【Year 26: Essence insufficient, progress slow…】

【Year 38: More than half your bones have been nurtured, but collecting essence from ordinary food yields minimal results.】

Shen Yi's expression gradually changed; tension crept into his eyes.

【Year 52: After years of accumulation, your bone gates shattered; the first volume of the Wind-Thunder Scripture reached minor completion.】

Only when this line appeared did Shen Yi realize he had held his breath for so long he'd forgotten to breathe.

Yet the reward was exceedingly rich.

Not only had his body undergone massive change—his bones, buried beneath flesh and skin, now gleamed like gold and iron, unbreakable—but the sense of transcendence in his mind grew denser, sweet as honeyed sugar, irresistibly drawing him toward it.

That mysterious realm was slowly unveiling itself to Shen Yi.

He gritted his teeth and went all-in.

【Year 89: You've grown accustomed to slowly accumulating essence, year after year, day after day; your mastery of nurturing the body with essence has deepened.】

【Year 106: One morning, you noticed a change in your skin, yet felt no surprise—it all seemed natural. The first volume of the Wind-Thunder Scripture reached great completion.】

This time, Shen Yi didn't pause at all; he felt himself drawing ever closer to that realm.

He numbly began pouring in demon lifespan.

Tendons, bones, skin, flesh—only one final barrier remained.

【Year 182: As usual, you cooked your meal, took a bite, and found it tasteless; suddenly, you sensed something far more delicious in the world.】

【That thing was everywhere, yet elusive.】

【You looked down at yourself and suddenly understood: what you once called transcendence—your plump duck leg—had become a worldly, mundane thing.】

【After a century of nurturing, your body had become the perfect vessel for that elusive thing… the first volume of the Wind-Thunder Scripture reached perfect completion.】

Shen Yi closed his eyes; the realm seemed within reach, just one step away.

The Initial Realm signifies a fresh beginning, rebirth in another form within this world.

But now, that final step could not be taken.

Because the seventy-eight-character true words ended right here.

A sudden fire rose in Shen Yi's heart: Why the hell didn't you finish writing?! What's this half-assed ending? After the mortal body is perfected, what comes next?

He leapt to his feet, about to step forward—then his face changed.

The transformation from his former weakness to the completion of the Demon Subduing Blade Technique paled beside this.

Shen Yi even felt a flicker of confusion—he merely lifted his hand slightly, yet it felt as if he could easily overturn the entire small woodshed.

Immediately after, like a waking vegetative patient, he began slowly performing rehabilitation movements.

Until Chen Ji's voice called from outside: "Dinner's ready."

The aroma of steamed rice drifted from inside; Shen Yi frowned, two emotions warring in his mind: one, habitual craving; the other, a complete lack of appetite.

In the end, the former won.

Shen Yi stepped quickly out the door.

This dwelling was extremely cramped; normally, the siblings cooked meals and ate them slowly in their rooms.

Today, with one extra person, Chen Ji had dug out a small table and placed it on the tiny open space.

Shen Yi watched Chen Ji bring the food inside and shut Chen Jinyu's door, unable to help muttering: "I'm not that kind of person."

"Not directed at you—she's used to being alone."

Chen Ji silently squatted back by the table, serving Shen Yi rice and wiping his chopsticks.

As he spoke, the wooden door quietly opened a crack, revealing Chen Jinyu's curious eyes peeking out.

"…" Shen Yi smirked.

"…" Chen Ji's serving motion paused; after a moment of silence, he sighed: "If you want to come out, come out."

Chen Jinyu pushed open the door, holding her rice bowl, crouched beside the wooden table, lifting her lips timidly—quiet, yet with a touch of sweetness.

She always obeyed her brother, unwilling to add further burden to someone already weary and anxious.

But that didn't mean she had no thoughts of her own.

For instance, today's actions of her brother would surely create rifts with his superiors.

If it were truly to guard against that womanizer, then fine.

But in Chen Jinyu's view, a person who—when being helped up by his own elder brother in the tea-house vegetable plot—could notice the slight disappointment in the eyes of the other young misses and was willing to temporarily take on the role of their elder brother, how bad could such a person really be?

Thinking this, she curiously glanced across the way and happened to meet Shen Yi's gaze.

The two exchanged a smile.

"Crack."

Chen Ji gripped his chopsticks, the smile on his face not reaching his eyes as he stared at Shen Yi.

You rotten thief! What kind of person are you not? Huh! What kind of person are you not?

"Eat." Shen Yi withdrew his gaze, somewhat helpless.

He still had only one year of lifespan left—where would he find the heart for such thoughts?

It was simply that having obtained the Wind Thunder Scroll, his mood was pleasant, and he found it amusing that this Miss put on such a look of feigned innocence despite clearly having a lot on her mind.

Even if by some stroke of luck he managed to extend his lifespan in the future, if he truly wanted to find one… or a few.

Shen Yi still preferred the type with a fuller figure, a bit older, with less innocence and a touch more allure in her eyes.

Thinking of this, Shen Yi suddenly realized something—wait…

Essence Refining Body, Mortal Flesh Peak!

It doesn't give extra lifespan? I could go practice tai chi in the park and live two more years.

The next moment, the information he had previously overlooked because he was too engrossed in the Initial Realm gradually surfaced.

【Remaining Lifespan: Twenty-one years】

……

(End of Chapter)