Chapter 74

Listening to the stories of Zhou Bufan, Wang Bai, and others who had experienced the blood-soaked clothes, Sun Yan almost determined what the truth behind the haunting of the 38th Arena was.

The transmission of martial techniques through battle marks!

Sun Yan was so eager because he had a similar experience. The mysterious encounter in the Luoshan Stone Tower District and the mysterious martial technique [Dragon Subduing Pile] left by Zhang Zhengri were both transmitted through battle marks.

The Difeng Academy, with a history of thousands of years, had a profound foundation far beyond people's imagination. Perhaps a long time ago, a powerful martial artist, in a moment of inspiration, left a certain martial technique or cultivation method in the 38th Arena through battle marks.

Undoubtedly, this martial technique or cultivation method must be extraordinary, capable of allowing a 9th-level martial artist to break through overnight and a 7th-level martial artist to comprehend the Flame Sun Fist Intent in a single night. The martial path truth left in the battle marks was incredibly profound.

Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many Difeng students who, after spending a night here, fell into a coma the next day, muttering incessantly. This indicates that the battle marks in the 38th Arena are far beyond what low-level martial artists can endure.

"Lingxue also said that my martial arts comprehension is at the 'Great Deduction Level,' which is rare among a million martial artists. Spending a night here might yield some gains."

"Although I am only a 2nd-level martial artist, I might end up like those students. However, this is my best opportunity. How can I be content without taking a risk!"

Sun Yan made up his mind and began to act. He didn't just sit there waiting but started to observe the arena.

With the experience of learning [Dragon Subduing Pile], Sun Yan carefully examined every inch of the arena, not missing any fist marks, palm prints, or footprints.

"This fist mark is uneven in force, and the flow of essence energy is somewhat obstructed. It seems to be a 3rd-level martial artist勉强 using a 4th-grade martial technique."

"This palm print is only half an inch deep, but the edges are smooth and natural. The palm print is still flat and smooth, could it be a palm strike from a distance? This martial artist must be at least a 7th-level martial realm."

...

After a thorough inspection of the arena, Sun Yan found nothing. The highest level of martial realm among the remaining marks was probably not more than 10th-level.

Battle marks are the hallmark of titled martial artists, representing the absolute strength of 10th-level and above.

Midnight arrived silently. Sun Yan checked the time and gave up on further inspection. He sat cross-legged in the center of the arena and began to cultivate his inner essence.

The essence energy in his dantian slowly circulated, flowing through his entire body's meridians and surging into his limbs and bones. In a moment, a layer of luster appeared on Sun Yan's skin, and fine white mist emerged from his pores, enveloping him.

The arena was filled with a long, deep breathing sound. Each breath lasted about half a minute, and the white mist around him gradually split into two streams, like two long snakes writhing. With each inhalation, the mist entered his nostrils, and with each exhalation, it emerged from his pores.

Each inhalation and exhalation, expelling the old and taking in the new.

Since the battle with Lin Tianwang ten days ago, Sun Yan felt that the barrier of the 2nd-level martial realm was as fragile as paper, needing just a small opportunity to break through to the 3rd-level martial realm.

The 2nd and 3rd levels of the martial realm can be summarized in four words: skin split and flesh torn.

The 2nd-level martial realm involves the skin opening, allowing all pores to function as nostrils for normal breathing. It can also lock all pores to prevent the leakage of internal energy.

The 3rd-level martial realm involves the inner essence refining the muscles, opening new energy channels at 16 key joints in the body—shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, ankles, hands, and feet—making the inner essence flow more quickly.

These energy channels are known as "star points."

Each star point deepens the inner essence. When all 16 energy channels are opened, the speed of the inner essence flow will undergo a qualitative change, forming a complete cycle known as the "Grand Circulation."

If Sun Yan could smoothly break through to the 3rd-level martial realm, his strength would greatly increase. Even if he gained nothing tonight in the 38th Arena, it wouldn't be a waste.

Time passed, and the white mist around Sun Yan became denser, enveloping him, making him appear and disappear. His skin glowed with the light of essence energy, flowing continuously, like a jade statue, exuding a mysterious and solemn aura.

After a long time, the white mist slowly dissipated, and Sun Yan opened his eyes and stood up.

As he stretched his body, a series of cracking sounds came from his bones. A flash of sharp light appeared in his eyes, followed by a look of regret.

"Unfortunately, it's still a little short. No wonder people say that battle is the best catalyst for martial arts advancement. Perhaps only through a battle can I quickly break through to the 3rd-level martial realm." Sun Yan muttered to himself.

The battle with Lin Tianwang on the night of his enrollment, under the pressure of the arrogant youth's powerful blade technique, was the best opportunity for Sun Yan to break through to the 3rd-level martial artist. Unfortunately, the battle didn't last long.

A major breakthrough sometimes feels just a step away, yet that final step is always missing.

Checking the time, it was already 1:00 AM. The 38th Arena was quiet, with no signs of anything unusual.

Sun Yan sighed, "Looks like I don't have that luck. Well, since I'm here, I'll practice some martial techniques before leaving."

He used [Dragon Subduing Pile], took a half-step forward, and the ground trembled slightly. Sun Yan performed [Second Stage Crushing Fist], and the wind from his punch immediately stirred.

Bang, bang, bang... The punches were heavy, tearing the air, and the wind roared.

Sun Yan punched repeatedly, gradually falling into a wondrous state. His mind was calm, and his thoughts were clearer than ever. His body and mind were perfectly integrated.

Boom, boom, boom...

Punch after punch, Sun Yan delivered nearly a hundred [Second Stage Crushing Fist] punches without stopping. It wasn't that he didn't want to stop, but he was in a wondrous state, half asleep and half awake, acting on instinct.

Each punch weakened his inner essence. Normally, Sun Yan's inner essence could only support 50 full-power [Second Stage Crushing Fist] punches.

But now, he had already delivered over 100 [Second Stage Crushing Fist] punches, and his dantian was empty, his inner essence completely depleted. However, a gentle and heavy force flowed from the soles of his feet into his body, supporting the inner essence consumption of each punch.

His body felt like an empty container, and each time a bit of inner essence was infused, it was immediately consumed, repeating the cycle.

This feeling was extremely wondrous. After his inner essence was completely depleted, Sun Yan's senses became extremely sharp. His mind was fully focused on the [Dragon Subduing Pile], feeling the continuous flow of power from the ground.

The earth has a dragon, desiring to soar to the heavens.

In a daze, Sun Yan seemed to see a giant dragon deep underground, bound by chains, suppressed in the earth. The dragon roared incessantly, filled with a desire to soar through the clouds, and a stream of power burst from its body, one thread of which penetrated the ground and entered Sun Yan's body.

Bang!

The strange vision in his mind shattered. Sun Yan felt a jolt, and a surge of heat flowed from his feet into his body. This force was five times stronger than before, rapidly restoring his inner essence in his dantian. His body felt warm, and his fatigue vanished.

Perfect [Dragon Subduing Pile]!

Sun Yan immediately understood that [Dragon Subduing Pile] had finally reached the Perfect Level, and he felt a surge of joy.

Feeling the surging inner essence in his dantian, Sun Yan was shocked: "The inner essence recovery speed of the Perfect Level [Dragon Subduing Pile] is five times that of the Proficient Level? So astonishing."

He then tried to deliver another [Second Stage Crushing Fist], and the wind from the punch produced a sharp sound.

"The power of this [Second Stage Crushing Fist]!" Sun Yan looked at his fists and exclaimed, "With the enhancement of the Perfect Level [Dragon Subduing Pile], the power of [Second Stage Crushing Fist] has increased by 50%?"

According to Sun Yan's original prediction, the ideal enhancement of [Dragon Subduing Pile] reaching the Perfect Level would be 45%. Such an enhancement was already astonishing, and even with Feng Lingxue's extensive family knowledge, she had never heard of any martial technique that, when perfected, could enhance the power of other martial techniques by more than 30%.

But the Perfect Level [Dragon Subduing Pile] increased the power of [Second Stage Crushing Fist] by 50%. Was this really a 2nd-grade martial technique?

Sun Yan felt both joy and confusion, and at the same time, a surge of confidence. Now, even facing a peak 3rd-level martial artist, he had the confidence to contend.

"Didn't encounter any ghosts, but the [Dragon Subduing Pile] reached the Perfect Level. This is an unexpected joy."

Sun Yan shook his head and turned to leave the arena. However, as he turned, the surroundings suddenly changed, and in a moment, he found himself in a lush forest.

"What's happening? Where am I?" Sun Yan was stunned.

One second he was in the arena, and the next, he was in a forest, which was too bizarre.

The trees in this forest were hundreds of feet tall, reaching the clouds, making him feel extremely small. The dense branches and leaves formed a vast canopy, blocking out the sky.

Suddenly, Sun Yan felt the ground tremble, and a giant tree rose from the ground. He was standing on the top of the tree, involuntarily moving away from the ground.

"Damn, what's going on?" Sun Yan cursed.

This tree was different from the others in the forest. After rising from the ground and piercing the clouds, it continued to grow rapidly, as if trying to break through the sky.

"Stop growing, stop growing. If it really breaks through the atmosphere, I'll be dead!"

Sun Yan cursed, wanting to jump down and slide down the tree trunk to the ground, but an invisible force restrained his body, making it impossible to move.

Gradually, the tree grew taller, and Sun Yan felt difficulty breathing. He tried to use his inner essence to protect his body, but it was futile. Once the tree broke through the clouds and grew into the stars, it would be impossible to survive in space with just his physical body.

Finally, in Sun Yan's desperate cries, the giant tree broke through the clouds and extended into the starry sky. A breathtaking scene appeared before him, and he was speechless.

Standing on the top of the giant tree, he saw a beautiful planet suspended in the starry sky, with four distinct color regions.

This is the Domyr planet!

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