Chapter 49

Returning to the Jade Washing Palace, Zhang Ruochen briefly gathered with Consort Lin, then took Little Black and returned to his room.

"What kind of cultivation technique are you practicing that you can open up twenty-seven meridians at the peak of the Yellow Extreme Realm?" Little Black asked curiously.

Zhang Ruochen replied, "I'm not quite sure myself!"

Zhang Ruochen truly didn't know what level the *Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture* was. In the entire Kunlun World, only the Bright Emperor and he practiced the *Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture*.

Little Black: "According to my knowledge, only techniques of the lower rank of the King level can allow a martial artist to open up twenty-seven meridians. However, you are still at the peak of the Yellow Extreme Realm, with room for improvement, so it's not just about opening up twenty-seven meridians. Could it be that you are practicing... a divine-level technique?"

"Perhaps."

Zhang Ruochen's expression became somewhat solemn. It seemed that in the future, he must always wear the Icefire Qilin Armor to conceal his cultivation.

Otherwise, if people found out that he was practicing a technique even more powerful than a King-level technique, it would surely bring him deadly trouble, and even the Yunwu Duke couldn't protect him.

Fortunately, the only people who knew he had opened up twenty-seven meridians were the Yunwu Duke and the manager of the Wu Market Money House, Liu Chuanshen.

The Yunwu Duke definitely wouldn't tell anyone.

As for Liu Chuanshen, the Yunwu Duke would definitely give him a thorough briefing, and it wouldn't be just a simple reminder.

Before cultivating, Zhang Ruochen put Little Black back into the Heavenly Balance Divine Tree Map.

This cat has many tricks up its sleeve, and he had to be cautious.

Subsequently, Zhang Ruochen put on the sixth-grade True Martial Treasure-level Icefire Qilin Armor and began to cultivate.

"I must reach the peak of the Great Ultimate Position as soon as possible!"

Zhang Ruochen took out a second-grade pill, the Three Pure True Qi Pill, and swallowed it.

"Boom!"

The Three Pure True Qi Pill split open inside his body, transforming into three streams of true qi, like three rivers of true qi flowing rapidly within Zhang Ruochen's body.

The true qi in the twenty-seven meridians all began to circulate, absorbing the pill's energy from the Three Pure True Qi Pill and converting it into his own true qi, storing it in the qi pool.

After three hours, Zhang Ruochen had completely absorbed the energy from the Three Pure True Qi Pill.

"By refining one Three Pure True Qi Pill, the true qi in my qi pool has increased by seventy percent. I still have eight Three Pure True Qi Pills and four Celestial Phenomenon Red Fire Pills. If I refine them all, I should be able to fully cultivate the true qi in my qi pool and reach the peak of the Great Ultimate Position."

Zhang Ruochen continued to cultivate.

Over the next eight days, Zhang Ruochen spent three hours each day refining a Three Pure True Qi Pill, four hours resting, and the remaining time practicing the carving of spatial runes.

After eight days,

Zhang Ruochen had refined all eight remaining Three Pure True Qi Pills, and the true qi in his body had increased sixfold compared to eight days ago, becoming incredibly robust.

With his current strength, if he were to fight Liu Chengfeng again, he could defeat him in ten moves.

However, the true qi in his qi pool was still not fully cultivated, and he had not yet reached the peak of the Great Ultimate Position.

Zhang Ruochen took out the four Celestial Phenomenon Red Fire Pills and placed them in front of him.

The Celestial Phenomenon Red Fire Pill is a third-grade pill, primarily used to temper the physical body, enhance a martial artist's constitution, and increase their strength.

Of course, third-grade pills are much more powerful than second-grade pills and can also increase the true qi storage to some extent.

After another eight days, Zhang Ruochen had refined all four Celestial Phenomenon Red Fire Pills, and his physical constitution had significantly improved.

When he first broke through to the peak of the Great Ultimate Position, Zhang Ruochen could burst out with thirty-six units of strength without using martial techniques.

Now, even without using martial techniques, he could burst out with forty-five units of strength. If he used the Dragon Elephant Prajna Palm, he could burst out with fifty-eight units of strength.

Moreover, the true qi in his qi pool had finally been fully cultivated, reaching the peak of the Great Ultimate Position.

With Zhang Ruochen's current strength, he could defeat Liu Chengfeng with just one move, and even kill him.

"With my current strength, even compared to early-stage Profound Extreme Realm martial artists, I should not be inferior. Among the top ten on the Yellow List, there are probably not many who are stronger than me."

After cultivating for seventeen days in the time crystal, only six days had passed in the outside world.

Since he had reached the peak of the Great Ultimate Position, he could now enter the Barbarian God Pool to cultivate.

Zhang Ruochen had been eagerly waiting, and he set off with the fourth-grade pill, the Qilin Pill, heading towards the Hall of Emperors.

The soldiers guarding the Hall of Emperors had clearly received orders from the Yunwu Duke, knowing that Zhang Ruochen would come to the Barbarian God Pool to cultivate, so they did not stop him and let him pass directly.

Entering the Hall of Emperors, Zhang Ruochen headed straight for the Barbarian God Pool underground.

The blood-red water in the pool was like lava, always boiling.

This was Zhang Ruochen's second time entering the Barbarian God Pool to cultivate, so he directly walked to the middle area of the pool, where the water reached his waist.

The temperature of the water was extremely high, and a searing pain came from below his waist, almost tearing his skin.

Fortunately, he had successfully opened his wheel meridians, and the true qi flowing through his skin formed patterns of light, protecting his physical body.

At the same time, Zhang Ruochen's pores began to absorb the blood essence, transporting it through the pores to the wheel meridians, and then from the wheel meridians to his entire body.

Every fifteen minutes, his physical constitution would noticeably improve.

After two days, Zhang Ruochen had completely adapted to the middle area and began to move step by step towards the high area.

When Zhang Ruochen reached the high area of the Barbarian God Pool, the water completely submerged his chest, reaching up to his neck.

The blood essence in the high area was even more concentrated, and the temperature had risen to a terrifying level.

"Zzz!"

Even with his wheel meridians opened, Zhang Ruochen could not resist that force, and his skin below the neck almost instantly melted away.

His body became a bloody mess, and if someone were standing by the Barbarian God Pool and could see through the water, they would find that Zhang Ruochen looked like a blood-soaked figure.

The pain almost made Zhang Ruochen scream.

Zhang Ruochen clenched his teeth and immediately swallowed the fourth-grade pill, the Qilin Pill.

"Roar!"

A roar like that of a qilin echoed from within Zhang Ruochen's body.

A blood-red light burst out from the top of his head, forming a cloud of qilin-like mist.

With Zhang Ruochen's current cultivation, he could not refine a fourth-grade pill, and if he tried to force it, he would burst and die.

At the same time, with his current cultivation, he could not resist the blood essence in the high area of the Barbarian God Pool, and if he forced himself to enter, his body would be refined into pus and blood.

At this moment, although Zhang Ruochen was in excruciating pain, he did not burst and die, nor was his body melted by the blood essence.

One force came from within, and one from without.

The two forces formed a delicate balance.

Time passed, and the energy from the Qilin Pill and the blood essence continuously fused into Zhang Ruochen's body, continuously enhancing his physical constitution.

...

Meanwhile, something significant was happening at the Lin family.

The old family head, Lin Jingye, returned to the capital from the Demon Ridge and arrived at the Lin residence.

Upon returning to the Lin residence, Lin Jingye immediately summoned his three sons to see him.

Lin Jingye's three sons were the current family head, Lin Fengxian, his second son, Lin Enbo, and his third son, Lin Xizhao.

Lin Fengxian bowed to Lin Jingye, who was seated above, and respectfully said, "Greetings, Father! I wonder if you have broken through to the Heaven Extreme Realm on this trip to the Demon Ridge?"

Lin Jingye replied, "Breaking through to the Heaven Extreme Realm is no easy task. On this trip to the Demon Ridge, I did indeed gain some opportunities, and my cultivation has improved. Although I haven't broken through yet, I have found a way to break through to the Heaven Extreme Realm. I should be able to reach that realm within three years!"

"That's wonderful!"

Lin Fengxian, Lin Enbo, and Lin Xizhao were all overjoyed.

To have a Heaven Extreme Realm martial artist as a guardian is a completely different matter from not having one.

If Lin Jingye broke through to the Heaven Extreme Realm, the Lin family's status in the Yunwu Kingdom would immediately rise to another level, becoming the third-rate family in the Yunwu Kingdom.

Even the Yunwu Duke would place great importance on a third-rate family.

Currently, the Yunwu Kingdom has only two third-rate families and twelve fourth-rate families.

The Lin family is one of the twelve fourth-rate families.

The two third-rate families are the Xue family of the Imperial Advisor and the Situ family.

Lin Jingye smiled and said, "As soon as I entered the city, I heard that the Yunwu Kingdom has produced a martial genius, who became a Yellow List martial artist at the age of sixteen. And that martial genius is none other than my grandson, the Ninth Prince, Zhang Ruochen. Ha! Ruochen has truly matured late, which is a great comfort."

"Fengxian, what happened three years ago was not Lan'er's fault. You have already vented your anger and resentment. Find an opportunity to apologize to Lan'er. After all, you are siblings, and the relationship cannot remain strained forever."

"Moreover, Lan'er has given birth to a martial genius, and as a grandfather, I feel very proud. Invite Ruochen to the Lin residence to play. He and Nianshan can be considered childhood sweethearts, and their relationship cannot become distant! Ha! I remember that the Duke once mentioned arranging a marriage for them. This matter might still have a chance!"

The expressions of the three people standing below became strange, and they remained silent, not daring to speak up.

Lin Jingye's smile faded, and a sense of foreboding arose in his heart. He said sternly, "Why are none of you speaking? What has happened?"

Lin Enbo, the second son, coldly smiled and stepped forward, saying, "Father, let me speak! A few months ago, the Fourth Sister and the Ninth Prince came back to the Lin family to mend relations, but they were harshly humiliated by the eldest brother and driven out of the Lin residence. Hmph! The Fourth Sister and the Ninth Prince must have a lot of resentment towards the Lin family. They are not just relatives; they are now enemies. Eldest brother, this is all your doing! Hmph!"

Lin Xizhao, the third son, also said, "Yes! I also thought the eldest brother went too far. They are our Fourth Sister and our nephew. How could we treat them like that?"

Lin Jingye became even more furious, staring at Lin Fengxian, and said, "Eldest brother, you are the head of the family. How can you act so rashly? Ruochen is only sixteen years old and has already become a Yellow List martial artist. His future achievements are limitless. If he becomes the king of the Yunwu Kingdom, the Lin family will face a disaster. Now, come with me to the palace to apologize to your sister! You scoundrel, you have angered me to death!"