Chapter 61

When the true qi in the qi pool is full, the realm also reaches its peak, and the power cannot be enhanced any further.

It only takes one more unit of force to reach the supreme peak, which is truly a pity.

Zhang Ruochen said, "I cannot exert a hundred units of force, not because my martial body is not strong enough, but because I am only using a mid-grade human-level martial technique, which does not sufficiently amplify my power."

Xiaohei suddenly realized, exclaiming, "That's right! How could I forget the amplification of martial techniques? By the way, why have you only cultivated one mid-grade human-level martial technique so far? If you had cultivated a low-grade spirit-level martial technique, you would definitely be able to exert a hundred units of force."

"I don't need a low-grade spirit-level technique; a high-grade human-level technique should be enough to let me exert a hundred units of force and reach the supreme peak of the Yellow Extreme Realm," Zhang Ruochen said.

If I can open thirty-six meridians and still not reach the supreme peak, that would be strange.

Martial techniques, cultivation methods, and martial bodies must be cultivated simultaneously and in parallel for a martial artist to unleash their greatest power. Any weakness in one area makes it impossible to reach the supreme peak.

For Zhang Ruochen, both his cultivation method and martial body have reached the limit of the Yellow Extreme Realm, but his martial technique is still very weak. He has only cultivated the second palm of the Dragon Elephant Bodhi Palm, which is considered a mid-grade human-level technique.

The Heavenly Heart Sword Technique, although a low-grade spirit-level technique, primarily focuses on the sword, not the person.

If he could successfully cultivate the third palm of the Dragon Elephant Bodhi Palm, "Dragon Elephant Returns to the Fields," he could elevate this technique to a high-grade human-level, and then increasing his power by one unit would not be difficult.

Of course, the more advanced the Dragon Elephant Bodhi Palm becomes, the harder it is to cultivate. For example, he has been cultivating the third palm, "Dragon Elephant Returns to the Fields," for many days but still hasn't succeeded.

"In the palace, there are too many constraints, and I can't practice my palm technique freely. Moreover, as the Dragon Elephant Bodhi Palm progresses, it requires more combat experience, which can only be gained through constant battles to hone my palm technique."

"I lack the necessary practice, which is why I haven't been able to successfully cultivate the third palm."

"Leaving the palace for training would certainly result in assassination attempts by the queen's killers. My wings are not yet fully grown, and once I leave the palace and lose the protection of the Duke of Yunwu, I will be doomed. However, I can still train within the palace; I don't necessarily have to leave."

Zhang Ruochen's mind stirred, thinking of Wangshan.

The royal family has raised a large number of savage beasts in Wangshan, most of which are first-tier beasts, with a few second-tier beasts. This is exactly suitable for Zhang Ruochen's current training.

By fighting these savage beasts, he aims to cultivate the third palm of the Dragon Elephant Bodhi Palm as quickly as possible.

Zhang Ruochen has been training in the inner space of the time crystal for twenty-five days, but only eight or nine days have passed in the outside world.

As soon as Zhang Ruochen opened the door and walked out, he saw Yun'er waiting outside.

"Your Highness, Aler's injuries have healed, even his broken bones have been reconnected, but he spends his days sitting on the stone steps, staring blankly, or drawing portraits on the ground, as if he were a fool," Yun'er said.

Zhang Ruochen sighed, feeling a bit sorry, and said, "Since his injuries have healed, give him two hundred silver coins and send him away. Whether he can overcome his difficulties depends on his own will; no one can help him."

"Since that's the case, I'll send him away now," Yun'er said.

Zhang Ruochen watched Yun'er leave, a thoughtful look on his face. He called her back, saying, "Wait a moment, take me to see him."

Yun'er's face lit up with joy, and she immediately nodded, leading Zhang Ruochen to the courtyard where Aler lived.

As Yun'er had said, Aler was indeed sitting on the stone steps, holding a bamboo branch and drawing Lin Nisi's portrait on the ground.

He drew one portrait after another.

However, his eyes were vacant, and he was drawing purely out of instinct.

Even when Zhang Ruochen walked up to him, he didn't look up.

Zhang Ruochen stared at the young man sitting on the stone steps and said, "Where is your sword?"

Aler continued drawing portraits, mumbling, "My meridians are broken; I can no longer wield a sword."

Zhang Ruochen said, "If your meridians are broken, are you also broken?"

"My meridians are broken, so I am broken," Aler said blankly.

Zhang Ruochen said, "If you are broken, where do you get the strength to draw portraits here? Even a paralyzed person, if they have a strong will, can achieve something. Someone like you, with hands and feet, who chooses to wallow in self-pity, is truly a broken person."

Aler's voice became deeper, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "I am not wallowing in self-pity; I am not."

Zhang Ruochen glanced at the portraits on the ground and said, "To become a broken person for a woman, it seems I overestimated you before."

Zhang Ruochen walked over and stepped on the portrait of Lin Nisi, then moved his foot, distorting the image.

Aler's eyes turned red, and he glared, saying, "What are you doing?"

Zhang Ruochen said, "She doesn't treat you like a person, but you treat her like a god. Are you even worse than a broken person?"

"If I didn't owe you two lives, I would kill you now," Aler said.

Zhang Ruochen laughed, "Ha! With you being a broken person? Even after ten more years of cultivation, you wouldn't be my match."

"I am not a broken person!"

Aler roared, and a surge of true qi erupted from his body, filling the bamboo branch in his hand, which he thrust at Zhang Ruochen's chest.

The originally soft and easily broken bamboo branch, supported by true qi, became sharper than a regular iron sword.

"Bang!"

Zhang Ruochen slapped out a palm.

Aler's bamboo branch broke, and he was sent flying, spitting blood as he hit the ground.

Zhang Ruochen said, "Now, I have beaten you to the point of spitting blood and called you a broken person. Do you still consider me your savior?"

"Roar!"

Aler let out a wolf-like howl, his eyes bloodshot, and he climbed back up, lunging at Zhang Ruochen again, trying to bite his neck.

Zhang Ruochen used his hand as a blade, slashing down and hitting Aler's neck, sending him flying again.

"Bang! Bang!"

Aler kept attacking Zhang Ruochen, becoming increasingly frenzied, and the power he unleashed grew stronger.

However, each time, he was sent flying by Zhang Ruochen, unable to get close to him.

Yun'er stood at a distance, watching with a racing heart, but she didn't step in to stop them.

She knew that Zhang Ruochen was trying to wake Aler up.

After half an hour, Aler was exhausted, lying on the ground, panting heavily.

Zhang Ruochen walked over, about to strike again.

"No need!" Aler said.

Zhang Ruochen was slightly pleased, retracted his palm, and said, "What? Do you still want to be a broken person?"

Aler shook his head and said, "I am a swordsman, not a broken person. Actually, when you sent me flying with your first palm, I already saw the light. Thank you."

"Don't thank me. Your quick recovery from the shadows is entirely due to your own will."

Zhang Ruochen bent down to help Aler up and said with a smile, "What are your plans next?"

Aler's eyes darkened, and he said, "My meridians are broken, so I can't advance to the Mystic Extreme Realm. However, I won't give up. I will seek out the medicinal herbs to reconnect my meridians."

Zhang Ruochen thought for a moment and said, "Broken meridians might not be a bad thing for you. I have a cultivation method that is quite unique. Normal people cannot cultivate it, but those with broken meridians can. If your will is strong enough, you might be able to succeed in cultivating this method."

Aler, who had little hope of reconnecting his meridians, immediately showed a fiery gleam in his eyes and said, "What if I succeed?"

"Breaking out of the cocoon and transforming into a butterfly, you will become even stronger than before, and your future achievements will be even greater," Zhang Ruochen said.

Aler knelt on one knee and said, "My savior, please accept Aler's gratitude."

After Aler finished his bow, he said with determination, "Aler now owes you three lives: the grace of not dying, the grace of saving my life, and the grace of giving me a new life. In the future, if you need Aler for anything, I will not