He was the tenth of the Ten Heroes, while Xu Yang had barely missed the list. Now that Xu Yang had gone deeper than him, wasn’t this proof that he was inferior to Xu Yang?
He could also go a little deeper, but doing so risked injury to his bones and muscles from Tianfeng Valley’s strange power, which would be counterproductive.
He figured Xu Yang was just putting up a brave front, trying to snatch his tenth-place spot on the Ten Heroes List.
"My physical body is tempered quite well!"
Xu Yang smiled and continued forward with Jiang Fan, soon sitting down in the area for Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement Martial Artists.
In truth, he could go much deeper. However, his cultivation on the surface was only at the initial stage of Marrow Cleansing. It was already astonishing that he could sit in the same spot as those with Minor Achievement, and going any deeper would be difficult to explain.
"He actually reached a spot that only Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement Martial Artists can handle. How can his physical body be so powerful?" someone said, their expression filled with disbelief.
Initial Marrow Cleansing, with a body comparable to a typical Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement Martial Artist?
"Xu Yang must be cultivating the Celestial Spirit Body Refining Technique or the Vajra Indestructible Body," someone judged.
Given Xu Yang’s age, it would be impossible for him to have cultivated the Golden Gang Skill, a Water Grinding Technique, to this level. Only the Celestial Spirit Body Refining Technique or the Vajra Indestructible Body would allow for such rapid progress.
"The Celestial Spirit Body Refining Technique, the Vajra Indestructible Body... If I could obtain one, I might even be able to attempt a Secondary Dragon Ascension in three years." Someone began to harbor ill intentions.
Li Chuyang watched Xu Yang coldly, saying nothing.
Lu Ren was also silent, but his body quietly shuffled forward. Based on his understanding of Xu Yang, he was certain Xu Yang still had an ace up his sleeve. This couldn’t be Xu Yang’s limit; he could definitely go deeper.
Lu Ren felt a pang of frustration. He had clearly become an Inner Disciple of Elder Tie Fu and was highly regarded, so why was there still such a huge gap between him and Xu Yang?
As he moved, Xiong Kun and Han Feng had no choice but to grit their teeth and follow.
When those three moved, Xie Zhan, who had always considered himself their equal, had to follow suit. Lu Ren saw them catching up and shuffled forward again. For a moment, the scene was rather bizarre.
"It has to be Xu Yang, making a group of people more talented than him feel immense pressure."
[Fuyue Bear Scripture Marrow Cleansing Chapter·Minor Achievement (1867/6000)]
Xu Yang paid no mind to the petty movements of Lu Ren and the others. After glancing at his panel and memorizing his current cultivation progress, he began to circulate the Fuyue Bear Scripture to cultivate.
The azure Gang wind was pervasive, carrying a strange power that seeped into his bones and flesh. Under the enhancement of his Cultivation Technique, it had the miraculous effect of Muscle and Marrow Cleansing, slowly being refined into his sinews, bones, and blood.
Xu Yang felt as if his whole body had turned into a furnace. The resilience and strength of his sinews and bones were increasing. From time to time, fine bone dust would flake off and be expelled through his pores.
By dusk, a gray crust had formed on his body. He felt incredibly comfortable, and his body seemed much lighter.
Looking at the people around him, he saw they were in a similar state, with filthy blood and bone dust forming a gray crust on their skin.
[Fuyue Bear Scripture Marrow Cleansing Chapter·Minor Achievement (1906/6000)]
’My progress increased by nearly forty points...’
Xu Yang looked at the panel. ’That’s almost double my normal cultivation rate.’
Relying on Gathering Essence Pills, his daily progress usually hovered around twenty points. Today, after a full day of cultivation, his progress had increased by nearly forty.
At this rate, after a month, his progress in Minor Achievement of Marrow Cleansing would reach three thousand. One month here was equivalent to two months of normal cultivation.
In about half a year, he would be able to break through to the Great Success Realm of Marrow Cleansing.
"Everyone, out of the valley!"
Outside Tianfeng Valley, several Stewards were already calling for the cultivating disciples to leave.
This was because Tianfeng Valley was not suitable for cultivation at night. It was said that the Gang wind here would turn violent after dark, becoming more harmful than beneficial.
Xu Yang got up and slowly walked toward the valley entrance.
After returning to Li Fire Peak, he had a meal and read some books on weapon forging for a while before entering his quiet room to cultivate the Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture.
In the days that followed, he and the other disciples commuted to Tianfeng Valley daily, their cultivation levels steadily improving.
"I broke through!"
On the tenth day Tianfeng Valley was open, Chen Yu, formerly ninth on the Ten Heroes List, finally broke through to the Marrow Cleansing realm with the valley’s help.
On the fifteenth day, Du Chuan, the fourth of the Ten Heroes, achieved Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement in one go.
On the twentieth day, Zhang Yong’s vital energy surged. His Gang Qi was like a tide, and streams of blood were expelled from his pores. He, too, had reached Marrow Cleansing.
In the blink of an eye, the month ended, and everyone’s aura had grown significantly stronger.
[Fuyue Bear Scripture Marrow Cleansing Chapter·Minor Achievement (3018/6000)]
[Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture - Introduction (3087/5000)]
’The Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture is also close to Minor Achievement.’
Xu Yang satisfactorily closed his panel and strode out of Tianfeng Valley.
Tianfeng Valley was about to close again. It was said it wouldn’t reopen for several months.
’Time to take on some missions!’ Xu Yang mused.
The Blood Lotus Sect had gone into hiding, so it wasn’t as dangerous outside anymore. He needed to earn contribution points to exchange for the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill Formula as soon as possible. If the Flying Centipede came looking for him one day, all he could do was wait for death.
"Junior Brother Xu, are you there?"
As a knock came from the outer door, Gao Lin’s voice rang out.
"I’m here. One moment, Senior Brother Gao."
Putting down the Refining Soldier Technique manual in his hands, Xu Yang opened the door to find Gao Lin standing right outside.
"Senior Brother Gao, please come in."
Gao Lin nodded and stepped inside.
Xu Yang invited him into the main hall, served him tea, and asked, "Is there something you need, Senior Brother Gao?"
Gao Lin took a sip of tea and said, "Master has assigned a mission. Prepare yourself. In three days, you’ll be heading out with me."
Xu Yang asked curiously, "Can you tell me what the mission is?"
Gao Lin nodded and lowered his voice. "We’ve discovered a Blood Lotus Sect stronghold, and we’re going to wipe it out. Master has ordered us to participate and avenge your third and fourth senior brothers. Don’t reveal this to anyone, lest the Blood Lotus Sect’s moles find out."
Xu Yang nodded solemnly. "Don’t worry, Senior Brother Gao. I won’t tell anyone."
He knew he probably couldn’t hide his Minor Achievement in Marrow Cleansing anymore. Once he took action, his true cultivation level would surely be exposed.
But that was fine. Revealing his Minor Achievement in Marrow Cleansing at this time could also be seen as laying the groundwork for his Secondary Dragon Ascension in three years.
"Don’t go running off for the next few days; we could move at any time. I still have to inform the others, so I can’t stay long."
Gao Lin instructed before leaving.
’I really can’t go running off these next few days!’ Xu Yang smiled as he saw Gao Lin out of the courtyard, deciding not to leave the mountain for the time being.
Gao Lin told him to keep it a secret, yet he revealed the matter to him. He probably still didn’t trust him and was deliberately leaking the information to test him. In the shadows, eyes were likely already watching him.
Although he wasn’t a real mole, if he left the mountain and something went wrong, he would be treated as one whether he was or not.
’The Purple Sun Sect still has some tricks up its sleeve!’
He had thought the Purple Sun Sect would just keep taking hits passively, but he hadn’t expected them to be able to find a Blood Lotus Sect stronghold.
For the next few days, aside from eating, Xu Yang stayed in his courtyard reading books on weapon forging. He had already gained some insights, but he didn’t start forging any Weapons yet.
The Thousand Forging Technique was the foundation of weapon forging. He planned to wait until he reached Perfection in the Thousand Forging Technique before he started forging Weapons.
「In the blink of an eye, three days passed.」
"Master, Junior Brother Xu hasn’t made any moves. In fact, he hasn’t stepped a foot outside his home these past few days."
In the Fire Cloud Elder Hall, Gao Lin reported Xu Yang’s behavior over the last few days to Elder Huoyun.
Elder Huoyun nodded. "He likely guessed something, but we still can’t rule him out as a suspect. Keep an eye on him on the road. Lu Tianchen has sent word that it’s time to move. At nightfall, gather the others, secretly leave the mountain, and go rendezvous with him.
Whether Xu Yang is a Blood Lotus Sect mole or not, we must teach the Blood Lotus Sect a lesson on this trip."
’The Peak Master of Beast King Peak sent a message?’
Gao Lin’s spirits soared. Finally, he could get his revenge.
"Junior Brother Xu, it’s time to go!"
Night fell. Just as Xu Yang was thinking that they hadn’t actually found a secret Blood Lotus Sect stronghold and that Gao Lin was just testing him, Gao Lin’s voice suddenly sounded at the outer door.
"One moment, Senior Brother Gao!"
Slinging the wrapped Cold Abyss over his back, Xu Yang opened the courtyard gate. He saw Gao Lin and four or five others standing at the entrance in plain clothes, all with solemn expressions.
No one spoke; they just exchanged glances.
Xu Yang turned and closed the door. Under the cover of night, the group descended Li Fire Peak and quickly left the Purple Sun Sect.