Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 676 Zhenyuan Dragon-Slaying Lock

The chill in the air condensed into a thin frost inside the hall. Liang Jin sat quietly on the cold jade bed, his mind completely absorbed in the system interface.

His gaze was fixed on the newly acquired item—the [Zhenyuan Dragon-Slaying Lock].

[Zhenyuan Dragon-Crushing Lock: The wearer of this lock is as if carrying a collapsing divine mountain! Every movement is subjected to immense pressure, and the circulation of internal energy is like being trapped in a deep abyss! However, flesh and bones are tempered and reborn under this immense pressure, and cultivation level rises and transforms within the constraints! On the day the armor is removed, the dragon soars to the heavens! (The effects of the Zhenyuan Dragon-Crushing Lock can affect the main body and all clones)]

The message is short, but its meaning is self-evident.

"Isn't this just like... those weighted vests and sandbags from my previous life?"

He muttered to himself, recalling his past life's experience with fitness.

Once physical fitness reaches a certain level, the effectiveness of regular training will be greatly reduced.

At this point, it is necessary to increase the load by wearing weighted vests, sandbag leg wraps, or other weighted equipment to train, allowing the muscles to work under greater resistance, thereby breaking through the bottleneck and achieving greater improvement.

Once the weight is removed, the body feels exceptionally light, and athletic performance improves significantly.

That's the arduous method to break through plateaus, using self-imposed shackles to squeeze out the potential of flesh and blood.

"But this thing... is clearly extraordinary!"

What shocked him most was its effect on tempering the physical body!

His physical physique has long surpassed the limits of ordinary understanding!
Its bones are stronger than metal, and its muscles are as twisted as a dragon! Even divine weapons cannot easily break through its defenses.

But Liang Jin also faces the biggest problem – stagnation in growth!
This body, forged through countless trials, has now reached a suffocating bottleneck!

The profound meaning of the "Hundred Evils Body Technique" has long been ingrained in my bones, and there is no further progress!
The limit of the fusion of divine beast essence and blood is almost reached!
Ordinary elixirs are like streams to a vast ocean for his physical body!

Although improving one's martial arts level will slightly enhance one's physical body, that slight increase is negligible for Liang Jin at his current level.

He was originally considering whether to search for new essence blood or pills to strengthen his body, but the system directly provided a solution.

This [Zhenyuan Dragon-Slaying Lock] not only increases cultivation speed, but also strengthens the physical body.

"Cultivating both inner and outer strength! True... flawless tempering!"

An unprecedentedly intense light flashed in Liang Jin's eyes!
"According to the description of this item, it can also be used on all clones and the main body?"

"We'll only know what the situation is after we try it."

Suppressing his overwhelming joy, Liang Jin immediately got off the cold jade bed that exuded a bone-chilling cold.

He walked steadily to the open space in the center of the main hall and stood still.

Take a deep breath.

The mind sank deep into the system.

With a thought, he chose to take out the Zhenyuan Dragon-Slaying Lock from his inventory.

next moment!
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Four heavy, metallic tremors, like the roar of an ancient divine bell, suddenly exploded!
His left and right ankles! His left and right wrists!
Four of them appeared out of nowhere...

The dark blue lock ring was covered with indistinguishable dark gold runes, yet it exuded a sense of eternal confinement!

"So, it automatically puts on as soon as you take it out?"

Liang Jin was puzzled.

next moment.

A tremendous pressure suddenly descended!

"Uh!"

The lock was applied to his body in an instant!

Liang let out an extremely muffled and suppressed groan of pain!

as if……

In an instant, countless, formless, and intangible dark stars collapsed and shrank around him!

In an instant, Liang Jin felt as if the [Zhenyuan Dragon-Slaying Lock] on his hands and feet weighed ten thousand catties!
That heaviness doesn't come from the level of physical rules!

Instead, it was a kind of gravity law, like that of the entire plane, that was maliciously distorted and poured into his physical body and vitality!

Boom! ! !

An irresistible, terrifying force, like the foot of a world-destroying giant, stomped down from the heavens!
"Crack--!"

Liang Jin's entire body instantly convulsed uncontrollably! His bones, under unimaginable pressure, emitted a groan as if they were about to break!
Caught off guard, he had no time to make any defensive stance and instantly lost his balance!

"Bang!!!"

A muffled sound!
Like a mountain collapsing!

Liang Jin was slammed to the cold ground by an illogical "gravity"!

Can't move!

His face was buried deep in the cold floor tiles, and his heavy, bellows-like breathing stirred up fine dust.

At this moment, Liang Jin felt as if a huge mountain was pressing down on his entire body, and even if he wanted to move, he would suffer endless suppression.

Even more frightening is...

Liang Jin also felt that the internal energy circulation within his body had almost come to a standstill!

But it didn't come to a complete standstill.

Instead, there was a powerful resistance that appeared out of nowhere, hindering Liang Jin's internal energy circulation.

It was as if he was bound and imprisoned from the inside out by billions of invisible, viscous, and icy black iron chains!
Each attempt to operate it is like propelling a giant iron wheel that is stuck in an abyss!

My meridians are filled with a desperate sense of stagnation and tearing pain!

A single strand of internal energy flowed with difficulty, requiring a hundred or even a thousand times the strength of what it once was!

Now, with his physical body and internal energy both subjected to terrifying gravitational suppression, Liang Jin lay on the ground like a cripple whose tendons had been severed.

"Hahaha……"

However, amidst the billowing dust, Liang Jin's low, yet excited, hoarse laughter could be heard!
"Sure enough!"

"Excellent! What a fine whetstone!"

"With such suppressive power constantly under pressure, it would be strange if one's cultivation and physical body didn't rapidly become stronger!"

What he felt was not despair, but the loosening of that door after reaching the limit!

He clenched his teeth tightly, and the veins on his forehead bulged from the extreme force, like a coiled dragon!

He had to resist this heavy force and stand up from the ground.

"stand up!!"

A roar from the depths of the soul!

Crunch...crunch...

His entire body—bones, muscles, fascia…—was groaning in unbearable pain!

That body, tempered and refined through countless trials, is now undergoing an unprecedented test!

The left hand... was like pushing a mountain ten thousand feet high!
It was lifted up inch by inch from the cold ground, extremely, extremely slowly!
Then, using the right hand and waist to exert force! As if drawing support from the depths of the earth, it struggled to support its body, allowing it to go from lying down to sitting up.

Then his legs also joined in the effort, and his whole body seemed to be slowly pulled up from the quagmire of gravity!

He finally managed to stand up from the ground!
Simply stand up straight!
Just from lying down to standing up!
His whole body looked as if he had just been pulled out of a boiling oil pot, and sweat was pouring out like a torrential rain!

The sweat soaked through three layers of clothing, pooling on the ground into a small, dark puddle! Sweat streamed down his temples like a small stream, dripping down his resolute jawline and onto his chest, leaving dark stains.

Every muscle was trembling violently!
Every breath felt like a broken bellows, burning hot against my lungs!

Previously, Liang Jin could easily go from lying down to standing up.

However, Liang Jin felt that he had used up almost 90% of his strength just by completing this one movement.

"So tiring! So strenuous! So torturous!"

"But this feeling... is so great!"

This hardship reminded Liang Jin of the feeling he experienced during weight-bearing exercises in his previous life.

The process was strenuous, but I felt completely relaxed afterward, and the gains were very obvious.

He lifted his heavy eyelids, which felt as if they were filled with lead and mercury, and looked down at the black jade slab beneath his feet.

Smooth as a mirror!

It didn't leave the slightest dent despite its weight, which could crush boulders.

"That's not right. This Zhenyuan Dragon-Slaying Lock doesn't seem to feel heavy because of its large mass."

"If it were really due to gravity, the floor beneath my feet would have shattered long ago, and my feet would have sunk into the ground long ago."

This made Liang Jin feel strange.

If a heavy object weighing thousands of kilograms were to be placed on Liang Jin, the pressure generated by his feet would be terrifying, and the ground would inevitably crack under the pressure.

However, the fact that the ground is intact now is quite strange.

It was as if there was a mysterious pressure acting on every cell of Liang Jin's body, but without having any effect on the outside world.

This thing is completely illogical; it's simply too fantastical.

Liang Jin gradually became certain.

The lock does not exert physical mass on the material world.

Rather, it is the ultimate shackle and tempering of the wearer's life imprint itself!
Like the legendary "mountain-carrying magic", it can carry mountains on its shoulders without disturbing the dust beneath its feet, and all the great power is borne by itself!

If it weren't a system reward, but rather a real-world artifact, Liang Jin would have thought he had obtained an incomprehensible celestial weapon.

But as long as it comes from the system, he can accept it no matter how amazing it is.

He tried to walk a few steps, but found it extremely difficult.

Lift your legs...

It's like being stuck in a bottomless, sticky swamp; you need to muster all your willpower and strength just to barely lift yourself an inch!

Upon landing...

It was as heavy as a falling star!

"boom!"

The dull sound of footsteps echoed in the empty hall.

The third step has not yet been taken...

His violently pounding heart and labored breathing, like pulling a giant millstone, forced him to stop.

I'm so tired! Absolutely exhausted!
He breathed deeply and greedily!

Every breath I took was accompanied by excruciating pain, as if my lungs were being torn apart!

Every breath he exhaled was a white mist carrying the heat of his body!
He twisted his waist and gathered his strength for a moment.

then!

He threw a punch into the void!
But the fist moved forward...

slow!
It's infuriatingly slow!

It's as if time has been slowed down a thousand times!
My arm muscles are trembling violently! They're bulging!

It combats the terrifying blockage that acts on every inch of skin and every cell!
It's as if there's endless resistance in front of this punch, requiring all your strength to throw it.

So much so that when this punch was thrown, it was not only incredibly slow, but also weak and powerless!
When the fist finally stopped in mid-air...

The accompanying punching force was also extremely weak!

It couldn't even lift a speck of dust, let alone penetrate paper!

Only a barely perceptible ripple remained in the air.

So faint...like the last feeble sigh of a dying person.

Every bit of his internal energy he circulated encountered tremendous resistance, making it difficult for him to release more internal energy out of his body.

"This resistance training is really quite strenuous."

"Has wearing this thing made me so weak?"

"Why do I feel like I'm not even as good as a ninth-grade martial artist now?"

Feeling the lingering soreness, numbness, and weakness in his arm, Liang Jin was extremely harsh on himself:

"No! Even an ordinary person is probably stronger than me!"

"This thing has actually turned me into a complete useless piece of trash, utterly incapable of even killing a chicken!"

Fortunately, it's just that its offensive and mobility capabilities are weak.

His defensive capabilities haven't diminished much.

Although he couldn't project his internal energy outwards, it was still stored within his body, and he could still use his protective true energy to about 70-80% of its effectiveness. His strongest defense, however, was his physical body.

His physical body is now impervious to swords and blades, and even wearing the [Zhenyuan Dragon-Slaying Lock] has not affected its physical strength.

"By the way, how do you... remove this thing?"

Immediately, Liang Jin had a thought and chose to put the item back into his inventory.

“Crack!”

A lock on his wrist clicked open!

In an instant, it vanished into nothingness and returned to its inventory!
Om-!
moment!

The sensation was like a mountain collapsing! Like the sea receding!

Liang Jin felt the heavy pressure all over his body suddenly lessen by a quarter!

It was as if an invisible giant hand had instantly peeled away a layer of skin!
"call--!"

Liang Jin took a deep breath of cold air! The feeling of suffocation in his body was significantly reduced, like a drowning person finally surfacing!
"This thing needs to be retrieved four times?"

Liang Jin's mind raced, and he chose to withdraw three times in a row.

Without hesitation!

"Click!" "Click!" "Click!"

The remaining three locks unlocked and disappeared in succession!
Splash! ...
this moment!
The immense weight that bound his entire body and crushed his bones and marrow vanished without a trace, like a collapsing pillar of heaven!

After the pressure was gone, Liang Jin felt relaxed and refreshed!
It's like a huge mountain has been lifted off my back!

An indescribable surge of power returned, and all his strength was back!
"I see!"

A distorted smile appeared on Liang Jin's lips.

"Then... never take it off!"

Without hesitation, Liang Jin immediately put on the [Zhenyuan Dragon-Slaying Lock].

The buzzing starts again!

The four missing lock rings instantly reappeared on his hands and feet!

That suffocating, terrifying pressure returned, enveloping him and attempting to drag him to the ground!

But this time, Liang Jin was prepared!

He let out a low growl!
His legs were like ancient cypress trees rooted firmly to the earth!
Though it was pressed down and trembled slightly!

But it has managed to stay firmly in place, no longer collapsing with a roar!

Now he seizes every minute and second to cultivate, and has made up his mind that unless he is fighting, he must wear the [Zhenyuan Nianlong Lock] on his body to speed up his cultivation, whether he is eating, sleeping or going to the toilet.

"Strange, although my body has already used the Zhenyuan Dragon-Slaying Lock."

"But I feel that the rest of my body can still be used."

"Even in the inventory, you can still choose to take out the Zhenyuan Dragon-Slaying Lock."

"Give it a try!"

Liang Jin immediately sent his main body and the other clones to a suitable place, and then continued to select the [Zhenyuan Dragon-Slaying Lock] from the [Item Inventory].

really.

It seems there are five of these Zhenyuan Dragon Locks.

It wasn't until Liang Jin's main body and all his clones were each wearing a [Zhenyuan Dragon-Slaying Lock] that the [Zhenyuan Dragon-Slaying Lock] completely disappeared from his [Item Inventory].

This also made Liang Jin understand the description of the [Zhenyuan Dragon-Slaying Lock], which states that it can be applied to all clones and the main body.

"Wear it for a month first, then check the results."

Liang Jin endured the pain and immense feeling of restraint emanating from his limbs and bones:
"Use your body as a millstone... to crush the limits!"

Liang Jin could completely endure this pain.

After all, this little pain is nothing compared to the agony of having half my body smashed by a single blow back then!

Liang Jin was not worried about the results.

Products produced by the system must be of high quality.

Liang Jin was never disappointed by the effectiveness of the system rewards.

Just then, Liang Jin's expression suddenly changed.

"Ok?"

His keen senses had already detected that someone had entered the Taoist temple and was now in front of the rear hall.

It's Lu Qiannan!

"Since she's here, it means something must have happened outside that requires my personal attention."

"Alright, it's time to go out and have a look."

The decision was made.

Liang Jin began to move with difficulty toward the palace gate!

Every step we take feels like wading through a swamp!
My legs felt like they were filled with molten lead! Heavy! Sore! Every joint was protesting sharply!

Sweat streamed down his forehead again!

He gritted his teeth and slowly pushed open the heavy palace door, which was as heavy as a hill.

"crunch-"

With a dull groan from the hinges, the door slowly opened.

The golden-red rays of the setting sun flowed into the dimly lit palace like molten gold!

Dust danced wildly in the beam of light.

Outside the door, that dashing figure stood with his hands at his sides.

When Liang Jin first met Lu Qiannan, she was still a naive young girl.

Now, the two have known each other for more than two years, almost three years.

Such a long time is enough for the skinny girl from back then to transform into a graceful young woman!

Her naivety had completely faded, and her face had blossomed into a beautiful and spirited young woman!
Her eyebrows were like distant mountains with sharp edges, and her eyes were clear and sharp like stars reflected in a cold pool! Her nose was delicate and upturned, and her lips were red without any makeup, yet she showed no trace of weakness or coquetry!
Years of martial arts training have given her a sleek and toned physique, broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and remarkably long legs that possess explosive power.

While her chest wasn't nearly as breathtaking as Han So-yeon's, it still had its own curves, outlined by the tight-fitting outfit in a powerful arc.

She lacked Zhao Xiling's noble air, Yu Linglong's ethereal grace, and Zhou Baining's aloof purity...

Her beauty carries a unique air of heroism!

As steadfast and unyielding as a mountain!

now.

Lu Qian saw the palace gates wide open and saw Liang Jin's figure.

An overwhelming joy and awe instantly burst forth in her eyes!

"Your subordinate pays respects to the Great and Wise Teacher!"

She knelt on one knee, her voice clear and resonant, filled with undisguised excitement:
"Congratulations to the Great and Wise Teacher on the successful completion of your merits and breakthrough!!"

Despite the immense pressure from the surrounding mountains, Liang Jin forced himself to maintain a calm demeanor, his voice unusually low:
"Get up."

"You've come here in person, has something happened outside?"

Lu Qiannan quickly stood up, her movements swift and efficient.

"Master Beikong of Wanfo Temple arrived in Minzhou a month ago! He stated that he had an extremely important matter to discuss with the Great Master in person!"

"His Majesty and Chancellor Zhang received them on several occasions, but..."

A hint of helplessness and seriousness appeared between her brows:

"This monk remained tight-lipped, saying only that he could speak only when he met the Great and Virtuous Teacher himself!"

"He has now been waiting for a full month!"

"today……"

Lu Qiannan's voice was slightly deep:

"Master Beikong finally revealed his intention to leave, and made it clear that if he could not see the Great Master of Virtue before dawn the next day, he would leave completely."

"Your subordinate dares not neglect this duty and has come to report!"

Wanfo Temple?
A sorrowful void?

Liang Jin was slightly surprised.

Liang Jin frowned slightly when he heard this.

His clone has no connection with Wanfo Temple, so what could possibly be worth a high-ranking monk from Wanfo Temple with the character "Bei" coming to find?
What Liang Jin's clone relies on now is nothing more than healing talismans, personal martial arts skills, and the influence of the Taiping Dao.

The Seven Luminaries Technique of Wanfo Temple is renowned throughout the world, and its masters are numerous, making its influence even greater than that of the Taiping Dao.

By all accounts, it doesn't seem like they would come to Liang Jin to discuss anything.

Liang Jin seemed lost in thought, a cold mockery flashing in his eyes:

"It seems that Wanfo Temple is unwilling to get involved in some dirty work."

Prestigious sects value their reputation above all else. If they cannot handle something personally, they will find someone else to do it for them. This is an unspoken rule in the martial arts world.

"That's fine..."

He slowly shifted his gaze, sweeping it over the courtyard outside the hall, bathed in the golden-red light of the setting sun:
"I was just about to go to the imperial palace anyway, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to see him."

Say it.

As Liang Jin spoke, he lifted his foot to step over the threshold.

However... he had not yet fully adapted to the immense pressure of the [Zhenyuan Dragon-Slaying Lock], and he was unable to lift his leg high enough!

What should have been an insignificant threshold underfoot became an insurmountable... towering boulder due to the incredibly fragile coordination of the body at that moment!
Bang!
His toes slammed heavily against the hard ebony threshold!
"not good!"

Warning signs were screaming in Liang Jin's mind!

But his body simply didn't have time to regain its balance!

The immense pressure imposed upon him instantly shattered his last fragile support.

"Uh……"

He completely lost his balance!

Like a giant iron tower whose foundation has been hollowed out!
The stone steps leading to the palace gate were uncontrollably tilting and collapsing!

It collapsed to the ground with a deafening roar!

"Beware, Great Teacher—!!!"

Lu Qiannan's pupils suddenly contracted!

Terrified! I screamed uncontrollably!
That moment...

She even thought there was an enemy who launched a sneak attack on the unfathomable Great Teacher!

Instinct! It has long surpassed thought!
Her figure transformed into a lithe yet swift afterimage, lunging forward!

Slender yet powerful arms, in an instant, acted like two of the most resilient vines, firmly embracing Liang Jin's collapsing upper body!
An extremely standard...

A gesture of embracing from the front!
only……

She rushed too fast! She hugged too hastily! The timing was too coincidental!!
Liang Jin's face, propelled by the forward and downward momentum, actually...

He plunged headfirst into...

That fullness and firmness, trembling yet surprisingly softness!
So much so that Liang Jin felt the fragrance was overwhelming, rich, and refreshing... like the sweet aroma of crushed snow lotus from the Tianshan Mountains!
Dead!

Entrance to the main hall.

Time! Space! Dust! Wind! Sunset light...

It all seemed to happen at this moment...

Freeze! Freeze!
Lu Qiannan's whole body...

Stiff as an ice sculpture!
My mind is blank!
I just feel...

The towering figure in his arms, always as majestic, aloof, and unapproachable as a god...

now……

It was so heavy! And scalding hot!

And then there was that… hot breath coming through the thin silk fabric of the tight-fitting clothes!
(End of this chapter)