Complete one practice method every day

The steward was somewhat displeased, but remembering the patriarch's instructions and the boy's current status, he dared not insist and could only manage a dry laugh.

"Master Chen is devoted to alchemy and martial arts with unwavering focus, which is truly admirable. In that case... I will take Xiao He back with me. If Master Chen needs anything, he may instruct the servants in the outer courtyard at any time."

"Thank you for your trouble." Chen Yue nodded.

The steward led the somewhat disappointed Xiaohe away, and the courtyard gate closed again.

Night fell, and all was quiet.

Daily Settlement

[Through diligent deduction and attempts to integrate cultivation techniques, the integration was successful, and a new cultivation technique, the Vast and Firm Essence Strengthening Technique, was obtained.]

……

[Skill: Great Mastery of the Vast and Firm Essence Technique (125/3023)]

……

Looking at the information on the panel, Chen Yue's eyes lit up slightly. The experience required to master this new technique was as high as 3023 points, almost the same as the Cloud-Soaring Thousand-Layer Step.

"So it seems that the Thousand-Layer Cloud Step is also a movement technique at the Refining Realm level." Chen Yue said with a smile in his eyes.

The insights into the new exercise method flooded my mind, and my Qi and blood naturally began to circulate slowly along a completely new path. With each cycle, I felt my Qi and blood being refined and purified, and my spirit was invigorated.

The next day, Chen Yue was greeted with a long-awaited amount of free time.

All you need to do is take a break in the morning to refine a batch of Blood-Activating Pills, and after submitting three, you'll still have one left over.

For the rest of the time, Chen Yue devoted himself wholeheartedly to practicing various martial arts techniques.

He planned his time more meticulously, ensuring that he had enough time to practice the Haoran Guyuan Jue as his mental cultivation method every day, since cultivation was the foundation.

Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield is his strongest trump card at present, and it is about to be mastered. Naturally, he has invested a lot of time in it. The light golden protective aura is flowing more and more smoothly on his body surface, and its range seems to have expanded slightly.

Chen Yue's Cloud-Soaring Steps technique became increasingly refined and agile as he practiced it in the courtyard. His cultivation of the Breath Concealment Technique made his aura even more restrained, so that ordinary martial artists could hardly perceive its depth unless they deliberately probed it.

He has also begun to master the technique of the Meridian Penetrating Bone Nail, and his wrist strength and accuracy are slowly improving through tedious practice. He has even kept up with the deduction of the formula for the Bone-Enhancing Pill, and is about to enter the minor stage of mastery.

The results of devoting all one's time to cultivation with almost frantic intensity are abundant and remarkable.

The newly acquired Haoran Guyuan Technique, combined with the Marrow Cleansing Pill, brought a daily increase of 17 cultivation points, which was 1 point more than the previous Zhenyue Guyuan Technique.

In addition, the Marrow Cleansing Pill's continuous marrow cleansing and bone-refining effects steadily reduce the daily [Flesh Refining Realm] experience cap by 3 points. In reality, Chen Yue's daily cultivation progress is equivalent to an increase of 20 points.

At this rate, he will break through to the Bone Forging Realm within this month, or even sooner!

Meanwhile, the experience gained from the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield technique increased from around 60 points per day to 65 points. This was due to the increased time he invested, and perhaps also related to the improved quality of his Qi and blood brought about by the new cultivation technique, the Vast and Firm Qi Strengthening Technique.

At this rate, in eight or nine days at most, this body-refining divine skill with boundless potential will reach the minor completion stage! At that time, his defense, strength, and counter-force will surely experience a qualitative leap.

Other movement techniques, hidden weapon skills, and disguise techniques are also progressing rapidly, and even the progress of the talent of being immune to all poisons is steadily increasing by 1 point every day.

Everything is moving in the best possible direction.

Chen Yue was so engrossed in the thrill of his rapidly increasing strength that he almost forgot about the disturbances outside.

The Chen residence seemed to have become safer and quieter because of his increased value and clear attitude towards nurturing him, and no one came to disturb his cultivation anymore.

Time passed day by day, until the sixth day, the night of the full moon.

The cool moonlight, like mercury spilling onto the ground, enveloped the sleeping Youlin County, while the barking of dogs rose and fell in waves.

The following day, news spread like wildfire: several families had died suddenly the previous night in extremely bizarre circumstances. Their deaths were not due to ordinary wounds or poisoning, but rather to the depletion of their life essence and blood, and the atrophy of their muscles, leaving only a thin layer of human skin covering their bones.

There were no signs of a violent struggle inside the house, and some of the dead were even found in quiet rooms with the doors and windows tightly closed.

For a time, everyone in the city was on edge, and the air was thick with fear.

The panic and undercurrents from the outside world were largely isolated by the thick walls of the Chen family mansion. Only through the hushed conversations of the servants inside could one glimpse a few clues.

"All the essence and blood in his body have vanished, leaving only a skin..."

When Lin Quan mentioned this, his aged face couldn't hide his worry and lingering fear. "Fortunately, we moved into the Chen residence early on..."

He didn't continue, but just sighed heavily.

"Is it a trick?" Chen Yue asked tentatively.

"It looks like those evil methods."

Lin Quan lowered his voice, "But there are also rumors that some martial artists who have cultivated extreme demonic arts have committed this inhuman act in order to achieve quick results and strengthen themselves. No matter which one it is, they are definitely not good people."

"How will the Chen family respond?" Chen Yue was more concerned about this.

"The head of the family has given strict orders that everyone in the manor, especially us, is strictly prohibited from leaving without a valid reason in the near future. All necessities must be handled by trusted servants. Several additional shifts of guards have also been added to patrol the manor day and night."

Lin Quan said, "In short, it's better to be careful. This world... sigh, it's getting more and more chaotic, all sorts of monsters and demons are starting to show up."

Chen Yue nodded silently. Chaos was coming, and monsters were running rampant.

At times like these, only one's own strength is the most reliable protection.

Two more days passed peacefully, and no further horrific incidents involving human skin were reported in the county.

When the midnight settlement arrived as scheduled, Chen Yue's consciousness sank into the panel. When he saw the long-awaited words, Chen Yue's breath hitched slightly.

Daily Settlement

[Strive to cultivate the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield; Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield experience +21]

……

[Skill: Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield (Minor Mastery) (1/9912)]

……

The moment the information on the panel appeared, a throbbing and roar originating from the deepest part of his body suddenly erupted from Chen Yue's body.

"Buzz!!!"

It was no longer the low, resonant sound of bones and muscles resonating during previous cultivation, but rather like the simultaneous firing of a thousand powerful bows and crossbows.

At this moment, Chen Yue's bones, tendons, muscles, and even his internal organs resonated with an unprecedented intensity.

It was as if an invisible net had connected and integrated the inside and outside of the body in an unprecedented way!

An even thicker surge of qi and blood rose from the dantian and flowed along the path of the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Cover after its minor completion.

Wherever it passed, the skin became firmer and tougher, the muscle fibers twisted and condensed like steel wire, and the bone density seemed to increase slightly, emitting a faint "creaking" sound.

Chen Yue could clearly feel that his strength, defense, and even the total amount and recovery speed of his qi and blood had all increased significantly due to this breakthrough.

More importantly, there is that sense of wholeness. The body is no longer a simple combination of parts, but rather a precisely coordinated whole. Where the mind goes, power can be transmitted and unleashed in the most efficient way.

Chen Yue's mind stirred slightly, and he tried to circulate the protective qi around his body.

"laugh!"

A layer of energy instantly appeared on his body.

This time, it was no longer limited to the size of a palm, but covered almost the entire front of his torso, as if he were wearing a half-body armor.

On the surface of the aura, there were faint ripples like water, exuding an indestructible and invisible power.