Complete one practice method every day

Chen Jing sat alone in the study, his expression shifting constantly.

He sat there for a long time before finally getting up and walking towards the quiet bamboo grove in the backyard of the Chen residence. That was where Chen Xuanli of the Chen family secluded himself for quiet cultivation.

Deep within the bamboo forest, Chen Xuanli sat cross-legged on a futon, his aura deep and brooding. His face was gaunt, but his eyes gleamed with a sharp light as they opened and closed.

"What is it?" Chen Xuanli asked calmly without opening his eyes.

Chen Jing dared not be negligent and recounted Chen Zhige's requests in detail, including Chen Zhige's desire to refine Chen Yue into a human pill and his proposal to abduct foreign alchemists.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuanli's brows, which had remained calm and composed, slowly furrowed.

He opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as lightning, and looked at Chen Jing:

"I've heard a little about Chen Yue. To be able to refine the Qi-Strengthening Pill in such a short time is indeed quite impressive. If he were to be refined into a human pill, it would be a significant loss for the Chen family. Moreover, our family already has very few alchemists."

Chen Jing quickly said, "Xuanli, you are wise. Zhige is also anxious about your and the two elders' cultivation progress."

Chen Xuanli pondered for a moment, then slowly asked, "Are there any suitable targets left in the county?"

Chen Jing frowned slightly: "Talented alchemists are like fine talents and precious jade, treasured by all. In the current situation, they must be heavily guarded."

Chen Jing hadn't finished speaking, but Chen Xuanli understood what Chen Jing meant.

"Actually, my Huichun Hall originally had a talented alchemist. Unfortunately, he was kidnapped by those scoundrels from the Divine Flame Sect some time ago! Otherwise, why would we be in such dire straits today, forced to take such a risky and desperate measure!" Chen Jing said coldly.

Upon hearing the name of the Divine Flame Sect, Chen Xuanli's face darkened, and his eyes filled with murderous intent.

A somber silence fell over the bamboo grove.

Chen Jing awaited Chen Xuanli's final decision: would he acquiesce to Chen Zhige sacrificing Chen Yue, or would he take the risk and take action against other families?

Chen Xuanli's gaze fell on the swaying bamboo shadows outside the bamboo hut, his eyes flickering with uncertain light.

After a moment, Chen Xuanli nodded slightly: "I understand. I will go to find Zhi Ge myself and get to the bottom of this."

Before he finished speaking, his figure had already faded from the bamboo hut, and a few breaths later he appeared outside Chen Zhige's alchemy room, which was filled with the fragrance of medicine. Without needing to announce his arrival, he pushed the door open and went straight in.

Inside the alchemy room, Chen Zhige was deep in thought, staring at the remnants of a newly refined batch of failed pills. Hearing footsteps, he didn't turn around, as if he had expected it: "Did Chen Jing tell you?"

"Hmm." Chen Xuanli walked closer, his gaze sweeping over the charred mess in the furnace. "The pills... can't be refined anymore?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhige suddenly chuckled softly, the sound sounding somewhat eerie in the empty alchemy room.

He turned to face Chen Xuanli, a glint of self-mockery and obsession flashing deep within his eyes:

"You know better than anyone how talented I am at alchemy. If I hadn't been lucky enough to obtain the method of human pills back then, with my mediocre talent, how could I have achieved my alchemy skills today?"

Without the method of human alchemy, without the Nourishing Spirit Pill and Yang Pill that I have refined, and the Snow Ginseng Jade Marrow Paste, how could you break through the shackles of bone forging and step into this marrow refining realm?

Furthermore, with the aid of these elixirs, glimpsing the mysteries of alchemy in the future would not be a pipe dream.

Chen Xuanli frowned almost imperceptibly for a moment, then relaxed and nodded silently.

Chen Zhige's words were true; his current level of cultivation was largely due to the pills he refined.

Although the method of refining elixirs was wicked, it was indeed the key that enabled Chen Zhige to refine high-level elixirs and supported his and even the higher-ups of his family in their cultivation. This cause and effect, along with the benefits, had long since bound the two of them, and even the entire Chen family, tightly together.

Chen Zhige took a step forward, his sharp gaze fixed on Chen Xuanli:

"So, now you choose your own path of cultivation, the future cornerstone of my Chen family, or the meager gold and silver of Huichun Hall, and a so-called alchemical seedling that has not yet matured?"

Chen Xuanli stood still for a moment, then slowly spoke:

"There's no need to choose. However, Chen Yue's talent in refining the Qi-Stabilizing Pill in such a short time is truly rare. It would be a waste to refine it into a Human Core right away. How about I go outside and bring back a suitable material?"

Chen Zhige revealed a playful smile, as if he had anticipated Chen Xuanli's choice:

"Sure. I only need qualified elixirs. It doesn't matter whether it's Chen Yue, Wang Yue, or Li Yue."

"Alright." Chen Xuanli said no more, nodded, and with a slight movement, disappeared from the alchemy room, leaving only the lingering fragrance of medicine and Chen Zhige with an inscrutable expression.

……

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Night fell as dark as ink, quietly staining the courtyard.

Chen Yue sat cross-legged on the bed in the quiet room, his palms facing upwards, his mind sinking into his body.

The Vast and Firm Foundation Technique was slowly circulating through the meridians, emitting a deep rumble like the surging tide of a great river.

The ripples of day and night alternating appeared precisely on time in my mind.

Daily Settlement

[Diligent cultivation, cultivation level +20]

……

[The Great Vigor Strengthening Technique is now complete (98/6311)]

【Flesh Refining Realm (869/869)】

……

The moment the [Flesh Refining Realm] experience bar finally reached its limit, becoming (869/869).

A scorching torrent originating from the very source of life erupted from the deepest part of the body, from the limbs to the internal organs!

This torrent is not ordinary blood and qi, but a more refined and intense life essence. It is like an ancient volcano awakening, surging wildly towards all 206 bones in the body!

"Click, click, click..."

A series of fine, continuous, and subtly rhythmic crisp sounds emanated from Chen Yue's body.

Every bone, from the smallest finger bone to the spine that supports heaven and earth, is trembling violently, greedily devouring and merging with this torrent of life.

The density of the bones is rapidly increasing, the structure is being optimized and reorganized, and a warm, jade-like radiance seems to be growing and flowing deep within the bone marrow. An intense burning sensation emanates from the depths of the bone marrow, instantly engulfing the entire body.

Chen Yue's body temperature rose at an alarming rate, his skin turned bright red and burning hot, and even wisps of white smoke rose from it, scorching the surrounding air and causing it to distort slightly.

The sweat immediately turned into white steam with a "hiss" as soon as it seeped out.

Chen Yue felt as if he were sitting in the core of an erupting lava, enduring the pain and intense torment of being reborn and forged into steel.

However, under the protection of the Mind Nourishing Mantra, Chen Yue's mind was as calm as an ancient well, clearly perceiving every change in his body and guiding the torrent of energy to be tempered in an orderly manner.

The concept of time becomes blurred; it's unclear how much time has passed—it feels like a fleeting moment, yet also like a long century.

The raging, scorching torrent within his body finally subsided, receding like the tide, completely merging into every inch of his strengthened bones and disappearing from sight.

His body temperature dropped rapidly, and the unsettling noises around him completely ceased. A deep, restrained sense of power naturally spread out.

Chen Yue slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes gleamed with a sharp light, like cold lightning piercing the darkness, before disappearing and returning to calm.

Chen Yue stood up, barefoot on the cold ground. He didn't consciously exert any force; he just stood there naturally. A heavy, solid, and powerful feeling, as if connected to the earth's veins, took root from the soles of his feet and flowed through his entire body.