Heaven rewards diligence, but there are always fairies plotting against me.

The arduous practice lasts for sixty years.

In the blink of an eye, two months passed quietly amidst the deafening roar of the waterfall.

During these two months, apart from necessary meditation for recovery, Chu Chang spent all his time under the waterfall.

He had already consumed the two "Marrow Cleansing Pills" he received as a mission reward from his storage pouch. Under the frenzied hammering of the waterfall, the medicinal power had completely permeated his limbs and bones.

At this moment, Chu Chang's skin had a restrained bronze color, with a faint metallic luster.

His meridians had expanded by a full two times, and the true energy within his body surged like a mighty river. Every move he made carried a force as heavy as a mountain.

And the "Eight Desolate Demon Suppressing Fist," which struck fear into the hearts of countless inner sect prodigies, finally underwent a transformation on this day.

"Boom!"

The waterfall is still raging.

Chu Chang stood silently on the massive boulder like an unchanging statue. No matter how heavy the water pounded against him, his body didn't even tremble.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes.

His pupils no longer held their former gentleness, but were filled with extreme domineering and coldness.

"The mountains and rivers... are shattered!"

Chu Chang shouted in a deep voice, his voice actually drowning out the deafening roar of the waterfall.

He slowly withdrew his fist, and in that instant, the waterfall water flowing around him strangely paused for a moment around his fist.

An indescribable and extremely domineering "fist force" quietly gathered in this secluded valley behind Tianxuan Peak.

"boom!"

Chu Chang threw a punch upwards.

This time, there were no delays, no difficulties.

His fist transformed into a dark golden stream of light, carrying with it his surging true essence and physical strength to the extreme, defying the heavens!

A dark golden fist beam, several meters thick, resembled a roaring golden dragon, instantly tearing through the void and soaring into the sky.

The enormous waterfall, which had fallen from a height of hundreds of feet and was unstoppable, was actually forced to flow backward the moment it came into contact with this fist's energy!

"Splash!"

The hundred-foot waterfall was abruptly cut off for three breaths by this single punch!

Countless water droplets were blasted into a misty haze by the violent force of the punches in mid-air, which, under the refraction of sunlight, transformed into a giant rainbow spanning the entire valley.

"It's done!"

Chu Chang put his fist back and stood on the rock.

He looked at his perfectly intact fists, without even a scratch, and a triumphant smile appeared on his lips.

High-grade Xuan-level, the first move of the Eight Desolations Demon-Suppressing Fist, "Shattering Mountains and Rivers," has been perfected!

The power of this punch has surpassed all the Golden Geng Sword techniques he currently possesses, making it his strongest and most lethal trump card.

Just then, a white figure, like a soft snowflake, silently landed on a boulder by the pool.

Lin Ruoxue looked at the boy standing in the sunlight and rainbow, her cool eyes filled with shock and an undisguised joy.

"Your strength has improved to this extent in just two months," Lin Ruoxue said softly.

Chu Chang's figure blurred as he instantly swept across the pool, landing beside her. He smiled and said, "Senior Sister, what brings you here?"

Lin Ruoxue's expression turned slightly serious, and she lowered her voice, saying, "The three-month period is approaching, and the outer sect competition is about to begin. I've come today to spar with you and see your strength! Also, I want to tell you the secret of calming the mind to avoid the poisonous marrow!"

"Senior sister, what you just mentioned... the secret of calming the mind to avoid poisonous marrow?"

As Chu Chang took out a clean black robe from his storage bag and draped it over his shoulders, he asked with a solemn expression.

Lin Ruoxue did not answer immediately, but instead raised her hand slightly.

hum! !

A dark blue sword aura shield instantly opened, completely isolating the sound within a radius of ten feet.

Her expression was more serious than ever before, even carrying a hint of weariness.

"After I returned to the main peak, I met with my master. Through my repeated questioning and my master's secret investigation, we finally uncovered the truth about Zhao Meng's defection back then."

Lin Ruoxue looked at Chu Chang and said, word by word, "The 'Quiet Mind Avoiding Poison Marrow' is not some sect's treasured heirloom for warding off poison and calming the mind. Its true function is poison-based martial arts."

"Poison?" Chu Chang frowned.

"Not bad." Lin Ruoxue smiled self-deprecatingly. "Among the sect's high-ranking members, there is an extremely terrifying existence. He cultivated an extremely vicious and domineering demonic art, which required countless rare poisons to temper his body and true essence. However, due to the backlash of the demonic art, he accumulated an inexhaustible amount of deadly poison in his body. In order to survive, he had the sect's weapon-refining master craftsman create this Tranquilizing Poison-Avoiding Marrow."

"The true function of this treasure is as a container and filter. It is bestowed upon those exceptionally talented outer or inner disciples, ostensibly to aid in cultivation and calm the mind to ward off poison. But in reality, when disciples wear it to cultivate, it silently absorbs the host's life essence and pure true energy to neutralize and purify the peerless demonic poison injected into the treasure by that terrifying being."

Upon hearing this, Chu Chang's pupils contracted sharply, and he felt a chill run straight to the top of his head.

"So... those who wear it to cultivate are actually using their lives as human filters for that high-ranking person?"

"That's exactly right." Lin Ruoxue's voice was somewhat cold. "Back then, Zhao Meng accidentally discovered this secret and found that his life force was mysteriously draining away. In a panic, he stole the Tranquilizing Poison-Avoiding Marrow and fled. In order to silence him, the sect's higher-ups issued a top-level kill order and used extremely generous rewards to lure us unsuspecting disciples into becoming cannon fodder."

Chu Chang took a deep breath to calm the shock in his heart.

No wonder, no wonder Zhao Meng laughed so wildly and desperately before he died.

"Then... if we return the items now, wouldn't that mean...?"

"Don't worry." Lin Ruoxue gave him a reassuring look. "Master has already secretly taken action, using an extremely profound illusion technique and substitution method to tamper with the Tranquil Mind and Poison-Avoiding Marrow. In the short term, that being won't notice anything amiss. But this sect is far darker and more complex than we imagine."

Lin Ruoxue looked at Chu Chang, a hint of expectation in her cool eyes: "Chu Chang, you not only have to participate in this outer sect competition, but... you must win first place and be promoted to inner sect!"

"Only by entering the inner sect, or even becoming a true disciple, can you and I have a real voice and the ability to protect ourselves in the storm to come. If you are just an outer disciple, once things are exposed, you will be used as a scapegoat and silently eliminated at any time."

Chu Chang nodded heavily.

His eyes became incredibly deep and resolute at that moment: "Don't worry, Senior Sister, I'm determined to join the inner sect."

Looking at his confident demeanor, Lin Ruoxue's lips curled into a very faint smile.

She turned around, holding the long sword upside down, her white clothes fluttering in the wind.

"Since you are so confident, then let me test you and see just how far you have come after these two months of arduous training."

A glint of eager fighting spirit flashed in Lin Ruoxue's beautiful eyes: "Chu Chang, attack me. Use your strongest methods, hold nothing back. If you can't even shake me, then what do you have to offer for the title of number one in the outer sect?"

Chu Chang was slightly taken aback, then burst into hearty laughter and said, "Very well! Since Senior Sister has such an elegant interest, then Junior Brother will have to offend you!"

boom!!!!

The moment Chu Chang finished speaking, his originally gentle and reserved demeanor changed instantly.

An overwhelming and powerful force, as heavy as Mount Tai, spread wildly outwards from his body.

The massive boulder beneath his feet creaked under the immense pressure, and the surrounding water was forced to churn outwards by this invisible force.

A hint of surprise flashed in Lin Ruoxue's eyes.

"Such a powerful physical presence; this is no longer just the pressure of true essence."

She dared not be negligent and lightly flicked the sword's edge with her jade-like fingers.

"Clang!!"

A clear and resonant sword cry echoed through the valley.

A long sword, Frost, pure white and exuding a chilling aura, was instantly drawn from its sheath.

Countless tiny ice crystals instantly condensed around Lin Ruoxue, exuding a chilling aura that seemed to freeze even the void.

"Senior sister, watch out! That's the first move!"

Chu Chang did not use his sword, but instead stomped his foot hard on the ground.

He shot out like a cannonball, leaving a piercing whistling sound as he instantly covered several meters, heading straight for Lin Ruoxue.

He was incredibly fast, and with the added strength of his physical body, a white airflow channel formed behind him.

"Well done!"

Lin Ruoxue let out a delicate shout, and the Frost Sword drew a bright curtain of light as it pierced straight into Chu Chang's chest.

This sword strike, seemingly gentle, subtly blocked all of Chu Chang's escape routes. The sword energy contained the "penetrating" intent of the Tai Xuan Sword Intent, making it extremely sharp.

However, Chu Chang showed no intention of dodging.

When he was only three feet away from the longsword, Chu Chang shrugged his shoulders and pulled in his stomach, then threw a punch.

"Open it!"

Pure physical strength, combined with pale golden Golden Geng True Essence, transformed into a fist shadow the size of a casserole dish, which slammed heavily onto the tip of the Frost Sword.

"when--!"

A piercing metallic clang rang out.

In the void, a visible ripple of true essence suddenly spread out, causing the pool water to surge up to several meters high.

Lin Ruoxue felt an unimaginable, terrifying force surging wildly along the sword. That force was extremely domineering and hard, like ten thousand horses galloping or a meteorite falling to earth.

Her delicate body trembled slightly, and her graceful figure was actually forced back three steps by the power of this punch. Each step she took left a deep footprint on the hard rock.

In contrast, Chu Chang merely swayed for a moment before regaining his balance, his eyes blazing with even greater fighting spirit.

"Not bad."

Lin Ruoxue shook her slightly numb wrist, a hint of appreciation appearing on her cool face, but this was followed by an even stronger seriousness.

"But brute force alone is not enough. Take this!"

Lin Ruoxue stretched out her figure, like a graceful white crane.

Her movements were ethereal and unpredictable, and the Frost Sword conjured eighty-one solid sword shadows in the air. Each sword shadow was wrapped in a biting cold wind and the intent of the Tai Xuan Sword, enveloping Chu Chang from all directions.

"Tai Xuan Sword Technique - Snow Falls Without a Trace!"

The chilling sword energy caused the temperature in the valley to plummet, even freezing the water vapor in the air into hail, which then fell with a crackling sound.

Faced with this near-perfect offensive, Chu Chang remained calm.

Involuntarily, the image of the colossal golden shadow standing proudly between heaven and earth beneath the waterfall came to mind.

The intent of the fist was boiling in his chest.

The momentum is concentrated in the fist.

"The mountains and rivers... are shattered!"

Chu Chang let out a low roar, his right hand slowly clenching into a fist.

In that instant, the hail and water vapor falling around him actually formed a brief, still vacuum around his fist.

Everyone felt that the punch seemed to have contained the weight of the entire Tianxuan Peak.

A punch was thrown!

There were no complicated moves, no dazzling sword flourishes.

Only a single, dark golden, and incredibly thick fist-shaped aura, like an ancient beast unleashed from its cage, swept across the universe with an unparalleled domineering aura of invincibility!

"Boom boom boom boom—!"

A series of rapid explosions rang out in the air.

Those seemingly indestructible and impenetrable eighty-one bright sword shadows were actually shattered like fragile glass, layer by layer, inch by inch, in front of this extremely domineering dark golden fist light!

Wherever the fist's power passed, the cold air retreated, and the ice and snow melted!

"What?!"

Lin Ruoxue's usually cold face finally revealed an expression of extreme shock.

She never expected that Chu Chang's punch would be so powerful and domineering. This was not a martial skill that an outer disciple could use, and even many of the inner disciples' elite attackers could not unleash such a terrifying punch!

The dark golden fist energy, still powerful, hurtled towards them with overwhelming force.

Lin Ruoxue took a deep breath, and her ice-attribute true essence circulated wildly to its limit.

"Ice Lotus... Appears!"

She gave a clear shout, and the Frost Sword in her hand quickly drew a circle in front of her.

A gigantic ice lotus, formed from pure ice crystals and measuring over ten feet in size, bloomed instantly in the void. The ice lotus was layered upon layered, each petal flowing with mysterious magic array patterns, exuding a powerful aura that could defend against all things.

The next instant.

The dark golden fist energy slammed heavily onto the ice lotus.

"Thump—!"

The world seemed to fall silent for a moment.

Followed by.

"Click..."

A piercing cracking sound rang out clearly in the silent valley.

Lin Ruoxue's pupils contracted slightly.

The "Ice Lotus," which was strong enough to withstand the full force of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, only lasted for three breaths under Chu Chang's fist light before being covered with dense cracks.

Then.

"boom!"

The entire ice lotus shattered completely, turning into countless ice shards flying everywhere.

The intense recoil made Lin Ruoxue's throat taste sweet, and her delicate body flew backward like a kite with a broken string. She took seven steps in the air, each step creating an ice lotus to absorb the force, retreating more than ten feet before landing somewhat disheveled at the edge of the pool.

Her right hand, which was gripping the Frost Sword, was trembling violently, and blood was seeping from the base of her thumb.

Lin Ruoxue raised her head and stared intently at the boy not far away.

At this moment, Chu Chang stood proudly on the Thousand-Jun Stone, his body shimmering with dark golden light, like a god or demon descending to earth.

"You...you bastard..."

Lin Ruoxue calmed the surging blood and qi in her body, her beautiful eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

Although she suppressed her cultivation to the same level as Chu Chang, as the top genius of the inner sect, her vision, techniques, and combat experience were far superior to those of ordinary disciples.

But after that one collision, she was surprised to find that she was completely suppressed by Chu Chang in terms of strength, the refinement of her true essence, and the domineering nature of her martial arts!

She even had a vague intuition.

If Chu Chang hadn't pulled back three-tenths of his strength at the last moment when he threw that punch, she would probably be seriously injured by now.

"Senior sister, you flatter me."

The dark golden light emanating from Chu Chang gradually faded, and he returned to his gentle and harmless appearance. He leaped down beside Lin Ruoxue and asked with some concern:

"Senior sister, are you alright? I got carried away just now and couldn't completely control my strength."

Lin Ruoxue rolled her eyes dramatically and rubbed her wrist in annoyance.

"You call this not being able to completely control it? You idiot, I really don't know how your body grew. You're practically a humanoid monster!"

However, after a brief moment of shock, Lin Ruoxue's face lit up with intense joy and fervor.

The stronger Chu Chang is, the greater their chances of winning in the future!

"Good, very good!"

Lin Ruoxue looked at him, her voice trembling with barely suppressed excitement: "With this strength, you certainly have the qualifications to compete for first place in this outer sect competition. However..."

Her tone suddenly turned serious, and her expression became grave once more:

"You must not let this make you arrogant. The outer sect is far more complicated than you imagine. Some old guys have paid a price you can't even imagine in order to ensure their disciples or offspring can enter the inner sect securely."

"Before the competition begins, you must pay attention to four people."