86: Chapter 86 The Fifth Life, The Blazing Sun Illuminates the Martial Path (Thirty-Four)

Chu Shi listened quietly, committing all this information to memory one by one.

After Chu Ming finished speaking, he finally spoke:

"Cousin, to tell you the truth, I intend to go into seclusion to break through to the Iron Skin Realm after collecting my benefits this time.

After all, only by officially stepping into the Iron Skin Realm can I truly become Master's legitimate personal disciple.

Therefore, I'm afraid I won't be able to visit my uncle and the elders in the clan during this period.

I hope you can explain this on my behalf, Cousin, so the elders don't think I lack manners."

Hearing this, Chu Ming hurriedly patted his chest and guaranteed:

"Don't worry, Cousin! I will speak to my father myself!

Everyone in the clan understands that you are now the hope for our entire Chu clan to soar to great heights.

Cultivation is the top priority; who would dare to criticize you?

Once you break through to the Iron Skin Realm and officially become the Peak Master's personal disciple,

we Chu clan disciples in the Sacred Land will have to rely on you for care."

Saying this, he leaned in closer and lowered his voice:

"By the way, Cousin, are your cultivation resources sufficient?

If not, I'll tell my father. Our clan has been rooted in the Sacred Land for so many years, we've saved up some family assets.

Getting you some high-grade Body Tempering Paste and pills for breakthroughs won't be a problem.

Don't be polite if you need anything; we are all family!"

Chu Shi felt a slight warmth in his heart and waved his hand with a smile:

"Thank you for your kindness, Cousin. I have enough resources here, so there's no need to trouble the clan.

I am confident in breaking through to the Iron Skin Realm."

Seeing his determined attitude, Chu Ming didn't try to persuade him further and just continued:

"Alright, then if you have any issues, feel free to come to the Internal Affairs Hall to find me or send me a message.

If I can't resolve it, my father is there. He is an Outer Sect Deacon of the Canglan Courtyard and has the cultivation of the peak of the Copper Bone Realm.

Having struggled and climbed in the Sacred Land for so many years, he has some connections.

Whether someone is giving you trouble or you need some connections, we can cover for you."

Chu Shi cupped his hands to thank him again, then asked in detail about the prices of various cultivation supplies, and immediately deducted contribution points to make purchases:

Three bottles of Bigu Pills, 5 points per bottle, totaling 15 points, enough for his three months of seclusion.

Ten bottles of high-grade Body Tempering Paste, 100 points per bottle, totaling 1000 points.

One tiexu pill specifically for breaking through to the Iron Skin Realm, costing exactly 1000 points.

And three boxes of Spirit-Calming Incense, which can calm the mind and prevent loss of focus while refining Qi and blood, costing 90 points.

In total, he spent 2105 contribution points, and Chu Shi kept the remaining 895 points in his token for backup.

While packing the supplies for him, Chu Ming clicked his tongue in wonder:

"As expected of a Core Disciple, you are indeed generous.

This single purchase is equivalent to four months of monthly allowances for an Inner Sect Disciple."

Chu Shi smiled and accepted the packed supplies with both hands.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Chu Ming, he bid farewell and left the Internal Affairs Hall.

He went straight back to his residence, the Tingyang Courtyard.

For the next three months, he remained completely secluded, immersing himself fully in refining his physical body.

In the cultivation room, the Spirit-Calming Incense burned continuously, filling the air with faint blue smoke that kept all distracting thoughts at bay.

He placed the Bigu Pills beside the stone table, taking one every five days to save the trouble of three meals a day.

Every day before dawn, he would rise to practice his stance, repeatedly executing the "Lieyang Body Tempering Fist."

Each punch carried the roar of his entire body's Qi and blood, like muffled thunder rolling through his flesh, while his skin expanded and contracted with the momentum of the punch, being repeatedly tempered.

Every day after practicing, he would evenly apply the high-grade Body Tempering Paste over his entire body, combining it with a medicinal bath to allow the gentle medicinal properties to slowly penetrate into his skin, muscles, and bones.

This eliminated impurities from his body, making his Qi and blood increasingly refined and thick.

The high-grade Body Tempering Paste lacked the burning, stinging pain of the low-grade version; it nourished every inch of his body like warm water, making his skin tougher with each passing day.

After a month, he stepped into the peak of the Ox-Skin Realm without any hindrance, his foundation as stable as Mount Tai.

In the second month, he began to assault the Stone Skin Realm, still progressing steadily.

He used his surging Qi and blood to repeatedly wash over his skin, causing the skin that was originally as flexible as cowhide to slowly become as hard as rock, yet without losing its inner resilience.

The Stone Skin Realm emphasizes external hardness and internal resilience; a single punch can shatter stone and split metal.

His skin could withstand the hacking and slashing of ordinary blades, and he spent a full month to completely solidify this realm.

He then took the opportunity to break through to the mid-stage of the Stone Skin Realm, with no instability whatsoever.

In the third month, his cultivation progress became even more rapid. Just as the twenty bottles of high-grade Body Tempering Paste were about to be exhausted, his cultivation finally settled steadily at the peak of the Stone Skin Realm.

On this day, Chu Shi slowly retracted his fists and exhaled a long breath of stale air.

The stale breath shot out like an arrow for over three feet before slowly dissipating.

He opened his eyes, a sharp, refined glint flashing in his gaze, while his joints emitted a series of crisp, popping sounds like exploding beans.

Three months of seclusion allowed him to successfully charge all the way from the mid-stage of the Ox-Skin Realm to the peak of the Stone Skin Realm.

His entire body's Qi and blood were as condensed as a river, his skin was tight and smooth, and when he exerted force, a faint stone-like luster appeared.

His whole person was like a sheathed sword, restrained yet carrying an intimidating sharpness.

However, the price was that his cultivation supplies were almost completely exhausted.

He pushed open the door of the cultivation room, and the scorching sunlight rushed toward him, carrying the familiar golden fire energy.

The stuffiness of three months without seeing the sun was instantly swept away.

He simply locked the door and walked down the stone steps toward the Rongjin Dining Hall on Lieyang Peak, preparing to treat himself well.

The Rongjin Dining Hall was where the disciples of Lieyang Peak ate their daily meals. As soon as he reached the entrance, the fragrance of various spiritual foods rushed to greet him.

The charred, fragrant roasted Red Flame Pig tenderloin, the milky white stewed Ice Marrow Spirit Chicken soup, and the spiritual vegetables carrying a refreshing aura, mixed with the sweet fragrance of spirit rice, whetted one's appetite significantly.

As soon as Chu Shi stepped into the dining hall, the once noisy entrance of the hall quieted down.

Everyone's gaze fell upon him in unison.

Although many people had never seen him before, his cultivation at the peak of the Stone Skin Realm and his purple robe as a Core Disciple,

made everyone recognize his identity at a glance: the only other Core Disciple of this year's Lieyang Peak cohort, Chu Shi.

After a brief silence, low whispers broke out in the dining hall.

The reputation of the number one on the Heavenly Ladder, after three months of fermentation, had not dimmed but had instead become even more prominent.

"It's Chu Shi! He's come out of seclusion!"

"My god, it's only been three months.

His temperament has changed so much; is he about to break through to the Iron Skin Realm?"

"Wasn't he only at the mid-stage of the Ox-Skin Realm when he joined the peak? This is too monstrous!"

"Nonsense, otherwise how could he be the number one on the Heavenly Ladder and a personal disciple of the Peak Master?

I heard that at the time, several Peak Masters were even fighting over him!"

Chu Shi turned a deaf ear to these discussions and walked calmly to an empty table by the window to sit down.

A Utility Disciple immediately trotted over, handed him the menu with both hands, and asked respectfully:

"Senior Brother Chu, what would you like to order?"