C19 My Body Broke Through the True Essence!

After spending three restless days in bed, Chu Hen "recovered" amidst a game of hide-and-seek with medicine. Throughout this period, Chu Jing was by his side constantly, attentively caring for every sip of soup and water, giving the personal maids some unexpected leisure time.

Upon rising from bed, Chu Hen's first task was to stretch his limbs. On the training field, his fists and feet danced through the air, and after completing five consecutive sets of moves, his white training clothes were drenched in sweat. Pausing briefly, he then commenced his sixth round of practice.

"Hu... Hu..."

His inner Qi flowed ceaselessly, strengthening his core. As he shifted his form, the nearby leaves rustled in response to his movements.

"Crack, crack, crack!"

Suddenly, it felt as though his muscles and bones had elongated. Chu Hen vibrated his arms, and the sound of his bones shifting resonated. His Qi then converged at his dantian, sending a warm surge throughout his body. The first wave of the fifth level of True Essence coursed through his limbs and skeleton.

"Huff..."

With his eyes slightly closed and his hands hanging naturally, Chu Hen stood in serene stillness, exhaling the last of his inner Qi. His body was now enveloped in the energy of True Essence.

"The second breakthrough has brought me profound insights!" Chu Hen mused to himself. "I never anticipated that the breakthroughs of the body and spirit would yield such distinct sensations. By reflecting on each other, the imperfections of the True Essence realm were promptly corrected, and my own state of being was refined to perfection."

Within the King of the Gods space, everyone's spirits traversed dimensions. Yet the bloodshed, pain, and tactile sensations were all strikingly real—so real that every nuance of understanding could be transferred to the primary world. The experience of exerting one's intellect and struggling valiantly in dire straits was amplified exponentially. Leveraging this, success in the main world would naturally follow.

"Pa, pa, pa..."

"Excellent!"

Even Leng Yan, with his extensive knowledge and experience, was taken aback. The True Essence realm marked a critical juncture in martial arts. Advancing further in martial arts hinged on this pivotal phase. It was akin to unlocking a grand portal, with the threshold of True Essence offering a glimpse into the profound journey of martial arts.

It was commonly understood that for Young Master Chu Hen to achieve a breakthrough would be quite challenging, given the lack of real-world hardships. The comforts of the Chu Mansion could easily erode one's ambition.

Yet, after his near-death battle with Chen Sheng, Young Master Chu Hen had gained much. He had endured using his Mortal Realm Physique Augmentation, making his current breakthrough quite logical.

Stepping forward, he offered his congratulations, "Congratulations, Young Master. You've entered the True Essence Realm, distinguishing yourself among your peers. Surely, you will continue to excel."

Chu Hen accepted a pristine towel from a maid and dabbed the sweat from his brow, his mind swirling with the recent events. Born to privilege, his starting point was leagues apart from his peers. Having faced life and death in the King of the Gods instance dungeon, he had overcome his average talent at a cost beyond most people's comprehension.

Sensing Chu Hen's somber mood, Leng Yan reassured him, "Young Master, there's no need for concern. Having reached the fifth level of the Mortal Realm, you've joined the ranks of the cultivators. With the Chu Family's standing, it's only natural for you to assume a role in governance. In the military, you could be directly appointed as a deputy commander without starting from scratch."

In the Smoile Empire, officials and soldiers are chosen for their lineage and prowess. The aristocracy and one's level of cultivation are both essential criteria. For the lower ranks of servants and soldiers, only those without notable backgrounds are considered, and without significant achievements or endorsements, they are destined for a life of insignificance.

The Chu Family, however, wields considerable power. Chu Jing, the eldest daughter, is exceptionally gifted and influential within the sect. With such connections, one could easily secure a minor office and formally join the ruling elite.

Though this is still the ground floor of power, it's a threshold most people will never even come close to in their lifetimes.

Reflecting on the matter, the ranks and honors of officials are easily grasped by the hands of the powerful elite. Yet, if one seeks true freedom, it's often more reliable to operate as an influential force behind the scenes.

After all, aren't the visible spokespersons on the stage merely puppets? The true power lies with those who pull the strings from the shadows.

"Master Leng possesses formidable strength. Being a mere guard is beneath his talents. In the future, with military orders, he could penetrate enemy lines, single-handedly claim the heads of countless foes, and carve out a legacy of greatness. He is surely destined for command..." Chu Hen said with a fist clasped in respect, his face earnest.

Factually speaking, Protector Leng's abilities are wasted, given his commoner origins, which have relegated him to a vassal of the sect. It's truly regrettable.

"You flatter me, Young Master. I hail from a tenant farming background within the Chu family. Thanks to my resilience and modest skills, Miss Chu Jing saw potential in me and bestowed this honor. For that, I am eternally grateful."

"Should I truly join the military and valiantly engage the enemy, that goes without saying. But to achieve an official rank without a decade of military achievements to my name is a daunting prospect..."

As he spoke, Leng Yan's piercing gaze drifted, and his voice took on a somber tone, betraying his underlying discontent. Realizing his slip, he fell silent.

Chu Hen, too, felt a pang of empathy. If he could ascend to the pinnacle of his life on his own merit, he likely wouldn't have accepted his sister's patronage to serve as a mere guard.

Of course, there's comfort in the shade of a large tree, and Leng Yan's trust from his sister may not be without the desire to leverage this chance for upward mobility.

With this in mind...

Chu Hen's brow furrowed subtly, a scheme forming quietly in his thoughts. He spoke smoothly, "Protector Leng, your martial arts prowess is exceptional, and your dedication to teaching is unwavering. My recent breakthrough to the True Essence Realm owes much to your guidance. Yet, I'm curious about what lies ahead..."

"How could I claim such credit? I merely offered some advice; the true breakthrough must come from personal insight. Rest assured, I will continue to share all I can. However, I must admit, I lack the teachings for the next phase of your training."

Seeing Chu Hen's look of astonishment, Leng Yan paused thoughtfully before speaking:

"The practice of cultivation relies on specialized mental techniques within martial arts, which vary in their levels of sophistication. Since you've been truly mentored by the Eldest Miss, the techniques you're learning are exceptionally intricate. With dedication, your achievements will undoubtedly surpass those of the mortal realm, opening the door to an entirely new world."

At this point, Leng Yan looked up at the sky, his eyes brimming with intense longing.

"A new world?" Chu Hen was intrigued.

"Are you saying that beyond the ninth level of the mortal realm, there are even deeper levels within martial arts?"

"Absolutely!" Leng Yan brought his gaze back down and continued, "After the ninth level of the mortal realm, one ascends to the master realm, the grandmaster realm, and even the realm of the sages."

"This represents the pinnacle of martial arts. As the names suggest, reaching the sage realm is akin to transcending to a divine state."

"Not to mention a Martial Saint, even at the grandmaster peak, in the heat of battle, one can indeed decapitate an enemy amidst an army, boosting the troops' morale with sheer dominance and power!"

"Is immortality possible?" Chu Hen interjected.

"When a Martial Saint attains the Dao, they are comparable to the Divine Dao. In combat, they can integrate all techniques into one. If even their physical body is impervious, what good are spells and immortal techniques?" Leng Yan was a staunch advocate for martial arts, yet he was reluctant to acknowledge the esoteric methods of the Taoist and Immortal sects.

"If a martial artist gets close, with such overpowering strength, there's no chance for those talismans to have any effect."

Leng Yan was blunt and unreserved when it came to martial arts, clearly showing his partiality. Chu Hen didn't share his views but chose not to challenge them. Instead, his thoughts drifted to the girl he had encountered in Isynlenor.

She possessed a remarkable air about her, likely a novice in her cultivation journey. Unfortunately, upon her first entry into the King of the Gods' domain, her Daoist powers were stripped away, leaving her martial arts capabilities severely weakened. The magical artifact she had depended on lost its potency, and ultimately, she was slain by an arrow. Whether she now existed as a spirit or had vanished entirely remained a mystery.

"Ha! If all the testers truly experience mental teleportation, what becomes of their physical bodies in the main world after death? Is it akin to waking from a dream? Or perhaps they lose their memories? Or could it be that their bodies perish as well?"