C4 My God! the Golden Finger Was Actually(1)

Three days later, at the Chu Mansion's training field, under the blistering sun.

Chu Hen moved with the agility of an ape, his limbs flowing smoothly as he dodged and leaped. Planting his left foot, he delivered a kick to the sandbag that sent a whirlwind of sand dusting into the air, causing the leaves at the edge of the field to tremble with the force.

All the while, he counted out loud, "Three hundred fifty-eight, three hundred fifty-nine, three hundred sixty..."

The maidservants watched in awe as the sandbag thudded with each kick. When had the young master ever trained with such intensity? It seemed he had made up for a year's worth of training in just these three days.

Without sparing a glance, Chu Hen continued his relentless combination of punches and kicks.

Accepting that his transmigration was irreversible, he knew he had to survive in this world teeming with formidable beings. And to do so, he had to rely on his own formidable strength.

The Chu family might wield influence, and he could rest on a metaphorical mountain of gold, but without formidable personal strength, all the wealth in the world was just a fleeting blessing.

Depend on his powerful sister? If his true identity were ever revealed, the consequences could be dire.

He held a firm belief: relying on mountains leads to their collapse, relying on water leads to drought, but self-reliance is the surest path.

His predecessor's body had long been neglected and needed swift rehabilitation. Thus, for the past three days, Chu Hen had been on edge, driven by a strong sense of danger and allowing no room for complacency.

Of course, in a world where many practiced martial arts and even age-old demonic beasts could gain wisdom, Chu Hen was not about to abandon this path to longevity.

"Huff... puff... huff... puff..."

"One thousand three hundred twenty-one."

"One thousand three hundred twenty-two."

...

"One thousand four hundred eighty-five."

"One thousand four hundred eighty-six."

"Boom..."

Suddenly, sand flew in all directions across the training field. The nearby servants, blinded by the flying grains, cried out in surprise and retreated.

At last, after the one thousand four hundred eighty-seventh strike, the sandbag could withstand no more. It split open with a jagged tear and burst.

Only then did Chu Hen come to a halt.

"Young Master, please take a moment to rest."

A lovely young maid with delicate features gracefully approached Chu Hen, placing a prepared bamboo chair at his side. Following this, a sunshade, a small table, a towel, and refreshments were meticulously served by various attendants, each with their own specific duties.

Chu Hen settled into the bamboo chair, stretching his aching arms and legs.

"Young Master, please wipe away your sweat. The fan will be here shortly." The maid offered the towel with reverence and resumed her position at his side.

Taking the towel, Chu Hen mopped the profuse sweat from his brow, his mind busy with calculations: "Yesterday, it took 2,338 strikes before the sandbag burst. Today, success in just 1,487. My Mortal Realm Physique Augmentation is barely satisfactory."

Yet, in comparison to the many enigmatic realms on the Central Plains, relying solely on one's strength for self-preservation was far from sufficient.

On the continent, sects focus on Qi cultivation, while secular martial schools prioritize martial arts. Even the lesser-known branches of martial arts become incredibly profound at advanced levels.

However, joining a sect means adhering to numerous vexing rules, hardly a match for the secular world's freedom and joy. Besides, the Chu family had their own martial arts masters, and with his sister's guidance, Chu Hen had never been fixated on the path of cultivation.

Thankfully, even with Chu Hen's lack of diligence, his family and sister had been far from idle. With their coddling, he had managed to reach the fourth level of Martial Tao — Physique Augmentation.

As he stood on the brink of merging his inner and outer energies to break through to the fifth level — True Essence, Chu Hen couldn't help feeling somewhat aimless.

The Martial Taoist Realm is divided into nine levels: Spirit Forging, Flesh Forging, Core Enhancement, Physique Augmentation, True Essence, Channel Widening, Gathered Atop, and Returning to the Source.

Conventional wisdom suggests that, barring innate deficiencies and with persistent effort, one could expect to reach at least half of the nine levels of the Mortal Realm in their lifetime.

"My previous mischievousness and reluctance to apply myself have brought me to this point. Unwilling to put in the hard work, I've stalled in my progress, even regressing slightly."

After several days of diligent effort, I've nearly bridged the gap and am on the cusp of a breakthrough. I'm just missing that final, elusive piece. Once the assistant my sister has sent arrives, I'll surely seek some guidance."

"Report..."

A servant hurried over and knelt on one knee.

"Speak!"

"Young Master, Leng Yan and the Protector are here to see you."

"Good, come with me to greet them." Chu Hen rose to his feet, discarding his towel, his face alight with pleasure as he strode forward.

Chu Hen was familiar with Leng Yan, a top-tier Protector of the sect and his sister's trusted aide, who had visited the Chu Estate several times. Leng Yan's mastery of Chakra Activation at the seventh level of the mortal realm was impressive enough to earn Chu Hen's respect. Now that help had arrived, his joy was unmistakable.

"Young Master Chu..."

Outside, a man around forty, dressed in a green tunic, gave a slight nod. His piercing gaze took in Chu Hen from head to toe.

Chu Hen's cheeks were flushed, his sweat still fresh. His inner Qi was palpable, and the aura of his True Essence was subtly taking shape, his vitality now several times stronger than it had been months before.

It seemed the wayward youth was showing signs of turning over a new leaf. It looked like he might require extra attention in his martial arts training this time around.

"The young mistress is tied up with her duties, so I've been sent to alleviate some of your burdens, young master. Where is that foolhardy individual?"

"Protector Leng, I appreciate your efforts. Please, come inside and rest for a moment. As for that nuisance... with you here, it's hardly a concern anymore."

Chu Hen had been recognized earlier, and under Leng Yan's intense scrutiny, he couldn't help but feel a bit tense, worried about being found lacking.

"No need."

Leng Yan gestured dismissively and cocked his head, his ears perked as if he was listening for something. Suddenly, he frowned and remarked, "Such powerful energy."

"Thud, thud, thud!"

A series of rapid footsteps approached, and a shadow loomed larger. On closer inspection, a lean young man with the air of a scholar had come to a halt at the door.

He tossed a cloth bag to the ground with force, and from it tumbled a person who came to rest at his feet, finally stopping face-up. Upon closer examination, the plump face belonged unmistakably to Butler Chu.

Such a merciless tactic. Could this be the work of Chen Sheng?

Chu Hen was taken aback, but before he could utter a word, the young man raised his head with a sinister laugh and interrupted:

"So, you're Chu Hen? Did you send this worthless creature?"

With that, he ground his heel into the dirt, his lips curling into a sneer of supreme arrogance.

Respect is due even when disciplining a dog, and while Chu Hen's obsequiousness wasn't to his liking, he had always shown him respect. Now, with him barely clinging to life, it left a sour taste in anyone's mouth.

"I sent this man to negotiate peace with you, to end our conflict here and now. Why did you strike again? If you're fixated on Yu'er, I can return her to you, or..."

Gui Ah Pan was a man of great sin, and Butler Chu was no saint either. Both had wronged many souls and had their share of deserved retribution. At this juncture, Chu Hen wasn't necessarily out for vengeance, but it seemed the other party had no intention of stopping.

"Hmph! Chu family's lapdog, women are like garments to me. Why would I wear something you've already soiled? Today, I will annihilate your entire household, capture that wretch, and sell her to a brothel. Only when she has paid for her offenses night after night will my hatred be quelled."

Chen Sheng's face twisted with malice as he spat out his venomous words, leaving no room for reason.

"Let the world be against me rather than me against the world. I am Chen Changsheng!"

His expression was fierce, his words brimming with haughty pride.

"Chen Changsheng?"

He was so arrogant as to desire immortality? He had even taken it upon himself to change his name. At this point, Chu Hen realized there was no chance for negotiation. With a decisive gesture, he commanded, "Attack!"

The household guards, long since prepared, surged forward, encircling Chen Sheng.

Chu Hen had handpicked each one for their prowess. All were at the fifth level of the Mortal Realm and masters of True Essence. As they unleashed their power, the air hummed with the force of their True Essence, ensuring not even a fly could escape their ring.

"Humph! Worthless!" Chen Sheng let out a cold snort, his arm extended straight as he swiftly spun, a flash of white brilliance vanishing in an instant.

The guard stationed at the innermost perimeter grunted as a faint red line emerged on his neck, followed by beads of blood. Soon after, heads tumbled to the ground, and the headless bodies staggered backward.

"Murder!" The maidservants by the door, having never witnessed such horror, screamed and scattered in terror. Some, with legs turned to jelly, couldn't even make it half a step before collapsing. The most frightened lost control of their bladders and bowels.

The remaining household guards, witnessing Chen Sheng's domineering display, were paralyzed with hesitation.

"Bravo! Bravo! Your True Essence is formidable and tyrannical, capable of slaying with a mere flicker of light. A practitioner at the seventh level of the Mortal Realm, surpassing the Chakra Activation stage, is indeed impressive," Leng Yan praised as he approached, clapping his hands.

"I am Leng Yan, at your service!"

With a thud, the green garments burst apart, sending shards whirling through the air, transforming into fierce gusts of wind that assailed Chen Sheng.

Amidst the flurry of fabric, a silhouette darted forward with fluid grace, fists morphing into palms, palms into swords, and swords into gales of wind. The wind-blades were keen and relentless, aiming directly for Chen Sheng's neck.

Five successive wind-blades, each brimming with potent energy, shifted from ethereal to tangible, indicative of a prowess nearing the late stage of the Mortal Realm, the advanced phase of Chakra Activation.

"Quite the technique, concealing part of your power," Chen Sheng remarked, still spinning, as a pale halo of protective True Essence briefly flared around him. He met the onslaught of wind-blades head-on, his body shook slightly, but his stance remained unshaken.

A sardonic smile played on Chen Sheng's lips as he taunted, "But compared to me, you still have a long way to go."

Clearly unfazed, he moved in sync with his arm, the white glow surging three feet, solidifying into reality, and thrusting towards Leng Yan.