C15 Body Quenching

Xu Tianzhi found himself in grave danger. Without practicing this particular technique, he might avoid conflict with his sect, but given his physical constitution, it was anyone's guess how long it would take for him to make a breakthrough with a standard technique. Moreover, his prospects for future accomplishments were bleak. After all, one needs a future to achieve anything, and his current predicament suggested that the beating he was due to receive in ten days could very well rob him of that future.

His family's dire straits demanded the emergence of a true powerhouse, so he resolved to master this technique.

In that moment, Xu Tianzhi made the resolute decision to embrace the legacy of the Demonic Dao.

"Demonic Dao? What truly defines the Demonic Dao? Hmph, is it labeled as such simply for lacking a bloodline imprint?" Xu Tianzhi scoffed, his eyes clouded with skepticism. He sensed something amiss with the world, yet he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. Nonetheless, he felt a pervasive distortion in the worldview of its inhabitants, a distortion that became increasingly apparent after he acquired the light membrane and the heart's eye.

Unbeknownst to Xu Tianzhi, he was an outsider to this world, his soul hailing from Earth, which allowed him to perceive the chaos in the world's laws—something only the mightiest could sense. Because he was from another realm, he had a head start in recognizing this chaos, and with the heart's eye, his perception grew sharper.

"The Demonic Path, the Divine Path—it all ultimately comes down to the individual practitioner," Xu Tianzhi mused. The Supreme Mental Scripture then activated within him, and spiritual energy from the cosmos flooded his being. As he practiced, the faint bloodline imprint formed by the Hero Sect's techniques began to fade from his body, replaced by a unique essence that radiated from him, imperceptible to others—except for those who, like him, lacked a bloodline imprint.

In the eyes of others, this burgeoning strength was the essence of the Demonic Dao.

As Xu Tianzhi delved deeper into the Supreme Mental Scripture, Master Hong, stationed on the other side of Hengshan, halted his actions. He gazed towards Xu Tianzhi's location, a glint of recognition sparking in his eyes, "The presence of the Demonic Dao—could it be that youngster?"

Master Hong spoke to himself in a low murmur before resuming his work on the weapon's embryo, hammering away as if the previous moment had never occurred.

Xu Tianzhi, oblivious to Master Hong's actions, was deeply engrossed in channeling the Supreme Mental Scripture. Vast amounts of spiritual energy from heaven and earth flooded into him at a rate and volume more than tenfold what he had experienced before. Yet, as this power coursed through him, his body absorbed it greedily.

The purpose of the Body Quenching Stage is to temper the body with raw power. But now, the energy Tianzhi's body was drawing in wasn't for refinement. A massive influx of spiritual energy was being siphoned into his body, with 90% of it being directly absorbed and vanishing without a trace, leaving only a tenth for his use.

Still, the Supreme Mental Scripture proved its might as a formidable Demonic Dao tradition. Even with his body claiming over 90% of the energy, the remaining fraction was more than he had ever gleaned from practicing the Hero Sect's techniques. With this, his cultivation speed might just keep pace with the average practitioner.

As power continued to flood into him, Tianzhi could feel his Body Quenching Stage solidifying and his physical strength escalating. He sensed that it wouldn't be long before he fully stabilized this stage—a breakthrough that had eluded him for thirteen years. Would the sect reconsider his position if they knew of his progress?

But that was a fleeting thought. Tianzhi understood the improbability of such a scenario. His priority was to advance through the Body Quenching Stage. Only by elevating his cultivation could he ensure his survival in this place.

Chen Cheng was still in the dark about the identity of the adversary lurking in the shadows, but he was certain that anyone capable of reaching into Hengshan must wield significant influence within the sect.

"However..." A fierce resolve hardened in Tianzhi's gaze. He was no saint. After being inexplicably attacked the day before, he had no intention of letting the matter slide. This was far from over.

Moreover, while the individuals who assaulted him were detestable, they were merely pawns. The true mastermind behind everything was the source of it all. He couldn't recall having crossed anyone within the sect, but now that someone had targeted him, he had no intention of letting it slide!

Xu Tianzhi might not be one to seek out conflict, but he certainly wasn't one to shy away from it either!

...

The human body's mysteries are beyond full comprehension. With over 129,600 acupoints scattered throughout, some have been explored for their remarkable uses, while others remain veiled in secrecy.

Among these, 3,000 major acupoints correspond to the 3,000 Great Daos, known as Dao acupoints. There are 365 major acupoints aligned with the Heavenly Cycle, and 50 major acupoints that resonate with the Heavenly Dao!