C14 Where Did the Level 6 Go?

Beads of sweat the size of beans slid down Lin Chen's forehead, leaving the ground beneath him damp. His teeth ground together audibly, his muscles undulated, and his chest rose and fell with each labored breath. His eyes were bloodshot, a deep crimson veined with dense webs of red.

Pain!

Excruciating pain!

The sensation of his meridians being forced open, stretched bit by bit, was beyond words. To say the pain penetrated to the marrow wouldn't be an overstatement.

"Stay alert, don't lose your composure. Rest assured, the potency of the medicine is within the tolerable limits of your body. The key is to keep your wits about you; otherwise, all will be for naught," Chen Wuji said, his expression more serious than ever.

Hearing this, Lin Chen placed unwavering trust in his master. They had weathered hardships together, and their bond as master and disciple was profound, a trust that needed no words.

Despite the turbulent spiritual energy within, threatening his fragile meridians with the risk of rupture, Lin Chen was terrified. If he lost control, he could be left a broken man, his meridians irreparably damaged. Yet in this moment, he trusted Chen Wuji implicitly.

"Let's... do this!" he said through clenched teeth, releasing his hold on his mind and allowing the spiritual energy to run rampant. He relinquished all control, transitioning from restraint to guidance, meticulously executing his practice.

Boom!

The spiritual energy within him exploded, raging like a wild horse breaking free, charging through his body with unstoppable force.

"Ah!" Lin Chen could no longer contain himself and bellowed, his neck veins protruding as if on the verge of bursting.

Suddenly, a "crack" echoed in his mind. Something had broken. Were his meridians severed? His face blanched, but he quickly dismissed the thought. His master had assured him, and that was enough.

Then it dawned on him...

Lin Chen's expression turned to one of shock: "Body... Body Tempering Level 7?"

Damn, what happened to Level 6?

Chen Wuji emerged from nowhere, clicking his tongue in admiration at Lin Chen. "The Divine Martial Bloodline truly lives up to its name. To think at the Body Tempering Stage your meridians could withstand such strain. Impressive. I was about to intervene, thinking you couldn't take it, but you've proven me wrong. Ah, the experiment is a success. Now I'll have a much clearer understanding of your condition moving forward."

Upon hearing the words, Lin Chen's expression stiffened momentarily before he erupted in anger, "You've crossed the line, old man. So your assurance that I'd be fine was nothing but a guess?"

Chen Wuji cleared his throat awkwardly, "I said it should be fine! Should be! It's my first time mentoring someone with the Divine Martial Bloodline, how could I possibly know your condition inside out? Practice is the only way to truth, after all!" He put extra emphasis on "should be."

Lin Chen's nose was practically bent out of shape with frustration. Having such an unreliable master was a curse. It looked like he'd have to be selective about trusting the old man's words from now on.

They say the more attractive a person is, the more deceptive they can be. There's some truth to that.

"Cough, cough, alright, let's get down to brass tacks," Chen Wuji, clearly aware of his own fault, quickly shifted the conversation.

Lin Chen turned his head away, still fuming, "I'm not listening!"

The recent ordeal was seared into his memory, and even now, the thought of it sent shivers down his spine—all thanks to this old trickster. He was determined not to listen to anything else he said!

"It's about the consumption limits of the Supreme Spirit Pill."

Lin Chen's ears perked up, and he grudgingly responded, "Fine, I'll listen—but only just."

"No need to strain yourself," Chen Wuji said, noting Lin Chen's rising irritation and ceasing his teasing.

"You've witnessed the potency of the Supreme Spirit Pill. Even with your Divine Martial Bloodline, it nearly overwhelmed you. Ordinary individuals, not to mention those at Body Tempering Level 5, even Genuine Cultivators should exercise caution. This time, you took a gamble, and the payoff was clear—you've advanced directly to Body Tempering Level 7. The downside, however, is that your meridians have sustained damage and will need time to heal."

Lin Chen nodded in agreement, "I've noticed that too. Currently, I can't even channel my Qi for cultivation."

"You'll need just half a month to fully recover your meridians. After that, you can take the Supreme Spirit Pill again, and by then, your meridians shouldn't sustain any more damage."

Lin Chen rolled his eyes, "Can you stop using 'should'? It always sounds like you're hedging your bets."

Upon hearing the remark, Chen Wuji's expression darkened. "Are you still holding a grudge, you little rascal?"

Lin Chen shook his head earnestly. "How could I possibly hold a grudge? I'm well aware that Master is looking out for my best interests, and I recognize the sacrifices you've made for me. With the Clan Competition just over a month away, mere meditation and cultivation won't cut it. Seeking shortcuts necessitates some sacrifices. I was only joking around; I would never dream of complaining about Master. We are in this together, weathering the storm side by side, sharing both the sweet and the bitter. Our bond is far beyond that of an ordinary master and disciple. Only by joining forces can we one day fulfill our ambitions."

He fell silent for a moment before adding, "It's destiny."

Chen Wuji's nose twitched twice. "Don't get so sentimental all of a sudden; it's quite unsettling for me."

After pondering for a moment, Lin Chen remarked, "Now that I have the Supreme Spirit Pill, there's no need to risk gathering more spirit medicines. With eleven Supreme Spirit Pills remaining, I doubt I'll need more than a few before the Clan Competition."

Chen Wuji nodded in agreement. "Indeed, there's no longer a need to collect spirit medicines. Right now, your priority should be to get a handle on the Eight Linked Forces. You've had a hard life before and haven't learned any practical Combat Skills, so your best bet is to focus on cultivating the Eight Linked Forces. That way, you'll have something to fall back on during the Clan Competition."

"But don't I also have Rush?" Lin Chen inquired.

Chen Wuji cracked a smile and explained, "Consider Rush a non-starter. I'll be frank with you: Rush is the initial technique of a formidable Combination Combat Skill from the World-dominating Fist. Given your current stage, you're only capable of learning the initial technique. Using Rush alone is practically ineffective in real combat."

Lin Chen reflected on this and realized it was indeed the case. Despite his advancement in realm, he was severely lacking in Combat Skills. He knew only the Rush technique, and had yet to even begin training in the Eight Linked Forces.

Meanwhile, the other clan disciples had started learning various Combat Skills immediately after consolidating their Primordial Energy. Anyone from the Chu family, be it a young master or miss, could showcase at least five Combat Skills.

Moreover, they've been honing their Combat Skills consistently, unlike him, who was hastily preparing at the last minute.

"Don't look so downcast. The Eight Linked Forces I've given you are in a league of their own compared to those low-level Combat Skills. They're leaps and bounds ahead in quality—one move equals ten. If you practice diligently and master the Eight Linked Forces, you'll be able to crush them completely."

Chen Wuji began to bolster Lin Chen's spirits, offering words of comfort.

Lin Chen lifted his head, his eyes now filled with determination.

"Let's get started then! I can hardly wait."

Chen Wuji nodded, his smile encouraging. "There's no need to rush. Haste makes waste, but it's good to feel a sense of urgency! Come, take a seat. I'll start by teaching you the fundamentals of the Eight Linked Forces..."