C19 One Cauldron's Worth of Strength!

In one of the rooms at the Cloud Facing Pavilion, Lin Haoran was seated in the place of honor, dressed in a green robe embroidered with intricate patterns. His striking features were softened by a gentle grace, and his brows bore the proud mien of a gifted youth.

Lin Haoran cast a sidelong glance at the person next to him and spoke with unruffled composure, "Zhou Chong, have you devised a plan to settle your grudge with Ye Han?"

Zhou Chong's expression was dark as he replied icily, "Ye Han and I are like oil and water; there's no room for both of us."

In the span of a month, Zhou Chong's arm had fully healed, but the hatred festering in his heart had only intensified, to the point where he dreamt of Ye Han's demise.

Lin Haoran produced a jade bottle and offered it to him, sighing, "This is the latest spirit medicine from the Demonic Moon Pavilion, designed to enhance the success rate of reaching the Pulse Opening Stage. Ye Han may employ unorthodox methods, but ultimately, your inability to best him comes down to a lack of strength."

A look of elation spread across Zhou Chong's face as he expressed his gratitude, "If this pill is as miraculous as you say, then I stand a chance of advancing to Level Four of the Pulse Opening Stage. When that happens, I'll ensure Ye Han lives a life worse than death."

Lin Haoran regarded Zhou Chong with a furrowed brow and cautioned him sternly, "Don't do anything foolish; we are within the Cloud Facing Pavilion..."

Zhou Chong responded, "I'm not that naive. In two days, the Winter Hunt begins. Once we're in the depths of the mountains, Ye Han's end will come. Awoo! Awoo! Awoo!"

...

Clad in a white robe, Ye Han sat cross-legged at his training site, slowly centering his spirit and gathering his Qi, which brought a serene stillness to his heart. He then proceeded to fine-tune his physical state.

"After a month of rigorous training, my body has reached saturation. Even with continued use of Spirit Liquid to temper my body, the returns are minimal. The time has come to attempt a breakthrough to Level Four of the Pulse Opening Stage."

"To reach Level Four of the Pulse Opening Stage, I must forge pathways through three meridians, including one that traverses the five vital organs. This endeavor is fraught with peril, particularly at the heart, where a single misstep could cause irreparable damage to the heart meridian."

After preparing himself to peak condition, Ye Han swallowed a Vein Rushing Pill. With its potent medicinal power, he immediately began to open the meridians within his body. The third meridian coursed through the spleen, lungs, kidneys, liver, and heart, corresponding to the body's five vital organs. As Spiritual Energy flowed through these organs, it fortified them, significantly enhancing the body's capabilities.

However, these organs were also the most vulnerable, requiring Ye Han to meticulously regulate the strength of the medicine. He channeled the Ancient Monarch Dao Scripture, expertly managing the medicinal power as he targeted the two more accessible meridians.

Within three hours, Ye Han had effortlessly opened two meridians. Taking a deep breath, he activated the Spiritual Energy from the Vein Rushing Pill with the Ancient Monarch Dao Scripture, propelling it toward the third meridian. "This meridian traverses the five organs and is crucial. The challenge of opening it is considerable, and it must be done in one concerted effort."

After about half an hour, Ye Han slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, having successfully opened the spleen meridian. It took nearly six more hours to connect the liver, kidney, and lung meridians, consuming a great deal of his focus. Without his past life's successful experiences to draw upon, he might have faced additional obstacles, particularly with the kidney section, which alone took three hours.

Approximately six hours later, the Spiritual Energy in the Qi Sea was nearly depleted, yet the meridians remained partially closed, with the heart being the final hurdle. A disruption in the Spiritual Energy flow would render all his efforts futile and cause irreversible harm to the organs. Reopening this meridian in the future would be tenfold more challenging, requiring significantly more resources and time.

With determination in his eyes, Ye Han made a daring choice and quickly ingested a Qi Gathering Pill. The pill qi from the Qi Gathering Pill erupted within him. Ye Han, adeptly multitasking, harnessed the pill qi through the six opened meridians, steadily converting it into Spiritual Energy and funneling it into the Qi Sea.

On the other side, he meticulously manipulated the Spiritual Energy, persisting in his assault on the heart's meridians.

This was an immense test of one's Psychic Force. Fortunately, Ye Han was a formidable half-step Emperor Cultivator in his past life, blessed with an exceptionally strong Psychic Force.

"Hold on. The challenge of opening this meridian has exceeded my expectations."

Ye Han's complexion was deathly pale, with large beads of sweat cascading down his cheeks, betraying his intense agony.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

His heart pounded erratically, buffeted by the Spiritual Energy, thrashing within him like a frantic fawn.

The heart's erratic behavior precipitated a sudden spike in blood pressure, affecting his entire body.

In his past life, when opening the fifth meridian, he had preemptively taken a Heart Protecting Pill and had not endured such a harrowing ordeal.

"Open!"

Ye Han harbored no thoughts of surrender. His constitution had vastly improved from a month prior; he was no longer the frail youth he once was.

Gritting his teeth, he bore the excruciating pain.

"Thump!"

Three hours later, a resounding boom echoed from Ye Han's dantian.

The third meridian was successfully opened!

A ring of milky-white light radiated from the Qi Sea within his dantian, and its capacity for Spiritual Energy increased yet again.

Now, Ye Han's Qi Pond had expanded tenfold, large enough to accommodate a substantial increase in Spiritual Energy.

"I've finally advanced to Level Four of the Pulse Opening Stage!"

Ye Han ingested a Qi Gathering Pill, nearly doubling the stored Spiritual Energy in his Qi Sea. A vast amount of Spiritual Energy flowed through his seven meridians.

With all seven meridians activated, the flow rate of the Spiritual Energy in his dantian doubled.

Having stabilized his new level, Ye Han ceased his cultivation practice.

Opening his eyes, his dark pupils shone with a brilliance akin to two dazzling stars.

The opening of the new meridian purged a multitude of impurities from his body, leaving behind a foul odor.

Rising to his feet, Ye Han bathed in the wooden tub he had prepared earlier. Afterward, he dressed in purple garments and stepped out into the courtyard.

Deep into the night, the moon was suspended high above, with countless stars twinkling against the dark canvas of the sky. The biting wind carried the moonlight into the courtyard, casting a slender shadow and blanketing the entire space in a silvery frost.

Ye Han stood motionless in the courtyard, bathed in moonlight that draped over his head and shoulders. With his eyes closed, he tuned into the presence of the wind.

"In stillness, the breeze strokes the willow; in motion, the gale screams, ravaging all in its path. This is the second form of the Barbarian Dragon Fist, Barbarian Dragon Wind Control!"

Abruptly, Ye Han stamped his foot on the ground, and a multitude of figures, both tangible and ethereal, filled the courtyard, blurring the line between reality and illusion.

His limbs whirled like a high-speed turbine, whipping up fierce winds.

Propelled by the force of his legs, he soared over seven meters into the air, emitting a deep Dragon Roar, and struck a thousand-pound boulder ten yards away.

"Boom!"

The massive rock shattered instantly, its fragments scattering in every direction and crashing down into the courtyard.

Gazing at the shattered stone, a smile of satisfaction spread across Ye Han's face. "At last, I've mastered the second form of the Barbarian Dragon Fist. Its power now rivals that of a Spirit Level Low Grade martial skill."

Not only the second form, Wind Control, but also the first punch, Barbarian Dragon Void Breaking, had attained the potency of a Spirit Level Low Grade martial skill.

Should Ye Han master the third punch, Barbarian Dragon Tail, the might of the Barbarian Dragon Fist would then be on par with a Spirit Level Middle Grade martial skill.

Each additional punch mastered would elevate the technique by one grade, growing ever more sophisticated and enigmatic, and the challenge of mastering it would increase accordingly.

"First form of the Barbarian Dragon Fist, Barbarian Dragon Void Breaking!"

Ye Han's feet pounded the earth as he charged forward, his body like a swiftly gliding barbarian dragon. His fist struck the air, unleashing a series of explosive sounds.

The fearsome fist force stirred up a powerful air current, nearly uprooting a crooked tree in the distance.

"The first form, Barbarian Dragon Void Breaking, has a slightly greater impact than the second. It's certain that it has indeed achieved the power of a Spirit Level Low Grade Martial Skill."

Even without employing martial skills, Ye Han's sheer physical strength had reached the equivalent of lifting a cauldron!

In the world of martial cultivation, this was referred to as "the strength of a cauldron."

It's worth noting that Lin Haoran, when he reached Level Five of the Pulse Opening Stage, possessed the strength of a cauldron.

The substantial disparity between them was partly due to the different cultivation techniques they practiced, but the key factor was the innate advantage of the Celestial Dao Holy Body.

Lin Haoran had a common constitution, which allowed him to open only twelve meridians.

Ye Han, however, was blessed with the Celestial Dao Holy Body, enabling him to unlock thirty-six meridians.

Thus, there was simply no basis for comparison between the two.

After Ye Han had cleared all the debris from the courtyard, he went back to his room. Rather than continuing his cultivation, he lay down on the bed, allowing himself to fully relax and drift into a deep sleep.

Having broken through to Level Four of the Pulse Opening Stage, he could at last enjoy a peaceful night's rest.