CHAPTER 280: CHAPTER 258: ROOT AND BONE RENEWED! COMMUNION WITH HEAVEN!

Meng Chuan nodded, nothing more to say.

He knows his situation better than anyone, he’s far from having top-notch talent.

Just based on talent, he probably could only attend the neighboring Yong’an Martial Arts University...

Since we’re talking about it, Meng Chuan might as well ask clearly.

He continued to inquire:

"Master Lu, do all the elixirs used by martial artists have side effects?"

Lu Zhuxiao nodded:

"Basically, yes, but their side effects are not like you think, accumulating in the body as impurities.

It’s much like the Demon Suppressing Weapon; only those with unwavering will and heart spirit can wield it.

The great pills, treasure pills, and even spirit pills useful to martial artists all contain remnants of a Celestial Demon’s willpower, which is their True Spirit.

If you wish to rely on pills to aid your cultivation, you must use your martial arts will to resist and counteract them.

If you can’t, you can forcibly consume it, but... in the long run, there’s a risk of falling into corruption.

Many people can’t resist, relying on their strong resources to continuously consume, eventually having their heart spirit entirely eroded by the Celestial Demon’s True Spirit, worshipping it as their master, this is also a major source of demon path martial artists."

Meng Chuan suddenly understood, nodding repeatedly.

"Thank you, Master Lu, for clearing my doubts."

He thoroughly understood now why, after the Demon Nests grew rampant far more than before, martial arts instead became more prosperous.

It’s the principle of using the strengths of others to defeat them!

Before the Demon Nests appeared, heavenly treasures were extremely rare, martial arts families mostly relied on personal cultivation, rarely using pills to enhance power.

After discovering that Celestial Demon materials could indeed be used in elixirs, aiding personal martial arts progression with their fierce nature combined with medicinal materials.

Things got completely out of control, and the world entered the Qi Blood Martial Arts Era.

Lu Zhuxiao continued:

"However, you don’t need to worry too much about corruption and erosion.

Whether it’s elixirs aiding true skill progression or precious medicines acting from the six major acupoints causing bodily transformation.

The prices are frightfully high, you can’t afford to eat them like candy...

Like the Qi Armor Spirit Pill for Limit-Breaking Martial Artists, used for Diversifying acupoints.

This pill uses a rare middle-ranked Celestial Demon resembling a beetle as the main material, our United University sells it for five hundred credits each.

After consuming, the effect lasts about a week, increasing cultivation speed by approximately 30%, not as worthwhile as cultivating by oneself..."

There’s no cheap high-grade elixir.

Lu Zhuxiao is also a poor teacher, typically rewarding himself with one during holidays...

"Makes sense..."

Upon hearing the explanation, Meng Chuan expressed his heartfelt admiration.

He knows that the price at the United University isn’t expensive at all.

This kind of great pill is one of Great Chu’s rare resources.

The Martial Arts Association occasionally sells them, priced at seven to eight million each, as soon as they appear, they are quickly snatched away.

Fortunately, he has "a hack," regular martial artists can only rely on personal cultivation, but he cultivates harder and faster than others...

And after becoming a Realm Breaking Martial Artist, there’s also the annual support from the Boundless Sea’s "Dawn Voyage" to alleviate the pressure.

With more effort in hunting in the Demon Nests, he might live a luxurious life.

"Alright, think about it when you someday become a martial artist, hurry and take the medicine, then practice your fist skill."

"Okay."

Finishing the words, Meng Chuan sat cross-legged and swallowed the Little Creation Bone Pill directly.

As it went down, initially cold, it gradually turned into a spicy warm current flowing into his body.

Dragon Demon saw this situation and quietly peeked out from the Middle Dantian to observe.

Meng Chuan immediately suppressed it with a backhand, circulating Qi Blood, roughly pinning it in the Middle Dantian.

Talent concerns personal cultivation efficiency, critically important and mustn’t be compromised.

Coming back to his senses, he suddenly felt his whole body heating up.

As if countless tiny bone claws were probing out from within, roaming and tearing between muscle and flesh.

Meng Chuan groaned, cold sweat immediately breaking out on his forehead.

Lu Zhuxiao, seeing this, instructed:

"Steady your heart spirit, mobilize Qi Blood to guide the medicinal power through the congested places in muscles and bones!"

Meng Chuan followed suit, small cracking sounds arose within his body.

Wherever the medicinal power passed, muscles and bones were like being pierced and reorganized by countless steel needles.

The most intense pain came from the core of the waist and abdomen, the key acupuncture point for exertion throughout the body.

It was being violently broken open by the Celestial Demon’s True Spirit, the dark purple stagnant blood seeping from the coccyx.

Ten minutes later, a faint red mist rose around him, evaporating a large area of stagnant blood.

Then, his spine suddenly cracked like frying beans, the whole dragon was connected section by section.

The previously stagnant Qi blood at the lumbar spine surged violently, an indescribable sense of smoothness when punching and kicking.

Meng Chuan suddenly opened his eyes, a gleam of joy flashed in his pupils.

He leapt up and threw a punch, the feeling of transparency spread throughout his body, the Five Elements Boxing stance flowed without any hindrance, freely expressing.

As the fist wind whistled, muscles and bones resonated like a sword leaving its sheath. Manipulating kidney water Qi, where the fist pace passed, air congealed frost.

Upon landing, Meng Chuan could sense his body.

Much of the blockage was cleared, his talent renewed!

Beside him, Lu Zhuxiao nodded with joy:

"The power of the Bone Restructuring is truly domineering, your talent has greatly improved, once you fully absorb the remaining medicinal power, you’ll have more assurance when breaking through to a martial artist.

Think about it slowly later; first, go take a shower, I’ll wait for you at the True Dragon Hall."

"Thank you Master Lu for your guidance."

Meng Chuan looked at his hands, which were seeping foul blood. In a daze, he heard the unwilling roar of the Bone Demon, gradually dissipating from the depths of his marrow.

...

After Lu Zhuxiao left, he simply jumped into the Star Soup.

While the spring water washed away the filth from his body, his heart spirit was immersed within himself.

He introspected his body, still a quarter of the deep clogs hadn’t been penetrated, but the feeling of refreshment from his muscles and bones far surpassed before.

Meng Chuan silently estimated:

"Now, my root bone is almost considered an above-middle aptitude, equivalent to the level of most ordinary students in an elite Martial Arts University. Though not top-tier, it can still help smooth the path of martial arts.

The Cyan Netherworld Dragon Lock Body is far from perfection now. If the skills reach perfection in the future, with the power of the Dragon Demon to impact the remaining clogs, the potential can further advance."

Thinking of this, he clenched his fist, and started practicing his fist skill in the pool.

After a set was finished, Meng Chuan concentrated his senses:

[Five Elements Qiankun Fist: Great Achievement (53%) → (54%)]

Now, the operation of the Five Elements Fist was as smooth as an extension of his arms. Meng Chuan initially calculated that the speed of proficiency improvement had increased by at least 20%, significantly shortening the time to reach the Qi Blood limit.

"I probably can attempt to break through perfection before this Chinese New Year, and then, combined with the improvement of proficiency in other fist skills, the Qi Blood limit is a sure thing."

Meng Chuan contemplated the entire process of breaking through to the Martial Arts Family:

"Qi Blood limit, entry true skill, sense true qi, limit-breaking celestial being..."

[Celestial Being] was the ancient ordinary martial artist’s respectful title for the martial arts family.

In the past, the martial arts family was scarce in number, and their status was equivalent to the martial arts grandmaster in the Qi Blood era.

What is a celestial being?

Their martial arts achievements exceeded the ordinary understanding, and they could push various skills to the extreme.

With extraordinary Qinggong, tremendous strength, and quick reactions. They could even communicate with the heavens and earth to gain special powers like "true qi."

In the eyes of mortals, such experts seemed to [commune with the heavens], and thus were known as celestial beings.

Initially, in Meng Chuan’s plan, he could complete the realm breakthrough around the end of next year.

Now that his root bone has improved, he is confident that he could try the breakthrough in the first half of the year.

Recalling the majesty of the martial arts family, Meng Chuan couldn’t help but feel drawn.

A moment later, he forcefully suppressed these restless thoughts.

"Go practice, keep striving!"

...

Chen Cang, Guanshan.

After the local powerful Huo family collaborated with the country, most of the celestial demons in the third-level demon nest born a few days ago have been eliminated.

Only a small number remain hidden in the gully corners, not enough to cause harm.

At this moment, the martial artists from the military are conducting a carpet search.

Ensuring all celestial demons in the demon nest are wiped out, facilitating resource acquisition in the future.

"Dong Bro, have you heard the recent heated discussions about the nodes?"

Since this year, each difficult-to-handle fourth-level demon nest has entered a tightened state, hinting at a hidden strength, ready to burst forth.

A celestial king expert discovered that these demon nests did not naturally contract.

But were pulled by some unknown force, converging through their nest nodes.

More unsettling is the pressure from the node’s opposite side, far exceeding celestial king strength, as if a scarier existence is awakening.

Scholars speculate it’s possibly part of the [Ultimate Darkness] awakening ritual.

The Great Chu government is making corresponding strategic adjustments.

Announcing richer demon-killing bounties than ever before, encouraging major universities to organize personnel to hunt celestial demons nearby, weakening their strength in advance.

Attention shifts to the military squad, everyone wearing standardized battle armor.

The leading captain exudes a powerful aura, precisely a martial arts family member.

His gaze is sharp, scanning the surroundings, bearing the safety of the entire team.

Upon hearing the teammates speak, his expression continued to survey the area, and after a moment, he spoke slowly:

"Don’t worry, the country is also researching the transmission technology involved.

If demon nests are interconnected, wouldn’t it be convenient for us to take the initiative?"

The teammate said no more, nodded thoughtfully.

Suddenly!

A tremor like an earthquake shook, causing everyone except the martial arts family captain to fall to the ground.

Before they got up, the ground beneath continued to shake, as if the entire world was violently vibrating.

Aside from this, no abnormal situation occurred, someone dumbfoundedly said:

"Earthquake, even inside the demon nest...?"

During the confusion, the tremor suddenly ceased.

Exchanging glances, the martial arts family captain took the lead to investigate.

But found the surroundings were the same as before, as if the earlier disturbance was an illusion.

Yet, unknown to the group, deep underground, numerous intertwining dark green roots silently squirmed.

They resembled blood vessels, entrenched in the rock layer gaps, at the core of countless tendrils lay a vague shadow.

The shadow’s surface was cracked, revealing a wooden texture inside, precisely the true form of [Qi Wood].

The former master of the fourth-level demon nest successfully transferred the entire massive demon body to the Chen Cang demon nest via some demon path means.

Now it’s sensing surface movements through roots, brewing for the next eruption...

...

Martial Virtue Tower, C985 small classroom.

With disturbances in the demon nest, many martial arts family students in Yong’an branch are actively engaging in battle.

The grandmaster class martial arts classroom is now only left with the martial artist class gathering, waiting for Grandmaster Chen to come and teach.