Chapter 28: Protective Gang Qi

Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Protective Gang Qi

With a flicker of his will, Chen Yue threw a silent punch. A low, muffled whine echoed as his fist cut through the air.

Compared to when he first broke through to the Refining Flesh Realm, the pure power he could now instantly unleash had increased by over twenty percent. This wasn’t just the power boost from perfecting the Mountain Shattering Technique; it was also an extra enhancement from the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield, which tempered his physique and consolidated his strength.

What was even more amazing was his defense. Whenever an attack was about to land, the muscles all over his body would subconsciously tense, shift, and dissipate the force through extremely subtle reactions.

This meant that his body’s durability and his techniques for deflecting force were improving daily as he cultivated the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield.

The next moment, Chen Yue focused his will, circulating his Qi Blood according to the unique technique of the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield. The skin on the palm of his outstretched right hand glowed faintly as a formless layer of Qi Force, as thin as a cicada’s wing, quietly materialized.

This Qi Force was incredibly dense. It swirled gently in his palm, emitting a strange fluctuation that felt both tough and concussive.

As Chen Yue willed it, this layer of Qi Force moved like a living thing, swiftly flowing from his palm to the back of his hand, then spreading up his arm to his shoulder. It paused for an instant over his heart before moving again.

It could appear on any part of his body, but its coverage was limited to an area roughly the size of his palm.

’After reaching the Entry Level of the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield, one’s Qi Blood condenses and begins to manifest externally, forming a Protective Gang Qi...’ Chen Yue recalled the technique’s description. This layer of Qi Force was the embryonic form of that Protective Gang Qi.

Chen Yue tried channeling this Qi Force to his fingertip and gently poked a nearby discarded training stone.

PFFT!

With a soft sound, a hole about an inch deep appeared on the surface of the hard bluestone. The edges were smooth, as if it had been pierced by a sharp blade.

The piercing and explosive power contained within the Qi Force far surpassed that of an ordinary fist or foot.

Chen Yue then concentrated the Qi Force on the outside of his forearm. With his other hand, he picked up an ordinary short saber and chopped down on his arm.

CLANG!

The sound of metal on metal rang out. The short saber was repelled, bouncing high into the air. The layer of Qi Force on Chen Yue’s forearm rippled slightly before stabilizing, leaving only a faint white mark on his skin that vanished in an instant.

Chen Yue dispersed the Qi Force, feeling his slightly elevated heartbeat and the minor drain on his Qi Blood.

’As my cultivation realm advances and my proficiency with the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield increases, this Qi Force will undoubtedly cover a larger area until it envelops my entire body, forming a true Golden Bell Shield! When that happens, I’ll be truly impervious to blades, swords, fire, and water!’

Sensing the changes within himself, a smile flashed in Chen Yue’s eyes.

In just a short time, his Wind Chasing Technique, Furious Wave Saber Technique, and Disguise Technique had all reached Perfection. The Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield was starting to show its mystical power, his skill in refining the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill had become proficient, and his own cultivation was advancing by leaps and bounds.

His overall strength had reached an entirely new peak.

’My Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills still need a bit more refinement, and I have a long way to go with the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield... But other than those, are there no new cultivation techniques for me to practice?’ Standing in the silent courtyard, Chen Yue suddenly felt a little strange.

This recent period of frenzied cultivation, where he saw clear progress every day, had become the entire rhythm of his life.

Now that several of his main cultivation techniques had suddenly reached Perfection, the number of skills he needed to diligently practice each day had been cut by more than half. The tense, fulfilling pressure he’d grown used to seemed to have eased as well.

’I want to practice a new cultivation technique... but I don’t know where to start.’ Chen Yue frowned slightly.

「Deep in the night, in a small earthen hut in a corner of the black market.」

Shen Dujiang tilted the small porcelain bottle Chen Yue had just handed him, and a Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill rolled into his palm. The elixir reflected a warm, gentle luster under the dim yellow lamplight, its medicinal fragrance pure and long-lasting.

Shen Dujiang’s pupils contracted almost imperceptibly. He pinched the elixir and brought it close to his eyes, examining it carefully. A moment later, he looked up at the still-masked Chen Yue across from him, his eyes filled with utter astonishment.

’It’s only been ten days!’

’The previous Inferior Pill was still fresh in his mind, yet this one, in both color and fragrance, was now indistinguishable from the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills sold on the market in Youlin County.’

’This rate of progress... was simply unbelievable!’

’Either he was hiding his true skill before, or his talent for alchemy is outrageously high.’ A storm of thoughts raged in Shen Dujiang’s mind.

"How is the quality of this elixir?" Chen Yue’s voice came from behind his mask.

Shen Dujiang composed himself, placed the elixir back into the porcelain bottle, and nodded slowly. "The quality is superior, indistinguishable from those sold on the market." He neither exaggerated nor downplayed it.

"That’s good."

Chen Yue smiled faintly. "In that case, let’s renegotiate the buyback price. Eight taels of silver per pill. I can provide three pills every three days. Later, when my friend’s alchemy skills improve, the quantity can increase. What do you say?"

"Eight taels?"

Shen Dujiang’s brow furrowed instantly. He shook his head. "That price isn’t very realistic. The market price is nine taels, true, but I have expenses and risks to cover on my end. If I buy them for eight, my profit margin is too thin."

"Since we’re looking for a long-term partnership, I won’t haggle excessively. Six taels of Silver per pill."

Chen Yue let out a low chuckle and shook his head. "Six taels is a bit low. My friend forgoes food and sleep, exhausting his Heart Spirit just to refine these pills. I can’t let him work for nothing. How about this? I’ll take a step back. I’ll sell you one Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill for five taels of silver."

Shen Dujiang was stunned. ’Why is he bargaining against himself, driving the price lower?’

Just as he was about to speak, he heard Chen Yue continue, "However, in addition to those five taels of silver, you’ll also need to provide a complete set of the medicinal ingredients for refining a Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill, free of charge."

Shen Dujiang’s brow tightened. "One set of ingredients costs two taels of Silver. If I pay you another five taels on top of that, the real cost is seven taels!"

"Two taels is your selling price to me. Your cost to acquire the ingredients is nowhere near that high. In the long run, this is a profitable deal for you," Chen Yue said with a laugh.

Shen Dujiang looked at Chen Yue and fell silent for a long moment. His fingers tapped lightly on the rough tabletop as he rapidly calculated the pros and cons.

He knew the actual cost of the ingredients. More importantly, the potential value of a stable supply of quality Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills far outweighed the small price difference they were currently debating.

After a moment, Shen Dujiang finally nodded, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out. "Forget it. We’ll call it making a friend. We’ll do it your way. One Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill of this quality for five taels of silver, plus one set of ingredients."

"However, you must guarantee at least three pills of this quality every three days. There can be no supply interruptions, and you can’t try to pass off inferior products as the real deal."

"It’s a deal," Chen Yue agreed crisply.

Having settled the elixir deal, Chen Yue showed no intention of leaving just yet.

He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Do you happen to have any slightly higher-grade Cultivation Technique Manuals? Ones that are actually practicable."

Shen Dujiang was taken aback. "Aren’t you focused on the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill? You actually have the spare energy and the inclination to practice a new cultivation technique?"

An ordinary person who focused on either the Alchemy Dao or the Martial Dao would already have to pour their heart and soul into it, leaving no time for anything else.

Chen Yue waved a hand, his tone casual. "Alchemy is my friend’s concern. I, naturally, have time for my own training. You can never have too many skills, right?"