Chapter 50: The Most Fundamental Method of Tempering Qi and Blood

As consciousness returned to his body, Xu Chen suddenly felt an overwhelming drowsiness.

Three days and nights of cultivation, coupled with torment within the Sacred White Space, had pushed his mental strength to its limits.

On the morning of the second day, outside the doors on the small plaza, Xu Chen was training with Hu Yue and Niu Dali.

A thunderous roar accompanied the final sweeping strike, sending waves surging skyward, exploding above the dense forest like a bolt from a clear sky.

Niu Dali and Hu Yue, both in the midst of their own practice, stared at Xu Chen in astonishment.

"Brother Xu, you seem different somehow," Niu Dali remarked, feeling the surge of blood and energy within Xu Chen—a force that now seemed poised to rival his own.

"An epiphany struck, and my strength grew a bit," Xu Chen replied with a smile.

Sudden breakthroughs during cultivation were not uncommon in this world, and it was not rare for one’s blood energy training to reach the unity of form and intent in a single moment of enlightenment. Xu Chen saw no reason to conceal his newfound strength.

"Brother Xu, how about a sparring match?" Niu Dali set down his oversized dumbbells, his expression eager.

"Certainly, it’s been a while since we’ve dueled, Brother Niu."

Hearing this, little Hu Yue obediently stepped aside to clear the space.

"Let’s begin," Niu Dali charged at Xu Chen, channeling his blood energy throughout his body. His fist, hardened like a sandbag, shot forward like a cannonball.

Xu Chen, seeing Niu Dali’s aggressive approach, simply raised his palm and struck gently.

With a heavy thud, Niu Dali was forced back several steps, while Xu Chen stood firm, unmoved.

"This..." Niu Dali was stunned. "Brother Xu, have you perfected your blood energy foundation training?"

"More or less. Brother Niu, let’s go on."

Xu Chen pressed the attack, his mastery of the Surging Wave Palm evident; each strike carried force that left Niu Dali struggling.

"Can’t fight anymore?" Xu Chen asked.

"I don’t stand a chance," Niu Dali admitted, waving his hand, his manner honest and unpretentious.

"That’s a pity," Xu Chen withdrew, feeling unsatisfied. It was as if he had been battered in the high-level arena and had come to a lower one to restore his confidence—he had to admit, crushing weaker opponents was exhilarating.

"Brother Xu, with your sudden enlightenment, your combat strength must be among the top blood energy disciples of our generation."

---

"In half a month, the Illusory Realm trial begins. We must seize the opportunity to earn as many points as possible," Niu Dali’s eyes lit up as he spoke.

"Of course." In recent years, Xu Chen had spent much of his accumulated spirit coins on alchemy, forging, and training in secret realms. With most of his savings gone, he naturally wished to earn more points to exchange for spirit coins.

Just then, a mighty dragon’s roar shook the heavens and earth. A vast pressure engulfed the entire Grand Creek Sect.

Xu Chen looked up to see ten blood-red flood dragons, each hundreds of meters long, hovering above the sect. On each dragon’s back sat a warrior clad in battle armor.

With a single glance, Xu Chen felt an endless murderous aura pierce his heart, forcing his gaze away in terror.

"The Emperor’s Edict: All humans of sacred-grade talent are summoned to the Emperor’s Continent to meet the Human Emperor and undergo assessment."

At the proclamation, all humans who heard immediately straightened with solemnity, while the other races fell to their knees, bowing their heads, unable to look upon the sky.

A colossal manifestation appeared in the sky, transforming into an elder who greeted with folded hands.

A token, embodying the will of heaven and earth, appeared in the hand of the lead warrior atop the blood flood dragon.

The elder respectfully accepted the token.

The ten flood dragons then vanished into the void.

As the dragons departed, Xu Chen relaxed.

"The messengers are gone. You two can get up now," he reminded Niu Dali and Hu Yue, who were still kneeling.

"Father, Mother, your Dali has finally felt the aura of the Human Emperor," Niu Dali looked up, tears of joy streaming down his face.

Hu Yue’s expression was equally filled with excitement.

All the non-human members of Grand Creek Sect were stirred as well. Those who could join the sect were fiercely loyal to humanity, their reverence for each Human Emperor rivaling even that of the humans themselves.

For many of them, their lifelong dream was to achieve Golden Immortality and earn an audience with the Human Emperor, who met with newly ascended Golden Immortals every century.

"Work hard in cultivation, strive for Golden Immortality, and you may see the Human Emperor," Xu Chen said as he helped Hu Yue up—though he could not reach Niu Dali.

"I wonder what purpose the Emperor has in summoning those with sacred-grade talent," Xu Chen murmured, gazing toward the Emperor’s Continent.

He pondered for a moment, then resumed his usual training.

In the days that followed, Xu Chen continually challenged the Twelve-Stacked Wave avatar within the Sacred White Space.

Inside the space, the Thousand-Forge Blade was shattered into twelve pieces, and Xu Chen lay bleeding from seven orifices.

"What you have now is enough to handle the Six Sacred Ape Forms, but it’s still lacking against me."

---

"Try to find something new," the avatar said, striking with a palm that shook the air, leaving Xu Chen’s body shattered.

Xu Chen’s consciousness reformed within the Sacred White Space.

"Weapons and poison are useless; even after taking pills, though the strength matches, I still can’t win."

After passing the Six Sacred Ape Forms, Xu Chen had thought his strength would quickly grow, but never expected that one mountain would be followed by an even higher one.

"I need to find another blood energy foundation method on par with the Six Sacred Ape Forms."

"The Twelve-Stacked Wave avatar is too difficult—maybe something easier to boost my strength."

At the sect’s scripture hall, Xu Chen took out a small notebook, searching for blood energy foundation methods he had previously selected with care.

"Was I overconfident back then? Each of these methods is harder than the last," he thought, realizing the vast gap between the avatars of Six Sacred Ape Forms and Twelve-Stacked Waves made his earlier choices seem absurd.

"Others always wish for the most powerful techniques. I’m not like them."

Having browsed nearly all the blood energy foundation methods in the scripture hall, Xu Chen found none comparable to the Six Sacred Ape Forms.

He wandered through the blood energy foundation section, noting that each method was equally complex.

At last, he paused before the Nine Sacred Ape Forms blood energy foundation method, hesitating.

"Should I ask?" Xu Chen glanced toward the hall supervisor.

"Supervisor, I suddenly have a question. Might you enlighten me?" Xu Chen produced a small pouch of spirit coins and handed it over.

In a flash, the pouch disappeared, and the supervisor’s demeanor became amiable.

"Supervisor, it’s said that the Six Sacred Ape Forms is the most basic blood energy cultivation method. Are there any others of its level?" Xu Chen asked.

"That’s a tough question. Our human blood energy foundation methods have evolved over hundreds of thousands of years; each move, each form, each channeling of blood and muscle power, has been thoroughly tested."

"There aren’t many methods on par with the Six Sacred Ape Forms."

"Let me think. Don’t worry—you won’t have given those spirit coins in vain," the supervisor assured Xu Chen with a reassuring glance.