Time flowed on like a river, never stopping day or night.
In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed.
Every morning, Chen Sanshi pretended to head into the mountains to hunt, but in truth, he was brewing soups and refining medicines. When he returned, he'd spar with Sun Buqi, honing his spearwork.
With the help of the spiritual grain, his cultivation surged rapidly.
Now, he was just one step away from breaking through.
He had even slowed his progress on purpose for two extra days, fearing the toxins within his meridians might flare up. Otherwise, he'd have advanced even sooner.
On the training field, Chen Sanshi and Sun Buqi clashed for what must have been the hundredth time.
But today, something was different.
Sun Buqi's face darkened. He could sense that something wasn't right.
Every other day, Chen Sanshi's spearwork would grow slightly stronger—sharper, steadier, more refined.
At first, Sun Buqi could barely keep up.
Then, he was just holding on by willpower.
And now—he was being pushed back with no chance to resist.
It wasn't only strength; even the signature speed and ferocity of his Flying Serpent Sweeps the Wind Spear couldn't give him an edge anymore. In fact, he was starting to fall behind.
"How the hell did you turn the Undying Golden Serpent Spear into something like this?"
Sun Buqi stared in disbelief. "Sure, the Nine-Dragon Body helps, but your comprehension is insane too!"
After another ten rounds, his vision blurred, qi and blood rolling chaotically through his body—he could barely stand.
"Buqi, hold on just a little longer."
Sun Li, who had been practicing with her blade nearby, paused her movements. "Your junior brother's about to break through."
"Break through?!"
Sun Buqi froze, then gritted his teeth and unleashed every ounce of strength he had left.
The two spears on the training ground clashed like a pair of enraged serpents, their strikes echoing in bursts of thunder. The roar of metal and wind filled the air, forcing everyone within a hundred meters to retreat.
Chen Sanshi no longer held back.
He unleashed everything—the plum-blossom spear in his hands grew heavier and faster with every move, his strikes twisting unpredictably, almost unnaturally.
In that moment, the spear seemed to move on its own, as if alive, reacting before he could even think—each thrust sharper, each swing more vicious, until the moment came when one serpent overwhelmed the other completely.
At that exact instant, the bones that had long been nourished by the Blood of the Dragon and Elephant and the Nine Dragons Tempering the Tendons underwent a complete transformation.
[Skill: Undying Golden Serpent Spear (Upper Scroll) (Mastery)]
[Progress: 0/1000]
[Effect: Blood of the Dragon and Elephant; Nine Dragons Temper the Tendons; Innate Vajra]
[Innate Vajra: Temper the bones into iron, refine the skin into bronze. At the stage of perfection, the body becomes indestructible.]
Ordinary practitioners who tempered bone developed variant bones and mysterious skin.
But bronze skin and iron bones—that was something only those with the Innate Vajra Body could achieve.
'So I've really become a mix of everything now?'
The Blood of the Dragon and Elephant, the Nine-Dragon Tendons, and now even the Vajra Body—all coexisting within him.
Chen Sanshi flexed his arms slightly, feeling the power ripple beneath his skin.
He hadn't reached the level of true iron bones yet, but his bones were now so hard that neither blade nor axe could easily cut through them. Even if he were attacked from all sides, his body could withstand the blows.
"Three months to reach mastery in tempering bone…"
Sun Buqi lay sprawled on the ground, staring up at the sky, stunned by the overwhelming force that had just crushed him. He didn't need to ask—he knew. His junior brother had successfully broken through.
Standing up, he gave a wry grin. "As long as you've got some command ability to match that strength, you'll definitely become a garrison commander someday!"
"Thanks for sparring with me all these days, Senior Brother Buqi."
Chen Sanshi knew full well this hadn't been easy for him.
"Ah, don't mention it."
Sun Buqi waved it off. "But from now on, I don't think I can keep up anymore."
"Then I'll have to trouble Senior Sister Sun next time," Chen Sanshi said with a grin thick-skinned as ever.
"Heh, you really don't know what shame is, do you?"
Sun Li cradled her blade, smirking faintly. "We'll see. I've got my own matters to deal with."
Chen Sanshi knew what she meant—they were still investigating the matter of the immortal treasure.
Even Prefect Ji, the county magistrate, and Xiang Tingchun were involved.
On the surface, Poyang County seemed calm, but beneath that quiet lay hidden turbulence—ready to erupt at any moment.
Every faction in the region was searching for that so-called immortal treasure.
Even if it couldn't refine true immortal pills… it was still something no one would ever willingly give up.
Just the fact that the strange flame could burn spiritual grain to rapidly boost cultivation was enough to drive anyone insane.
Take the barbarian tribes for example.
For over a thousand years, why had they never managed to invade the Central Plains?
It was because their resources were scarce, and the number of high-level martial experts they could produce was far fewer than those of the Great Sheng Dynasty.
But the appearance of spiritual grain completely changed that.
It matured twice a year and grew everywhere—it basically cost nothing to produce.
For the barbarians, getting their hands on it would be all too easy.
Once they obtained the immortal treasure, they could mass-produce high-level warriors. Given enough time, they would inevitably surpass the Central Plains in sheer martial strength.
In other words—whoever held the immortal treasure could forge an army of tigers and wolves.
That included Chen Sanshi himself.
Of course, he had no right to use it yet.
Both the emperor of Great Sheng and the barbarian chieftains possessed the strongest power in the world.
The saying held true—"An innocent man holding a treasure invites his own death."
To possess a divine relic openly, one needed power strong enough to protect it.
Otherwise, it was nothing but suicide.
"Elder Sister, I really don't even know where to start investigating."
Sun Buqi frowned, frustrated. "Though lately, the martial hall's been in frequent contact with the county magistrate. But that's normal—new officials always get their share of bribes from the local powers."
The martial hall and the magistrate—colluding?
Or perhaps, the magistrate was investigating the martial hall.
'None of my business,' Chen Sanshi thought.
Even though the Sun siblings weren't speaking privately, he didn't interrupt.
After the pair left, a man dressed in tight black clothes, who had been watching from afar for quite some time, finally seized his chance to approach. With a polite smile, he said, "Congratulations to Hundred-Household Chen for breaking through yet another realm! With such talent, your future is boundless."
The guard of Prefect Ji Guangxian?
Chen Sanshi recognized him immediately.
The black-clad man bowed slightly. "My name is Shan Yuanzhi. We've met before."
"Does Guard Shan have business with me?" Chen Sanshi asked calmly.
"The prefect had some words left unsaid last time." Shan Yuanzhi smiled faintly. "Lord Ji didn't mean for you to serve under him forever. He merely wishes to be your patron. Once you reach the tempering organs stage, he'll personally recommend you to His Highness the Crown Prince."
"The Crown Prince?"
Before Chen Sanshi could respond, Shan Yuanzhi pressed on, "Why must Hundred-Household Chen tie yourself to the Grand Commander's residence alone?
"We martial men cultivate to rise to glory, don't we? But do you not see—Grand Commander Sun is growing old.
"If something were to happen to him, he has countless enemies in court. Once he falls, you, tied to him by reputation, will share his fate.
"Wouldn't it be wiser to change allegiance early—to find a more reliable backer?"
Clearly, Prefect Ji's approach toward him had shifted.
Since force hadn't worked, now they were trying persuasion.
"Guard Shan, you're mistaken."
Chen Sanshi replied with a calm, almost formal smile. "I seek service at the Grand Commander's estate not for protection, but to repay the Great Sheng court."
"Well said—serve the court!" Shan Yuanzhi nodded approvingly. "But tell me, who sits upon the throne of this court?"
"Naturally, His Majesty," Chen Sanshi answered without hesitation.
"Exactly—His Majesty," Shan said softly, lowering his voice. "But His Majesty is already advanced in years. Should he pass away, who then would sit on that throne?
"That is why serving the Crown Prince now is the surest path to success."
"Pass away?"
Chen Sanshi deliberately raised his voice. "Guard Shan, how can you speak such nonsense? His Majesty is the Eternal Sovereign, a body of immortality! How could there be talk of death?"
"Eternal Sovereign" and "Body of Immortality"—those were titles the aging emperor had given himself.
Chen Sanshi spoke partly to startle Shan Yuanzhi and partly because, honestly, he wasn't entirely sure it was false.
After all, the existence of the immortal treasure proved that traces of immortality did exist.
The old emperor had been pursuing immortality for decades—surely he had achieved something by now.
And as for the Crown Prince, who had served as regent for forty years, he'd likely have to wait a few more yet.
"You—"
Shan Yuanzhi paled, glancing around nervously. Luckily, no one was nearby.
He scowled. "Since you insist on this nonsense, there's nothing more to say! Lord Ji was even planning to gift you a secret medicine, but clearly, that's no longer necessary."
"Secret medicine?"
Chen Sanshi's eyes flickered. "What kind of medicine?"
'As expected—only something that enhances cultivation truly tempts a martial man.'
Seeing a spark of interest, Shan Yuanzhi's tone softened again. "Lord Ji's family made their fortune in the medicinal trade. They possess a secret ancestral formula, one that's never been passed down outside the clan.
"It was by offering this very formula that Lord Ji won the favor of Lord Gao of the Ministry of War. He'll be transferred to the capital in just a couple of years—proof of how priceless the formula truly is.
"But if you agree to our offer, my lord said you'd have full access to it—no limits."
"Empty promises mean nothing."
Chen Sanshi smiled faintly. "How about this—why don't you brew a batch of this medicine first and bring me a sample?
"If it's as powerful as you claim, then we can discuss changing allegiances afterward."
"Deal!"
Shan Yuanzhi agreed instantly.