Chapter 23: The Taboo Foundation
Dorm 303 was sealed. Jiang Chen had pushed the heavy wardrobe against the door and plastered "Do Not Disturb" talismans on the walls.
He sat cross-legged on his bed. The Beast King Core floated in front of him, radiating a violent, crimson heat.
"Time to ascend," Jiang Chen whispered.
In the Federation, cultivation was a precise science.
The Body Tempering Realm was physical. It was about turning the human body into a vessel capable of holding energy.
Iron Skin (1-3)Steel Bone (4-6)Golden Marrow (7-9)
Jiang Chen had pushed beyond the limit to the 10th Stage: Perfect Body. His vessel wasn't just a cup; it was a reinforced steel vault.
Now, he had to open the Dantian—the energy center in the lower abdomen.
"Qi Gathering," Jiang Chen recited the theory. "Turning the body's blood vitality into gaseous Qi."
He swallowed the Beast King Core.
BOOM.
It felt like swallowing a grenade.
The core dissolved instantly. A torrent of berserk, red energy flooded his meridians.
If a normal student did this, their veins would explode. The impurity of a Beast Core required expensive Alchemical Pills to filter.
But Jiang Chen had the Void Body.
"Eat it."
His cells woke up. They didn't filter the energy; they devoured it. The violent beast will inside the core roared, trying to take over his mind.
Roar—
Shut up.
Jiang Chen's Chaos Intent crushed the beast will effortlessly.
The energy rushed to his lower abdomen.
CRACK.
A barrier shattered. A space opened up inside him—a swirling vortex of darkness.
The Dantian.
Normally, a newly opened Dantian was the size of a tea cup.
Jiang Chen's Dantian was the size of a lake.
[System Alert: Realm Breakthrough.]
[Qi Gathering 1st Stage Achieved.]
But it didn't stop there. The Beast King Core contained the life essence of a pseudo-Foundation beast.
Stage 2... Stage 3...
The gaseous Qi in his body thickened. It wasn't the standard pale blue color of the Federation's Basic Breathing Technique.
It was Black-Gold. Heavy. Dense.
It finally stopped at Qi Gathering 3rd Stage.
Jiang Chen opened his eyes. A visible shockwave of air blasted the dust off the floor.
He raised his hand. He willed his Qi to move.
Hum.
A layer of black energy coated his skin. This was the signature of the Early Qi Gathering Realm: Qi Armor.
"Standard Qi Armor can block small-caliber bullets," Jiang Chen muttered, grabbing a fruit knife from the table. He stabbed his own arm.
CLANG.
The knife broke. Not even a scratch.
"Mine can block a sniper rifle."
He checked his System Status.
[Host: Jiang Chen]
[Realm: Qi Gathering 3rd Stage]
[Foundation Grade: Taboo (Perfect)]
"Now for the skills."
In this world, raw power wasn't enough. You needed Techniques (how to cultivate) and Skills (how to fight).
Skill Hierarchy:
Yellow: Basic movements.Black: Manipulating Qi externally (e.g., Phantom Sword Steps).Earth: Altering the environment (e.g., Star-Splitter Art).Heaven: Touching the Laws of the Universe.
Jiang Chen currently had:
Phantom Sword Steps (Black-Tier High Grade) - Mastered.Chaos Sword Intent (Level 1) - A passive buff that added "Destruction" to all attacks.
"I need an active attack skill," Jiang Chen realized. "Brute force won't work forever against nimble opponents."
He opened the System Shop. He had unlocked new items after clearing the Beast King Realm.
[Skill Book: Beast King's Roar]
[Grade: Black-Tier Peak]
[Effect: Sonic attack. Stuns enemies with lower mental strength. Can shatter glass and eardrums.]
[Cost: 1 Beast King Soul (Consumed).]
"A stun," Jiang Chen grinned. "Perfect for interruptions."
He purchased it. The knowledge flowed into his mind. He felt his vocal cords shift, reinforced by Qi.
He stood up. His body felt light, powerful. The world seemed slower, sharper.
He looked at his phone. The execution notice was still flashing.
Time: 11:55 AM.
Venue: The Grand Arena.
"Five minutes to showtime," Jiang Chen grabbed his heavy sword.
He didn't put it in the case. He put it in his storage ring. He didn't need to hide his strength anymore.
He walked out of the dorm.
The hallway was crowded with students. They saw him and parted like the Red Sea, whispering.
"That's him! The guy who beat the seniors."
"He's going to the Arena. Is he crazy? The entire Student Council is waiting."
Jiang Chen walked calmly.
Outside, the sun was high. The floating island of Star-Sea University bathed in golden light.
He reached the Grand Arena. The stands were packed. Thousands of students, teachers, and even some Elders were watching.
In the center of the ring stood Liu Feng (nose bandaged) and the Student Council President.
The President was a young man sitting on a throne of swords. Lei Zhen.
Cultivation: Qi Gathering 9th Stage.
Lei Zhen looked at his watch. "He's late. Coward."
"I'm not late," a voice echoed across the stadium, amplified by Qi.
Jiang Chen walked out of the tunnel. He stepped onto the sand.
"I was just taking out the trash."
He released his aura.
BOOM.
Black-Gold Qi erupted from his body, forming a pillar that reached the sky.
The crowd gasped.
"Qi Gathering?!"
"He broke through? In one night?"
"And that color... that's not normal Qi!"
Jiang Chen pointed at Liu Feng.
"You wanted a public execution?"
He grinned, his teeth white against the dark aura.
"I agree. Get down here."