Chapter 177: Chapter 177: The Power of the Flesh Refining Realm

BOOM!

Su Yu felt a world-shattering sound erupt in his mind.

It was more than just the roar of his Qi and Blood; it was like a majestic mountain collapsing.

In that instant, he seemed to turn his senses inward, perceiving the changes within his body.

It was a mountain like a natural chasm, a thick city wall that seemed to connect heaven and earth.

But now, as the final sliver of Power from the Perfection of his White Ape Fist fell into place, this seemingly insurmountable bottleneck shattered and collapsed in a single moment!

For an ordinary person, it was unknown how long they would have to batter this chasm-like bottleneck with a torrent of Qi and Blood. It might take months, or even years, just to open a crack!

Then, they would have to slowly break it down, relying on the patient work of grinding away day after day, to finally smash through.

With the obstacle gone, the chasm became a clear path!

RUSH!

The immense Qi and Blood that had long since filled the space beneath his skin, now like magma finding a vent, surged madly back into his body with scorching heat!

First was his Dantian Qihai!

A furnace seemed to ignite there. The searing current radiated outwards from it, spreading rapidly.

Next was his torso!

Pectorals, lats, abdominals... large muscle groups writhed and trembled wildly under the nourishment of his Qi and Blood, emitting a series of dense TWANGING sounds, as if countless steel wires were being tightened under his skin.

Finally, his limbs!

The hot current, like a writhing dragon, pierced through his arms and legs, all the way to his fingertips and the soles of his feet!

HISS!

Su Yu clenched his teeth, his body drenched in sweat.

This process of breaking through to the Flesh Refining Realm was no less than a rebirth of flesh and blood, and it was anything but easy.

Right now, he had only one feeling.

Pain!

It was an itching and tearing sensation that bored deep into his very bones!

He could clearly feel every single muscle fiber in his body being torn apart, restructured, thickened, and then, as if reborn, constantly compressed.

His once-loose muscles became as tight as iron, their previously bloated volume compressed to an astonishing density.

His physique didn’t seem to get bulkier. Instead, he became leaner and more formidable, even appearing somewhat thinner through his clothes.

But the aura he exuded had become as heavy as a mountain, as if every inch of his skin concealed gunpowder on the verge of detonation!

After a long time, the trembling stopped.

Su Yu slowly opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing within them. He made a light fist, and the air in his palm was instantly crushed with a crisp crack.

’So this is... the Flesh Refining Realm?’

Su Yu carefully savored the unfamiliar, ferocious power within him. It was a completely different experience from the Skin Tempering Realm.

If the Skin Tempering Realm was like cladding his body in a suit of iron armor, then the Flesh Refining Realm was like installing a new nuclear reactor inside it!

He turned his head to look at a corner of the Martial Arts Arena.

A special Ironwood Stake, made for those at the Third Acupoint, stood there. It was pitch-black and exceptionally hard, the same stake he had used to test his limits before.

’Time to test my new strength!’

Su Yu walked up to it. He didn’t use any Martial Arts, nor did he intentionally gather his strength.

With a mere thought, he mobilized the newly restructured muscle groups in his right arm and threw a simple, unadorned punch!

CRACK!

An extremely crisp explosion, like a clap of thunder from a clear sky, erupted from his fist!

This was the crisp crackle of Ming Jin, a sound that couldn’t be bought for a thousand gold pieces!

It was a powerful force that a Martial Artist of the Flesh Refining Realm could only produce by perfectly fusing their body’s Qi and Blood with their muscle strength for an instantaneous burst!

BOOM!

His fist then slammed heavily into the hard Ironwood Stake.

This time, there was no dull thud, only a devastating crack of annihilation.

The fierce and domineering Ming Jin didn’t disperse upon contact. Instead, it brutally exploded outward from the single point of impact on the Ironwood Stake!

BANG!

The terrifying Power instantly pulverized the hard wood fibers. Countless sharp splinters shot out in all directions like shrapnel, embedding themselves deep into the surrounding bluestone floor and thick stone walls with a staccato of PATTERING sounds, sinking a good inch into the stone!

Huu...

Su Yu retracted his fist. Staring at the jagged stump that was all that remained, a brilliant light erupted in his eyes.

’So this is the Ming Jin of the Flesh Refining Realm!’

’Qi and Blood flow unimpeded, the whole body’s power as one! What a domineering punch! If this hit someone, how could a human body possibly defend against such an explosive force!’

’No matter how strong the skin of the Skin Tempering Realm is trained, even if it’s like the Profound Silver Flow Armor, it probably couldn’t block this single blow!’

After calming his turbulent emotions, a hint of confidence flashed in Su Yu’s eyes.

’With my current strength, I could probably kill the likes of Sun Yan and Ding Mianyue with a single punch. No wonder they say the Flesh Refining Realm is when one truly joins the ranks of powerful Martial Arts experts. The qualitative leap in strength from this breakthrough is just too much!’

’I just wonder how I compare to other experts in the Flesh Refining Realm. Although I’ve only just broken through, my foundation should still be quite deep.’

’My Minor Achievement Black Stone Body Forging Skill not only has the Profound Silver Flow Armor to enhance defense, but it also boosts my Qi and Blood power. Even though my strength is much greater now, and the amplification isn’t as terrifying, it still provides a twenty to thirty percent boost!’

’Needless to say, the saber qi from my Major Achievement Spiritual Ape Demon-Slaying Saber would force even a Flesh Refining Realm expert to evade its edge!’

’In terms of speed, my Minor Achievement Seven Fiends Thunder Collapse Step also gives a significant boost. Combined with my Five Senses Divine Trait, a regular early-stage Flesh Refining Realm expert would be no match for me! However, I’m probably still no match for someone in the Mid-stage of Flesh Refining.’

The Cultivation Realms of Flesh Refining, unlike the cruder divisions for new Martial Artists, are meticulously divided into early-stage, mid-stage, late-stage, and the Perfection Realm.

’Although I’m no match on the surface, I still have two trump cards! The Spiral Armor-Breaking from my coin toss and Violent Ape Blood Fury. Especially the latter—if I activate it, my strength will multiply several times over. I could definitely fight someone in the Mid-stage of Flesh Refining!’

Su Yu walked over to the well and, with a CREAK, CREAK, drew up a bucket of clear, cold water.

SPLASH!

He splashed the icy water on his face, washing away the sweat and heat, and clearing his mind.

’I should find someone to test my skills against. Senior Sister Lin is in the late-stage of Flesh Refining, and Senior Brother Xu is in the mid-stage. I can spar with either of them.’

A slight smile touched Su Yu’s lips. He could already imagine the shocked expressions on their faces.

’But for now, it’s best not to reveal my breakthrough. I should lie low for a bit. The last time I left the city, the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall hired the Water Bandits from Ghost Mist Island to kill me. If I hadn’t broken through to the Third Acupoint, I might have been in real danger.’

At this thought, Su Yu’s expression turned cold.

The Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall... he was already in a fight to the death with them. That Kou Xun had attacked him before. The man must die!

However, Kou Xun possessed the mighty strength of Refining Flesh Perfection. Su Yu was not yet his match. He had to wait.

’And then there’s Ghost Mist Island.’

’I need to find a chance to gauge the strength of their first and second-in-command. If possible... I’ll uproot this malignant tumor and make a fortune in the process!’

After some thought, a plan formed in Su Yu’s mind.

’First, I’ll lie low and see if I can boost my strength again in the short term. The next time I leave the city for a Public Security Bureau mission, if there are still enemies watching me, I’ll be sure to give them a surprise!’

Su Yu called up his panel to check his latest information. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

[Martial Arts]: White Ape Fist (Layer 1) (Perfection)

[Martial Arts]: Spiritual Ape Demon-Slaying Saber (Layer 1) (Major Achievement 1700/10000)

[Martial Arts]: Black Stone Body Forging Skill (Layer 1) (Minor Achievement 5000/10000)

[Martial Arts]: Seven Fiends Thunder Collapse Step (Minor Achievement 2500/3000)

[Martial Arts]: Bibo Fish Dragon Skill (Layer 1) (Skilled 1300/1500)

[Martial Arts]: White Ape Six Transformations (Broken Limit 2 times) (Traits: Heart Monkey Clarity, Violent Ape Blood Fury)

[Martial Arts]: Coin Toss (Broken Limit 1 time) (Trait: Spiral Armor-Breaking)

[Skills]: Casting Net (Broken Limit 3 times) (Trait: Listening Wave Positioning)

[Skills]: Reading (Broken Limit 1 time) (Trait: Five Senses Divine)

[Breakthrough Points]: 2 (Progress 35%)

’I can break through with the Bibo Fish Dragon Skill first. Commander Li mentioned before that the Public Security Bureau was planning to explore the depths of the Black Water River to find the source of the strangeness. I wonder if that plan is still on after the Black Lotus Sect caused such a mess.’

’However, I’m running low on resources again. I definitely have to go to the depths of the Black Water River, so it’s essential that I make a push with this Bibo Fish Dragon Skill.’

’Other than that, the only way to improve is to keep Breaking Limits!’ Su Yu got dressed and headed to the Inner Courtyard warehouse.

He unlocked the door and pushed it open, a medicinal fragrance immediately assaulting his senses.

Su Yu walked to the front row of shelves, where pills, precious herbs, and other such items were displayed.

Su Yu examined them one by one: red dragon earth ginseng, Purple Marrow Dates, wild ginseng...

His gaze finally settled on an exquisite, crimson Jade Bottle. Even through the stopper, he could feel a scorching aura radiating outward, as if it contained not a liquid, but a ball of burning flame.

’Crocodile Dragon’s Heart Blood!’

This was the condensed essence of a hegemon of the Flesh Refining Realm, the Black Rock Iron-Backed Crocodile! The energy it contained was likely terrifying!