Whether it becomes thicker or extends like a spider’s web.
It’s hard to say...
Regaining his focus, Meng Chuan dismissed his wild thoughts and concentrated on guiding Earth Posture cultivation.
Just like the initial practice of Human Posture, cultivation at the beginning requires full concentration without any distraction.
...
Half past midnight.
Six hours of pile skill brought back memories of "tough days" for Meng senior.
Sweat soaked through his clothes, yet he remained motionless, as if turning into a stone sculpture.
Luo Guanyun secretly praised his determination.
Earth Posture cultivation is far more painful than Human Posture.
The body must constantly maintain a downward trend, using Qi Blood to fight against the pull of the meridians.
The hardships involved are enough to make many martial artists give up practice and settle for the status quo.
Meng Chuan’s greatest talent is not [Eternal Proof], but [Perseverance].
Six hours passed, the stretching of the meridians grew more painful, yet he remained silent, just standing.
Luo Guanyun sensed something and spoke to stop him.
"Alright, your meridians have reached their limit today, continue cultivation tomorrow after recovery.
But I must remind you, tomorrow the extension of the points will rebound somewhat.
Every time you stand, for a period you need to repeat yesterday’s practice, you must...continue to persevere!"
This is the second tormenting aspect of Earth Posture, not only painful while standing.
The next day, some of it will be "forgotten," requiring rehearsal and repeated grinding. Follow current novels on novel{f}ire.net
"What?"
Luo Guanyun thought his disciple was numbed and hadn’t heard clearly, so explained again...
Meng Chuan slightly raised the corner of his mouth, perhaps he was about to soar...
If that’s the case, Eternal Proof might once again prove its worth.
Tomorrow morning, introspection will reveal it.
"Alright, come to my home in the morning, master will instruct you further on Qi Blood cultivation, then you can return to United University."
"Okay, but master, didn’t you forget something?"
"What is it?"
"Didn’t you say after realm breakthrough, you’d teach me how to ride the clouds?"
"...The time hasn’t come, you’ve just entered the realm, can’t grasp it."
"Alright then."
Meng Chuan’s expression showed slight disappointment, looks like he won’t "soar" soon, uncertain of when he could grasp it.
Luo Guanyun kept silent, merely walked alongside him toward Huayun Prefecture.
"Let this kid have something to look forward to, it’s actually quite good..."
It was now early morning, under a third-degree war alert, Yong’an city’s streets were empty.
Yet they were unflustered, even under first-degree alert, martial artists enjoy the right to "stroll freely."
In the distance, the night watchman’s clapper sounded, it was two in the morning, the night was getting deeper...
...
Meanwhile, in the Demon Nest of Chen Cang, [Kiwood] was taking action.
Sibilant sounds constantly emerged underground, yet were isolated by layers of rock and earth, not detected on the surface.
Its roots squirmed deep within the ley lines, secreting thick black juice.
The juice enveloped decayed soil and rocks, gradually solidifying into humanoid shapes.
Numerous variously sized and shaped "things" were created, standing motionless underground.
This is its first major ability, "Kiwood Creates Demons."
The joints exposed growths, eye sockets embedded with two crimson fungus, short tree monsters called [Withered Wood Puppet].
Further diversified, torso covered in scaly bark, spine extending thorny tendrils, head split into three-sectioned serrated mouthparts, four to five meters high middle rank Celestial Demons, named [Thorn Demon].
Finally, only a small part had a complete "human form", skin exhibiting jade-like wood luster, hair as dark gold fungal threads upper rank Celestial Demons, named by Kiwood as [Jade Wood Enchantress].
As the creation spree continued, Kiwood felt its energy depleting, and hurriedly stopped.
It originally had quite a few, comparable to titled Celestial Demon level [General Mu] guards.
But earlier in the old nest, having little to eat, it crisply devoured all the Generals Mu...
"These should be enough..."
Kiwood murmured slightly gloomily to itself, it had been harshly dealt with by [Mountain’s Whisper], forced to march.
Thinking about it made it grind its teeth in hatred toward Li Xiao.
"Just you wait, I’ll swallow you whole, turn you into tree fertilizer..."
Much smarter than its kind back home, Kiwood was originally an ordinary demonic tree, through millennia of killing and devouring, gradually awakening intelligence.
For twelve hundred years, it treaded carefully, only then fighting its way out from its kin, becoming a leader of its kind.
Until one day, [Mountain’s Whisper] descended...
With absolute power, suppressing everything, Kiwood was forcibly drafted as a pioneer, pushed to leave the nest and invade the human realm.
Coming to the human realm, it always feigned compliance with Mountain’s Whisper’s orders.
The slogans shouted deafeningly, yet it remained holed up in the Demon Nest, keeping troops inactive.
Because Kiwood knew the opponent’s purpose, to have itself gather [negative emotions].
For them to...have the true form step onto this land!
And what could it gain? Being slaughtered by this land’s strong ones, soul returning to the Sea of Wheels...
Though full of resentment, it dared not defy the supreme being’s will.
Especially this time, Mountain’s Whisper had been deceived by its actions.
Upon that cursed Li Xiao’s reminder, it actually divided a True Spirit to come over and gave it a harsh lesson.
Kiwood repeatedly promised, only then did Mountain’s Whisper spare its life.
Before leaving, the opponent ordered it, [within a month, turn the city before it into ruins.]
Plop...
A withered wood puppet awkwardly stood up, having just been born, it couldn’t adapt to its new body and walked unsteadily.
Qi Mu’s true form sat on the ground, pinching the tree man while gloomily saying:
"The power of the whispering mountains feels even stronger, that bastard really isn’t about to come out, is he..."
If he emerges, this world would truly be finished...
...
At six o’clock the next morning, in Huayun Prefecture.
Meng Chuan was training under the morning sun, an exquisite fist skill flowed seamlessly in his hands, revealing a sense of clever charm.
Even though he had only slept for three hours, he was still full of energy, without a hint of fatigue.
Martial Arts Family is naturally different from ordinary folks, their energy is several times that of common people.
If needed, even battling for three days and nights wouldn’t be a problem.
Not to mention, with his two major foundation skills, Meng Chuan felt that he wouldn’t have any issues not sleeping for a week given his spiritual vigor.
However, it’s not necessary, as eating and sleeping are indeed one of the unparalleled "elegant pleasures" for humans.
Practicing martial arts is already tough enough, no need to push oneself so hard.
The sun hung high, and Meng Chuan sighed inwardly.
The probability of enlightenment at dawn and dusk hadn’t increased with his progress.
"If only I could upgrade like in Five Qi Chaoyuan..."
At that time, with ranks maxed out, experiencing enlightenment twice a day, both morning and evening.
Instantly becoming a comprehension genius, Great Chu’s number one "Wise One."
But that’s impossible, Meng Chuan had a premonition of this long ago.
Apart from the [core trait], no other trait can be upgraded.
Not even his foundational trait, once certified, eternally certified.
Thinking of this, Meng Chuan took the opportunity during the interval of adjusting his breath to introspect himself.
He glanced at the bulge in his meridian point, unchanged from yesterday, showing no sign of recoil.
"I’ve succeeded!"
And it must be once certified, eternally certified, awesome!
Meng Chuan felt that he would not be constrained by the storage limit of Qi Blood for a long time.
No longer tormented repeatedly by Earth Posture, his progress was swift.
By then, the only thing he needed to focus on was enhancing his Qi Blood quantity.
In the Qi Blood Martial Arts Era, Qi Blood is the most crucial, the cornerstone supporting the Martial Arts Family.
Thus, the Thunder Seed, which extracts Qi Blood, going against the era,
should rightly be eliminated by the era...
...
After morning practice, Meng Chuan smelled the aroma of food from home several hundred meters away.
With a few light steps, just in two seconds.
His thumb was already on the fingerprint lock of his front door.
This was merely him operating his body technique in a normal state, if he exerted his full force, several hundred meters could be covered in an instant.
This is the formidable aspect of the Martial Arts Family, appearing as "Terrestrial Immortals" in the eyes of others.
If it were not for advancements in technology and era, in ancient times, Meng Chuan would become "I don’t eat beef," transforming into an ancestral figure.
...
"Auntie, this beef stew is really delicious."
Meng Chuan scooped a big bowl from the pot, eating with relish.
Once back at United University, he wouldn’t get to eat this, no matter how good the nutritious meals are, they can’t match homemade dishes.
Xue Na was very pleased inside, for a Martial Arts Family to love her cooking was undoubtedly a top-level recognition.
After the meal, Meng Chuan noticed his phone ringing.
He had long ago set it to block strangers, or else his phone would’ve been overwhelmed with calls.
Picking it up, it was Secretary Wang from Yong’an City’s Martial Arts Grandmaster.
[Hello, Secretary Wang.]
[Xiaomeng, I heard you’ve progressed to Martial Arts Family? Why didn’t you tell me, our Yong’an hero’s Realm Breakthrough should naturally be protected.]
In ancient times, geniuses who progressed must be well-protected.
To prevent enmity from Demon Path lurking within to eliminate them.
Meng Chuan heard the seemingly reproachful voice from the other side of the phone.
He repeatedly apologized, saying he didn’t want to trouble Secretary Wang, who had many duties, with his matters and occupy public resources.
[Hahaha, don’t be so polite, Xiaomeng. By the way, I contacted you today to inform you that your name has been successfully submitted, just wait for the notice.]
[Thank you, Secretary Wang, for taking the trouble.]
What was being discussed was the entry nomination for the [State Talent Pool].
Submitting the name is just the first step, Meng Chuan was unsure of the specific evaluation content as the assessment period is long.
It’s said that each time the entry is made, the evaluation methods vary.
Sometimes everyone is gathered for head-to-head combat, simple and brutal.
And sometimes, there are inspectors sent from above, secretly assessing the candidates’ every move.
It’s possible that in their regular training and practice, victory has already been determined.
The country also keeps a strict secret on this matter, no one has ever obtained information about the assessment content beforehand.
There are only false rumors from unknown sources.
Because the rewards are too generous, in order to prevent candidates from using "underhanded tricks," the assessment content is strictly confidential.
This is also a strong embodiment of Great Chu’s "fairness," if things could be arranged in advance, aren’t the nominations destined to fall into the hands of those "Second Generation Martial Artists."
"Just wait patiently, practicing martial arts well is more important than anything."
Meng Chuan didn’t have any thoughts about it, just focusing on practicing well.
After all...
He didn’t even know where, how, or who the opponent would be...