Chapter 360: Bei Jiang Crisis
Chapter 360: Bei Jiang Crisis
The Fourth Realm's Bone Tempering process consists of four stages: early, middle, late, and peak.
This cultivation primarily focuses on refining three skeletal areas: limbs, torso, and skull.
The difficulty increases progressively, with limb bones being easiest to refine and skull most challenging. Skull refinement involves a martial artist's brain, requiring delicate handling.
Violent refinement techniques risk brain damage, which is extremely difficult to recover from. This is why most prodigies who break through to the Fourth Realm maintain rapid refinement speeds, quickly reaching the late stage with Vital Energy Stats exceeding 300.
However, the final 100-point increase to reach 400 Vital Energy Stat becomes painfully slow.
Refining through Primordial Energy is safer, employing gradual, unobtrusive cultivation. In contrast, using Bone Tempering Elixirs feels much more forceful.
"Buzzzz!!"
Lin Qi felt his head vibrating as Premium Bone Tempering Elixir surged through his organs straight to his brain.
The refinement began immediately—a sensation like having an orchestra performing symphonies inside his skull.
As his skull continuously got honed, Lin Qi experienced dizziness and intense discomfort, his sensitive nerves constantly stimulated.
He didn't pause or rest—instead enduring this torment head-on.
Many talents couldn't withstand this pain and chose to stop, preferring slow Primordial Energy cultivation rather than using Bone Tempering Elixirs.
But for Lin Qi, this suffering meant nothing.
As a martial artist, enduring hardship was only natural.
Others might praise his innate talent—and it was indeed extraordinary—but his efforts matched it perfectly.
"Buzzzz!!"
His brain burned as the Bone Tempering Elixir worked, transforming his skull into something harder, stronger before his very eyes.
Two hours passed in the blink of an eye.
[You've consumed Premium Bone Tempering Elixir. Skull refinement begins. Demon Tiger Bone progress +1, Vital Energy Stat +6]
[Vital Energy Stat: 312→318]
...
Lin Qi opened his eyes, massaging his temples as he smiled at the stat increase.
Though the process was agonizing, the improvement was significant.
The only drawback? As he consumed more Premium Bone Tempering Elixirs, their effects gradually diminished.
His body seemed to develop resistance, though the elixirs' prices never changed.
Calculating privately, he realized cultivating Demon Tiger Bone would require increasingly more Premium Bone Tempering Elixirs.
Once surpassing 390 Vital Energy Stat, even greater resources would be needed—a massive expense.
...
Martial Dao Calendar 2047, June 7th.
Another year's National College Entrance Exam had begun, dominating all Xia Kingdom news.
Every year's martial arts candidates represented the nation's future hopes.
Meanwhile, battlefield updates remained hidden—uninteresting to the public.
Jiang Miaoyin began her exams.
June 8th
"Ring!!!"
At No.8 High School gates, countless examinees burst out cheering with the bell.
"It's over!"
"Graduated! Finally time to rest properly!"
"I'll sleep for three days straight!"
Watching seniors relax, Lin Qi recalled—he'd been among them last year.
Before he knew it, he was no longer a freshman. By July, he'd become a sophomore senior. Some students here might even become his juniors.
"Bro!"
Lin Qi!
Jiang Miaoyin bounced out happily in white sportswear.
"How did you do, A Miao?" Jiang Tao asked.
She lifted her chin confidently, "Piece of cake! This year's Cang Province top scorer is mine!"
"Impressive!" Lin Qi nodded.
"Amazing, A Miao!" Mother Fang Huiyi praised.
"Let's celebrate properly!" Father Lin Zhen suggested.
The five happily went out to eat.
In following days, battlefield news resurfaced—reports of fallen martial artists.
Lin Qi sensed the nation's worsening situation through these updates.
Helpless to act directly, he focused harder on cultivation.
Daily Bone Tempering Elixir consumption steadily increased his Vital Energy Stat.
With time, he felt his Special Ability awakening drawing closer.
...
June 15th, Xia Kingdom National College Entrance Exam results released.
11:00 AM
In Villa 70, Jiang Miaoyin and Jiang Tao nervously stared at their phones.
The air thickened with tension.
Promptly at noon, Jiang Miaoyin logged onto the official website. Soon, her scores and rankings appeared.
"Tianhai City Top Scorer!"
"Cang Province Top Scorer!"
"National Rank #26!"
Jiang Tao stared at the rankings, eyes wide with excitement.
"A Miao, Cang Province Top Scorer! My sister's Cang Province Top Scorer!"
"I'M Cang Province Top Scorer!"
Jiang Miaoyin rolled joyfully on the sofa, suddenly springing up.
"I must tell Lin Qi's Big Brother and Uncle and Auntie!"
She immediately shared the good news with Lin Qi.
Meanwhile, Lin Qi had just finished cultivation when he received her call.
This year's national S-Rank Geniuses numbered 28, with Jiang Miaoyin ranking #26—excellent results.
She'd outperformed her older brother Jiang Tao. Once entering Azure Firmament Martial Academy, she'd soon challenge for the national freshman championship.
...
June 15th, three days after national results, college applications began.
Meanwhile, global situations deteriorated alarmingly—even mighty Xia Kingdom couldn't escape.
"Breaking News: Cang Province's Linhai Base facing massive Disaster Beast Tide, including three Level 9 Abyssal Leviathan and Deep-Sea Octopus. Sixth Realm martial artists lost, 6689 wounded..."
"Central News Broadcast: Bei Jiang Province currently under massive Disaster Beast Tide attack—six Level 9 and dozens of Level 8 Disaster Beasts leading swarms... Largest Tide in eight years—a severe test!"
"Our losses are enormous!!"
This broadcast shocked the entire Xia Kingdom!
While public paid little attention to Cang Province's situation—only two Level 9 Disaster Beasts, which Linhai Base could handle—the Bei Jiang Province crisis stirred nationwide panic.
"Six Level 9s? Unheard of!"
"Previously, two Level 9s max required one Nine Realms martial artist for defense!"
"Previously worst case: Sichuan Province's five Level 9s nearly destroyed their War Base. Without the Red Emperor's intervention and slaying of three Level 9s, Sichuan Province might've faced annihilation!"
Bei Jiang Province's Disaster Beast Tide triggered endless concerns.
Yujing Haoting Residential Complex, Villa 66 living room—
Lin Zhen stood up frowning upon seeing the news, "Bei Jiang Province faces great danger with six Level 9s. They must be driven back immediately."
"If even one enters the city, it becomes a catastrophe."
"Bei Jiang currently only has two Nine Realms martial artists guarding. Not sure they can hold!"
...
(End of Chapter)
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