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Boom!
The Cloud Evil internal energy within his body surged like an unbridled horse, rushing forward like waves, growing stronger and stronger as it moved.
"This feeling..."
Chen Yu was overjoyed. The Cloud Evil internal energy within his body, with a burst of momentum, began to expand the new meridian network, and the internal energy became increasingly pure and robust.
The so-called Meridian Passage referred to the expansion of the meridians, tapping into the true power of the human body.
The meridian system of the human body was mysterious and complex. During the Meridian Passage Stage, only the external meridians were targeted.
For deeper meridians, like the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, one had to wait until after the Organ Refining Stage.
Even for external meridians, they were generally divided into three major meridian networks.
The Early-stage corresponded to the first external meridian network, the Mid-stage to the second, and the later stage to the third.
At this moment,
Chen Yu's internal energy began flowing from the first meridian network into the second meridian network, expanding smoothly.
Previously, some blocked and congested meridians now became incredibly smooth.
Some people with good aptitude, such as those with a Spiritual Body, had a naturally vibrant meridian network, even absorbing trace amounts of Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi as they grew, nourishing the physique's meridians.
For those with ordinary or poor physique, their meridians did not have such vitality and resilience, and they were not as compatible with various energies.
Chen Yu was one such person with average aptitude in this regard.
Yet now, the expansion of his second meridian network felt like a natural progression.
There were many factors involved in this, primarily two points.
First, Chen Yu's foundational physique could be described as exceptionally good.
Second, the "Cloud Evil Fist" had once reached Great Success, with profound intent, even achieving high-level power by condensing the evil with his fist energy.
As of now,
The purity and quality of the internal energy he possessed had reached an unimaginable extreme for someone at the same stage!
Under this highly pure and powerful Cloud Evil internal energy, Chen Yu suddenly broke through the bottleneck he faced.
Half a day later,
Chen Yu's Cloud Evil internal energy successfully advanced into the second external meridian network, and his internal energy became increasingly formidable and pure.
This signified that his cultivation had advanced to the Mid-stage Meridian Passage.
Due to his solid foundation and the high-quality strength of his internal energy, even after just breaking through to the Mid-stage, his realm was very stable.
This phenomenon was the same as when he had newly advanced to the Early-stage.
This steady, step-by-step, deeply rooted sense of accomplishment gave Chen Yu a significant sense of achievement.
"I fear, now my internal energy has surpassed an average Mid-stage Meridian Passage, and I can even contend with an ordinary late-stage one."
Chen Yu murmured.
His internal energy far surpassed those of the same stage, not only because of his solid foundation and having once played out "fist energy to condense evil," but also because the "Cloud Evil Fist" itself was of high martial arts caliber.
If disregarding the drawbacks of the "Cloud Evil Fist," this skill could basically compare with top-tier martial arts.
Ask yourself,
Who in the whole outer sect could practice top-tier martial arts?
As far as Chen Yu knew, those who could practice high-level martial arts were exceptionally rare, and even then, it was due to family backing.
...
After staying at the Ten Evil Bandits' domain for a day, Chen Yu's cultivation was entirely consolidated.
Before leaving,
Chen Yu conducted a search of this place.
The outcome was somewhat disappointing to him. Except for one or two hundred defective Primordial Stones on the Bandit King's body, there were no other extraordinary resources.
But the lair of the Ten Evil Bandits indeed had a large amount of gold and silver.
However, to someone like Chen Yu, who was rooted in the sect and aspired to martial arts peaks, these mundane wealth meant little.
Swish!
Chen Yu drew out the Wind Singing Sword and cut off the Bandit King's head.
The Ten Evil Bandit King was the fifty-ninth target on the kill list.
His ranking was even above Blood-Handed Bald.
Chen Yu knew that the top fifty on the kill list represented a watershed.
Once past this watershed, entering the top fifty, the targets to deal with would most likely be strong individuals above the Organ Refining Stage.
Ranked fifty-nine, the Bandit King was essentially among the strongest below the Organ Refining Stage.
"Kid, leave the Bandit King's head."
A cold voice came across the canyon.
Hmm?
Chen Yu paused, seeing on the opposite hill two youths, one tall and one short.
Both wore standard gray robes with swords on their backs.
From their attire, Chen Yu deduced that the two hailed from another sect of the Chu Country—the Iron Sword Sect.
"Oh? Fellow practitioners from the Iron Sword Sect, are you perhaps stepping out of bounds?"
Chen Yu wrapped up the head and said with interest.
In the sect world of the Chu Country, the Iron Sword Sect was a rather aggressive and dominant sect.
In terms of strength, this sect surpassed the Yunyue Sect by quite a bit.
"Out of bounds? Hehe, these 'Ten Evil Bandits' have been committing crimes all over the Chu Country. We've chased them here from the Iron Sword Sect's domain."
The short youth said indifferently.
The tall youth had a cold voice, "Hand over the head, and we'll let you leave!"
Chen Yu was a bit speechless.
These two disciples of the Iron Sword Sect were truly overbearing.
"Handing over the head is possible. Unless you pay me four thousand five hundred contribution points and eight hundred defective Primordial Stones."
Chen Yu waved his hand.
"Then we fight!"
The tall youth said, naturally cold and matter-of-factly.
Swish! Swish!
The tall and short youth leaped down from the hillside, charging directly at Chen Yu.
Their speed surprised Chen Yu.
In terms of movement technique speed, the two were almost on par with Le Feng, with at least the tall youth being at Le Feng's level.
These two were likely not ordinary members of the Iron Sword Sect's outer sect.
Clang!
The tall youth drew his treasure sword, and a clear and cold sword light silhouette cut through the air, locking onto Chen Yu with an invisible chill.
Chen Yu's expression changed.
With just one sword strike, he sensed the tall youth's powerful strength.
The martial arts practiced by his opponent were seemingly not inferior to his "Cloud Evil Fist."
No wonder this person's tone was so bold.
"Cloud Evil Fist!"
Chen Yu threw a punch, and domineering internal energy and evil Qi vaguely formed a mass of evil Qi clouds, exploding like rolling thunder.
Oh!
The tall youth was struck with surprise, his sword light silhouette hitting the fist enveloped by the evil Qi cloud.
Boom—boom!
A thunderous explosion generated a layer of annular air ripples on the spot, with darkness and light interwoven.
With a "boom."
The tall youth was forcibly shaken back several steps by Chen Yu's copper fist, and his treasure sword nearly slipped from his hand.
The shorter youth was quite sly.
Seizing the lull after the confrontation, he aimed to slash at Chen Yu's knee with his sword.
"Scram!"
Chen Yu activated the "Copper Statue Technique," making his entire leg and foot seem to be plated with copper and lead, as heavy as a massive hammer.
Bang—clang!
The short youth cried out in pain, being kicked away along with his sword.
This surprised Chen Yu.
In the confrontation with the tall youth, he felt the opponent's strength.
Not daring to underestimate the short youth, he naturally activated the "Copper Statue Technique."
Unexpectedly, the short youth was weak enough to be kicked away with a single kick.
Of course.
This was mainly because Chen Yu's strength had leaped significantly compared to half a month ago.
In terms of strength, this short youth might be ranked within the top fifteen of Yunyue Sect's outer sect.
"Brother Wu, are you alright?"
The tall youth hurried to support the short youth, staring at Chen Yu with trepidation.
Before the confrontation,
The two never expected that a mere outer disciple of Yunyue Sect could possess such strength.
In their impression, Yunyue Sect was one of the lesser sects among the four in Chu Country.
"Junior Gao, I'm fine—whoa!"
The short youth didn't finish his sentence before spitting out a mouthful of blood.
The tall youth was shocked; the opponent's casual kick had caused Brother Wu internal injuries.
Although Brother Wu's strength wasn't outstanding, in the Iron Sword Sect's outer sect, he was around twentieth in combat power.
"So weak."
Chen Yu shook his head, unwilling to bother further with the two, and leapt away.
At the scene,
The two from Iron Sword Sect had ugly expressions.
"Don't go! I haven't even shown my true strength..."
How could the tall youth endure such humiliation, gripping his treasure sword to rush forward?
He was stopped by the short youth.
"Junior Gao, better let it go. I suspect this person is among the top in the Yunyue Sect's outer sect. Besides, your 'Sky Shadow Sword Technique' has just been mastered for a short time, the realm is not stable, and not easy to use readily."
The short youth coughed.
Indeed.
The tall youth's true strength had not yet been fully used. But how could they be sure that the opponent hadn't gone all out too?
"Kid, leave your name. Someday, I, Gao Feng, will seek you out for a lesson."
The tall youth said bitterly and reluctantly.
To think that in the Iron Sword Sect, he was a talent of the first rank, and joining the inner sect was not difficult, yet he was disregarded by a disciple of Yunyue Sect.
However.
The young man in the field didn't respond at all, getting farther and farther away.
...
Two days later.
Chen Yu returned to Yunyue Sect and submitted the task of killing the "Bandit King," earning four thousand five hundred contribution points and eight hundred defective Primordial Stones.
At this time, the entire outer sect was filled with a tense and solemn atmosphere.
It turned out,
The Outer Sect Competition was about to begin!
"Only two days left..."
Chen Yu returned to his residence and began his quiet recuperation.
Now, he had advanced to the Mid-stage Meridian Passage, with "Copper Statue Technique" at Copper Muscle Minor Achievement, reaching the limit in all aspects.
Among them,
The "Cloud Evil Fist" was in a special state.
Supposedly, Chen Yu had comprehended the Great Success intent of the Cloud Evil Fist Technique; otherwise, he couldn't have displayed the "fist energy to condense evil" that day.
But due to cultivation limitations, he couldn't fully exert the power of the "Cloud Evil Fist" Great Success. Because the mental method and fist technique realms had certain correlations, they couldn't be too disparate.
In other words, his Cloud Evil Great Success was an incomplete Great Success.
Unless his cultivation made a breakthrough, or he triggered the mysterious heart's "explosive method" again.
Chen Yu still couldn't figure out the "explosive method" of the mysterious heart.
Time passed swiftly.
Soon, the night before the "Outer Sect Competition" arrived.
In a house in the outer sect settlement.
A beautiful young girl sat cross-legged, with her fair hands open.
Buzz!
In the palms of the young girl's hands was a "Blood Stone Bamboo," exuding a continuous flow of blood-colored light streaming into her body.
The crimson light flow gradually seeped into her body.
The girl's body was wrapped in a strange layer of blood-red gas.
If Chen Yu were present, he would recognize that this Blood Stone Bamboo was the trophy obtained from the battle against Blood-Handed Bald.
"No more absorption."
Tong Yuling murmured to herself, "The intensity and quantity of the internal energy have reached their limit; otherwise, I would probably break through to the Organ Refining Stage..."
Whoosh!
She circulated her power, and a turbulent and cold airflow rose from her entire body, with a hint of blood appearing in her eyes.
The powerful internal energy she demonstrated was nearly stepping into the Organ Refining Stage!
"Thanks to this 'Blood Jade Spirit Bamboo,' that 'Blood-Handed Bald' had blood-washed the fallen Fang Family to obtain this treasure but didn't know its real activation method. Including that Chen Yu, a common outer disciple with limited experience and knowledge, didn't recognize this item..."
A faint smile curled at the corners of Tong Yuling's lips.
It turned out this Blood Stone Bamboo was not just ordinary precious material and wasn't a part of her Tong Family either.
"Tomorrow's 'Outer Sect Competition,' I want to surprise everyone!"
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