Han Zheng returned home and placed the elixir bottle given by Yuan Longshan on the table, rubbing the center of his eyebrows as he let out a long sigh.
Li Jingzhong had previously warned him that changes were imminent in Black Stone County and advised him to focus on practicing martial arts, steering clear of messy affairs.
Yet, he now found himself entangled in the overt and covert battles between the Smell Fragrance Sect and the Demon Cleansing Bureau. There was no greater affair than this.
This was the helplessness of being in the thick of things; without strength, one could only become a pawn in the game, uncertain of when one might become the chess player himself.
Moreover, there was no way for Han Zheng to avoid getting involved. From the moment he had crossed over, he had made enemies with the Sanhe Gang, and it was inevitable that he would be drawn into the situation.
Pushing aside these useless thoughts, Han Zheng carefully studied the elixir bottle.
Regardless of his situation, only strength was the fundamental basis for securing his place in the world.
After the medicine bath, Han Zheng's cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, reaching the Perfect Postnatal Realm.
Originally, Han Zheng had planned to accumulate experiences over a period of time to find an opportunity to break into the Innate Realm, but now the opportunity had presented itself unexpectedly.
The label on the bottle read "Spirit Enhancing Pill." Upon opening it, the fragrance of the medicine permeated the air.
Unlike the unpleasant smell of the medicine bath, the fragrance from the Spirit Enhancing Pill was rich, even intoxicating.
Pouring the elixir into his palm, it was the size of a thumb, sleek black and red, and perfectly round, resembling a pearl.
Swallowing the pill, Han Zheng felt as if he had ingested a ball of fire.
This fire was not violent, but the moment it entered Han Zheng's stomach, it ignited the Inner Strength in all 365 acupoints in his body.
The mighty Inner Strength True Qi surged inside Han Zheng, even causing a faint light to emanate from him, the energy making the table creak.
If Han Zheng did not channel this energy outward, he risked his meridians exploding and causing his death.
Without hesitation, Han Zheng directed all this power into every inch of flesh and bone in his body.
The initial stage of the Innate Realm required reinforcing the bones with Inner Strength incessantly.
Normally, this step would be unbearably painful for anyone, but for Han Zheng, who had sacrificed his sense of pain, only his sense of touch mattered.
He felt the Inner Strength coursing and refining between his bones and flesh, constantly destroying yet also nourishing, rejuvenating his body.
Born with an Innate Body, pollutants entered his body during the growth in the Postnatal phase, transforming the Innate Body to a Postnatal one.
Innate Transcendence Realm was all about refining the body and reverting it to its Innate form.
The Spirit Enhancing Pill in Han Zheng's stomach unleashed its medicinal power continuously like a fierce fire, unceasingly furnishing strength.
Han Zheng could even distinctly feel a peculiar change in the texture of his flesh and bones.
After half an hour, the medicinal power of the pill was completely exhausted, and the flame extinguished.
As Inner Strength True Qi made its final wash over his bones without renewal, Han Zheng also reached his limit.
Han Zheng frowned slightly.
This sensation was very uncomfortable, as if the process had been halted midway.
This wasn't like practicing the Inch Stop Technique; breaking through in one go felt more relieving.
Last time, after killing Feng Yuan and obtaining 30 points of Qi Blood Essence, Han Zheng had converted it entirely into a 300 Hunger Level, entering the Taotie Furnace for cultivation.
The Innate Realm tested not only talent but also control over power and perseverance.
Without the aid of elixirs, Han Zheng replenished his Inner Strength and continued to refine his flesh and bones until exhausted, then refined again.
Han Zheng had average talent and physical condition.
Martial artists from major sects with good innate talents had fewer impurities in their bodies and didn't need to repeatedly refine like Han Zheng.
Lower-rank martial artists inherently faced more difficulties in cultivation compared to those from great Sect families, requiring more time right from the start.
After 300 days of training in the Taotie Furnace, exhausting all his Hunger Level, Han Zheng still hadn't stepped into the Innate Realm, just barely missing the mark.
The transition from Postnatal to Innate was a significant threshold in martial arts practice.
Some might never manage to cross it in their entire lives.
"Almost there," Han Zheng muttered slightly helplessly as he shook his head.
If talent wasn't enough, one had to compensate with rigorous practice. If rigorous practice failed, there was no choice but to find an alternate way.
Continuing to cultivate until dawn, Han Zheng didn't go to the Martial Arts Hall. Instead, he asked a disciple living nearby to request a few days off on his behalf from Li Jingzhong, claiming he was exploring the Innate Realm and would be going into seclusion rather than coming to the Martial Arts Hall.
Li Jingzhong knew Han Zheng was close to reaching the Innate Realm, so it was normal for Han Zheng to take leave for seclusion.
However, Li Jingzhong thought Han Zheng was laying the foundation for a breakthrough, not knowing he was only a hair's breadth from advancing to the Innate Realm.
In the following three days, other than buying a pile of steamed buns to satisfy his hunger, Han Zheng spent all his time cultivating.
On the night of the third day, after the last speck of impurity was washed from his bones and flesh, Han Zheng finally stepped into the Innate Transcendence Realm, establishing his Iron Body!
Han Zheng glanced at his hands and the skin on his body.
There were originally some scars on his body, but now they had all disappeared, leaving only smooth skin.
The calluses on his hands from practicing fists had also vanished.
Of course, this transformation would only occur once; in the future, injuries would still leave marks unless he further refined his body with other Body Refining Techniques.
He picked up a teacup and pondered for a moment.
Those delicate, seemingly tender hands had now become like crushing machines, pulverizing the porcelain teacup into pieces!
Han Zheng could almost directly perceive the quantum leap in his strength.
His bones were no longer the bony white, but emitted a metallic luster and texture.
Summoning the Taotie Furnace, Han Zheng checked his attributes.
[Name: Han Zheng
Cultivation: Early Stage of Innate Transcendence Realm (Iron Skin Copper Bones)
Martial Arts Skills: Postnatal Realm "Iron Elephant Skill" Perfect, Postnatal Realm "Vajra Fist" Perfect.
Innate Realm "Dragon Elephant Wisdom" Skill Level 65%, Innate Realm "Vajra Demon Suppression Seal" Skill Level 18%, Innate Realm "White Ape Extended Arm Fist" Skill Level 10%, Postnatal Realm "Blood Slaughter Saber Technique" Skill Level 15%.
Current Status: Lack of Pain Sensation, Exhausted Inner Strength]
Upon breaking through to the Innate Transcendence Realm, his proficiency in Dragon Elephant Wisdom had also surged significantly.
"Eh? You've broken through to the Innate Realm so quickly? Even with the Spirit Pills from the boss, your speed is incredibly astonishing, on par with the elite disciples from the major sects."
The voice abruptly filled the courtyard, causing Han Zheng to startle and instinctively grab the hilt of the Yanling Blade beside him, whipping around sharply.
Zhang Tianyang was somehow standing in Han Zheng's yard, slightly amazed as he observed Han Zheng.
Han Zheng was also full of shock; he hadn't noticed at all how the other had appeared in his courtyard.
Was Zhang Tianyang at the Peak of the Innate Realm or in the Xuan Gang Realm?
Li Jingzhong was at the Late Stage of the Innate Realm but hadn't put as much pressure on Han Zheng.
Zhang Tianyang was only one minor realm higher than Li Jingzhong, so why did it feel like his strength surpassed Li Jingzhong by a wide margin?
"It was also thanks to Lord Yuan's Spirit Pill; otherwise, I wouldn't have had enough foundation to complete the Innate Foundation Establishment so quickly."
"Tsk tsk, don't be modest. Your speed is truly astonishing.
Even the youth in the Demon Cleansing Bureau, even with the aid of Elixirs, would need one or two months to purify themselves completely. To do it in less than ten days, only someone with a talent like yours can achieve Iron Skin Copper Bones."
Han Zheng chuckled dryly.
Strictly speaking, with the help of Elixirs, it had taken him over three hundred days or about ten months to thoroughly complete the purification.
Compared to a genius, he was more of a mediocrity.
"Now that you've broken through to the Innate Realm, I came to remind you that Gao Kaiyuan will soon direct his investigation towards you.
All others have been ruled out, and you're next in line.
Black Stone County isn't that big; the Sanhe Gang can't keep someone hidden for very long.
I can only delay by picking fights and arresting some of Gao Kaiyuan's men, but I can't overdo it, or it'll arouse suspicion."
Han Zheng nodded, "Thank you for your efforts, Lord Zhang. It's time I made a move."
Even if Zhang Tianyang hadn't mentioned it, Han Zheng had planned to act after his breakthrough to the Innate Realm.
Against Gao Kaiyuan at the Late Stage of the Innate Realm, he stood no chance while he was still in the Postnatal Realm.
Only at the Innate Realm did he have a fighting chance.
Zhang Tianyang nodded with satisfaction, "Go ahead with your plans. Just stir up the waters, and leave the rest to me."
Han Zheng wasn't one to take advantages without rendering services, something Zhang Tianyang greatly appreciated.
With those words, Zhang Tianyang leaped and vanished within Han Zheng's courtyard.
After restoring his Inner Strength overnight, Han Zheng got up early the next morning to investigate the current circumstances of the Sanhe Gang.
Know your enemy and know yourself to be invincible in a hundred battles.
Ever since Han Zheng learned that he had a vendetta with the Sanhe Gang, he had been keeping tabs on the gang's various movements and activities; he already had plans in mind.
Although Han Zheng had now stepped into the Innate Realm, he understood Gao Kaiyuan's capabilities.
Gao Kaiyuan's Late Stage Shattering Jade Hand could split metal and stones, far beyond the current Han Zheng.
Thus, to deal with Gao Kaiyuan, a direct confrontation wouldn't work; he had to approach it from another angle.
The discord between Gao Kaiyuan and the Gang Leader Cao Bin was the entry point chosen by Han Zheng.
The Sanhe Gang's stronghold was in West City; Han Zheng had never seen what it looked like since he, lacking strength before, had always avoided the gang.
Now that he was preparing to move against Gao Kaiyuan, it was essential to grasp a detailed understanding of the Sanhe Gang first.
However, as Han Zheng walked past Shenghe Hall, he noticed Li Feng having an argument with several others at the entrance.
A brawny man with a full face of meat and a huge stature, grabbing the front of Li Feng's shirt, stared fiercely at him, "Old man, what are you playing at? How dare you skimp on our leader's Spiritual Medicine? Do you want to die?"
Li Feng, who was usually dignified and respectful, now appeared disheveled and terrified.
There were some sturdy lads in Shenghe Hall, but none dared to step forward.
Behind the brawny man was a group of menacing thugs watching fiercely.
Li Feng pleaded in a low voice, "I really didn't skimp on your leader's Spiritual Medicine. That batch of medicine was requested by Young Master Cao and also by you. If I gave it to you, how could I explain it to Young Master Cao?
The Store Manager ordered, as the accounts for this batch of medicine haven't been settled, they can't just be distributed."
"You're afraid you can't explain it to him but not afraid you can't explain it to us? I think you just don't regard us in your eyes. You're asking for a beating!"
With that, the brawny man swung a slap directly at Li Feng.