As Lu Chenzhou’s strength increased, his horizons gradually broadened.
He began to learn more about Great dicine from his superiors and ntors, and he increasingly felt that the Void Realm was a once-in-a-million-years opportunity for humanity.
Not to ntion anything else, just the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, which, although present in the old world, were extrely rare and quickly depleted as the number of Martial Artists grew. Now, with the vast and unknown expanse of the Void Realm, and with the national collective effort to gather them, processed by the giants of Martial Arts dicine, more people could take Great dicine infused with the properties of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, rather than it being an exclusive luxury for Martial Arts Grandmasters.
In the old tis, this was sothing ordinary Martial Artists wouldn’t even dare to dream of.
"What is the Void Realm really like?"
The safest approach to exploring the Void Realm alone was for a Martial Arts Grandmaster, or alternatively, to join an official national exploratory team led by a Grandmaster.
The environnt of the Void Realm was said to be utterly different from this world, mostly shrouded in eternal darkness, teeming with miasma and fog, and rampant with Void Things.
The most perilous aspect was the periodic rains imbued with chilly and erosive forces, known as the [Heavenly Drying Wind], and the [Ashen Snow] which could transform a person into a lost monster... and many more such Heavenly Calamities.
Only the [Protective True Gang] of a Martial Arts Master and special high-tech equipnt effective in the Void Realm could withstand these bizarre disasters.
Therefore, the Void Realm was riddled with forbidden zones, with Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures often growing among them.
Of course, current explorations have revealed that the Void Realm also contains areas similar to those on Earth, officially referred to as [Oases].
For so unknown reason, these places are rarely affected by calamities. While they are scarce in Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, they do grow so rare dicinal herbs and strange creatures.
To date, nations have discovered and occupied a total of 40 oases in the Void Realm, setting up outposts to study it. Da Xia has monopolized 18 oases, establishing 18 [Starfire Cities], nad sequentially after the top Martial Arts Universities.
One such city stood among them.
Starfire Dragon City!
Presiding over it was the forr headmaster of Dragon City Martial Arts University, the Four Symbols Master.
...
The next day.
Lu Chenzhou didn’t get out of bed until six o’clock, sleeping two hours more than usual as he allowed himself a small break after each breakthrough, balancing work with leisure.
He took a deep breath and inspected his Dantian using focused technique, where a wisp of Innate Strength, resembling a Golden Tiger, lazily revolved, encircled by dense Qi-Blood that it stirred.
"Teacher said that Innate Strength could passively absorb the power of Qi-Blood to grow stronger, but the effect is minimal; the main growth cos from practicing True Skill."
Inside him, a faint green stream of Mysterious Power circulated, much paler than last night, the dicinal effect of the Blood Replenishing Pill, which was nourishing him. The hidden internal injuries caused by taming the Innate Strength were almost healed.
"Being wealthy is indeed good."
His great rit balance was still 1340.
It was no problem to keep spending for a Martial Artist.
Lu Chenzhou looked at the Martial Arts Tree.
[Dragon and Tiger Heavenly Pile: 24th Acupoint (90%)]
A 90% progress in 25 days.
This pace was much faster than before.
For simpler Acupoints than this one, he would have needed forty to fifty days.
First, he increased his daily Heavenly Pile Cultivation ti.
Second, the effect of the Tiger Spirit Divine Seed could not be overlooked.
It’s known that as you approach the 30th Acupoint, the difficulty increases. To make this progress against the odds, rely adding two hours of Heavenly Pile practice was definitely not enough; the Divine Seed played a significant role.
After checking his body, Lu Chenzhou turned on his phone.
[Shi Ruyu: Junior brother, how is your recovery? All well, I hope.]
[Wang Hongdao: Congratulations, Brother Lu, for the Three Forces Return to One and grasping Innate, it seems destined for our branch school’s first Martial Artist to be none other than you. I offer my early congratulations here.]
Wang Hongdao’s words were carefree, but his heart ached.
Before Lu Chenzhou’s arrival, he was absolutely confident that he would be the first.
In the class group chat, classmates congratulated him as well.
[Xiao He: The number one in Dragon City is secured.]
[Chen Xiaoyun: Don’t pop the champagne yet, if he doesn’t make it, we are holding you accountable!]
[Leopard Woman: Exactly! Xiao He, when will you reach Tenth Rank? Stop being a re figurehead in the school competitions and rise to the challenge.]
The criticism from everyone silenced Xiao He.
After thanking everyone, Lu Chenzhou went to the dical office.
Seeing Lu Chenzhou, the old pharmacist laughed and said:
"Here again?"
"Sir, do we have any Great dicine here that can assist in opening Acupoints?"
The elder thought for a mont and said:
"That sort of thing is only available for purchase by Martial Artists. Even the genius class cannot break the rules, and it’s the sa for other schools."
"Why is that?"
"Acupoint is a Basic Skill, the utmost important one. Before becoming Martial Artists, martial practitioners lack sufficient willpower and can easily lose themselves to the overpowering effect of Acupoint dicines. It can stimulate the opening of acupoints, but there are certain side effects regarding willpower."
"Well... I believe my willpower is pretty good."
"Don’t just think it is. How about this? I happen to have an opened Acupoint dicine here. I’ll let you sll it and absorb a trace of the volatile dicinal properties."
Saying so, the elder took out a walnut-sized, blood-red pill exuding a unique fragrance akin to musk, mixed with a faint hint of blood.
Lu Chenzhou rely took a whiff and was caught off-guard, as though a savage aura from ancient tis invaded his mind, and the vision of a giant four-legged beast with flesh wings, lumps on its head, and covered in fierce black spikes, materialized before him.
It charged at him with a roar that rivaled the terror of a Martial Artist.
To outsiders, Lu Chenzhou now stood with closed eyes, cold sweat forming on his face, body trembling instinctively, prompting the elder to prepare to wake him up forcefully.
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