Chapter 31: Verification of Aptitude

Chapter 31: Chapter 0031 Verification of Aptitude

Editor: Chrissy

Wang Lingyun, it’s really you!”

Chen Yu was already convinced in his heart that the Wang Family wouldn’t set up such a grand assassination scheme just for a mere Half Spirit Body like him.

Moreover.

The true genius of the Chen Family, “Chen Ying’er,” had already been exposed, and she should be the most threatening figure to the Wang Family.

Swish!

Chen Yu’s figure flickered, bringing a fierce wind as he charged into the dense forest.

He wouldn’t let this go so easily.

"Run!”

In the dense forest, a group of masked men was retreating, each carrying a heavy crossbow on their backs.

These crossbowmen were only at the Body Refining Stage and burdened with heavy crossbows, so how could they outrun Chen Yu?

"Die!”

Chen Yu quickly caught up with a crossbowman, delivering a Cloud Evil Fist that unleashed an astonishingly fierce aura, sending the target flying and killing him instantly.

The other crossbowmen fled in panic.

After entering the dense forest, the complicated terrain with many obstacles made Chen Yu’s profound movement technique impervious to their armor-piercing arrows.

"Ah, ah, ah

Screams echoed continuously in the dense forest.

The menacing Cloud Evil Fist of Chen Yu, with its cold, fierce power, allowed him to kill these Body Refining Stage crossbowmen in seconds, even without using inner energy.

Targets locked by this ominous force felt their bodies turn cold and fear gripping their hearts, leaving them with no power to resist.

After the fight, Chen Yu felt the Yin Sha inner energy within him growing fiercer and smoother, and both the Cloud Evil Fist Technique and his inner energy seemed to break through their bottleneck.

"This kid is practically a calamity.”

The late-stage spear-wielding expert felt a chill in his heart, using his familiarity with the terrain and the blockade of the crossbowmen behind him to finally escape Chen Yu’s sight.

However.

The remaining Body Refining Stage crossbowmen were each killed by Chen Yu.

Not only did he kill them.

He also destroyed all those heavy crossbows.

Chen Yu knew it took great effort and financial resources to secretly train such a loyal group of crossbowmen, and acquiring armor-piercing crossbows was quite expensive too.

"Hmph, Wang Lingyun… this time, I’ve only taken a little interest from you.”

Chen Yu didn’t continue the pursuit.

Wang Lingyun was in the sect; they’d meet sooner or later. There was ample time; he’d find his chance to deal with him.

An hour later.

On the other end of the canyon, in front of a hidden cave.

Panting heavily!

The spear-wielding expert came to stand before a gloomy, resentful young man in blue robes.

"Lingyun, my little nephew!”

The middle-aged spear-wielder wore a difficult expression: “This time, I listened to you and set up a trap to kill that kid, but we’ve cost the family five Meridian Passage Stage experts and twenty painstakingly trained crossbowmen.”

This ambush not only failed but resulted in a heavy loss for the Wang Family!

"That kid must have some opportunity

Wang Lingyun gritted his teeth, his face showing viciousness and anger along with extreme unease.

His fists clenched tightly, fingernails even embedding into his flesh, and a trace of blood seeped from his palms.

"To hell with your opportunity!”

The middle-aged spear-wielder nearly cursed out loud: “You led your four uncles astray, claiming this kid might have meteorite fragments. Given the situation, even if he lucked into one or two pieces, he’d likely have already utilized them to amplify his strength.”

Initially, most of the Wang Family’s elders disagreed with Wang Lingyun’s “interception plan.”

After all, they most feared Chen Ying’er, that student of the elder.

Later, Wang Lingyun managed to sway two uncles, asserting that Chen Yu had some opportunity and likely carried meteorite fragments, thus convincing them.

But the result turned out to be disastrously bleak.

This interception was nearly an utter failure, spare for the surviving middle-aged spear-wielder from the Wang Family.

"I’ll take responsibility for this failure.”

Wang Lingyun took a deep breath, finally calming himself.

No matter what, before becoming an Inner Sect Disciple, he urgently needed the family’s full support and resources.

"But! I won’t give up now; even if I wanted to, Chen Yu wouldn’t let me go. I have no retreat

A strong intent to kill and a fierce ruthlessness flashed in Wang Lingyun’s eyes.

"Hmph! Even if you and I joined hands, we couldn’t be a match for that kid. His formidable defense isn’t just simple Horizontal Training of External Skills.”

The middle-aged spear-wielder was not optimistic.

"I admit, I’m not his match; in the secular world, few could contend with him. But in the sect, there are countless who can easily crush him. I, Wang Lingyun, have extensive connections within the sect—at least ten ways to covertly harm him

A hint of cruel coldness appeared on Wang Lingyun’s calm face.

The spear-wielding expert at his side felt an inexplicable chill.

…

A few days later, Chen Yu arrived at the Yunyue Sect.

The first thing after returning to the sect.

Chen Yu went to the Heavenly Martial Pavilion to choose a mid-level martial art. Since it was a free benefit for advancing to the Meridian Passage Stage, he might as well take it.

This time, he didn’t see the red-faced old man from last time.

From a middle-aged steward, Chen Yu obtained a mid-level martial art called “Wind-cutting Sword.”

The Wind-cutting Sword emphasized extreme speed, which complemented well with his “Wind Singing Sword.”

Back at his residence.

Chen Yu attempted to practice the “Wind-cutting Sword.”

He chose this swordsmanship not as his main focus nor specifically for the “Wind Singing Sword.”

He intended to verify something!

"My talent in body techniques feels divinely aided when practicing body-related martial arts. I wonder how my talent fares with weapons like knives and swords.”

Chen Yu thought to himself.

Three days later.

Holding the “Wind Singing Sword,” Chen Yu lightly danced in an open wilderness of the sect, a cluster of fierce sword shadows and gusts trailing behind, as his swordsmanship intertwined with his movement technique.

Chen Yu’s progress in “Wind-cutting Sword” was satisfactory, unknowingly reaching the “beginner” stage.

Such progress would surprise some Inner Sect Disciples.

However.

Compared to his progress in fist-based martial arts, this was considerably slower, though much faster than cultivating the Cloud Evil Inner Energy.

At that moment.

Chen Yu validated his aptitude.

Indeed, his aptitude leaned toward body techniques, deeming him a genius in body techniques!

He concluded:

The pure utilization of the body, such as fist and kick martial arts, and Body Refining Techniques, could progress astonishingly fast for him!

Meanwhile, weapon-associated martial arts, like swordsmanship and knife skills qualified him as a first-grade talent through the indirect use of his body.

Finally.

Regarding mental methods, aligning with energy systems, his aptitude was fairly ordinary.

Having discerned the truth about his aptitude, Chen Yu felt a weight lifted off his chest.

Even though his cultivation talent wasn’t perfect, he had unique strengths.

"Since that’s the case

Chen Yu’s eyes flickered; after verifying his aptitude, a vague path of cultivation emerged in his mind.

Following this cultivation path, if all went smoothly, he could advance to mid-stage Meridian Passage before the “Outer Disciple Tournament,” thereby boosting his strength another notch.

…

The next day.

Chen Yu got up and headed to the Sect Affairs Hall.

This time, he wasn’t there for a sect mission but to collect and exchange some spiritual herbs.

The Sect Affairs Hall, apart from issuing tasks, also offered exchanges for some common spiritual materials and elixirs. The most common would be some healing medicine and elixirs that aid cultivation.

Inside a side hall.

"A total of one hundred and two inferior Grade Essence Stones and two hundred and ten contribution points. As for the ‘Wild Ox Marrow’ and ‘Primordial Grass’ you need, they are relatively rare and currently out of stock.”

A red-robed steward spoke indifferently.

So much?

Chen Yu was startled, somewhat surprised.

The materials he collected were for another Body Refining prescription in the “Copper Statue Technique,” slightly above the “commoner formula.”

This second Body Refining formula was relatively low-end within “Copper Statue Technique”; though, it no longer used common precious materials from the secular world.

Despite Chen Yu’s prior preparations, the final price exceeded expectations.

The key issue was.

The main material of that formula, “Wild Ox Marrow,” hadn’t even been redeemed yet. The other seven or eight auxiliary spiritual materials alone consumed this many stones and contribution points.

"Too expensive? Heh

The red-robed steward chuckled wickedly: “The materials in our Sect Affairs Hall are naturally over twenty percent more expensive than private purchases outside. If not, you could scour and find them yourself for a cheaper price.”

Chen Yu spoke no further, paying the stones and contributions to exchange for these auxiliary materials.

With only about a month and a half left before the “Outer Disciple Tournament,” Chen Yu didn’t have the time to search one by one for those auxiliary rare materials.

As it stood.

His contribution points were almost exhausted, with less than a hundred inferior Grade Essence Stones remaining.

For the remaining two spiritual materials, “Wild Ox Marrow” and “Primordial Grass,” Chen Yu had to come up with another plan.

Exiting the Sect Affairs Hall.

Chen Yu encountered an acquaintance, a man with triangular eyes.

It was Ding Jiuhui.

"Junior Brother Chen? Are you here at the Sect Affairs Hall to collect materials?”

Ding Jiuhui greeted Chen Yu with a smile.

Since the task of slaying the “Bear King” last time, Ding Jiuhui had gained a newfound respect for Chen Yu.

Without Chen Yu’s aid that day, he couldn’t have smoothly advanced to mid-stage Meridian Passage.

Now, as Chen Yu had advanced to Meridian Passage Stage and became a formal Outer Disciple, Ding Jiuhui naturally regarded him with admiration.

"Yes. I’m missing two rare materials.”

Chen Yu raised the bag in his hand, explaining his situation.

"Oh?”

Ding Jiuhui said curiously, “Collecting materials at the Sect Affairs Hall can be costly. But if you’re only missing two slightly rare materials, you could try your luck at the ‘Outer Disciples Exchange Meet’ the day after tomorrow.”

Outer Disciples Exchange Meet?

Chen Yu was momentarily taken aback and then recalled some rumors about the exchange meet.

"Now that Junior Brother Chen has advanced to Meridian Passage, officially becoming a disciple, it’s time to join this ‘circle.’ Why not let me show you in then?”

Ding Jiuhui said with a look of realization.

It seems.

This “Outer Disciples Exchange Meet” generally targeted seasoned Outer Disciples, requiring at least Meridian Passage advancement.

Previously, with only Body Refining Stage cultivation, Chen Yu was on the margins of the Outer Disciples, naturally never entering that small circle.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Ding.”

Chen Yu hurriedly expressed his gratitude.

He knew.

The Outer Disciples Exchange Meet was a small activity where seasoned Outer Disciples exchanged martial arts experiences and mutually promoted each other.

Moreover.

During the exchange meet, seasoned disciples could trade among themselves for resources.

Chen Yu had long yearned for this exchange meet.

It’s said that some of the true geniuses and elites among the Outer Disciples occasionally appeared at the exchange meet.

"Hopefully, the exchange meet the day after tomorrow will yield results.”

Chen Yu returned to his residence and sat in meditation to cultivate.

Collecting the prescription materials was an integral part of his cultivation path. Whether he could reach the Inner Sect depended on the “Copper Statue Technique!”