Chapter 12: Feeling a Bit of an Ego

The various ores and iron stones had their own values. However, what Zhang Shen had been truly anticipating were the spiritual herbs, of which, regrettably, there were only three. They were either Celestial Mountain Nectar or Eternal Youth Root, aged around ten to twenty years. 

So far, Zhang Shen had consumed a fair amount of precious medicinal materials. However, those were considered common medicinal ingredients and even if they were old enough, they didn’t qualify as spiritual herbs.

He had also consumed a few genuine spiritual herbs in the past and thus didn’t undervalue these three. He checked his physical level which had already reached 88%.

“Perhaps my chance to further increase my physical progress lies with these three spiritual herbs.”

After arranging the items, Zhang Shen put the ores and magical items into Wang Zhong’s storage bag.

Early the next morning, he found Zhang Tianlong and handed him the storage bag. He just mentioned in passing that these were acquired from killing Wang family members.

Zhang Tianlong looked at his grandson deeply, both surprised and full of admiration. He had always been worried that his grandson was too young and not ruthless enough. Now it seemed that he didn’t have to worry too much about this.

“Did you leave any traces?”

“After killing them, I turned them into mush, and I also destroyed the surrounding environment.”

At this, Zhang Tianlong appreciated him even more. The method was simple but effective.

Although there were still ways to find clues in such a situation, the cost would be high. Moreover, if these families on the edge of the Endless Wilderness had such means, would they still be here? They would have long since broken into human territory and competed for a spot among them.

“Grandfather, I want to hand over this storage bag and its resources to the family. I think it’s time I made some contribution,” said Zhang Shen.

Zhang Tianlong laughed, “You slick little rascal, this storage bag and the magical instruments have the Wang family’s mark, which you can’t handle well, but the ores inside are indeed greatly needed by the family.”

Zhang Shen rubbed his head, indeed this was his idea.

“Don’t worry, the family won’t treat you unfairly. Go to the family’s storage and get a storage bag to use, and then apply for some cultivation resources.”

Zhang Shen nodded. He did keep a storage bag from Qin Shuang, but that bag was only two cubic meters in size. After packing in the seven hundred spirit stones, three spiritual herbs, and ten books, it was already quite packed.

One bag was simply not enough, and he certainly wouldn’t refuse another. Or rather, it came just in time.

Having received the storage bag and cultivation resources, Zhang Shen didn’t take any more missions from the family. Instead, he began a short-term retreat in his own cultivation room.

In three months’ time, Zhang Shen had used up all the cultivation resources and spiritual herbs he had exchanged, as well as over a hundred spirit stones.

The Strongest Physical Body System

Host: Zhang Shen

Physical Level: Acquired Stage 9th Layer

Progress: 100% (Accumulating for Breakthrough)

Cultivation Level: Acquired Stage 7th Layer

Progress: 55%

Martial Art Progress: Bright Moon Technique 7th Layer (Progress: 8%), Tenfold Power Strike (Complete), Cold Moon Blade Techniques (Progress: 89%), Cloud-Drifting Step (Progress: 95%)

Evaluation: You, the champion of the Acquired Stage, are undergoing a transformation. Remember not to easily strike at others, you might kill them.

This was Zhang Shen’s first experience of a major breakthrough. He realized that when the 9th Layer of the Acquired Stage was completed, accumulating experience points didn’t lead directly to a breakthrough in the Innate Stage, but showed ‘Accumulating for Breakthrough’ instead.

“Right, each major breakthrough is a huge chasm. If completing the previous realm could lead directly to the next, would that chasm still be considered a chasm?”

Zhang Shen could feel that although the various data of his physical body hadn’t changed, there was a force gathering inside, nurturing a world-shaking transformation.

However, it had been a while since he had reached the peak of the Acquired Stage realm for his physical body, and he had earned a huge amount of experience points during this period. He had a premonition that the day of his physical level’s formal promotion was either today or tomorrow.

That night, the full moon hung high, and the cold and silent moonlight shone down, bringing about a sense of tranquility, which also affected Zhang Shen.

His mind was completely empty. Suddenly, a tremendous life force erupted from within his body, and the barrier between his physical body and the heavens and earth was broken.

Zhang Shen, who had re-established contact with the great mother of the heavens and earth, suddenly felt a sense of warmth and fulfillment. A feeling of security as if being embraced by the heavens and earth arose spontaneously.

“Is this what it feels like when the physical body achieves the Innate Stage? I wonder what it will be like when internal energy transforms into true qi.”

Zhang Shen felt his body that had become several times stronger. Now, he could easily slap two or three of his pre-breakthrough selves to death with no problem. Such was the gap between the Acquired and Innate Stages.

“And when the physical level reaches the Innate Stage, the intimacy with the spiritual qi of the heavens and earth surges, and the speed of absorbing and digesting spiritual qi doubles. If this is applied to cultivating Bright Moon Technique, the progress of cultivation will also skyrocket.”

‘Practicing an Acquired technique with an Innate body, isn’t this just as expected?’

Zhang Shen opened his panel again.

The Strongest Physical Body System

Host: Zhang Shen

Physical Level: 1st Layer Innate Stage

Progress: 0.05% 

Cultivation Level: 7th Layer Acquired Stage

Progress: 56%

Skill Progress: (Expandable)

Evaluation: Other martial artists’ Innate bodies are merely a byproduct of their cultivation, whereas yours can contend with Innate martial artists. However, even though you now have a lifespan of two hundred years, you’re still just a little chick at the Innate 1st Layer, so please tread carefully and avoid courting death.

Zhang Shen didn’t object to the Strongest Physical System’s evaluation.

“As warriors, not only should we be courageous and diligent, but we should also be careful and cautious.” Zhang Shen clenched his fist in self-warning, in an attempt to soothe his somewhat inflated ego due to the sudden increase in his strength.

In the following half month, he took the time to fully grasp the strength of his body after breaking through, before he once again began undertaking family missions.

Outside Hongyuan City, Zhang Shen pulled out a map and compared it with the terrain on the map he had obtained.

“There’s no mistake, this map points to the Poison Abyss.”

The Poison Abyss was filled with poisonous things and poisonous gases everywhere. Acquired Stage martial artists who carelessly ventured in could find their bodies festering and decaying into pus.

It was a famous area on the edge of the Endless Wilderness.

“The Poison Abyss is a dangerous place, but also a treasure trove. The poisonous creatures and gasses within can provide ample resources for cultivating certain techniques and martial skills. But the place I need to go is within the mountains surrounding the Poison Abyss.”

The family task that Zhang Shen looked to take just happened to be in the same direction as his intended destination. It provided a perfect cover for his true intentions.

“I haven’t heard any news from Jiuchuan City in the past three months, but I still need to be careful. Heaven knows whether the Wang family has managed to get hold of any leads.”

Once he was far away from Hongyuan City, Zhang Shen’s facial bones began to shift. After stepping into the Innate Stage with his physical body, he naturally mastered this ability.

Moments later, his appearance changed. The handsome youth transformed into a sturdy middle-aged man.

“In this tumultuous world of martial arts, who can truly dodge the blade’s strike? It’s best to don a disguise and shoulder a false identity, reaping the rewards beneath this cover. Wonderful, simply wonderful.”

Zhang Shen changed out of his brocade robe and put on the clothes of an unaffiliated cultivator that he had prepared earlier, and set off toward the Poison Abyss.