Chapter 51: A Decade’s Reflection

After accounting for the assets inherited from Li Yan and the gains he amassed over a decade, Zhang Shen found himself facing a sobering truth. Even if he reserved the necessary resources for his forthcoming cultivation practices, his wealth fell short of acquiring a True Core grade communication talisman.

“I’m truly impoverished,” he sighed deeply. “Should I deploy my alias, Lin Fanyun, for some quick gains? But there aren’t any viable targets. Plus, I’m hardly acquainted with the ins and outs of the True Core circle. Should I then consider Lu Qinsheng’s offer to introduce me to this elite circle of True Core practitioners?”

In the past, Lu Qinsheng had been keen on witnessing a clash between Lin Fanyun and Luo Tian, hoping to capitalize on the ensuing chaos.

A peaceful settlement? What the hell was that?

With his aspirations thwarted, Lu Qinsheng wasted no time in inviting Lin Fanyun to join this prestigious circle of True Core masters.

While Zhang Shen remained clueless about Lu Qinsheng’s ulterior motives, he knew all too well that there were few who acted without self-interest, and Lu Qinsheng wasn’t among them.

Therefore, Zhang Shen consistently declined with diplomacy.

He did, however, harbor intentions to enter this circle but preferred to wait until he honed his physical capabilities further. He didn’t want to be the fresh recruit who’s thrust into the frontline as expendable.

Within the True Core circle, who would bat an eye for a rookie? Especially one who’s freshly initiated without any significant affiliations.

“Having weighed all options, only one path remains.”

Close to Hongyuan City in the Endless Wilderness, five other cities awaited his dominion.

“No need to hasten,” he pondered. “Their resources and their populace are equally valuable to me, but to rule over them I need a skilled workforce.”

Zhang Shen tried to quell his burgeoning enthusiasm.

Circumstances compelled him to temporarily sideline the purchase of the coveted True Core communication talisman.

“For now, nurturing a competent force is paramount.”

The looming responsibility of managing the additional five cities wasn’t the only concern, the manpower deficit within the Ancient Covenant was also severely evident.

After some deliberation, Zhang Shen went through his stock of resources. He separated a fraction of items that he deemed less critical, preparing them for allocation.

“Rather than consuming these for a modest increase in my experience points, they’d better serve others.”

Around twelve days later, when figures like Li Zhi and Zhang Yu approached him for an update on the Ancient Covenant’s progress, Zhang Shen entrusted them with the selected resources.

“Contained within are numerous Acquired-grade natural treasures. Additionally, there are about a dozen Barrier Breaking Pills, instrumental for transcending to the Innate stage. Use them wisely.”

The likes of Zhang Yu and Lin You couldn’t contain their excitement. Even if they disregarded the other assets, the Barrier Breaking Pills alone were a prized possession.

Those who practiced the Acquired martial arts, especially those poised at their ninth layer peak, were in desperate need of such elixirs.

A fleeting notion to exclusively allocate them to Hongyuan City’s martial artists brushed Zhang Yu’s thoughts but was promptly discarded. He now served as the internal affairs elder of the Ancient Covenant, representing Hongyuan City.

With such a role, neutrality was paramount.

Showing slight favor to Hongyuan City was acceptable, but overt bias could sow seeds of future discord.

“In the Ancient Covenant, we should introduce a merit-based system for tasks. Earn points for resources and trade loyalty for Barrier Breaking Pills,” Zhang Yu quickly strategized the resources’ distribution.

“We can also adopt the elite class system that Hongyuan City used in the past,” Zhang Shen suggested.

He then unveiled another bundle of resources.

“This is dedicated to Hongyuan City. Deliver it to our grandfather and the others, and make sure they put it to good use.”

As Zhang Yu received the storage bag, a swell of gratitude welled up within him. Though the bag held fewer items, predominantly around ten Barrier Breaking Pills, it was amply sufficient.

After all, Hongyuan City was self-sufficient in catering to the Acquired martial artists’ cultivation needs. Especially with Yousha City as a major trading hub within human territories meant that products from the Endless Wilderness could yield significant profits for Hongyuan City.

Undoubtedly, the Ancient Covenant stood to gain immensely from this process.

This very potential for profit was what motivated Zhang Shen to retrieve Hongyuan City’s goods from the control of the Iron Banner Gang.

After these arrangements, Zhang Shen called Li Zhi aside, offering her instruction in martial arts.

“My martial cultivation has ascended to the ninth layer of the Innate stage. The techniques from the Mountain of a Thousand Layers focus on this Innate stage and can take me to its pinnacle. Once I break through to the True Core stage, I’ll be poised to join the elite circle of True Core experts in this area.”

Yet, this phase stretched on far longer than Zhang Shen had predicted.

He was well aware that perfecting a cultivation level, without the system’s aid, was a challenge. Surprisingly, this phase spanned a whole decade.

Watching the final fragment of his progress bar fill up, culminating in a perfect 100%, Zhang Shen exhaled in relief.

“I never imagined it would take this long.”

A sense of profound reflection gripped Zhang Shen.

Just five years earlier, he had already achieved 70% in his Innate stage cultivation, enough to progress to the True Core stage. Yet, driven by the pursuit of perfection, he dedicated another five years, advancing slowly and steadily.

He accessed his status panel.

The Strongest Physical Body System

Host: Zhang Shen

Age: 36 (Lifespan: 500 years)

Physical Level: True Core Stage – Second Layer

Progress: 21%

Martial Cultivation Level: Innate Stage – Ninth Layer

Progress: 100% (Perfected)

Cultivation Technique: Mountain of a Thousand Layers – Innate Ninth Layer: 100% (Perfected)

Martial Skills: Grand Sun Blade Technique: 97%

Completed Techniques (Martial Skills): Expandable

Over this decade, his persistent efforts, though yielding limited experience points, allowed Zhang Shen to rise to the second layer of the True Core stage. The progress might have been gradual, but Zhang Shen was deeply satisfied.

He had dedicated most of his time to deepening his cultivation, so much so that he hadn’t even perfected the Grand Sun Blade Technique. Advancing even one level in physical prowess was an achievement in itself.

“Now is the moment to break through.”

With a calm mind, Zhang Shen felt the thick and profound innate qi from the Mountain of a Thousand Layers coursing through him, akin to a mighty river. It congregated at his dantian, signaling the imminent formation of a qi core.

His formidable body inhaled vast quantities of spiritual energy. However, the spiritual energy present in the surrounding water was sparse. With a mere gesture, a cascade of spirit stones erupted from his storage pouch, settling before him.

This thick spiritual energy was voraciously consumed by Zhang Shen.

Most would find it challenging to harness such potent spiritual energy, risking internal rupture or descending into madness. Yet, Zhang Shen’s formidable physique stood undaunted by this challenge.

Any spiritual energy he absorbed was completely assimilated, with no chance of escape.

A full day and night passed, and within his dantian, the silhouette of a core gradually materialized.

“The final component, Martial Will.”

Zhang Shen channeled his Martial Will, representing the culmination of all his skills and techniques, into the nascent core. In a heartbeat, the True Core manifested, emitting a resplendent golden sheen.

A vast, commanding aura enveloped the surrounding mountains. Beasts, caught in its grasp, cowered in fear, while nature itself seemed to bow in homage.

After displaying his newfound might, Zhang Shen withdrew this majestic presence.

This post-breakthrough sensation was unlike the pristine perfection he felt upon refining his physical body.

The emergence of the Martial True Core introduced a different realm of sensation. The vast expansion of one’s consciousness, mastery over nature’s forces, and the ability to exert one’s will upon the environment. It was a sensation distinct from the physical True Core.

These were two separate paths of evolution, progressing in tandem and enhancing one another.

With his prior experience from the physical True Core breakthrough, Zhang Shen swiftly, in just five days, grasped the changes following his martial True Core ascent.

He had full command over this newfound strength.

Simultaneously, he comprehended two unique divine techniques.

“Upon reaching the True Core stage, martial artists, in a transient moment of harmony with the wisdom, merge their collective wisdom, realizing their signature divine technique. But I’ve reached the zenith of the Innate stage and broke through in a state of perfection, allowing me to comprehend two divine techniques. Combined with the two divine techniques I grasped upon perfecting my physique, I now wield a total of four innate divine techniques.”

Such a tally would astonish anyone, representing a feat that most can only dream of.

Yet, Zhang Shen refrained from becoming conceited. Although he mastered divine techniques, other seasoned True Core experts, in addition to their divine techniques, also practiced True Core martial skills.

In an actual confrontation, predicting the victor was a gamble.

After all, divine techniques were essentially a type of martial skill. They stand out from standard martial techniques because they were tailor-made for the martial artist and evolved in power alongside them.

“Physical Divine Techniques: Body Manipulation and Tenfold Burst; Martial Divine Techniques: Annihilation Intent and Mountain Seal.”

Zhang Shen was thoroughly pleased with all four divine techniques.

After fully adjusting to this newfound power, Zhang Shen exited his secluded cultivation. Firstly, he hadn’t relaxed in ages, and secondly, his resources were dwindling.

A decade of cultivation had nearly emptied his storage pouch. 

While it still contained some items, most of them were now of minimal value to him.

The only worthwhile items were several unpracticed martial techniques and skills. Of these, the True Core section of the Mountain of a Thousand Layers technique and the mid-grade True Core technique Sky-Splitting Finger were most significant.

He took out the legacy medallion and infused the mana from the Mountain of a Thousand Layers technique into it and the corresponding True Core part revealed itself.

Zhang Shen’s eyes narrowed. The technique on the medallion differed from what Li Yan had.

Upon closer inspection, Zhang Shen discovered that the Mountain of a Thousand Layers True Core technique from Li Yan lacked the final segment when set against the medallion’s version.

“Without this segment, it’s merely a top-grade True Core technique. But with it, it’s a superior-grade technique.”

How could this be?

Was it Li Yan’s deliberate omission, or did Li Yan simply not have this portion of the technique to begin with?

After some consideration, Zhang Shen felt the latter was more likely. His gut told him that Master Li Yan probably hadn’t reached the pinnacle of the Innate stage as he had.

In Zhang Shen’s case, it had taken a decade to traverse this stage.

Without the benefits of a fully cultivated physique, how long would Li Yan have taken? Zhang Shen could daily measure and uplift his spirits based on his cultivation milestones, but what about Li Yan?

“Skyscrapers rise from the ground up. Without mastering the Innate stage, how can one chase the apex of the True Core stage?”

This realization, in perspective, was a silver lining for Zhang Shen.

Though achieving perfection in cultivation was arduous and lengthy, having savored its advantages, he would never abandon the pursuit of excellence at each stage.

Given that the Mountain of a Thousand Layers technique had its ultimate form, he didn’t need to search for other methods.

This spared him many future endeavors.

He activated the Mist Formation, concealing the Luoshui Ravine, which wasn’t of significant importance.

***

At Yuosha Town, the sky was yet dark, with only a hint of dawn. Numerous merchants and traders had already assembled at the town gates, ready for entry. Most of them were locals from the vicinity of Yuosha Town, managing small-scale businesses.

There had been vendors before, but not as many. Most shops were owned by established businesses in Yuosha Town.

Small traders often found it challenging to endure the continuous extortion by various influential factions within Yuosha Town.

However, since the establishment of the Ancient Covenant, Yuosha Town was brought under a unified rule. All groups were forbidden from demanding protection money. Some entities, which depended on these levies, went bankrupt, yet none had the audacity to oppose the Ancient Covenant.

In the subsequent years, a few audacious ones tried underhanded tactics, but all met with dire consequences.

Presently, any trader aiming to enter the town had to part with a minimal fee, at times, as trivial as a single steamed bun.

This policy significantly boosted the enthusiasm of the neighboring residents, leading to a flourishing trade environment in Yuosha Town.