I attained sainthood through alchemy on the cliff.

Chapter 46 The Azure Phoenix Tests Its Sword

Yang Jin was somewhat helpless. He never expected Shen Qingyun to offer such "guidance," and he certainly didn't expect that the method she pointed out would sound so... childish, yet so to the point.

Guided by intention? Flowing around like water? Dissolving?

This sounds more like a description of some profound internal energy cultivation method than a technique for generating power in martial arts at the Body Refining Realm.

But seeing Shen Qingyun's lazy, "believe it or not, I'm watching" look as she leaned against the wall, and those eyes that seemed to see through everything, Yang Jin's competitive spirit was stirred up.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the embarrassment and annoyance of being spied on and commented on, and straightened his back again.

This time, he didn't rush to build up his strength and explode, but instead slowly circulated the "Furnace Breathing Method" to allow his blood and qi to flow smoothly.

At the same time, he tried to focus his mind on his waist and abdomen to sense the "dead knot" that Shen Qingyun had mentioned.

Sure enough, when the Qi and blood accumulated near the waist along the "Collapse Mountain" route in "Three Strikes to Break the Mountain", a distinct feeling of stagnation and expansion came over me, as if there really was a knot there, hindering the smooth flow of Qi and blood and the perfect transmission of power.

Yang Jin did not force his way through, but instead recalled Shen Qingyun's words, concentrated his mind, and used his mind to "visualize".

He imagined his vital energy not as a raging torrent, but as a spiritual stream.

That "dead knot" was an obstructive rock.

When the stream encounters a rock, it doesn't crash into it head-on, but gently parts it, flowing around it from both sides, or... slowly seeping in, smoothing out the rock's sharp edges.

This is an extremely subtle form of spiritual guidance, requiring a considerable degree of perception and control over one's own Qi and blood.

Thanks to the keen perception brought by the mountain cauldron and the pure foundation of Yi Jing and marrow cleansing after consuming the fire lotus, Yang Jin was able to quickly capture that feeling.

With a slight thought, he stopped forcibly attacking the obstruction and instead guided the gathering blood and qi, as if they had truly transformed into two warm currents, gently gliding along the edge of the "knot" before reuniting and accumulating power behind it.

In that instant, the swelling and tightness in my lower back suddenly eased!

An unprecedented sense of freedom came over me, and the accumulated blood and qi seemed to break free of the restraints of a beast, roaring and surging into my limbs and bones. The sense of power was much stronger than before!

"Now!"

Yang Jin shouted in his heart, and the power he had been accumulating to its peak was unleashed with a roar, following the method of "Mountain Collapse"!

Instead of throwing a punch, he stomped his right foot forward!

"boom!"

A muffled thud, unlike the fierce and violent one during the previous drills, was more profound and weighty!

The solid mud floor in the courtyard collapsed instantly, leaving a clear footprint centered on the spot where his foot landed, and spiderweb-like cracks spread more than three feet out!

An invisible wave of energy spread out from him, stirring up fine dust from the ground.

This stomp was powerful and heavy, truly resembling the beginnings of a "mountain collapse"!

Moreover, the force was applied smoothly, and the recoil was easily neutralized by the strong muscles and skin, so there was no longer any lingering soreness in the waist and abdomen after the previous practice.

Become!

Yang Jin stopped his stance, his chest heaving slightly, but his eyes gleamed with surprise. He looked up at the top of the wall.

Shen Qingyun remained lying there, her smile deepening, tinged with a hint of "you're teachable" approval. She clapped her hands lightly twice: "Not bad, you get it right away. You look much better now."

Yang Jin felt a complex mix of emotions that were difficult to express.

Although Shen Qingyun's actions are unpredictable and put a lot of pressure on people, her insight and guidance are indeed extremely brilliant and incisive.

He took a deep breath, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed deeply, sincerely saying, "Thank you for your guidance, sir!"

Shen Qingyun waved her hand as if she had only done a trivial matter, and then asked with interest, "What's the name of your martial arts technique? It's interesting, not like an ordinary farming skill."

Yang Jin paused for a moment, not answering immediately.

This "Three Strikes to Break the Mountain" technique was taught to him by Chen Shan, and he didn't know whether he should reveal it or not.

Just then, the back door of the blacksmith shop creaked open, and Chen Shan walked out with a hunched back.

He had clearly been inside the house listening to the sounds outside.

At this moment, his cloudy gaze swept over the fresh footprint on the ground, then glanced at Shen Qingyun on the wall. His face was expressionless, and he answered Yang Jin in a hoarse voice: "Reporting to my lord, it is a rudimentary skill that I obtained by chance before, called 'Three Strikes to Break the Mountain'."

"The Three Strikes of Broken Mountain..." Shen Qingyun repeated softly, nodding. "The name is good, quite ambitious. As for the moves... I just saw one move, 'Mountain Collapse,' which, although only in its rudimentary form, subtly aligns with the training method, fighting style, qi and blood circulation, and most importantly—'intention.'"

His gaze fell on Yang Jin, a half-smile playing on his lips: "Yang Jin, you've truly found a good master. Master Chen is not only a master blacksmith, but his eye for teaching disciples is also exceptional. This 'Three Strikes to Break the Mountain' may be rudimentary, but it directly addresses the meaning of 'breaking the mountain.' If one can master it to a deeper level, its power should not be underestimated. It's especially suitable for someone like you... well, someone with plenty of strength and a tenacious spirit."

His words were loaded with meaning; he praised Chen Shan, pointed out Yang Jin, and subtly implied that the skill was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.

Chen Shan's expression remained unchanged, and he merely bowed slightly: "You flatter me, sir. These are just some unorthodox self-defense techniques, hardly worthy of serious consideration."

Shen Qingyun smiled and didn't continue the topic, as if her comment just now was really just a casual remark.

He suddenly turned his head and called out to the neighboring courtyard, "Qingluan."

Almost the instant he finished speaking, a figure in cyan robes swept up the wall like a wisp of smoke and landed silently beside Shen Qingyun. It was the icy maid.

She still carried the slender sword on her back, her expression indifferent, but when she looked at Shen Qingyun, her eyes showed absolute obedience.

"Young Master." Qingluan lowered her head slightly.

Shen Qingyun pointed to Yang Jin in the courtyard, her tone casual as if she were giving a small order: "Go, spar with Brother Yang. Just practicing without actually fighting is just empty talk and a sham. Let him see what the real Bone Refining Realm is like."

Qingluan turned her gaze to Yang Jin, her cold eyes devoid of any emotion, as if she were looking at an inanimate object.

She simply nodded slightly: "Yes."

Then, she gracefully descended from the top of the wall, as light as a feather, and landed three zhang away from Yang Jin.

Yang Jin's heart sank!

Sparring? Sparring with Qingluan, who is at the peak of the Bone Refining Realm?

This is hardly a friendly exchange; it's clearly a test, a pressure, or even... a different kind of examination or warning!

Chen Shan's expression also changed. He stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "My lord! Yang Jin is a novice with a shallow foundation. How can he possibly compete with your maid..."

"Hey, Master Chen, no need to worry." Shen Qingyun interrupted him with a smile, still perched on the wall with a leisurely air of watching a good show. "It's just a friendly spar, nothing more. Qingluan knows her limits. Besides, in the path of martial arts, one can't just shut oneself away and practice. Seeing different styles and getting beaten up is beneficial. Brother Yang, don't you think?"

His last sentence was addressed to Yang Jin, and his tone left no room for doubt.

Yang Jin looked at Qingluan, who was cold and aloof like an ice sculpture, and then glanced at Shen Qingyun, whose smile remained unchanged on the wall. He knew that this battle was unavoidable.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the shock and a hint of instinctive tension in his heart, and a calm flame rekindled in his eyes.

Since it's a test, let them test us!

Perfect timing! He also wanted to see just how big the gap was between his transformed strength and that of a true peak Bone Refining Realm cultivator!

"Yes, sir." Yang Jin clasped his hands in a fist salute, turned to face Qingluan, and his eyes sharpened. "Please enlighten me."

Qingluan didn't waste any words, and didn't even draw her sword.

She simply raised her hand slightly, making a "please" gesture; the movement was simple, yet it exuded a stern aura.

The atmosphere in the courtyard froze instantly.

On the wall, Shen Qingyun rested her chin on her hand, a playful smile on her face.

Chen Shan stood by the door, his fingers quietly clenching.

Yang Jin and Qing Luan stood three zhang apart, their gazes meeting in mid-air.

It was silent, yet it sounded as if metal was clashing.