Chapter 16: The Secret Art

After this incident, Chen Yinshan and his wife became much more cautious. They also took Li Guanzhen's words to heart, truly remembering them. After all, in this perilous and ruthless world of cultivation, having even one or two genuine companions who reciprocate sincerity is exceedingly rare.

Half a year after moving into the outer city, Wen Rongxin experienced a transformation in her cultivation. Since she began practicing the "Dragon Transformation Technique," she had completely abandoned the path of Qi refinement, focusing solely on strengthening her body. With the support of spiritual stones from Li Guanzhen, as well as the spiritual energy of their new residence in the outer city, Wen Rongxin's entire physique underwent a qualitative change. Her internal organs thrived more vigorously than ever, and with a single punch, she sent Chen Yinshan staggering several steps backward.

Chen Yinshan’s face was full of astonishment. “You’re only at the early stage of body refinement, aren’t you? Yet you managed to make me—a cultivator at the fourth level of Qi refinement—retreat?”

Over the past six months, he too had broken through to the fourth level of Qi refinement.

Wen Rongxin was somewhat surprised herself. She looked down at her delicate fist in disbelief. Was this really the strength she could unleash?

Li Guanzhen, who had been watching, analyzed, “It’s likely related to your constitution. When a body cultivator undergoes the first qualitative transformation of their vital energy, their strength increases dramatically... That punch you just threw could rival that of a cultivator at the third level of Qi refinement.”

“Come on, hit me again!” Chen Yinshan, somewhat unconvinced, challenged Wen Rongxin.

Wen Rongxin asked softly, “Will you get hurt?”

“Hurt?” Chen Yinshan retorted with annoyance, “If you can injure me, I’ll gladly accept it!”

“I won’t have to pay compensation, right?” Wen Rongxin added earnestly.

“Enough nonsense, just punch!” Chen Yinshan urged.

Soon, Wen Rongxin summoned all her strength, her vital energy surging and condensing in her right fist, which she then hurled forward with force. Chen Yinshan mustered all his spiritual power, bracing himself for the blow, only to discover—

“That’s all?” Chen Yinshan was stunned. His right palm easily caught Wen Rongxin’s punch. “This strength is completely different from before! At most, it’s only at the first level of Qi refinement!”

“I understand now!” Zhao Guili exclaimed in realization. “It must be related to Rongxin’s method of training. She hasn’t practiced any other martial arts manuals; every day, she simply throws punches. So the punch just now had both her spirit and strength concentrated in it, which allowed her to match the power of a third-level Qi refinement cultivator.”

“So she can only deliver one such punch?” Li Guanzhen was also taken aback. Was this the legendary ‘One Punch Wonder’?

To celebrate Wen Rongxin’s breakthrough into the early stage of body refinement, Li Guanzhen drank three taels of Deer Antler Spirit Wine. That night, he shared all his insights into cultivation with her, fueling her progress to greater heights.

The next day, Li Guanzhen steadied himself against the wall as he made his way to the spacious cultivation chamber. Closing his eyes and calming his spirit, he began refining the pure energy within his body. Suddenly, an image appeared in his mind: a slender root bone enveloped in flames. As pure energy surged in, the fire blazed brighter, and that tiny root bone gradually thickened and strengthened.

“Could this be... a lower-grade Fire Spiritual Root transforming into a middle-grade one?” Li Guanzhen was taken aback. So pure energy could actually alter the quality of spiritual roots? That was something he had only just discovered today! At this rate, wouldn’t marrying a concubine also result in further changes to his spiritual roots?

“After my wife broke through to the early stage of body refinement, she can already hold her own against me. If I take on a concubine... Ouch!” Li Guanzhen couldn’t help but take a sharp breath, unable to imagine the consequences. The Deer Antler Spirit Wine might make him formidable through the night, but come morning, he was left aching and weak, barely able to walk.

“There are still about two thousand spirit stones left in the pouch. I must buy a proper dual cultivation manual, or else I’ll spend every day sore and exhausted, unable even to draw talismans properly.” Li Guanzhen sighed softly. The money came fast, but it went even faster—just the materials for making talismans were a significant expense.

“There are only two top-grade Golden Blade Talismans left, and as for the Golden Light Talismans, only three remain, which are even stronger than the Protective Talismans... Honestly, I might as well just draw Protective and Explosive Talismans for profit.”

Li Guanzhen shook his head. Still, in order to smoothly advance to a second-tier talisman master in the future, he had to study all kinds of talisman scripts. Only in his spare time would he draw Protective and Explosive Talismans.

After finishing another Golden Blade Talisman, Li Guanzhen got up, planning to make a trip to the Myriad Phenomena Pavilion to sell his talismans and the four lower-grade magical artifacts he had on hand.

In the courtyard, Wen Rongxin was practicing, her movements simple and focused—punching and striking.

Seeing her husband about to head out, and with the weather turning cold, Wen Rongxin quickly fetched a thick coat for him and said, “Husband, please come home early tonight.”

“What’s the matter?” Li Guanzhen asked, puzzled.

Wen Rongxin bit her lip and whispered, “Just come home early.”

Li Guanzhen nodded slightly, didn’t ask further, and made his way toward the Myriad Phenomena Pavilion.

After selling off his talismans and magical artifacts, Li Guanzhen wanted to buy the "Yin-Yang Foundation Building Life Technique," which was priced at three thousand spirit stones. However, after purchasing other materials for talisman crafting, he was left with only about twelve hundred spirit stones in his pouch.

Zheng Huangjin grinned and said, “If you’re urgently needing a dual cultivation manual, why not take this 'Soaring Dragon and Dancing Phoenix Method'? It may not match the 'Yin-Yang Foundation Building Life Technique,' but it’s quite a decent dual cultivation manual. At the very least, it’ll let you sweep across the world from the bedchamber.”

“How much?” Li Guanzhen asked.

“Not expensive—just one thousand spirit stones,” Zheng replied.

“You always say it’s not expensive...” Li Guanzhen grumbled, but in the end, he bought the "Soaring Dragon and Dancing Phoenix Method." He had no choice—without a proper dual cultivation manual, he really couldn’t handle Wen Rongxin, now at the early stage of body refinement. And who could think of taking a concubine in such a state?

Zheng Huangjin laughed boisterously. “How about I take you for a little trip to the Azure Phoenix House?”

“You paying?” asked Li Guanzhen.

“Of course, we each pay our own way...”

“Then I’m not interested. I prefer daylight and honest business. Farewell.”

With that, Li Guanzhen walked away without looking back.

He would never waste his hard-earned gold in the Azure Phoenix House. To him, every drop of sweat and every ounce of gold was worth thousands or even tens of thousands in return. If he squandered his strength and energy there, how long would it take to improve his aptitude and cultivation?

Thus, not only must the young understand the value of gold, but even as one grows older, one must cherish it all the more.

After leaving the Myriad Phenomena Pavilion, Li Guanzhen followed his usual routine—circling the market several times, making loops around the outer city, ensuring that no one was following this unremarkable figure, before finally heading home. This had become his habit. Only by doing so could he hope to survive longer in the perilous and unforgiving world of cultivation.

“Wife, I’m home!” Li Guanzhen called as he pushed open the door and walked toward the living room.

But then, he stopped in his tracks.

There were two more women in the house...

So this was the reason his wife had asked him to come home early?