noveltune Chapter 31 Great Increase in Strength
Chapter 31 Great Increase in Strength
The morning in Heishan'ao was torn apart by a series of hurried and frantic footsteps and a roar of shock and anger.
"Useless! A bunch of useless trash! Four grown men, and they couldn't even guard an abandoned mine entrance?!"
In the main hall of the Sun family mansion, Sun Mancang's face was ashen, and the veins on his forehead were bulging. He smashed a fine celadon teacup on the ground, shards and scalding tea splashing everywhere.
Kneeling in the hall were several guards who had returned from their overnight search, all of them silent and pale.
"Master...Master, the Eagle's Beak Cave that Chief Wang and his men were guarding found...finds of a fight, and...and also the acid and shell fragments of the Fire Centipede. The scene is a mess, like...like it was attacked by a strange beast..." a leader reported tremblingly.
"Bullshit!" Sun Mancang roared in fury. "The Fire Centipedes are mostly found deep in the mine shafts in humid and hot places. How could they possibly be attacking people at the outer abandoned mine entrance? And they just happen to be the ones guarding me... the people guarding that place?!"
He almost let it slip, and he was filled with shock, anger, and fear.
Deep within the Eagle's Beak mine lies a secret treasure trove. Although it is the least valuable of the three treasure locations, the silver coins and the two precious herbs inside represent his years of hard work!
More importantly, the fact that it was exposed there means that his "three burrows" strategy may have been detected!
Who did it? Who did it?
Yang Jin? That little bastard is indeed a bit strange, but how could a mere teenager, even if he miraculously survived, possibly have the strength to silently eliminate a Skin Refining Realm guard and three subordinates? And how did he even know how to disguise himself as a beast to attack? Moreover, how did he know about that place?
Sun Mancang immediately ruled out Yang Jin, not because he underestimated him, but because he felt that the other party simply did not have such ability and information.
Then… his gaze turned somber as he looked at the three martial arts schools.
Rock Martial Arts School? Gale Martial Arts School? Or... Iron Bone Martial Arts School, which outwardly cooperates but secretly plots to take over his Iron Bone Martial Arts School?!
Only they! They have the power and the motive to accidentally discover the Sun family's secret treasure location during the exploration of the mine, then secretly kill and rob the treasure, and then disguise themselves as strange beasts to attack and cover their tracks!
This is to sever the lineage of the Sun family and make him suffer in silence!
"Fine, very well! This is just too disgusting! They're ripping off every passing goose!" Sun Mancang gritted his teeth, his chest burning with anger, yet he also felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
Compared to the three major martial arts schools, the Sun family's strength was simply insufficient.
Even if he had suspicions, would he dare to question them? Would he dare to search the premises?
"Master, what should we do now..." a trusted steward asked cautiously.
Sun Mancang took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down.
The damage has already been done. Now the most important thing is to preserve the remaining two treasure sites, and... to find a way for the Sun family to survive in the coming storm.
"This matter must not be publicized! Tell everyone it was an attack by a strange beast, and the bodies were never found." Sun Mancang ordered with a grim face, "Strengthen the guards at the other key locations, especially the house and... the other two places, keep a close eye on them! Also, send reliable people to secretly monitor the movements of those three martial arts schools, see if anyone's injuries are suspicious, or if anything that shouldn't be there has suddenly appeared!"
"Yes!" The subordinate quickly responded and withdrew.
Sun Mancang stood alone in the empty hall, gazing at the gloomy sky outside the window, his heart filled with an ominous premonition.
The landscape of Heishan'ao is truly about to change.
As for the Sun family, will they be able to rise up in this impending upheaval, or... become the first dust to be crushed?
He clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms.
……
Three days later.
Inside the blacksmith's shop, the furnace still burned brightly, and the clanging sound never ceased.
But Yang Jin's state of mind was completely different from before.
Two consecutive "Red Gold Blood Soup" medicinal baths, combined with the almost miraculous absorption and transformation capabilities of the mountain cauldron, resulted in a stunning effect.
By the end of the second medicinal bath, the liquid in the tub had also become crystal clear.
Yang Jin himself underwent a transformation that can be described as a complete metamorphosis!
At this moment, he was calming his mind and feeling the surging blood and qi within his body, as powerful and solid as the Yangtze River.
Beneath the skin, the stone-like defense was not only more resilient and thicker, but also subtly integrated more closely with the flesh and bones, as if he had truly become a piece of refined iron rock that had been forged and tempered a thousand times, becoming one with the inside and out.
Every gesture he makes exudes power and energy, yet is controlled with exquisite precision.
With a slight thought, he communicated with the sea of consciousness and the cauldron.
A brand-new information flow clearly emerges:
[Master of the Cauldron: Yang Jin]
[Refining the Cauldron Spirit: Earth-Walking Marmoset (Gray)]
[Fusion rate: 30.3% → 36.9%] (Perfect absorption of the precious medicine's essence, with the mountain cauldron providing nourishment and harmonization, strengthening the foundation, and significantly improving the fusion rate)
[Earth Vein Essence Reserves: 12.35 points] (Converted from the essence of precious medicines + accumulated through Atu's daily exploration)
[Mountain Favorability: Slightly Perceived → Clearly Perceived (Continued)] (Deepening understanding of the "Mountain's Meaning," and a closer connection with the earth)
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[Martial Arts Realm: Skin Refining Realm (Minor Success → Late Stage!)] (Stone skin is strengthened to the rudimentary form of 'Rock Skin', with a leap in total health and quality, and a comprehensive improvement in strength, defense, stamina, and recovery!)
[Current Status: Peak condition, full of energy and vitality, brimming with vitality]
[Cultivation Technique: Mountain Battle Diagram - Twelve Forms of the Demonic Ape (Incomplete) - First Form 'Rooting' (Proficient)]
[Cultivation Technique: Furnace Breathing Method (Master → Proficient)]
[Cultivation Technique: Standing Mountain Stance (Master → Proficient)]
[Practical Technique: Mountain Splitting Style (Entering the Inner Chamber)] (The meaning of "mountain" is integrated and deepened, the palm (blade) power is condensed and has extremely strong penetrating power, and can initially form a weak "qi force" a few inches away from the body)
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[Spiritual Talent:]
• Rock Skin (Initial Enhancement → Intermediate Prototype): Significantly increases defense, greatly enhances resistance to blunt force, cutting, and piercing, and is highly adaptable to soil and rock environments. It also exhibits excellent performance in force transmission, neutralization, and recoil. It is basically immune to ordinary attacks from the Skin Refining Realm, can withstand most attacks from the early stages of the Flesh Refining Realm, and can effectively weaken attacks from the mid-stage.
• Vibration perception (six zhang → eight zhang): The range is expanded, and the perception of details is more acute and clear, allowing for the preliminary differentiation of vibrations of different sources and intensities.
• Rock Control (Can affect the structure of rocks within 80 kg → Can affect the structure of rocks within 150 kg, with improved precision and response speed): The control is more convenient, and the shape of rocks can be slightly changed or small obstacles can be created in a short time.
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【Commander of Mountain Beasts: Rock-Carving Earthworm (A-Tu)】
[Status: Healthy, continuously growing (due to frequent exploration and the consumption of small amounts of mineral essence)]
[Evolution Requirements: 52/100 → 40/100] (Evolution is accelerated by underground activity and absorption of special minerals)
[New Abilities: Increased acid secretion (corrosiveness and adhesiveness); slightly improved underground movement speed and stealth; slightly enhanced perception of ore veins and ground energy fluctuations.]
Late stage of Skin Refining Realm! Embryonic Rock Skin Formation! Perception of vibrations at eight zhang (approximately 33 meters)! Ability to control 150 jin (approximately 75 kg) of stone! Ability to generate a weak burst of energy with the Mountain Splitting Strike!
In just a few days, their strength has increased dramatically!
Yang Jin could clearly sense that if he were to face Zhao Kun (at his peak) again, although he still dared not claim victory, with his rock-skin defense, stronger strength, and understanding of the weaknesses of the Iron Bone Fist, it would not be impossible for him to maneuver, fight, or even find an opportunity to severely injure his opponent!
As for the guards and instructors of the Sun family, they were nothing more than clay chickens and earthen dogs!
Meanwhile, Atu is also steadily growing, with reduced evolutionary requirements and enhanced abilities, making him an excellent partner for exploration and support.
What reassured Yang Jin even more was the 12.35 points of earth vein essence stored in the mountain cauldron.
This is incredibly pure energy, and it's priceless in critical moments, whether used to break through bottlenecks, recover instantly, or assist in cultivation.
"How does it feel?"
Chen Shan's voice rang out from the side. He looked at Yang Jin, his eyes still filled with the shock and complexity he felt when he witnessed that terrifying absorption rate.
"Better than ever before!" Yang Jin clenched his fist, a faint popping sound echoing in the air. "Thank you, Uncle Chen!"
"It's your own destiny." Chen Shan shook his head, his expression turning serious. "It's good that your strength has improved, but remember not to be complacent. At the late stage of the Skin Refining Realm, you might be considered someone in Black Mountain Valley, but in the eyes of true masters, you're still not enough. The reinforcements from those three martial arts schools should arrive today. The real storm is about to begin."
Yang Jin nodded, the excitement in his eyes fading, replaced by calmness and vigilance: "I understand. Uncle Chen, A-Tu is almost finished clearing the 'secret passage' leading to the underground cave. Any progress on the other two possible treasure locations of the Sun family?"
Chen Shan walked to the shop entrance, gazing at the martial arts camp flags faintly visible in the distance, and whispered, "Your Atu... I really didn't expect it to be able to do this much. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind! As for the Sun family's other treasure locations... a cunning rabbit has three burrows, so they must be even more secretive. Perhaps they're underground in the mansion, or perhaps they're in the mountains further away. Without clues, there's no time to rush."
He turned to look at Yang Jin: "What you need to do now is to thoroughly familiarize yourself with and master your newfound power, and stabilize your realm. Then... wait for the right opportunity."
"opportunity?"
"With the arrival of reinforcements from the three martial arts schools, they will inevitably launch a new and more intense investigation or attack on the underground cave. At that time, whether they and the guardian beast are both severely injured, or whether they force new changes to occur in the underground cave, it will be our opportunity." Chen Shan's eyes flashed with a shrewd light. "But before that, we need more eyes and ears."
Yang Jin immediately understood: "Should we have A Tu strengthen surveillance, especially on the movements of the martial arts school reinforcements and the real-time changes in the underground cave?"
"That's right. At the same time, you need to be even more careful." Chen Shan solemnly warned, "Your strength has improved too quickly. Although you can hide it well, your temperament and demeanor will inevitably show subtle changes. Li Feng, Shi Yue, and Liu Wuying are all seasoned veterans with sharp eyes. In front of them, you need to be more like 'stone,' more wooden, and more inconspicuous."
"Yes, I understand."
At noon that day, the oppressive sky was suddenly torn apart by several sharp, piercing sounds!
From the southeast, southwest, and due north directions, a beam of energy of different colors (earthy yellow, bluish-gray, or dark blue) shot into the sky, like a signal. After lingering briefly above Black Mountain Pass, they were directed towards the camps of the three martial arts schools!
Immediately afterwards, a faint tremor came from the ground, the sound of a large army marching forward!
coming!
The reinforcements from the three major martial arts schools have finally arrived!
The wind and clouds suddenly intensified over Heishan'ao!