Chapter 3 Yellow Extreme Realm

The Queen Mother sat in the tent below the altar, wearing a golden phoenix crown and a colorful phoenix robe. She appeared to be around twenty-eight or twenty-nine, with a graceful and dignified demeanor that did not look as old as Zhang Ruyi had imagined, giving off a noble air instead.

She said, "The King is in seclusion at the Hall of Life and Death for cultivation. This time, the 'Grand Sacrificial Ceremony' will be presided over by me. National Teacher, have you determined the grade of the divine martial mark opened by the Ninth Prince?"

The National Teacher of Yunwu County held a scroll of iron books and shook his head, saying, "The 'Complete Collection of Divine Martial Marks' records the patterns of all martial marks that have appeared in the history of Kunlun World, from the first-grade martial mark to the ninth-grade martial mark. However, none of the marks match the divine martial mark of the Ninth Prince."

The Queen Mother glanced at Zhang Ruyi with a touch of indifference and said, "Since we cannot determine the result, it is estimated that the divine martial mark opened by the Ninth Prince has no grade. In other counties, there have been martial artists who opened unknown divine martial marks, but their achievements were very limited in the end."

The Eighth Prince also stood in the tent and immediately spoke, "The Queen Mother is right. After all, the Ninth Brother is already sixteen years old and has missed the best age for cultivation. Even if he opens a fourth-grade or fifth-grade divine martial mark, he will not achieve much."

The Queen Mother nodded in agreement with the Eighth Prince's words and said, "Since the Ninth Prince has only opened a divine martial mark without a grade and is already sixteen, in order to conserve the royal family's cultivation resources, let's give him only one dose of marrow-cleansing elixir!"

Lin Fei's face changed and she said, "Your Majesty, the first year of opening the divine martial mark is the most important. When the Seventh Prince opened his divine martial mark, he received a total of twelve doses of marrow-cleansing elixir, and could cleanse the marrow once every month. Why can Zhang Ruyi only receive one dose?"

The Queen Mother said coldly, "The Seventh Prince opened a seventh-grade divine martial mark when he was three years old. How can the Ninth Prince compare to the Seventh Prince?"

The Eighth Prince flattered, "The Seventh Brother is the legitimate son of Her Majesty and inherits her powerful bloodline. Possessing a seventh-grade divine martial mark, who in Yunwu County can compare to the Seventh Brother? The future prosperity and strength of Yunwu County all depend on the Seventh Brother alone."

He continued, "I'll say something unpleasant, but the life of the Seventh Brother is worth ten, a hundred times more than the Ninth Brother's. There's simply no comparison."

Lin Fei bit her lip tightly and continued to fight for Zhang Ruyi, "But when the Eighth Prince opened his divine martial mark, he also received four doses of marrow-cleansing elixir."

The Queen Mother said impatiently, "The higher the talent, the more resources one receives. The Ninth Prince has the lowest talent, so naturally he receives fewer resources."

"But..." Lin Fei said.

The Queen Mother grew even more impatient and said sternly, "I have made a decision. If you dare to say another word, I will have you punished again."

Upon hearing the Queen Mother's words, Zhang Ruyi suddenly lifted his head.

Did the Queen Mother punish her before?

After hearing the Queen Mother's words, Lin Fei trembled slightly as if recalling something terrible, and immediately closed her mouth.

At this moment, someone brought a dose of marrow-cleansing elixir and handed it to Zhang Ruyi.

Zhang Ruyi took the elixir and walked to Lin Fei's side, turned around, and stared deeply at the Queen Mother sitting above. He said, "Mother, let's go back!"

"Okay!" Lin Fei lightly pursed her lips and nodded with bitterness.

The Queen Mother stared at the departing figures of Zhang Ruyi and Lin Fei and said, "Three months later is the year-end assessment of the royal family. The Ninth Prince must work hard in cultivation and strive to complete the 'Marrow Cleansing and Channeling' within three months, becoming a true warrior. By then, the King will also emerge from seclusion. I hope you can bring him a surprise."

Immediately, the disdainful voice of the Eighth Prince rang out, "Even with three doses of marrow-cleansing elixir, it is impossible to complete the Marrow Cleansing and Channeling within three months. It took me half a year, and with the Ninth Brother's aptitude, it will probably take over a year. Hmph!"

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

Zhang Ruyi did not turn around, but clenched his fists firmly with unwavering determination, "Just wait and see. I will not disappoint you!"

Back at the Ziyi side hall, Zhang Ruyi hastily closed the door and immediately began to cultivate.

Although he didn't know what divine martial mark he had opened, since he possessed a divine martial mark, he could definitely cultivate true energy.

First, the first step was to establish a "Qi Pool" beneath the divine martial mark.

The so-called "Qi Pool" was a pool for containing true energy. The larger the pool, the more true energy it could hold. As his cultivation progressed, the "Qi Pool" would also gradually expand.

Generally, one would need guidance from an elder to establish the "Qi Pool". However, for Zhang Ruyi, who had rich cultivation experience from his previous life, establishing the "Qi Pool" was not difficult. It only took him half an hour to successfully establish the "Qi Pool", a feat that would take others several days to accomplish through trial and error.

"This body is indeed weak. I've only established a Qi Pool the size of an egg, capable of holding very little true energy."

Establishing the "Qi Pool" was just the beginning. It was only a place to store true energy. To circulate true energy throughout the body, one needed to establish their own cultivation meridians.

Only after completing this step could one possess true energy and become a true warrior.

Next was the second step, Marrow Cleansing and Channeling.

Zhang Ruyi took out the small jade bottle containing the marrow-cleansing elixir, sniffed it lightly to confirm its authenticity, and then poured the entire bottle into his mouth.

As the elixir entered his throat, it was extremely cold at first, but in just a moment, the coldness disappeared and was replaced by a scorching heat.

It was as if a flame was burning inside his body!

Strands of fire penetrated every meridian in Zhang Ruyi's body, melting into the meridians.

At that moment!

"The Nine Heavens Emperor Scripture, First Layer, Taihuang Yellow Realm."

Different cultivation techniques had different meridian routes. The deeper the technique, the more numerous and complex the meridian routes.

The Nine Heavens Emperor Scripture operated through a total of thirty-six meridians.

Of course, Zhang Ruyi did not need to open all the meridians at once. He only needed to open the first meridian to complete the Marrow Cleansing and Channeling.

"They say I can't complete the Marrow Cleansing and Channeling in three months, but I will prove with my actions that I can achieve it tonight and become a true warrior!"

With the help of his cultivation experience from his previous life, Zhang Ruyi used the limited true energy and forcefully channeled it, quickly opening up most of the first meridian.

A sharp pain emanated from his body, as if his meridians were about to be torn apart, causing Zhang Ruyi to tremble.

If it were anyone else, encountering such a situation would surely result in failure. But Zhang Ruyi gritted his teeth and persevered with a strong will, allowing the sweat to continuously drip to the ground, refusing to give up.

"Just... the last small section..."

Hope was within reach. He had to succeed!

With a final burst of effort, Zhang Ruyi forcefully pushed the remaining true energy through.

"Boom!"

A deafening sound came from within his body, nearly causing Zhang Ruyi to faint.

After the excruciating pain subsided, he felt a cool stream of energy flowing through his meridians, gradually easing the pain and spreading an unprecedented sense of comfort throughout his body.

"Haha! I did it! I've successfully completed the Marrow Cleansing and Channeling, becoming a true warrior!"

The Eighth Prince took four doses of marrow-cleansing elixir and spent half a year to achieve this level. Zhang Ruyi had only taken one night and one dose of elixir.

Completing the Marrow Cleansing and Channeling meant reaching the "Early Stage of the Yellow Extreme Realm".

In martial arts cultivation, there were four major realms: Yellow, Profound, Earth, and Heaven, each divided into seven minor stages: Early, Mid, Late, Small Extreme, Mid Extreme, Large Extreme, and Great Consummation.

Four major realms, seven minor stages.

Zhang Ruyi was currently at the Early Stage of the Yellow Extreme Realm.

In the "Early", "Mid", and "Late" stages of the Yellow Extreme Realm, one would open the meridians, the true energy vessels, and strengthen the physical body's power. With each advancement, the strength would increase significantly.

The Eighth Prince had reached the Late Stage of the Yellow Extreme Realm, capable of lifting a three hundred catty stone plate barehanded and throwing it ten zhang away. The force of his punch was equivalent to that of a fierce bull.

Most warriors at the Late Stage of the Yellow Extreme Realm could cultivate "one-bull strength".

Beyond the "Late Stage" were the Small Extreme, Mid Extreme, Large Extreme, and Great Consummation stages.

Breaking through the Late Stage of the Yellow Extreme Realm would lead to the Small Extreme, immediately granting "four-bull strength", a fourfold increase in power.

Therefore, a warrior at the Small Extreme stage could easily defeat a warrior at the Late Stage, akin to an adult against a child, with one defeating ten without any issue.

The "Mid Extreme", "Large Extreme", and "Great Consummation" stages were even more terrifying, possessing unimaginable power.

Those realms were still far from Zhang Ruyi's reach, and he didn't need to think about them for now. Steady cultivation was the key. Only by taking one step at a time could he go further.

The Eighth Prince spent eight years to reach the Late Stage of the Yellow Extreme Realm, which could only be considered average talent.

"The Eighth Prince took half a year to complete the Marrow Cleansing and Channeling. I only took one night."

"The Eighth Prince took eight years to cultivate to the Late Stage of the Yellow Extreme Realm. I must achieve this goal within three months. For me, it's not impossible."

Three months later would be the year-end assessment of the royal family. All the young warriors of the royal family, including the princes, county princesses, imperial relatives, and nobles, would participate in the assessment to demonstrate their year-long cultivation achievements.

In the royal family, to gain status, respect, and more cultivation resources, one had to prove their strength.

Three months!

Within three months, he must cultivate to the Late Stage of the Yellow Extreme Realm, not just for himself, but also to fight for the dignity of the one who cared for and loved him.

(End of Chapter)