Chapter 55: Breaking Through to the Bone Forging Realm

After spending the entire morning finishing the refinement of his medicinal pills, Chen Fei immediately immersed himself in the cultivation of his internal strength.

With every inhalation and exhalation, Chen Fei's body rose and fell rhythmically. High temperatures surged between his flesh and skin, gradually beginning to permeate into his tendons and bones. The day he achieved complete permeation would be the day Chen Fei broke through to the Bone Tempering Realm.

Chen Fei did not waste his afternoons or evenings; he did not visit brothels to listen to music, nor did he wander through flower houses.

Like a dedicated ascetic, Chen Fei purchased many cultivation manuals and secret techniques.

He attempted to fuse his sword technique manuals and discovered that the Fire Pattern Sword was already at the Great Perfection stage, meaning the new manuals could no longer offer any progress.

It wasn't that the Fire Pattern Sword was exceptionally powerful; it was simply that the sword manuals sold in Xingfen City were of a relatively mediocre level. The same was true for the movement technique manuals.

Consequently, Chen Fei focused his attention on archery.

Back in Pingyin County, the three archery manuals Chen Fei had obtained were extremely basic. Now, every archery manual he purchased in Xingfen City could provide him with progress.

Drawing the bow and shooting arrows, Chen Fei practiced tirelessly.

To an outsider, Chen Fei's current state might seem somewhat manic, as if he were pushing himself too hard. Even Chi Defeng, after seeing Chen Fei's cultivation schedule, could not help but try to persuade him to slow down.

But Chen Fei would always listen with a smile, only to continue his routine exactly as before.

*If you are not the fish, how can you know the joy of the fish?*

Chen Fei was not actually an exceptionally hardworking person by nature, but the sense of insecurity this world provided drove him to a desperate need to make himself stronger.

At the same time, the feeling of clearly sensing his own progress every day—the sense that every drop of sweat could be rewarded—made him somewhat obsessed.

Chen Fei did not find it difficult; on the contrary, he found joy in it. It was only by finding joy in the process that one could maintain perseverance and see a task through to the end.

In the blink of an eye, another ten days passed. He had been in Xingfen City for over twenty days.

Inside the pill chamber, Chen Fei stared at the cauldron before him, sensing the changes in the medicinal properties within and adjusting them using his internal strength.

As time passed, a faint medicinal fragrance began to drift through the chamber, even seeping through the cracks in the door and into the courtyard.

A quarter of an hour passed in an instant. Chen Fei performed a specific hand technique and struck the lid of the cauldron. With a muffled thud, Chen Fei leaned forward to look, and a medicinal pill appeared before his eyes.

"It's done!"

An involuntary smile spread across Chen Fei's face. Hearing him, Chi Defeng, who had been waiting nearby, stepped forward to watch Chen Fei retrieve the pill.

"Care to sample it?"

Chen Fei handed the pill to Chi Defeng, who took it cautiously.

One could see some unrefined medicinal residue on the pill, making its appearance somewhat mottled. If such a pill were put up for sale, no martial artist would buy it unless the price was drastically slashed.

Chi Defeng looked to Chen Fei for permission. Seeing no objection, he scooped out a small piece and placed it in his mouth. A moment later, Chi Defeng opened his eyes and looked at Chen Fei, his expression carrying a hint of disbelief.

"How is it?" Chen Fei asked, looking up.

"It is the Constant Float Pill," Chi Defeng nodded with certainty.

"It seems it won't be long before we can start selling Constant Float Pills," Chen Fei said, a smile appearing on his face.

"Indeed!"

Watching Chen Fei deduce the formula from nothing and refine the Constant Float Pill, Chi Defeng naturally had no doubt that Chen Fei would eventually be able to refine high-quality versions.

"However, we might not be able to sell pills in Xingfen City for a while," Chi Defeng said, frowning as he returned the pill to Chen Fei.

"Has trouble come knocking?"

Chen Fei was not particularly surprised. As long as there is profit, trouble will follow. Not to mention they were selling medicinal pills; anyone with sense knew this was a business of immense profit margins.

The Spirit Light Pills Chen Fei had refined were of high quality and potent efficacy; it was obvious at a glance that there was a powerful alchemist behind them.

The fact that trouble was only arriving now suggested that people in large cities were indeed more cautious. They must have confirmed that Chi Defeng had no significant background before daring to show their hand.

"There is a gang in Xingfen City called the Shallow Water Gang. They have their eyes on our business."

Chi Defeng found a chair to sit in and looked at Chen Fei. "I've been trailing their people for a few days. They should be losing their patience soon."

"Then we'll stop selling for now and wait peacefully for the Xianyun Merchant Caravan to arrive," Chen Fei said after a moment of thought. He had been selling pills for about twenty days and had already earned a considerable amount.

During this period, Chen Fei had visited the shop in that alleyway. Aside from the sword, he had bought everything else, even purchasing two red candles.

As for the remaining money, a portion was deposited into his panel, while another portion was exchanged for banknotes, leaving only some loose silver for daily expenses.

This amount was more than enough for the short term.

Later, once he reached Xianyun City and joined a sect, having a patron would prevent him from being in such a passive position.

"Fine. I was going to suggest the same thing."

Seeing that Chen Fei was not being stubborn, Chi Defeng smiled. As a veteran of the underworld, Chi Defeng had seen too many instances of profit leading to bloodshed. Most importantly, they were outsiders in Xingfen City; clashing with a local gang would easily result in them taking the brunt of the loss.

Chi Defeng was greedy for wealth, but he would never trade his life for it.

Of course, Chen Fei could have sold the refined pills to shops, but since they were already being targeted by the Shallow Water Gang, he didn't know which shops had ties to them. He could easily be sold out.

The profit was small, but the danger was high; Chen Fei naturally wouldn't take such a risk.

Another month passed. Having been in Xingfen City for nearly two months, the Xianyun Merchant Caravan had yet to arrive, but Chen Fei's spatial storage already held hundreds of Spirit Light Pills.

Because the formula for the Constant Float Pill had been simplified, his proficiency increased as long as he refined Spirit Light Pills. Consequently, his proficiency had reached the Proficient level and was progressing toward the Perfection level.

Chen Fei could now be self-sufficient regarding the consumption of Constant Float Pills. More importantly, as the proficiency of his Shocking Swallowing Technique approached Great Perfection, Chen Fei was now able to consume four Constant Float Pills a day.

The result was that the Bone Tempering Realm, which should have taken nearly three months to reach, was now at the threshold.

【Realm: Flesh Refining (9976/10000)】

Chen Fei glanced at the panel, took out a Constant Float Pill, and swallowed it.

The pill melted instantly upon entering his mouth, and a surge of heat expanded within his body.

The Shocking Swallowing Technique circulated rapidly, directing the energy from the pill to every part of his body, especially his flesh, which was currently emitting a temperature far beyond that of a normal human.

Through internal vision, he could see wisps of energy within his muscles constantly impacting and compressing his tendons and bones. As time passed, the intensity of this compression grew stronger and stronger.

*Buzz!*

As if his very soul were vibrating, Chen Fei's eyes snapped open.

As he stood up from the ground, the sound of his bones and tendons resonating echoed through the pill chamber. Unbeknownst to him, his stature had grown slightly, appearing as steady and imposing as a mountain.

Compared to his former thin and dark appearance, Chen Fei was now entirely different.

【Realm: Bone Tempering Realm (3/100000)】

"Is anyone there? Is anyone home?"

A knocking sound came from outside the courtyard. Chen Fei walked out of the pill chamber and opened the main gate.

"Are you Chen Fei?"

A young boy stood outside the gate, licking a candied fruit, looking up at Chen Fei as he asked.

"What is it?"

"Uncle Chi told me to tell you—run, quickly!"