Chapter 39: Another hurdle cleared, I can live happily once again!

Luo Zhou scrambled up and set to work immediately.

No matter how good the spiritual energy was, exposing himself as the Holy Son of the Demon Realm would mean certain death.

He had to disperse the spiritual energy.

Luo Zhou felt a sharp pang of heartache at the thought of wasting it.

In that case, he would refine the Dragon-Slaying Spikes!

The Dragon-Slaying Spikes could not be preserved for long; if they shattered eventually, so be it—Luo Zhou would accept it.

He took out his finest birch wood and began condensing the Dragon-Slaying Spikes.

He would treat it as gaining refining experience.

With this birch wood, the quality was truly excellent, resulting in almost no loss.

Nine strands of spiritual energy and nine pieces of birch wood would refine one Dragon-Slaying Spike.

Continuing on, Luo Zhou used all ninety-nine strands of the tidal qi within his body to refine Dragon-Slaying Spikes.

The refined spikes were hidden inside eyebrow-high staves made of birch wood for preservation.

He refined eleven in total, which, combined with the two remaining pieces, made thirteen Dragon-Slaying Spikes.

Once the refining was complete, Luo Zhou could not bear to let them be destroyed.

After some thought, he went to the bald Wang family's residence and hid them on the roof beam of his house.

The Wang family's home had been torn to pieces by Liu Jinpeng, and the brothers Wang Gang and Wang Qiang had been driven away by the village head; it was now a deserted, haunted house.

Hiding them here, if the time came and the Dragon-Slaying Spikes dissipated automatically, then so be it.

He couldn't just listen to the Prophet for everything; he had to have his own judgment.

Luo Zhou carefully examined the secret manual, *“The Clear Waters Flow Eastward to This Point and Return,”* memorizing it bit by bit.

Once he was certain not a single word was missing, he tossed it into the furnace and burned it directly.

In truth, after losing the Weak Water Qi, the divine ability *“Three Thousand Weak Waters”* seemed to have vanished, as it was no longer usable.

Now that all his true qi was gone, the divine ability *“Turning Rivers and Treading Seas”* could still be used.

Because Luo Zhou possessed the identity of the "River-Turning and Sea-Treading Laborer," he could still manifest this ability even without true qi.

However, using the ability now made its power terrifyingly weak; a single strike's range was limited to only three feet in front of him.

Furthermore, Luo Zhou had a faint feeling that using it this way did not consume other things, but rather his own lifespan.

One year per use!

This divine ability was essentially useless!

With his celestial office as the River-Turning and Sea-Treading Laborer, the origin of the ability *“Turning Rivers and Treading Seas”* could be explained away.

The celestial office was born from the divine ability, and now, the ability was being affected by the office.

It was a cycle of karma.

With everything settled, Luo Zhou headed to the Dao Academy to cultivate.

After some thought, Luo Zhou carried three ordinary eyebrow-high staves made of birch wood.

He used to carry them every day; now, he had to carry them even more!

For some reason, while walking, he felt an inexplicable sense of total physical comfort.

The disappearance of the true qi in his dantian seemed like a massive loss, but for Luo Zhou in the Body Tempering Realm, it actually cleared his self, which was highly beneficial for the future.

Carrying too many things that exceeded one's own realm was actually not a good thing!

Arriving at the academy, he began cultivating alongside his classmates.

Only fifteen students had come to school today.

This was the life Luo Zhou was meant to live—a life of carefree existence and cultivation.

In the training grounds, Luo Zhou slowly practiced his fist forms, his expression somewhat puzzled.

The Dao Academy only taught the White Yang, Green Profound, and Purple Cloud Body Tempering Techniques; they did not teach any martial combat techniques, leaving students to purchase and practice them on their own.

Luo Zhou possessed five sets of combat skills from Li Haitian: iron sword, ruler, iron staff, mounted archery, and chains.

He also had two sets of "River-Turning and Sea-Treading" movement and fist/palm techniques, though these two sets were considered common, run-of-the-mill martial arts.

Previously, Luo Zhou believed they were completely inferior to Li Haitian's constable skills.

But during today's practice, he felt something was wrong.

It was as if there was a profound meaning hidden within the River-Turning and Sea-Treading fist and palm techniques, far exceeding the five sets of constable skills.

The more he practiced, the more he felt this to be true.

"What is going on?"

Luo Zhou couldn't help but ask himself.

In reality, he was asking the Omniscient.

"Because you have me, Luo Zhou. I allow you to identify and understand them more clearly.

Li Haitian's constable skills are merely ordinary combat techniques with no profound meaning, suitable for the Body Tempering and Qi Refining stages.

The River-Turning and Sea-Treading fist and palm techniques were passed down by the Dao Lord; to put it bluntly, they contain the profound mysteries of the Heavenly Dao Laws and the truths of the universe.

One could say they are suitable for any realm!

It is simply that the people of the world possess treasures but cannot recognize them; they are blind and cannot distinguish jade inlaid with gold!

As long as you cultivate with hardship and research deeply, they will inevitably bring you unimaginable rewards!"

Luo Zhou nodded; so that was it.

He immediately made a decision: abandon Li Haitian's constable skills and devote all his efforts to the River-Turning and Sea-Treading fist and palm techniques.

The River-Turning Palm, the Sea-Treading Fist!

Luo Zhou began his cultivation here.

The more he practiced, the more tedious and meaningless it felt.

But as he continued to practice, persisting with grim determination, he gradually felt an infinite mystery within them.

However, he was just a hair's breadth away, unable to grasp the key point.

He was stuck there, neither advancing nor retreating—this was a bottleneck!

While Luo Zhou was cultivating, the Omniscient suddenly sent a message

"Luo Zhou, look at that person on the east side of the training grounds!"

Luo Zhou looked over and saw only a single Immortal, strolling beside the training grounds, observing the many students.

He said casually, "It's Immortal Zhang, what about him?"

"Immortal Zhang? Are you sure he is Immortal Zhang? When did you know him? When did you study under him? When was the last time you saw him?"

Luo Zhou said, "It is Immortal Zhang, an elder of the Dao Academy. When I came to the academy, I, I..."

Luo Zhou suddenly realized that he had never actually met this Immortal Zhang before.

Yet, for some reason, upon seeing him, he had automatically accepted him as the Dao Academy's Immortal Zhang...

He took a sharp breath and asked

"Are they... here?"

"It can be confirmed that they possess special supernatural abilities and have come to investigate the Holy Son of the Jellyfish Heavenly Palace. Fortunately, we destroyed everything this morning!"

Cold sweat poured down Luo Zhou's face as he asked, "What should I do?"

"Continue cultivating! Who is he, anyway? What does it have to do with you!

You are the Holy Son of the Demon Realm, the Holy Body of the Demon Lord; he is looking for the Holy Son of the Jellyfish Heavenly Palace. What does that have to do with you?"

Luo Zhou nodded and continued his cultivation. To hell with it.

But this bottleneck was impossible to find, let alone break through.

Luo Zhou practiced bitterly for an hour, but it was useless.

He couldn't help but let out a long sigh, just as he was about to give up.

Unexpectedly, someone beside him spoke

"To give up just like that... what a pity."

Luo Zhou looked over; it was indeed Immortal Zhang.

He said hesitantly, "Immortal Zhang?"

"I have watched for an hour. You are just a tiny bit away. Such a pity. Come, I will help you!"

Having said that, he lightly touched Luo Zhou's back and said, "Perform your forms!"

Has an opportunity arrived?

Luo Zhou continued his forms, the River-Turning Palm and the Sea-Treading Fist!

This time was completely different from before. With every movement, he was incredibly smooth. Between his fists and feet, he was supple and agile; through his limbs and bones, his strength was endless. Every punch and every palm was so natural, as if he were splitting mountains and cracking the earth, immensely satisfying.

Suddenly, Luo Zhou felt that bottleneck. He let out a great roar!

The sound surged toward the heavens, growing higher and higher, causing the very air to vibrate. He suddenly threw out a punch.

No clouds, no wind, no sound, no light—there was only the Turning of Rivers and the Treading of Seas!

At that moment, he broke through the bottleneck. Previous doubts, unclear subtleties, everyday misunderstandings, and difficult obstacles all suddenly became enlightened and understood.

He had completely mastered the new River-Turning Palm and Sea-Treading Fist!

Immortal Zhang nodded and said, "Good child! An epiphany!"

Luo Zhou was immensely grateful and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Immortal. I am deeply indebted!"

"This was your own opportunity. It is just a pity that this opportunity was used on the River-Turning and Sea-Treading Laborer; their ceiling is too low, it's a waste!"

Even though his strength was formidable, his vision was limited, and he could not see the profound foundation of the River-Turning and Sea-Treading techniques.

Luo Zhou would not tell the truth; he merely said

"I know. However, I hold the celestial office of the River-Turning and Sea-Treading Laborer and possess the divine ability 'Turning Rivers and Treading Seas.' If I don't master these techniques thoroughly, I feel as though something is being wasted!"

Immortal Zhang nodded, agreeing it was so. After offering a few more words of guidance to satisfy his teaching instinct, he turned and left.

Luo Zhou bowed respectfully, only to hear the Omniscient say

"Just now, he was quietly and carefully inspecting you. There were no problems.

He also secretly felt your eyebrow-high staff. Fortunately, you switched it to an ordinary wooden staff.

Congratulations, Luo Zhou. You have passed another trial. You can continue to live happily!"