Chapter 3: Broken Bone Rebirth Technique

By the side of the Wei River, a figure sat cross-legged on the ground, motionless.

Chu Fengmian had been practicing the Bone-Breaking Rebirth Technique for a full hour now. During this hour, the spiritual meridians within his body had been shattered and reconstructed countless times.

The pain endured from this repeated shattering and reconstruction was enough to make an ordinary person faint. Countless beads of sweat had already soaked through the long robes on Chu Fengmian’s body.

Yet, Chu Fengmian never stopped the process, for he could feel that after every cycle of shattering and reconstruction, his spiritual meridians grew thicker, and the strength within his body increased.

"Break for me!"

Chu Fengmian let out a roar, and a cyclone of energy surged through his body. Under the flow of this cyclone, his previously blocked spiritual meridians were suddenly pierced through, and countless strands of spiritual power began to flow freely within them.

In an instant, a surge of spiritual power began to roam through Chu Fengmian’s body, and his entire being was filled with inexhaustible strength.

The emergence of this spiritual power made Chu Fengmian’s strength several times greater than it had been just moments ago.

"Finally, I have opened one spiritual meridian. I can finally be considered to have the capital to practice martial arts!"

Chu Fengmian stood up, a look of joy appearing on his face.

However, one spiritual meridian was merely the beginning. A spiritual master with only one meridian would have very limited achievements throughout their entire life.

Reaching the fifth or sixth level of the Bone Tempering Realm would be their limit; reaching higher realms like the Body Forging Realm or the Divine Sea Realm would be absolutely impossible.

To reach the true pinnacle of martial arts, talent is indispensable.

But now that Chu Fengmian possessed the Bone-Breaking Rebirth Technique, he no longer needed to worry about the issue of talent.

"A day has passed; it is time to return."

Chu Fengmian stood up and brushed the dust off his clothes.

He had to return to the Lin Mansion. Now that Chu Jianbai had obtained this body, he had every reason to fulfill everything that Chu Fengmian had wanted to accomplish.

And that was to become the master of the Lin Mansion.

Linwu City.

A city built by the side of the Wei River, named after the Lin Mansion within it. Naturally, one could see that the Lin Mansion held a pivotal position in Linwu City.

After opening one spiritual meridian, Chu Fengmian felt his body become much lighter. It had taken him two full hours to reach the banks of the Wei River before, but this time, it only took him half an hour to return to Linwu City.

His speed on foot had increased several times over.

"Huh? Has the Great Steward Chu actually come out?"

"Hasn't he always been hiding in the Lin Mansion? Why is he out today?"

In Linwu City, many martial artists recognized Chu Fengmian at a glance and began to discuss him with surprise. The looks they cast at Chu Fengmian were filled only with disdain and mockery.

Chu Fengmian’s existence was an absolute joke in Linwu City; the Great Steward of the Lin Mansion’s outer estate was actually a piece of trash with only half a spiritual meridian.

This made many martial artists in Linwu City take pleasure in bullying Chu Fengmian.

After all, to them, the Lin Mansion was an unreachable, high-and-mighty existence. Many of them had suffered grievances from the Lin Mansion, so they were naturally happy to vent their frustrations by bullying the Great Steward of the Lin Mansion’s outer estate.

Although Chu Fengmian was the Great Steward of the Lin Mansion’s outer estate in name, in reality, not a single disciple of the outer estate had ever helped him; instead, they all watched him make a fool of himself as if he were a joke.

In the past, this was why Chu Fengmian had been afraid to leave the Lin Mansion.

Just as Chu Fengmian was about to reach the gates of the Lin Mansion, a figure stepped out from the crowd and blocked his path.

"Look, it’s Cao Dahai."

"This guy was taught a lesson by some outer disciples of the Lin Mansion a few days ago. It looks like Great Steward Chu is going to suffer today."

When they said the words "Great Steward Chu," almost everyone’s voice carried a hint of mockery.

"Move."

Chu Fengmian raised his head, looked at the burly man blocking his way, and spoke calmly.

If it had been the old Chu Fengmian, he likely wouldn't have dared to speak at all, choosing instead to endure the bullying and take a detour.

But the Chu Fengmian of today was no longer the same; within his body resided the soul of Chu Jianbai, the number one master of sword intent.

This time, he would not tolerate it.

"Oh?"

Chu Fengmian’s response clearly caught Cao Dahai off guard.

Since when had Chu Fengmian dared to answer so firmly?

After sizing Chu Fengmian up, a cold, sinister look appeared on the corner of Cao Dahai’s mouth.

"I can move, but you have to obediently kneel on the ground and kowtow a few times. As long as I’m satisfied, I’ll move."

As Cao Dahai spoke, a look of triumph couldn't help but appear in his eyes.

In front of the Lin Mansion, Cao Dahai was like a dog, bullied by them, but now he could bully the Great Steward of the Lin Mansion’s outer estate. It was no wonder those people liked to bully him; this feeling was indeed very satisfying.

"Great Steward Chu, you’d better kneel, or you won't even be able to make it back into the Lin Mansion later, hahahaha."

A jeer rang out from the crowd, followed by bursts of loud laughter.

Watching the Great Steward be bullied every day was a form of entertainment for these martial artists of Linwu City.

"Get lost!"

A flash of anger appeared in Chu Fengmian’s eyes. His figure moved, and he walked straight forward.

"What, you want to fight?"

Seeing Chu Fengmian’s actions, Cao Dahai laughed loudly.

"Fine, since you don't want to kneel, I’ll beat you until you do!"

With that, Cao Dahai threw a punch toward Chu Fengmian’s chest.

Cao Dahai was a martial artist at the second level of the Bone Tempering Realm. Dealing with a piece of trash with half a spiritual meridian was more than enough, which was exactly why he dared to bully Chu Fengmian.

This punch contained a bit of spiritual power. Although he wasn't using his full strength, it was enough to keep Chu Fengmian bedridden for half a month—it was truly vicious.

"Asking for a beating."

Chu Fengmian spat out the words coldly.

Facing the punch, Chu Fengmian’s body suddenly dodged. The speed was so fast that Cao Dahai didn't even have time to react. Immediately after, Chu Fengmian slapped Cao Dahai across the face.

"Slap."

A crisp sound left all the martial artists present stunned.

The scene they had imagined—Chu Fengmian being easily knocked down by Cao Dahai—did not happen. Instead, it was Chu Fengmian who had slapped Cao Dahai across the face.

This slap didn't contain much spiritual power, but it was enough to leave Cao Dahai’s face swollen for days.

"You dare to fight back?"

Cao Dahai was both ashamed and furious.

Chu Fengmian was a famous piece of trash in Linwu City. As a martial artist at the second level of the Bone Tempering Realm, he had been slapped in the face by Chu Fengmian.

If this got out, he, Cao Dahai, could forget about showing his face in Linwu City.

"Crushing Fist!"

Spiritual power condensed on Cao Dahai’s fist as he smashed it toward Chu Fengmian.

Martial arts were powers that only martial artists with spiritual power could use. The power of a martial art was stronger than the force of ten ordinary punches. Cao Dahai had been blinded by rage; today, he wanted to make Chu Fengmian pay the price.

However, this time, Chu Fengmian was prepared. His figure moved, dodging Cao Dahai’s punch once again, and then he kicked toward Cao Dahai’s knee.

A crisp sound rang out instantly.

Cao Dahai’s knee was shattered, and he collapsed to the ground.

"This... could it be that Chu Fengmian has opened his spiritual meridians?"

This scene was something none of the martial artists present could have expected. Chu Fengmian, who had always been called trash, had actually defeated Cao Dahai today.

Even some of the disciples at the gates of the Lin Mansion rubbed their eyes upon seeing this. Since when did Chu Fengmian possess such power?

By the time they reacted, Chu Fengmian had already returned inside the Lin Mansion.