Becoming a god by following the natural order and seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune.

Chapter 98 Innate Protective Golden Bell!

Outside the command tent, Yan Ming, Li Huaisheng, and others stood solemnly, their eyes fixed on the violently shaking tent. Yan Ming's face was filled with horror and worry.

The tent flapped and rattled like sails in a storm, as if it might be torn apart at any moment.

A chilling aura filled the air, and faint, suppressed growls could be heard coming from inside the tent, like the struggles of a trapped beast. Had Chen Sheng not given strict orders forbidding anyone from approaching, Yan Ming would likely have already rushed into the tent without hesitation.

Only Li Huaisheng, after the initial shock, saw a flash of understanding in his eyes. He stared intently at the constantly billowing cowhide tent, feeling the familiar yet unfamiliar fluctuations of the天地元气 (heaven and earth energy), and a startling thought exploded in his mind:

"My lord... he's actually attempting to break through to the Innate Realm!"

He was no ordinary, unsophisticated warrior.

Born into the Wan Du Sect, a major sect in Nanzhao Prefecture, he had the good fortune to witness a master from the sect break through to the Innate Realm. The magnificent spectacle of drawing upon the primordial energy of heaven and earth and tempering the mortal body was remarkably similar to the scene before him.

However, after the realization came an even deeper shock.

He had followed Chen Sheng for quite some time and had personally witnessed Chen Sheng's ascent from the Bone Forging Realm to the Marrow Transformation Realm, with Chen Sheng even providing some assistance along the way.

However, from the time when the marrow was first formed, it has only been two months since then.

Two months. From marrow transformation to innate constitution?

This is simply appalling.

In his past understanding, it was almost impossible to reach the peak of the Marrow Transformation stage in such a short time, let alone reach the peak and break through the Innate stage.

This completely defied common sense and overturned his understanding of spiritual practice.

But the facts before him left him no choice but to believe them.

Amidst the shock, an indescribable sense of relief and elation gradually welled up in Li Huaisheng's heart.

He was grateful that he had made the wisest choice at the critical moment of life and death, and that he had followed such a genius master with terrifying talent.

"With such astonishing progress as our lord, given time, why should we not avenge our great grudge? As for me, Li Huaisheng, as long as I follow in our lord's footsteps, how can I not share in the endless benefits and glimpse the higher levels of martial arts?"

Li Huaisheng thought to himself, his eyes becoming incredibly ardent.

At this moment, he hoped more than anyone else that Chen Sheng could successfully break through to the next realm.

"Commander... what is the commander doing? Why is there such a commotion?"

Unable to contain his fear, Yan Ming, standing beside him, couldn't help but lower his voice and ask Li Huaisheng a question.

Li Huaisheng did not turn around; his gaze remained fixed on the main tent. He said in a deep voice:

"My lord, we are breaking through."

"A breakthrough? What kind of breakthrough could cause such a stir?"

Yan Ming was even more confused upon hearing this.

Li Huaisheng finally turned his head, glanced at him, and said clearly, word by word:
"My lord is breaking through to the Innate Realm."

Upon hearing this, Yan Ming was struck dumb, his eyes widening in shock. He froze on the spot, his astonishment deepening.
"Innate?!"

Meanwhile, outside the military camp, in an inconspicuous shadow.

County Commandant Wu Kuang stood alone, his aura blending seamlessly with the night.

With his gaze fixed on the direction of the large tent ahead, feeling the increasingly intense fluctuations of vital energy, an irrepressible excitement and longing flashed in his eyes.

"The Innate Realm... This is the Innate Realm!"

The Innate Realm brings not only a leap in strength, but also an extension of lifespan. It is said that the longest lifespan of an Innate Realm cultivator can reach two Jiazi (60 years).

A full 120 years!

It's important to understand that for ordinary people in this world, surviving past sixty is already quite an achievement.

Even for these Foundation Establishment stage martial artists, who appear physically strong, the numerous hidden injuries left by years of cultivation and combat cause their vital energy to decline rapidly once they pass their peak, and their lifespan usually does not exceed eighty years.

Only by breaking through one's innate limitations and undergoing a complete baptism of the primordial energy of heaven and earth, thus transforming oneself, can one break free from the shackles of the mortal body and prolong life.

In addition, the ability to control one's qi and release true qi are all extraordinary abilities that are worlds apart from those of the Foundation Establishment stage.

He had even heard Lieutenant Nie mention it when he was still in the army.

Only when one enters the Innate Realm can one truly be considered to have embarked on the path of cultivation.

However, along with the excitement and longing, a deep sense of worry also emerged.

Although one may have good innate qualities, overcoming certain obstacles remains difficult.

Wu Kuang was fully aware of the dangers involved.

If the attempt fails, at best the meridians will be damaged and the foundation of one's cultivation shaken, making further progress difficult; at worst, one will die on the spot, with both body and cultivation extinguished.

That is why, even though he believed he had reached the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment and was quite well prepared, he still hesitated and dared not easily take that final step.

Because he feared that at his age of nearly forty, if he failed once, he might never have a second chance.

But considering Chen Sheng's typically steady personality, since he dared to say he was somewhat confident, he must be alright.

Inside the tent, Chen Sheng's breakthrough had reached its most crucial moment.

The raging primordial energy of heaven and earth was like countless invisible files, repeatedly washing and tempering his limbs, bones, meridians, and acupoints.

Intense pain surged like waves, and if it weren't for the protective pills and the mysterious elixir firmly protecting his internal organs and meridians, coupled with his own iron will, he would probably have already lost consciousness.

Under this inhuman torture, fine, sticky black grime began to seep from the pores of his body, emitting a faint fishy smell.

These are the impurities he accumulated from consuming elixirs and tempering his physical body in the past. They are usually hidden deep within his flesh and organs, but now, under the extreme pressure and tempering of the primordial energy of heaven and earth, they are being forced out of his body little by little.

Time passed slowly, and even Chen Sheng himself didn't know how much time had gone by.

The primordial energy of heaven and earth accumulated within his body had reached a critical point of saturation, like a spring compressed to its limit, restless and eager for release and transformation.

This is the moment!

With lightning speed, Chen Sheng guided the vast and boundless torrent of primordial energy, as if riding a galloping wild horse, launching the final and most ferocious attack towards the mysterious dantian pass.

"boom!"

"boom!"

"Boom!"

One wave of energy surged after another, each higher than the last, relentlessly crashing against the invisible barrier.

at last.

After countless impacts, Chen Sheng felt something inside his body crack open. A barely perceptible gap appeared on the solid barrier.

The pass has been breached by a single thread!
Chen Sheng was greatly encouraged and did not slacken his efforts. He urged his increasingly surging energy to press his advantage.

The raging energy of heaven and earth continued to surge relentlessly until it completely broke through the dantian barrier.

In an instant, the primordial energy of heaven and earth surged into the newly opened dantian space like rivers flowing into the sea.

Chen Sheng dared not be negligent in the slightest. He quickly took out the cyan jade stone containing innate spiritual energy, exerted force with his five fingers, and crushed it violently.

This is the breakthrough to the second stage of the innate realm, condensing a spiritual seed.

Once the spiritual seed is formed, it is considered innate.

"Oh!"

A wisp of purer and more spiritual innate energy burst forth from the stone, swirling around Chen Sheng like smoke. He immediately raised his palms and activated the secret technique recorded in the "Six Extremes Golden Bell Technique" to guide this wisp of energy to circulate and wander.

With each circulation of spiritual energy, wisps of cool and pleasant spiritual light separated out, flowing along the acupoints throughout his body and merging into his damaged meridians.

Wherever it passed, the injured meridians that had been ravaged by the violent energy were repaired and nourished at a speed visible to the naked eye, and even became wider and more resilient.

What's even more amazing is that this innate spiritual light seems to possess supreme majesty. Wherever it goes, the previously unruly and extremely violent primordial energy of heaven and earth immediately becomes extremely docile, making way for the spiritual energy.

Countless rays of light converged and surged towards his dantian, like birds returning to their nests. Chen Sheng's body began to emanate a faint, soft, and pure halo, as if he were draped in rosy light.

The cultivation method of the Six Extremes Golden Bell Technique circulated within the body to its maximum extent on its own. Under the mysterious guidance of the technique, the innate spiritual light and massive amounts of primordial energy that surged into the dantian began to rotate, compress, and condense rapidly.
I do not know how long it has been.

A tiny, pale golden dot, the size of a grain of rice yet brimming with vitality and spiritual energy, quietly appeared in the center of the dantian, slowly rotating and absorbing the surrounding vital energy on its own.

Innate Spirit Seed – Accomplished!

The moment the spirit seed condensed and took shape, Chen Sheng trembled violently, feeling that his entire body and even his soul had undergone a crucial transformation and sublimation.

Within the dantian, the originally disordered primordial energy of heaven and earth seemed to instantly find its core, becoming orderly, revolving around the spiritual seed, and being rapidly refined and transformed.
The first wisp of aura, pale gold in color, condensed like silk, yet containing astonishing power, was quickly born from the spirit seed.

Innate True Qi!

Then came the second strand, and the third strand.
As the innate true energy continues to grow, the innate spiritual seed becomes increasingly solid and robust. At the same time, the pure innate true energy begins to emanate from the dantian, nourishing the entire body.

Muscles, bones, meridians, internal organs, flesh, skin, and membranes—every minute part of Chen Sheng's body is receiving the baptism and nourishment of innate true energy.

A surge of vitality arose from the depths of his flesh and blood, sweeping away all the fatigue and trauma from the previous breakthrough.

Chen Sheng could clearly feel his power soaring, his five senses becoming more acute than ever before, and even his thinking becoming more clear and agile.

Her hair moved without wind, becoming even blacker and shinier; her skin was firm, radiating a warm, jade-like glow; her blood and energy surged throughout her body, but were no longer restless, instead flowing like a vast river, ceaselessly.

This is the transformative power brought about by the innate realm.

Chen Sheng slowly opened his eyes. A faint golden light flashed in the depths of his pupils, making him appear profound and majestic.

A powerful and unparalleled aura, far surpassing anything before, naturally spread from his body, enveloping the entire tent.

innate!

At this point, he has successfully entered this realm!
The progress panel deep within one's consciousness also changes accordingly.

[Six Extremes Golden Bell Technique - Minor Success (1/500)]

Looking at this line of text, Chen Sheng's lips curled up slightly, revealing a hearty smile.

With a slight thought, he tried to circulate his power. His internal energy surged, and his power rose steadily. Then, he activated the pale golden spiritual seed in his dantian.

"Boom--!"

A deep, melodious chime resounded in my ears.

Suddenly, countless pale golden streams of energy surged from Chen Sheng's body through all his orifices, quickly condensing into a faint, ancient, and imposing illusory golden bell about ten feet away from his body, protecting him within it.

The innate protective golden bell.

This is precisely the protective divine power that can only be manifested after the "Six Extremes Golden Bell Technique" enters the Innate Realm.

This golden bell integrates the essence of blood and qi from the inside out, cultivating both internal and external strength. Its defensive power far surpasses the protective aura of an ordinary early-stage Innate Realm expert.

Even the most powerful crossbow in the military camp couldn't easily budge this bell.

Moreover, as Chen Sheng's true energy deepened and his understanding of the technique improved, the protective golden bell not only became more solid and had a wider range, but it could also generate mysterious techniques such as the golden bell's counter-vibration and the bell's ringing that could capture the soul.

The joy of entering the innate state is truly indescribable.

Chen Sheng was in high spirits. With another thought, pure innate true energy gushed out from the Yongquan acupoint on the sole of his foot, forming an invisible lifting force.

The next moment, his entire body slowly rose off the ground and hovered three feet in the air.

Standing in mid-air!

Although his body was still swaying slightly and his breathing was a little unsteady, this was indeed one of the most distinctive techniques of an innate expert.

It's just that he's only recently broken through and is still unstable; his precise control over true qi still needs time to hone.

Feeling the surging power within him and experiencing this extraordinary sensation, Chen Sheng felt a surge of pride.

In Changshan County today, he can be considered a top expert.

Those below the level of the Innate Realm are no different from ants in his eyes, and can be destroyed with a flick of his hand.

Only those who are natural rivals deserve to be his enemies.

For example, the envoy sent by the Azure Dragon Alliance seems to be a very good candidate to test his strength.

Are they trying to lure him into a trap?
We also need to check if this urn is sturdy enough!

After a brief adjustment of his breathing, stabilizing his slightly fluctuating aura following his breakthrough, Chen Sheng concealed the strange phenomena surrounding him. The protective golden bell and the detached posture quietly dissipated before he stepped out of the tent.

Outside the tent, Li Huaisheng and Yan Ming, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately felt his unfathomable aura of majesty, which was completely different from before, when he came out. Their eyes instantly burst with intense awe and uncontrollable joy.

Li Huaisheng reacted the fastest, stepping forward in one swift motion, bowing deeply, his voice trembling slightly with excitement:
"Your subordinate congratulates Your Majesty on breaking through to the Innate Realm, transcending the mundane, and bringing prosperity to the martial arts!"

Yan Ming followed closely behind, bowing excitedly: "Your subordinate congratulates you, sir, on achieving the Innate Realm!"

"Get up."

Chen Sheng slightly raised his hand, and a gentle yet irresistible invisible current of energy arose out of thin air, steadily lifting the two of them up.

This incredible skill left Yan Ming dazzled and mesmerized, and his awe and admiration for Chen Sheng reached its peak.

Chen Sheng turned his gaze to a certain direction outside the military camp and spoke loudly, his voice carrying clearly:
"Lord Wu, thank you very much for protecting me this time."

Despite his cultivation level now far surpassing that of his opponent, Chen Sheng showed no arrogance whatsoever.

He remembered Wu Kuang's past kindness in recognizing his talent, his repeated protection of him, and his present act of gifting him treasures and protecting his path. He would not change his attitude simply because his strength had increased.

They act like adults when they are weak, and like bastards when they are strong.

"Hahaha, good, good, good lad, you really succeeded!"

A burst of hearty laughter came from afar, and Wu Kuang's figure flashed a few times before he was in front of Chen Sheng.

At this moment, his face was flushed, and he carefully looked Chen Sheng up and down, sensing the powerful aura that was as deep as the ocean and held back. He couldn't help but clap his hands in admiration, his eyes filled with satisfaction and emotion.

He didn't misjudge him.

Chen Sheng indeed soared to great heights.

"You flatter me, sir. If it weren't for your generous gift of the Pulse Protection Pill and the Mysterious Organ Elixir, my breakthrough would not have been so smooth." Chen Sheng thanked him again solemnly.

Wu Kuang waved his hand, his expression frank:

"Ah, there's no need for such formalities between us. Those external things are merely icing on the cake. Breaking through the innate barrier depends on your own accumulation, and I am well aware of that."

Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng felt even more respect for him and stepped aside in an inviting gesture:
"County Commandant, please come into the tent for a chat. I have just broken through and have some basic understanding of the Innate Realm, which may be of some help to you in your future attempts to reach this realm."

"Oh?"

Wu Kuang's eyes lit up immediately. This was invaluable advice, and he naturally wouldn't be polite.

The two walked into the tent side by side.

Li Huaisheng and Yan Ming, who remained where they were, watched the curtain fall with longing in their eyes.

Innate knowledge and skills—which martial artist wouldn't yearn for that?

As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Chen Sheng paused slightly, then said without turning his head:
"Once you two reach the peak of Foundation Establishment, I will not hesitate to share my knowledge. Listening now would be of no use and would only disturb your peace of mind. Furthermore, I have kept my breakthrough to the Innate Realm strictly confidential. If any soldiers in the camp have any questions, you will have to come up with a suitable explanation yourself."

He was still waiting to give the envoy from the Azure Dragon Alliance a 'surprise' and naturally didn't want his trump card to be revealed too early.

Upon hearing this, Li Huaisheng and Yan Ming immediately composed themselves and solemnly obeyed the order:

"Yes, I obey!"

"My subordinate understands!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

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(End of this chapter)