Chapter 125: Three Refinements Body, Harmonious Sinews
Several first-rate experts who had just retreated from the sea of fire watched this scene, their faces filled with shock and uncertainty.
One of them seemed to understand something, suddenly moving his figure and charging forward with large strides, his dry, chicken-claw-like fingers grabbing straight for Chen Shun’an’s arm.
“Insolent!”
A thunderous roar like an exploding thunderclap came from behind this person’s head.
The sound of breaking air whistled sharply!
Only to see a dense cluster of pitch-black steel needles shooting like a gale and sudden rain, precisely targeting the vital points at the back of this person’s head!
This person felt his hair stand on end, cold air rising from behind, his figure pausing slightly in the air as he hurriedly withdrew his hand and retreated to the side.
Thud thud thud!
The steel needles easily pierced into the green stone slab bricks, leaving only the tips flickering with cold light.
Zhou Qing appeared beside Chen Shun’an, his face covered in frost, gazing unkindly at the person from earlier,
“Ba Lima, daring to touch my brother right in front of me? Your guts are a bit too bold, aren’t they?”
Lin Shou Zhuo remained silent but had already stepped forward quietly, forming a pincer with Zhou Qing, his icy qi firmly locking onto Ba Lima.
Ba Lima forced a dry laugh onto his face and cupped his hands,
“Misunderstanding, misunderstanding, Brother Zhou… uh, Jade Faced Duck, you know I have a hobby of collecting rare treasures. Seeing Old Man Chen survive such a great disaster unscathed, I thought he might have some protective dao item on him, so I got carried away with excitement and offended him…”
Ba Lima was better off not explaining; as soon as he spoke, the gazes of the many people present immediately became subtle, some probing, some scrutinizing, some greedily eyeing Chen Shun’an.
Able to retreat unscathed from the residual might of a first-rate expert, and it seemed he had only suffered minor injuries.
Even after being weakened by more than half by Hong Junxian, it was still enough to stir endless imaginations.
It must be known that between a first-rate martial artist and a second-rate martial artist, there was an insurmountable chasm.
Not to mention defeating the strong with the weak—even preserving one’s life and escaping was a slim hope.
At this moment, the heavily injured Hong Junxian had been taken over by several physicians who rushed forward and was carried away for emergency treatment.
Zhou Qing sensed those unkind gazes, his brows gradually furrowing.
“Cough cough…” At that moment, Chen Shun’an suddenly coughed a few times, his face slightly pale, and gave Zhou Qing a bitter smile,
“Lord Zhou, if possible… why don’t you check my bones for me? To be honest, Chen Mou has been feeling something off with his body lately—not only light as a feather, but this cultivation speed…
It’s getting faster and faster, so fast that even I am shocked and terrified, unable to eat or sleep in peace.”
As soon as he said this, many people trembled, seemingly understanding something.
Zhou Qing raised a brow, slowly extending his slender hand, invisible strength swirling at his fingertips.
Chen Shun’an’s tattered cotton robe was suddenly lifted, immediately revealing a burst of treasure light, dozens of Ziwei Pearls glowing with flowing colors, manifesting a Ziwei Gauze Soft Robe.
“That’s… what treasure robe?”
“Hiss, looks like it’s not cheap—probably costs three or four hundred taels of silver. Who would’ve thought, this old man is quite rich and even more afraid of death.”
“Heh, these water carriers passing off inferior goods as quality, monopolizing all the water sources in Wuqing County—aren’t they rich?!”
“Looks like this layer of treasure robe also dissipated some of the force; otherwise, Chen Shun’an wouldn’t have gotten off with just an injury.”
Zhou Qing was also slightly surprised, but his movements didn’t stop, his onion-like jade fingers roaming over Chen Shun’an’s arms, shoulders, back, and even lower abdomen, the strength like needles, precisely brushing over the key bone joints throughout Chen Shun’an’s body.
Chen Shun’an carefully controlled his mental strength, guarding his mud pill internally.
Effortlessly suppressing the instinctive Flying Immortal Strength that wanted to resist the invading force.
Immediately, in Zhou Qing’s perception, Chen Shun’an’s bones seemed to hum faintly, with undercurrents surging inside.
Every meridian stretched and twisted, especially the ‘Wei Zhong Great Tendon’ in his legs, nearly several times thicker and longer than a normal person’s, containing astonishing explosive power.
And at this moment, with Zhou Qing’s bone-checking, bursts of strange sounds like tiger roars and dragon chants emanated from within Chen Shun’an’s body, causing the surrounding crowd to hold their breath and watch sidelong.
A complex look flashed in Zhou Qing’s eyes before he slowly spoke, his voice thick with astonishment,
“All meridians unobstructed, qi accumulated like a river, moving like galloping thunder—it should be one of the Three Refinements Martial Bodies… Chong He Martial Tendon Body. Chong He wondrous qi, all things embracing yin while carrying yang, able to harmonize bones and qi, generating essence and blood…”
Zhou Qing also detected that Chen Shun’an’s realm had quietly climbed to second-rate late stage.
However, at this moment, in front of his ‘Chong He Martial Tendon Body’, even the second-rate late stage realm paled in comparison.
As soon as he said this, the crowd present all drew in sharp breaths.
Several first-rate martial artists on good terms with the water station couldn’t hold back, stepping forward to surround and closely examine Chen Shun’an, their gazes burning.
Especially Lin Shou Zhuo, for some reason his breathing grew heavier; he actually reached out directly, touching here and patting there on Chen Shun’an’s body, secretly applying force, his eyes red.
Old Chen, this rotten coward, hiding so deeply?
But fortunately, at least my Lin’s realm still steadily suppresses him!
Old Chen is now second-rate mid stage… hmm? Second-rate late stage?!
Lin Shou Zhuo was stunned again.
He gritted his teeth fiercely.
So what if second-rate late stage? To break through the first-rate passage, even with ‘Chong He Martial Tendon Body’, it would take seven or eight years… three to five years… a year and a half—I don’t believe Old Chen can break through to first-rate!
Lin Shou Zhuo felt an unprecedented pressure!
“Indeed, Chong He Martial Tendon Body.”
After several first-rate experts carefully probed, they all showed shocked expressions, looking at Chen Shun’an with a mix of jealousy and envy.
With the judgment from multiple first-rate experts, the whole venue erupted in clamor.
“A Three Refinements Martial Body? How long has it been since Wuqing County produced such a monster?”
“Forty years ago, Great Hero Gan, who said ‘If fists are divided north and south, must the nation be divided north and south?’, was regarded by martial artists worldwide as having Martial Saint potential, and he possessed a Three Refinements Martial Body—it’s just a pity he was harmed by court villains, only reaching Slaying Three Bandits realm before his death.”
“I heard Director Lu Jing also has a Three Refinements Martial Body, probably related to Jade Tree; otherwise, it can’t be explained how he’s only forty and already at Slay Four Thieves cultivation, though he’s never admitted it.”
“Regardless, if Chen Shun’an doesn’t die, he’s at least a first-rate expert… strange, why wasn’t he prominent in his early years?”
“I heard that a few months ago, he accidentally fell into a well and nearly died! After picking up his life from the well, he showed signs of being a late bloomer! Maybe that’s when the Chong He Martial Tendon Body gradually awakened.”
“No wonder this person could preserve himself under Zhou Yongyi’s residual momentum—that makes sense now…”
Three Refinements Martial Body is actually a general term for special traits related to muscle strength, Jade Tree, and True Intent—these three refinements—representing the great accomplishment of root bones, unifying all the body’s acupoints.
Far superior to endowments or root bones limited to a single part of the body, like ‘White Chain Finger’.
Those possessing a Three Refinements Martial Body, no matter which refinement it’s related to, are guaranteed at least first-rate realm, and even add one or two tenths chance for Martial Dao Grandmaster realm!
The crowd buzzed with discussion.
Especially since Chen Shun’an had resolutely entered the county yamen amid the ferocious fire, disregarding past grudges to save Hong Junxian.
This breadth of mind, this courage.
Simply…
Benevolent-hearted Chen Shun’an!
Thinking of this, many people’s gazes toward Chen Shun’an carried a hint of goodwill and intent to befriend.
A gentleman is squared with the unrighteous.
The more wicked the person, the more they want to befriend the good.
“Isn’t it Tiger Tendon Leopard Vein?”
Chen Shun’an blinked, muttering to himself inwardly.
But ‘Tiger Tendon Leopard Vein’ is the Path of Divinity Precious Proclamation’s terminology, inconsistent with the Sacred Dynasty’s martial world, which is normal.
So, I don’t understand what you’re saying, so whatever you say it is, it is.
From today, Chen Mou is an elderly heavenly pride with the special physique ‘Chong He Martial Tendon Body’!
So it’s Chong He Martial Tendon Body?
Ba Lima, seeing this, flashed surprise in his eyes, then realization dawned, with a gleam appearing.
He suddenly flipped his hand and took out an ancient bronze mirror from his bosom, cupping hands toward Chen Shun’an and offering it with both hands,
“Brother Chen, I offended you earlier. This mirror is called Zhao Dan Mirror; I acquired it in the countryside in my early years.
Wearing it constantly has the subtle effect of nurturing courage and warding off common evil spirits. Today, consider it my apology—please accept it, Brother Chen, or I won’t be at ease.”
Gold and silver are too vulgar, lacking sincerity.
Pills and such carry the risk of hidden poison.
Ba Lima’s thoughts turned, feeling that only such a mysterious item from the martial world—possessing wondrous properties without touching fundamentals—showed sincerity without repercussions.
What a Ba Lima, so decisive—his ability to trim sails to the wind is truly impressive!
Many people were secretly shocked.
Even Chen Shun’an thought a bit higher of Ba Lima, silently crossing his name off his little notebook.
Chen Shun’an took the Zhao Dan Mirror and said, “You’re too polite.”
“Heh heh…”
Seeing Chen Shun’an accept the apology gift, Ba Lima smiled satisfiedly and stepped back, inwardly cursing himself.
Why couldn’t I control this hand! I can’t resist touching any good thing I see!
Now I’ve given away the Zhao Dan Mirror.
But gaining one less potential enemy with a Three Refinements Martial Body is a blessing in misfortune.
In the crowd, Sun Xiao and Cheng Bin, that pair of hapless brothers, looked at themselves, then at Chen Shun’an who was like the moon surrounded by stars, shocked to near numbness.
How can the gap between people be so vast?
And it seems poised to widen further?
Sun Xiao and Cheng Bin exchanged glances, faces full of bewilderment.
They vaguely felt that the day wasn’t far off when their group of water carriers would set aside face to fawn over Old Chen, willingly calling him ‘Master Chen’.
Yue Ting stood stiffly in place, looking at the harmless-looking Chen Shun’an, suddenly feeling a chill creep up his spine, hairs standing on end, almost wanting to turn and flee immediately.
He couldn’t forget that it was this Chen Shun’an who had ruined Wanlong Pounding House’s reputation!
Killing two birds with one stone—eliminating Ah Hua and harming Shopkeeper Xiang.
“Chen Shun’an is cunning as a fox, intellect near demonic—perhaps even today’s accidental exposure of the Three Refinements Martial Body is part of his plan. Then, his true strength… wait, could it be that Nie Zheng…”
Yue Ting’s heart skipped a beat, a terrifying guess suddenly emerging.
Chen Shun’an faintly sensed something, his smile unchanging as his gaze casually swept over Yue Ting, who was still standing dazed with a shifting expression.
“Yue Ting? This guy has always been honest and dutiful, giving me no excuse to act… wait, this reaction—has he noticed something?”
A chill flashed in Chen Shun’an’s eyes.
At this time, the county yamen fire had been mostly extinguished, only wisps of green smoke accompanied by scorched smells rising faintly amid the ruined walls and debris, covered in water stains and ashes.
Zhou Qing, Lin Shou Zhuo, and other first-rate experts all set off together toward Vegetable Market Intersection.
Nearby, the doctor was cleaning and bandaging the wound on Chen Shun’an’s arm.
Chen Shun’an tried to suppress his qi and blood, lest the wound heal before the medicine was applied.
Seeing Lin Shou Zhuo and the others set off, he dragged his swaying body to stand up.
“I’ll go too.”
Lin Shou Zhuo frowned and said, “Your injury isn’t healed—stay here and rest. Vegetable Market Intersection will be fine with us there.”
Chen Shun’an said righteously,
“As long as the Guo Lu Society rebels aren’t eliminated, Wuqing won’t be at peace! How could I, Chen Mou, ignore the big picture over a minor injury and cower here?”
As soon as he said this, a sense of admiration welled up in everyone’s hearts.
Look at Brother Chen’s awareness, this passionate rhetoric.
He’s really faking it so well we’re almost fooled!
