After the Great Dao died

Chapter 14 Copper Red, Mountain-Crushing Force

Early the next morning, before dawn.

Chen Lingxi had already woken up from her breathing exercises.

After practicing the breathing technique for more than twenty days, he has completely replaced sleep with breathing in pure air.

After more than twenty days of cultivation, the spiritual energy in his dantian had become as thick as two fingers joined together.

As his spiritual energy grew stronger, he began to breathe, and the amount of turbid air gushing from his pores increased. After a night of cultivation, his body would often be covered in foul-smelling sweat, as if the filth accumulated in his mortal body had been expelled.

In addition, Chen Lingxi also noticed that in the past few days, whenever he practiced breathing exercises, his skin would always radiate a very faint blue light.

Between the opening and closing of his pores, extremely fine spiritual substances were released and released on his body surface, which was quite miraculous.

His spiritual energy was robust, which greatly enhanced the effects of his cultivation of qi and blood.

After washing up, he went to the courtyard and performed a set of Seven Forms of Stopping War and Mountain-Swept Aura.

He could keenly sense that when he performed a set of "Mountain-Sweeping" techniques, his blood and energy permeated his skin, seemingly tempering his skin, fascia, and bones.

Even his internal organs were tempered by qi and blood.

"Once the internal organs are tempered, the Iron Body is already largely formed, awaiting only perfection."

Chen Lingxi stood still, her eyes bright and her breathing long and even.

"It's almost time. I should go to Yin'an Courtyard to see Jiang Yuan."

At dawn on a winter day, before the night has completely faded, the bare branches of the trees are like ink lines drawn on the gray sky, motionless, as if even the air itself is frozen.

Chen Lingxi walked on the white frost, which was as white as salt, and went to Yin'an Courtyard.

Yin'an Courtyard was the residence of many of the guest ministers of the Marquis of Baosu's mansion.

Daejeon Province appears prosperous and peaceful, but in reality, the entire Daejeon region is rife with chaos.

Emperor Daye of the Great Li Dynasty has been levying exorbitant taxes and levies in recent years, and has also been expanding the Grand Canal.

In two years, forty-nine canals were dug, mountains were carved and valleys were filled, dikes were broken and rivers were cut off, and countless bones were left exposed in the wilderness.

Nineteen rebel kings rose up across the land of Dali, the strongest of whom was Xiao Changlu, who called himself the "King of Intercepting Evil"!

In such a chaotic situation, the imperial court naturally turned a blind eye to the behavior of the Dali clan and government officials in the vicinity of the capital, who kept guest ministers, warriors, and retainers.

As long as a soldier is not kept in the army of more than 500 men, the Dali court will not interfere.

As a result, the practice of recruiting strong individuals by various departments and prefectures in Gyeonggi Province has become increasingly prevalent.

In the Yin'an Courtyard of the Baosu Marquis's residence, there are more than a dozen guest retainers with names and surnames.

The Marquis's residence has several martial arts training grounds, with as many as a hundred martial artists.

In Yuanjiang Prefecture, the Baosu Marquis's Mansion, not to mention its illustrious status, is a behemoth in terms of martial prowess alone.

Just as dawn broke, Chen Lingxi arrived at Jiangyuan Courtyard.

As dawn broke through, the frost had not yet dried.

Jiang Yuan's residence was located on the east side of Yin'an Courtyard, in a secluded corner. The ground was paved with blue bricks, and several old pine trees were planted around it, their gnarled branches covered with snow, giving it a solemn and dignified air.

Jiang Yuan was already standing in the courtyard.

He was dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit, and the muscles in his exposed arms were like the gnarled roots of an old tree. Although he stood still, he had the imposing presence of a mountain.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his breath long and deep, and a faint silvery-white halo flowed around his body. This was a sign of the manifestation of his silver marrow blood and qi. Although it was extremely faint, it made the surrounding coldness retreat.

Chen Lingxi bowed deeply and said, "Disciple Chen Lingxi greets Master."

Jiang Yuan did not turn around, but only gave a soft "hmm" in response.

However, just as Chen Ling straightened up, Jiang Yuan suddenly moved!

He still had one hand behind his back, but his other hand was like an eagle reaching out with its claws, its five fingers slightly curled, and with a sharp whistling sound that seemed to tear through the wind and snow, it went straight for Chen Lingxi's right wrist!

His movements were incredibly fast; this seemingly casual grab actually blocked all of Chen Lingxi's gaps in dodging.

Furthermore, an invisible yet heavy force, as the claw wind crashed down, causing Chen Lingxi's blood and qi to stagnate instantly, and his breath to catch in his throat.

"Um?"

Chen Lingxi's pupils contracted sharply, and the blood and qi in her body surged violently in response. At the same time, her toes instinctively slid half a step backward, and her right arm tried to retract like a snake to avoid the claw!

But... the gap between him and Jiang Yuan is too big!

Jiang Yuan's hand seemed to defy the limitations of time, locking his right wrist like an iron clamp the instant his thought arose!

"Mr. Jiang!"

Chen Ling was speechless!

Contrary to expectations, it was not cold and hard to the touch; instead, it was warm and smooth like jade.

However, the next moment, a terrifying, scorching, and mercury-like force pierced through Jiang Yuan's body from his fingertips!

This force did not strike violently; instead, it was like countless tiny silver needles, rapidly traveling along Chen Lingxi's meridians and blood vessels, instantly exploring his limbs, bones, and internal organs.

Just as Chen Ling was washing away her surprise and doubt...

"Alright!" Jiang Yuan suddenly shouted and released his hand.

His eyes held a mixture of surprise and delight.

"How could a mere government slave, without any delicacies or medicinal baths to nourish his body, manage to maintain it to such an extent!"

With the Iron Body fully formed and the five internal organs beginning to possess the properties of iron, perfection is just around the corner.

At that time, the Qi and blood will be like lead and mercury, spontaneously generating fire, boiling and churning, just like the firewood being ignited under the alchemical furnace, transforming iron into copper, and entering the copper-red realm will be a natural progression.

Chen Ling realized that Jiang Yuan was checking his cultivation level.

He suppressed the lingering numbness in his wrist and the shock in his heart, and took the opportunity to bow and ask, "Sir, this disciple is foolish and may I ask what the wonders of the Copper Crimson Realm are? And how powerful is it after the Qi and blood generate fire?"

Jiang Yuan took two steps back with his hands behind his back and slowly said, "The Bronze Crimson Realm, as the name suggests, is a realm of qualitative change in qi and blood."

For beginners, their Qi and blood generate a fiery nature, like red charcoal buried in embers, with heat contained within.

Those who have reached the "Minor Stage" possess surging, fiery qi and blood. As it circulates, it can scorch the meridians, and when unleashed through fists and feet, it not only injures the opponent's tendons and bones but also penetrates the body with its intense heat, burning away the qi and blood and causing sustained internal injuries. This is known as "Copper Lava Qi."

He paused, then extended a finger, from which a wisp of crimson flame suddenly rose. Though only an inch long, it caused the surrounding cold air to hiss and distort.

"Upon reaching the Great Perfection, the Qi and Blood ignite like fire, surging and surging. With a thought, the Qi and Blood can vaporize out of the body, adhere to the skin and membrane, and solidify into a tangible substance, like an invisible armor of Qi. Ordinary swords and knives cannot harm it, and even the force of fists and feet can be partially neutralized by it."

This is the [Bronze Fire Armor].

Immediately, the flame at his fingertips contracted abruptly, condensing into a single, dazzling red dot, like molten iron in a furnace.

"The realm of [Perfection] allows one to compress this fiery blood and energy to an extreme degree, hiding it deep within the meridians and acupoints. It is not usually visible, but once it erupts against an enemy, it is like opening the lid of a furnace, with raging flames surging forth, several times more fierce and violent than usual."

Every gesture and movement carries the power to scorch gold and split rocks; this is the [Opening of the Bronze Furnace].

The strength, subtlety, and timing of the eruption of this vital energy and fire element are the root causes of the vast differences in combat power among warriors at the Bronze-Red Realm, far exceeding the mere increase in physical strength.

Chen Lingxi listened intently, as if drinking nectar, and bowed, saying, "This disciple has learned much."

"Hmm." Jiang Yuan nodded, his gaze returning to Chen Lingxi: "What kind of stance training do you practice?"

Chen Lingxi replied, "It is an incomplete scroll called the Seven Styles of Ceasefire, which I obtained from the Martial Arts Hall in the West Courtyard."

"Show me the call."

Chen Lingxi calmed his mind and followed the instructions.

The first move begins with embracing a giant mountain, then turning to press down on a raging torrent, the spine arches to support the blue sky, and the knees sink as if rooted to the ground... The nine variations of the first move flow out like a torrent.

Although it lacked the earth-shattering power of collapsing mountains, its movements were precise and fluid, its strength contained yet not revealed, and its blood and qi surged throughout its body, subtly harmonizing with the rhythm of the moves. Beneath its skin, an iron-colored luster flowed, revealing an incredibly solid foundation.

Jiang Yuan watched quietly, his expression initially calm, then his eyebrows slightly raised. When Chen Lingxi finished her stance and stood still, her breathing even and long, his eyes were filled with amazement.

"What a complex and profound skill! This technique may seem basic, but it actually integrates stance training, blood circulation, tendon and bone stretching, and internal organ vibration into one. It requires a high level of control from the practitioner, and it is easy to learn but difficult to master. If one is not careful, one will injure oneself."

"Ordinary martial artists would need three to five years of arduous training to even begin to grasp it, and you..."

He looked Chen Lingxi up and down, as if re-examining a piece of unpolished jade covered in dust: "To have not only entered the field without guidance and with scarce resources, but to have also reached such a proficient level, even triggering the tempering of the internal organs with qi and blood... Such talent and comprehension are truly rare."

Jiang Yuan praised her generously, but in his heart he still felt sorry for Chen Ling.

"If only they weren't government slaves, it would be perfect, what a pity..."

He shook his head and strolled to the open space in the courtyard.

"Since you have already laid an iron body foundation with this skill and it suits you, there is no need to learn other methods and waste time."

From this day forward, I will teach you the [Mountain-Crushing Force]!

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Yuan's figure suddenly sank, and his entire aura changed drastically.

The stillness and towering peaks of the past have transformed into the fury of a volcano, poised to erupt.

Without any visible movement, his right fist was slowly raised, the movement heavy and slow, as if it were supporting a mountain of immense weight.

As the punch rose, the faint silver-white halo around his body suddenly blazed brightly, and the faint sounds of wind and thunder emanated from his body, which was the silver marrow blood surging and roaring in his meridians.

"Watch closely!" Jiang Yuan roared, and his fist, which had been slowly raised to his chest, suddenly turned into a blurry afterimage and struck a dark training stone, about half a person's height, a few steps away!

Without any contact, only an invisible and intangible yet extremely concentrated and powerful force broke through the air and went away.

The air was compressed and torn apart, emitting a groan of unbearable strain.

The next moment—

"boom!!!"

The training stone, which had withstood countless blows and was harder than iron, did not shatter. Instead, it shook violently as if it had been struck by an invisible mountain. Instantly, the stone's surface was covered with fine, spiderweb-like cracks, and a clear fist-shaped indentation several inches deep was carved into the center, with stone dust falling from the edges.

A punch from a distance, and rocks crumble into dust!

This is the power of the Silver Bone Perfection and the Mountain-Crushing Force!

Jiang Yuan withdrew his fist and stood up. The silver light around him gradually faded, and his aura returned to normal, as if the earth-shattering blow just now had not come from his hand.

He turned to Chen Lingxi, whose face was filled with shock, his voice like the clang of metal on metal:

"The power of collapsing mountains lies not in its complex form, but in its simple meaning; not in its scattered force, but in its concentrated power."

Concentrate all your energy and spirit into one punch, with intention as heavy as a mountain and power as devastating as a collapsing mountain, destroying cities and fortresses, and leaving no one who can stand in your way.

Your iron body foundation is already established, your physique is strong, and your qi and blood are abundant. This is the best time to cultivate this power.

Today, I will impart to you the general principles of the Mountain-Crushing Technique.

A cold wind swept through the courtyard, and the snow on the pine branches fell with a soft rustling sound.

Chen Lingxi took a deep breath, her eyes clear and focused.