Chapter Forty-Six: Breaking the Pillar

  The four friends pulled Zhou Heng up and pushed him out heavily.

  He was about to turn back when he heard the woman in purple say calmly: "Since you've already stood up, why not come over and give it a try?"

  Zhou Heng thought for a moment and felt quite at ease in his heart. Although he knew that he couldn't possibly have any bloodline power, trying it out wouldn't hurt either - breaking through the boundary was simple, but that was after he had obtained the legacy of the Black Sword, not something he was born with.

  Arriving in front of the Ling Crystal Pillar, Zhou Heng concentrated his mind and grasped the pillar.

  A warm and gentle intention immediately spread throughout his body, when it reached the Dan Tian, a black broken sword lightly shook, a pitch-black sword energy immediately entered the Lingzhu pillar along Zhou Heng's arm.

  The crystal pillar emitted a jet-black light in an instant, but the process was so short that it was astonishing, and no one could see clearly. Suddenly, with a "pa" sound, it turned into countless fragments!

  In the cinnabar field, a black broken sword floated and sank, returning to calmness, as if an extraordinary strong man waved his hand and wiped out a daring ant that disturbed him, without putting it in his heart.

  How did it break?

  Zhou Heng was stunned, he didn't have the money to compensate!

  "Haha, this guy is afraid of losing face, he actually used brute force and crushed the crystal pillar!"

  "With so many people present, only one person triggered a reaction from the crystal pillar. What's there to be ashamed of?"

  "This guy was already pretending to be a good person to attract Miss Zixing's attention before, and now he's even more over the top!"

  Suddenly a burst of laughter came from below, and the four of them secretly praised this brother for being a master of romance, always having clever ideas.

  "I'm really sorry, I broke your stuff!" Zhou Heng scratched his head, "How much does this need to be compensated?"

  Such a wonderful thing, isn't it expensive?

  The woman in purple clothes suddenly flashed a strange color in her eyes, but immediately suppressed it and said lightly: "Young master doesn't need to mind, may I ask how to address you?"

  Whatever, this works too!

  Everyone involuntarily rolled their eyes to the ground, if they knew that this could attract Miss Zixing's attention, wouldn't they have done so long ago! But they were all afraid of being too abrupt with the purple-robed woman, and who dared to do such a reckless thing?

  "See you next week!"

  "Which sect's senior brother is Zhou Gongzi?" The purple-robed woman asked again.

  The second question!

  Jing Tian was so demonized, but was only asked for his name by the purple-robed woman. However, Zhou Heng ruined the spiritual crystal pillar and instead received even higher attention, who can accept this?

  "Jiuling Sect!" Zhou Heng replied simply and clearly, he didn't want to have much contact with the purple-robed woman.

  Seeing Zhou Heng's obvious impatience, everyone was so angry that they wanted to chop him with a knife. This is not only taking advantage of the situation but also pretending to be clever, wanting to infuriate others to death!

  The woman in purple didn't expect Zhou Heng to have such an attitude, and she couldn't help but pause for a moment before forcing a smile. She took out a crystal card and handed it to Zhou Heng, saying: "Young Master Zhou, this is the VIP card of our pavilion!"

  This is great stuff!

  Zhou Heng hastily took it over and smiled: "Thank you, Miss Zixing!"

  Looking at Zhou Heng's happy smile, the purple-clothed woman almost spat out a mouthful of blood!

  In his eyes, she was far less important than a VIP card!

  I'm so angry! I'm so angry!

  Although she held a high position and wielded great power, after all, she was only a woman in her early twenties, renowned for her beauty. Now, being completely ignored by others made her feel indignant.

  "Zhou Gongzi, would you like to stay and have a simple meal with me?" She was angry in her heart, but a charming smile floated onto her face.

  "Go! Go!" The four of them, including Zhū Zhì, had already squeezed over and were eagerly responding on behalf of Zhōu Héng.

  "It's actually several of you gentlemen!" The purple-robed woman apparently recognized Zhu Zhi and the four others, revealing a faint smile. She first announced the end of today's tea ceremony to everyone, then took Zhou Heng and the five of them to a secluded courtyard, set out wine and dishes, and invited the five to drink together.

  Others naturally envied, but in Tianbao Pavilion, who dared to be presumptuous? They all received the instructions of their seniors in the sect and were not allowed to make trouble in Tianbao Pavilion. One by one, they could only stare with wide eyes.

  Shen Xinqi and Han Yulian couldn't help but feel a strange sensation in their hearts, never having thought that the foolish and muddle-headed Zhou Heng would have such good luck with women.

  Although the four of them, including Zhū Zhì, were deeply infatuated with the woman in purple, when they actually met her, they didn't dare to express their feelings and instead acted with utmost respect, discussing ancient and modern topics, each one being extremely polite.

  The woman in purple robes was clearly focused on Zhou Heng, constantly asking him about his background. Zhou Heng thought that with the Tianbao Pavilion's abilities, it would be easy to dig up his origins, so he didn't hide anything, but he absolutely wouldn't reveal secrets like the Black Sword.

  The host and guest had a great time, Zhou Heng dragged away the four who were pretending to be drunk and wanted to stay in Tianbao Pavilion, naturally making Zhu Zhi and the others sigh with sorrow.

  ……

  "Miss, you said that man named Zhou Heng actually shattered the Ling Crystal Pillar?" In a secret place of Tian Bao Pavilion, a purple-robed woman was sitting upright drinking tea, while an old man in gray robes stood beside her. His face was full of wrinkles, making it impossible to tell his age.

  If there were elders of the three major sects present, they would immediately recognize that this old man was Yan Sen, the master of Tianbao Pavilion in Fengyucheng.

  "Sen Lao, you also know that the Ling Crystal Pillar is extremely hard. Even a cultivator in the Gathering Spirit Realm can't shatter it with one blow, let alone someone who has only reached the ninth layer of Body Refining!" The purple-robed woman's face, as white as jade, flashed with a hint of resentment, clearly recalling Zhou Heng's deliberate disregard for her!

  "Indeed, it's unbelievable!" Yan Sen nodded repeatedly, because the old face had too many wrinkles, and it was impossible to see what kind of expression he had.

  The woman in purple had something unsaid, that was, at the moment when the crystal pillar shattered, she saw that fleeting black light!

  This is somewhat similar to the predestined person that Tianbao Pavilion is looking for, but it's not entirely the same. This matter is of great importance, she must first return to the main pavilion to report the situation and at least bring a higher-level spiritual crystal pillar for testing.

  "Grandma Meng, I'll be leaving tomorrow. Can you keep an eye on that guy and make sure no one hurts him?" she said after a moment's thought.

  "Yes, miss!" Yan Sen replied respectfully, showing no dissatisfaction whatsoever despite their age difference.

  ……

  Zhou Heng returned to the inn and the first thing he did was to unpack the medicine he bought from Tianbao Pavilion, and prepare the medicinal concoction needed for his cultivation of Mingyu Gong.

  Zhu Zhihe and the four of them were on one side, flattering Zhou Heng, while inciting him to go find the woman in purple clothes again tomorrow, so that they could also bask in her glory.

  Zhou Heng was too lazy to bother with the four of them, and soon he prepared the medicinal bath according to the prescription. This was simple, as long as the materials were ready, he just had to measure out the right amount and toss it into the bathtub.

  He chased the four people away and after stripping down to his underwear, Zhou Heng stepped into the bathtub.

  So hot! So scorching!

  The water seemed to be boiling, filled with scorching heat, Zhou Heng hurriedly followed Ming Yu's method, absorbing the medicinal properties one by one, tempering his body.

  In the process of martial arts training, the true yuan force will continuously temper the body. After reaching the peak of the 12th layer of body refinement, the strength of the body is not much worse than that of a rock. Defensive martial skills are to go further on this basis, and even sharp swords can't break through!

  To achieve this extra effect, it is not enough to rely solely on the power of the true yuan, and one must first use medicine to develop the potential of the human body.

  Zhou Heng was like sitting in boiling water, even his willpower could hardly bear it!

  No wonder there is a top-grade martial skill placed there, but in the sect, almost no one has heard of anyone who has cultivated Mingyu Gong to success. It turns out that this first step is so difficult, probably 90% of people will immediately jump out as soon as they take a step in.

  Attract the power of medicine, strengthen skin, muscle and skeleton. This effect is not immediate, it must be combined with Mingyu Gong to merge the medicinal power with the body and tap into the deep potential of the human body.

  One night passed, and Zhou Heng was surprised to find that the originally red bath water had become clear and transparent.

  This means that the medicinal properties have completely disappeared!

  According to the method, this dose of medicine can be used about ten times, how did he absorb it all in one night?

  My own body seems really different!

  Zhou Heng knew that since the "Awakening", Hei Jian had been slowly improving his body, but he didn't expect it to have reached such a terrifying level in just half a year!

  He hastily activated his Bright Jade Technique and lifted up both hands, only to see that the surface of his skin had transformed into a layer of jade-like stone!

  This... Ming Yu Gong's first layer has been successfully cultivated!

  Zhou Heng couldn't help but stare with his eyes wide open, this was too exaggerated, although everyone's innate talent is different, but to actually complete the first layer of Ming Yu Gong in just one night, it really made him speechless.

  Next, I can cultivate the second layer!

  Just as Zhou Heng was about to start, Zhu Zhi and the four troublemakers had already burst in, insisting on dragging him to Miss Purple Star's tea party again.

  "Didn't you go yesterday?" Zhou Heng asked unpleasantly.

  "Miss Purple Star's tea party will last for three days wherever it goes, so we can still go for two more days!"

  Their intentions were good, but when they arrived at the Tianbao Pavilion, they were told that Miss Zixing had left early in the morning. This made Zhou Heng breathe a sigh of relief, but it made Zhu Zhi and the four others wail continuously.

  Since Miss Zixing left, they didn't have the heart to stay and continued to chase after their goddess.

  However, they got along very well with Zhou Heng, and they all stayed for an extra day. They asked Zhou Heng to visit them at the Black Water Temple when he had time, which made Zhou Heng's head spin - was the Black Water Temple a place that could be entered casually?

  Zhou Heng did not leave immediately, but continued to cultivate Ming Yu Gong at the inn.

  The terrifying cultivation speed continued, and just two days later, he completed the second and third layers of the Mingyu Gong, tempering his entire body's skin and bones to be as hard as steel.

  Although Ming Yu Gong has a total of ten levels, he is also very close to the Blood Refining Realm, it's time to leave.

  "Go to Tian Shan mountains!"

  "I'll be able to break through to the tenth layer of Body Refining in just a few more days and qualify to enter that Cold Pond for a try!"

  Zhou Heng left the room and immediately departed from Feng Yu City to head towards Ping Tian Mountain Range. Time was a bit tight, as he had to return to Jiu Ling Sect at the beginning of each month to accept challenges from others - whether or not anyone would challenge him was another matter.

  "I've been waiting for you for a long time!" Just as he had entered the Pingtian Mountains, a figure emerged and blocked Zhou Heng's path.

  ;