Chapter 116 - 115: Purifying the Marrow
The benefits the Blood Transformation Realm brought to a Martial Artist were so great that they far surpassed even a Special Miracle Treasure.
Xia Wuyang could clearly feel his Talent and Qualification improving. What was once barely one-in-ten-thousand talent was now soaring.
His Cultivation Speed, Cultivation Foundation, and Comprehension... all of these were improving along with it.
As the blood in his body continued to transform and advance, his Talent and Qualification would keep rising until the Blood Exchange was complete.
Therefore, the deeper one delved into this realm, the greater the benefits for a Martial Artist.
By the time the medicinal power of the Vermilion Fruit was exhausted, Xia Wuyang’s Cultivation had completely stabilized at the Blood Transformation Initial Stage—which was also the First Grade Initial Stage, the Grandmaster Realm.
With every move, his Basic Power had skyrocketed to 100,000 kilograms, an increase of tens of thousands of kilograms. The benefits of breaking through to the Blood Transformation Realm were astonishing.
And this was just his Basic Power. With the enhancement from the Dragon Roar Sword, his destructive force could be tripled, reaching 300,000 kilograms.
Then there was the boost from his Top Level Mortal Techniques and Arts. For example, when enhanced by his improved Cyan Bamboo Sword Technique, his destructive force could be increased by 3.6 times.
Three hundred thousand kilograms multiplied by 3.6 is 1,080,000 kilograms.
A single slash of his sword could unleash a destructive force of 1,080,000 kilograms. Before Xia Wuyang, an ordinary mountain peak was as fragile as tofu.
Currently, in the Great Xia Dynasty, and even across the entire Fallen Dragon Land, the strongest experts who roamed openly were merely First Grade Grandmasters.
Super Grade Celestial Humans, on the other hand, were as elusive as divine dragons, hiding in unknown places and cultivating to break through to even higher levels.
Not to mention, in addition to his Body Refining Cultivation reaching the level of a First Grade Grandmaster, Xia Wuyang’s Refining God Cultivation had already ascended to the Super Grade Celestial Human Realm. With the two combined, most Super Grade Celestial Humans would be no match for him.
In terms of basic speed, he had already reached 150 kilometers per hour. With the enhancements from a Top Level Mortal Artifact and Top Level Mortal Techniques and Arts, this speed could be increased by 10.8 times. So, what speed could Xia Wuyang now reach?
1,620 kilometers per hour!
To reach a speed of 1,620 kilometers per hour in a mortal body, surpassing the passenger planes of his previous life—it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him a humanoid beast.
His Defense had also increased astonishingly. An ordinary First Grade Grandmaster couldn’t even break through Xia Wuyang’s defenses.
If he were to wear a Top Level Mortal Artifact, his defensive power could be boosted even further.
His hearing, his sight, his sense of smell... they had all seen astonishing growth. Stepping into the Blood Transformation Realm brought about an all-around enhancement.
In the Body Refining Stage, no other realm could grant a Martial Artist such a comprehensive and drastic improvement as the Blood Transformation Realm.
It wasn’t just his Cultivation Realm; his understanding of Cultivation Techniques, Combat Techniques, and Secret Techniques had also improved immensely.
Being called a Grandmaster wasn’t just about an increase in power and speed; it also signified an elevated understanding and mastery of the Martial Dao.
Without sufficient understanding and insight into the Martial Dao, one could not Purify the Marrow and exchange their blood for Blood-Exchange Mercury Paste to reach the Grandmaster level.
The reason the Blood Transformation Realm could improve one’s Talent and Qualification was because this realm initiated a change in a Martial Artist’s very essence of life.
As the carrier of life, a qualitative change in the blood directly affected the level of one’s entire being.
After breaking through to the Blood Transformation Realm, Xia Wuyang’s overall strength had increased several times over. His former self wouldn’t last more than a few rounds against his current self.
It would be no exaggeration to say he was unrivaled among First Grades. Even among Super Grade Celestial Humans, he was no longer considered weak.
From now on, he could act much more boldly and no longer needed to be as cautious as before.
If there were no Extraordinary True Monarchs in the Royal Family, Xia Wuyang might have been able to sweep away all opposition. Unfortunately, above the Body Refining Stage, there was still the Qi Refining Stage, and even the higher Refining God Stage.
’I wonder when Princess Jinping’s Blood Lotus Fruit will arrive. Once I’ve solidified my Cultivation Foundation and consumed the Blood Lotus Fruit to greatly enhance my Cultivation Realm, perhaps I won’t have any rivals even among the Super Grade Celestial Humans.’
’The breakthrough is complete. Next is to consolidate and adapt. Among all the current Princes and Princesses, I should be number one in terms of Cultivation Power alone. Although Princess Jinping feels dangerous, it’s because of the treasures she has, not her own cultivation and strength.’
Before he knew it, dawn arrived. Xia Wuyang tidied himself up and once again reverted to that muddle-headed elder Crown Prince, continuing to revel in song and laughter with a group of beauties.
After a brief period of consolidation and adaptation, Xia Wuyang quietly went to Yun Liyue’s place. He found Pan Mo, still unconscious, and fed her some Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to alleviate her pain.
Seeing Pan Mo’s pained expression, his heart felt like it was being twisted by a knife. ’It’s been a while since I’ve taken revenge on Consort De and the Fourth Prince, Xia Wulei. It’s time to punish them again. Pan Mo is in such agony; how can they be allowed to live comfortably?’
Under the cover of darkness, Xia Wuyang used his Stealth Technique, moving through the shadows of the Palace, and arrived at the Cold Palace without anyone noticing.
Inside the Cold Palace, Consort De was still awake. Though her face was still beautiful, her haggard expression was clearly visible, and the venom in her eyes was thick and unrelenting.
Even after being thrown into the Cold Palace, she showed little remorse.
Watching the dazed Consort De, a cold smile touched Xia Wuyang’s lips. He silently cast the Soul Capturing Technique, letting it settle into her mind.
"Lei’er... my Lei’er... How are you now?"
Consort De’s eyes gradually glazed over. In the Illusion Realm Xia Wuyang had woven for her, she seemed to see her son, Xia Wulei—grievously injured and no longer a man—crying. She even saw people trying to take his life.
Separated from her son, unable to see him, how could she not be in pain?
"I have to see Lei’er..."
Tears streamed down Consort De’s face, and her eyes grew distant. But in her mind, these were all her own thoughts, uninfluenced by anyone else.
Soon, she knocked out the Palace Attendants guarding her, slipped out of the Cold Palace unnoticed, and rushed toward Evergreen Hall.
Xia Wuyang followed like a shadow. At the same time, he cast another Soul Capturing Technique on a nearby Commander of the Imperial Guard, making the man think he was bored and should patrol the Cold Palace.
The Commander subconsciously wandered to the place where Consort De was imprisoned, noticed something was amiss, and immediately went inside. He found the knocked-out Palace Attendants and realized Consort De had escaped.
Meanwhile, Consort De had already snuck into Evergreen Hall and saw Xia Wulei lying on his bed, looking as if he had lost the will to live.
Mother and son were reunited, and they wept in each other’s arms.
But Xia Wulei quickly realized something was wrong. "Mother, what are you doing here? Aren’t you confined to the Cold Palace?"
"I missed you. I was afraid something might happen to you, so I escaped to come see you." Consort De caressed Xia Wulei’s face, tears streaming down like rain.