The mist was thick and dark, and dew condensed on the river grass.

In the early morning, the backyard of the Su Mansion was still shrouded in a thin, cold mist.

Su Yu stood bare-chested in the center of the Martial Arts Arena. He untied the Green Spirit Origin-Transforming Gourd from his waist, tilted his head back, and downed a mouthful of the comprehension-enhancing wine, which had been steeped with Carefree Drunken Immortal Fruits.

As the liquor went down his throat, his mind instantly became clear and empty. Su Yu’s eyes flew wide open as the immense Qi and Blood of his late-stage Flesh Refining Realm cultivation erupted from within him!

He sank his shoulders, dropped his elbows, and let his great tendons snap and tremble as he began to perform the Mountain-Shaking Demon Ape Fist.

BOOM!

As his fist shot forward, a viscous Demonic Ape Aura, already condensed to the point of being tangible, burst from his body!

This dark red aura instantly enveloped his fists and even his calves. With every wide, sweeping movement, it grated against the air, producing a harsh, sizzling CRACKLE.

Blessed by the state of sudden enlightenment, Su Yu’s understanding of the Fist Technique deepened.

With every punch he threw, the terrifying, world-shaking aura radiated outwards like a furious tidal wave, crushing everything in its path!

Under the pressure of this terrifying aura, the surrounding environment seemed to fall into a strange stillness.

The dewy blades of grass were pressed into quiet submission by this force, their gentle trembling ceasing completely.

A few summer insects that had just poked their heads out from a corner of the wall were instantly scared to death by this ferocious presence, their bodies going stiff in the soil!

He seemed to have transformed into a true primordial demon ape, his fists brazenly pounding on invisible war drums. His aura was domineering to the extreme!

[Mountain-Shaking Demon Ape Fist Skill Level +25]

[Martial Arts]: Mountain-Shaking Demon Ape Fist (Major Achievement 1025/10000)

After finishing the set of the Fist Technique, Su Yu slowly relaxed his stance and exhaled a plume of hot, white air.

’My Skill Level has finally broken a thousand. At this rate, I’ll soon be able to try breaking through the Huagai acupoint. My strength will definitely surge again then!’

The Huagai acupoint, located in the center of the sternum above the Danzhong Acupoint, is known in the world of Martial Arts as the "lid" that protects the internal organs, especially the lungs.

Once this acupoint is opened, it not only greatly strengthens the toughness of the pectoral and intercostal muscles, but also causes a qualitative leap in a person’s lung capacity!

At that point, not only would Su Yu’s ability to hold his breath underwater and his endurance in aquatic combat be multiplied when using the Bibo Fish Dragon Skill, but it would also provide immense airflow from his lungs to support the Vajra Fearless True Sound, making the lethality of this Buddhist sonic art even stronger!

Su Yu then brought up his status panel and glanced at his current Martial Arts progress:

[Martial Arts]: Mountain-Shaking Demon Ape Fist (Major Achievement 1025/10000)

[Martial Arts]: Spiritual Ape Demon-Slaying Saber (First Layer) (Major Achievement 7300/10000)

[Martial Arts]: Black Stone Body Forging Skill (First Layer) (Major Achievement 11000/12000)

[Martial Arts]: Vajra Fearless True Sound (Minor Achievement 240/1500)

[Breakthrough Point]: 1 (Progress 88%)

[Divine Ability]: Silent Annihilation (Tier 1) (Unlock Progress 33%)

... 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Looking at the data on the panel, Su Yu calculated silently.

His duties at the Public Security Bureau, searching for members of the Black Lotus Sect, had been too demanding these past few days. He simply couldn’t find the time to focus on practicing the Vajra Fearless True Sound, so his progress on this unique art had slowed considerably.

However, it couldn’t be helped. In these chaotic times, the Mountain-Shaking Demon Ape Fist, his main cultivation art, was the foundation of his survival, followed by the Black Stone Body Forging Skill.

If this Body Forging Skill could break through to the Perfection Realm, the boost to his Qi and Blood and the strengthening of his skin, membranes, and bones would be elevated once again. In terms of practical combat, its priority was clearly higher than the sonic art.

As for his Divine Ability, although it was unlocked, he hadn’t found a suitable place to test it.

His intuition told him that the destructive power of such a potent ability, one that involved stripping away life force, was absolutely beyond imagination. If he rashly used it within the Su Mansion, he might end up reducing more than half of the estate to rubble.

The best place to test it would naturally be outside the city, at the Black Water Riverbank or in the desolate wilderness. But Su Yu suppressed the urge to leave the city.

There was only one reason. Ever since he had forcefully killed Hu Yanxin, that young master from the Huyan Family at the Muscle Forging Realm, in Falling Eagle Gorge, he had expected to face the family’s relentless and crazed retaliation. But strangely, not only had they made no move, but they had gone completely silent, pulling their heads in like turtles in their shells.

A biting dog doesn’t bark, as the saying goes. The Huyan Family was a reclusive, powerful clan in the Inner City. The more they held back like this, the more it proved they were secretly preparing a fatal blow.

For now, it was best to play it safe.

After all, as long as he stayed in Black Stone City and held the title of Vice Commander of the Public Security Bureau, no one would dare to make a move on him, especially at this critical juncture with the Black Lotus Sect causing trouble.

’I’ll continue cultivating the Black Stone Body Forging Skill for now!’

Having decided on his next step, Su Yu once again took the Green Spirit Origin-Transforming Gourd from his waist. He was just about to tilt his head back for another mouthful of Spirit Wine to aid his cultivation when he realized the gourd felt light.

He shook it. As expected, there wasn’t even the slightest sound of liquid inside.

’This Spirit Wine runs out so fast. What kind of Treasure of Heaven and Earth should I use to brew more?’

Su Yu frowned slightly as he looked at the smooth, green-skinned gourd in his hand.

He didn’t lack ordinary treasured medicines, but most of them were Middle Grade or Low Grade. He had tried brewing wine with them, and the effect was very mediocre. It was actually better to just eat them directly to speed up the accumulation of Breakthrough Points.

It would be best to use a High Grade treasured medicine, but he didn’t have many of those. In his storage ring, only a Red Scale Earth Dragon Fungus, a seventy-year-old wild ginseng, and a Nine Yang Blood Orchid remained.

But he didn’t want to consume any of these three. He wanted to save them as a trump card to be used during his White Ape Transformation.

’The Demon Beast Thunder Bone I steeped before, and the Carefree Drunken Immortal Fruits... they were all ancient treasures and seemed to have the best effect. Where can I get more of them?’

Su Yu pondered this in his mind.

’The Yang Family has been searching for ancient wonders for so long without finding a single one. It seems they aren’t easy to obtain. And there’s been no news from the Linglong Pavilion lately. They’ve probably gone into hiding because of the chaos caused by the Black Lotus Sect. I’m afraid there’s no way to get anything from them for a while.’

As these thoughts churned in his mind, Su Yu suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

’Wait, the Nine-Revolution Green Lotus I’m growing in the lotus pond is also a treasured medicine from ancient times. Maybe using its lotus seeds to brew wine will also have a special effect.’

At this thought, an irrepressible excitement welled up inside Su Yu, and he immediately strode toward the lotus pond in the backyard.

「In the backyard of the Su Mansion.」

As soon as Su Yu stepped through the Moon Gate, his gaze was captured by the scene before him.

In the center of the courtyard, Yang Zhen was dressed in a form-fitting blue martial arts uniform, intently practicing the White Ape Fist Technique.

The silky, flexible fabric breathtakingly outlined her increasingly voluptuous curves, which were as exquisite as a ripe peach.

Su Yu watched her seriously for a moment and noticed that with her every move, her Qi and Blood had become integrated and self-sustaining.

Clearly, she was only a single step away from officially breaking through the Flesh Refining barrier!

’Zhen’Er’s progress in Martial Arts is a bit outrageous. What on earth is this Wood Spirit Body? It’s truly astonishing.’

Su Yu couldn’t help but marvel at the sight.

"Brother Su, you’re here!"

Catching sight of Su Yu’s figure out of the corner of her eye, Yang Zhen immediately stopped her fist forms.

A joyous smile bloomed on her gorgeous face, as radiant as a hundred flowers. Like a young swallow returning to its nest, she brought a gust of fragrance with her as she cheerfully threw herself into Su Yu’s broad embrace.

The soft, bouncy sensation against his chest sent a thrill of pleasure through Su Yu.

"Zhen’Er, I came to see our Nine-Revolution Green Lotus," Su Yu said warmly, taking the opportunity to wrap his arm around her slender, graspable waist. "I was wondering if it’s possible to pick a lotus seed now? I want to try steeping it in this Green Spirit Origin-Transforming Gourd. The ordinary treasured medicines I used before couldn’t activate the gourd’s miraculous properties. They’re nowhere near as effective as those ancient wonders."

Yang Zhen was naturally aware of the effects of this magical gourd. Hearing Su Yu’s words, her sharp mind immediately understood his intention.

"If Brother Su needs them, you can take three, it’s no problem," Yang Zhen said, tilting her head up with a beaming smile. "I’ve been accumulating a dense amount of Wood Spirit Qi in my body these past few days. After we pick the lotus seeds, I’ll immediately nourish it with my Spiritual Qi to make sure its foundation isn’t harmed."

"Alright, I’ll have to trouble you then, Zhen’Er."

The two exchanged a smile and walked side-by-side to the edge of the lotus pond, which was overflowing with Spiritual Qi.

The pond was no longer the dilapidated sight it once was. Instead, it presented a vibrant, thriving ecosystem, like a scene from a celestial paradise.

The water was crystal clear to the bottom, and wisps of visible white spiritual mist drifted across its surface.

On the left side of the pond stood a remarkably divine Red Lotus Root.

This treasured medicine was as translucent as the finest white jade, except for the nine joints where the rhizome connected, which glowed with a crimson color like flowing lava.

The pure red luminescence emanated from these spots.

And in the very center of the pond was the Nine-Revolution Green Lotus that Su Yu valued so highly!

When it was first transplanted, this ancient species had been withered and on the verge of death. But after being nourished daily by Yang Zhen’s Wood Spirit Qi, it had undergone a heaven-and-earth-shattering transformation.

Its three originally drooping petals had not only unfurled again, but their surfaces now shimmered with a gentle, emerald-like green light. The lotus’s well-developed root system was deeply embedded in the spiritual mud at the bottom of the Yin-Yang Pond, greedily absorbing nutrients. At the edge of the pistil, there was even a mysterious sign of a fourth green petal about to break free from its bud!

Besides these two supreme-grade treasured lotuses, more than ten colorful and rare treasured fish, along with a school of koi, swam carefree in the wide pond.

SPLASH!

Suddenly, the calm surface of the water broke.

A small croc-dragon, its body covered in green scales and already over fifty inches long, swam over cheerfully. It expertly climbed out of the lotus pond, scrambled up Su Yu’s pant leg, and affectionately rubbed its little head, which had fine white whiskers, against Su Yu’s palm.

"You little fella, you’re growing so fast! I haven’t seen you for a few days, and you’ve already shot up in size."

Su Yu’s eyes filled with delight at the little croc-dragon’s change.

Yang Zhen also smiled and extended her fair, jade-like hand.

The little croc-dragon was extremely intelligent and immediately crawled obediently onto her palm, letting out a happy COO. It even stuck out its pink tongue to lick her fingertips.

"This little thing seems to really like you, Zhen’Er," Su Yu said with a laugh.

"I have a Wood Spirit Body, so I have a natural affinity for these Celestial and Earthly Spirit Beasts, Brother Su."

Yang Zhen dotingly stroked the little croc-dragon’s hard back armor. "Look at the way it’s calling out; it’s probably hungry again. I’ll ask Miss Mu to cut it a few pounds of high-quality Red Dragon Boar meat later. It has a huge appetite now, eating at least five or six pounds of meat a day. No wonder it’s growing so sturdy."

Yang Zhen gently teased the little croc-dragon for a while before carefully placing it on a green stone by the pond and turning to pick the lotus seeds.

She leaned forward slightly, her body tilting. This casual movement instantly and completely revealed her breathtakingly perfect hip-to-waist ratio, as well as the proud, prominent curves of her chest, to Su Yu’s eyes.

Then, she extended a jade-like finger, and an ethereal stream of Wood Spirit Qi instantly flowed and swirled around her fingertip.