Chapter 69: The Golden Body Complete, The Ninth Layer of Qi Refining

"Master, someone has been following you!"

Ji Fengxia reminded him.

Practicing the divine path, she was now roughly at the peak of the seventh layer of Qi Refining, yet her soul perception surpassed that of many formidable warriors in the Divine Might Realm.

This was because she was a genuine practitioner of the divine path, far superior to martial artists who focused primarily on the physical body.

Every profession has its masteries.

"Never mind them!"

Zhou Chen knew that person was likely the handmaiden of his master, Li Changfeng, who could also be considered his master's wife.

Although within the territory of the Azure Cloud Sect, generally no one would dare to make a move against a direct disciple of the sect, what if they encountered someone blind?

Among the direct disciples, Zhou Chen possessed the weakest strength, so when he traveled far, powerful guardians would inevitably follow in secret.

Otherwise, if a direct disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect were to be killed the moment they stepped outside, wouldn't it become a laughingstock?

"Oh, Master Zhou, you've arrived!"

Seeing Zhou Chen, Sister Xing's face bloomed with a radiant smile as she hurried over, wrapping her arms around his and sinking him into that deep, soft valley.

"Sister Xing is getting prettier by the day!"

Zhou Chen reached out to pinch her cheek, sweet words spilling effortlessly from his lips, marking him as an experienced veteran at a single glance.

Moreover, Sister Xing appeared to be around thirty years old, resembling a fully ripened honey peach. To be honest, Zhou Chen found her quite appealing.

Especially since Sister Xing, acting as the visible proprietor of the Celestial Fragrance Tower, possessed no weak strength—reaching the ninth layer of Body Refining—her romantic affinity points must be quite substantial.

It was a pity that Sister Xing was as slippery as an eel, at most allowing Zhou Chen a bit of harmless temptation with limited gains.

Yet Zhou Chen was in no hurry.

As long as his status and strength increased, there would always be opportunities to fully enjoy her.

Just like the Fairy Tianxiang, who to others was an untouchable goddess, an ethereal celestial maiden, yet she still yielded to his playthings.

"Master Zhou should save such remarks for Tianxiang."

Sister Xing cast a sultry, flirtatious glance at Zhou Chen, swayed her voluptuous hips to lead him to Fairy Tianxiang's room, and then glided away gracefully.

"Young Master."

Fairy Tianxiang greeted him gracefully, swaying like a green lotus in the breeze.

Zhou Chen pulled Fairy Tianxiang into his embrace, lowered his head to kiss her, inhaled the faint, elusive fragrance emanating from her, and smiled:

"Did you miss me?"

"When has this humble maidservant not missed the Young Master?"

"I've missed you terribly as well."

Zhou Chen swept Fairy Tianxiang up in his arms.

The night grew passionate and scorching.

"Tianxiang, I have a mission to go out for two months. When I return, I'll take you home with me!"

Holding Fairy Tianxiang in his arms, Zhou Chen spoke to her.

"Mm-hm, this maidservant will wait for the Young Master!"

The next day.

Zhou Chen looked down at Fairy Tianxiang, who was cradled tightly in his arms, fast asleep. Her breathtakingly gorgeous, moving face was stained with tear tracks like pear blossoms washed in rain, looking so pitiful that it made one reluctant to leave.

With immense willpower, Zhou Chen extricated himself and departed. A subtle trace of a smile seemed to linger on the corner of Fairy Tianxiang's lips, beaming with irrepressible joy.

"A bed of tenderness is a hero's grave; the ancients truly did not deceive me."

Zhou Chen shook his head, banishing the lingering charm and reluctance from his heart, and resolutely set off.

Although beauties were wonderful, they must not hinder important business.

Leaving the Celestial Fragrance Tower, Zhou Chen had breakfast at an inn and set off with Zhao Shirong toward He County.

He County was located in Qingyang Commandery under the jurisdiction of Azure Cloud Prefecture.

At the speed of a flood-dragon horse, traveling by day and resting by night, it would take roughly a day and a half.

Along the way, they indeed encountered quite a few petty bandits.

After all, seeing Zhou Chen riding a horse while holding a beauty, many small-time thieves assumed he was a wealthy, arrogant young master out for pleasure with a woman.

He looked like a prime, fat sheep.

They could plunder his wealth and seize the beauty as well.

The outcome was self-evident; they were effortlessly pierced to death by Zhao Shirong.

A day and a half later.

Zhou Chen and Zhao Shirong arrived without incident at the He County gold mine.

Actually, it wasn't entirely without incident; Zhao Shirong's "incidents" seemed to have grown a size larger.

Playing all the way through had caused her to blossom.

The He County gold mine was located in a valley in the suburbs, where Zhou Chen met the true guardian of this place—Elder Jin, Jin Wufeng.

Jin Wufeng belonged to the direct lineage of Azure Cloud Peak, primarily cultivating the Sky-Rending Sword Technique. Despite his name, Wufeng ( meaning "No Blade"), he emitted an intensely sharp and piercing aura.

"Disciple Zhou Chen pays respects to Elder Jin!"

"No need for formalities!"

With a chilling gaze, Jin Wufeng appraised Zhou Chen, this newly appointed direct disciple, appearing neither warm nor cold.

After a brief exchange of words, he instructed a disciple to lead Zhou Chen away to settle in.

There was nothing specific required of Zhou Chen here.

And Zhou Chen was more than happy to enjoy the leisure.

"Senior Brother Zhou, the conditions are somewhat crude. Please let us know if you need anything."

"Sorry for the trouble, this place is already quite good!"

Looking at his courtyard, although it couldn't compare to the grand mansions of the Azure Cloud Sect, it was no worse than his residence in Qinghe City.

Dismissing the disciple, Zhao Shirong began cleaning the room and unpacking their luggage for Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen opened his personal interface.

Over the past half-month or so, through his frantic efforts—even amidst punishment by the sect leader—his harvest had been substantial, with his romantic affinity points breaking the thirty-thousand mark.

Among them, Zhao Shirong, Yu Youwei, Li Qingxia, and Gu Qiushui had all contributed immensely.

"In this remote and desolate place, the strongest person is only Elder Jin of the Divine Might Realm. I can finally elevate my cultivation."

Zhou Chen felt a surge of anticipation. Crouched dragons and hidden tigers abounded within the Azure Cloud Sect, preventing him from acting too high-profile, but here it was like a bird soaring into the high skies and a fish leaping into the vast sea.

"Archery of Houyi, add points!"

As 128,000 romantic affinity points were consumed, Zhou Chen felt as though he had spent two and a half years of day-after-day diligent cultivation; his physical body underwent continuous tempering, fusing into oneness and growing steadily stronger.

The eighth layer of Body Refining, the Golden Body Realm, integrated the entire physical body, forging it into a golden body that would remain uncorrupted for a hundred years even after death—an immensely powerful state.

His flesh, skin, tendons, bones, marrow, blood, and internal organs vibrated frantically, undergoing continuous metamorphosis.

"Fengxia, help me shield this."

Zhou Chen instructed.

In truth, he didn't even need to ask; Ji Fengxia had already used her soul power to seal and mask the commotion around Zhou Chen, revealing not the slightest trace.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Every single heartbeat of Zhou Chen sounded like a booming bronze bell or a resounding drum.

Immediately afterward.

Tendons and bones resonated together, producing the thunderous roars of tigers and leopards.

The formidable internal Qi surged through his body like a great river, tempering his entire flesh, blood, tendons, and bones, fundamentally altering his physique.

This was a process of stepping from mortality into sanctity.

Transforming from a mortal physique into a spiritual body.

Zhou Chen resembled a boiled prawn; his entire body flushed crimson and piping hot, steam billowing off him as his sweat evaporated instantly.

He knew not how much time had passed—it felt like ten thousand years, yet also like a single instant.

Zhou Chen finally broke through the shackles. The barrier separating the mortal physique from the spiritual body shattered abruptly, much like a maiden's delicate membrane, smashed to pieces by a mighty force.

The eighth layer of Body Refining reached completion, the Golden Body was successfully forged, and he further cultivated the Archery Spiritual Body, ascending to the ninth layer of Body Refining, the Spirit-Refining Realm.

[Archery of Houyi Level 9 (68/250,000)]

"So this is the completion of the Golden Body and the Archery Spiritual Body..."

Zhou Chen sensed his own body, which felt like a supreme divine weapon forged from steel hammered a thousand times—indestructible, immensely powerful, and razor-sharp.

Meanwhile, the Archery Spiritual Body vastly heightened his comprehension of archery. Holding the Sunset Bow, Zhou Chen felt an even deeper sense of familiarity, as if he had been naturally born for archery.

"No wonder the Archery Spiritual Body grants such a massive advantage, allowing one to easily cultivate the Archery of Houyi, whereas ordinary people need their archery skills to reach the divine realm before they can even begin..."

Zhou Chen pinched his own arm. His skin was as glowing and white as jade, seemingly enveloped by a faint layer of luminescence, with internal Qi weaving into a net beneath his epidermis.

Not just the skin, but his muscles, tendons, bones, and every part of his body possessed it. As for his internal organs, internal Qi had already woven into a net back during the Organ-Refining Realm.

At this moment.

Every inch of Zhou Chen's body could erupt with formidable internal Qi, and any part of his physique could instantly transform into a terrifying lethal weapon.

His defense had likewise multiplied more than tenfold.

After the seventh layer of Body Refining, every single layer represented an entirely different realm—this was by no means an empty saying.

Zhou Chen continued.

"Everlasting Spring Skill, add points."

Another 128,000 romantic affinity points were consumed, causing the internal Dharma power within Zhou Chen to surge violently. His physical body was once again washed over by Dharma power, becoming even more rounded and flawless.

[Everlasting Spring Skill Level 9 (60/250,000)]

"The romantic affinity points for the ninth layer rounded up to a full twenty-five thousand, but that's merely half a month of bitter cultivation anyway!"

Zhou Chen was in high spirits. Even in this He County where acquiring romantic affinity points was slightly slower, with Zhao Shirong, Ji Fengxia, and Liu Ruyi by his side, he could easily earn two to three hundred thousand a month.

"There are still over forty thousand points remaining..."

Zhou Chen turned his gaze toward the other cultivation techniques he practiced.

[General-Slaying Saber / Lightning God Movement Technique / Overlord Fist Level 7 (0/32,000), Iron Drawing and Silver Hook Level 3 (0/2,000)...]

"Of all the martial arts in the world, speed is paramount. Speed is the most important; it allows you to advance to attack and retreat to defend, keeping your life safe comes first..."

Thinking of this, Zhou Chen instantly made his decision.

"Lightning God Movement Technique, add points!"

As 32,000 romantic affinity points were consumed, this superior movement technique advanced to the eighth layer of Body Refining. Zhou Chen felt as though his legs had been fitted with a new engine—light, powerful, and blindingly fast.

"With twelve thousand left, adding it won't yield much improvement. I'll keep it in case I encounter danger for healing and recovery..."

Although healing and recovery were merely auxiliary functions, their effects surpassed those of medicinal pills, yielding immediate results and serving as a veritable life-saving artifact.

Circulating the Qi-Concealing Art to suppress his aura back to around the seventh layer of Body Refining, Zhou Chen had Ji Fengxia remove the barrier and stepped outside, brimming with high spirits.

"What has the Young Master so happy?"

Zhao Shirong walked out after tidying the room, seeing Zhou Chen's radiant smile, and beamed back with a charming grin.

"Naturally, my cultivation has broken through to a new level!"

Without elaborating, Zhou Chen took Zhao Shirong out for a stroll to familiarize themselves with the surrounding area.

For the period that followed.

Zhou Chen spent almost all his time 'diligently cultivating' at home with Zhao Shirong.

Occasionally, when staying indoors too long, Zhou Chen would take Zhao Shirong out to experience something a bit more thrilling.

On this particular day.

Zhou Chen led Zhao Shirong, riding the flood-dragon horse up the adjacent Lotus Flower Mountain.

At the summit stood a massive ancient pine tree, emerald-green like jade, standing proudly on the precipice. Picturesque and poetic, it bloomed with the beauty of life right upon the sheer cliffs.

The morning sun rose, casting its radiance over all things.

Zhou Chen wrapped his arm around Zhao Shirong's smooth, supple waist, turned her around, and made her face away from him.

Zhao Shirong gripped the weathered, vigorous trunk of the ancient pine with both hands, turned her head back with a sultry, flirtatious smile, and cast a glance at Zhou Chen:

"The Young Master only knows how to torment this maidservant..."

"The scenery here is picturesque, and such a wonderful time and setting is precisely the right place to comprehend the harmony of life and nature..."

Zhou Chen chuckled, lifting the back hem of Zhao Shirong's skirt.

A gentle breeze blew past, carrying a hint of coolness. Zhao Shirong's body suddenly trembled, her teeth biting down on her lower lip.

Her fair, snowy neck arched backward, and her long hair fluttered and danced with the gusts of wind.

The golden sunlight poured down, enveloping them as if draping them in a sacred feather garment—warm and profoundly comfortable.

Past noon.

Zhou Chen held the glistening, sweat-drenched Zhao Shirong as they leaned against the ancient pine, feeling each other's warmth and fit, savoring the afternoon sun.

"Ah!"

A sudden exclamation rang out. Zhou Chen raised his head and saw a child of seven or eight years old tumbling off the cliff on the neighboring mountain peak.