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Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Failure, Luo Cheng Gets Engaged!
"Let’s give it a try!"
Luo Cheng calmed his mindset and released his Martial Soul.
Under the moonlight, the Nine-colored Mysterious Egg glimmered brilliantly, slowly revolving and absorbing the surrounding Heaven and Earth Essence Energy.
Luo Cheng cleared his mind of distractions, controlling the Essence Energy, constantly refining and compressing it.
This is the advantage of achieving the Body Tempering Extreme Realm!
At the Extreme Realm of Body Tempering, the tempering reaches perfection, and Essence Energy enters the body without being influenced by it—every strand is under complete control.
For ordinary Ninth Layer Martial Artists at the Body Tempering Realm, breaking through to the Transcendence Realm would mean the Essence Energy entering the body is influenced by the flesh and blood, greatly reducing efficiency and doubling the difficulty!
Luo Cheng had no such concerns and focused entirely on refining and compressing the Essence Energy.
As time passed, the Essence Energy in Luo Cheng’s body gradually took shape, resembling flowing ribbons.
As long as he continued refining these strands to form an Essence Energy Mansion, he could ascend to the Transcendence Realm!
Splat!
Just as Luo Cheng was preparing to make an aggressive push for the Transcendence Realm, the refined and compressed Essence Energy suddenly went out of control and dispersed!
"Failed! What’s going on?"
Luo Cheng opened his eyes, doubt and confusion clouding his gaze.
Yun Mengli had said that his breakthrough to the Transcendence Realm would be unhindered!
Moreover, the Essence Energy refinement had gone exceptionally smoothly earlier—he was moments away from forming the Essence Energy Mansion!
Yet at the final step, it all fell apart!
"While refining the Essence Energy earlier, a powerful suction force suddenly erupted at the center of the Essence Energy. Could it be a lack of Essence Energy?"
Luo Cheng thoughtfully recalled the situation and promptly pinpointed the issue.
However, he had run out of Spiritual Medicine.
"Looks like I’ll have to visit Lingyun Pavilion tomorrow."
He had agreed to help Luo Yao with alchemy but hadn’t asked for compensation yet.
Since he’d identified the problem, Luo Cheng wasn’t anxious. He planned to rest properly for the night and prepare for tomorrow’s breakthrough attempt.
The following day.
Early in the morning, Luo Cheng freshened up briefly and went to the dining hall for a meal.
Fortunate events had come one after another, and Luo Mingshan was in high spirits. Yesterday, he had asked specifically for Luo Cheng to join the family for a banquet.
"Luo Cheng, big brother!"
The younger generation of the Luo Family greeted Luo Cheng respectfully as he arrived at the table.
Even his aunt, Lin Yan, was all smiles as she attentively placed food onto his plate.
During the banquet.
Luo Mingshan asked, "Cheng’er, the fist technique you used to defeat Lin Yun yesterday—was it the Heavy Mountain Fist Technique?"
"That’s correct."
Luo Cheng nodded, understanding his grandfather’s curiosity, and answered directly, "I’ve cultivated the Heavy Mountain Fist Technique to the Transformation Realm."
"The Transformation Realm!"
The people at the table collectively gasped.
The Heavy Mountain Fist Technique wasn’t some secret martial art—it was possessed by many families in Qishan City. But among practitioners of the Body Tempering Realm, those who could cultivate it to Great Success were already exceedingly rare, let alone the Transformation Realm!
"Luo Cheng, how long have you been cultivating it?"
Having regained her mobility, Luo Qingwan blinked her eyes curiously and asked.
Luo Cheng replied casually, "About three months or so."
"Three months?!"
The chopsticks in Luo Qingwan’s hand nearly dropped to the ground.
She had spent three months cultivating the Three-star Martial Arts Floating Wave Palm and had barely scratched the surface of its introductory threshold!
The crowd stared at Luo Cheng as though he were some kind of anomaly.
Luo Cheng was mildly helpless. In truth, he had only spent two months or less cultivating the Heavy Mountain Fist Technique.
"Haha, it seems our Cheng’er is a prodigy in martial arts! In terms of comprehension, he’s undoubtedly a genius among geniuses!"
"Cheng’er, starting today, you may browse the Luo Family’s Martial Arts Pavilion at will."
Luo Mingshan laughed heartily, clearly elated. Yet soon after, he seemed to recall something and said regretfully:
"It’s a pity our family doesn’t have any high-level cultivation techniques..."
Luo Mingshan’s mood visibly dimmed; once an individual broke into the Transcendence Realm, they needed to begin cultivating techniques.
The quality of the cultivation technique directly affected a martial artist’s cultivation pace and combat strength!
The Luo Family’s finest cultivation technique was merely a Three-star Technique, the Green Mist Technique.
Given Luo Cheng’s exceptional comprehension, a Three-star Technique would undoubtedly waste his talent!
The only solution was to join a sect for cultivation.
However, sects had stringent requirements for disciples’ Martial Souls.
Even the sects considered second-rate near Qishan City, such as the Golden Ring Sect, required disciples to awaken a Two-star Martial Soul, let alone the Xuanyuan Sect.
Luo Cheng said, "Grandfather, there’s no need to worry. Once I join the Xuanyuan Sect, I’ll naturally have access to cultivation techniques."
Xuanyuan Sect!
Luo Mingshan froze for a moment, assuming Luo Cheng didn’t know about the Xuanyuan Sect’s admission criteria. Not wanting to dampen his enthusiasm, he smiled instead and said:
"Good! Good! Now let’s enjoy the meal."
After the banquet, Luo Cheng was preparing to head to Lingyun Pavilion when news arrived that Qi Family Head Qi Fusong and their eldest Miss, Qi Ting, had come to pay a visit.
"Qi Fusong?"
Luo Mingshan was slightly surprised but quickly stood up and said, "Bring them to the council hall!"
Luo Cheng also found it puzzling—why had the Qi Family appeared at this time?
In the council hall.
Luo Mingshan and the others had just taken their seats when the Qi Family representatives entered.
At the forefront was a slightly portly man in ornate robes: the Qi Family Head, Qi Fusong. Beside him stood Qi Ting.
When Qi Ting saw Luo Cheng, her lips involuntarily tightened into a pout, her eyes flashing with a trace of shame and anger, as though she wanted to chew Luo Cheng to pieces!
Luo Cheng curled his lips disdainfully—he had gone easy on her back then, hadn’t he?
"Qi Family Head, a rare guest indeed. What wind has blown you here today?"
Luo Mingshan laughed heartily as he sat in his seat.
Qi Fusong’s expression was slightly awkward as he forced a smile and said, "I hope the Luo Family Head won’t hold it against us for arriving unannounced. Quick! Bring in the gifts!"
Qi Fusong clapped his hands.
Immediately, a procession of servants carried trays inside, laden with silk, jade, and precious treasures—each item was clearly of significant value.
Luo Mingshan was slightly surprised; Qi Fusong was famously stingy.
"Luo Family Head, there were minor misunderstandings between us in the past. We’ve brought a token of sincerity this time."
Qi Fusong continued to smile and shifted his focus to Luo Cheng: "Young Master Luo Cheng is truly outstanding, with the bearing of a qilin. It’s no wonder he defeated Lin Yun and became the foremost young talent of Qishan City!"
Luo Cheng said evenly, "That’s not what you said the last time we met."
Qi Fusong coughed awkwardly and replied, "Poor judgment, poor judgment."
Luo Mingshan’s face remained neutral. "Qi Fusong, what is the purpose of this charade?"
Qi Fusong immediately signaled to Qi Ting with his eyes. "Ting’er, why don’t you take a walk with Young Master Luo Cheng."
All eyes turned to Qi Ting.
There was no denying Qi Ting’s beauty—she had delicate, charming features, a graceful and upright figure, and her cultivation talent wasn’t bad either. She might not compare to Yun Mengli, a true heaven’s pride woman, but she was undoubtedly a rare beauty in Qishan City.
Shame and anger clouded Qi Ting’s expression as she bit her reddened lips, dragging her feet.
"Ting’er!" Qi Fusong’s tone grew slightly stern.
"Let’s go."
Luo Cheng stood up and took the initiative to guide Qi Ting out.
He was curious to see what play the Qi Family was orchestrating.
"Luo Family Head, this visit serves not only as a courtesy but also to discuss matters concerning our younger generation."
Once the pair walked out, Qi Fusong smiled.
"Concerning the younger generation?"
Luo Mingshan and the others were somewhat taken aback, not understanding his intent.
Outside the council hall was a large marble plaza surrounded by flourishing flowerbeds.
Qi Ting walked to a secluded area, stopped, and turned to Luo Cheng. "Do you understand the purpose behind my father bringing me here?"
Luo Cheng shook his head.
Qi Ting’s cheeks flushed, her teeth gritted, and she said indignantly, "He wants to arrange a marriage engagement between you and me!"
"An engagement?"
Luo Cheng looked startled.
