Chapter 231: Heavenly River

After undergoing bone remodeling in all his skeletal parts, all of Zuo Zhicheng’s bones turned to the color of ink. This was why this Life Grove was called Ink Bone.

Of course, the bone remodeling from Ink Bone wasn’t simply a change in color. It greatly increased the strength of Zuo Zhicheng’s bones.

The way Ink Bone improved bone strength wasn’t just about increasing density. In fact, the density didn’t increase much. Instead, many hollow spaces formed inside the bones. Ink Bone enhanced toughness and bone strength through its own material and special bone structure.

Just like carbon, depending on its structure, diamond, graphite, and other forms have completely different strengths due to their molecular arrangement.

For materials, structure is a very critical factor in determining their strength.

Because of its unique internal structure, Zuo Zhicheng’s bones now had both toughness and strength. The many hollow structures also made his body lighter again, increased his speed, and gave him an unprecedented sense of lightness.

With a slight exertion in his lower back, the bone tail that grew from his tailbone slowly retracted.

Xu Hongfei, who was standing nearby, approached with clothes in hand and asked, “Sir, is it over?”

Zuo Zhicheng casually took the coat and draped it over himself, replying calmly, “It’s almost done. Next, I need to rest well and quickly adapt to Ink Bone’s high-speed bone remodeling ability.”

As he said this, he glanced at Xu Hongfei and asked, “Lately, your Martial Arts have improved quite quickly.” In his Infrared Vision, Xu Hongfei’s body already showed 50% pink Physique Strength.

Xu Hongfei’s progress was indeed fast. With the Northern Peng Hanging Heaven Style, Spiritual Energy Food, and a devilish coach like Zuo Zhicheng training him, how could his progress not be rapid?

Even though his strength had greatly improved, under Zuo Zhicheng’s gaze, he felt as if a tiger had set its eyes on him. A chill rose from the back of his head, and he replied somewhat nervously, “It’s all thanks to your guidance, sir.” Although his tone sounded tense, his eyes remained calm.

Zuo Zhicheng sensed the other’s heartbeat and body temperature, then slowly nodded. During this period, he had used both kindness and authority. Xu Hongfei was just a teenager with a determined character, but how could he be a match for the cunning Zuo Zhicheng? At least on the surface, he appeared completely loyal to Zuo Zhicheng.

“For the coming time, put everything else aside and focus entirely on breaking through in Martial Arts. Once you’ve mastered all forty-nine forms of the Northern Peng Hanging Heaven Style, I will transplant ‘Indestructible’ into your hand.”

“Sir!” Upon hearing this, Xu Hongfei immediately knelt on the ground, looking up with a fanatical expression, and said, “Thank you for the reward, sir! I will work as hard as I can.”

“Hmm.” A fleeting smile appeared on Zuo Zhicheng’s cold face. “Keep it up. Don’t waste your talent.” After saying this, he patted Xu Hongfei on the shoulder.

Xu Hongfei trembled with excitement and suddenly said, “Sir, after receiving the Indestructible transplant, will I be able to go out?”

“I know what you want to do,” Zuo Zhicheng said. “After the transplant, I do plan to have you handle some matters for me outside. If you need to kill a few people by then, it won’t be a problem.”

Zuo Zhicheng knew the other wanted revenge. He wasn’t interested in the specifics, as long as Xu Hongfei let go of his final burdens and devoted himself wholeheartedly to his service.

Hearing Zuo Zhicheng’s words, Xu Hongfei said nothing more but deeply kowtowed, almost prostrating his entire body on the ground.

Watching Xu Hongfei prostrate at his feet, Zuo Zhicheng’s eyes shifted, flashing with unfathomable light.

He naturally wouldn’t trust others so easily. However, he needed more time to cultivate Martial Arts and Dao Arts, especially after the battle with Yama Holy Son. He had gained deeper insights into the Power of Mind and Spirit and the Cold Light Rippling Sword, and he needed to refine and practice them thoroughly.

Therefore, he decided to assign Xu Hongfei to lead the search and collection of Life Groves. Before that, of course, he needed to test the other thoroughly a few more times.

…

Meanwhile, while Zuo Zhicheng laid low to cultivate and accumulate strength once more,

far to the north in Central Governance, inside a splendid and magnificent hall decorated with ivory, coral, calligraphy, paintings, and ancient jade, specially made candles over a meter thick were lit, emitting an ethereal fragrance.

This scent came from materials ground from dozens of herbs. Even an ordinary person rarely had the chance to smell it, as it had effects of curing illnesses and prolonging life. For Martial Arts practitioners, long-term exposure could strengthen the body and enhance physical power.

But now, Bai Yixin, seated in the main position of the hall, had his facial wounds wrapped in bandages. His face was pale, his lips bluish, and he looked depleted of energy, completely lacking the mysterious, ever-changing aura that combined youth, middle age, and old age.

Instead, his eyes were venomous, like a snake’s, frequently glancing toward the hall’s entrance.

Since his battle with Zuo Zhicheng, where he fled in panic, not only was his appearance ruined with a gaping hole in his face, but most critically, his Martial Arts had regressed. He fell from being a Human Phase Master to a Self Aspect Master, no longer able to use the Power of Mind and Spirit to attack.

This blow was immensely heavy for someone used to being highly respected, adored by many, and dominating the Martial Arts world. Now, he lived each day filled with extreme resentment and sorrow, as if his heart were constantly being bitten by venomous snakes.

Especially recently, when he heard that Zuo Zhicheng and He Zizai had escaped the personal pursuit of Yama Holy Son, he spat a large mouthful of blood on the spot, and his spirit grew even more despondent.

In this state, a huge flaw appeared in his mind, making it nearly impossible for his Power of Mind and Spirit to advance, let alone re-enter the Human Phase Realm.

After Bai Yixin waited in the hall for quite a while, a man in a long robe and a tall official’s hat, who looked like a young scholar, slowly entered. The man’s face carried a faint smile that made anyone who saw him feel as if bathed in spring breeze.

Seeing the man enter, Bai Yixin immediately stood up. “Senior Brother, this time you must help me…”

That man was Bai Yixin’s senior brother, the leader of the Heavenly River Sect, Ye Junxi.

His eyes sharp as lightning, he scanned Bai Yixin’s haggard face, his own expression showing neither sorrow nor joy. “Regarding Zuo Zhicheng, don’t concern yourself with him for now.”