Chapter 43: Truly a Monster
At the same time, the changes within the Niwan Palace also indicated that his spirit was undergoing transformation, now qualified to leave the body and travel outside.
In the Daoist path, this was the mark of stepping into the Ninth Rank, Qi-Nurturing Realm.
“Just entering the path and already like this…”
“Cultivating both Martial and Dao together—this is truly beyond measure.”
Shen Yanzhou couldn’t help but shake his head inwardly, then turned his gaze to his own panel.
【Name: Shen Yanzhou】
【Techniques: The True Explanation of Primordial Unity (Incomplete, First Realm 1/16)】
【Secret Arts: Selfless Sword Heart (Fragmented, Minor Accomplishment 1/4)】
【Realm: Martial Path—Entered the Ranks, Not Yet Ninth Rank; Daoist Path—Entered the Ranks, Not Yet Ninth Rank.】
【Available Basic Points: 6 (11.33/100)】
The first realm of The True Explanation of Primordial Unity was called Primordial Genesis, divided into four stages, each corresponding to a different phase:
Primordial Qi, Guiding Qi to Refine the Body, Fusion of Primordial Qi, and Formation of the Primordial Embryo.
Only when all four stages reached completion could one be said to have truly mastered the first realm.
At this moment, Shen Yanzhou had merely stepped through the threshold, having successfully condensed a wisp of Primordial Qi, barely qualifying as having entered the Martial Path.
At the same time, his spirit had grown strong enough to leave his body—marking his entry into the Daoist ranks as well.
“Continue adding points.”
Without any hesitation, Shen Yanzhou poured the remaining six basic points entirely into The True Explanation of Primordial Unity.
Soon, the technique display changed to:
【The True Explanation of Primordial Unity (Incomplete, 7/16)】
In the unseen depths of the void, a dam suddenly burst.
Pure energy from the most ancient chaos surged forth, drawn by the wisp of Primordial Qi within Shen Yanzhou’s body, continuously converging into him.
A second wisp of Primordial Qi emerged.
Then a third, a fourth… more and more wisps appeared, eventually forming a vortex-like cyclone within his Ancestral Aperture.
Along with the thick, ancient aura of chaos, each breath he took drew that energy through his limbs and bones, deep into his organs.
The essence of Primordial Genesis was to create “something” out of “nothing,” forcibly opening and stabilizing a Primordial Source Point within one’s life origin, drawing in the Breath of Chaos and laying the foundation for both Martial and Daoist cultivation.
In simpler terms—
From the birth of the first wisp of Primordial Qi to the formation of the Primordial Vortex—this marked the completion of the first stage.
The second stage, Guiding Qi to Refine the Body, used that inner vortex as a source to continuously temper the flesh, cleanse the mind, and strengthen the soul.
When Shen Yanzhou looked inward, he could clearly sense the Primordial Qi drifting from the vortex, circulating through his meridians and organs.
Meanwhile, his spirit glowed faintly like mist, already capable of leaving his body unharmed by blazing sun or violent winds.
【Name: Shen Yanzhou】
【Techniques: The True Explanation of Primordial Unity (Incomplete, First Realm 7/16)】
【Secret Arts: Selfless Sword Heart (Fragmented, Minor Accomplishment 1/4)】
【Realm: Martial Path—Eighth Rank; Daoist Path—Eighth Rank.】
【Available Basic Points: 0 (11.33/100)】
“The panel shows my realm as merely Eighth Rank, yet by my understanding of this world’s Eighth Rank, Bone-tempering martial artists—even those with extraordinary talent—without using secret arts or elixirs, their strength amounts to at most the power of one ox, enough to draw a hundred and fifty-jin bow repeatedly.”
“But my casual arm swing far surpasses that.”
Ignoring Lin Qingcang, whose face was still full of disbelief and shock, Shen Yanzhou walked to the stone wall of the cave.
He pressed his palm lightly upon it—without even stirring his inner vortex, relying purely on raw strength.
Layers of stone dust fell away, leaving behind a clear palm print.
“So this is the power of The True Explanation of Primordial Unity?”
Lin Qingcang finally came back to his senses, his breathing quickened.
He looked at Shen Yanzhou—whose figure and bearing had improved noticeably compared to before—and found it almost unbelievable.
Though the cave seemed made entirely of stone walls, it was in fact carved from a single piece of meteorite he had discovered long ago.
Even a Sixth Rank, Sea-Cleaving Realm martial artist, giving their all, would struggle to leave a mark on it. Yet Shen Yanzhou had done so effortlessly—proof that his body had reached an unimaginable level of strength.
How long had it even been since he obtained The True Explanation of Primordial Unity? A few breaths?
Lin Qingcang, once a Martial God and a peerless prodigy of his era, now found that Shen Yanzhou in his eyes… was nothing short of a monster.
“You haven’t yet reached First Rank—how did you even enter the path?”
“And what realm are you at now?”
Unable to suppress his shock and curiosity, Lin Qingcang blurted out the questions.
“Senior, you’re a Martial God—can you not tell my realm?”
Still gazing at the palm print on the stone wall, Shen Yanzhou’s lips curved faintly as he replied.
“It seems like Eighth Rank… but not quite.”
Lin Qingcang stared closely at him, yet even as he said it, he didn’t believe it himself.
An Eighth Rank martial artist leaving a palm print on this meteorite?
Absurd.
“Heh…”
“So this truly is a technique perfect for hiding one’s strength.”
Shen Yanzhou chuckled.
An Eighth Rank martial artist?
A single slap from him would turn such a man into mist.
Not to mention, his spirit was now so strong that with one thought, he could leave his body and sweep his divine sense across dozens of miles.
Such power—yet the panel still called it Eighth Rank?
By the classification of The True Explanation of Primordial Unity, did that mean even upon perfecting the first realm, he would only reach Sixth Rank peak?
Still, Shen Yanzhou didn’t dwell on it.
After all, these were two entirely different systems of cultivation.
If a Sixth Rank, Sea-Cleaving Realm martial artist stood before him now, he was confident he could crush him with a single finger.
“It wasn’t in vain that I went through such effort to obtain this technique.”
Shen Yanzhou’s thoughts soon calmed. He felt no arrogance—he wasn’t yet invincible.
Besides, although The True Explanation of Primordial Unity advanced both his Martial and Daoist cultivation simultaneously, for now it only granted pure physical and spiritual enhancement; it contained few martial skills, secret arts, or Daoist techniques.
Only upon reaching the Second Realm, Ten Thousand Transformations Returning to Flow, could he embrace all methods, emulate all phenomena, and become untouchable by all laws.
In other words, for now he was just a raw “stat monster.” To become a true all-around warrior, he still had to make up for his other shortcomings.
“Senior, will you admit defeat?”
Shen Yanzhou looked toward Lin Qingcang, whose emotions still fluctuated, and asked.
“Heh… interesting.”
“I once dominated an era, yet I’ve never seen a monster like you. Even if you came from That Side, it’s hard to believe you could so easily comprehend this technique.”
“There must be something about you that even I cannot understand.” Lin Qingcang’s eyes locked on Shen Yanzhou.