"Try cultivating!"
Forcing himself to calm down, Luo Cheng immediately ran toward the Practice Field in the courtyard.
Inside the Practice Field, there were numerous massive stone locks.
In the pursuit of martial arts, Body Refining comes first.
The Body Tempering Realm is about nourishing blood and qi, strengthening the physique, and after advancing through nine layers, one can transcend their mortal body to become a true cultivator!
Luo Cheng was currently at the Body Tempering Fourth Layer Realm, possessing the strength of two stones!
Approaching a stone lock weighing two hundred pounds, Luo Cheng took a deep breath, lifted it, and swung it vigorously.
As he cultivated, the Nine-colored Mysterious Egg slowly hovered above him, beginning to draw in the surrounding cosmic energy and merge it into Luo Cheng's body.
Two hours later, Luo Cheng suddenly felt his body lighten, and the once-heavy stone lock became unexpectedly light.
"Body Tempering Fifth Layer! So quickly!"
Feeling the changes in his strength, Luo Cheng was ecstatic!
He had assumed it would take several days to reach the strength of two hundred and fifty pounds and break through to the Body Tempering Fifth Layer, but he hadn't imagined he would advance in just two hours!
Clearly, this was the impact of his Martial Soul!
"Although my Martial Soul is unawakened, its cultivation effects may outstrip those of complete Intermediate Martial Souls, or even Advanced Martial Souls!"
After a moment of thought, Luo Cheng understood.
Unawakened Martial Souls indeed cannot compare to complete Martial Souls by even a fraction.
However, his Nine-colored Mysterious Egg contained countless stars. Even a fraction would far exceed the power of Nine-star Martial Souls!
It was possible that his unawakened Martial Soul could surpass even the legendary Spirit Martial Souls, Earth Martial Souls, and Heavenly Martial Souls!
And this was merely an unawakened Martial Soul. What kind of existence would it be if it ever successfully awakened one day!
"Alright! Ji Yuanhao, just you wait and see!"
Thinking about the events of the Awakening Ceremony, Luo Cheng's eyes gleamed with a sharp, cold light.
"Wait, where's the necklace?"
Suddenly, Luo Cheng noticed the necklace he'd always carried with him was missing.
That necklace was the only keepsake his mother had left for him!
Diligently searching his body, he still could not find it.
"What is this...?"
Just as Luo Cheng intended to head to the square to continue searching, he suddenly noticed an exceptionally faint nine-colored mark on the palm of his right hand!
The shape of the mark was incredibly familiar—it was identical to the necklace his mother had left him!
"The necklace has entered my body? What's going on?"
He touched his palm, sensing no physical change, yet felt clearly that the Nine-colored Scale was there!
"It really has entered my body! What is the origin of this necklace?"
Staring at the Scale mark, Luo Cheng fell deep into thought.
He had a hunch: this Nine-colored Scale was extraordinary, and his awakened Martial Soul had some connection to it.
"I'll need to go to the Ji Family one day and ask Mother personally."
Unable to figure it out, Luo Cheng decided not to waste time. When the time comes to visit the Ji Family and meet his mother, everything should become clear.
"Continue cultivating!"
Thinking about the Ji Family, Luo Cheng felt a fierce urgency to grow stronger.
That Ji Yuanhao had managed to severely injure his grandfather and father with just one palm strike—he must have completed the Body Tempering process and gone beyond the Sixth Stage of Transcendence!
Right now, in comparison, Luo Cheng was far too weak!
The next morning.
Luo Cheng got up early, washed up, and headed to his grandfather Luo Mingshan's courtyard.
He wanted to check on his grandfather's recovery.
Approaching the courtyard, Luo Cheng stopped in his tracks.
Outside the courtyard stood several young men and women, with the person leading them being Luo Qi, a current rising star in the Luo Family.
The group noticed Luo Cheng as well.
One individual was about to greet Luo Cheng but was stopped by a glare from Luo Qi.
"Oh, isn't this our Ji Family's young master, Luo Cheng? Luo Cheng, hurry up and show us your Egg Martial Soul; let us take a good look," Luo Qi said with a laugh as he approached.
Laughter erupted from the group.
Luo Cheng furrowed his brows slightly.
In the past, he had been a prodigy of the Luo Family, the young master of the Ji Family, with the opportunity to cultivate in the Ji Family's grounds. These people had flattered him endlessly.
Especially Luo Qi, who used to cling to him constantly, calling him "Brother Luo Cheng" every day and asking not to forget him when he went to the Ji Family.
But now...
Truly reality could be hard to swallow.
Exhaling quietly, Luo Cheng ignored them and stepped toward the courtyard.
Seeing that Luo Cheng didn't respond, Luo Qi's face darkened and blocked his way with a step, smiling coldly: "Luo Cheng, let me tell you something. I've already advanced to the Body Tempering Fourth Layer!"
"Really? Congratulations."
Luo Cheng nodded calmly.
Luo Qi's expression became ugly.
He had assumed Luo Cheng would feel envious, jealous, or even upset upon hearing how quickly Luo Qi had advanced. To his surprise, Luo Cheng's demeanor showed no warmth, making Luo Qi extremely displeased!
Now, he considered himself the Luo Family's number-one genius!
"I'm going in to check on Grandpa."
Luo Cheng walked into the courtyard.
"Damn it! He really thinks he's still the Ji Family's young master! He's nothing more than a cast-off waste!"
Luo Qi felt a surge of anger he couldn't vent.
Once, he had been a follower of Luo Cheng, but now he had awakened a Five-star Gun Soul and become a hundred times stronger than Luo Cheng! Luo Cheng should be worshiping him instead!
"Young Master Luo Qi, he's just someone with a Wasted Martial Soul; why bother acknowledging him?"
"Exactly, with your Five-star Gun Soul, it's only a matter of time before you complete Ninth Layer Body Tempering. By then, Luo Cheng won't even be in the same league as you!"
Several members of the group spoke up.
Hearing this, Luo Qi's mood improved significantly, and he sneered: "Acknowledge him? Is he even worthy?"
Luo Cheng couldn't hear their gossip outside, and even if he had, he wouldn't care much.
After what he'd experienced yesterday, his ambitions had moved far beyond the small realm of the Luo Family or Qishan City to a far broader horizon.
Inside the house.
Luo Mingshan lay on the bed, his face pale, still unconscious.
The family pharmacist beside him explained that most of the power from yesterday's palm strike had been borne by his grandfather. Not only did it leave severe internal injuries, but it also damaged his tendons and meridians, making a full recovery difficult anytime soon.
Even if he did recover, it was unlikely he'd regain his former strength.
"Grandfather..."
Luo Cheng held Luo Mingshan's broad hand, his eyes turning faintly red.
From childhood, aside from his father, it was his grandfather who had loved him most.
Looking at his grandfather's pale face, hatred burned brightly in Luo Cheng's eyes.
"Grandfather, rest assured, one day I will make Ji Yuanhao kneel before you and beg for forgiveness!"
Creak!
At that moment, the door to the room swung open, and several figures walked inside.
Aside from Luo Qi's group, leading them was an elegantly dressed woman.
The woman appeared to be in her thirties, clothed in fine silk, exuding a noble air. Her slim, long phoenix eyes revealed her identity—she was Luo Qi's mother, Lin Yan!
"Aunt..."
Luo Cheng was about to bow in greeting when Lin Yan interrupted: "Luo Cheng, how dare you show your face here! If it weren't for you, would your grandfather have ended up like this?"
Luo Cheng was surprised. In the past, his aunt had always shown him warmth and care, speaking softly and gently.
Lin Yan raised her voice, sneering coldly: "Your grandfather used to treasure you, calling you a genius with limitless prospects. Who would've thought you'd turn out to be such a disappointment, awakening a Wasted Martial Soul!"
"An unawakened Martial Soul with not even a single star—forget being unwanted by the Ji Family; if word spreads, the Luo Family will become a laughingstock, ridiculed by all!"