Chapter 138: Transmitting Jade

"Is it really that powerful?" Yun Che asked, shocked. "The first stage alone can increase arm strength by 3,000 catties, and the third stage by 20,000 catties... If I reach the highest, twelfth stage, wouldn't a single punch be enough to shatter the heavens and split the earth?"

"Increasing strength is merely one of the effects of the 'Great Way of the Buddha's Fury.' If that were its only purpose, it wouldn't deserve the title of a 'Forbidden Heavenly Tome.' After cultivating the 'Great Way of the Buddha's Fury,' your body will be completely transformed, inside and out. Not only will your physical strength significantly increase, but your body's resilience will also dramatically soar. At that point, even without profound energy protecting you, others would find it extremely difficult to harm your body. The higher your cultivation, the more resilient your body becomes. At a sufficiently high level, your flesh, blood vessels, internal organs, and even your most vulnerable eyes will become as tough as refined steel."

"At the same time, your body will gain powerful self-healing capabilities. The higher your cultivation, the stronger your self-healing. After my brother cultivated the 'Great Way of the Buddha's Fury' to the sixth stage, severe injuries that would take others two months to heal with profound energy nourishment would heal for him in just two or three days. He even told me that if one could cultivate to the seventh stage, even a severely damaged body – for instance, a severed arm, a maimed torso, or blindness – could regenerate on its own. However, the sixth stage was already the limit my brother could reach. The seventh stage, ultimately, remained an unattainable realm."

The more Yun Che listened, the more shocked he became. He naturally didn't doubt Jasmine's words, but he had never imagined that such terrifying and incredible profound arts existed in this world. If these words hadn't come from Jasmine, he would have dismissed them as mere fantasy.

"If you can master the 'Great Way of the Buddha's Fury,' you will possess the Evil God's profound veins and the Wilderness God's physique. Whether it's the Evil God's power or the Wilderness God's power, what you've encountered and heard is merely the tip of the iceberg. The power left behind by the ancient gods far exceeds your imagination. I granted you the Evil God's profound veins primarily to save my own life. As for teaching you to cultivate the 'Great Way of the Buddha's Fury'... I only ask that you never give up the heavy sword, and never forget your original reason for choosing it!"

"Good!" Yun Che nodded without hesitation, his heart filled with excitement. If the "Great Way of the Buddha's Fury" was truly as formidable as Jasmine described, he had no reason to refuse.

"You expended some energy fighting Feng Yue earlier. Rest today. Once you're fully recovered, head to the Profound Gathering Pagoda tomorrow and begin cultivating the 'Great Way of the Buddha's Fury'!"

A night passed.

News of Yun Che's challenge to Murong Yi from the inner sect spread throughout the entire Azure Wind Profound Palace overnight, becoming common knowledge.

"What?! A newly admitted disciple, just starting out, is going to challenge Murong Yi in three months? Has he lost his mind, or was he kicked by a donkey?"

"Ahem, my friend, that's not right to say. That Yun Che clearly had his head squeezed by a door *and* was kicked by a donkey at the same time!"

"By the way, what's Yun Che's cultivation level... What?! Initial Profound Realm! My goodness! Initial Profound Realm challenging Murong Yi, a ninth-level True Profound Realm practitioner? And he claims that if he loses, Murong Yi can do whatever he wants with him? You must be joking, right?"

"I heard that Palace Master Qin personally witnessed this, and even said he'd personally attend the challenge three months later. What's even more outrageous is that, for 'fairness,' Palace Master Qin actually allowed Yun Che to directly enter the inner sect for these three months and enjoy the same cultivation conditions as Murong Yi!"

While this matter was still creating a buzz throughout the Azure Wind Profound Palace, even more astonishing news arrived.

"Big news! I heard that Yun Che has already selected a weapon at the Heavenly Weapon Pavilion in the inner sect. He actually chose that Overlord Heavy Sword that no one has touched for years!"

"He must have just chosen it because it's an Earth Profound grade heavy sword. Tsk tsk, what a joke."

"Extra! Yun Che picked two profound skills from the third floor of the Grand Profound Hall: 'Flame Fist' and 'Fire Cloud Palm.'"

"Pfft!"

Challenging Murong Yi at the Initial Profound Realm, choosing the Overlord Heavy Sword as a weapon, and selecting two utterly useless profound skills from the Grand Profound Hall... In summary, Yun Che very naturally became known as "the biggest fool in Azure Wind Profound Palace history" among the disciples!

Meanwhile, this "biggest fool" had just woken up from the large bed in his inner sect residence, stirred by a knock on the door. The bed was so comfortable that if he hadn't been woken up, he probably would have happily slept until noon.

"Who is it?" Yun Che asked, getting up and stretching lazily. He guessed it must be Sikong Du outside, as he was the only one who would come looking for him in the inner sect.

To his surprise, a girl's voice came from outside.

"Junior Brother Yun, it's me."

"Senior Sister Xue'ruo!" Yun Che quickly tidied his clothes, jumped off the bed, and opened the door. Outside, Lan Xue'ruo stood gracefully, her blue robes fluttering, a gentle smile on her face.

"Senior Sister, why are you here?" Yun Che was naturally delighted to see Lan Xue'ruo. However, he recalled that Qin Wuyou had mentioned Lan Xue'ruo was an honorary disciple of the Central Palace in the Azure Wind Profound Palace, so he wondered why she would be in the inner sect.

Lan Xue'ruo smiled gently. "Instructor Qin told me you were here and even temporarily granted me access to the inner sect. Junior Brother Yun, first, congratulations on successfully becoming an official disciple of the Azure Wind Profound Palace. I didn't expect so much to happen yesterday. I'm not surprised you defeated Feng Yue, but I never imagined that because of Murong Ye, Murong Yi would target you and force you into a challenge three months from now. Everyone in the Azure Wind Profound Palace knows about this. People are talking about you everywhere, and most of them are mocking you."

After speaking, a look of worry appeared on Lan Xue'ruo's face. Yun Che chuckled. "Senior Sister, don't worry. I'm not the kind of person who lets himself suffer a loss."

"Mmm, I also know that Junior Brother Yun isn't arrogant or reckless. So, although challenging Murong Yi is a huge step, I'm not too worried," Lan Xue'ruo said with a slight smile. She then took out a yellow jade stone and a stack of talismans from her spatial ring. "I'm here to give you these things. This is your sound-transmitting jade. The sound transmission imprint is already set, and it includes my imprint and Instructor Qin Wuyou's. These are thirty hundred-mile sound transmission talismans and five thousand-mile sound transmission talismans. If you need to contact me or Instructor Qin for anything important in the future, just use a sound transmission talisman to send us a message."

Yun Che took them and carefully put them away. He admitted that even if Lan Xue'ruo hadn't brought them, he would have soon acquired a sound-transmitting jade for himself. After all, items that could transmit messages over hundreds or even thousands of miles were simply too convenient.

Lan Xue'ruo looked around Yun Che's room and smiled. "Although I've been at the Azure Wind Profound Palace for some time, this is my first time entering an inner sect disciple's residence. It's unexpectedly luxurious, many times grander than the Central Palace disciples' quarters. This large bed alone could easily accommodate two or three people."

As she said this, Lan Xue'ruo paused, then a faint blush appeared on her cheeks, as if she had suddenly remembered something.

Yun Che's gaze grew soft and unfocused as he gently looked into Lan Xue'ruo's eyes. "Although the bed is very big, I didn't sleep well because it felt empty, as if something was missing... Senior Sister, did you sleep uncomfortably last night?"

During their ten-day journey to the Azure Wind Profound Palace, they had slept in the same bed. Ten days was enough to quietly form an intimate habit. Yun Che's words were a naked question: Did you feel unaccustomed to sleeping without me?

Yun Che's question struck directly at Lan Xue'ruo's heart. She still hadn't come to terms with the inexplicable sense of emptiness and loss she felt when falling asleep at night and waking up in the morning. A slight panic appeared on her face, and she shook her head somewhat awkwardly. "At my own home... of course I'll sleep comfortably. I... I should go now. I have something very important to do, so I won't disturb your cultivation. Every moment of cultivation time in the Profound Gathering Pagoda is precious. You must work hard for at least these three months."

After speaking, Lan Xue'ruo prepared to leave, and Yun Che noticed the haste in her expression... Clearly, she genuinely had something urgent to attend to.

"Senior Sister," Yun Che stepped forward to stop her, asking with concern, "What are you busy with? Can you tell me? Perhaps I can help."

"No need," Lan Xue'ruo said, shaking her head with a smile. After a slight hesitation, she softly explained, "My father has been unwell for a long time. This morning when I visited, I found his condition had worsened significantly, so I need to go and invite a physician back."

Although Yun Che didn't know Lan Xue'ruo's exact identity, her background must be extraordinary to influence Qin Wushang, the Vice Palace Master of Azure Wind Profound Palace. Yet, for someone with such a background to personally seek a physician, Yun Che couldn't help but intercede. He frowned slightly. "Senior Sister, there's no need to look for one. Let me accompany you to see your father. Although I'm not very old, I am a genuine divine physician. You've witnessed my medical skills. If you take me, your father's illness will surely be cured quickly."

Lan Xue'ruo was startled, then a hint of awkwardness appeared on her face. She still shook her head, forcing a smile. "No need. My father's illness is chronic, brought on by overwork, and has lasted for many years. That physician has been treating him all this time. Junior Brother Yun, you just stay here and focus on your cultivation. There's nothing to worry about on my end."

"Once things at my home are completely settled, I'll visit you often."

Lan Xue'ruo looked at Yun Che with her beautiful eyes, smiled sweetly, and then turned to leave.

After Lan Xue'ruo left, Yun Che stood rooted to the spot, his brows slightly furrowed, remaining silent for a long time.

Because in Lan Xue'ruo's eyes, he had seen many things he didn't want to see... anxiety, worry, helplessness, and even a hint of gloom.

*Senior Sister, what exactly is happening with your family?* Yun Che mused to himself, but it was clear that Lan Xue'ruo didn't want him to meddle in her family affairs.

He also had no intention of prying into Lan Xue'ruo's background. He would wait for the day when she could fully open up to him and tell him everything he wanted to know. And at least for now, he was absolutely certain that no matter what Lan Xue'ruo was hiding from him, or what her actions had been "scheming" regarding him, she would never do anything to harm him. After all, her gentle and kind nature would never change.