Chapter Seven: Radiant Strength

In less than twenty minutes, Chen Xian arrived at the house he had rented. It was nearly noon.

In the past, he would have been preparing lunch at this time, but now, with this extraordinary power, eating was no longer a necessity for him.

The sun hung high in the sky, blazing fiercely, and a scorching heat permeated the air.

Along the way, most passersby carried umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun.

This weather might have been unwelcome to others, but for Chen Xian, he wished every day could be like this.

The surge of vitality and energy within him, enhanced by the sunlight, flowed steadily, enchanting him.

“Ah!”

He took a deep breath and looked up toward the sun, a faint smile curling on his lips:

“What a truly pleasant day...”

With that thought, Chen Xian removed his jacket and moved to a spot bathed in sunlight. He crouched down into the White Crane stance.

Since discovering this extraordinary power, he greatly enjoyed the process of martial training, savoring the tangible progress in his strength with every session.

As his practice deepened, he increasingly marveled at the wondrous nature of this power.

He needed no food—just basking in the sun was enough to replenish his vitality, achieving the effects of fasting without hunger.

The benefits were many, far beyond just saving time on digestion and the advantages of fasting itself.

It was well known that as martial artists advanced to later stages, their nutritional demands rose sharply, and ordinary food could hardly provide sufficient nourishment.

As a result, various secret medicines and special diets became indispensable for many warriors.

For Chen Xian, however, this problem ceased to exist with his newfound extraordinary power.

“Inhale...”

“Exhale...”

Under Chen Xian’s control, the unique breathing method of the White Crane stance proceeded steadily, immersing him completely in cultivation.

Within his limbs and bones, the previously rootless surge of vitality gradually gathered into streams, rhythmically circulating through his body.

“Crack...”

Suddenly, a crisp sound echoed from his body, like bones trembling, accompanied by a tingling sensation.

At that moment, Chen Xian seemed to hear the cry of a crane in his ears, and his vitality stirred, flowing more actively through his body.

“Crack...”

Another sound followed. His fingers twitched slightly, then his entire body shook violently as a powerful force surged from his muscles and bones.

This force was strong and fierce, but unlike a wild horse running rampant, it moved along the major sinews of his body, precise and controlled, as if subject to his will.

In that instant, Chen Xian felt every fiber of his being brimming with strength, and even his breathing became smoother than before.

Time passed unnoticed during his cultivation, and the sun began to set.

Opening his eyes, Chen Xian watched the last rays of twilight fade from the horizon and let out a long breath, a pleased smile spreading across his face.

“Ah...”

He stood up and stretched his arms and legs. Though he had not performed any techniques, he could feel the immense power filling his body.

“I didn’t expect to break through the Bright Energy stage so quickly, completing the strengthening of my bones much earlier than I imagined,” he murmured, somewhat dazed by how sudden it all was.

But thinking it over, it made sense—his rapid progress was largely thanks to that extraordinary power.

“No matter what, I’ve finally completed Bone Refinement and stepped into the Bright Energy stage.”

Gathering his thoughts, Chen Xian quietly savored the changes in his body, becoming more familiar with his newfound strength and adjusting his condition to its peak.

The sunset bathed the room in red light, and he could clearly sense the growth of his energy.

In three years of martial training, this was the first time he truly experienced the exhilaration of physical improvement.

What once required grinding patience and the passage of time to break through, he had now surpassed in a short period, thanks to his extraordinary power.

How could he not be delighted?

After becoming somewhat accustomed to the bodily changes, he noticed that night had already fallen.

“Breaking through Bright Energy and transforming the body is not something that can be rushed. It seems I must avoid intense training for a few days.”

That evening, Chen Xian decided to give himself a break. He understood well the principle of moderation, especially right after a breakthrough.

Sitting leisurely in the living room, Chen Xian relaxed, watching the constant stream of messages flashing on his phone.

Tomorrow marked the start of the new school term, and the chat group had already grown lively tonight.

“What did you all do this holiday? It’s our last year in university; have you found your next step? Feeling a bit anxious,” one classmate posted.

The topic instantly grabbed everyone’s attention, sparking a lively discussion. Chen Xian observed quietly.

As graduation approached, everyone began planning their futures. Some had already secured their paths and were just waiting for graduation.

Others, either without suitable plans or undecided, were starting to fret.

“Haha, what’s there to panic about? There’s still a year left! I spent the whole holiday just having fun!”

“Same here! I even traveled abroad this holiday and saw many new sights.”

“That’s great. The path will reveal itself in time. It’s too early to worry now!”

After a while, the conversation shifted to other topics, and Chen Xian remained quietly contemplative.

What would he do after graduation? Where would he go? He honestly had no clear answer.

With his extraordinary power, he was certain to achieve something remarkable in martial arts.

Moreover, he no longer needed the many resources such as nutrient liquids or pills to replenish his vitality.

Thus, financial worries and the need to work were no longer concerns.

What he lacked now was a profound martial arts heritage.

The White Crane Fist was a niche style, and reaching the stage of Energy Transformation was its limit. It did not involve the Pill Energy stage, let alone the realms beyond.

Therefore, once he reached Energy Transformation, he would need to seek out a better legacy; otherwise, stepping into the Pill Energy realm would be difficult.

“I’d better start thinking about this early, or it might be too late once I reach Energy Transformation.”

Chen Xian thought silently, gazing out the window. Night had fallen, and the moon hung softly in the sky, casting a gentle glow.