The Eternal Heart

It didn't feel quite real to Chen Yu as he walked out hand in hand with the young lady.

Before him, Mu Xueqing wore a shy, blushing countenance, like a peony blooming after rain. One could not help but feel tenderness towards her. Her long dress set off her delicate looks, and there was a pure, refined beauty about her whole body.

The young lady's hair was soft and mildly fragrant. His inner heart became indescribably limp, itching and fervent when she brushed against the side of his ear.

Above all, her fair, delicate arm felt real and satiny.

Yet his steady heart beat with a strong and intangible conviction, and he didn't get carried away.

As the crystal heart had integrated with and remodeled him, not only was Chen Yu's body transforming, his thoughts and responses were also better than before.

Chen Yu felt something out of place as his mind spun.

It was known that a demon must be at work if things were going astray.

He had been chasing after Mu Xueqing for the last two years.

But Mu Xueqing never rejected him, nor did she respond. The feeling of being neither friendly nor aloof with her unsettled him.

The feeling he got was that it wasn't because Mu Xueqing didn't have a favorable opinion towards him, but instead she unconsciously drifted away from him due to some particular reason.

Yet now...

Mu Xueqing had lifted his arm in front of everyone, though such intimate actions were somewhat sudden and out of the ordinary.

They ran out of the dining hall, before the lady in front of him came to a stop.

"Brother Chen."

Mu Xueqing let go on his arm abruptly, and the red color on her face faded away.

She took in a gulp of air. There was clarity within her eyes, as though she had set her mind on something, openly gazing at Chen Yu.

Chen Yu was slightly disappointed that the girl had let go of his arm.

And yet, Mu Xueqing's countenance shifted. He was unfamiliar with the glimmer in her eyes, which was as clear as a lake's surface.

"Xueqing, do you have something to say?"

Chen Yu calmed his emotions. His steady heartbeat gave him the courage to look into the eyes of his dream girl, whom he had never dared to profane.

Mu Xueqing was a little stunned. Compared to previous times, something was different about the young man in front of her.

However, this wouldn't change her intentions.

"Brother Chen, with your qualities, you would be better off returning to your family. Perhaps the sect isn't right for you. I can't bear to see you being bullied by others…"

Mu Xueqing's gentle voice lingered around his ears.

Her voice was very pleasant to listen to, but the implicit meanings within chilled Chen Yu's heart.

An instant passed.

He felt that he had gone into an illusion of falling from a rainbow cloud into a bottomless abyss, also as though a basin of cold water was dumped over his passionate heart.

"You think my aptitude isn't enough, that I should leave the sect and return to my world? In other words, your actions just then were to 'protect' me?"

Chen Yu interrupted her words.

Mu Xueqing's fair face was stiff.

Her words were already quite tactful as she was scared of hurting Chen Yu's self-esteem.

She didn't think that he would directly open up the topic.

Indeed, Mu Xueqing's actions in the dining hall just then was because she didn't have the heart to see him being bullied, so she 'protected' him in a covert manner.

"That's right!"

Mu Xueqing ground her teeth and said with a composed demeanor, "I only proposed you to return to your world out of good intentions. Furthermore…"

"Furthermore…what?"

Surprisingly, Chen Yu calmed down.

"I will be joining the 'inner sect' very soon and become a disciple of the inner sect. When that time comes, regardless of what decision you make, in the end, we will… belong to two different worlds."

As she finished speaking, she sighed faintly, her gaze clear and tranquil.

She felt remorseful and uneasy after she stated her 'decision'. It seemed that, at this moment, she had gone back to being at ease.

In the end, we will… belong to two different worlds.

"This is your decision?"

All of a sudden, Chen Yu laughed.

Mu Xueqing's words equated to drawing a clear line of demarcation from him completely. They also implied that Chen Yu's previous pursuit and investments were all wasted efforts!

The inner sect was Yunyue Sect's core.

Disciples of the inner sect were also the sect's objects of focused fostering. There was a world of difference between them and outer sect disciples.

Given Chen Yu's performance over the last two years, it would be difficult for him to be established in the outer sect.

From certain aspects… Mu Xueqing's verdict and decisions didn't seem to be mistaken.

"Brother Chen, I know you are a good man, and I am ashamed to face you. Supposing that you truly want to stay with the sect, I won't let anyone bully you as long as I'm here."

Mu Xueqing nibbled at her lip and wore a remorseful expression.

After all, the two were acquainted from a rather young age, and both had good feelings towards each other.

Would her own actions hurt his feelings too much?

She was concerned that Chen Yu wouldn't be able to handle such a great shock.

"Thank you."

Chen Yu's words were drawn out, and there was an ineffable smile on his face.

It was the kind of smile that had a feeling of being absolved with a sense of relief.

Thinking back over the last couple of years of him pursuing Mu Xueqing, he felt as though she had kept her distance. Moreover, she was increasingly becoming more distant from him, as if she was a stranger.

As it turns out, Mu Xueqing had already walked far away as she was on the verge of joining the inner sect.

As such, it was apparent that outer sect disciples, whether it was him, Wang Lingyun or other pursuers, had been wasting their efforts inadvertently.

The only difference was that Chen Yu had once obtained the lady's favor—could he consider this as honorable even in defeat?

Chen Yu couldn't help but imagine it.

If Mu Xueqing had been honest a bit earlier and shattered his intentions, then he would have had more energy to invest in practicing his martial arts for the last two years.

Perhaps he would have now broken through to the Connective Meridian Realm. At the very least, his success rate would be higher.

"Luckily, it's not too late."

Chen Yu's burdens were eliminated, and his heart became broad-minded. Although he was inevitably slightly pained, all in all, he had surmounted this threshold.

"Thank you?"

Mu Xueqing closely examined Chen Yu with her bright and beautiful eyes. She suddenly found it hard to see this young man clearly.

"I will still stay with the sect, but I don't need your so-called protection."

Chen Yu said in an indifferent manner.

Practicing martial arts was a path he had yearned for even in his dreams. The world of sects and martial arts experts was the true force that drives this world.

He longed for this path.

He finished speaking and soon turned to leave without any reluctance.

The young man turning away firmly moved Mu Xueqing's heart. She felt rather disappointed and pained.

At this moment, the young man's self-confidence and masculine aura affected her heartstrings.

"Chen…"

Mu Xueqing's eyes were a little red.

Suddenly, she was aware of herself seemingly losing something precious. Moreover, it would be difficult to recover it.

It was at this time, Chen Yu suddenly turned around and gave her one last sentence. "Also, we will meet again in the inner sect."

"Meet again in the inner sect? That's impossible!"

Mu Xueqing shook her head gently, almost unconsciously making a final conclusion.

Of course, she understood Chen Yu's current state. She was only afraid that it would be very hard for him to have a footing in the outer sect.

Mu Xueqing soon calmed her emotions as her eyes became clear and determined.

Since she had chosen this path, she would not regret it!

She had her own family and her own life goals with high scopes and prospects. How could she be limited by a vague relationship that had not even begun?

…

Separating from Mu Xueqing, Chen Yu rushed off towards the deserted mountains, which lay further than the outskirts of the sect.

Scratch! Scratch! Scratch!

Galloping and leaping along the way, Chen Yu felt his body become lighter. The world he perceived was becoming increasingly broad.

Having experienced momentary pain, there was however clarity and liberation in his heart as though one had pushed aside the black clouds to reveal a bright moon.

"I must establish a footing in the sect and join the inner sect. I must increase the formidity of my family and make my parents proud of me…"

Chen Yu leaped high into the sky and hissed.

At this moment, the young man possessed a flourishing vitality and energy as he settled his own goals.

Yet he was unaware of how far he would walk, of how high he would stand after making this step.

In the forests within the deserted mountains.

"Metal Plow Fist!"

The figure of the young man flickered past as he screamed out the name of his fighting technique. A jolting sound came through, oppressive and staggering.

Time was elapsing.

The might of Chen Yu's fighting technique was becoming stronger, so much so that it gave the misconception that it could brave the winds and the billows of a violent storm.

He practiced non-stop. Not only was this to enhance his cultivation and the maturity of his martial arts, he was also adapting to his strengthened body.

After his assimilation with the mysterious heart, Chen Yu's recovery power was exceedingly potent. Usually, he could practice for multiple hours on end, and would still not feel fatigued. Only when he was hungry did he go and hunt for some game.

In other words, his practice time and efficiency greatly exceeded those of ordinary individuals.

A small amount of time passed.

The maturity of Chen Yu's fighting technique, as well as his cultivation, was upgrading simultaneously. In particular, the former could be said to be progressing rapidly.

At dusk, ten days later.

Peng-ka!

The hissing jolt of the Metal Fist directly severed a thick tree as wood shavings swirled in the air.

For a moment, dust flew into the air, making a few beasts retreat in alarm.

"One fist can snap a thick tree and shatter the wood by the jag. Only by perfecting the [Metal Plow Fist] …"

In the center of the dust, the young man closed his eyes with a look of satisfaction on his face.

After ten days of non-stop bitter practice, his [Metal Plow Fist] had finally reached the realm of perfection!

In general fighting, martial arts were divided into four realms: basic threshold, initial accomplishment, martial art perfection, and reaching the peak.

These were abbreviated to basic, initial, perfection, and peak.

A class of martial arts, even low-leveled martial arts, could possess a might that was not to be looked down upon if it was practiced to the realm of perfection.

Besides that, [Metal Plow Fist] was known as something easy to learn but hard to perfect. The further one achieved, the greater its power.

In fact, in its basic and accomplished stages, this fighting technique was slightly inferior compared to equal-ranking martial arts.

But when it reached perfection, its might would rise dramatically!

"With my current power, I might not necessarily lose even if I battle against disciples in the initial Connective Meridian stages."

Chen Yu closed his eyes to appreciate the vigorous energy within his body.

At this moment, not only had his [Metal Plow Fist] attained perfection, his cultivation had also reached the limits of the Body Tempering Realm — the peak of Body Tempering!

At the peak of Body Tempering, he was already equipped with the fundamental qualities to charge through to the Connective Meridian Realm!

That is to say, Chen Yu could now attempt to charge through the Connective Meridian stage. As for whether he would succeed or not, it was hard to say.

"I should not rush to charge through as I have another fortnight."

Chen Yu wore a look of contemplation.

He had heard an evangelist elder in the sect mention that the more solid the foundation of Body Tempering, the better.

With a solid foundation, one could bear Inner Breath of a greater intensity later on during the Connective Meridian Realm. He could also reach further in his martial arts in the future.

In addition, it was also quite important to practice his 'main technique' when making a breakthrough.

The higher the grade of his main technique, the more profound his foundation. And so, his strength after breaking through to the Connective Meridian Realm would also be greater.

When Chen Yu joined the Yunyue Sect, he chose the low level [Metal Plow Fist] free of charge from the 'Heavenly Martial Pavilion'.

According to the rules, he could further select a higher level 'medium-ranking martial art' free of charge after being promoted to the Connective Meridian stage.

Apart from this, he could only rely on the contribution points from the sect!

He could obtain contribution points through completing missions assigned by the sect, but acquiring them was quite difficult.

Chen Yu had remained outside for almost three years, and the contribution points he had accumulated was only enough to exchange for another low-level technique.

To him, this was not really meaningful.

"My goal is the inner sect, so my starting line has to be decent. I must gather some more contribution points and choose a better main technique. After that, I should break through to the Connective Meridian Realm…"

After a series of considerations, Chen Yu soon made his mind up.