Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Lin Chen nodded and, after conversing briefly with a few others, stepped into the fifth layer.

“How long do you think Lin Chen can last in the fifth layer?” Liu Mei looked at Lin Chen’s figure disappearing into the depths of the entrance and asked curiously.

“He should be able to last four days. I’m calculating based on the time flow rate of the fourth layer.”

Teng Cheng offered his guess. From the time he entered the fifth layer to the moment he retreated, exactly three days had passed on the fourth layer side. Lin Chen’s strength is superior to his; lasting four days should be no issue.

As for longer… he doesn’t believe Lin Chen can manage it.

…

…

The fifth layer.

Upon entry, Lin Chen saw several figures sitting cross-legged, radiant with various lights, battling the pressure while hastily cultivating.

These people glanced at Lin Chen as he entered but ignored him.

“Thousandfold Secret Realm, the most crucial aspect is tempering the body. Only upon withstanding this trial can the slowed time flow have any effect; if relying solely on physical strength is hard, one cannot truly cultivate past realms.”

Lin Chen recalled Qianlang’s introduction in his mind.

This secret realm where the time flow slows—ideally, anyone with the opportunity would want to enter. But why did only sixty enter this time? It’s because all major remnant races understand that if the physical body can’t endure the pressure, entering is meaningless.

First one must be able to enter the fourth layer; the first three layers have a time flow similar to the outside. Furthermore, cultivating certain techniques is impossible, as the pressure makes even walking difficult, let alone cultivating techniques.

Those willing to come are focused on realm cultivation.

Deeply inhaling, Lin Chen dispelled the glowing aura around his body, no longer operating the Immortal Technique.

In an instant, the berserk and unmatched spatial pressure, akin to invisible heavy water, suddenly squeezed fiercely through every pore, inch of skin, and piece of bone on his body!

Lin Chen’s body sank abruptly; his spine emitted a series of slightly explosive sounds that induced toothache. A metallic taste surged up his throat, which he forcibly swallowed.

He felt like walking while bearing a collapsed mountain, or as if he’d been thrown to the ocean trench’s bottom, where severe pain washed over him from all directions, eroding his nerves.

This inhuman agony didn’t cause Lin Chen to retreat; instead, it fueled his fighting spirit.

This scene was reminiscent of when he started cultivating, enduring the pain from refining Flood Dragon True Blood, the agony from Nine Revolutions True Blood… memories faintly resurfaced in his mind.

Back then, he could endure it, and he still can today.

Lin Chen abandoned the elegant posture of standing; even if he wanted to maintain it, he couldn’t. His legs slightly bent, body like a taut bow, assumed a stance optimal for withstanding shocks and honing bones and muscles. Every step was heavy and slow, every leg lift accompanied by the subtle sound of muscle stretching and friction, each step like a hammer striking an anvil, with the sound echoing through this quiet space.

The others present looked up at the sound, initially puzzled, but upon understanding what Lin Chen was doing, wore expressions of disdain.

When Thousandfold Secret Realm first starts, indeed, one uses their body to counteract pressure, even borrowing it to temper oneself.

However, countless generations of geniuses have proven that this step is too daunting, resulting in failure and retreat. Given this, relying on the slowed time flow for steady realm cultivation is preferable; half a year here equals five years outside.

The ten-fold slowdown of time flow only equals five years outside because they can’t stay here indefinitely; after several days, they must retreat to the fourth layer to rest.

Being five years ahead of peers is already sufficient.

These individuals quickly closed their eyes. To them, Lin Chen’s endeavor would soon require abandonment.

Every self-assured martial artist finds reality in Thousandfold Secret Realm.

…

…

Lin Chen’s steps were slow, but with enough time, he could walk far.

One day, two days…

Lin Chen’s figure had vanished from the others’ view, delving deeper into the fifth layer.

For two consecutive days, the pain hadn’t subsided, but Lin Chen’s expression improved considerably; most importantly, he could sense the growth of his physical body.

His flesh was solidifying, bones under pressure akin to forging, emitted metallic sounds with the inherent potential gradually exploited, growing more rigid and dense. Fascia strengthened under extreme stretching and compression.

First the flesh, then the bones, and then the internal organs…

The inherent boundaries between skin, flesh, bones, and organs seem forcibly breached and reshaped by high pressure, with every painful contraction and expansion extending the body’s limit capacity and endurance.

Without operating any cultivation technique or mobilizing the innate liquid within, Lin Chen could feel a peculiar transformation quietly occurring in himself.

A thin glaze appeared on his surface, a natural occurrence from the skin’s utmost refinement…

…

…

Seven days later.

All martial artists on the fifth layer were stunned by the sight before them.

They watched Lin Chen continually walk back and forth in this layer, from initially moving as slow as a snail to now moving like a three-year-old child…