# Chapter 3: Yellow Extreme Realm
The Queen Consort sat in the tent below the altar, wearing a golden phoenix crown and a colorful phoenix robe. She appeared to be twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, elegant and dignified, not as old as Zhang Ruochen had imagined, and instead exuding a noble aura.
She said, "The King is in seclusion cultivating at the Life and Death Hall. This 'Sacrificial Ceremony' is being presided over by me. National Preceptor, have you detected the grade of the Divine Martial Mark awakened by the Ninth Prince?"
The National Preceptor of Yunwu Commandery held a scroll of iron book in his hands and shook his head, saying, "The Complete Manual of Divine Martial Marks records all martial marks that have ever appeared in Kunlun Realm throughout history, from first-grade to ninth-grade martial marks, all recorded in the book. Yet there is not a single mark that matches the Divine Martial Mark of the Ninth Prince."
The Queen Consort glanced at Zhang Ruochen with a hint of indifference, "Since no result can be detected, it is presumably a grade-less Divine Martial Mark. In other commanderies, there have also been martial artists who awakened unknown Divine Martial Marks, and their ultimate achievements were all very limited."
The Eighth Prince also stood in the tent and immediately spoke up, "What the Queen Consort says is correct. The Ninth Brother is already sixteen years old and has missed the optimal age for cultivation. For him, even if he awakened a fourth-grade or fifth-grade Divine Martial Mark, he would not achieve much."
The Queen Consort nodded, agreeing with the Eighth Prince's words, and said, "Since the Ninth Prince has only awakened a grade-less Divine Martial Mark, and is already sixteen years old, in order to conserve the royal clan's cultivation resources as much as possible, the Ninth Prince shall be given only one portion of Marrow Cleansing Liquid."
Consort Lin's expression changed, and she said, "Queen Consort, the first year after awakening the Divine Martial Mark is the most important year. When the Seventh Prince awakened his Divine Martial Mark back then, he received twelve portions of Marrow Cleansing Liquid and could cleanse his marrow once every month. Why can Chen'er only receive one portion?"
The Queen Consort said coldly, "The Seventh Prince awakened a seventh-grade Divine Martial Mark at the age of three. How can the Ninth Prince compare to the Seventh Prince?"
The Eighth Prince flattered, "Seventh Brother is the Queen Consort's legitimate son, inheriting the Queen Consort's powerful bloodline and possessing a seventh-grade Divine Martial Mark. Who in all of Yunwu Commandery can compare to Seventh Brother? Whether Yunwu Commandery can become more prosperous and stronger in the future all rests on Seventh Brother alone."
He continued, "I, this prince, will say something unpleasant to hear. One finger of Seventh Brother is ten or a hundred times more valuable than the life of Ninth Brother. There is simply no comparison."
Consort Lin bit her lips tightly and continued to fight for Zhang Ruochen, saying, "But when the Eighth Prince awakened his Divine Martial Mark, he also received four portions of Marrow Cleansing Liquid."
The Queen Consort said very displeased, "The higher the talent, the more resources one receives. The Ninth Prince has the lowest talent, so naturally he receives the fewest resources."
"But..." Consort Lin said.
The Queen Consort became even more impatient and said in a deep voice, "I have already made my decision. Consort Lin, if you dare say one more word, do you believe I will have you dragged out and caned again?"
"Again..." Zhang Ruochen heard the Queen Consort's words and suddenly raised his head.
Had the Queen Consort caned his mother before?
Upon hearing the Queen Consort's words, Consort Lin's body trembled slightly, as if recalling something terrifying, and immediately closed her mouth.
At that moment, someone had already brought a portion of Marrow Cleansing Liquid and handed it to Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen took the Marrow Cleansing Liquid, walked to Consort Lin's side, turned around and deeply stared at the Queen Consort sitting above, and said, "Mother, let's go back!"
"Mm!" Consort Lin gently pressed her lips together and nodded bitterly.
The Queen Consort stared at the retreating figures of Zhang Ruochen and Consort Lin and said, "Three months from now is the royal clan's year-end assessment. Ninth Prince must cultivate diligently and strive to complete the 'Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Opening' within three months to become a true martial artist. By then, the King will also have emerged from seclusion. I hope you can bring him a surprise."
Then the Eighth Prince's disdainful voice rang out, laughing, "Even with three portions of Marrow Cleansing Liquid, it's impossible to complete Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Opening within three months. It took me half a year to accomplish it. With Ninth Brother's aptitude, it will probably take over a year before he has a chance. Heh!"
Zhang Ruochen did not look back. He clenched his fists, his resolve extremely firm in his heart. "Just wait and see. I will definitely not disappoint you."
Returning to the Ziyi Side Hall, Zhang Ruochen could not wait to close the door and immediately began cultivating.
Although he did not know what Divine Martial Mark he had awakened, since he possessed a Divine Martial Mark, he could definitely cultivate true qi.
First, step one: beneath the Divine Martial Mark, open up a "Qi Pool."
The so-called "Qi Pool" is the pool that holds true qi.
The larger the pool, the more true qi it can hold. As one's cultivation level increases, the "Qi Pool" will gradually expand.
Generally speaking, to open a "Qi Pool," one must do so under the guidance of an elder.
For Zhang Ruochen, who possessed rich cultivation experience, opening a "Qi Pool" was not difficult. It only took him half an hour to successfully open the "Qi Pool."
For other cultivators, it would take at least several days of attempts before they could possibly open the "Qi Pool."
Zhang Ruochen did it in just half an hour.
"This body is indeed very weak. I only managed to open a Qi Pool the size of an egg. The amount of true qi it can hold is too little!"
Opening the "Qi Pool" was far from enough.
The Qi Pool is only a place to store true qi.
For true qi to circulate throughout the body, one must open up one's own cultivation meridians.
Only by completing this step can one possess true qi and become a true martial artist.
The next step was the second step: Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Opening.
Zhang Ruochen took out the small jade bottle containing the Marrow Cleansing Liquid, gently sniffed it with his nose, confirmed it was genuine Marrow Cleansing Liquid, and then poured the entire bottle of Marrow Cleansing Liquid into his mouth.
After the Marrow Cleansing Liquid entered his throat, it was very cold, but just a moment later, that coldness disappeared, replaced by a scorching high temperature.
It was as if a flame was burning inside his body!
Threads of flame drilled into every meridian throughout Zhang Ruochen's body, then merged into the meridians.
This was the moment!
"Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture, First Layer, Supreme Yellow Extreme Heaven."
Cultivating different techniques naturally results in different meridian pathways.
The more profound the technique, the more meridian pathways there are, the more complex, and the more astonishing.
The Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture's operating meridians total as many as thirty-six.
Of course, Zhang Ruochen did not need to open all the meridians right now. He only needed to open the first meridian to complete the Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Opening.
"They said I couldn't complete the Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Opening even in three months, but I will prove with actual action that I can complete it tonight and become a true martial artist!"
Relying on his cultivation experience from his previous life, Zhang Ruochen used the only wisp of true qi to forcefully open the meridian. Soon, he had opened most of the first meridian.
An intense pain came from within his body, as if the meridian was about to be torn apart, causing Zhang Ruochen's entire body to tremble.
If it were someone else encountering such a situation, they would definitely have failed the meridian opening.
But Zhang Ruochen gritted his teeth and persisted with strong willpower, letting sweat drops fall continuously to the ground, never giving up.
"Just... the last small section..."
Hope was right before his eyes. He had to succeed in opening the meridian!
He had to succeed!
Zhang Ruochen gathered all his remaining true qi and charged forward in one go.
"Boom!"
A loud sound came from within his body, producing a deafening noise that nearly knocked Zhang Ruochen unconscious.
After the pain disappeared, he only felt a cool stream of qi flowing through his meridians. The pain gradually faded, and an unprecedented comfort spread throughout his body.
"Haha! Success! I successfully completed the Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Opening and became a true martial artist!"
The Eighth Prince had taken four portions of Marrow Cleansing Liquid to complete this step and spent a full half year.
Zhang Ruochen had only used one night and only taken one portion of Marrow Cleansing Liquid.
Completing the Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Opening meant reaching the "Yellow Extreme Realm Initial Stage" cultivation level.
Martial arts cultivation is divided into four major realms: "Yellow, Mysterious, Earth, and Heaven," namely: Yellow Extreme Realm, Mysterious Extreme Realm, Earth Extreme Realm, and Heaven Extreme Realm.
Each major realm is divided into seven minor stages: Initial Stage, Middle Stage, Late Stage, Small Extreme Position, Middle Extreme Position, Large Extreme Position, and Great Perfection.
Four major realms, seven minor stages.
Zhang Ruochen was now at the Yellow Extreme Realm Initial Stage.
In the Yellow Extreme Realm's "Initial Stage," "Middle Stage," and "Late Stage," one opens meridians and fills the body with true qi, making the physical body's strength increasingly powerful. Each time one advances a minor stage, their strength increases by a large margin.
The Eighth Prince was at the Yellow Extreme Realm Late Stage and could lift a three-hundred-jin stone plate with his bare hands and throw it ten zhang away. The power of a single punch from him was comparable to the strength of a wild ox.
Martial artists at the Yellow Extreme Realm Late Stage could mostly cultivate "One Ox Power."
Above the "Late Stage" were the four realms of "Small Extreme Position," "Middle Extreme Position," "Large Extreme Position," and "Great Perfection."
Breaking through the Yellow Extreme Realm Late Stage would allow one to reach the Yellow Extreme Realm Small Extreme Position, immediately granting "Four Ox Power," multiplying their strength by four times.
Therefore, a martial artist at the Yellow Extreme Realm Small Extreme Position facing one at the Yellow Extreme Realm Late Stage was like an adult facing a child. One could fight ten without any problem.
Going further up to "Middle Extreme Position," "Large Extreme Position," and "Great Perfection" was even more terrifying, possessing strength that ordinary people could hardly imagine.
Those realms were still far from Zhang Ruochen. There was no need to think too much about them now. Steady and solid cultivation was the key. One step at a time would allow one to go further.
The Eighth Prince had cultivated for eight years and only reached the Yellow Extreme Realm Late Stage, which could only be considered average talent.
"The Eighth Prince spent half a year to complete the Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Opening. I only used one night."
"The Eighth Prince spent eight years to cultivate to the Yellow Extreme Realm Late Stage. I must complete this goal within three months. For me, it is not impossible."
Three months later would be the royal clan's year-end assessment. All young martial artists of the royal clan, including all princes, princesses, and imperial relatives, would participate in the assessment to test the results of the past year's cultivation.
In the royal clan, to gain status, to be respected, and to obtain more cultivation resources, one had to prove their strength.
Three months!
Within three months, he had to cultivate to the Yellow Extreme Realm Late Stage. Even if not for himself, he had to do it for the mother who cared for and loved him, to win back the dignity that belonged to her.
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