CHAPTER 477: THIS IS CALLED SPORTS SCIENCE

Chapter 477: This is Called Sports Science

Meanwhile, the battle outside the grand formation had also concluded.

The Nascent Soul and Great Ascension stage experts dispatched by Kunlun Immortal Palace and Great Thunder Temple lay scattered across the ground in disarray.

Some clutched arms twisted like pretzels while moaning in pain, others stared blankly at the sky with hollow eyes, and a few had already fainted with caved-in chests and blood streaming from their orifices.

On Earth Star, these individuals were undisputed pinnacle cultivators.

Ancient monsters who had been sealed for millennia and only recently awakened during the Spiritual Revival.

Yet now, none of these supposedly invincible old men could even stand up.

At the battlefield's center, Zhang Yibai dangled the Celestial Jade Marrow in one hand while fixing his hair with the other.

His Taoist robes had long been shredded, revealing muscle definition ten times more exaggerated than Li Zongsi's. His pectorals bulged like twin mountain peaks, while his abdomen displayed not merely eight but ten meticulously defined abs that gleamed with metallic luster under the Celestial Jade Marrow's azure glow.

"Apologies for disappointing everyone," Zhang Yibai grinned savagely, rolling his shoulders to make his back muscles ripple like ocean waves. "This old bones has trained in Wind Spirit Sect's secret techniques for a thousand years—100,000 bench presses and 200,000 squats daily. Did you honestly think mere Nascent Soul and Great Ascension cultivators could challenge me?"

Though he hadn't practiced the Tyrant Fist technique, as sect leader he naturally maintained stylistic consistency with his disciples.

A Kunlun Immortal Palace elder leaning against a rock spat blood and rasped:

"What...what demonic art is this? My sword qi actually bounced off your pectorals!"

Zhang Yibai roared with laughter: "This isn't demonic arts—this is sports science!"

Even he nearly cracked while delivering this line.

But he continued the charade: "When muscle density reaches a certain threshold, it naturally deflects spiritual energy attacks. You lot gorge on elixirs all day without basic physical training—how could you possibly defeat me?"

Great Thunder Temple's Monk Jingkong struggled to sit up, face full of disbelief:

"This humble monk cultivated the Diamond Sutra for eight hundred years...yet you shattered my protective golden light just by flexing your chest..."

"Because you don't understand!" Zhang Yibai clasped his hands behind his back, presenting his terrifying demon-back silhouette. "True cultivation isn't about pills and meditation—it's about scientific training, proper nutrition, and regular rest! Every Wind Spirit Sect disciple consumes five kilograms of protein daily, with training regimens precise down to every muscle fiber's contraction angle!"

With a casual wave, he produced over a dozen thick manuals: "Behold—my life's work: Wind Spirit Sect's Body Refinement Codex, containing 108 pectoral exercises, 72 back-sculpting methods, 365 leg-enhancement techniques...Want to learn? I could teach you!"

The elders eyed the manuals with poorly concealed greed, torn between pride and desire.

Finally, a Kunlun elder blurted: "But what about your internal energy cultivation?"

Zhang Yibai slapped his abs dismissively: "Who said meditation is the only way to accumulate internal energy? Wind Spirit Sect pioneered storing spiritual essence within muscle fibers through extreme training! Watch!"

He inhaled sharply, making every muscle contract simultaneously with eerie cracking sounds.

Then—BOOM! A terrifying spiritual energy shockwave erupted outward, pinning all elders breathless to the ground.

"Since I took the Celestial Jade Marrow rather forcefully, consider these manuals compensation!" Storing the jade in his storage ring, Zhang Yibai dusted his hands. "Later!"

WHOOSH!

He rocket-jumped away, leaving another crater behind.

The elders stared at the pit in prolonged silence.

"Wind Spirit Sect? Never heard of them..."

"New sects emerge every cycle—most fade into obscurity, but this one's different." A Kunlun elder painfully crawled toward a manual. "All martial traditions build upon cyclical accumulations. These body refinement techniques might contain genuine insights!"

Where one elder led, others followed.

But with limited manuals and many wounded elders, they soon devolved into a brawling heap over the texts.

Meanwhile, the instigator Zhang Yibai had already returned triumphantly to Wind Spirit Sect's territory.

"Sect Leader! You're unharmed? Thank heavens!"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Zhang Yibai side-eyed Li Zongsi. Was this brat hoping for his demise?

"Never mind that!" Flustered, Li Zongsi produced their loot: "Look! Mid-grade Celestial Jade Marrow, snatched from Great Thunder Temple!"

"Good work." Zhang Yibai nodded absently, his mind elsewhere.

Two mid-grade jades should be the absolute limit of Kunlun and Great Thunder Temple's patience. Further thefts would unite all sects against them.

His gambit was set.

Those "training manuals" actually contained the Heavenly Demon Art's foundational index. Any cultivator attempting them would gradually develop qi deviations, becoming addicted like drug users needing successive chapters to stabilize—chapters only obtainable through dealings with him and Chen Huaian.

Moreover, deeper cultivation would foster worship toward Chen Huaian as the art's creator, effortlessly converting these elite Ascenders.

So long as Hua Jin, Monk Faming, or stronger entities remained unaware, this infiltration could continue indefinitely.

"May everything proceed smoothly..."

His gaze found Chen Huaian tailing Kunlun's group through the formation.

"What's this kid planning?"

Zhang Yibai frowned.

Surely he wasn't planning to rob Kunlun directly?

...

As expected of Chen Huaian's sword spirit—and his kindred spirit from the same homeland.

Chen Huaian had indeed considered theft.

But now he hesitated.

Direct robbery might make Kunlun overly vigilant. Better to play it safe—perhaps use this chance to improve Hua Jin's impression of him.

"Bro! Be careful!" Zhang Yibai's voice echoed in his mind.

"That formation Hua Jin and Monk Faming set up isn't just for suppressing cultivation—it's a hidden trap formation. The jade is bait to lure someone out!"

The implication was clear: this might be a ploy to expose them.

Chen Huaian smirked.

They wouldn't slip up.

Because he'd only show Hua Jin and Monk Faming exactly what he wanted them to see.

Today...he'd steal a top-grade Celestial Jade Marrow!

Go big or go home.

In the shadows, Chen Huaian's grin turned positively sinister as he pulled out his...

Sect Summoning Token.

...