Chapter 138: Truly Reaching Secound-Stage Martial Artist

The mine that Lu Zhen had previously found had at least a thousand low-grade qi; however, they could barely be exchanged for a middle-stage qi stone, which was unlikely because no one would exchange for something of higher value for a lower grade of Qi stone because the higher the grade of the Qi stone, the purer the qi, and the quantity of the Qi contained in the stone also increases to at least a hundred in quantity as well as quality.

Middle-grade Qi stone was at least a thousand times more effective than a low-grade one, not to mention the speed of refining. Since the middle-grade stone is only one, it could be absorbed easily with the dense Qi inside, helping the martial artist strengthen their bodies as well as condensing Qi, which was invaluable to second-stage martial artists.

However, not to mention that low-grade Qi stones took a longer time to refine compared to middle-grade Qi stones, the only effect of the low-grade Qi stones was to gather more energy, which could be only useful for martial trainees and third-stage martial artists but higher-level martial artists didn't have much use for them.

That meant that exchanging low-grade qi stones for a middle-grade Qi stone was a fool's dream.

"You seemed to have improved by a lot now." ancestor Lu just flicked his finger and instantly vibration was created in thin air as the very fabric of air was rippling like water as it went towards Lu Zhen.

When the vibration touched Lu Zhen's body, ancestor Lu's eyes widened.

"Your physique is truly powerful, your physical strength is very close to a second stage-martial artist." ancestor Lu said with a sigh however he had a happy expression on his face.

"Progress like this, and it won't be long before we have three first-stage martial artists. When that happens..." a ruthless glint flashed in the ancestor's eyes.

"Who is the third person, Anc..." Lu Zhen saw the ancestor looking at his mother, which instantly answered his question. He looked silently at the two.

"Lu Ying, you should be very close to becoming a first-stage martial artist, right? My son is really useless, barely entering the realm of the second stage; he won't progress much in the future," the ancestor continued.

As she stepped into the portal, the sensation of transition washed over her once more.

Lu Zhen opened his eyes to a pitch-black void, and his entire body felt a discomforting sensation, as though he was being pricked by a million tiny needles. The environment was unsettling, to say the least.

The discomfort was so intense that Lu Zhen found it challenging to move or reposition himself. With each attempt to adjust his posture, the sensation of needles poking at his skin grew even more unbearable. Despite his discomfort, he had no choice but to remain still, waiting in a stationary position.

However, the stabbing sensation became somehow less and less as Lu Zhen could feel a strange change in his body. Lu Zhen could feel his body being strengthened for some reason as time passed, prompting his excitement.

Soon he was able to sit still without feeling those pricking sensations, and Lu Zhen's body was strengthened to a certain degree. However, he could feel that he was a little hungry for some reason.

His height seemed to have decreased by a little, and his muscles seemed to have contracted by a little as well; however, they became more compact and resilient as his big muscles contracted to form smaller but compact and stronger muscles.

Countless ideas swirled in Lu Zhen's mind as he observed his body's newfound strength.

"System, is this due to the adaptability skill?" he inquired.

[Yes, host. Your physique has been strengthened as a result of your adaptation to this environment.]

Puzzled, Lu Zhen pressed for more information, "So, what has happened to my physique?"

[Your body has ascended truely to the level of a second-stage martial artist. Congratulations, host. Your physique is undergoing a process like Qi condensing where you condense your Qi however except this body cultivation is about condensing your muscle which is similar to the third martial artist realm progression to second-stage martial realm.]