Constructing the martial chain.

In the dark room, Wei Wushang sat cross-legged, his eyes closed. He had just begun constructing the Cutting edge Infernal Ray Martial Chain.

Within his body, an uncountable number of spirit veins were scattered like maggots. It appeared like an extremely complex and intricate spider web formed by heavenly serpents. These spirit veins were connected to the heart, liver, muscles, lungs, eyes, mouth, brain, and more, granting access to every nook and corner of his body.

Wei Wushang's consciousness journeyed within his body like an arrogant flood dragon, its movements forcefully altering the landscape.

Pew, pew, pew, pew.

Within a mere minute, at least a dozen spirit veins were ruthlessly uprooted, offering no resistance, much like a lonely flower caught in the midst of a violent storm.

Wei Wushang commanded, and a spirit vein rushed towards his dantian like an obedient maid, unflinchingly heeding her master's order.

Extending from the fingertips of his right hand, this spirit vein swiftly fused its other end with the outer body of the dantian. The spirit vein mirrored the appearance of dry wood, its body tinged with shades of brownish-yellow. This seemingly ordinary thing was, in fact, the core spirit vein essential for the creation of the Cutting-edge Infernal Ray Martial Chain.

Each spirit vein possessed distinct characteristics—some were blue, others pink. Some short, others fat. Some resembled powerful silver dragons, others appeared like overcooked noodles. They all showcased their unique traits.

The initial phase of establishing the core had been successfully accomplished.

However, Wei Wushang didn't seem surprised. His expression suggested this was but an ordinary matter. Next, he calmly ordered the other spirit veins that were squirming in the air like restless worms to merge with the core spirit vein.

These spirit veins shot out like multicolored needles, piercing the core spirit vein and attaching themselves to it. Some of the spirit veins were situated closely, while others were far apart. Within a matter of seconds, 11 spirit veins had merged.

Wei Wushang scrutinized the arrangement meticulously, ensuring both the order and placement of the spirit veins were accurate. Once he was satisfied with their arrangement, he proceeded to extract the next set of spirit veins and commenced their merger.

This time, however, the newly added spirit veins were akin to vines, latching onto those spirit veins that were already in contact with the core spirit vein.

Effortlessly and fluidly, Wei Wushang orchestrated the process. He uprooted layers of spirit veins one by one, merging them seamlessly like pieces of a puzzle falling into place. It was like watching an artist meticulously craft a masterpiece, stroke by stroke.

Before long, a complex and elongated structure of spirit veins had taken form. This intricate webwork extended from the heart of the core spirit vein to the very tips of his opposing hand's fingertips. It was as though he had woven a bridge connecting the core of his being to the outer reaches of his grasp.

This intricate network of spirit veins was referred to as an infernal ray martial chain, a pathway for the seamless execution of the Cutting-edge Infernal Ray technique.

During the primitive era of martial arts, the approach diverged significantly. The method of Martial chains had not yet entered the scene. Instead, practitioners directly linked the essential spirit veins to the dantian. This method involved the meticulous injection of spiritual essence into each individual vein, one by one. The sheer effort and time required to activate a technique mid-battle without the organized structure of a martial chain can only be imagined.

"Now, it's time to add the relevant dao mark traces." Wei Wushang took a closer look at the pill distributed by the academy elder. The pill appeared as a blood-red orb with golden specks that glistened like stars. Acting without hesitation, he swallowed it and shut his eyes.

As the pill made its journey into Wei Wushang's body, the round sphere softly burst open into an enchanting crimson mist. Responding to Wei Wushang's thoughts, the mist began to drift and wave its way toward the intricate bridge of spirit veins. Then, as if embracing a long-lost friend, the crimson mist delicately wrapped itself around the martial chain, its touch as gentle as a lover's caress.

Soon, like a blushing bride adorned in her exquisite qipao, the entire Cutting-edge Infernal Ray Martial Chain was draped in red.

"Done," Wei Wushang exhaled deeply, sinking onto his bed and indulging in a leisurely stretch.

He pondered, 'Well, there are still four more days until the competition. I won't have to attend classes during this period, so I'll have some free time. Hmm, I'll utilize this opportunity to intensify my training. Moreover, now that I have access to the academy library, I should dedicate some time to exploring it.'

As Wei Wushang pondered, he gradually rose from his bed and strolled out of his room. The late-night breeze swept by, sending a shiver down his spine.

However, the moment he stepped outside, a mortal guard took notice of him. Swiftly comprehending the situation, the guard hastened to a location and retrieved a wooden log. He swiftly brought it to Wei Wushang.

This guard was the same guy who had first brought Wei Wushang to his residence. Ever since then, he had been striving to leave a favorable impression on him. However, Wei Wushang's expression was consistently cold and indifferent, leaving the guard feeling somewhat uneasy.

But after a month of interaction, the guard came to realize that this was simply how he was. In the beginning, the guard was afraid that he might truly treat him like a slave, working him to the bone, or use him as a punching bag to vent his frustrations. After all, Immortals often treated mortals like ants, and in his years of experience here at the academy, he had suffered a lot at the hands of a few students.

But despite Wei Wushang's unfriendly appearance, he was quite easygoing. He only tasked the guard with delivering meals, preparing bathing water, or providing some assistance during his training. Just this brought a huge relief to the guard.

Wei Wushang offered a nod as he allowed the guard to place the log on his shoulders. Without delay, he initiated a run around the academy grounds.

As Wei Wushang continued his rounds around the academy, the moon cast a gentle glow upon the training grounds. A handful of students caught his eye, some were diligently working hard like him. While others were simply wasting time gossiping with their friends.

A fellow student, engrossed in his sword practice, noticed Wei Wushang and remarked, "Look at Wei Wushang go, that guy is seriously committed."

A nearby student chimed in, "Seeing him push himself to the limit makes me want to train even harder."

The one who spoke earlier replied again, "Haha, you know why I began working out? It was because of him. Just like us, he is also a low-grade talent, yet he works harder than anyone. Even that iron-faced Shang Fei was full of praises for him."

Over the past month, Wei Wushang's visible dedication to self-improvement had unknowingly inspired several other students to put in extra effort.

However, not everyone held the same admiration. A couple of students, leaning against a wall, exchanged sneers as they watched Wei Wushang's exertions. One scoffed, "Hmph, there he goes running around like a monkey again."

The other student spat with contempt, "Is this what it takes for him to feel accomplished? Hehe, training like a fool won't change the fact that he's nothing but his older brother's shadow."

"Haha, pathetic, he is truly pathetic. He should just look in the mirror and die from shame."

Wei Wushang could hear their words, but his attention remained fixed solely on the task at hand. The opinions of outsiders were like a passing breeze, easily swept away. As long as they didn't obstruct his path, they could scream as much as they pleased. Wei Wushang wouldn't even spare them a glance.

Almost 15 minutes passed, leaving Wei Wushang visibly breathless, his body drenched in sweat.

"Here, take it." He handed the log back to the guard, who swiftly received it.

Just as the guard was about to leave, Wei Wushang's voice drifted into his ears like an ominous wind, "Hold on, don't be in such a hurry now. Didn't you receive your monthly salary today?"

Hearing this, the guard almost stumbled and nearly dropped the log at his feet. In his heart, he couldn't help but scream, 'I'm fucked!'