Chapter 28: True Force Penetrates the Marrow (Seeking recommendations)
Chapter 28: True Force Penetrates the Marrow (Seeking recommendations)
In the shantytown.
Inside the cellar.
Inhale. . . Exhale. . .
Terrifying waves of air slammed against the walls, rippling outwards. . . as if forming a swirling current.
Fang Xi stood shirtless, his chest heaving like a bellows.
With every breath, his blood-qi seemed to strengthen a fraction, and his entire body's muscles became like rubber, full of elasticity.
"The principle of the Iron Garment Art is counter-shock!"
"Once cultivated to great perfection, even if a martial artist wielded a blunt weapon, they wouldn't inflict much damage!"
He didn't know how much time had passed.
He suddenly opened his eyes: "It's done!"
The Iron Garment Art had reached great perfection, and he had once again broken through to True Force!
This time, he felt as if his entire body was draped in a transparent veil, his defense greatly increased, especially his chest and back!
These two areas were precisely where the White Cloud Palm and Red Snake Leg techniques were lacking!
"It's just as I expected. . . Under the augmentation of the spiritual energy in the cultivation world and the Taisui meat, my martial arts cultivation progressed at a divine speed! Breaking through was as simple as eating and drinking."
Fang Xi's eyes gleamed slightly.
Of course, this was also because he was already a True Force martial artist; cultivating another martial art to this realm again would naturally be much easier.
Not to mention, he also had his Divine Consciousness to assist in comprehending the Concept Diagrams.
"However. . . the Iron Garment Art's boost to my overall True Force is already very small now."
After introspecting for a while, Fang Xi felt a touch of helplessness.
The superposition of True Force martial arts was not as simple and straightforward as one plus one.
If the first breakthrough with the Red Snake Leg increased his True Force by ten, then the second breakthrough with the White Cloud Palm only added about four to five.
Of course, an increase of forty to fifty percent in True Force meant his strength had long since doubled.
But. . . after that, Fang Xi searched for martial arts, and chose the 'Heavenly Vision Earthly Listening Art'. After cultivating it to completion, his True Force only increased by about two.
Now, with the breakthrough of the Iron Garment Art, the increase to his overall True Force was probably less than one. . .
"In reality, it should be this way. A person's total blood-qi is limited, so there must be a limit. . . Otherwise, wouldn't martial artists become invincible by constantly stacking martial arts?"
"But in fact, this approach of mixing martial arts yields diminishing returns, eventually approaching zero. . . Conversely, the problem of blood-qi conflict within the martial artist's body will continuously intensify!"
Suddenly, several streaks of abnormal crimson appeared on Fang Xi's face, but he quickly suppressed them.
"I used my Divine Consciousness to introspect, and have tried my best to choose martial arts that don't conflict with each other, but I've reached the limit. . . If I continue, the gains won't be worth the losses."
Not only that, Fang Xi also relied on the formidable ability of introspection to subtly adjust the four cultivation methods, making their blood-qi circulation more coordinated and reducing conflicts.
If it were a martial artist from the Da Liang world, cultivating to his current level, they would likely be afflicted with a hundred illnesses by now. . .
"Fortunately. . . after stacking four martial arts, my True Force can now cover most parts of my body."
In Da Liang martial arts, the three Blood-Qi Transformation stages are all foundational, collectively called 'Martial Apprentices'!
Comprehending a Concept Diagram and integrating True Force makes one a 'Martial Artist'! This is comparable to a first-tier Body Cultivator, which means a Qi Refinement early-stage cultivator!
After True Force, one uses True Force to cover the entire body, tempering the five viscera and six bowels, and the four limbs and hundred bones. . . awaiting the spontaneous generation of True Vigor! This is the True Vigor Martial Master!
A True Vigor Martial Master is already comparable to a second-tier Body Cultivator, which means a Qi Refinement mid-stage cultivator!
Fang Xi, at present, is achieving overall tempering by stacking martial arts to the point where True Force covers his entire body.
The White Cloud Palm primarily tempers the palms and arms; the Red Snake Leg tempers the legs; the Iron Garment Art covers the main torso; the Heavenly Vision Earthly Listening Art is more unconventional, being an obscure art that enhances eyesight and hearing, with an additional effect of tempering the head.
"Unfortunately. . . I'm still missing a True Vigor cultivation method. Mu Cang Long, after all, was only a True Force martial artist, so most of his knowledge on how to proceed afterward was merely conjecture. . ."
Fang Xi lowered his gaze: "The fattened Yuan He Mountain branch should be slaughtered now."
Although he had long known that Yuan He Mountain was in the South Gate District, he hadn't made a move yet.
This was primarily because Linghu Yang's martial arts had already reached the True Vigor Martial Master level, comparable to a second-tier Body Cultivator.
While he didn't possess the rich array of methods a cultivator did, he wasn't easy to kill either.
To be safe, he still needed to raise his own strength to its current limit before making further plans.
And. . . Black Stone City was now a large prison, and Linghu Yang couldn't escape! So, there was no need to rush at all.
In any case, as time passed, the one whose strength would grow the fastest would undoubtedly be Fang Xi!
...
Green Bamboo Mountain Market.
Pill Cauldron Pavilion.
"Friend Daoist, are you looking to purchase pills?"
Zhuo Lu Ting saw a masked customer enter, and stepped forward with a smile, her expression not changing in the slightest.
Cultivators generally preferred to keep their wealth hidden; there were many who concealed their appearance.
"I wish to purchase a type of pill that primarily addresses several issues with blood-qi circulation within the body. . ."
Fang Xi spoke in a rough voice, stating his requirements.
His physique had now been strengthened by several martial arts breakthroughs, and was significantly different from before.
Moreover, with his face masked, unless Zhuo Lu Ting was a Foundation Establishment great cultivator, she absolutely wouldn't recognize him. Though even if she did recognize him, it likely wouldn't matter much. . .
Zhuo Lu Ting listened to his request, her smile unwavering: "Guest, you wish to purchase pills to resolve various blood-qi conflicts? This pavilion does not have such a pill. . ."
"None? " A faint disappointment surfaced in Fang Xi's heart.
Just then, Zhuo Lu Ting continued with a smile: "Although we don't have it, if it's merely to resolve blood-qi conflict issues for a Body Cultivator, Friend Daoist can certainly invite this pavilion's alchemist to custom-craft a pill for you. . . It's just that the price. . ."
"I don't have that many spirit stones."
Fang Xi sighed.
In reality, he had long known of this solution; for example, having the Pill Cauldron Pavilion's pharmacist examine his body, diagnose him personally, and prescribe a formula, then having the alchemist refine a pill specifically for his condition. A mere blood-qi conflict issue could be resolved with ease.
But firstly, he wasn't a direct descendant of a Foundation Establishment family, so he didn't have that much prestige or so many spirit stones.
Secondly, allowing someone to meticulously examine his body would inevitably expose his unique circumstances, and might even require him to hand over his cultivation methods to the other party, which was absolutely unacceptable.
Therefore, he no longer hesitated, and turned to leave.
Just then, he heard Zhuo Lu Ting say again: "If Friend Daoist does not seek a complete cure, Green Pavilion here does have a temporary solution that addresses symptoms but not the root cause!"
"Oh? What do you mean by addressing symptoms but not the root cause?"
Fang Xi stopped, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes, as he stared intently at Zhuo Lu Ting.
"According to Friend Daoist's description, blood-qi conflict is merely a minor issue. As long as one's foundation is deep and solid, it won't be a major hindrance, just as water, though it restrains fire, a single drop cannot extinguish a mountain blaze. . . " Zhuo Lu Ting explained: "This pavilion has 'Blood-Qi Pills', ranked as a mid-grade first-order pill, primarily for Body Cultivators to consume. It can increase a cultivator's vital essence and blood, reinforcing their foundation. . . If one's own foundation is robust and deep, even minor issues won't affect future progress. However, this only conceals the problem and isn't a root cure; in the next major realm, the problem will inevitably become even more severe. . ."
"Blood-Qi Pill?"
Fang Xi's voice remained steady, but his thoughts raced.
This Blood-Qi Pill could actually increase a person's total blood-qi limit! In the Da Liang world, that would be a supreme divine medicine for improving martial arts aptitude!
In other words, if Fang Xi had consumed a Blood-Qi Pill back then, he might not have been deemed a martial arts cripple. . .
'This female cultivator makes sense. . . '
'If my total blood-qi increases, I can at least practice a few more martial arts. . . '
'As long as my physical foundation is deep and solid, even if there are blood-qi conflicts within, as long as I can suppress them, it won't be a major problem. . . '
'Perhaps, before the hidden danger erupts, I'll have already broken through to Martial Master? '
Fang Xi pondered it over, and nodded in agreement: "What is the price of this Blood-Qi Pill?"
A mid-grade first-order pill, its price would certainly exceed that of a Spirit Cleansing Pill.
He already had a bad premonition in his heart.
Indeed, the next moment, a hint of excitement appeared on Zhuo Lu Ting's face, and her red lips parted slightly: "Five spirit stones per pill."
...
"Damn that Pill Cauldron Pavilion. . . they're robbing spirit stones. . ."
In the shantytown, Fang Xi looked at the crimson, blood-red pill in his hand, his entire face falling.
For this single Blood-Qi Pill, he had not only gone bankrupt, selling all his stored spirit rice, but had also borrowed four spirit stones from Chen Ping, Di Qi, and others!
And it was agreed that he would return them in one month, and return five!
"Damn it, when this old man has spirit stones, I'll pop Blood-Qi Pills like candy and toss them away. . ."
Fang Xi secretly hardened his resolve, then swallowed the Blood-Qi Pill in one gulp, and closed his eyes to refine it with his magic power.
Soon, he felt the pill's power take effect, his entire body feeling warm and comfortable.
Throughout his four limbs and hundred bones, the previous tightness vanished, replaced by a feeling of immense relief.
"Indeed, the Blood-Qi Pill works!"
A hint of joy appeared in Fang Xi's eyes.
"So-called blood-qi conflict, if you compare a person's body to a house, then right now there are several fierce beasts inside the house, and the territory is too small, so conflicts and friction inevitably arise, they attack each other, and then the house collapses. . ."
"The principle of the Blood-Qi Pill, is to reinforce and enlarge the room. . . Although there are still fierce beasts, the house won't collapse easily. . ."
"Since the fierce beasts still exist, that's what is meant by addressing symptoms but not the root cause."
A long while later.
Fang Xi stood up, looking at the dark filth seeping from his body, interspersed with blood. He couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh, then went outside to fetch water and clean himself.
Once his body and mind were refreshed, he changed into clean clothes, lay down on a bamboo chair, and gazed up at the night sky: "How long has it been. . . since I last put everything down and truly looked at this starry sky?"
With a cultivator's Divine Consciousness and pills, the so-called "no path forward" was a joke to him.
But only at this moment, did Fang Xi feel a true sense of relief after a firm confirmation.
In this tranquility, he seemed to hear a gurgling sound in his ears, like a small river flowing.
It was only when Fang Xi concentrated that he realized this gurgling sound came from within his own body; it was. . . the sound of his blood-qi flowing.
Crackling!
A series of popping sounds emanated from his body, each joint crackling like exploding beans, his tendons and bones resonating in unison!
"This is. . . True Force entering the bones, beginning to refine the marrow?"
Fang Xi's eyes lit up.
True Force, having reached this point, had already entered an extremely high realm, only one step away from the spontaneous generation of True Vigor!
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