Chapter 2: Body Tempering

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Body Tempering

"What you saw earlier were all basic Minor Magic. Once you’ve had some success with Body Tempering, you can begin to learn them. Master isn’t here right now, so I’ll pass the Body Tempering Technique on to you first."

"Our Purple Bamboo Peak’s Cultivation Technique is called the Purple Bamboo Scripture. Right now, I only have the Body Tempering Chapter. For the rest, you’ll have to ask Master for it after you’ve made progress in Body Tempering."

Liu Chen felt a bit helpless. His master was still teaching him half a month ago, but ever since Liu Chen resolved to study Spirit Chef Skills, his master had been gone for half a month. Bringing his junior sister over this morning was the first time he had shown his face.

If he hadn’t shown up, Liu Chen was about to report to the Steward that his master might have been harmed.

Unfortunately, his master’s appearance was fleeting. He dropped off his junior sister and vanished, and Liu Chen had no idea what he was so afraid of.

He even left passing on the Cultivation Technique to him. Fortunately, the rules on Purple Bamboo Peak weren’t strict. Whether one could comprehend it depended on their own Talent, and passing on the technique was simple enough—he just had to copy it down and give it to his junior sister.

Ji Suyao accepted the Cultivation Technique, which still smelled of fresh ink. Her eyes were full of confusion. It was obviously freshly written. ’Is this really reliable?’

Liu Chen pretended not to see his junior sister’s suspicion and forced himself to continue, "The first step on the path of cultivation is the Body Tempering Technique. Even with insufficient talent, one can still guide Spiritual Qi into the body and experience its wonders within twenty years. Once Body Tempering is successful, one can also freely sense the presence of Spiritual Qi.

"However, with your talent, Junior Sister, you should achieve success in Body Tempering in one or two years at most. Then you can perform Opening the Meridians and step into the Meridian Passage Realm. It is said that after Opening the Meridians, one can store and control some Spiritual Qi."

Liu Chen stopped there, prompting Ji Suyao, who had been listening intently, to look up with an expectant gaze.

"I’ve only just started Body Tempering myself. Perhaps you’ll surpass me in the future. When that time comes, you can just ask Master directly."

Liu Chen didn’t continue. The next Realms were Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment, but he only knew their names. It was better not to explain casually. Who knew if his junior sister was a one-in-a-million talent? If he led her astray, it would be a terrible sin.

Besides, the surname Ji was the royal surname of the Great Xia Dynasty. His junior sister’s identity was probably not simple.

It was true that Immortal Sects controlled dynasties, and it was true that Cultivators were treated with respect, but none of that applied to Outer Disciples. One had to be at least an Inner Sect Disciple for that.

"Purple Bamboo Peak has no other rules. You can focus on your cultivation in peace, Junior Sister."

With those words, Liu Chen turned and stepped into the bamboo forest. He pulled out stalks of Purple Cloud Grass, while other weeds withered and turned into nutrients.

Ji Suyao watched this scene in awe. She felt that her Senior Brother seemed much more reliable than their master.

[Withering Skill Proficiency +2]

In a field of vision invisible to others, Liu Chen looked at the series of prompts as a hint of joy appeared in his eyes.

Unfortunately, Magic required Spiritual Power. The Spiritual Power reserves of the Body Tempering Realm, while not technically zero, were close enough. Even for a basic Minor Magic like this, Liu Chen’s current reserves would only last for a dozen or so uses at most.

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A bamboo house lay hidden within the verdant bamboo forest.

Sunlight filtered through the dense bamboo leaves, casting mottled shadows. A stone table and a few bamboo chairs were all that furnished the area, which served as Liu Chen’s home.

[Withering Skill Proficiency +32]

Bathed in the mottled light, Liu Chen looked at his recent gains. In truth, the harmless weeds didn’t need to be cleared at all. It was the Purple Cloud Grass that affected the Purple Bamboo’s growth; clearing that was all that was necessary.

But Liu Chen needed materials to practice on if he wanted to gain Proficiency. Thus, the otherwise useless weeds became his practice targets.

[Withering Skill: Beginner, 232/500]

Glancing at his Proficiency in the Withering Skill, Liu Chen felt a sense of despair. This was the Magic that consumed the least Mana, and the one he practiced the most, yet reaching Minor Success would still require nearly twenty days of intense grinding.

As for the Purification Technique and Recovery Technique he had demonstrated earlier, Liu Chen hadn’t even reached the Beginner level.

Mottled light played across Liu Chen’s face as he slowly opened his eyes, a determined glint within them. ’Grinding these Magic Skills is relatively forgiving; I just have to spend Spiritual Power to practice. But the Purple Bamboo Scripture Body Tempering Chapter isn’t so kind.’

[Purple Bamboo Scripture Body Tempering Chapter: Uninitiated, 90/100]

Liu Chen began to practice the Body Tempering Technique. A piercing pain erupted from all over his body. His face instantly paled, and fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead as a pain, as if a thousand needles were stabbing him, wracked his body.

Liu Chen grit his teeth, feeling as if he were about to be torn apart.

The piercing pain intensified, as if a stalk of Cyan Bamboo were growing inside him, making it unbearable.

After an unknown amount of time, the pain finally subsided. In its place, Liu Chen’s body felt full, as if a boundless stream of vitality was pouring into him.

In that instant, Liu Chen understood the true meaning of Body Tempering. In essence, it was a process to make one’s mortal flesh adapt to Spiritual Qi, thereby allowing the Spiritual Qi to circulate through the body via a special Magic Skill, engraving corresponding patterns.

When the patterns were completely engraved throughout the body, one’s Body Tempering would be complete.

After two hours of torture, he had finally reached the Beginner stage for the Purple Bamboo Scripture Body Tempering Chapter. Liu Chen was physically and mentally exhausted, yet a broad smile spread across his face.

He could feel the Spiritual Qi in the air around him, something a Mortal could never perceive in their entire life.

Carefully inspecting himself, Liu Chen discovered faint, mottled phantoms of bamboo leaves beneath his skin. The leaves had a Bronze hue and looked ancient. This was the sign of a Body Tempering Beginner his master had told him about.

At Minor Success, the leaves would turn silvery-white. At Great Success, they would be golden. At the Perfection stage, they would return to a natural state, looking identical to the mountain’s Cyan Bamboo.

According to legend, the ancestor of Purple Bamboo Peak had leaves that turned the color of Purple Bamboo itself after completing his Body Tempering, which is where the Cultivation Technique gets its name. Unfortunately, since that ancestor, no one has been able to reach such a Realm.

Exhaling a breath of foul air, the Bronze bamboo leaves faded. Liu Chen slowly rose and walked toward his house. Each Body Tempering session was an ordeal, and it took several hours to recover.

[Purple Bamboo Scripture Body Tempering Chapter: Beginner, 0/500]

’Going by my previous rate of gaining Proficiency, it’ll take fifty days to reach Minor Success. Cultivation is so difficult. But now that I’ve reached the Beginner stage, I should be able to practice a few more times each day.’

Lying on the bamboo chair, Liu Chen couldn’t help but ponder. Twenty practices of the Withering Skill, five of the Purification Technique, and five of the Recovery Technique per day—this was the goal Liu Chen had set for himself, his required daily cultivation.

After the first few days of getting used to it, Liu Chen had been cultivating like this for ten days. And yet, everything was just beginning.

Never mind seeking longevity; he had not even officially set foot on the Road of Longevity. Only after completing Body Tempering would his journey truly begin.

Once his Spiritual Qi had mostly recovered, Liu Chen dragged his weary body into a sitting position. He cast the Withering Skill four more times to make up for the earlier shortfall, then practiced the Recovery Technique and Purification Technique five times each.

Realizing he still had Spiritual Power to spare, Liu Chen increased his practice of the Purification Technique to ten times.

Once his Spiritual Power was completely depleted, Liu Chen collapsed onto his bed and fell into a deep sleep.