Chapter 756: Research on the Body Refining Technique

Xu Wuyi nodded, understanding what Qiao Tongyu meant. He wasn’t here to act as a lobbyist for those Battle Groups, but simply to pass on the message and let Xu Wuyi decide for himself.

“What do you think?” Qiao Tongyu asked.

Xu Wuyi thought for a moment before answering truthfully. “Right now, I need to rest. I also need time to digest what I’ve gained recently. I can accept the invitations from those Battle Groups, but we’ll talk about it when I’m ready.”

Xu Wuyi wasn’t opposed to continuing to clear out Rifts across the Federation. Not only would it earn him personal merits, but it was also a contribution to the Federation. Protecting civilians everywhere while simultaneously harvesting large amounts of Star Beast Materials was tantamount to indirectly strengthening the Federation’s Low-Tier Martial Artists.

Qiao Tongyu nodded, unsurprised by his response. “As you should. In your current state, you definitely need some time to settle. However, those people won’t rush you. As long as you don’t refuse, they’re willing to wait.”

He paused, then added, “Also, I have to remind you. Although these Battle Groups offer high rewards, the risks aren’t small. There might actually be Beast Kings behind some of these Rifts, so you need to be mentally prepared.”

Xu Wuyi nodded. “I understand.”

The two chatted for a bit longer before Xu Wuyi took his leave.

By the time he walked out of the Battle Group headquarters, the sky had already grown dark. Nighttime in Linjiang was more bustling than the day; vehicles wove through the streets, neon lights flashed, and the area was filled with people taking post-dinner strolls. Walking slowly back along the riverbank, he pondered over the matters they had just discussed.

The Northern Plain, the West Desert, the East Sea, Lingnan, Yunmeng, Cangwu…

Almost all the Federation’s Battle Groups, both large and small, had sent him invitations. The Rifts were scattered far and wide, and each location presented different situations and unique risks. However, he was in no rush. Right now, what he needed most was time. He needed time to digest the gains from his Heart Image, time to improve his strength, and time to thoroughly solidify his newly comprehended insights. As for the invitations from the Battle Groups, he would consider them once he was ready.

Upon returning to his apartment, Xu Wuyi didn’t immediately enter the Cultivation Room. Instead, he sat on the sofa for a while.

Qiao Tongyu’s words had reminded him of something else.

The third step of a Grandmaster: Divine Intent.

Shen Jin had mentioned that the Grandmaster Realm was divided into three steps: Dharma Form, Domain, and Divine Intent. Xu Wuyi had already set foot on the first step and was walking toward the second, but he still had a long way to go before reaching the third.

Flame Venerable had also warned him that physical strength was crucial for the third step. This was because Divine Intent wasn’t something independent of the Heart Image; rather, it required reintegrating the Heart Image back into the flesh to completely merge the two. At that point, the body would be the Heart Image, and the Heart Image would be the body.

If his physical body wasn’t strong enough, forcing the fusion would only lead to its collapse. Therefore, he had to prepare in advance. Starting now, he needed to prioritize the tempering of his body.

Previously—whether in the Profound Abyssal Rift, at the research institute, or within the various Rifts scattered across Dongjiang—he had been constantly honing his Heart Image and perfecting his Martial Arts. Consequently, he had somewhat neglected physical tempering. It wasn’t that he completely ignored it; he had never skipped his daily foundational fist and kick routines. However, that level of practice only maintained his current condition rather than strengthening it. Now that he had both time and resources, it was time to put this matter on the agenda.

He stood up, walked into the Cultivation Room, and sat cross-legged on the training mat. With a slight shift in his thoughts, his personal terminal lit up, and Anna’s voice echoed in his ear.

“Good evening, Grandmaster Xu Wuyi. How can I help you?”

“Anna, help me search the Federation Research Institute’s database. Look for information regarding Grandmaster Level Body Refining Techniques,” Xu Wuyi said.

“Understood. Searching now.”

A holographic screen unfolded before him, displaying a dense, scrolling list of entries. Xu Wuyi read through them one by one, occasionally clicking on ones that caught his interest to skim through them.

Grandmaster Level Body Refining Techniques were entirely different from those in the Innate Realm. In the Innate stage, the core of these techniques was Qi and Blood. By circulating Qi and Blood, one would temper their muscles, bones, skin, and flesh, making the body increasingly strong, durable, and formidable in combat.

But at the Grandmaster stage, the core of Body Refining Techniques shifted to rules. Instead of using Qi and Blood to temper the body, they used rules. The power of rules would infuse into every muscle, every bone, and every drop of blood, turning the body itself into a vessel for the rules.

This process was exceedingly difficult and painfully slow. Some Grandmasters cultivated for decades without seeing any improvement in their physical strength compared to their time in the Innate Realm. It wasn’t because they didn’t work hard, but because this path was simply too arduous to walk.

As Xu Wuyi continued to browse through the data, a direction gradually formed in his mind. There were many types of Grandmaster Level Body Refining Techniques: some focused on muscles and bones, some on skin and flesh, others on internal organs, and still others on the blood. Each possessed its own pros and cons, and each catered to a specific type of practitioner.

He needed to find the one that suited him best.

Or rather, he needed to create the one that suited him best.

His rule was Order—the convergence of all rules. Ordinary Body Refining Techniques were designed based on a specific rule and might not necessarily be suitable for him. This included the Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace that he had been cultivating previously. No matter how high its Grade, it was perfectly tailored for Grandmaster Yue Lianshan, not for him.

The best approach would be to use these existing Body Refining Techniques as a foundation, combine them with the traits of his own rule, and forge a unique Body Refining Technique of his own.

This line of thought mirrored his approach to creating his own Spear Technique. Having reached the Grandmaster Realm, any Grandmaster who wished to progress further essentially had to take this step, and Xu Wuyi was no exception.

He continued to flip through the files, silently memorizing the core principles of every Body Refining Technique.