Chapter 105: The First Bud

Bodhi Tree.

Looking at the seed in his palm, Gu Yuan still found it hard to believe.

Fortunately, life with the twins had granted him a certain resistance to shocks. He kept his composure and began thinking the matter through calmly.

Could it really be that the others had failed to grow the seed simply because they didn’t know its cultivation method was so simple? But what about the Immortal who had brought it from the Immortal Realm in the first place?

The situation was strange, but Gu Yuan decided not to overcomplicate things. The others had assumed the seed was defective, and that was precisely why it had ended up in his hands.

Now, only one question remained: would he plant it?

Naturally, he would.

Gu Yuan stepped out of the residence into the open courtyard beyond and began looking for a suitable place to plant the Bodhi Tree. While he was considering where to put it, he happened to run into Ji Yan, who had just returned.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"I plan to grow a tree." Gu Yuan showed her the seed in his palm.

"A Bodhi Tree seed?" Ji Yan blinked. "You know how to cultivate it?"

"Yes." Gu Yuan nodded. "Was growing it supposed to be some kind of secret?"

"Yes. Only the Buddhist faction knows how to grow one."

"Then... should I not plant it?"

Ji Yan chuckled at his cautious tone. "Don’t worry. Just do what you want."

With her reassurance, Gu Yuan stopped worrying about it. He found a suitable spot, broke the seed’s outer shell, buried it in the soil, and watered it.

Now, how long would it take to sprout?

Gu Yuan was already looking forward to seeing the first signs of growth.

He didn’t linger in the courtyard and returned to his room. Ji Yan, meanwhile, went back into the secret realm to continue comprehending the Ascension Stele.

Gu Yuan then began using the pills and heavenly treasures he had received as wedding gifts. Some could strengthen his body, others could nourish his soul, while the rest could assist his cultivation.

He spent the next two months digesting their medicinal properties, eventually reaching the Sixth Stage of the Spiritual Core Realm.

With those gifts taken care of, he turned his attention to the three remaining treasures: a pair of boots, a belt, and nine short swords. Two of the three were Heaven Grade treasures, and refining all of them took him nearly a year.

Now, only the body-tempering technique remained from his wedding gifts.

As he had planned, Gu Yuan headed to the Scripture Pavilion to see whether the Black Desolation Sect possessed a better technique.

This time, he intended to visit the fourth floor. If his current status didn’t grant him access, he would go to the Elder Hall and have it upgraded.

However, it seemed he wouldn’t need to go through that trouble.

"You can visit any floor without paying anything," the elder stationed at the entrance told him.

Gu Yuan thanked him before making his way toward the fourth floor.

There weren’t many shelves here, as the floor housed only the sect’s best techniques. Even so, when Gu Yuan searched for body-tempering techniques, the best one he found was only Earth Grade.

Since he was already here, he took the opportunity to look through the other collections as well, but nothing else caught his eye.

Is the Black Desolation Sect really this lacking in good techniques? he wondered, a little puzzled. Or do the truly valuable techniques never reach a public shelf in the first place?

He shook his head and returned to his residence. It was time to begin practicing the Heavenly Tyrant Body Art.

Before doing anything else, Gu Yuan carefully read through the manual.

Like Qi Cultivation, Body Cultivation was divided into nine realms. The earlier realms focused on tempering different parts of the body, beginning with the skin and flesh.

Unlike Qi Cultivation, however, practicing a body-tempering technique wasn’t as simple as sitting down and absorbing Spirit Qi. He had to follow the breathing and circulation methods described in the Heavenly Tyrant Body Art while performing the prescribed movements.

Gu Yuan began practicing.

As he moved and controlled his breathing, the absorbed Spirit Qi followed the prescribed circulation, flowing through his body and gathering in his skin and flesh.

The sensation was unfamiliar. His skin gradually grew warm, followed by a prickling sensation that spread across his body. His muscles tightened, and it felt as though countless tiny needles were pressing against his skin. Before long, sweat began to form, and maintaining the technique became increasingly uncomfortable.

The Heavenly Tyrant Body Art demanded that he endure and control the tempering as it happened.

Fortunately, Gu Yuan had no problem with that. If anything, he felt a little regret that he hadn’t started practicing a body-tempering technique earlier.

He patiently completed one full cycle, which took an entire day, before examining himself.

"Nothing changed?" he muttered, clenching his fist.

Could it be because of the Yin Essence he had refined? Perhaps his body was already strong enough that the initial improvement was too subtle for him to notice.

Gu Yuan couldn’t be certain. Regardless, the solution was simple: keep practicing.

With that in mind, he continued cultivating the Heavenly Tyrant Body Art.

One year passed. His physical strength had increased somewhat, but he was still at the First Stage of Body Cultivation: Flesh Tempering Realm.

Perhaps it was time to focus on something else.

Gu Yuan didn’t intend to devote all his time to body tempering. There were still plenty of other skills and techniques he wanted to practice.

Leaving his residence, he headed to check on the Bodhi Tree First.

He had watered it every week, yet until now, it hadn’t shown the slightest sign of growth.

Could it be that Divine-Grade trees simply took a long time to grow?

With no one available to consult and Ji Yue still occupied with her own affairs, Gu Yuan could only wait patiently.

Seemingly to blow away his worry, when he reached the spot where he had planted the Bodhi Tree Seed, a tiny bud had appeared.

Gu Yuan was a little more excited than usual as he watered it.

He watched the tiny bud for a while longer before turning to return to his residence. However, just as he had taken a few steps, he sensed several cultivators approaching his residence.