Chapter 91: Body Tempering Peak

Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Body Tempering Peak

A cyan light flashed, and twelve emerald shadows bloomed in the air, forming profound patterns. Phantoms of cyan lotuses suddenly emerged from the veins of the leaves. As the lotus petals unfurled, they shimmered in harmony with the bamboo patterns, creating a celestial image akin to a starry sky.

A cyan-green stream of light erupted from Liu Chen’s body, extending three inches. With a SWOOSH that tore through the air, the twelve emerald leaves shattered inch by inch, transforming into countless specks of firefly light that merged into his flesh and muscles.

In that instant, a chorus of ringing sounds came from Liu Chen’s bones and tendons. A jade-green glow simultaneously burst forth from all 360 major acupoints on his body. A jade-like Spirit Pattern unfurled upward from his Dantian, and wherever it passed, the extraordinary image of a cyan lotus twining around bamboo appeared on his skin.

The Spirit Pattern moved like a living creature, swiftly reforming into eighty-one phantasmal jade leaves. The leaves were as thin as a cicada’s wings, yet ancient seal script was faintly visible on them. At the center of each leaf was an embedded, spinning cyan lotus seed.

The array of jade leaves suddenly contracted. Liu Chen’s spine straightened like a firm stalk of bamboo, and his bones let out an explosive crack like a Dragon’s Roar.

When the last emerald leaf faded away, all the cyan light around Liu Chen receded, leaving only two clusters of cyan flame flickering uncertainly in the depths of his pupils.

[Purple Bamboo Scripture Body Tempering Chapter: Unique]

’A Cyan Lotus Bamboo Leaf Spirit Pattern... is it still appropriate to call this the Purple Bamboo Scripture?’

The two clusters of cyan flame vanished. Liu Chen studied the Proficiency notification that had appeared. He wrestled with the thought for a moment but ultimately decided not to change the name. The Purple Bamboo Scripture was a Cultivation Technique left behind by Ancestor Master Purple Bamboo, and besides, he had only forged his own path in the Body Tempering Realm. He would still need to cultivate the Purple Bamboo Scripture in the future.

Liu Chen had just finished his breakthrough and hadn’t even had a chance to recover when he saw his master and master’s wife suddenly appear in the Bamboo Garden.

After a quick glance at himself, Liu Chen saw nothing improper about his appearance and stepped out of the bamboo house.

"Greetings, Master, Madam."

Liu Chen bowed respectfully. They were the two people most responsible for him getting this far. His master had taught him his Cultivation Technique, and his master’s wife had taught him the vast majority of his Magic.

Technically, after becoming an Inner Sect Disciple, Liu Chen should have addressed his master more formally. However, his master hadn’t arranged an official discipleship ceremony. Liu Chen guessed that he was probably waiting for his two junior sisters to become Inner Sect Disciples as well, so the three of them could undergo the ceremony together. This would prevent any issues with titles from affecting his junior sisters’ cultivation.

"Rise. If I hadn’t witnessed your cultivation with my own eyes, I would never have believed such a prodigy existed in this world."

Mo Xuan studied Liu Chen carefully. He had once believed he’d reached the very end of the Peak Path. But when he reached Meridian Passage Peak, he realized he was wrong. In the Body Tempering Realm, he had broken through nine times on the Peak Path, which was equivalent to taking nine steps.

And the upper limit in the Meridian Passage Realm was nine steps. At most, he could only maintain his position on the Peak Path, unable to advance further. This proved that he had not reached his own limits in the Body Tempering Realm.

He once thought that the bizarre Spiritual Power fluctuations recorded in ancient texts were an exaggeration. But after clearly sensing the fluctuations coming from Liu Chen, he realized they were all factually accurate.

"It is all thanks to Master’s excellent guidance."

Liu Chen was genuinely grateful. If not for his master, he would never have even become a Cultivator, let alone deal with all the local ruffians who had been bothering him. Back then, he couldn’t even get his hands on any Mortal Martial Arts, leaving him with no way to protect himself.

"I’m not so sure about that."

Bai Qiulan glanced at Mo Xuan, who was looking rather smug at Liu Chen’s words, and sighed in resignation. After witnessing Liu Chen’s Talent, they had both realized that the best way to teach him was not to teach him at all. Or, more accurately, to only teach him when he actively asked questions. The rest of the time, they simply let nature take its course.

Whether it was Magic, Cultivation Techniques, or Swordsmanship, Liu Chen had never received any formal instruction. He had even figured out the Spirit Chef Skill on his own.

"Ahem. Since you’ve already come this far, it’s time to prepare to enter the Meridian Passage Realm. I will now impart the Purple Bamboo Scripture Meridian Passage Chapter to you."

A stream of light shot from Mo Xuan’s hand and flowed directly into Liu Chen’s mind. The Cultivation Technique for the Purple Bamboo Scripture Meridian Passage Chapter appeared, and Liu Chen began to study it carefully.

[Purple Bamboo Scripture Meridian Passage Chapter: Not Started, 0/100]

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Liu Chen had committed the Purple Bamboo Scripture Meridian Passage Chapter to memory, but his master and master’s wife were no longer in the Bamboo Garden.

’The Spirit Pattern born from Body Tempering serves as the foundation for absorbing Spiritual Power, and the meridians opened through Meridian Passage serve as the foundation for circulating Spiritual Power. So, the next step must be to build a foundation for storing Spiritual Qi.’

Liu Chen narrowed his eyes. He had a rough idea of what the next stage, Qi Refining, would entail. But now wasn’t the time to worry about that. ’Things being what they are, I should probably just get some sleep first.’

The next morning, Liu Chen woke up naturally. He glanced at the night sky outside his window and understood clearly that his daily cultivation time had increased. Only two hours had passed since he had fallen asleep, but he was already fully rested.

’To reach Meridian Passage Realm Beginner, you need to circulate Spiritual Qi through the Ren and Du Small Cycle. Just reaching the beginner level requires opening two meridians. No wonder so many people are stuck in the Body Tempering Realm their entire lives.’

Since he was awake, Liu Chen decided to start cultivating the Meridian Passage Technique right away. He used his Spiritual Sense to guide the Spiritual Power within his body, drawing it up from his Perineum along the Du Meridian to his Baihui acupoint, then down along the Ren Meridian to his Dantian. That completed one cycle.

As Liu Chen attempted the Meridian Passage, a sore, swelling sensation spread from within his meridians. If not for achieving Perfection in multiple Magic skills, which had taken his control over Spiritual Power to a higher level, he probably wouldn’t have been able to manipulate his Spiritual Power at all in this state.

By the time one cycle was complete, Liu Chen was drenched in sweat, his face twisted in pain from the Meridian Passage process.

[Proficiency for Purple Bamboo Scripture Meridian Passage Chapter +20]

The Proficiency notification appeared, and Liu Chen was very satisfied. Progressing at this rate meant that after just four more Meridian Passage cycles, he would be able to complete the Ren and Du Small Cycle and officially enter the Meridian Passage Realm.

It was at this moment that Liu Chen felt the Spirit Pattern he had formed the day before begin to operate on its own. Under the Spirit Pattern’s influence, the sore, swelling sensation quickly faded.

A few breaths later, Liu Chen exhaled a breath of turbid air. Aside from feeling a little weak, the soreness and swelling were completely gone, replaced by a feeling of ease.

’So this is the effect of the Spirit Pattern after stepping onto the Peak Path? No wonder cultivation speeds up after you’re on it.’

Liu Chen narrowed his eyes. After obtaining the Meridian Passage Realm’s Cultivation Technique, he finally learned the correct name for the phantoms produced after Body Tempering: Spirit Pattern.

Only what was produced after achieving a Perfect Skill could be called a Spirit Pattern. There was no precise term for it before the Cultivation Technique was perfected. The Body Tempering Technique didn’t specify it, though it did mention the need to construct "spiritual power patterns." He figured "Spirit Pattern" must be an abbreviation.

’At this rate, completing four cycles a day should be no problem. The issue is, I can’t participate in the trial if I’m in the Meridian Passage Realm.’

Liu Chen narrowed his eyes. ’Looks like I’ll have to slow down my Cultivation Technique practice if I want to participate in the trial. I’ve been preparing for so long; it would be a total waste if I couldn’t even take part.’

However, if he reduced the time spent on his Cultivation Technique, he might be able to advance his Body Protection Technique to the Unique level before the trial.