Chapter 294: Bone Casting

Chapter 294: Chapter 294: Bone Casting

"The *Platinum Evil Tiger Evolution Method* is divided into three major Chapters: the Bone Forging Chapter, the Organ Cultivation Chapter, and the Bone Marrow Transformation Chapter."

"They correspond to the Fourth Realm Bone Cultivation, the Fifth Realm of Refining Inner Organs, and the Sixth Realm of Marrow Refining, respectively."

"Fourth Realm Bone Cultivation not only breaks the body’s shackles but also lays a profound Martial Arts foundation for breaking through to the Ninth Realm in the future."

"During Fourth Realm Bone Cultivation, those with high Talent in their Cultivation Method can forge a Martial Bone—the Slaughter Tiger Bone!"

Lin Qi’s eyes lit up when he read this.

’Slaughter Tiger Bone?’

He continued reading, and it was only a moment later that he understood.

Of the nine major realms of the Martial Arts, the Low and Middle Realms are both stages for laying a foundation.

Each realm is connected to the next.

After laying a solid foundation in the first three realms, one can forge powerful bones and gain a physique far surpassing that of an ordinary person in the Fourth Realm by using a five-star rated Source Energy Skill and consuming Level 9 Disaster Beast Blood.

In the Middle Realm, the gap in physique between them and ordinary Martial Artists widens even further.

Take the previously mentioned forging of the Slaughter Tiger Bone, for example. Even if one cultivates the *Platinum Evil Tiger Evolution Method*, they are not guaranteed to succeed; their physique will just be slightly stronger than others.

Only a genius with high enough Talent can forge a Martial Bone. Once accomplished, it lays an extremely strong foundation, granting them a physique that far surpasses others.

The body will also undergo other changes, bringing endless benefits.

With every subsequent realm they break through, their Martial Arts foundation deepens. This determines whether they can reach the Ninth Realm in the future, as well as their Combat Power after breaking through.

After all, there are differences in strength within the Ninth Realm. The stronger the foundation, the greater the Combat Power.

The world’s strongest expert, Emperor Red, forged a Martial Bone—the Crimson Flame Bone—back in the Fourth Realm, laying a powerful foundation. He did the same in every realm that followed.

The gap between him and everyone else grew wider and wider!

By the time he broke through to the Ninth Realm, his strength far surpassed all other Martial Artists at the same level. He could even slay Ninth-Level Calamity Beasts with ease.

Lin Qi let out a long breath, calming his excited heart.

’After reading the Evolution Technique, I finally see how the gap between geniuses widens as their realms increase.’

’Even geniuses who have Awakened a Special Ability aren’t guaranteed to succeed at bone forging!’

Lin Qi thought of the Tenth Academy. ’Including me, there are fourteen geniuses, and not all of us are guaranteed to succeed in forging a bone.’

Those who failed at bone forging would be left behind by the others.

And from then on, the gap would only grow wider!

Lin Qi continued reading for a full hour before closing the Cultivation Technique. He felt that he had benefited immensely, gaining a wealth of knowledge he previously lacked.

He reviewed the contents of the Cultivation Technique in his mind, briefly organizing the information.

After finishing the Cultivation Technique and comparing it with what Dean Liu and the others had said, Lin Qi summarized his findings.

First, there were the Cultivation Resources. Intermediate Source Energy Techniques were different from Low-Level ones.

You couldn’t succeed in cultivation just by relying on the Visualization of the Divine Intent. You also needed the blood of the Ninth-Level Calamity Beast being visualized to unlock your body’s shackles.

Of all the components, the blood of the Ninth-Level Calamity Beast was the most precious and had the greatest effect.

Next was the Divine Intent. Lin Qi looked at the Obsidian Stone in his hand, which glowed with a black luster.

It contained the Divine Intent of the Platinum Evil Tiger.

Just observing the Divine Intent and constructing the mental image for visualization would take even an Awakened S-class genius two to three months.

An ordinary S-class genius might need four to five months, and other geniuses could take even longer.

Furthermore, the Cultivation Technique recommended observing the corpse of a Ninth-Level Calamity Beast directly, if possible, instead of using the Divine Intent.

Apparently, this would have an impact on the cultivator’s Spirit.

The rest of the Cultivation Technique covered details of the cultivation process, which would be useful when training in the Otherworld.

Lin Qi stood up and began to plan. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

’Next, I need to familiarize myself with the Evolution Technique and then wait for the trip to the Otherworld to begin my training with the Source Energy Skill.’

With that in mind, he opened the Cultivation Technique again and continued to read, making sure not to miss a single detail.

Practicing the Source Energy Skill was crucial for him; there was no room for error.

...

「March 20th, 5:00 PM」

RUMBLE!!

At Azure Sky Base’s Fortress Square No. 6, several rescue planes landed amidst fierce gusts of wind.

Exhausted figures emerged one by one. They were the twelve geniuses from the Tenth Academy.

The lean, bearded Vice-Dean, Xu Wenji, stood waiting for their return.

He looked at the exhausted students and, despite the overwhelming stench of blood, said with a chuckle:

"Everyone, the Disaster Beast Hunting Competition has officially ended. Your rewards will be delivered by tomorrow."

"Also, here are the final point totals for all fourteen of you. Lin Qi and Huo Wanyang’s scores have been added."

Xu Wenji’s words immediately captured everyone’s attention.

"What’s there to look at? You think they could have done better than us?" Shen Zhenzhen said, shaking her head.

Xiang Long, who had a savage and domineering air about him, wiped the blood from his body with a towel and said nonchalantly, "All I want to do right now is rest."

"No matter how amazing they are, they can’t beat me!"

Several others had similar thoughts; only Wan Ming, Xia Lian, and Pei Jiu were genuinely curious.

Then, Xu Wenji raised his hand, projecting a new ranking list into the air.

[Point Rankings (Tenth Institute)]

[First Place: Pei Jiu, Points: 15.24]

[Second Place: Yu Zhuoran, Points: 15.21]

[Third Place: Lin Qi, Points: 12.87]

[Fourth Place: Xiang Long, Points: 12.80]

...

[Sixth Place: Wan Ming, Seventh Place: Shen Zhenzhen, Eighth Place: Xia Lian, Ninth Place: Huo Wanyang...]

...

"Pei Jiu is still in first place. No change there."

"Brother Jiu is a Spiritual Mind Master, and he’s the best at hunting Calamity Beasts. He uses Flying Knives and barely expends any stamina. Who could possibly beat him?" Xia Lian said.

Pei Jiu said humbly, "Everyone did great. I was just a bit luckier."

Not far away, Yu Zhuoran’s expression turned grim when he saw the rankings.

The others continued to look down the list.

"Third place should be Xiang Long. He’s always number three!"

"Even if he was surpassed by Song Qing in fifth, that would be understandable."

"Wait, what’s the deal with Lin Qi?"

Wan Ming’s expression changed drastically as he yelled out.

The others all saw it at the same moment.

"Are you serious? Third place is actually Lin Qi! A full 128,700 points! That’s 700 points higher than Xiang Long!"

Xia Lian exclaimed in shock.

Everyone was stunned. Lin Qi had actually taken third place?

How did he manage that?

"Looks like none of you were trying very hard during the Disaster Beast Hunting Competition!"

Pei Jiu remarked after his initial surprise.

At his words, many of the students looked embarrassed. Although hunting Calamity Beasts was a way to earn money, they weren’t about to risk their lives over it.

They received plenty of other rewards on a regular basis, and some of their families weren’t short on money to begin with.

Xiang Long’s expression was the sourest of all. He had looked down on Lin Qi, only to have it blow up in his face. He had actually been surpassed.

Shen Zhenzhen’s expression also turned ugly. To think she had been surpassed as well.

"It’s just one Disaster Beast Hunting Competition. We weren’t even going all out. If we did it again, he wouldn’t even make the top ten," Shen Zhenzhen said, shaking her head.

Xiang Long nodded. "Exactly. I was only using eighty percent of my strength."

Not far away, Yu Zhuoran suddenly scoffed.

"If you’re not good enough, just admit it. Stop making excuses!"

His words made Xiang Long and Shen Zhenzhen’s expressions turn foul.

Xiang Long, in particular, glared furiously at Yu Zhuoran.

"What? You got a problem with that?"

Yu Zhuoran sneered. In an instant, his eyes began to glow with a silver light as silver patterns surfaced on his skin.

Arcs of electricity crackled around him as a terrifying aura erupted from his body.

The others were shocked at the sight!

"Yu Zhuoran still has that much strength? Isn’t he exhausted?"

"Could it be he didn’t use his Little Divine Power?"

The students murmured amongst themselves. Pei Jiu’s expression also grew serious; Yu Zhuoran was even stronger than he had imagined.

As for Xiang Long, his own aura faltered under the pressure, and he didn’t dare to say a word. The others watched him, the situation growing increasingly awkward.

"That’s enough!"

Vice-Dean Xu Wenji spoke up, interrupting the tense standoff.

"Alright, let’s leave it at that for now."

...