Chapter 247 - 42: Jian Sheng

Chapter 247: Chapter 42: Jian Sheng

However, for unfamiliar Elixirs of unknown origin and effect, external application was the most suitable method. The Medicinal Power would enter through the pores; if anything felt wrong, one could stop at any time and use their Qi Blood to force it back out.

Gripping the Bone Fragment in his right palm, Lin Yan circulated the Eight Desolates Dragon Elephant Technique, slowly guiding his Qi Blood into his right arm. He was attempting to establish some kind of connection with the Bone Fragment through the pores of his palm—just as he had absorbed the Medicinal Power of the Bodhi Pill—to draw out any energy it might contain.

One breath, ten breaths, a hundred breaths.

The Bone Fragment remained perfectly still.

The Bone Fragment remained ice-cold, showing no sign of any energy leaking out. It felt as if it were truly just an ordinary animal bone.

Lin Yan opened his eyes, his brow slightly furrowed.

He switched the Bone Fragment to his left hand and once again circulated the Eight Desolates Dragon Elephant Technique. His Qi Blood surged from his Dantian, flowing along his meridians to the palm of his left hand. This time, he even tried the circulation method for the Four-Phase Condensing Gang Sword, mixing a thread of Sword Intent into his Qi Blood. He hoped to use the sharpness of the Sword Intent to "pierce" the Bone Fragment’s surface and draw out the energy within.

The Bone Fragment still showed no reaction.

Lin Yan stared at the Bone Fragment, silent for a long moment.

’Can it really only be used to infuse wine?’

’Or maybe I should just swallow it directly?’

’I absolutely can’t take such a risk before I figure this out.’

’Are there any other methods?’

Lin Yan subconsciously looked inward at his Martial Arts Tree. When he saw a green leaf that had yet to fully form, a glint flashed in his eyes. ’How could I have forgotten about the Swallowing Technique?’

Senior Situ had taught him the Swallowing Technique, but he usually only used it for the Refinement of residual Medicinal Power accumulated in his body. He had never tried to use it to absorb external objects.

’Whether it works or not, there’s no harm in trying.’

Lin Yan gripped the Bone Fragment again and closed his eyes.

This time, he didn’t circulate the Eight Desolates Dragon Elephant Technique, but the Swallowing Technique.

The moment the Swallowing Technique activated, his body began to rhythmically expand and contract, the Qi Blood under his skin ebbing and flowing like a tide.

The rhythm of expansion and contraction was identical to when he usually refined the impurities in his body. This time, however, he deliberately extended this pulsating force to his palm, focusing it on the Bone Fragment.

One breath.

Two breaths.

On the third breath, his palm suddenly grew warm.

’It’s working!’

Lin Yan’s heart stirred, but he kept his eyes closed and continued to circulate the Swallowing Technique.

The warmth grew more distinct, but it wasn’t a scalding heat. Instead, it was a comfortable sensation, as if his entire hand were soaking in a hot spring.

Immediately after, an extremely faint, almost imperceptible stream of cool energy seeped out from the Bone Fragment and slowly flowed into his arm through the pores of his palm.

’Success!’

Lin Yan suppressed his joyous surprise. Concentrating and Calming the Mind, he guided the cool stream of energy up the meridians of his arm.

The cool energy traveled up his meridians, past his elbow and shoulder, and finally sank into his torso. It circled his Dantian once, and then... it vanished.

It vanished without a trace, as if it had never been there at all.

Lin Yan froze. He opened his eyes and looked down at the Bone Fragment in his palm.

The Bone Fragment was clearly a size smaller.

Furthermore, several hairline cracks had appeared on its surface, as if it had been partially hollowed out from within.

’I definitely absorbed the Bone Fragment’s energy, but where did it go?’

Lin Yan performed Introspection, searching his body inch by inch.

His Dantian, the Eight Meridians, his organs... nothing was out of the ordinary. His Qi Blood was stable, his Blood Gang was solid, and even his Martial Arts Tree showed no change.

He couldn’t find a single trace of it.

’Let’s try one more time.’

Lin Yan closed his eyes and circulated the Swallowing Technique once more.

Soon, his palm grew warm again, and the cool stream of energy reappeared. It seeped from the Bone Fragment and entered his arm through his palm. Following the same path as before, it eventually entered his Dantian. This time, however, Lin Yan focused all his attention on that cool energy. He was determined to see how it vanished.

When the cool energy finished its circuit around his Dantian, it vanished once again.

But this time, Lin Yan finally knew where the cool energy had gone.

His spine.

Lin Yan’s pupils contracted slightly. The fingertips of his right hand reached for his back, pressing against the middle of his spine through his robes.

That was the location of his Stone Waist Thunder Spine Root Bone.

The energy drawn out from the Bone Fragment by the Swallowing Technique had been absorbed by his Root Bone.

’This Bone Fragment can enhance my Root Bone?’

Lin Yan’s eyes lit up. No one understood the importance of a Root Bone better than he did.

Ever since the Skin Smoothing stage, the reason he had been able to cultivate so quickly—aside from finding sponsors for Martial Arts Resources—was the irreplaceable effect of his Root Bone.

The boost to his Qi Blood growth, the enhancement of his Martial Arts strength, and now, after entering the Blood Exchange Realm, even his Blood Gang was stronger than that of other Martial Artists in the same Realm.

’What a treasure!’

He had always regretted that his Root Bone couldn’t be improved any further. He never expected such a pleasant surprise.

However, just as Lin Yan began to use the Swallowing Technique for the third time, he found that the energy no longer appeared in his palm.

’Is the Bone Fragment out of energy?’

Lin Yan frowned. He studied the Bone Fragment for a long moment before dismissing this guess.

He had paid close attention earlier. With his two absorptions, the number of fine, hair-like veins on the bone had increased, but they hadn’t yet covered the entire surface.

The Bone Fragment must still have energy. ’Then has my body reached its absorption limit?’

The Swallowing Technique was, at its core, a method for refining excess accumulated Qi Blood. If his body had reached its limit, it was perfectly normal for the technique to stop working.

He would find out if this was the case tomorrow or in a few days.

He wasn’t in a hurry.

Two days later, Lin Yan reached a conclusion: his body had indeed reached its limit.

Each time, he could absorb the Bone Fragment’s energy twice at most.

And based on the rate at which the Bone Fragment shrank and the fine veins multiplied, this piece would last him for about three months. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

In the days that followed, Lin Yan returned to his quiet life of Cultivation.

Taking the Bodhi Pill, refining his Qi Blood.

Every two days, he would absorb the Bone Fragment’s energy and continuously refine his Four-Phase Condensing Gang Sword.

In this way, over a month passed in the blink of an eye.

...

Qing State Prefecture, North City!

A middle-aged man and a young man entered the city.

"Master, this Qing State is so prosperous."

The young man’s eyes darted left and right, captivated by the bustling street scene.

"You have no ambition. What’s so great about Qing State? The Daoist Mansion in Shandong Dao, now that’s what I call truly prosperous. A mere place like Qing State... it’s just one of dozens of Prefecture Cities in Shandong Dao."

"Master, when will you take me to the Daoist Mansion to see it for myself?"

"You want to go to the Daoist Mansion?"

"I do."

"Then once we get to the Lin Mansion, if you make your master proud, I’ll take you to the Daoist Mansion."

Hearing this, an arrogant look appeared on the young man’s face. "Master, in terms of Realm, I may not be a match for the Lin Family’s younger generation. After all, I started my Cultivation with you late and am only at the paltry Blood Exchange First Transformation. But when it comes to Swordsmanship, I dare say that among the entire younger generation of the Lin Mansion, not a single one is my match."

"Don’t underestimate the Lin Family. That fellow Lin Shouyuan’s skill in the Sword Dao is just a smidgen weaker than your master’s. I sent him a letter, so he must have spent this whole time frantically drilling his clansmen in Swordsmanship, just waiting for me to bring you for a challenge. If I had known we’d be delayed, I would have sent the letter later."

He Yuanqiao felt a little regretful. He had gloated too soon.

"Swordsmanship is not something that can be compensated for with external aids. If one’s own comprehension is lacking and they have no talent for the Sword Dao, then blindly relying on external help is just rushing things and ruining them. There will always be a limit."

"That’s what I like to see, that confidence of yours, Jian Sheng. You must remember, as a Swordsman, you can lose—there’s no shame in it—but you must always have this confidence in your Sword Dao. Without it, you will hesitate when you draw your sword, and your Sword Dao will be ruined."

"Master, but I won’t lose."

The young man pursed his lips. "You said it yourself, Master. In all of Shandong Dao, unless I encounter someone with an Innate Sword Heart, my talent is the greatest. The Lin Family isn’t going to have a genius with an Innate Sword Heart, are they?"

He Yuanqiao shook his head. Seeing his disciple’s confident expression, he said no more.

Before their arrival, he had been full of confidence. But for some reason, after entering Qing State Prefecture, he was suddenly struck with a bad premonition.

At his Realm, a premonition was often a type of warning.

But no matter what, they were already here...

They had to make this trip to the Lin Family. If they really lost, the worst that could happen was letting that fellow Lin Shouyuan laugh at him for a while. Besides, he and Lin Shouyuan hadn’t seen each other in years. And that girl, Mingxi, she must have grown into a young woman by now.

Thinking of Mingxi, He Yuanqiao couldn’t help but glance at his disciple. In terms of talent, he was a worthy match for Mingxi. But as for his looks... well, he was passably human.