81: Chalcedony Guiding Technique

Senior Martial Uncle Chen Chuan departed with a biting Killing Intent and the decisiveness of the Government.

On the surface, the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall returned to its usual rhythm, but an invisible pressure weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.

A storm was brewing, and everyone could feel the suffocating sensation of an impending mountain rain.

Chen Linsheng knew well that his Senior Martial Uncle's warning was for their protection; while the intervention of the Government would bring greater strength, the long process and potential variables also meant uncertainty.

He could not leave his safety and the safety of those around him entirely dependent on a schedule set by others.

Strength—only the strength he mastered himself—was the most reliable guarantee in this chaotic situation.

The Cultivation of the Golden Robe Skill had to be accelerated!

And the prerequisite for advancing the Golden Robe Skill was to push those mortal grade body-tempering Cultivation Techniques to a higher Realm.

The next day, Chen Linsheng arrived at the Water Patrol Division Yamen once again.

He did not go to the duty room but instead walked straight toward the Storage Pavilion where the merit ledger and exchange materials were kept.

The clerk on duty recognized this rising star and greeted him politely: "Patrol Runner Chen, you've come today for..."

"To exchange resources," Chen Linsheng said succinctly, handing over his identity waist token and merit records. "I remember there is a body-tempering ointment in the treasury called 'nine blood ointment'; it has a violent effect and is worth two minor merits."

He had used nine blood ointment before, and the results were excellent.

The clerk checked the records and nodded in confirmation: "We indeed have it. It is brewed from the heart blood of nine types of Vicious Beasts mixed with several yang-type herbs. Its medicinal properties are tyrannical and should not be used lightly by those without a powerful physique. Is Patrol Runner Chen certain he wants to exchange for it?"

"Certain," Chen Linsheng said without hesitation.

His Hunyuan True Body Foundation was now substantial, and he needed exactly this kind of potent medicine to break through his Bottleneck.

He had previously earned three minor merits for exterminating the Jade Water Toad and another minor merit for suppressing bandits. He had used one for the 'Basic Introduction to Alchemy,' leaving him with three points now.

Soon, a small, tightly sealed jar of nine blood ointment, emitting a dense scent of blood and herbs, was brought out.

The crimson paste was like congealed blood, slightly warm to the touch, and one could faintly feel the violent energy contained within.

After exchanging for the nine blood ointment, Chen Linsheng had one merit point left.

He did not leave immediately but, with a mindset of trying his luck, walked toward the side room next to the Storage Pavilion known as the "Scripture Pavilion," which housed miscellaneous texts and records.

Unlike the main technique building, this place was not heavily guarded; it mostly contained notes from predecessors, geographical gazetteers, and incomplete miscellaneous studies, which ordinary Water Patrol Division soldiers rarely visited.

The light inside the Scripture Pavilion was dim, and a thin layer of dust lay on the bookshelves.

Chen Linsheng's eyes were like torches as he carefully scanned the rows of book spines.

Most were books like "Qinghe Water Conservancy Study" or "Northern Border Folklore Gazetteer," which were useless to him. Just as he felt a bit disappointed and was about to leave, his peripheral vision caught a thin, grey booklet with a tattered cover and a blurred title in the corner of the innermost shelf.

As if possessed, he reached out and pulled it out. Brushing the dust off the cover, a few barely discernible ancient characters came into view—'Jade Marrow Guiding Technique (Incomplete)'.

Jade Marrow Guiding Technique?

Chen Linsheng's heart skipped a beat!

He quickly recalled the description in the introductory chapter of the Golden Robe Skill; among the key prerequisite techniques mentioned, there was indeed a guiding technique called the Jade Marrow Art!

It was said to be able to temper bone marrow and enhance the Qi and blood Origin, making it a crucial part of laying a supreme body-tempering Foundation!

Suppressing his excitement, he flipped through it rapidly.

The booklet was indeed severely incomplete, with the latter half almost entirely lost, and even the remaining first few pages were mottled with faded ink. However, the opening general principles and some basic Qi and blood circulation diagrams were still recognizable. The concept of "guiding Qi into the marrow to temper the essence" described within coincided perfectly with the requirements of the Golden Robe Skill.

"It really is it!" Chen Linsheng was ecstatic. Although it was only a fragment, its value to him was immeasurable!

He immediately took the fragment to the duty clerk: "How do I exchange for this book?"

The clerk took it, looked it over, and checked the records, saying dismissively: "Oh, this one. It's an incomplete copy left here by some Senior. Guiding techniques are slow to Cultivate to begin with, and this one is fragmented; it's hard to reach Major Achievement even if you practice it, so no one has ever been interested. According to the rules, a broken mortal grade technique or miscellaneous study is worth one minor merit. If Patrol Runner Chen is interested, just take it."

One minor merit! It was practically a steal!

Chen Linsheng did not hesitate and immediately used his last minor merit to exchange for this "Jade Marrow Guiding Technique (Fragment)."

Holding the tattered booklet that felt light in his hand yet heavy as a thousand catties, he felt that this trip to the Water Patrol Division had yielded rewards far beyond his expectations.

Carrying the nine blood ointment and the Jade Marrow Guiding Technique (Fragment), Chen Linsheng returned to his residence in the west of the city without stopping.

After briefly telling Su Wan that he was going into secluded meditation, he dove into the backyard pond again and arrived at the absolutely safe underwater Immortal Cave.

The Immortal Cave remained quiet, with the glowing strange stones casting a soft radiance.

Chen Linsheng first studied the Jade Marrow Guiding Technique (Fragment) carefully several times until he had firmly memorized the remaining Mind-Cultivation Technique and circulation routes.

Although it was a fragment, its method of guiding Qi and blood into the bones to nourish and temper the marrow was still profound and sophisticated, giving him a deeper understanding of the Dao of body tempering.

"It's a pity there is only the introductory part, and the subsequent deeper tempering methods are missing. However, if I can master just this introductory chapter, it will be enough to make my Qi and blood Foundation even more robust, which will be of great benefit for Cultivating other body-tempering techniques and will lay a solid Foundation for Cultivating the Golden Robe Skill in the future!"

Putting away the fragment, Chen Linsheng turned his gaze to the jar of nine blood ointment.

He intended to use this potent medicine to push the Golden Bell Shield and Iron Clothes Art to the Realm of Major Achievement in one go!

He took off his shirt, revealing a lean and powerful Physical Body with smooth, full muscle lines that faintly shimmered with a bronze luster.

Opening the jar, he used a jade spoon to scoop out a small portion of the crimson, pungent nine blood ointment and applied it evenly to his chest, abdomen, back, limbs, and other vital areas that needed focused tempering.

The moment the ointment touched his skin, a strong burning sensation followed, as if countless tiny flaming needles were piercing into his pores and deep into his muscle fascia.

Even with Chen Linsheng's firm will, he couldn't help but let out a muffled groan, and fine beads of sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.

He dared not delay and immediately assumed the cultivation stance of the Golden Bell Shield, his Qi and blood circulating rapidly according to the technique.

As his Qi and blood surged, the medicinal power was triggered like a volcanic eruption, and an even more violent heatwave swept through his entire body, impacting his limbs and bones.

His skin turned red instantly, like a cooked shrimp, and heat steamed from his body as if he were a burning furnace.

In the midst of this unbearable heat, Chen Linsheng had a thought and took out the earth vein cold spring water he had stored in a jade bottle.

He carefully poured out a few drops and, guided by his internal breath, made them evenly cover the skin surface where the ointment had been applied.

"Sizzle..."

As if a red-hot iron had met cold water, a slight strange sound occurred.

The two forces of extreme cold and extreme heat instantly clashed on his body's surface, and a tearing pain of intertwined ice and fire surged, causing Chen Linsheng's entire body to shake violently and his teeth to clench tightly.

But he could clearly feel that with the intervention of the pure yin-chill Qi of the earth vein cold spring water, the tyrannical medicinal power of the nine blood ointment—which was enough to damage his Meridians—was cleverly neutralized and tamed for the most part. It became something that, while still intense, penetrated more "gently" into the depths of his muscles to be greedily absorbed rather than violently destroyed.

Now is the time!

Chen Linsheng concentrated his spirit intensely, simultaneously operating the methods of the Golden Bell Shield and the Iron Clothes Art!

The robust Foundation of the Hunyuan True Body was fully displayed at this moment, acting like a solid riverbed that guided these two streams of body-tempering Qi and blood—which shared the same source but flowed differently—to run in parallel within his body without conflict, yet promoting each other.

Inside the Immortal Cave, a low hum like a twilight drum or morning bell occasionally rang out; that was the manifestation of the Golden Bell Shield's Qi and blood circulating to the extreme.

At other times, an Aura as heavy as a mountain and as tough as iron permeated the air; that was the defensive power of the Iron Clothes Art condensing.

Under the tempering of the two techniques, his muscles became more compact and solid, like refined iron being repeatedly forged by an invisible giant hammer.

Beneath the skin, Qi and blood condensed as if they were to turn into a physical iron garment. Deep within his bones, there was even a faint tingling sensation—a sign that the Jade Marrow Guiding Technique fragment was operating spontaneously, drawing the medicinal power deep into the marrow.

Time flew by amidst the agony of the ordeal and the growth of his strength.

After an unknown amount of time, the Qi and blood within Chen Linsheng's body suddenly let out an unprecedentedly loud chime like a bell!

"Dong—!"

The sound waves echoed within the enclosed Immortal Cave, making the dim light on the surrounding stone walls seem to flicker.

His entire body's Qi and blood erupted, actually condensing into a faint golden, ancient giant bell phantom about a foot high outside his body, enveloping him entirely!

The bell shadow was solid, with shimmering light, emitting a majestic Aura that was indestructible and capable of repelling all evil!

At the same time, his originally reddened skin quickly returned to normal, turning instead to a restrained, deep bronze luster. His skin seemed to be covered by a layer of invisible, tough iron armor, and his muscle lines became even more distinct, filled with an explosive sense of power.

The spirit book in his mind vibrated violently, releasing a great radiance as the characters transformed:

【Martial Skill: Golden Bell Shield (Major Achievement)】

【Progress: (0/6000)】

【Divine Effect: Golden Bell Body Protection, Indestructible Body, Repelling All Evil. Qi and blood can condense into a solid faint golden ancient bell phantom outside the body for active protection, making one invulnerable to blades and spears, and difficult for water or fire to invade. The Physical Body evolves toward a state of being leakless and stainless, with amazing recovery power. The bell shadow carries its own power to break evil, making it difficult for ghosts and spirits to approach.】

Immediately following that, another line of characters also changed:

【Martial Skill: Iron Clothes Art (Major Achievement)】

【Progress: (0/2500)】

【Divine Effect: Iron Clothes Solidification, Great Counter-shock Force, Difficult for Blades and Spears to Enter. The invisible iron garment outside the skin becomes heavier and more solid, greatly increasing defensive power. When attacked, it can not only deflect force but also double the rebound of part of the force. Ordinary iron blades and swords find it hard to cause injury; only weapons infused with Qi and blood can break the defense.】

It's done!

Two body-tempering hard skills have both stepped into the Realm of Major Achievement!

Chen Linsheng slowly finished his practice, and the faint golden bell shadow outside his body quietly vanished.

He exhaled a long breath of turbid Qi; this breath was condensed and did not dissipate, like a white silk ribbon, staying in the air for several breaths before vanishing.

Feeling the surging power and unprecedented sense of solidity within his body, a surge of heroic pride rose in his heart.

At this moment, his defensive power was more than twice as strong as before!

If he were to face the Jade Water Toad's venom arrows again, he was confident he could withstand them just with his protective Qi and blood!

"Golden Bell Shield at Major Achievement condenses a golden bell phantom for active protection and adds the effect of breaking evil! Iron Clothes Art at Major Achievement provides great counter-shock force and makes me invulnerable to blades and spears! Now, I am only short of the Hundred Refinements Steel Body and the Five Viscera Absorbing Essence Art to meet the cultivation conditions for the Golden Robe Skill!"

Although the Jade Marrow Guiding Technique was only a fragment, obtaining it undoubtedly filled in a crucial piece of the puzzle on his path of body tempering and pointed the way forward.