Chapter 37 Spiritual Marrow Bath, you call this a bath?

Imperial Capital Martial Arts University, S-rank Cultivation Room area.

Security here was tight, with every Cultivation Room equipped with an independent Spiritual Qi gathering Formation, and the Spiritual Qi concentration was over five times that of the outside world.

Jiang Chen had been "transported" in. To be precise, after the award ceremony ended, fearing that this kid would actually fall asleep on the podium and embarrass himself, Chief Instructor Shen Yan had specially approved two teaching assistants to carry him and his "prize" to this place.

"Hoo… so cool…"

As soon as the Cultivation Room door closed, Jiang Chen turned over, still clutching the white jade bottle tightly in his arms.

This bottle was made of ten-thousand-year cold jade and contained the priceless "Millennium Earth Heart Spiritual Marrow". For Jiang Chen, who had just experienced two days of high-intensity Mental Energy consumption (actually just scaring people in his dreams) and whose Mental Energy bar was bottoming out, the cold air emitted by this thing was simply a life-saving medicine.

【Ding! Detected that the host's Mental Energy is on the verge of exhaustion (5/100).】

【Warning: If not replenished in time, it may lead to forced sleep for three days.】

【High-energy object detected: Millennium Earth Heart Spiritual Marrow. It is recommended to consume it immediately.】

The System's notification sound exploded in his mind, finally waking Jiang Chen from his light sleep.

"Hmm? Consume?"

Jiang Chen rubbed his sleepy eyes, looked at the big bottle in his arms that looked like a pillow, and finally realized, "Oh right, this is the prize."

He pulled out the cork.

Immediately, a rich, thick medicinal fragrance mixed with a deep blue light permeated the entire room.

Just by taking a whiff, Jiang Chen felt all his pores relax, and his previously heavy brain cleared up a bit.

"How do you use this thing? Drink it?"

Jiang Chen glanced at the large five-liter bottle and shook his head, "It's too cold; drinking too much will easily give me diarrhea."

His gaze shifted to the bathtub in the center of the room, which was carved from a single piece of white jade.

"Since it's for 'washing' the marrow and cutting the bones, it must be for bathing."

Jiang Chen nodded matter-of-factly and poured all of the Spiritual Marrow fluid—enough to make Grandmaster Martial Artists fight to the death over it outside—into the bathtub.

Then, he turned on the hot water faucet next to it.

Sizzle—

The freezing Spiritual Marrow met the hot water, instantly stirring up a cloud of mist, and the entire bathtub turned a dreamy deep blue.

【Ding! Warning! Warning!】

【Detected that the host is engaging in extremely wasteful behavior!】

【Millennium Earth Heart Spiritual Marrow, a single drop is enough for an ordinary Martial Artist to widen their Meridians. The host is actually using it to take a bath?!】

【System evaluation: Squandering heaven's gifts! Outrageous!】

"Stop nagging."

Jiang Chen stripped down to his underwear and tentatively stuck one foot in, "Hiss—this stuff is quite strong."

Even though it was mixed with hot water, the coldness that drilled straight into his bone marrow still made him shiver. But immediately after, the Thunder power within his body seemed to be stimulated and began to circulate wildly, clashing with this chill.

"Perfect, I've had a bit of a temper these past few days, time to cool down."

Jiang Chen slid into the pool, found a comfortable position, rested his head on the soft cushion at the edge of the pool, and let out a sigh of relief.

"This is what you call living."

【Ding! Given the host's incorrigible laziness and extravagance…】

【The System is recalculating the cultivation plan.】

【Environment rating: SS-rank (Liquid High-Energy Cryogenic Chamber).】

【Skill activated: Whale Swallow · Pore Breathing Method (Great Perfection).】

【Idle cultivation started.】

As the System's compromised voice faded, Jiang Chen fell asleep instantly.

Inhale—Exhale—

His breathing became extremely deep and long; every time he inhaled, the surface of the liquid in the bathtub would vibrate slightly.

Every time he exhaled, a wisp of grayish-black Impurities was expelled from his body through his pores.

The originally calm deep blue medicinal liquid suddenly began to rotate around Jiang Chen.

Gradually, a visible vortex formed.

Those deep blue energy light spots, as if pulled by the gravitational force of a massive black hole, frantically drilled into every one of Jiang Chen's pores.

If an ordinary Martial Artist dared to absorb it like this, their Meridians would have been blown apart by this violent energy long ago. This kind of pain was comparable to being sliced by a thousand cuts.

But in the "Sleepwalking State", Jiang Chen's pain sensation was 90% blocked by the System, and the remaining 10% was converted into a tingling pleasure, as if countless little hands were giving him a deep muscle massage.

Gurgle.

The medicinal power in the bathtub was being consumed at an astonishing speed.

According to the school instructor's calculations, this bottle of Spiritual Marrow should have been enough for Jiang Chen to absorb for a month, used in thirty sessions.

The result…

One hour later, the deep blue turned light blue.

Two hours later, it turned into transparent clear water.

And inside Jiang Chen's body, earth-shaking changes were taking place.

Crack!

It was as if some shackle within his body had been broken.

Bone Forging Realm seventh stage!

But it wasn't over yet. The remaining massive energy was still frantically scouring his bones. The originally pale white bones, after absorbing the essence of the Earth Heart Spiritual Marrow, gradually took on a faint, warm luster, becoming crystal clear like mutton-fat jade.

This was "Jade Bone"!

One of the most recognized strongest Foundations in the martial arts world; only by tempering the bones to the extreme in the Bone Forging Realm could a Jade Bone possibly be born. Possessors of Jade Bone had a Physical Body strength three times that of Martial Artists of the same rank, and could carry a stronger Mental Energy burst!

Crack!

Another crisp sound.

Bone Forging Realm eighth stage!

It wasn't until he reached the Peak of the Bone Forging Realm eighth stage that the violent upgrading momentum slowly stopped due to the exhaustion of the medicinal power.

"Hiccup…"

Jiang Chen, in his sleep, let out a burp, turned over, rested his leg on the edge of the pool, and muttered: "This soup… is a bit bland, remember to add some salt next time…"

The next morning.

The logistics teacher responsible for maintaining the Cultivation Room opened the door with a detector.

"According to Principal Shen's instructions, I have to keep an eye on this kid, don't let him absorb too much and burst… Huh?!"

When the teacher saw the scene in the bathtub, his eyes almost popped out, and the detector in his hand dropped to the floor with a "clatter".

In the pool, there was only clear water.

Forget about medicinal power, there wasn't even a hint of Spiritual Qi left! It was even blander than the free soup provided by the school cafeteria!

And the culprit was floating spread-eagled on the surface of the water, his skin crystal clear like jade, emitting a frighteningly powerful aura, sleeping soundly.

"What the hell! Is this a human or a water pump?"

The teacher picked up the detector with trembling hands and inserted it into the water.

【Energy residue: 0.00%】

【Evaluation: Recommended for direct consumption, pure water rich in minerals.】

Just then, Jiang Chen slowly opened his eyes.

This sleep was so refreshing. Not only was his Mental Energy completely restored, but his upper limit seemed to have expanded again. His whole body felt so light he could fly, and every cell was cheering.

He stood up from the water, the droplets on his body sliding off automatically, his skin glowing with a warm luster.

"Good morning, Teacher." Jiang Chen gave a bright smile, showing a mouthful of big white teeth, "The water seemed to have leaked last night; it was already this clear when I woke up. The school's engineering quality is worrying."

The logistics teacher's mouth twitched wildly: "Leaked? I think you drank it!"

"How is that possible? I'm not a water tank." Jiang Chen spread his hands innocently and put on his clothes, "By the way, can we have some hot water next time? Taking cold baths like this easily leads to catching a cold. I'm off, Teacher, remember to give a good review."

After saying that, he whistled and swaggered out of the Cultivation Room.

Watching Jiang Chen's departing back, the logistics teacher swallowed, feeling his worldview collapse.

"Bone Forging Realm eighth stage? And he cultivated a Jade Bone? I remember he was only at the sixth stage when he accepted the award yesterday? Breaking through two stages in one night? What kind of monster is this!"

Walking out of the cultivation building, the morning sun shone on him.

Jiang Chen stretched, preparing to go to the cafeteria to see if there were any freshly steamed meat buns.

Suddenly, a fragrant breeze struck.

But in this fragrant breeze, there was a chill that made people feel like they had fallen into an ice cellar.

"Jiang Chen."

A cold voice rang out.

Jiang Chen turned his head and saw Mu Qingxue standing under the shade of a tree not far away.

She was still breathtakingly beautiful today, wearing a well-tailored white slim-fit suit that outlined her perfect S-shaped curves.

But Jiang Chen keenly noticed that her face was abnormally pale, her lips had almost no blood color, and in those originally sharp icy eyes, there was now a hint of pain and… longing?

Yes, longing.

In Mu Qingxue's perception, Jiang Chen, who had just finished his Spiritual Marrow bath and cultivated a Jade Bone, was like a walking human furnace, emitting alluring pure Yang heat.

For her, who was on the verge of a Cold Poison flare-up, this was simply like a desert traveler seeing an oasis.

"Teacher Mu? What a coincidence, are you here for morning exercise too?" Jiang Chen greeted her, subconsciously taking a step back, "That… you look like you might be a bit cold?"

Mu Qingxue took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging cold Qi in her body, her voice trembling slightly:

"Come to my office with me. I have something… to check."

"Check?" Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow, scanning Mu Qingxue, "Teacher, although I'm happy to cooperate, but with your current state… are you sure you can do it?"

"Stop nagging."

Mu Qingxue gritted her teeth and turned to leave, though her steps seemed a bit unsteady, "Regarding your breakthrough overnight, I need to confirm if your Foundation is damaged. Follow me!"

Jiang Chen looked at Mu Qingxue's slightly unsteady back, lost in thought.

"System, what's wrong with her?"

【Ding! Detected that the target "Mu Qingxue" has abnormal vital signs.】

【Diagnosis: Precursor to Xuan Yin Cold Poison flare-up.】

【Suggestion: The host is not just a pillow, but now also a heating pad. This is a once-in-a-lifetime "cuddle" opportunity.】

A playful arc curled at the corner of Jiang Chen's mouth.

"Heating pad? Interesting."

He put his hands in his pockets and followed slowly.

"Teacher, wait for me! Regarding academic questions like 'physical examination', I am most interested."