74: Dharma Image Blessing

In the Void, a carriage drawn by Golden Crows sped along, parting the white clouds like ripples in water.

Although it was called a carriage, its internal space was immense, resembling a small palace, and it was equipped with special Formations that integrated both offense and defense.

"This Spiritual Artifact is not simple. Such fast travel speed; it almost matches thirty percent of my Five Elements Escape Heaven Divine Light."

At this moment, Li Jiangchen was sitting cross-legged in a side chamber, with a jade-green Jade Slip and a toad-shaped storage item before him.

He picked up the Jade Slip and pressed it against his forehead, and countless pieces of information immediately flooded his mind.

A moment later, he removed the Jade Slip, his eyes shining: "Two hundred and thirty-six Aperture Opening level Body Refining techniques, fifty-three Quenching Fiend Realm level Body Refining techniques, and five God Observation Realm level ones.

Body Refining is not like Cultivating True Qi; apart from resources, it is primarily a slow, grinding process.

Fortunately, the thing I lack the least is time."

The toad-shaped storage item opened, and pieces of Body Refining spiritual materials floated into the air.

Li Jiangchen closed his eyes, his Demon realm expanded, his form concealed, and the Demon cultivation on his panel burned frantically.

【In the first year, you comprehended the Aperture Opening level Body Refining Cultivation Technique, Iron Fir Technique, and began practicing it with the aid of Body Refining paste.】

...

【In the fifth year, your Iron Fir Technique broke through to the fifth level, reaching its Peak.】

【In the sixth year, you comprehended the Aperture Opening level Body Refining Cultivation Technique, Golden Bell Technique, and began practicing Body Refining using a giant bell.】

...

【In the tenth year, your Golden Bell Technique broke through to the fifth level, reaching its Peak.】

...

The Demon cultivation burned frantically, and various auras of Cultivation Techniques rapidly flickered on Li Jiangchen's body.

At the same time, the small figure of the Dharma Body Manifestation Divine Ability in his mind inhaled and exhaled frantically, and the aura of the Divine Ability rose continuously.

Gradually, Li Jiangchen's skin began to emit a fluorescent glow, the bones throughout his body transformed into the color of jade, and his internal organs underwent earth-shaking changes, turning into furnaces that refined the Impurities within his body.

In Body Refining, the most difficult parts to temper are the internal organs.

The internal organs are fragile; one careless mistake can cause bodily harm.

Furthermore, Cultivation Techniques for tempering the internal organs are rare.

Yet, there were actually two such Cultivation Techniques in the Jade Slip, and they were even at the God Viewing level.

Even the secret medicines for cultivation were included, and as for Bottlenecks, they could be broken through entirely by relying on the slow, grinding process of time.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the toad-shaped storage item, which had been bloated, was now shriveled, leaving only a husk.

Li Jiangchen opened his eyes, a hint of joy appearing in them.

"Consuming four thousand five hundred years of my Demon cultivation, I have finally finished practicing them all."

He opened his mouth and exhaled, and a flesh-and-blood pellet resembling a Demon core floated out, radiating astonishing heat outwards like a furnace.

"With the Blood and Flesh Great Elixir formed, it means my Body Refining has stepped into the second level of the God Observation Realm."

"Right now, I am still lacking in True Qi cultivation."

Li Jiangchen did have the intention to break through to the Peak of the Quenching Fiend Realm in one go.

However, cultivation in the Quenching Fiend Realm is not like before.

Instead, it involves using activated True Qi to continuously smelt the power contained within the Evil Qi, solidifying the True Qi into True Essence.

Back then, he had left five strands of True Qi at the Suspended Mountain for the purpose of extracting the Magnetic Force to temper his True Qi.

"Now that matters here are concluded, I can try to retrieve those five strands of True Qi."

Several days later.

A majestic imperial city came into view, grand and prosperous, with the aura of Formations sweeping across its surroundings; even if a Demon King were to invade, it could be suppressed and killed in a single blow.

Accompanied by the neighing of the Golden Crows, the Heaven-Patrolling Golden Crow carriage drove into the imperial city and finally stopped in front of the Martial Temple.

"We have arrived."

Several figures swept out from within. Temple Keeper looked at Li Jiangchen before him, his gaze revealing a trace of astonishment.

"Body Refining Embracing the Core!" Temple Keeper exclaimed.

"Many thanks to you, Lord Temple Keeper, for bestowing the technique; I have made a small Breakthrough in these past few days," Li Jiangchen said modestly.

"This is hardly a small Breakthrough. Hehe, interesting. With such Body Refining cultivation and being so young, perhaps you have a chance to attract the favor of a Dharma Body," Temple Keeper laughed.

"Dharma Body favor?"

"Correct. The Martial Saint Realm is also known as the Dharma Body Realm; after breaking through, one can condense a Dharma Body.

This object is the essence of heaven and earth; even if the Martial Saint dies, as long as it is nourished by incense, the Dharma Body can still remain in the world for a long time.

If someone's path of cultivation is similar to a Dharma Body and they attract its favor, they can wield the power of the Dharma Body and instantly rival a Martial Saint-level powerhouse," Temple Keeper explained. "The Martial Temple has thirteen Dharma Bodies. There are nine Temple Keepers like us, but in reality, there are only three people, including myself, who can wield a Dharma Body.

The Martial Temple recruits talents from all over the world specifically to screen for those capable of wielding a Dharma Body.

After all, resources in this world are scarce, and breaking through to the Martial Saint level is too difficult."

"So that is how it is," Li Jiangchen nodded.

It sounded just like piloting a mecha.

One's personal path of cultivation is like the key to unlocking the mecha, and the Dharma Body is the mecha with extraordinary combat strength.

The weakest Martial Saint is still a Martial Saint, worth more than a hundred God Observation Realm Grandmasters.

This is a qualitative difference.

The path was unobstructed, and Li Jiangchen arrived at the main hall of the Martial Temple.

Thirteen golden Dharma Bodies were positioned within.

The Six-Armed Evil Ghost Asura Dharma Body, the Compassionate-Eyed Dharma Body of the Lotus Pure Land, the Arhat Dharma Body with Dragons and Tigers circling its waist...

Each one's aura was as vast as the sea, emitting a dense scent of incense.

'So this is a Dharma Body... Thirteen Dharma Bodies mean that the Great Shang Dynasty Martial Temple once gave birth to thirteen Martial Saint existences.' Following Temple Keeper's instructions, Li Jiangchen sat cross-legged in the center.

"Please, Old Ancestors, bestow your blessing."

In an instant, the surrounding Dharma Bodies seemed to come to life, opening their eyes. Strands of incense power converged into phantom images of palms, fists, swords, and more, which suddenly swept out and projected onto Li Jiangchen.

As the power of the incense permeated the air, Li Jiangchen felt his Soul Sea acting like a greedy sponge, frantically absorbing the power of the incense.

In the blink of an eye, the phantom images of incense that had just condensed were teetering, rapidly fading.

"Is the compatibility this high?" Temple Keeper exclaimed, his face revealing wild joy.

In the Dharma Body incense blessing, the more incense power one can absorb, the higher the compatibility with the Dharma Body, and the greater the possibility of mastering the Dharma Body in the future.

"Need more..." Temple Keeper took out a token, a trace of heartache appearing on his face, then he steeled his heart and injected True Qi. The surrounding incense power, which had been gradually thinning, immediately became dense again, and the phantom images of incense that had faded once more solidified.

At this moment, Li Jiangchen felt his Soul Sea expanding rapidly.

Onefold, twofold... tenfold!

His Soul Sea expanded by a full ten times, and the sword soul in the center of his Soul Sea trembled, becoming increasingly condensed.

Finally, the power of the incense dissipated.

Beside him, Temple Keeper's hands trembled as he smiled bitterly: "Three months' worth of incense allocation, all consumed by him alone."

He looked at Li Jiangchen, his eyes filled with indescribable joy.

According to past incense blessings, Li Jiangchen alone was equivalent to three people, ranking among the best in history.

"Eat, eat. It's all in the family anyway. I hope that in the future, we can add another existence capable of wielding a Dharma Body, so that the life of our Great Shang Dynasty Human Race can be a bit easier," Temple Keeper said, though a trace of gloom appeared in the depths of his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking of.

Suddenly, three Dharma Bodies trembled, and three auras projected downwards, firmly locking onto Li Jiangchen in the center.

"No... it can't be," Temple Keeper stammered.

To be favored by three Dharma Bodies while in the Quenching Fiend Realm.

This simply broke tradition.

In an instant, Temple Keeper's heart was enveloped by a huge joy.

"Damn, I've found a treasure."