"The Bull's Body Forging Technique is complete!"
Lu Changsheng didn't feel too surprised; after all, this was within his expectations.
He brought up his attribute panel to check the situation.
Host: Lu Changsheng
Aptitude: 215 (Considerable potential)
Bull's Body Forging Technique: Fourth Layer, Perfection
Lu Changsheng's progress in cultivating the Bull's Body Forging Technique was exceptionally rapid.
One significant reason for this was that this body forging martial art was relatively straightforward, especially for someone with his level of aptitude; there was hardly any difficulty.
"The highest level of the Body Forging Realm is when your bones become as hard as jade."
"However, to turn your bones into a jade-like color is extremely difficult."
"Even many superior body forging techniques might not achieve it. It requires repeatedly tempering the bones."
"But each round of tempering takes a long time, and tempering ten or twenty times would require even more time. In the end, even if you achieve 'Jade Bones,' it may not be worth it."
Lu Changsheng understood that it boiled down to whether it was "worth it."
Having Jade Bones was undoubtedly excellent, but if it took a significant amount of time and effort, it might not be worth the trouble. It was better to advance to the Divine Power Realm sooner.
However, Lu Changsheng had a different perspective. He understood that with the assistance of his attribute panel, reaching the Divine Power Realm was only a matter of time.
What he needed to do now was to make the foundation of each realm as solid as possible. His qi and blood had already reached their limits, and with the addition of the Fifth-Rank martial art, Instant Kill Technique, he had been able to kill the Dragontooth Warlord, Li Ji.
What if his bones also reached the "Jade Bones" level? His strength would undoubtedly be much stronger. After becoming a Divine Power Realm cultivator, he would easily dominate peers of the same level.
"Body forging martial arts can be purchased in the black market. I also obtained quite a few silver notes this time..."
Thinking about this, Lu Changsheng began to inventory his gains in the desolate temple. There was too much silver, and he couldn't carry it all. However, silver notes were almost entirely taken.
Carefully counting, he found more than 16,800 taels of silver notes.
"Wow."
Even Lu Changsheng couldn't help but gasp at the amount. However, he quickly calmed down. These silver notes were all looted by Li Ji from Miaoshou Garden. For a place like Miaoshou Garden, this amount of silver was nothing compared to their centuries of accumulation.
More significant was the carriages full of gold and silver that Lu Changsheng couldn't take away. If he wanted to gather 100,000 taels or even several hundred thousand taels of silver, it would be effortless for the Zheng family in Nanyang City.
Next, Lu Changsheng counted various martial arts manuals he had obtained. There were martial skills and techniques. Most of the techniques were blood-strengthening realm martial arts, which were of no use to him at this point. Many martial skills overlapped with ones he had previously learned, except for the Eight-Gate Martial Skills, which he had not practiced.
Finally, Lu Changsheng found a Body Forging Realm martial art called "Tiger Demon Body Forging Technique," the only one he didn't have.
There was also one mysterious martial art found on Li Ji's body.
Lu Changsheng started by examining the mysterious martial art obtained from Li Ji's body.
"The Nine-Character Thunderous Chant!"
Lu Changsheng's pupils contracted slightly, clearly surprised.
"A secret technique? It's actually a secret technique..."
Lu Changsheng had practiced martial arts for quite some time, so he naturally understood the concept of secret techniques. Unlike martial skills, secret techniques were significantly different. For example, the Nine-Character Thunderous Chant, although not a body forging or organ refining martial art, could greatly assist in tempering the bones and refining the organs. It belonged to the category of auxiliary secret techniques, which could aid martial practitioners in both body forging and organ refining, irrespective of their cultivation stage.
The unique feature of the Nine-Character Thunderous Chant was its ability to help refine bones and organs, disregarding the practitioner's realm. For instance, if a martial artist had already reached the stage where their bones had completely formed and couldn't be further tempered, practicing this secret technique could reopen the opportunity to repeatedly temper their bones until they became incredibly resilient.
Such extraordinary effects justified the classification of a "secret technique."
"This secret technique is priceless!"
Lu Changsheng was delighted; this was indeed an unexpected joy. He now understood why Li Ji, who was already at the peak of organ refining, carried this martial art with him. It turned out to be a secret technique!
"The Nine-Character Thunderous Chant is an auxiliary secret technique, very challenging to practice."
"While cultivating the Nine-Character Thunderous Chant, you can also practice other body forging martial arts."
Lu Changsheng had acquired another Body Forging Realm martial art. Although these body forging martial arts weren't particularly powerful, Lu Changsheng had a plan.
"Becoming a 'Jade Bone' is difficult."
"At least after tempering the bones dozens of times or more, there's a chance to achieve 'Jade Bones.' Moreover, the harder your bones become, the worse the tempering effects are. In the end, there might not be any significant improvement, even if you keep tempering."
Lu Changsheng understood that achieving "Jade Bones" wasn't a guarantee. It might take many years of continuous tempering, which could ultimately be unproductive. If practicing body forging martial arts for years or even decades didn't result in "Jade Bones," it would be a futile endeavor.
However, Lu Changsheng had a high aptitude, and he wasn't concerned. Even if he practiced multiple body forging martial arts, it wouldn't consume much time. Furthermore, he now possessed the Nine-Character Thunderous Chant.
When he reached the later stages of body forging, the Nine-Character Thunderous Chant would undoubtedly demonstrate its effects.
After the battle in the desolate temple, Lu Changsheng's life returned to normal. He continued to learn medical skills from his master every day at the pharmacy.
Although Lu Changsheng had high aptitude, medical skills were a practical field where experience mattered. Regardless of how rich one's theoretical knowledge was, it still required practical experience for verification.
In Lu Changsheng's current situation, it would take at least a year or more before he could start practicing, diagnosing, and treating patients.
However, Wu Jing increasingly valued Lu Changsheng and seemed to genuinely consider him as an heir, generously passing on all his knowledge.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, ten days had passed.
"The Tiger Demon Body Forging Technique is perfect, Aptitude +4."
Lu Changsheng saw a line of small text appear before him.
"Perfect again?"
Lu Changsheng opened his attribute panel.
Host: Lu Changsheng
Aptitude: 235 (Considerable potential)
Tiger Demon Body Forging Technique: Fourth Layer, Perfection
Nine-Character Thunderous Chant: Uninitiated
Lu Changsheng took a deep breath.
Too fast!
In just ten days, he had perfected all eight martial skills, but unfortunately, they were all Second-Rank martial arts, which only added 16 points to his aptitude. Coupled with the additional 4 points from the Tiger Demon Body Forging Technique, his aptitude had reached 235. However, even with an aptitude of 235, he still couldn't initiate the Nine-Character Thunderous Chant.
"My aptitude isn't high enough; I need to practice more martial skills to increase it."
"And the body forging martial arts... combining the Tiger Demon Body Forging Technique and Bull's Body Forging Technique, I've actually tempered my bones eight times already. But even after eight temperings, there are still no signs of 'Jade Bones.'"
"But whether it's martial skills or body forging martial arts, I currently don't have any. I'll have to buy them in the black market."
Lu Changsheng wasn't worried about lacking the silver to purchase martial arts now.
Therefore, when the disguised Lu Changsheng quickly made his way to the black market at night, he was ready for the journey.