Who Tricked Whom? Curing The Melting Bone Palm! . . .
"Urn..." Cha-Eun Xiao realized he had perhaps revealed too much information and decided to backtrack, offering a plausible explanation, "Well, you wouldn't know. In fact, I've immersed myself in countless books. Reading is the key to knowledge, after all. My extensive reading has broadened my understanding..."
He conjured up a fabricated tale and continued, "The martial art I've been diligently practicing possesses the unique ability to heal wounds inflicted by any of these six martial arts. So, I made a conscious decision to absorb their attacks. It seems that the extent of our family's strength has been nearly fully exposed, and that may not be in our best interest. This incident where they laid their nefarious hands on me actually provides us with a golden opportunity and a valid reason to repay the favor."
Song Jue responded with a note of concern, "I grasp your point, but your safety is paramount. As far as I know, dealing with the Melting Bone Palm is no simple task. I, for one, wouldn't know where to begin. We should still contact your father to ensure your safety."
Cha-Eun Xiao fell silent. He slowly removed his upper garments, revealing the smooth, unblemished skin of his chest. Turning around, he exposed his back to Song Jue's scrutiny, revealing no visible abnormalities or signs of injury.
With measured intent, he initiated the East-rising Purple Qi, causing a gentle stream of warm energy to emanate from his body. Song Jue observed intently, on the lookout for any signs of wounds or irregularities.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, faint palm-shaped marks began to manifest on Cha-Eun Xiao's back, one by one. These marks seemed to emerge from beneath the surface of his skin, appearing in quick succession until they covered his entire back. They were densely packed and, in some instances, even overlapped.
As Cha-Eun Xiao continued to channel the East-rising Purple Qi, the initially faint palm marks gradually deepened in color, transitioning from light cyan to a dark, foreboding shade. The transformation was unsettling.
"There are 18 cyan palm marks. It's undoubtedly the malevolent Melting Bone Palm," Song Jue remarked, his countenance adopting a cold, resolute expression.
However, that icy demeanor soon thawed, replaced by a sense of awe and admiration. Song Jue was a seasoned cultivation expert, and Cha-Eun Xiao's revelation had left him awestruck. The fact that Cha-Eun Xiao had knowingly absorbed the hidden wounds caused by the Melting Bone Palm and forced them to surface on his body demonstrated an astonishing level of mastery.
It was something Song Jue had never encountered before. He couldn't recall a martial artist in the early stages of cultivation who possessed the ability to bring the concealed wounds inflicted by the Melting Bone Palm to the surface.
In Song Jue's eyes, Cha-Eun Xiao's martial art appeared nothing short of miraculous.
Had Song Jue not been burdened with the lingering injuries from the Golden Mai Palm and remained in peak condition, he would have been well-equipped to cure the damage wrought by the Melting Bone Palm. However, his hidden injuries had relegated him to the lower echelons of cultivation, rendering him incapable of healing the wounds inflicted by this sinister technique.
However, he was certain that even at the peak of his physical condition, he wouldn't have been able to handle the Melting Bone Palm with the same finesse as Cha-Eun Xiao had demonstrated.
It would have taken him at least a month of rigorous effort to compel the hidden marks to surface.
"That was truly a malevolent technique!" Song Jue remarked, his teeth grinding in frustration as he gazed at the 18 cyan wounds.
At that moment, Cha-Eun Xiao's face was flushed. Operating the martial art at full capacity to force the hidden wounds to manifest had drained him of nearly all his strength.
While he continued to channel the martial art, he keenly felt the sheer cruelty and malevolence of the Melting Bone Palm. Thanks to the remarkable East-rising Purple Qi, he had managed to coax most of the wounds to the surface. However, a portion remained deeply embedded within his bones.
Fortunately, Cha-Eun Xiao's experience and the remarkable nature of the East-rising Purple Qi had enabled him to detect these concealed wounds, which would have otherwise been nearly impossible to uncover.
[To address these wounds deeply embedded in my bones, I'll need to slowly assimilate them using the frigid qi when I'm alone. For now, I'll expedite the resolution of the surface wounds.]
After a brief period, ninety-nine cycles of Qi circulation had elapsed.
Song Jue watched in astonishment as a white mist rose from Cha-Eun Xiao's body. In just a short time, the dark cyan marks began to transition back to light cyan.
With a sudden "Puff!" Cha-Eun Xiao opened his mouth and expelled a small amount of cyan-purple blood. As the mist dissipated, the marks on his back had almost completely faded away.
Gradually, Cha-Eun Xiao ceased channeling the martial art, causing the remaining light marks to disappear into his skin. Though the wounds still existed within him, they were now mostly harmless and no longer posed a threat to his life.
In reality, the damage inflicted by the Melting Bone Palm bore similarities to that of the Golden Mai Palm. Both martial arts created hidden impacts within the body, lurking until they triggered a sudden and lethal effect.
To rectify such wounds, a power of the same attribute as the injury was required for assimilation. However, these two martial arts differed significantly in their potency. If the Golden Mai Palm ranked as a tier 1 martial art, the Melting Bone Palm, at best, could be considered tier 2, or perhaps even lower.
Cha-Eun Xiao had been able to heal Song Jue's injuries caused by the Golden Mai Palm, yet he strangely couldn't cure his own. When treating Song Jue, he had needed to expel energy from his own body. In contrast, the self-healing process was a different challenge altogether.
Given the current situation, it would take Cha-Eun Xiao only a few days to fully heal the remaining wounds. However, to achieve the same for Song Jue, Cha-Eun Xiao would need to be significantly stronger. This highlighted the disparity between the Golden Mai Palm and the Melting Bone Palm.
"Uncle Song, you can now relax, can't you?" Cha-Eun Xiao smiled wearily, sweat glistening on his forehead.
Song Jue's demeanor had undergone a remarkable transformation, shifting from dark and angry to joyful and content. He responded with half-closed eyes, "Well done, kid. You had me worried there for a moment. But it seems you've managed to outwit those scoundrels. Impressive."
Cha-Eun Xiao observed Song Jue's rapidly changing expressions and couldn't help but wonder if his uncle had a rather capricious temperament. He then stated, "The Crown Prince has shown no mercy toward me, so I see no reason to extend any courtesy in return. There will come a time when I settle the score. Our family is currently dispersed, and our presence in the capital is vulnerable. For now, we must slow down our pace."
"That's a wise approach," the steward chimed in enthusiastically. "Now that you're 'gravely injured,' we can retreat from the limelight and operate discreetly, out of their sight..."
"Exactly," Cha-Eun Xiao agreed, applauding the strategy.
"When their attention shifts away from us, we can carry out covert actions to deal with those despicable bastards..." The steward grew increasingly animated as he spoke, and a string of expletives slipped from his mouth.
[Despicable bastards?]
Cha-Eun Xiao thought, [Some utterly contemptible individuals... who also happen to be the offspring of female dogs... That's truly a lamentable state of affairs.]
"Dirty tricks, huh?" Cha-Eun Xiao's eyes glinted with mischief as he responded, "I've got quite an extensive repertoire of underhanded tactics up my sleeve. Perhaps I should dispatch a few individuals to create some chaos in the Crown Princess's quarters. What do you think? It's all about seizing those minor advantages."
Cha Eun Xiao glanced at his uncle, feeling an immediate onset of nervous perspiration.
[To consider that a minor advantage... Seriously?]
Song Jue, realizing his choice of words had been rather crude, cleared his throat and continued, "I mean, uh... I should send some individuals to cause a ruckus in the Crown Prince's Palace to divert their attention."
Cha Eun Xiao spoke in a measured tone, "For the time being, we should maintain a low profile and bide our time, at least for the next couple of weeks. Our men need to prepare, and we need them to grow stronger. Furthermore, we must wait for the moment when they believe the injuries I sustained might claim my life..."
"True," Song Jue agreed, nodding thoughtfully. "Why did I overlook that? First, there must be a looming threat, and then it can transform into an opportunity..."
He added mysteriously, "Oh, by the way, I've got some good news for you. I nearly forgot to mention it."
Cha Eun Xiao couldn't hide his surprise. "What news?"
"You, Uncle Song, that's me, have made significant strides in cultivation..." Cha-Eun Xiao remarked proudly. "I've now reached the first level of the Grade of Tianyuan."
"Congratulations, Uncle Song! You've finally attained the status of a superior cultivator in the Grade of Tianyuan," Cha-Eun Xiao exclaimed with genuine joy.
Song Jue chuckled, his joy evident in his expression. However, his elation was short-lived.
Suddenly, he halted and spat out in self-reflection, [What am I celebrating for? I was once a superior master who had long surpassed the Grade of Tianyuan. Now, I've only managed to regain a fraction of my former strength to reach the first level, and yet, I felt satisfaction in that... How embarrassing...]
For the remainder of the night, Song Jue could finally relax and get some much-needed rest. However, Cha-Eun Xiao had been laboring tirelessly throughout the night to address the remaining wounds. These were far more challenging to heal as they were scattered and elusive, particularly the frigid energy deeply entrenched in his bones. Cha-Eun Xiao tried every method at his disposal, diligently harnessing his cold qi to expel them from his body. Exhausted and drenched in sweat, he now felt like he was composed entirely of perspiration...
The entire night had been dedicated solely to tending to these wounds.
His bedroom had been reduced to ruins by a certain uncle of his, so he was temporarily residing in the guest room.
"I underestimated the severity of the damage inflicted by the Melting Bone Palm. It's truly ruthless," Cha-Eun Xiao remarked as he examined the cold yin qi in his hand. Even his cold qi couldn't assimilate this chilling yin qi; it was utterly futile.
Not only was it ineffective, but it was also so perilous that any place it touched would become an uninhabitable wasteland.
Cha-Eun Xiao pondered for a moment and then stomped on the floor, instantly creating a deep pit. He deposited the dark yin-cold qi into the pit and used his cold qi to freeze the floor solid. He had no intention of letting the cold yin qi escape and wreak havoc.