Li Xuan withdrew his gaze, resuming the stern look of a strict master.
"Your analogy, though crude, gets the point across."
Xu Yan breathed a sigh of relief and silently warned himself, "I mustn't make careless analogies in the future. If I leave a bad impression on the master, that would be terrible!"
"It's one in ten thousand to achieve golden bones. Even if they're slower to progress in the early stages compared to the geniuses of ancient times, those who can achieve golden bones are no weaker than those ancient prodigies!"
Li Xuan continued to fabricate, "To temper golden bones, one relies on willpower, talent, and perseverance. Qi and blood must seep into the bones, refining down to the marrow, and then inducing a transformation of qi and blood. Repeat this cycle nine times, and golden bones are formed.
"The difficulty of forging golden bones is self-evident. Willpower, talent, and perseverance are indispensable. Those who achieve golden bones find a smooth path in martial arts."
Xu Yan listened with surging emotions, "Master, I will definitely cultivate golden bones!"
"It gladdens me that you have such ambition, but proceed with caution and within your means, no need to be overly harsh on yourself."
Li Xuan nodded with satisfaction, secretly muttering to himself, "As if you could really cultivate golden bones!"
At that moment, Xu Yan was so eager he could hardly wait to start cultivating and strive to refine his bones, achieving golden bones as soon as possible!
After hearing his master's words, his blood was boiling with enthusiasm and motivation!
"Master, what about jade bones? What are jade bones?"
Xu Yan hadn't forgotten that in the hierarchy of bone refinement, above golden bones were jade bones!
"Ah, jade bones!"
Li Xuan paused, then said, "Originally, I had no intention of discussing jade bones, but since you asked, I shall tell you."
At that moment, his mind was racing as he improvised a description of jade bones.
"Jade bones are flawless, translucent as jade. Those who can cultivate jade bones are unparalleled throughout the ages!"
Li Xuan stood up, one hand behind his back, slightly tilting his head up, displaying the demeanor of a sage.
He spoke slowly, "Disciple, jade bones are not something one can achieve through talent, willpower, or perseverance. Those who cultivate jade bones are all blessed with great fortune, favorites of the domain. Only those with extraordinary understanding, who can sense the great Dao, may cultivate jade bones!"
"Remember this, do not aim too high and miss!"
Xu Yan was deeply shocked by the talk of great fortune, favor of the domain, and sensing the great Dao—it was so profound!
The more mystical it sounded, the more powerful the cultivation of jade bones seemed.
"Master, what if jade bones are cultivated?"
Li Xuan looked at him with a meaningful gaze and said, "Regarding jade bones, there is this saying—jade bones are flawless, imperishable through the ages!"
"Once jade bones are achieved, even after death and through the centuries, they will not decay. Over time, with the sediment of the years, they can become treasures of the domain, almost as if sentient, and turn into rare treasures of the world!"
Li Xuan spouted his fabrications about jade bones, making them sound incredibly mystical!
Xu Yan was staggered, his fists clenched tightly, his blood boiling with the desire to cultivate jade bones immediately.
Li Xuan patted his shoulder and said, "I don't expect you to cultivate jade bones. Just remember this belief and do your best."
Xu Yan clenched his fists in excitement, "Master, rest assured, your disciple will definitely strive and won't let you down!"
Li Xuan's face showed a satisfied expression, thinking to himself that since he had already talked about bone refinement, he might as well invent something about viscera refinement too.
Seeing Xu Yan so energized, he knew the disciple would be full of fighting spirit for quite some time.
With inspiration striking him, he decided to also impart the fabricated methods of viscera refinement to his disciple.
Thus, Li Xuan spoke again, "Since I've already explained the method of bone refinement to you in detail, let me also tell you about viscera refinement. I will clarify this foundational realm for you in detail."
"Thank you, Master. Your disciple is all ears!"
Xu Yan said respectfully.
"Viscera Refinement is to temper internal organs, enhancing their vitality and resilience. Those who achieve Great Achievement in Viscera Refinement, even if their heart suffers a stab wound, will not die. They can use their qi and blood to heal the heart. Of course, this only applies to ordinary injuries. Injuries caused by the power of qi and blood are another matter..."
Li Xuan spoke calmly.
Xu Yan was profoundly shaken. A stab wound to the heart won't lead to death and it could recover through qi and blood?
The strength of Martial Arts indeed surpasses the imagination of ordinary people!
"The five viscera correspond to the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The qi and blood circulate through the five viscera, fusing into a harmonious whole, and when the five elements unite as one, that is Perfection in Viscera Refinement. Then, by integrating the foundation of the Realm and distilling it into one's body; when the sinews thunder and qi and blood rage like fierce winds, that marks the first steps into the entrance..."
Li Xuan laid out the theory of Viscera Refinement, as well as some rudimentary Dharma of Viscera Refinement.
He was not a real cultivator, nor did he possess any Cultivation Techniques. Thus, the made-up Cultivation Methods were naturally not very detailed, but they still had a basic outline.
For this reason, after finishing, Li Xuan added, "Disciple, remember this: true cultivation resides in enlightenment and intent. Only in this way can you tread a path that truly belongs to you.
"The Dharma I impart to you captures the true essence of Martial Arts. You must comprehend it yourself to grasp the 'intent' within, and not be confined to the specific forms. Do you understand?"
Xu Yan bowed respectfully and said, "Yes, Master. Your disciple will engrave it in his heart, constantly seek to comprehend, never slacking, nor confined by the form!"
"If you understand that, your Master is greatly relieved."
Li Xuan was full of relief.
"Pack up, feed the chickens, then commence your cultivation."
After sending Xu Yan away with a wave of his hand, Li Xuan took out the thousand-year-old ginseng.
His face contorted in conflict—such a rare medicinal herb! Wasn't it a waste to cook it now?
"With such a large root, trying a little won't hurt. I haven't tasted thousand-year ginseng in two lifetimes."
Li Xuan pinched off two long ginseng whiskers and instructed Xu Yan to use them to stew chicken the next day.
...
After finishing the chores, Xu Yan started his cultivation, assuming a horse stance to temper his skin, while carefully contemplating the Bone Refinement and Viscera Refinement Methods taught by his master.
"I must grasp the underlying intent, and understand its profundity!"
Gradually, Xu Yan gained some insights, finding a clear direction for the specific Dharma of Bone and Viscera Refinement.
"If Skin Refinement is like this, then Bone and Viscera Refinement shouldn't differ too much. It's just a matter of invoking qi and blood differently to temper..." Xu Yan realized excitedly.
The next day.
After a meal of thousand-year ginseng chicken soup, Li Xuan was surprised to find a richer vitality and increased endurance—a feeling that his body had grown even stronger.
"Does the thousand-year ginseng in this world really have such miraculous effects?"
He immediately took out the whole root of ginseng and ordered Xu Yan to stew a little each day.
Ginseng might be precious, but his own body was more important.
Xu Yan was overwhelmed with emotion, his eyes welling up: "This was my tribute for becoming a disciple, yet Master used it without hesitation to aid my cultivation. I must not let Master down!"
"Once I have entered the Realm of Bone Refinement, I will return home to select a fine tribute for Master!"
In the midst of cultivating, Xu Yan felt his qi and blood becoming vigorous, and the speed of tempering his skin increased greatly with the medicinal power of ginseng, enhancing both qi and blood and the rate of Skin Refinement.
"By the day after tomorrow at the latest, I should be able to complete Skin Refinement!"
Xu Yan, feeling the progress of Skin Refinement, was thrilled!