Lu Ren picked up the "Tempering Qi and Strengthening Body Technique" and started to flip through it.
This Tempering Qi and Strengthening Body Technique is divided into four levels. When all four levels are cultivated together, it reaches perfection.
The first level is to cultivate Qi and refine the body!
The second level is to have steel-reinforced bones!
The third level is to be reborn with broken iron!
The fourth level is to have a golden body of crystal!
After reading the introduction of the secret technique, Lu Ren was completely amazed.
The reason why this Tempering Qi and Strengthening Body Technique is classified as a lower-grade martial skill for humans is not because it lacks power, but because the first level, cultivating Qi and refining the body, is very difficult to cultivate.
This difficulty does not lie in obstacles, but in the need to spend a lot of time to activate the soul energy in the body, circulating it throughout the body and tempering it repeatedly.
Cultivating Qi is similar to cultivating health.
It is difficult to cultivate it without at least ten years of time.
A normal warrior would not spend over a decade cultivating a lower-grade body-refining martial skill.
But if this martial skill can be cultivated to the level of a golden body of crystal, it becomes an invincible existence at the same level. Even the most powerful martial skills would find it difficult to break through the golden body of crystal.
"This martial skill, in terms of true value, definitely exceeds fifty thousand!"
Lu Ren muttered to himself.
Now, if he continues to cultivate normally, he could still practice in the Nameless Pagoda for over a hundred and ten years. He decided to start cultivating this body-refining martial skill secretly.
As long as he can cultivate this body-refining martial skill to the introductory level, he would be able to continue cultivating it on his own in the future.
Lu Ren started to read the secret technique and began to practice according to the cultivation methods outlined in the manual.
Lu Ren communicated with the seven spiritual apertures, allowing the spiritual energy to flow through his body, purifying it repeatedly.
Each time he cleansed his body, Lu Ren felt as if he was soaking in a hot spring, very comfortable.
But the excessive consumption of spiritual energy resulted in Lu Ren using up premium spiritual rice at a rate ten times higher than usual, even more terrifying than the consumption when practicing the Exploding Spirit Secret Technique.
With each purification, the sticky impurities seeped out of his skin pores.
According to the manual, these were impurities in the body. If all the impurities were expelled, it would mean that the first level, cultivating Qi and refining the body, had been achieved.
It took Lu Ren a full ten years, relying on the replenished spiritual energy from the premium spiritual rice to circulate countless times within his body, before finally reaching the level of cultivating Qi and refining the body.
At this point, Lu Ren felt his body had become slightly lighter, leaner, but his skin had become smooth as satin, tough and dense, like it wouldn't even break if cut by a knife or sword.
Lu Ren leaped up, jumping as high as ten feet in the air.
"Although my body feels lighter, its strength has greatly increased, and my power has also surged!"
Lu Ren nodded silently to himself, knowing that in terms of pure body strength, ordinary warriors in the Spirit Creek Realm would definitely not be able to compare to him.
Now, even with enough premium spiritual rice to allow him to practice diligently for over twenty years, Lu Ren decided not to continue his cultivation. With his current level of cultivation, he knew that he wouldn't be able to attain the second level of Steel-reinforced Iron Bones. Exiting the Nameless Pagoda, only a second had passed in the outside world when Lu Ren returned the manual to the elder in charge of the pavilion.
"Lu Ren, lower-grade body cultivation techniques are rare finds. If you don't want it, I might just sell it to someone else one day!" The elder in charge closed his eyes, shaking his head.
"This martial technique is too difficult to cultivate. Elder, you should keep it for someone else," Lu Ren refused.
The elder suddenly stood up, staring at Lu Ren in disbelief, noticing that Lu Ren seemed different, but unable to pinpoint exactly how.
"Are you sure you don't want it?" the elder asked again.
Lu Ren shook his head. After secretly starting to cultivate this martial technique, why would he waste money purchasing it now?
"How about I sell it to you for four hundred thousand?" Lu Ren shook his head.
"Three hundred thousand?" Another refusal from Lu Ren.
"Two hundred thousand then?" The elder gritted his teeth, feeling distressed.
In his eyes, the manual of this martial technique was worth much more than two hundred thousand.
"Elder, just keep it for someone fated to obtain it," Lu Ren smiled. As he was about to leave, the elder grabbed his shoulder, instantly immobilizing him, feeling as if all his strength had been locked down and he couldn't move at all.
"Elder, what do you mean by this?" Lu Ren frowned.
"Tell me, why don't you want this body cultivation technique?" the elder in charge asked.
"You are a waste-blooded individual, this body cultivation technique is most suitable for you to slowly cultivate!"
Lu Ren smiled, "Elder, to be honest, a few years ago I received guidance from a senior who passed on a body cultivation technique to me, and it was precisely this Qi Strengthening Body Refinement Technique!"
"Impossible!" The elder shook his head, saying, "I obtained this Qi Strengthening Body Refinement Technique in a secret realm. It is a genuine martial technique from a thousand years ago. Except for me, no one else has been able to cultivate it!"
Lu Ren extended his arm, his skin resilient and smooth, emitting a faint glow.
"Qi cultivation and body refinement!" the elder exclaimed, dumbfounded, unable to speak for a long time.
This technique required a significant amount of time just to cultivate the first layer. Once the first layer was achieved, the subsequent three layers would be easier to cultivate with increased cultivation level.
At just sixteen or seventeen, Lu Ren had already achieved the first layer of Qi cultivation and body refinement. His future achievements were boundless!
Was he truly a waste-blooded individual, or a genius?
"Old man..." Lu Ren's words interrupted the elder's thoughts.
The elder coughed lightly, chuckling, "Lu Ren, may I ask, how long did it take for you to achieve the level of Qi cultivation and body refinement?"
"It took me a few months!" Lu Ren replied.
"Just a few months? How is that possible?" The elder's eyes widened in astonishment.
However, upon calculating the time, it had not been long since Lu Ren had opened his spiritual aperture. Could it be that Lu Ren's innate understanding allowed him to cultivate at such a fast pace? But that didn't make sense!
Cultivating Qi and refining the body required a significant amount of time. Controlling the flow of spiritual energy throughout the body required patience. Moving too quickly would hinder the effect of Qi cultivation. Individuals with lower bloodline talents had more impurities in their bodies, thus requiring a longer time to cleanse.
How did he achieve the level of Qi cultivation and body refinement in just a few months?
"Elder, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave," Lu Ren said before turning and leaving, disregarding the elder's shock.
On his way back, Lu Ren pondered the various uses of the unnamed pagoda.
Back at the courtyard, Lu Ren wielded his Fire Spirit Sword, displaying his swordsmanship with newfound strength. The power of his swordsmanship had greatly increased due to his enhanced body.
"Now that I've reached the level of Qi cultivation and body refinement, my strength has increased significantly. With the power of the seven spiritual apertures, I could easily defeat even those who have opened eight spiritual apertures," Lu Ren exclaimed with joy.
His newfound power filled him with confidence for his upcoming journey to the Tuosha Cave. Only martial artists who had opened their spiritual apertures could enter the Tuosha Cave. Even if he encountered someone who had opened eight spiritual apertures, Lu Ren was not concerned.
Three major sect disciples dared to provoke him, then one is to be killed. He would not show any mercy.
In the following days, all Liu Ren did was eat, sleep, and sleep. He had spent so many years cultivating in the pagoda that he didn't mind wasting a few days.
In the blink of an eye, seven days passed.
At the peak of a towering mountain in the inner gate of Qingyun Sect, Yun Qingyao, dressed in cultivation attire, wielded a long sword, unleashing thunderous strikes. Despite her slender figure, each of her strikes was extremely sharp and powerful.
"Winds sweeping the clouds!" Yun Qingyao exclaimed in a voice that could captivate hearts. The long sword in her hand stirred incessantly, like a raging wind, continuously sweeping and crashing against a mountain.
Boom! The entire hall was shattered by the impact.
Yun Qingyao sheathed her sword, nodded in satisfaction, and said, "Finally, I have created the fifth move. If my disciple can cultivate this move, her strength will improve significantly!"
With that in mind, she turned and headed towards Tianzi Mountain.
Arriving at the mountainside of Tianzi Mountain, Yun Qingyao looked towards Liu Ren's residence and silently thought to herself, "I'm sure my disciple must be diligently cultivating. Since he has made up his mind to go to the Tuo She Cave, he should have been enhancing his strength to the fullest!"
With that in mind, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Yun Qingyao's mouth.