Chapter 343: Guiling Powder

Chapter 343: Guiling Powder

Time flowed by, and in the blink of an eye, nearly a month had passed.

At the central peak of Lingxuan Peak, within a bamboo grove, there was a slightly open area.

"The mountain stands firm and unmoving, majestic and unyielding. This sense of solidity is not limited to your physical body; it extends to your stance, techniques, and even your thoughts. You must achieve unity between your mind and strength to comprehend this path," Chen Mu, dressed in a blue robe, was instructing a young female cultivator practicing with a spear.

The girl, wearing the attire of an inner sect disciple, had a robust and vibrant aura. Despite her slender figure and fair skin, her arms and legs seemed to possess a thousand pounds of strength. Each swing of her spear was powerful enough to split rocks and shatter boulders.

However, the force exerted in her techniques primarily originated from her physical strength, lacking any semblance of spear intent. Despite having already entered the Muscle Tempering Realm, she had yet to grasp even a single spear technique.

This young girl was none other than Jin Ling'er.

As a natural-born prodigy with immense physical strength, she had been discovered by Chen Mu in Bi County and brought into the inner sect of the Qiuan Sect. Her talent for tempering her body was truly exceptional, and in less than two years since joining the sect, she had already reached the Muscle Tempering Realm, pushing her body to its limits.

However, compared to her physical prowess, her understanding of techniques was somewhat lacking. Even after nearly two years of spear practice, she had yet to master a single spear technique, let alone comprehend the realm of intent, which seemed far beyond her reach.

Humm!

In the next moment, Jin Ling'er gripped the spear tightly and swung it down with all her might, creating a gust of wind as she struck the mountain rock. The final thrust left a web of cracks on the otherwise solid rock, spreading in a circular pattern.

Even in this final move, Jin Ling'er struggled to exhibit any spear technique. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, and her chest rose and fell as she caught her breath. With a hint of embarrassment, she turned to Chen Mu and said, "I'm sorry, Master Chen, but I can't seem to grasp the feeling you're describing."

Chen Mu maintained a calm demeanor. "Human strength has its limits. Your talent for tempering your body is exceptional, even surpassing my own. It's not uncommon to have some delays in comprehending realms. Sometimes, it's not just about innate understanding; guidance from a master, access to resources, and moments of sudden enlightenment can all contribute to the height of one's realm."

"As long as you don't fall too far behind your peers in terms of realm comprehension, you won't be considered weak among those at the same level."

As he spoke, Chen Mu took a step forward and extended his hand towards Jin Ling'er.

Jin Ling'er was momentarily startled but quickly recovered, respectfully handing over her spear. Chen Mu's right hand trembled slightly, leaving a faint afterimage, and when he retracted his hand, he held her spear.

He raised the spear with his right hand and began to mimic Jin Ling'er's previous movements.

Upon reaching the Martial Master Realm, the distinctions between the eighteen weapons became insignificant, as all techniques pointed towards the essence of power manipulation. Chen Mu, however, did not showcase extraordinary skill. He merely replicated Jin Ling'er's force with pinpoint accuracy, but the difference lay in his demonstration of the 'Penetrating Spear Technique's' spear techniques, seamlessly blending strength and technique.

The realm of a Martial Master was beyond Jin Ling'er's current understanding. The spear technique closest to her level was the one she needed to comprehend. Despite using the same force as Jin Ling'er, Chen Mu's addition of spear techniques made the final strike different. When he brought the spear down onto the mountain rock, instead of shattering it, he concentrated all the power into a single point, causing only the central area, the size of a fist, to explode, while the surrounding rock remained intact.

"That's amazing!"

Having practiced this spear technique for two years, Jin Ling'er could easily discern the difference in power between her own moves and Chen Mu's. She looked at him with a mix of admiration and respect.

Jin Ling'er was no longer the naive girl who had just left Bi County, unaware of the world. She knew that Chen Mu, her benefactor and the new peak master of Lingxuan Peak, was recognized as the most talented martial artist in the eleven states of the Hanbei Dao.

"I wonder when I'll be able to achieve such skill," Jin Ling'er mused, gazing at the fist-sized hole Chen Mu had created in the mountain rock.

Chen Mu gently tossed the spear back to Jin Ling'er. "Keep practicing diligently. With your talent, mastering the spear techniques is just a matter of time. Your understanding may not be as high as your physical talent, but in reality, it surpasses that of most people."

These words were not merely flattery. Although Jin Ling'er had not yet mastered any spear techniques, it was important to note that she had only been practicing spear techniques for less than two years. She had already perfected the basic movements, and the next step was to grasp the spear techniques.

In his former life in Yu City, Chen Mu had witnessed many who practiced a single sword technique for three to five years without achieving mastery.

As Chen Mu had mentioned before, innate understanding was just one aspect of cultivation. Guidance from a master, access to resources, and moments of sudden enlightenment were all crucial elements in martial arts training. In his previous life, Chen Mu's understanding was not significantly higher than Jin Ling'er's, but with the advantage of the system's interface, his potential was unlocked, leaving his peers far behind.

"I will not disappoint you, Master Chen," Jin Ling'er vowed, taking the spear from Chen Mu and responding with a deep breath. She closed her eyes, recalling each of Chen Mu's movements, striving to comprehend the intricacies of the spear techniques.

Seeing Jin Ling'er's dedication, Chen Mu nodded slightly and turned his attention to another girl standing nearby, smaller and more delicate than Jin Ling'er. "Xiao Hong, come here."

The girl, who had been standing quietly and respectfully nearby, promptly approached and bowed to Chen Mu. "Peak Master Chen."

Although Chen Mu had previously instructed both Jin Ling'er and Zhao Xiaohong to address him as 'Senior Brother,' he was now an elder of the Qiuan Sect and the new peak master of Lingxuan Peak. Formally, he was the master of all disciples under Lingxuan Peak.

Typically, the various elders and peak masters of the Qiuan Sect paid little attention to inner and outer disciples. Only the most exceptional among them were accepted as 'true disciples,' considered officially inducted into the sect.

Only true disciples had the privilege of addressing Chen Mu as 'Master.' Others were expected to address him as 'Peak Master.'

Chen Mu had not taken on any disciples yet, but after nearly a month of focusing on his Cosmic Domain cultivation, he decided to take a break and visit Lingxuan Peak. He sought out Zhao Xiaohong and Jin Ling'er, with whom he had a history, to offer some personal guidance.

"Come, let me see your sword technique."

Chen Mu nodded slightly towards Zhao Xiaohong.

Unlike Jin Ling'er, Zhao Xiaohong was the complete opposite. Her talent in tempering her body was not exceptional, and after nearly a year of joining the sect, she had barely reached the pinnacle of skin refinement, not yet stepping into the realm of flesh refinement.

However, her comprehension was truly remarkable. According to what he knew, she had already cultivated sword formations within a year, a feat that took most disciples much longer.

"Yes, Senior Brother Chen."

Zhao Xiaohong respectfully acknowledged his request and drew her sword from its sheath with a crisp clang. She brandished the three-foot-long blade, and as she moved, the sword light danced like silver pear blossoms in a chaotic flurry. Although her strength was far inferior to Jin Ling'er's, her technique had indeed reached the level of sword formations.

Chen Mu couldn't help but sigh at this level of mastery.

For him, sword formations were merely the beginning, with the realm of sword intent lying ahead, followed by the second and third stages. Yet, Zhao Xiaohong had achieved sword formations in just a year, a testament to her exceptional talent.

It was worth noting that with his own abilities, it had taken him nearly a year to cultivate the first sword formation, giving him some self-defense capabilities in Yu County. Zhao Xiaohong, on the other hand, had no prior martial arts experience, and her comprehension alone allowed her to achieve sword formations within a year.

Soon, Zhao Xiaohong finished her first set of sword techniques and seamlessly transitioned into the second set. This set was less refined, indicating that she had just recently mastered it and was still some distance away from sword formations. Nonetheless, it was evident that her comprehension was exceptionally high.

After observing both sets of sword techniques, Chen Mu contemplated briefly before speaking, "In terms of technique, your comprehension is naturally gifted. Before you cultivate sword intent, you won't need much guidance from others. As for body tempering..." He paused, "Your sword comprehension can also benefit your body tempering to some extent. I believe you haven't started practicing flesh refinement yet."

"Mmm."

Zhao Xiaohong respectfully replied, "The Transmission Guardian instructed me to push the initial stages of body tempering to their limits. I'm currently practicing the second skin refinement technique, and I haven't attempted flesh refinement yet."

Chen Mu nodded slightly towards her and said, "The Transmission Guardian's guidance is correct. Your innate talent is slightly inferior to Jin Ling'er's. If you rush for progress and climb too high too soon, it will be extremely difficult to make up for the foundation later on. At the very least, you should strive to reach the limits in skin refinement and flesh refinement. You can also pursue one or two levels of muscle refinement. If you delay your progress, consider it later."

Jin Ling'er's physique was unique, endowed with innate divine strength. Skin refinement and flesh refinement came easily to her, and muscle refinement wouldn't require much effort either. Only the jade bone refinement might pose some challenges, but with her exceptional talent, the Transmission Guardian at Lingxuan Peak would likely assist her personally. So, there was no need to worry about her body tempering cultivation.

Zhao Xiaohong was different. Body tempering was her weakness, and to reach the level of Jin Ling'er, she would need to engage in arduous cultivation. Various resources were readily available to her as an inner sect disciple, ensuring a sufficient supply for her cultivation.

"Disciple will follow your instructions, Senior Brother Chen."

Zhao Xiaohong obediently responded to Chen Mu's words.

Chen Mu gave her another careful examination and then instructed, "Come here."

Zhao Xiaohong immediately stepped forward.

"Don't move."

Chen Mu approached her and gave a brief command, then suddenly raised his hand. His fingers moved like a lingering shadow, and in an instant, they became a blur, circling around her in a swift motion.

Zhao Xiaohong felt as if, in that fleeting moment, every joint, acupoint, and meridian on her body had been simultaneously touched by a thousand fingers. Of course, she knew this wasn't possible, but Chen Mu's movements were too swift for her senses to process. It felt like she had been touched by a thousand fingers in that instant.

"Hmm..."

Zhao Xiaohong couldn't help but let out a soft moan.

Every part of her body, from her forehead to her ankles, seemed to tingle with a sensation of soreness, softness, and numbness. She immediately lost her strength and couldn't maintain her stance, falling softly to the side.

But before she could hit the ground, she felt as if she had landed on a soft, invisible cloud of cotton. She opened her eyes but saw no solid object around her; only an invisible force gently held her in place.

After completing this action.

Chen Mu didn't look at her again but instead wore a contemplative expression. He stood there, pinching his chin with one hand, until Zhao Xiaohong felt her body's soreness gradually subside, allowing her to stand up again with some effort. Only then did Chen Mu finally turn his gaze back to her and said, "I tested your meridians and bones. I've temporarily devised a set of fist techniques for you to temper your body, spirit, and blood. Follow me and practice it, and let's see how effective it is."

The fist techniques Chen Mu had cultivated in the past, such as the Wild Ox Flesh Refinement and the Tiger Demon Bone Tempering Fist, were among the most common and versatile. They were suitable for any martial artist, regardless of physique or talent, and for Zhao Xiaohong, they were at least eighty to ninety percent effective. However, to achieve a hundred percent effectiveness, it was necessary to customize a set of fist techniques based on her physical development, tailored to every inch of her flesh and bones.

Creating such a personalized set of techniques was no easy task. Even a cultivator who had reached the Five Viscera and Six Bowels Realm would find it impossible to easily create a specialized set of body-tempering fist techniques for someone else based solely on their physique and body. Only someone like Chen Mu, whose techniques had reached the pinnacle of perfection, and who had cultivated the Heaven-Earth Seal to the seventh layer, could possess such an intricate understanding of the human body, allowing him to devise an appropriate set of fist techniques in a short time.

Of course, in the 1619 book, there was no mistake in the version!

He wasn't sure if it was entirely correct and still needed Zhao Xiaohong to try it out herself to see.

Upon hearing Chen Mu's words, Zhao Xiaohong couldn't help but blink in surprise... A customized set of body-tempering fist techniques tailored just for her?

She had heard of such things before, but it seemed that only those who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts and entered the realm of enlightenment would be capable of such a feat. Moreover, they wouldn't typically expend such effort on ordinary disciples. She wasn't Chen Mu's true disciple yet, but the fact that he was willing to cultivate her in this way stirred ripples in her heart, strengthening her determination.

Regardless of whether she could become Chen Mu's true disciple in the future, she couldn't slack off or disappoint him.

Chen Mu didn't know what the young girl was thinking, but he had finally cultivated the Heaven-Earth Seal to the seventh layer, reaching the pinnacle of the Grandmaster level in terms of technique. This had sparked a desire within him to try his hand at creation, but he didn't have the intention to take Zhao Xiaohong as his true disciple just yet. If both Zhao Xiaohong and Jin Ling'er could reach the standard of true discipleship in the future, then he would consider taking them on.

Although he wasn't particularly keen on taking over the position of Peak Master at Lingxuan Peak from Qin Mengjun, he couldn't just neglect his responsibilities. He needed to at least manage a few things.

"This set of fist techniques has four forms, from the beginning to the end. Follow me and practice them one by one."

Chen Mu turned to Zhao Xiaohong and spoke, then demonstrated a stance, a seemingly ordinary standing posture, but with a hint of mystery within: "Your leg bones are slightly weak. Practicing this stance will help compensate for your leg's deficiency. Remember, let your body flow like willow catkins in the wind, and your mind like a floating duckweed in the water."

After saying this, Chen Mu signaled for Zhao Xiaohong to give it a try.

Zhao Xiaohong respectfully acknowledged and imitated Chen Mu's movements, her extraordinary understanding quickly becoming apparent. After only two corrections from Chen Mu, she executed the stance perfectly, and within a short time, she began to grasp the core essence of 'letting the body flow like willow catkins in the wind.'

Chen Mu couldn't help but nod slightly, knowing that if it were Jin Ling'er, she would have taken a considerable amount of time to master this stance alone, let alone comprehend its essence and practice accordingly. Zhao Xiaohong, on the other hand, was much more composed, and although her understanding was still far from his, it was undoubtedly exceptional compared to most.

Soon, Chen Mu finished teaching the remaining three stances, and as he watched Zhao Xiaohong practice them, he made some detailed adjustments, adding or removing certain nuances. In just half a day, he had tailored a set of five stances specifically for Zhao Xiaohong, which would support her cultivation up to the Bone Tempering Realm.

With this guidance, Zhao Xiaohong began her dedicated practice, while Jin Ling'er, on the other side, wielded her long spear, repeatedly contemplating the teachings and pointers Chen Mu had demonstrated earlier. She was on the verge of grasping the essence of the Spear Dao, despite not yet capturing that elusive spark of insight.

Chen Mu stood nearby, observing their progress with a relaxed expression, nodding slightly as both showed improvement.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, a gentle and familiar voice sounded in his ear.

"Chen Mu, come to the rear cliff."

Hearing this voice, Chen Mu's expression stirred, and he looked up towards the peak of Lingxuan Peak.

Had he finally returned?

The voice belonged to none other than his master, Qin Mengjun, who had left after the Ice State war to return the Xuan Turtle's corpse to the Seven Mysteries Sect. He had been away for two months, a period that Chen Mu, having reached the Blood Replacement Realm, understood well. If it were him, he might have traveled for a year without it being unusual.

But these ordinary two months had been a time of profound growth for Chen Mu.

Heaven-Earth Seal, Seventh Layer.

Heaven-Earth Domain!

Chen Mu relaxed his fist and took a step forward, heading towards the rear cliff behind Lingxuan Peak.

His current concern wasn't whether Qin Mengjun had found a body-tempering formula using the Xuan Turtle's heart blood as the primary ingredient, but rather, he wanted to spar with Qin Mengjun again to gauge his current strength and see how far he had truly come.

Step, step, step...

Chen Mu walked along the mountain path, each step covering dozens of zhang silently. Soon, he reached the peak alone, circled around the main hall, and headed towards the rear cliff.

When he arrived, he saw Qin Mengjun standing beneath an ancient tree, her white robe as pristine as ever, untouched by the dust of the world.

This sight stirred emotions within Chen Mu.

He couldn't help but recall the day he first entered the Seven Mysteries Sect and became a disciple of Lingxuan Peak.

Back then, Qin Mengjun had stood in the same manner, her profound cultivation level making her seem like an integral part of the heavens themselves, beyond the reach of ordinary mortals.

But now,

Qin Mengjun still stood there, yet the difference was stark in every sense.

First was her aura, which, compared to years ago, had transformed. Before, her aura seemed to merge seamlessly with the heavens, making her presence nearly imperceptible. Now, her aura filled the surrounding space, making her seem omnipresent in this slice of the sky, as if every inch of this heaven and earth were an extension of her being.

In terms of cultivation, there was no doubt that Qin Mengjun, having reached the Blood Replacement Realm, had deepened her understanding of the Dao, and her Heaven-Earth Body was truly at its pinnacle.

However, the gap between them had narrowed significantly compared to years ago.

Even now, as their auras intertwined with the heavens, the vast and majestic feeling it evoked in Chen Mu was not as unattainable as before. He could sense that the distance between them had shrunk considerably.

"Disciple pays respects to Master."

Chen Mu approached Qin Mengjun and bowed slightly.

Qin Mengjun's expression was gentle, and before Chen Mu could finish his bow, she waved him off and produced a yellow paper from somewhere, tossing it towards Chen Mu.

Chen Mu caught the fluttering paper, and upon reading it, he saw a complex formula for a medicinal concoction. The formula was intricate, requiring dozens of different medicinal powders, with precise instructions on when to add each type and whether to use gentle or intense heat. The main ingredient was, indeed, the heart blood of the Xuan Turtle.

"This is the formula for Guiling Powder. You have some of the Xuan Turtle's heart blood, which should aid in tempering your martial body. Even the ordinary demon blood of the Xuan Turtle can be used, though with slightly less effectiveness. But given your current progress, it should still be beneficial..."

Qin Mengjun explained, then paused, slightly surprised as she studied Chen Mu.

Due to their proximity and Chen Mu's lack of effort to conceal his aura, Qin Mengjun could sense that his internal energy had become slightly denser than when he had hunted the Xuan Turtle.

Reaching the Grandmaster Realm, tempering the martial body was supposed to be a long process, even with abundant resources. Yet, Chen Mu seemed to have made progress in just two months.

"Your skills seem to have improved again?"

Qin Mengjun surveyed Chen Mu with a soft voice.

"Yes, slightly," Chen Mu replied, still studying the formula. Only after committing it to memory did he put it away and turn to Qin Mengjun, his expression turning serious. "Master, your efforts are appreciated. Since becoming your disciple, I've made progress with your guidance, and I offer my gratitude."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end