Chapter 41: The Strange Dian Jing
Su Yan sensed the power in his body and the recently strengthened skin membrane.
Although he had imagined that the Poison Skin Powder would have good effects, just one use had increased the progress of Skin Refining Great Accomplishment by so much.
If he could use it a few more times, coupled with his Insect Yuan continuously strengthening his body, the Muscle and Bone Realm might not be too far away.
That Su Yan could withstand such intensity also let Xu Zhongdao understand this junior’s endurance.
Over the next two days, Xu Zhongdao had Su Yan purchase a set of materials for the blood-tonifying Three Yuan Soup for body tempering, as well as more materials for Poison Skin Powder.
After buying these things, the silver Su Yan had earned from selling the Black Bear, leopard, and several wolf cubs was immediately almost gone.
The saying goes that literature is cheap but martial arts is expensive; the more potent the herbal medicine, the more silver it requires.
Even without middlemen taking a cut, it was still the same.
Over the remaining days, Xu Zhongdao and Song Qi both suddenly disappeared as if they had vanished; even if Su Yan practiced Golden Ape Stance Training in the courtyard, he might only see them once in the morning or evening.
There was a faint medicinal scent on both Xu Zhongdao and Song Qi, so it was clear they were doing preparatory work.
During this time, Xu Zhongdao seemed to suddenly remember Su Yan and instructed him that if he wanted to study the Art of Medicine Refining, he should first go to his study and read all those books.
After saying this, Xu Zhongdao and Song Qi disappeared again.
The speaker had no particular intention, but the listener took it to heart.
Su Yan had originally wanted to find an opportunity to talk to Xu Zhongdao about this matter, but unexpectedly, he had remembered it.
‘First go check out the study; if it’s suitable, I can make up for the shortfall in medicine refining while doing stance training. With Old Xu’s guidance, my Herbology has progressed so quickly; if I learn one more skill, refining feed for the Yin Water Centipede and the others might be much easier.’
Thinking this way, after finishing stance training that day, Su Yan found a servant.
“Take me to Old Xu’s study.”
The servant knew Xu Zhongdao’s instructions and immediately said: “Young Master, follow me. No outsiders are allowed in the master’s study; it’s locked in the inner courtyard.”
Su Yan followed the servant to the outside of the study: “This is the master’s study.”
“You go do your own things; I’ll look around myself.”
The study was locked, but the key had already been given to him.
The servant left, and Su Yan then entered the study.
The study was simply furnished, with only a black ebony desk, an ebony chair, brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone, plus a hand-warmer stove.
On the other side of the study was a huge bookshelf filled with classics.
Su Yan went forward to check, flipping through a couple, and discovered that it wasn’t just books on medicine; there were also biographies and classics.
“The founding Emperor of Dali punched to suppress mountains and seas, his body transforming into a ten-thousand-zhang imperial form, repelling a hundred thousand feral beast ancestral demons and establishing the nation in the Southern Sky Domain.”
“A great power of the Beast King Sect drove the Shadow Tiger King Beast; Golden Body and king beast merged as one, piercing through a hundred thousand green mountains in a single strike.”
Su Yan only flipped through a few biographies, his eyes flickering with surprise and uncertainty in his heart.
He muttered to himself: “The biographies are vague and extremely exaggerated, but in this world, martial arts may indeed reach the divine; better to believe they exist than not.”
Even as he said this, his gaze flashed with fervor.
He was already a traveler on the path of martial arts; the stronger martial arts became, the greater his future growth potential.
With such abilities to split mountains and fill seas, ideas like Longevity might not be delusions—how could it not be good?
“With what ability you have, do what you can; first master the Art of Medicine Refining, refine Poisons to let the Yin Water Centipede and Velvet Fire Scorpion Insect advance further.”
Su Yan found a book《Spirit Grass Compendium》; Xu Zhongdao had instructed him to read this one first to familiarize himself with the medicinal properties of various medicinal herbs, Treasure Plants, and such.
He thought it was just one book, but upon closer inspection, he found that what he held was only one volume, two finger-joints thick and quite heavy.
Su Yan’s mouth twitched: “Looks like there’s plenty to read.”
Over the next few days, he adjusted his schedule, filling almost all his time.
In the early morning, he first boiled the Three Yuan Soup and drank it in one gulp, converting it to energy.
Then he absorbed Insect Yuan, soaked in Poison Skin Powder, and repeatedly tempered his skin membrane, accumulating Qi and Blood.
Doing stance training and punching like this took up the entire morning until his essence was exhausted, then he rested.
The servant had prepared ahead, boiling Bronze Fox Ape flesh and blood and serving it up.
After eating, he warmed and nourished his body; in the afternoon, he read books and continued practicing punches.
Time passed in a flash; with this cultivation, Su Yan naturally made significant progress.
【Tier 1 Insect Master:23/100】
【Insect Realm:1 cubic meter】
【Body Tempering Realm: Skin Refining 143/400（Great Accomplishment）】
【Golden Ape Stance Training:79/400(Great Accomplishment）】
【Monkey Fist:65/400（Great Accomplishment）】
【Mountain Hunting:178/200（Minor Accomplishment）】
【Basic Archery 30/400（Great Accomplishment）】
【Herbology1/400(Great Accomplishment）】
【Yin Water Centipede15/400(Mature Stage）】
【Velvet Fire Scorpion Insect147/200(Growth Stage）】
‘Herbology reaching Great Accomplishment was worth all this reading. Skin Refining, stance training, and Monkey Fist have all improved, but they have an order; cultivation from soups and medicines can increase it, but advancing beyond Great Accomplishment in techniques depends more on comprehension—I still need to find opportunities to practice more.’
After several days of cultivation, with resources constantly piling up, Su Yan converted them into his own strength, naturally making no small progress.
If he could continue cultivating like this, achieving the Muscle and Bone Realm might not be difficult.
Unfortunately, first, he was out of silver; all his silver had gone into resources, and now Poison Skin Powder, Three Yuan Soup, and even Bronze Fox Ape flesh and blood were running low.
It wasn’t just him devouring the Bronze Fox Ape flesh and blood; the Yin Water Centipede and Velvet Fire Scorpion Insect were also big resource consumers.
Second, the Golden Ape Martial Arts School’s inner sect exam was in three days, so for these three days he had to stay at the martial arts school in case of other matters.
“Young Master Su, I’ve packed your clothes and food; shall this servant send them to the Golden Ape Martial Arts School for you?”
Su Yan took the things and shook his head: “I’ll go myself; please give my regards to Old Xu and Old Song.”
Su Yan left Xu Zhongdao’s residence, exited Cang Liu Alley, and merged into the bustling streets of Yun Cang Town.
At this time, the crowds were gradually increasing, and lively vendor calls reached Su Yan’s ears.
‘Just after cultivating for some time, I already feel so detached from the world; if later my martial arts cultivation advances further…’
Su Yan pondered randomly in his heart, his steps quickening.
The thoughts in his heart weren’t born from the length of cultivation time, but from the changes.
Merely reaching Skin Refining Great Accomplishment, he already had an insurmountable gap with ordinary people.
If he reached Muscle and Bone, Blood Moving, Spirit Nurturing, and then the second major realm True Intent Realm later on.
The difference between cloud and mud was no less than this.
When Su Yan arrived at the martial arts school and checked in with the gate servant for tonight’s lodging, he sensed something off in the atmosphere.
In the middle courtyard, the number of people was the highest compared to previous times.
There were over a hundred outer disciples and about twenty inner disciples, but the two groups weren’t gathered together.
Everyone spoke little, instead all focusing on stance training and martial practice; at this point, they had all become competitors to each other.
Su Yan had just put down his things and made his bed when suddenly a clear “puff” sound came; he immediately dodged, and a white object flew toward his spot.
The object wasn’t fast; as he sidestepped, it landed on the bed.
His figure leaped out the door, seeing a shadow running toward the end of the corridor.
‘Where do you think you’re going?’
His eyes turned cold as he rushed forward; the person had no idea Su Yan would move so fast and was directly intercepted by Su Yan at the corner.
“Dian Jing?!”
