Chapter 167: Yijin Forging Bone, First Stirrings of Love
Zhou Yan did not see the general principles of the Nine Yin Manual in the stone room.
The significance of the general principles lies in elevating martial arts to a theoretical level, which is why it is said in the Legend of the Condor Heroes world that the principles of superior martial arts almost never deviate from the content of the true scripture.
But he was not disappointed; “Snake Movement Fox Flip” could complement the Quanzhen Sect’s lightness skill, “Golden Goose Skill.” The “Acupoint Sealing Secret Manual” could compensate for his shallow acupoint and meridian sealing techniques.
As for the “Yijin Forging Bone Chapter,” it has the ability to improve innate potential and rapidly increase cultivation. In the world of Legend of the Condor Heroes, Guo Jing cultivated this technique on Mingxia Island and increased his strength by twenty percent in a short period. For Zhou Yan, this meant his cultivation could surpass Ouyang Ke.
Moreover, Zhou Yan valued the bone-improving cultivation effects of the “Yijin Forging Bone Chapter” more. The gentle qi emanating from the Jade Guanyin he wore had the effect of relaxing muscles and activating collaterals, so with the assistance of Jade Guanyin, cultivating this technique would yield twice the results with half the effort.
Thinking this, Zhou Yan quickly gathered his thoughts and began by memorizing the cultivation technique from the “Yijin Forging Bone Chapter.”
The light in the stone room flickered on and off until the newly made torches burned out. Zhou Yan recited the “Yijin Forging Bone Chapter” and “Snake Movement Fox Flip” without missing a single word. He then returned the way he came, followed suit, swam out of the underground river, changed his clothes, and went to the thatched hut by the ancient tomb.
A campfire burned in the night. He drank wine to warm himself, ate a few pieces of rabbit meat to fill his stomach, and began to silently recall and analyze the “Yijin Forging Bone Chapter.”
The words were obscure and profound, but for Zhou Yan, who had already read many Taoist classics and debated with Ma Yu and Wang Chuyi for a long time, understanding the cultivation techniques in the Nine Yin Manual was no longer difficult.
In just half an hour, he understood the essence and cultivation methods of the entire technique. His consciousness sank, his mind became clear, his soul did not wander inward, and his spirit did not roam outward, entering a state of cultivation.
As the sun rose and mist shrouded the mountainside, Zhou Yan suddenly felt a mysterious stream of qi emerge from his limbs and bones, subtly altering his meridians and bones. Bones produced marrow, marrow produced blood, and blood carried pulse qi, which could then stimulate the internal force within the blood. Zhou Yan knew this process of blood-qi generating strength like the back of his hand.
A wisp of internal force, though slight, was pure and warm as it circulated from his Dantian through the cultivation technique.
Zhou Yan was delighted. If he continued to cultivate like this, by the time he left Zhongnan Mountain, he would be able to increase his strength by twenty percent, just like Guo Jing on Mingxia Island.
“Head Escort Zhou.”
Suddenly, Li Mochou’s voice was heard. Zhou Yan opened his eyes and saw her carrying an earthen jar and square cakes. He didn’t need to guess; the jar contained honey.
“Good morning.”
“Still practicing?”
“Mm.”
“Junior Sister mentioned last night that you practiced by the river waves and comprehended swordplay on the mountain peak. I thought my late nights and early mornings were diligent enough, but compared to you, Head Escort, I am still ashamed.”
The winter sun fell on Li Mochou’s delicate face and charming eyebrows. With a graceful smile and a gentle demeanor, she praised Zhou Yan. Sitting on the grass mat, her voice, as crisp as a yellow oriole’s song, continued, “There isn’t much good food in the Ancient Tomb either. This is honey I collected and stored. It’s cold, so eat more to warm yourself.”
“Thank you. How is your injury, Elder?”
“It has stabilized. I am now circulating energy and resting, so you don’t need to worry.”
Zhou Yan was constantly contemplating Ouyang Ke’s potential threat to the Ancient Tomb. As long as the opponent was not dead, he could return. He could not guard the Ancient Tomb forever.
Li Mochou and Little Dragon Girl could be considered gifted, and the Ancient Tomb’s martial arts were profound and extensive. However, they lacked guidance from a renowned master, and their cultivation was limited. If Ouyang Ke were to return, they would still be at his mercy.
In a sense, Li Mochou’s current predicament was entirely his fault.
If it weren’t for the martial arts competition agreement at the Mountain God Temple outside Datong Prefecture, Li Mochou wouldn’t have exposed her whereabouts, inadvertently implicating Little Dragon Girl.
Thinking this, he made a decision and said, “I have a cultivation technique that can improve innate potential and rapidly increase strength in a short period. How about we cultivate it together?”
“Pfft!” Li Mochou smiled charmingly.
Zhou Yan was quite surprised.
“We just met. At that time, your martial arts were primarily external style, you couldn’t use lightness skills, and your swordplay and saberplay were ordinary. I offered to teach you, and now it’s the other way around.”
She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her right hand, and looked at Zhou Yan sideways. “Besides, if I learn your technique, how will we compete in the future?”
“It’s simple. Just like we both learned Elder Hong’s martial arts, we can choose not to use them during competitions.”
“But the sect rules are strict.”
“Someone once said that as an escort, I broke the rule of not interfering in other people’s business and not interacting with women, and also said I should break it a few more times.”
Li Mochou chuckled, “Don’t beat around the bush. You’re talking about me.”
“What’s wrong? You dared to teach me martial arts back then, but you don’t dare to learn my cultivation technique? You learned Elder Hong’s hidden weapon techniques, but you’re playing favorites.”
“I only learned that to beat you. Hmph, who says I don’t dare? I’ll learn it if you want.”
Zhou Yan smiled subtly. Li Mochou had a stubborn and arrogant streak; the provocation method was effective.
“I’ll tell you now.”
“Okay!”
Zhou Yan dared to teach, and Li Mochou dared to learn. He told her the “Yijin Forging Bone Chapter” from the Nine Yin Manual verbatim.
After nearly half an hour, Li Mochou memorized it word for word. She pondered over the obscure and difficult-to-understand text. Suddenly, she heard Zhou Yan say, “I’ll explain.”
“Mm, thank you. I was worried it would be hard to understand.”
“Yi, is the way of Yin and Yang. Yi means change. The changes of Yi, though existing in Yin and Yang, actually exist in people. Manipulating the sun and moon in the pot, grasping Yin and Yang in the palm…”
“Jin, are the meridians of the human body. They circulate blood and are the external aids to spirit and mind. Like the shoulder’s ability to carry, the hand’s ability to grasp, the foot’s ability to tread, and the body’s overall agility and liveliness, all depend on the firmness of the tendons…”
Zhou Yan stated each sentence and explained it word by word. Li Mochou’s face showed expressions of understanding, confusion, and excitement at times.
While he was explaining, Li Mochou still had doubts because many Taoist terms that Zhou Yan now found simple were easily misinterpreted by her.
For example, Yijin Forging Bone involved the viscera, and the technique included “Yellow Granny” and “Four Seas.”
Li Mochou instinctively interpreted “Yellow Granny” as an old woman whose beauty had faded, but in reality, “Yellow Granny” referred to the “spleen” in the human body, and “Four Seas” referred to the heart, kidneys, spleen, and brain.
If Zhou Yan had obtained this chapter of the true scripture before encountering Wang Chuyi and Ma Yu, he would have likely understood it in the same way as Li Mochou.
Li Mochou’s excitement also stemmed from her sudden enlightenment regarding the shortcomings of many of her sect’s qi cultivation methods. In her excitement, she couldn’t help but admire Zhou Yan’s vast knowledge and talent, and with this thought, she couldn’t help but look at him more.
The gentle midday light fell on Zhou Yan’s face. His nose was like a hanging gall, his features handsome, his contours sharp and heroic, and he possessed a mature confidence beyond his years.
Li Mochou found it hard not to look, and the more she looked, the more she couldn’t stop. Her thoughts began to wander.
Her complexion suddenly turned as red as plum blossoms blooming in the mountains.
Fortunately, Zhou Yan was focused and undisturbed. With the campfire’s warmth, Li Mochou could still manage to conceal her feelings.
In this rhythm, past noon, Zhou Yan transferred the “Yijin Forging Bone Chapter,” which he had only cultivated for a few hours, to Li Mochou. It would improve her innate potential and increase her strength. The martial arts of the Ancient Tomb were enough to transform Li Mochou.
After Zhou Yan finished imparting the technique, just as he was about to say it was getting late, Li Mochou changed her mind and went to the Ancient Tomb to look after Lin Chaoying’s maid. A childish voice startled the forest birds.
“Sister, Master has woken up from her rest and healing.”
Li Mochou got up in a hurry, “I’m going to see Master.”
“Mm!”
Li Mochou used the Ancient Tomb’s lightness skill to depart, her posture elegant, her demeanor reserved, her rhythm light and graceful, as beautiful as if she were dancing.
