Chapter 156

155. Chapter 155: The Great Elixir and Bone Marrow Cultivation

At night, inside the Zhao Family Martial Arts Hall.

As the strange medicinal scent rapidly faded, under Li Yi's protection, the spirits could not steal the herbs, so the third batch of Soul-Returning Pills was brewed with exceptional ease.

Another ten deep-green pills were placed into a box; a junior herbalist carried it over and respectfully presented it to Li Yi.

Excluding the first failed batch, after two subsequent brews, a total of twenty Soul-Returning Pills were obtained; Zhao Ge consumed two, Li Yi took one, leaving seventeen remaining.

"Master, please keep two Soul-Returning Pills as the hall's reserve—I'll take the rest without hesitation." He paused, then decided to leave two behind.

Zhao Ge thought for a moment and nodded: "Good idea. These pills are rare and difficult to brew; if any of our disciples suffer soul injuries in the future, we'll have medicine to treat them. You're thoughtful, Meng De. But don't worry—I'll gather Great Herbs again and brew more. Right now, only our Zhao Family Hall exists in San Yang City; resources won't be lacking."

"Speaking of which, I just remembered—today, the Prefect's mansion sent people to the hall, delivering many treasures and Great Herbs, along with a secret technique for Blood-Infusing the Meridians. I examined the method—it's truly exquisite and authentic. Meng De, go study it carefully later; if anything's unclear, come ask me."

He added: "Daughter, bring out all those items and take them to Meng De's residence later."

"I'll go right away," Zhao Qian said immediately.

Li Yi said: "Master, keep the treasures and Great Herbs for yourself. Also, make a copy of the Blood-Infusing Meridians technique and leave it in the hall—I only need one copy."

"No," Zhao Guo shook his head. "That's the Meridian Technique of the thousand-year Fan Clan—never taught to outsiders. If anyone else in our Zhao Family Hall learns it, disaster will follow. You take it. Our hall has a Blood-Infusing Meridians method of our own; though not as profound as the Fan Clan's, it's sufficient to run the hall."

"Alright," Li Yi said, reluctantly agreeing.

Fan Zhizhou was right: even if he released the Blood-Infusing Meridians technique, no one would dare practice it—they all feared offending the thousand-year aristocratic clan.

Not everyone in the Four Seas and Eight Provinces is Li Yi, who can brazenly scorn nobility. Most still fear royal houses and aristocratic clans.

"I'm tired today and must rest early. Rong Niang, escort Meng De back to his residence. These next few days, Meng De must begin Bone Marrow Cultivation. Help him diligently. I've already prepared all the Great Herbs and Treasure Herbs for Bone Marrow Cultivation—Zhao Qian will deliver them later. If you have questions, come to the hall."

Zhao Ge felt his eyelids heavy, eager to sleep. He knew that after consuming the Soul-Returning Pills, he needed ample rest to nourish his wounded soul—only then could he fully heal.

"Master, rest assured—I'll help Senior Brother cultivate diligently," Rong Niang said earnestly.

Zhao Guo then bowed to the others: "Master Shen, everyone, I have matters to attend to today and cannot keep you company longer. Please, take your leave."

"You're too kind, Master Zhao," Shen Shi of the Treasure Emporium smiled. "Goodbye."

With the herbal brewing complete, everyone sighed in relief. The hour was late—it was time to depart.

Soon after.

Everyone exchanged farewells and left the Zhao Family Martial Arts Hall.

Li Yi did not linger. He no longer needed to guard the hall. With his master's injury healed, Zhao Guo himself was a powerful Meridian Cultivator—the hall was now fully on track. He planned to stay a few more days, learn the Bone Marrow and Blood-Infusing techniques, then find an opportunity to leave the Four Seas and Eight Provinces.

He had been away from Tianchang City too long—he feared problems might arise if he stayed away longer.

Immediately.

Li Yi, accompanied by Rong Niang and Zhao Qian, left the hall.

Upon arriving at his residence, Li Yi told Rong Niang and Zhao Qian to rest well, then returned alone to the quiet room, swallowed a Soul-Returning Pill, and entered meditation.

"Indeed, my earlier feeling wasn't an illusion—after taking the Soul-Returning Pill, my cultivation metrics rose significantly. Before, they were at 420%; now, after martial enhancement and the pill's nourishment, they're at least 550%—a full 130-point increase."

Li Yi felt delighted.

Cultivation metrics represent one's potential—the higher the number, the greater one's future attainment. Most importantly, at this growth rate, he might reach 1000%.

Once he reached 1000%, he would qualify for the Golden Academy, the world's top cultivation realm.

He activated the White Bone Contemplation Technique.

Cosmic energy slowly gathered around him. Though cosmic energy here was scarce, no other Evolved Ones were present—so even these thin traces, when concentrated, could temporarily satisfy his cultivation. After all, unpolluted energy wasn't wasted; every bit drawn in belonged solely to him.

This sensation was countless times stronger than capturing wandering cosmic energy on Earth.

Li Yi had tried using the energy from the knife coins to cultivate, but found that upon entering the Four Seas and Eight Provinces—where cosmic energy was thin—their energy field had severely decayed. If he stayed here long, the knife coins themselves might break down.

No wonder the resentment within the knife coins had stopped speaking.

Still, this place was better than most. If he accidentally entered a world in the Final Dharma Age, that would be terrifying.

Miraculous artifacts become mundane, Evolved Ones regress into ordinary humans, lifespans plummet—just thinking of it filled him with despair.

Meanwhile, the Eight Treasures Deer, Buzhi from where, had slipped into the room during Li Yi's cultivation and, of its own accord, approached to bask in the cosmic energy's nourishment.

The night passed quickly.

The next day, at first light.

Evolution period ended.

Daytime cultivation began anew.

In the training yard, Rong Niang wore a fitted martial suit, her waist cinched with a belt, radiating martial vigor. She spoke to guide Li Yi's next stage of martial cultivation.

"Senior Brother, you've completed Bone Strengthening. Now comes Bone Marrow Cultivation. Master taught me the Bone Marrow Washing Scripture—a common method, yet a high-tier one. Legend says an ancient martial artist, enraged by aristocratic monopolies on martial cultivation techniques, publicly released this precious scripture. Since then, the Bone Marrow Washing Scripture has spread throughout the Four Seas and Eight Provinces; nearly every martial hall owns a copy."

"Bone Marrow Cultivation strengthens the marrow. When marrow strengthens, blood and qi naturally surge. The Bone Marrow Washing Scripture combines nourishment and cultivation. But don't worry about nourishment—Master has already prepared Bone Marrow Nourishing Pills to save you time."

"Now, just swallow a Bone Marrow Nourishing Pill, sit quietly, and try to circulate your blood and qi to nourish your marrow."

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In the training yard, Li Yi listened patiently, then began attempting Bone Marrow Cultivation.

Though Evolved Ones possess superior physicality, re-cultivating martial arts still left gaps—lacking fine control over the body.

Soon after swallowing a Bone Marrow Nourishing Pill, under Rong Niang's guidance, he circulated his blood and qi to nourish his marrow.

Not long after, a tingling itch spread across his entire body.

"When marrow begins to grow, you'll feel this itch. Senior Brother, it's normal. When the itch vanishes completely, Bone Marrow Cultivation is complete—you'll then feel your blood and qi surge, your strength greatly increased, and your bones hardened."

"But the hardest part is cultivating the spine. I'm stuck here—I never perfected it, so I've yet to break into Blood Cultivation."

"But now we have many Treasure Herbs and Great Herbs—some greatly aid Bone Marrow Cultivation. I'll find them for you; you can cultivate while nourishing."

As Rong Niang spoke, she swallowed a Bone Marrow Nourishing Pill and began cultivating herself.

Yet her skill was refined—she could nourish her marrow while guiding Li Yi's cultivation.

"Bone Marrow Cultivation consumes too much. I've only trained a moment, and I'm already hungry."

Li Yi immediately felt the urge to drink nutrient fluid—but remembered this was San Yang City, not Tianchang City; the nutrient fluid had been exhausted during earlier training.

"Senior Brother, you're hungry already? Wait—I'll find you something to eat."

Rong Niang knew well her Senior Brother's enormous appetite—such a physique consumed terrifying amounts. She had brought many mountain delicacies and Great Herbs. She immediately rummaged through a nearby chest and soon pulled out a box.

Inside was a black-red pill.

"This is the Hundred Tiger Ginseng Pill—a Great Herb sent by the Prefect of San Yang City. It's made by refining the essence of a hundred fierce tigers, then simmered with a Grade Earth Treasure ginseng. It strengthens bones and fills marrow. One pill lets a martial artist easily leap past Bone Strengthening and Bone Marrow Cultivation."

She handed it to him.

"Is it really that miraculous?" Li Yi hesitated, but swallowed it.

Instantly, he felt not a pill, but a metal ball.

His abdomen immediately felt weighted.

But soon, as stomach acids digested it, a torrent of blood and qi surged through his body.

"Great Herbs are hard to digest. Ordinary martial artists take three months to fully absorb one—if their body is weak, they'll expel it just as they ingested it," Rong Niang laughed. "But you won't have that problem, Senior Brother. Your dragon sinews and tiger bones can easily withstand the pill's potency."

Great Herbs are potent—but only for those strong enough.

Without a robust physique, many Great Herbs cannot be consumed—they may even kill you.

But Rong Niang was right: Li Yi could digest this Hundred Tiger Ginseng Pill.

His evolved body was extraordinary—not only digesting quickly, but absorbing rapidly.

Feeling the potent herbal energy activate, Li Yi immediately resumed the Bone Marrow Washing Scripture, circulating his blood and qi to further cultivate his marrow.