Chapter 5: The Method of Refining the Viscera

A girl dressed head to toe in scarlet martial attire, her hair tied up, stood with her back to Fang Xu, listening to the man before her give instruction.

The man wore a white robe, was about fifty, with a pale face and short beard, appearing somewhat scholarly yet not overly talkative, resembling a village schoolteacher.

"Master Lu." Li Yunshan brought Fang Xu forward and bowed respectfully to the middle-aged man, saying, "This youngster from the Fang family wishes to ask Master Lu for guidance."

"Have you paid?" Lu Zhiyuan glanced at the two and said indifferently.

Fang Xu hurriedly bowed and said, "I've already given the fifty taels of silver to Big Brother Li."

The girl in scarlet martial attire also turned around; her face needed no makeup, her slightly baby‑fat cheeks bore tightly closed red lips, above her delicately carved jade‑like nose, her lively eyes held a hint of doubt as they surveyed Fang Xu.

"Yunshan, Qinglo, you may go first." Lu Zhiyuan spoke slowly.

After the girl in red attire and Li Yunshan gave a slight bow and left the small courtyard, Lu Zhiyuan turned to Fang Xu and said, "You should know the rules of Zhiyuan Hall; I only teach the method of refining the viscera, and I cannot guarantee you will become a martial practitioner."

"Moreover, whether or not you become a martial practitioner, those fifty taels of silver are non‑refundable."

Fang Xu nodded slightly and clasped his hands, saying, "I understand, youngster."

This rule is an industry standard: fifty taels of silver is the admission fee; the master leads you in, but your achievement depends on yourself.

"Then, come forward."

Seeing he had no objection, Lu Zhiyuan spoke slowly.

Fang Xu took two steps forward, slowly extended his right arm, and Lu Zhiyuan reached out to grasp his arm and closed his eyes.

A moment later—

"Your qi and blood are abundant, your foundation very solid—quite impressive."

Martial practitioners train the exterior flesh and interior bones and blood, finally refining the five viscera and six bowels; the so‑called early talent is merely one's potential, and Fang Xu has never specially tested his own talent.

Over the past twenty years or so, his grandfather seemed to intend for him to become a martial practitioner; even when life was tight, he was never shortchanged.

Although premium blood food and medicines were scarce, relying on his carpentry skills he could earn some money, so his nutrition was never lacking.

"Come with me." After feeling Fang Xu's bones, Lu Zhiyuan led him into a secret chamber.

The chamber was not large, its furnishings simple: a table, a chair, and a slab of stubborn stone.

After Fang Xu stood still, Lu Zhiyuan directly asked, "Do you know what a martial practitioner is?"

Meeting his gaze, Fang Xu pondered for a long time and shook his head.

The imperial family's inherited Coiled Dragon Strength contains only the most basic body‑refining method before the bone‑refining stage, with nothing overly profound, so naturally it does not record what a true martial practitioner is.

Lu Zhiyuan saw no surprise and said directly, "The human body has one hundred and eight apertures; these one hundred and eight apertures are one hundred and eight hidden storehouses."

"A martial practitioner is one who cultivates internally, uncovers their own potential, continually opens the body's hidden storehouses, and gains strength."

Hearing Lu Zhiyuan's explanation, Fang Xu suddenly understood.

But before he could further digest it, Lu Zhiyuan spoke again: "What do you think is the reason martial practitioners refine the viscera, and how should they do it?"

Fang Xu blinked in surprise, then shook his head again.

Lu Zhiyuan, hands behind his back, said, "The body is a vessel; the power hidden within is great. To release that power and make it one's own, one must first possess a vessel capable of holding it."

As he spoke, he slowly extended his hand and struck the stone slab before him with a sudden palm.

Boom!

The stone slab, harder than ordinary steel, sank more than an inch under Lu Zhiyuan's palm strike!

Fang Xu gasped inwardly; if that palm struck an ordinary person, it would surely pierce straight through the body!

A martial master at the master level can unleash such force with a casual blow; thus the legends of martial saints splitting mountains with a palm and shattering the earth with a foot are likely true.

"Come forward." After demonstrating a little skill, Lu Zhiyuan summoned Fang Xu again and grabbed both his wrists.

Before Fang Xu could react, he felt a domineering force begin to flow along his arm, rushing through his meridians into the five viscera and six bowels before easing slightly.

"The five viscera are also called the body's five spirits, each with its own temperament: the heart is like a monkey, restless and fickle, to be disciplined; the liver is like fire, violent and irritable, to be soothed…"

Lu Zhiyuan guided that force through Fang Xu's five viscera and six bowels while explaining in a deep voice.

Combining his voice with the sensation of the force ebbing and flowing in the five viscera and six bowels, Fang Xu realized this was the true method of refining the viscera.

He dared not slacken, focusing his mind and calming his spirit, carefully listening and feeling everything happening in his body. Gradually, Fang Xu felt his consciousness sink into his chest cavity, the fiery, violent liver, the heart like a great ape… the five viscera and six bowels appeared one by one before him.

Meanwhile, the force Lu Zhiyuan controlled took on different forms—sometimes like a long whip lashing the great ape‑heart, sometimes like a gentle breeze and fine rain soothing the fiery liver…

Fang Xu immersed himself in this wonder, utterly oblivious to the passage of time.

When he opened his eyes again, he saw Lu Zhiyuan standing not far away, silently watching him.

"Master Lu." Fang Xu hastily bowed.

A rare smile appeared on Lu Zhiyuan's face as he nodded and said, "Your talent is not bad, a pity…"

Fang Xu puzzled, about to ask, but Lu Zhiyuan waved his hand and said, "Go on; I have already told you the method of refining the viscera. If you have any questions, come back and ask."

"Remember this: refining the viscera is painstaking work; it cannot be rushed, excess is as bad as deficiency. When you feel pain in your viscera, stop at the proper point, otherwise you will suffer serious injury."

Fang Xu's heart tightened; he immediately bowed again to Lu Zhiyuan and said, "Thank you, Master Lu."

Leaving the secret chamber, the sun had already slanted to the southwest; looking back at the gate of Zhiyuan Hall, Fang Xu paused slightly, then turned and departed.

Having grasped the basics of the viscera‑refining method, all that remained was to train diligently and strive to enter the ranks of martial practitioners as soon as possible.

However, before that, I still need to purchase some blood food and Blood Qi Pills.

Not far from Zhiyuan Hall stands the town's sole shop selling medicines, a monopoly held by the Wu family; as for the blood‑food trade in Fenglin Town, it is controlled by the Zhang family.

Both great clans have a martial master stationed in Fenglin Town, where they have held sway for a hundred years, and they maintain countless connections with the major powers of the prefecture.

The Wu family's medicine shop is named Qinxiang Zhai.

Here they not only offer Blood Qi Pills and Yuan Element Pills, precious medicines for cultivators, but also sell large quantities of medicated powders and ointments for external injuries, as well as common herbs.

While Wang Ergou's father was alive, he had been a nominal disciple of the Wu family patriarch; relying on that status he could resell some medicinal ingredients in Fenglin Town, earn money, and raise Wang Erhu to become a martial practitioner.

However, Wang Ergou's father lacked the talent; he never became a true disciple of the Wu family patriarch, nor did he learn any alchemical skills.

When Fang Xu arrived at the gate of Qinxiang Zhai, the old man at the door recognized him.

"Little Fang, coming again to buy medicated powder?"

The medicinal powder the old man referred to was the leftover dregs from refining Blood Qi Pills; its efficacy was far inferior to that of genuine Blood Qi Pills, but it won on price being cheap, and Fang Xu had always relied on this powder for his cultivation.

"Uncle Li, kid, this time I came to buy Blood Qi Pills." Fang Xu patted the package behind him and spoke grandly.

The old man looked at him, somewhat startled upon hearing that.

One Blood Qi Pill is worth ten taels of silver, while a dose of the medicinal powder costs only fifty cash.

Fang Xu now opening his mouth to buy Blood Qi Pills truly surprised the old man quite a bit; he immediately respectfully invited him into the shop, saying: "Fang Xiao... Young Master Fang, how many Blood Qi Pills do you want?"

Fang Xu thought for a moment and said: "Let's start with five."

He now only has seventy-four taels of silver left on him; he still needs to buy blood food and cover daily expenses, so he can't spend it all on pills at once.

"Aunt Wu, how many Blood Qi Pills does Fragrant Heart Studio have left? This young master wants them all!"

Just then, a rather arrogant voice came from the entrance of Fragrant Heart Studio.

(End of chapter)