Chapter 262: Golden Body Elixir, the Master

Who?

Outside the courtyard, Li Yuan blinked in surprise, then realized Xiang Wenhua was referring to Chu Xukong.

"Xiang…"

Li Yuan snapped back to himself; the white crane had already flown far away, leaving only a distant glimpse of Xiang Wenhua waving to him.

Chu Xukong failed to break through to Master level?

"No wonder I haven't heard a word from him all these past six months…"

Since joining the sect, Li Yuan had always been wary of the "hidden hand" Old Han mentioned, but with half a year passing, he'd nearly forgotten.

"Failing to break through to Master level after completing Blood Transformation—according to the records in the Scripture Tower, this stage requires the union of spirit and body, the harmony of qi and spirit. If this step fails, the backlash is immense."

Li Yuan's expression turned subtle.

Before reaching Body Transformation, there's no such thing as qi deviation—worst case, you get a qi blockage. But after Meridian Opening, every misstep brings severe consequences.

Failing to break through to Master level—even with top-grade elixirs on hand—the backlash cannot be fully erased. At best, you drop a realm; at worst, you exhaust your life force and die on the spot.

"Cultivating martial arts demands caution. One wrong step costs dearly."

Li Yuan grew alert. Back in his courtyard, he pondered Xiang Wenhua's words even while washing up.

Clearly, Xiang Wenhua knew something—he knew Chu Xukong wasn't friendly toward him, and now, bringing this up…

"That's why there haven't been a single challenger in half a year, no troublemakers showing up as I expected—he's been holding them off?"

Recalling Xiang Wenhua's words, Li Yuan suddenly understood: this was likely Long Xinglie's doing.

Though Xiang Wenhua was the senior brother of Tiger Gate, only Long Xinglie could command such respect.

"This senior brother is a man of principle."

Li Yuan felt a pang of admiration. As fellow future Sect Masters, Shi Hong's character and resolve paled beside Long Xinglie's.

Without a sound, he'd arranged everything.

Closing the courtyard gate, Li Yuan had planned to go to Pure Steel Peak to forge, but now that he held the Golden Body Elixir, his mind burned with anticipation.

The potency of spiritual elixirs far surpasses ordinary pills. Earlier, three doses of the Jade Serpent Elixir had directly helped him complete the Serpent Form.

Normally, geniuses like Shi Hong or Qiu Changying would need twenty to thirty years of hard cultivation to complete the Serpent Form.

The potency of the Golden Body Elixir far exceeds that of the Jade Serpent Elixir.

"Not easy at all."

Inside the room, Li Yuan weighed the medicinal gourd in his hand.

Fifteen pieces of Serpent Blood Golden Body Fruit, nineteen other valuable spiritual herbs, plus a personal favor—just for half a gourd of these pills.

Normally, even the wealthiest Inner Disciple in the Top Hundred of the Dragon List would need over a decade to afford half a gourd of Golden Body Elixir.

"Twenty-three Golden Body Elixirs—could they push the Ten Thousand Blades Spirit Dragon Body to the seventh level?"

Li Yuan felt hopeful. After forging the Jun Tian Divine Hammer, his body cultivation was now urgent.

Not to mention the two heavier hammers he planned to forge later—if his body couldn't bear even this one Divine Hammer, how could he ever handle the Split-Sea Whale Hammer?

"Snap!"

As Li Yuan opened the gourd, a gust of wind rushed at his face—he raised his hand and caught the leaping cub.

He gripped the gourd tightly, wary: "This gourd of pills is vital to me. Don't you dare mess with it."

"Ugh!"

The cub, scenting the pill aroma, flicked its long tail, its belly emitting low whimpers—as if its tail had just been stepped on.

"…."

Man and cat stared at each other.

"Next time I refine a batch, I'll give you some. This one's off-limits."

Li Yuan stepped back half a pace, drew a big promise for the little creature, then swiftly pulled out one Golden Body Elixir and swallowed it, stuffing the rest back into his robe.

"Gulp!"

Like a stone dropped into a well, Li Yuan felt his stomach sink.

"Damn, this is a Golden Core pill?"

He'd swallowed too fast to examine it closely, but the weight—surely heavier than gold of equal volume. Compressed elixir, right?

"Ugh!"

The cub shot Li Yuan a furious glare, leapt off, and vanished toward the Hundred Beasts Forest with practiced ease.

Just before leaving, it glanced back at Li Yuan—with a distinctly human-like smirk.

A small rat poked its head from the corner, glancing left and right, then squeaked twice, gathering a few "bodyguards" from its burrow to follow the "Cat Ancestor."

Lately, it had collected plenty of good finds—now even its master's Blood-Enriching Pills held little interest.

Li Yuan glanced over, unbothered.

Normally, he'd test new pills on the rat first—but the Golden Body Elixir's potency was too great. He feared the little thing couldn't handle it.

He took a deep breath, sat still, and calmed his breath. Focusing his spiritual sense, he perceived every sinew, every bone, every inch of muscle in his body.

More finely still, through the great circulation of blood and internal force, he touched his internal organs.

He "saw" the Golden Body Elixir soaked in gastric fluid.

The pill, the size of a dragon's eye, was incredibly dense. Even with his current digestion, it took a full cup of tea's time to break through its medicinal coating.

Boom!

The instant the thin coating shattered, Li Yuan felt searing abdominal pain—as if a wild monkey had leapt into his stomach. Even with his endurance, he couldn't suppress a muffled groan.

"This much potency?"

Li Yuan leapt up, dashed into the courtyard, snatched up his heavy hammer, and began executing every pillar exercise at top speed, burning off the furnace blazing inside him.

Scorching. Violent.

The Golden Body Elixir's potency far exceeded the Jade Serpent Elixir. In his perception, his body truly held a furnace.

Sizzle!

Li Yuan tore off his outer robe. His body temperature soared; blood surged and churned. His skin turned crimson under the assault.

The potency was terrifying.

Li Yuan was startled, but quickly calmed. Over the past few years, he'd swallowed thousands—if not tens of thousands—of pills. Though this one was potent, he knew exactly how to process it.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Wind howled through the courtyard. Li Yuan stood in pillars and swung his hammer—normally slow, now swift as a storm, hammer shadows filling every corner.

"Body-Cultivation Elixir!"

Amid the furious hammer swings, Li Yuan remained calm. One pill down—he now understood why the Golden Body Elixir was called a Body-Cultivation Elixir.

This violent internal stimulation far surpassed iron rods pounding the body or iron sand rubbing the skin.

"Ten Thousand Blades Spirit Dragon!"

Li Yuan focused two minds at once: visualizing the faint shadow of the Spirit Dragon, while his entire body's sinews and bones trembled in rhythm—this was the method of the Ten Thousand Blades Spirit Dragon.

This supreme-level body cultivation technique, through relentless effort, has seven levels. When fully perfected, it can withstand divine weapons, resist fire and water, and endure any blade below divine rank.

The Golden Body Elixir's potency was fierce—and enduring.

Li Yuan's training lasted from dawn until sunset. In the cold wind, his body steamed with sweat; the entire courtyard grew warm, as if winter had turned to summer.

Crack!

At one moment, Li Yuan suddenly stopped. A metallic grinding sound echoed from within him. His heavy hammer clattered to the ground; his arms went limp, then naturally shifted into the Long Chan Pill stance.

The crimson hue on his skin faded slightly. Scar-like patterns, as if carved by swords and blades, slowly emerged—spreading from his arms to his shoulders and back. From afar, they resembled inverted dragon scales.

"Ten Thousand Blades Spirit Dragon Body—minor perfection achieved!"

The thought surfaced in Li Yuan's mind, but he didn't distract himself—he refocused, continuing to digest the Golden Body Elixir's power.

He felt this pill's potency was even stronger than the records described…

…

…

The white crane spread its wings, flew past Hun Tian Peak, and landed.

Xiang Wenhua flicked out a pill, letting the crane fly off, warning it not to enter the Hundred Beasts Forest. The crane gave a soft cry and vanished into the clouds.

"Those 'Beast Ancestors' are restless again. Lately, the Hundred Beasts Forest has been in chaos… Whatever. None of my concern. Let Wei Shen Hall handle this tedious duty."

Xiang Wenhua muttered to himself.

The Hundred Beasts Hall was originally called "Hundred Beasts Wei Shen Hall," but inside the temple, everyone just called it Hundred Beasts Hall. This hall not only raised spiritual beasts and grew spiritual herbs, but also captured them for the sect.

"Long Yin Hall is lively."

Xiang Wenhua carried a gift box up the path. Far off, he heard voices, squinted, and spotted a young man with a cold face, carrying a long sword on his back.

He ascended another mountain path; as he passed, Long Yin Hall disciples bowed, stepped aside, showing both respect and fear.

"Duan Hong."

Xiang Wenhua narrowed his eyes; the other glanced over. Their eyes met briefly, then both looked away as if they hadn't seen each other.

"He's back too?"

Xiang Wenhua paid no mind, walking calmly forward. Ahead, a Dragon Tablet stood, surrounded by Inner Disciples gazing and murmuring.

From afar, he heard phrases like "Li Yuan" and "entered again."

"Only a few days—another one already?"

Xiang Wenhua had sharp eyes. Even from afar, he saw the line: "Dragon List No. 46, Li Yuan, Meridian Opening Complete."

"This kid's talent is truly exceptional—but I wonder if he's just hollow rank. Hollow rank won't get him into the Dragon Tiger Tower's top thirty."

Xiang Wenhua didn't join the crowd. He carried his gift up Long Yin Peak to Chu Xukong's courtyard.

He arrived early, but many people were already standing outside the courtyard gate.

As deputy head of Longyin Hall, Chu Xukong's severe injury spread quickly—not only did many come from the three halls of Dalongmen, but also from the three halls of Hu Men, and even the three main-line halls.

He glanced over and spotted Douyue the monk; the big monk was broad as a door panel, tall and sturdy, impossible to miss.

"Dear uncles and aunts, fellow disciples…"

At that moment, someone opened the courtyard gate, and a delicate young girl bowed deeply, tear tracks still fresh on her face:

"Master is too severely injured to receive visitors…"

"How is Brother Chu's condition?"

Everyone asked at once, voices overlapping; Douyue the monk's voice was the loudest.

"Master coughed up blood all night—his injury is extremely grave."

The female disciple spoke, tears streaming.

"If that's the case, we won't disturb Brother Chu's recovery."

Douyue the monk spoke loudly, set down his gifts of fruit and offerings, bowed, and left; the others followed, offering condolences and departing.

Xin Wenhua felt a pang of regret—he had wanted to observe closely; he too would eventually face the trial of becoming a Master.

Alas…

He set down his gift and turned to leave.

…

After everyone left, the courtyard gate grew suddenly quiet.

Not long after, Lin Tianhe hurried over; he had some personal ties with Chu Xukong and was admitted inside, where he saw Chu Xukong lying on the bed, face deathly pale, both qi and blood depleted.

"Brother Chu, what happened to your injury?"

The moment he stepped into the room, Lin Tianhe's heart turned cold—the air reeked of blood; a quasi-Master who had completed blood transformation couldn't even control his own qi and blood?

This…

He crouched beside the bed and noticed Chu Xukong's hair had turned gray-white; wrinkles had appeared on his face and hands?

"Took the Dragon Pill—won't die."

Chu Xukong kept his eyes closed; his voice was weak but calm: "When my condition improves, I'll write down the details of this breakthrough attempt and send them to the Scripture Library."

"Why talk about that now? Your injury is severe, but a single Longhu Dadan can heal it…"

"Perhaps."

Lin Tianhe felt a twinge of guilt—he had deliberately distanced himself from Chu Xukong over the past half year.

"I'm tired, Brother Lin, you may go."

Lin Tianhe wanted to say more, but Chu Xukong coughed lightly, dismissing him.

"Huh!"

After seeing off Lin Tianhe, Chu Xukong slowly opened his eyes; his calm expression shattered, replaced by resentment and struggle.

"So close… just a little… just a little more… puh!"

Chu Xukong coughed up blood, unwilling to yield.

He forced himself upright, staring at his hands and feet, rough as old tree bark, his expression numb:

"The Longhu Dadan is a miraculous healing elixir—but it cannot extend life…"

…

…

"I understand the difficulty of blood transformation, but the Master realm…"

On the path up Longyin Peak, Xin Wenhua's heart felt heavy.

He had no close ties with Chu Xukong, yet he couldn't help being moved—blood transformation blocked men like him, but the Master realm…

He sighed inwardly, about to leave, but before descending Longyin Peak, he saw an elderly nun in monk's robes hurrying toward him.

Master Dingxin?

Xin Wenhua was startled; the old nun was usually cold and meticulous about decorum, never this hurried—did she have such deep ties with Chu Xukong?

"Master, are you here to visit Brother Chu?"

Xin Wenhua bowed slightly.

"... Which Brother Chu? Chu Xukong? Is he dead?"

The old nun froze, then spoke in a low, grave tone:

"Where is the Golden Body Pill?"

"Huh? What?"

Xin Wenhua frowned, then noticed with surprise—the nun's lips were stained with blood. Was it the pill…?

"That pill is wrong—terribly wrong!"

Master Dingxin reeked of smoke and ash, her face filled with shock:

"The ingredients are correct, the appearance is correct, the formula and fire control are flawless—but that pill isn't a Golden Body Pill."

"If the ingredients, appearance, formula, and fire control are all right, isn't it a Golden Body Pill?"

Xin Wenhua pulled out his own bottle of Jin Shendan, poured out one pill, examined it closely—and saw nothing amiss.

"The Golden Body Pill uses Jiao blood and Golden Body Fruit as its main ingredient, inherently violent in nature, yet all supporting herbs are perfectly mild—when combined…"

"…."

She droned on explaining the principles; Xin Wenhua's head throbbed: "Just tell me what's wrong."

"The medicinal force is wrong—violent, extremely violent."

Master Dingxin still trembled with fear—last night she tried one pill, just one, and nearly died; had she not spat it out immediately…

She might have been torn apart from within.

"How is this possible… no!"

Xin Wenhua froze, then turned pale:

"Li Yuan!"