Sharpening the Knife Does Not Delay the Woodcutting

The Marrow Cleansing Pill had been refined from many precious medicinal herbs and prepared through special methods. It melted the instant it entered the mouth.

The pill turned into medicinal liquid, carrying warmth as it slowly flowed down his throat into his stomach.

The instant that warmth reached his stomach, it suddenly exploded, unleashing countless streams of heat that seeped through his flesh and spread throughout his body. Zhao Hongming felt as though he were soaking in a hot spring, overcome by an indescribable comfort.

However, Zhao Hongming kept the precautions Chen Xuerong had mentioned firmly in mind.

He watched his nose, his nose watched his heart, and his heart watched heaven and earth, entering a state of empty contemplation—commonly known as spacing out. In an instant, the lake of his heart calmed.

Then he did his utmost to control his breathing, keeping it steady.

After the warmth lasted for about a quarter of an hour, it gradually faded, replaced by waves of stinging pain.

At first, it was merely the faint pain of mosquitoes and ants biting him, but the medicinal potency of the Marrow Cleansing Pill took effect very quickly.

After only a few breaths, Zhao Hongming felt as though countless silver needles had been stuffed into the meridians throughout his body.

Nor did those silver needles remain motionless within his meridians. As though they had received orders, each one fought on its own, continuously piercing into his meridians and flesh.

Apart from the pain in his meridians, every other part of his body remained as calm as usual, even suffused with a comfortable warmth.

The stark contrast between the two instead caused Zhao Hongming's attention to instinctively focus on his aching meridians.

As a result, he felt even more pain.

Suddenly, Zhao Hongming's expression changed drastically. Both hands pressed against his Dantian, and he refused to move them even half an inch.

Just then, intense pain erupted from his Dantian, as though several burly men were wielding several Steel Sabers and stirring them inside at once.

Compared to the needle-like pain in his meridians, it was simply the difference between clouds and mud.

The drastic change in pain within his Dantian caught Zhao Hongming off guard. His face turned pale as paper, and cold sweat poured from his body like a flood.

Zhao Hongming glanced at Chen Xuerong beside him, and he could not stop himself from cursing inwardly.

Damn it, is this the "stinging pain" you were talking about?

This process lasted for roughly half an hour.

Only then did the twisting pain in his Dantian gradually ease, until every abnormal sensation vanished.

At that point, Zhao Hongming felt as though his entire body had fallen apart. He took a deep breath and could barely force himself to stand.

Zhao Hongming looked down and saw that his clothes had already been soaked through with cold sweat, clinging tightly to his body.

He instinctively summoned Heaven's Reward's Attribute Panel and discovered that the Physique entry in his personal information had undergone a subtle change.

Name: Zhao Hongming

Cultivation Technique: Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique—Not Initiated (20/100)

Breakthrough-Available Technique: None

Today's Cultivation Time: 0 hours

Physique: Good

Talent Enhancement: 1.2

Clearly, the Marrow Cleansing Pill had taken effect. It had cleared the turbid qi from his meridians, cleansed his marrow and transformed his meridians, improving his Physique.

One had to know that a Marrow Cleansing Pill was worth a hundred gold. Its high price naturally had its reasons.

"Your Highness, how do you feel?"

Chen Xuerong, who had been waiting at the side, asked softly.

"This Prince cannot quite put it into words. I only feel that my body has become much lighter." Zhao Hongming carefully sensed his condition before answering.

Chen Xuerong nodded. "That is one of the effects after marrow cleansing. Your Highness has successfully cleansed your marrow."

Zhao Hongming took a deep breath, his gaze shifting slightly. "Then can This Prince cultivate now?"

"You can. The Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique chosen by Your Highness cultivates Longevity True Qi, transforming Longevity Qi into Longevity Intent. Generally, Immortal Martial Arts Techniques focus on tempering the physical body and cultivating True Qi during the Meridian Opening stage. Once one reaches the Aperture Opening Realm, the focus shifts to nourishing the body and soul, transforming True Intent. The Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique is no exception."

"However, what differs from other Cultivation Techniques is that from Meridian Opening to Aperture Opening, the Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique only values the patient work of water wearing through stone. There are no shortcuts to take. Even Pills that aid cultivation cannot stimulate this technique into producing any greater response."

"This is both the strength and weakness of the Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique. Its strength lies in its stability; it leaves no aftereffects, and one only needs to remember to cultivate every day. Its weakness is that it is slow and difficult to cultivate. It is possible that even after cultivating this technique for a year or half, Your Highness may still fail to achieve Meridian Opening. Your Highness should be mentally prepared for this."

Chen Xuerong explained everything she understood about the Martial Arts of the Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique.

In truth, she had already put it as kindly as possible to preserve Zhao Hongming's dignity.

Based on the cultivation progress of the Imperial Family in the past, combined with the fact that the Eternal Youth Technique was an Immortal Martial Arts Technique that was exceptionally difficult to cultivate, he might not achieve Meridian Opening even after three to five years.

As far as she knew, there were still quite a few quick-success techniques in the Martial Repository Pavilion.

With his status as the Fifth Prince, he could obtain at least some resources. Thus, she sometimes could not fathom Zhao Hongming's true intentions in choosing this Immortal Martial Arts Technique.

"Thank you for the reminder, Miss Chen. This Prince has remembered it all." Zhao Hongming continued, "This Prince read many annotations on this technique in the Martial Repository Pavilion, but there are still some parts I do not fully understand. I would also like to seek Miss Chen's guidance on them."

"I dare not claim to teach. Your Highness may speak freely. This subject will certainly do her utmost to assist."

"Someone mentioned that this technique..."

Zhao Hongming began voicing the doubts in his heart one by one.

Chen Xuerong truly deserved her reputation as a Martial Arts Talented Woman, answering every question in meticulous detail.

The two asked and answered until it was nearly You Hour.

By then, Zhao Hongming had grasped every cultivation detail of the Eternal Youth Technique's Meridian Opening stage, and his understanding of the Eternal Youth Technique had risen to another level.

As the saying went, sharpening the knife did not delay the woodcutting.

When he cultivated next, he would have a far clearer idea of what to do.

Chen Xuerong raised her head to look at the sky and said, "Your Highness, it is getting late. According to the rules, I must leave the Imperial Palace at You Hour."

Zhao Hongming did not try to keep her. The Imperial Palace had its own rules as well. He said, "Miss Chen has labored today to teach This Prince and resolve my doubts. By ancient custom, you may be considered half of This Prince's teacher."

"Your Highness praises me too highly." Chen Xuerong opened the long case behind her and pushed it before Zhao Hongming. "This is a Fine Bow collected by my father. Hearing that Your Highness has decided to practice Martial Arts, he specifically sent it as a gift for Your Highness to use in training your body."

Zhao Hongming showed no sign of being overwhelmed by the favor.

As a prince, it was perfectly normal for him to receive gifts from officials. He picked up the bow and examined it carefully, praising, "A fine bow. Then This Prince will accept it without further ceremony."

"This subject will take her leave first today."

"This Prince will see you out."

At the entrance of Clear Breeze Pavilion, Chen Xuerong said, "Your Highness, please stop here. This subject will visit Your Highness again another day."

"Take care."

Chen Xuerong gave a graceful salute, performed a Ten Thousand Blessings, then strode away like a shooting star, vanishing from Zhao Hongming's sight.

After returning to Clear Breeze Pavilion, Zhao Hongming instructed the servants not to disturb him.

Unable to wait any longer, he slipped into his bedroom alone and sat Cross-legged on the bed.

The knife had been sharpened enough. It was time to cultivate the Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique.

Zhao Hongming exhaled softly and began condensing Longevity True Qi according to the cultivation requirements of the Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique and the details he had learned today.

They all said that the Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique was an Immortal Martial Arts Technique that was extraordinarily difficult to cultivate.

Then, Heaven's Reward.

Let This Prince see exactly where your limits lie.

Cultivation began!

Please recommend and keep reading the new book~