"So this is 'Brighten the Mind, Observe the Self, and Nurture True Intent.' Every subtle change is within my mind, allowing me to sense the minute changes in Bone Refining without the slightest omission."
It had been half a month since Xu Yan returned to the small mountain village.
As usual, before dawn had broken, Xu Yan was already cultivating.
At this moment, he had gained another insight. Every subtle change in his bones, every change throughout his body, and every movement of his Vital Energy were all within his mind.
The efficiency of Bone Refining had risen dramatically once again.
"These two lines of cultivation formula definitely contain more than this. I still haven't truly grasped their essence!"
Xu Yan sighed inwardly. The cultivation formula his master had passed down was simply too profound.
Every time he felt that he had already grasped its mysteries,
a flash of inspiration would suddenly reveal that his understanding was still insufficient!
"I've undergone eight transformations now. All the bones throughout my body have already become Golden Bones!"
"I'm only one final transformation away from becoming one with my entire body and truly transforming into Golden Bones!"
Half a month of diligent Bone Refining, especially his renewed understanding of the cultivation formula, had deepened his control over his Vital Energy and increased the speed of Bone Refining considerably. He had now reached his eighth transformation.
All the bones throughout his body had already turned golden.
He was not far from the ninth transformation, when his Golden Bones would be flawless and his entire body would become one.
Xu Yan continued cultivating. He had a premonition that he would refine Golden Bones within the next day or two.
"Once I refine Golden Bones, I'll stand shoulder to shoulder with an Ancient Prodigy and can begin Organ Refining.
"Entering the realm within a year shouldn't be a problem.
"As for Jade Bones, my master said they can't be achieved through talent and persistence alone. I can't reach for the stars or demand too much."
Golden Bones were already extraordinary. As for Jade Bones, they were simply too difficult.
If he reached for the stars and wasted time trying to temper Jade Bones, he might fail to enter the realm within a year.
Since he already stood shoulder to shoulder with an Ancient Prodigy, what more could he possibly want?
Therefore, Xu Yan planned to begin Organ Refining once he completed his Golden Bones.
He could begin comprehending the method of Organ Refining.
Thus, while refining his bones, Xu Yan began recalling the method of Organ Refining that Li Xuan had taught him, carefully savoring its profound meaning and mysteries.
With the foundation of Skin Tempering and Bone Refining, Organ Refining was not difficult.
He already had a direction for Organ Refining. The question was how to refine his organs efficiently, and that required him to carefully comprehend the mysteries of the Organ Refining method.
Li Xuan came out with a yawn and glanced at Xu Yan, who was cultivating. He sighed inwardly. This foolish disciple is truly persistent. And he can actually remain so patient?
He couldn't help feeling puzzled. It had been so long, yet Xu Yan still hadn't sensed his Vital Energy. How could he continue persisting?
He showed not the slightest impatience.
Nor was there any distress or dejection, and he had never felt ashamed in front of Li Xuan for failing to sense his Vital Energy.
He hadn't continued pestering Li Xuan about how he should sense his Vital Energy, either.
"His state of mind is truly rare. He isn't impatient or dejected, and he keeps persisting, training arduously day after day. If there really is a cultivation method, then with his diligence, as long as his talent isn't too poor, he could become a powerhouse, couldn't he?"
"What would happen if he found out that I lied to him and that the cultivation method was made up?"
Li Xuan felt it was better not to expose himself.
Xu Yan was clearly an honest person. If he bullied an honest person too harshly, once they erupted, it would be no laughing matter.
Moreover, he was an honest person with an extraordinary identity and background.
"Forget it. I'll leave him be and let him do as he pleases. The road out of the village is safe now, too. Once the one-year period arrives, I'll just send him away."
"Perhaps I can even collect another apprentice gift?"
"Neither Donghe Commandery nor Qi Kingdom is safe to stay in anymore. When the time comes, I'll go to Wu Kingdom."
Li Xuan had already thought of a way out.
He lay down on a chair, leisurely and at ease. After becoming accustomed to such idle days, he would probably feel unaccustomed once no one was around to serve him.
After going to Wu Kingdom, he would have to buy a few maidservants to wait on him.
Another two days passed.
Xu Yan had already reached the stage of his ninth transformation.
"The Golden Bones are about to be complete!"
His Vital Energy tempered him as his bones underwent transformation. His golden bones began radiating dazzling brilliance.
At a certain moment.
Boom!
His bone marrow surged like a rushing river. His Vital Energy suddenly erupted, swelling by more than double in an instant like a dragon.
It coiled and roamed throughout his bones, while the riverlike bone marrow also underwent a transformation. Vital Energy was continuously born, and his bones radiated a faint glow.
His Golden Bones shone brilliantly, as though they were indestructible.
Xu Yan was overwhelmed with excitement.
He had finally tempered Golden Bones!
Once his Golden Bones were complete, his physical body transformed as well. His Vital Energy became purer, and his body grew stronger. On his golden bones, faint and profound patterns seemed to emerge.
They seemed like the wondrous principles of heaven and earth.
With every circulation of his Vital Energy, it was as though a giant dragon were roaring.
At the instant his Golden Bones were completed, a faint golden light blossomed from Xu Yan's body, making him seem as though he were bathing in radiance.
At that moment, the sun rose, and golden sunlight shone through the passage into the small village, illuminating Xu Yan's body.
Li Xuan came out of the house and merely glanced over without paying it any mind.
He assumed it was simply sunlight shining on Xu Yan.
This was far from the first time it had happened.
He failed to notice that the golden light radiating from Xu Yan was more dazzling than the sunlight usually shining on him.
Moreover, it was blossoming from within his body.
The golden light receded, and Xu Yan carefully sensed the changes within himself, comprehending the might of his Golden Bones.
Once his Golden Bones were complete, the increase in strength they provided far surpassed that of the previous eight transformations.
At this moment, Xu Yan experienced what true power meant and sensed the mysteries of the martial path.
"Is this the might of an Ancient Prodigy?"
"I've finally refined Golden Bones. I've met my master's requirements. I, Xu Yan, am no weaker than an Ancient Prodigy!"
"Everyone says I'm foolish. Everyone mocks and ridicules me. In my eyes, you're nothing more than frogs at the bottom of a well."
At this moment, Xu Yan thought of how he had spent all these years seeking out experts and become a laughingstock throughout Donghe Commandery.
Now that his Golden Bones were complete, his strength was so great that even a Peak Jianghu Expert would be no more than paper pasted together before him.
"You said my mind didn't work properly and that I embarrassed you. I told you that I'd make myself too lofty for you to reach, and I absolutely will!"
Xu Yan's eyes gleamed.
"I feel as if my vitality is endless. Once my Golden Bones were complete, it seems my lifespan increased substantially as well.
"My master said that once Golden Bones were complete, they would remain radiant even if buried underground for ten thousand years after death, and one's lifespan would certainly increase substantially too."
At this moment, Xu Yan felt that he and the martial artists outside were people from two entirely different worlds.
"With my current strength, I wouldn't fear even the old emperor of Qi Kingdom in the slightest.
"Do I now possess the qualifications to look down on imperial authority?
"No, I can't harbor such an arrogant thought. I must guard against complacency and impatience. I can't become carried away just because my strength has improved a little. I must always remember my master's teachings!"
Xu Yan repeatedly warned himself inwardly.
"I've refined Golden Bones. I have to tell my master that I now stand shoulder to shoulder with an Ancient Prodigy!"
After refining Golden Bones, Xu Yan was so excited that, once he finished his cultivation, he hurried toward his master. He wanted to tell his master in person that he had refined Golden Bones and now stood shoulder to shoulder with an Ancient Prodigy.
He had not disappointed his master!
In the end, he was still a young man. He couldn't help wanting to receive his master's praise.
Before you continue