Blown Out of All Proportion (Please Follow)

Li Xuan withdrew his gaze and resumed the air of a stern master.

"Your analogy may have been inelegant, but that was exactly what it meant."

Xu Yan let out a breath of relief and secretly warned himself, I can't make random analogies in the future. What if I leave Master with a bad impression? That would be terrible!

"Those capable of forming Golden Bone are one in ten thousand. Though their early cultivation speed may not match that of an Ancient Prodigy, once they achieve Golden Bone, they will be no weaker than an Ancient Prodigy!"

Li Xuan continued making things up. "To temper Golden Bone, one must rely on perseverance, talent, and persistence. Vital energy must seep into the bones and temper them down to the marrow, triggering a transformation in the vital energy. Repeat this cycle nine times, and Golden Bone will be achieved.

"The difficulty of Golden Bone goes without saying. Perseverance, talent, and persistence—none can be lacking. Once Golden Bone is achieved, the path of martial arts will be smooth and open."

Xu Yan's heart surged with excitement. "Master, I will definitely achieve Golden Bone!"

"It pleases me that you have such ambition. But simply do what your strength allows; there is no need to demand too much of yourself."

Li Xuan nodded approvingly.

Yet he muttered inwardly, It'd be a miracle if you could achieve Golden Bone!

At that moment, Xu Yan wished he could begin cultivating at once, achieve Bone Refining sooner, and form Golden Bone sooner!

After hearing his master's words, his blood was boiling and he was filled with drive!

"Master, what about Jade Bone? What is Jade Bone?"

Xu Yan had not forgotten that above Golden Bone in the Bone Refining ranks was Jade Bone!

"Jade Bone..."

Li Xuan paused before saying, "Originally, I had not intended to tell you about Jade Bone. Since you have asked, I shall explain it to you."

His mind raced as he fabricated an explanation for Jade Bone.

"Jade Bone means bones without flaw, crystalline and lustrous as jade. Those capable of achieving Jade Bone are one in ten thousand ages!"

Li Xuan rose to his feet, one hand behind his back, his head slightly raised, displaying the bearing of an exalted master.

He spoke slowly, "Disciple, Jade Bone is not something that talent, perseverance, and persistence can achieve. Every person who achieves Jade Bone possesses tremendous fortune; every one of them is a favored child of heaven and earth. Only those with transcendent comprehension, who can sense the Great Dao, can achieve Jade Bone!"

"You must remember this: do not aim too high!"

Xu Yan was profoundly shaken. Tremendous fortune, a favored child of heaven and earth, sensing the Great Dao—it was all far too mystical!

The more unfathomable it sounded, the more it meant that Jade Bone would be incomparably powerful once achieved.

"Master, what would happen if one achieved Jade Bone?"

Li Xuan gave him a look filled with apparent profound meaning and said, "There is a saying regarding Jade Bone: flawless Jade Bone remains unchanged for ten thousand ages!"

"Once Jade Bone is achieved, even after death and the passage of ten thousand ages, it will not decay. It may even be refined by the accumulation of time into a treasure of heaven and earth, seemingly gaining spirit, becoming a rare treasure of this world!"

Li Xuan opened his mouth and began spinning grand lies, making Jade Bone sound almost divine!

Xu Yan was utterly stunned. His fists clenched tightly, his blood boiling as he wished he could immediately achieve Jade Bone.

Li Xuan patted his shoulder. "I do not expect you to achieve Jade Bone. Just keep this belief in your heart and do your utmost."

Xu Yan clenched his fist, filled with determination. "Master, rest assured. This disciple will certainly work hard and never disappoint your expectations!"

Li Xuan wore a pleased expression, thinking that since he had already talked about Bone Refining, he might as well make up something about Organ Refining too.

Looking at Xu Yan, he seemed as though he had been injected with chicken blood. For some time, he would surely be brimming with fighting spirit.

While inspiration still struck, he might as well tell him about Organ Refining too.

Thus, Li Xuan said, "Since I have already explained the method of Bone Refining to you in detail, I shall also tell you about Organ Refining while we are at it. I will thoroughly answer your questions about these foundational realms."

"Thank you, Master. This disciple is all ears!"

Xu Yan replied respectfully.

"Organ Refining is the tempering of the internal organs, strengthening their vitality and toughness. Those who achieve great mastery in Organ Refining will not die even if their hearts are pierced. They can use vital energy to heal and restore their hearts. Of course, that only applies to ordinary wounds. If one is injured by the power of vital energy, that is another matter..."

Li Xuan spoke unhurriedly.

Xu Yan was deeply shocked. A pierced heart would not mean death? It could actually be restored with vital energy?

The strength of martial arts truly surpassed ordinary imagination!

"The five internal organs correspond to the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. When vital energy circulates through the five organs, forming a perfect whole, and the five elements unite as one, Organ Refining is complete. Then, when the foundational realms are fused together and gathered into one body, when Bone and Muscle Thunderous Roar and Vital Energy like Steel Aura are achieved, one has entered the path..."

Li Xuan concocted the theory of Organ Refining, along with several rough methods for it.

He was not truly a cultivator, nor did he possess any cultivation techniques. Naturally, the cultivation methods he made up could not possibly be very detailed, though they did have a rough outline.

Because of this, after Li Xuan finished speaking, he added, "Disciple, you must remember that true cultivation lies in comprehension and intent. Only then can you forge a path that belongs to you.

"The methods I impart to you are the true essence of martial arts. You must comprehend them yourself, grasp the 'intent' within them, and not be bound by their specific forms. Do you understand?"

Xu Yan respectfully bowed. "Yes, Master. This disciple will commit it to heart, contemplate it at all times, never slacken, and never be bound by form!"

"It pleases me that you understand."

Li Xuan looked deeply gratified.

"Go tidy up, feed the chickens and whatnot, then cultivate."

After waving Xu Yan away, Li Xuan took out the Thousand-Year Ginseng.

His face was full of conflict. This was such a rare treasure—wouldn't stewing it now be a waste?

"It's such a large root. It won't hurt to stew a little and taste it. I've never eaten Thousand-Year Ginseng in either of my lives."

Li Xuan pinched off two long ginseng whiskers and instructed Xu Yan to use them to stew chicken the next day.

After Xu Yan finished his chores, he began cultivating. He assumed a horse stance and tempered his skin membrane while carefully contemplating the methods for Bone Refining and Organ Refining that his master had taught him.

"I must comprehend the intent within them and awaken to their mysteries!"

Gradually, Xu Yan gained some insights. He found a clear direction for the specific methods of Bone Refining and Organ Refining.

"Since Skin Tempering works this way, Bone Refining and Organ Refining naturally cannot be too different. The only difference is the way vital energy is mobilized and the direction of tempering... I understand!"

Xu Yan was overjoyed.

The next day.

After drinking a bowl of chicken soup stewed with Thousand-Year Ginseng, Li Xuan was surprised to discover that his energy seemed fuller, his endurance stronger, and his body had actually grown a little more powerful.

"Does the Thousand-Year Ginseng of this world actually have such miraculous effects?"

He immediately took out the entire ginseng root and instructed Xu Yan to stew a little every day.

Though ginseng was precious, his own body was more important.

Xu Yan, however, was so moved that his eyes reddened. "This was my gift upon becoming his disciple, yet Master did not hesitate to use it to aid my cultivation. I cannot let Master down!"

"Once I enter Bone Refining, I will return home. I must select a fine gift for Master!"

As Xu Yan cultivated, he felt his vital energy become more vigorous. The speed at which he tempered his skin membrane increased greatly, while the medicinal power of the ginseng was continuously refined, strengthening his vital energy and increasing the speed of his Skin Tempering.

"At the latest, I'll complete Skin Tempering the day after tomorrow!"

Sensing the progress of his Skin Tempering, Xu Yan was thrilled!