The black cat had already been here when he transmigrated.
It was Qin Bo's only companion now, though the black cat was unlike ordinary cats. It was practically black enough to shine.
So he had given it a name: Black Charcoal.
But the black cat remained utterly motionless. Its dark-green eyes seemed capable of seeing straight through his heart as they stayed fixed on the pig leg in his hand.
"Fine, fine, fine. The moment there's food, you show up!"
Qin Bo carried the pig leg into the kitchen, cut off a piece of meat, and tossed it to Black Charcoal.
After finishing everything, he finally went into the inner room.
"System, I want to open the Novice Gift Pack!"
[Grand Gift Pack opening...] [Congratulations, host. You have received a body-tempering technique: Ancient Desolation Body Tempering Technique] [This technique originated in the Ancient Desolation Era. It can borrow the fierce, savage strength of the Ancient Desolation Fierce Beasts from the world's primordial beginnings to temper the body until it becomes indestructible.] [It can simulate the forms of the Ancient Desolation Fierce Beasts and awaken the potential within the body.]
"Ancient Desolation Body Tempering Technique?!"
Qin Bo's face lit up with delight.
"So this is a cultivation technique?"
He muttered to himself, his eyes filled with excitement and anticipation.
In this world shrouded in the bizarre, possessing such a powerful technique was undoubtedly like clutching a crucial life-saving trump card.
"System, let me burn my lifespan to cultivate!"
He did not want to wait another moment. Only strength could give him the ability to protect himself.
Otherwise, he would end up like Old Man Li, killed by the bizarre.
[Burning-lifespan cultivation initiated...] [Year One: You begin studying the Ancient Desolation Body Tempering Technique. Because the technique is obscure and difficult to understand, cultivation is challenging, and you cannot find a way in.] [Year Three: By simulating the forms of fierce beasts, you finally gain an initial glimpse of the technique. The body-tempering technique reaches the entry level, and the skin and flesh covering your entire body become hard as iron.] [Year Five: You immerse yourself in cultivation day and night, and your understanding of the Ancient Desolation Body Tempering Technique grows increasingly profound.] [Year Eight: You attempt to fuse the traits of various Ancient Desolation Fierce Beasts. Your physical strength improves further, and your bones become like refined steel.] [Your strength increases greatly. Even your movements now carry a unique might. You can briefly simulate the power of the Ancient Desolation Violent Ape, unleashing astonishing explosive force. With a single punch, you can easily shatter a boulder.] [Year Eighteen: As your understanding of the technique deepens, you successfully advance the Ancient Desolation Body Tempering Technique to the Great Accomplishment realm.] [At this moment, the muscles throughout your body are as though cast from bronze and forged from iron, while your blood and qi thunder like a great bell. Not only can you skillfully simulate multiple forms of Ancient Desolation Fierce Beasts, you can also switch between them at will, greatly increasing your movement and speed in battle.] [Ding! Physical condition insufficient. Burning-lifespan cultivation ended!]
Qin Bo jolted awake from his cultivation state, only to feel a wave of weakness wash over him, as if every ounce of strength had been drained from his body.
The contents of the body-tempering technique swiftly merged into his mind.
His body changed along with them. His originally slender frame slowly became robust and powerful.
A burst of frustration welled up inside him. He had planned to rely on burning his lifespan to cultivate and advance the Ancient Desolation Body Tempering Technique to perfection as quickly as possible.
He had not expected to be forced to stop because his body could not bear it.
Even so, now that he had reached the Great Accomplishment realm, his strength was already worlds apart from before.
He slowly rose and stretched his muscles and bones.
The muscles throughout his body crackled like popping beans, while the thunderous roar of his surging blood and qi rolled through him like muffled thunder.
Suddenly, his legs gave way.
His body had just been full from eating before he returned, but as the power of the technique merged into him, it had been drained empty once more.
He hurried into the kitchen, chopped open the remaining half of the huge pig leg, and haphazardly stewed it all into a pot.
As steam billowed from the pot and the aroma of meat filled the air, his stomach timely let out a series of loud growls.
Before long, the pig leg was nearly done stewing.
Without even caring that it was hot, he reached straight into the pot, pulled out a large chunk of meat, and began wolfing it down.
Though the scalding meat entered his mouth, he did not notice it at all.
He only felt that this was the most delicious food in the world, and that it could quickly replenish his completely depleted strength.
He devoured the entire pot of meat in one fell swoop, then belched contentedly and patted his belly.
At this moment, he could clearly feel his strength rapidly recovering.
The body that had been emptied by the infusion of the technique's power was once again filled with vitality.
He checked the information on the panel again.
[Host: Qin Bo] [Constitution: Slightly Improved] [Cultivation: Body Tempering Realm (Organ Refining)] [Skill: Pig Slaughtering Saber Technique (Peak Mastery)] [Remaining Lifespan: 10 years]
"Body Tempering Realm?! Organ Refining?"
Qin Bo furrowed his brows tightly and muttered to himself.
"Does that mean the five viscera and six bowels?"
He had never encountered this kind of cultivation-realm classification before. Regarding the concept of "Body Tempering Realm (Organ Refining)," his heart was filled with confusion and curiosity.
"Could this mean that my cultivation has already begun involving the tempering and strengthening of my five viscera and six bowels?"
Qin Bo pondered, trying to find an answer in the changes his body was currently undergoing.
He tried circulating the power within his body and immediately felt a warm current travel along his meridians.
Everywhere it passed, his five viscera and six bowels seemed to be gently caressed, filling him with a warm and comfortable sensation.
"It seems this increase in realm is crucial to the growth of my strength."
Qin Bo clenched his fists, felt the surging power within him, and filled his heart with fighting spirit.
But when his gaze fell upon the entry "Remaining Lifespan: 10 years," his mood grew heavy once more.
"Ten years?!"
Qin Bo's eyes widened, his heart filled with anxiety.
"I have to find a way to increase my lifespan quickly. Otherwise, I'll kick the bucket before I even have the chance to grow!"
He knew full well that this lifespan, flowing away like sand through an hourglass, was a sword of Damocles hanging over his head.
"The bizarre!"
Qin Bo muttered to himself, his thoughts involuntarily drifting to the one year of lifespan Old Man Li had provided.
"Looks like I'm destined to be inseparably bound to the bizarre in this life!!"
Qin Bo gritted his teeth, a hint of resolve flashing through his eyes.
At last, he looked around the courtyard and punched toward the millstone in the corner.
With a thunderous boom—
The millstone, originally large enough for two people to wrap their arms around, exploded instantly beneath the blow. Shattered stone flew everywhere, and smoke and dust billowed through the air.
"Gasp, it's that strong?!"
Qin Bo stared at the millstone blasted to pieces, his heart filled with delighted surprise.
The might displayed by this strength gave him several more ounces of confidence in facing the bizarre ahead.
"It seems this Body Tempering Realm (Organ Refining) cultivation really has caused a qualitative leap in my strength."
Qin Bo clenched his fists, feeling the still-surging power in them.
But he knew clearly that this little bit of strength might still be insufficient to deal with the unknown bizarre.
Gradually, evening fell, and Qin Bo had no choice but to go out and mooch some food.
"Alas, even a penny can bring a hero to his knees!"
After finally mooching meals from two nearby neighboring households,
Qin Bo returned home with the coarse corn cakes the neighbors had given him, his heart full of gratitude.
The sky had already gone completely dark, and the surroundings were eerily quiet.
The moment he stepped through the door, a bone-piercing chill rushed toward him.
It was like an ice cellar in the depths of winter, making him shudder involuntarily.
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