Nine Revolutions Profound Technique

The only thing Xiao Peng did not understand was why the Upper Clarity Sword Technique contained no art of controlling swords. It was truly puzzling.

After letting his thoughts wander for a while, Xiao Peng bowed to Sect Leader Tongtian. "Master, during my recent cultivation, I discovered that my physical strength is my weakness. I hope you can teach me a body-refining technique to make up for this shortcoming."

Upon hearing this, Sect Leader Tongtian swept his gaze over Xiao Peng. Streams of light seemed to flow within his pitch-black pupils, as though he could see straight through Xiao Peng's bones, muscles, and meridians.

"It is rare for you to recognize your own shortcomings." Sect Leader Tongtian spoke slowly, his voice carrying the texture of clashing metal and stone. "On the path of cultivation, methods, arts, and the body complement one another. None can be lacking. You have already grasped the basics of swordsmanship and dabbled in arts, while it is not yet time for methods. Only your physical strength has failed to keep pace with the growth of your Mana. That is indeed a hidden danger."

With a wave of his hand, a stream of light entered Xiao Peng's mind.

Xiao Peng felt his mind erupt with a boom as countless profound words and diagrams surged in like a tidal wave.

The Nine Revolutions Profound Technique was divided into nine turns and nine levels per turn, for a total of eighty-one levels.

Each turn contained nine levels. Every level required tempering the body once, circulating the technique to convert the energy within the body into Nine Revolutions energy containing the Dao rhythm of strength, then using it to temper the body. Tempering it nine times in succession completed the nine levels. Once all nine levels were completed, one could break through to the First Turn. With every breakthrough, the body would undergo a qualitative transformation.

Xiao Peng remembered that there were two versions of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique. The first was a Daoist cultivation technique for becoming an immortal, while the other was a Body Tempering method.

What he cultivated was the Body Tempering method. It contained the Great Dao of strength and required no special aptitude. As long as one had enough time and resources, it could strengthen the physical body.

However, the technique's flaws were obvious. The portion responsible for converting energy containing the Dao rhythm of strength was severely incomplete, making the conversion speed extremely slow, consumption immense, and cultivation exceedingly difficult. It was hailed as a technique impossible to master even in a lifetime.

When cultivated to great completion, the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique could make the body indestructible, grant limitless transformations, render one immune to all poisons, and even allow severed limbs to regenerate.

It was said that Erlang God Yang Jian cultivated the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique. As for whether that was true or not, Xiao Peng had no idea.

Xiao Peng subconsciously sat down and began cultivating the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique. His consciousness seemed to sink into a realm of chaos. All sounds from the outside world vanished, leaving only the thunderous rush of blood and qi within his body.

In his mind, the diagram for the First Turn's first level of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique grew increasingly clear.

He needed to guide Mana into his muscles and bones, force the impurities from his mortal body, and forge a foundation as sturdy as refined iron.

Following the diagram, he focused and carefully directed the Mana within his body, letting it seep slowly into the muscles, bones, and meridians of his limbs like a thin stream.

The more Xiao Peng cultivated, the more absorbed he became. The aura around him gradually thickened, and more and more impurities seeped from his body: black, ink-like foul qi; bone fragments as fine as dust; and phlegm dampness with a greasy sheen.

The instant these things left his body, his muscles and bones seemed to be washed clean, revealing a faint jade-like luster.

Who knew how much time passed? When the last trace of impurity was expelled, Xiao Peng abruptly opened his eyes, a sharp gleam flashing through them.

He subconsciously clenched his fist, and his knuckles cracked sharply, several times clearer than before.

With a casual wave of his hand, even the wind it stirred carried solid force. The First Turn's first level was complete.

Xiao Peng continued cultivating. That strange sensation remained, and he wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to cultivate rapidly and break through.

This time, he clearly felt that the energy conversion speed had increased severalfold, as if an invisible passage had opened between his muscles and bones.

"Second level, Temper the Tendons!"

Xiao Peng silently recited the instructions in the diagram and guided the Nine Revolutions energy toward the tendons in his limbs.

If the first level was the polishing of a stubborn stone, then this level was meant to forge the tendons and meridians into resilient steel cables.

The instant the energy touched his tendons, tearing pain struck him. Those sluggish places usually hidden within them were now violently forced open by the energy, as though his tendons were about to be ripped apart alive.

Xiao Peng clenched his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, yet he refused to stop circulating the technique.

He could see that the tendons that had once been dull were gradually gaining a silvery-white sheen beneath the energy's cleansing, like refined steel tempered time and again. Every inch was becoming tougher.

Sweat soaked through his robes and mixed with the impurities on his skin into sticky grime, but he did not notice in the slightest.

Within his Sea of Consciousness, the diagram of the second level gradually merged with the flow of energy in his body. An indescribable exhilaration replaced the excruciating pain.

The instant his tendons were widened, the circulation speed of his Mana rose sharply. Even the intent of the Upper Clarity Sword Technique within his body became more harmonious and complete.

Crack!

A soft sound came from Xiao Peng's left arm. It was the sign that the main tendon had been fully forced open.

He could clearly feel that the tendons that had once been as thin as hemp rope had now become as tough as ox sinew, carrying powerful elasticity whenever he bent or stretched them.

Energy surged through his meridians. Wherever it passed, the minute damage was gently enveloped, repaired, and renewed by the energy. The newly formed tendon fibers were denser, stronger, and shone with a faint silver glow.

Xiao Peng tried raising his arm and found that his movements were much faster than before.

So that was how it was... Xiao Peng came to a realization.

The first level, Tempering the Bones, established the foundation. The second level, Tempering the Tendons, opened the pathways. Only when tendons and bones were linked could strength flow without obstruction.

When the last inch of tendon had been tempered, the aura around Xiao Peng abruptly expanded. Silver-white streams of light flowed along his meridians, tracing dense patterns across his skin like a suit of invisible armor.

Upon reaching the second level, Xiao Peng felt that he could still break through.

Taking advantage of his insight not yet fading and his vigorous blood and qi, Xiao Peng decisively guided the energy toward the third level's goal: tempering the skin and flesh.

The diagram for the third level lit up in his Sea of Consciousness. He had to saturate every inch of skin with energy, refining the outer skin and flesh until they were as tough as tanned leather. It would not only resist external impacts, but also allow Mana to flow more smoothly out through the body.

The instant the energy seeped into his skin and flesh, pain even more fine and intense than during tendon tempering spread through him. It was as though countless fine needles pierced his pores at once, or a blazing fire slowly scorched beneath his skin.

Beneath his normally smooth-looking skin lay countless tiny folds and layers of dead skin. They were now forcibly stretched open and stripped away by the energy, revealing fresh yet fragile new flesh beneath.

Beads of sweat rolled down Xiao Peng's forehead, striking the ground and spreading into small wet patches.

He could feel the new flesh rapidly hardening beneath the energy's embrace. A pale golden layer gradually showed through its originally light-pink texture, as though it had been covered in fine scales.

When the energy completely saturated the skin and flesh throughout his body, Xiao Peng suddenly felt light all over. The sticky grime on his skin instantly dried, cracked, and fell away, revealing healthy, lustrous skin beneath.

With a gentle press, he could actually feel its obvious elasticity and resilience.

"The third level is complete!"

Xiao Peng let out a long breath and examined the state of his body.

The Mana within him had been completely exhausted, but his physical strength had increased considerably.

As for exactly how far it had improved, he had no idea.