Two Years of Bone Tempering

Half a month later, the thirty "geniuses" admitted to the Martial Arts Examination this year had all arrived. The Immortal Seeking Academy had dedicated instructors to uniformly teach the Bone Tempering methods, and they allocated supplements and pills according to each person's Bone Structure and physique.

"The difficulty has indeed increased significantly!" In the following month, Li Ji'an immersed himself wholeheartedly, almost to the point of forgetting himself. As he had expected, the difficulty of the Bone Tempering stage was not on the same level as Skin Grinding or Muscle Compaction.

Not only did the Bone Tempering method involve two hundred and six circulation paths for Vital Energy and Blood, but the sequence and dosage could not have any errors.

Furthermore, the Vital Energy and Blood he had refined through the Golden Strength Technique was more than sufficient for the first two stages; all that was lacking was time for nourishment and purification.

However, in the Bone Tempering stage, the Vital Energy and Blood refined solely through the Golden Strength Technique was no longer enough to nourish and stimulate his bones. The Vital Energy and Blood refined in a single day could only nourish the bones for three major cycles... At this rate, it would take ten years to achieve Bone Tempering!

"Comprehension and Bone Structure are both indispensable! It's still insufficient Bone Structure. If I had a Dragon-Tiger Visage, perhaps the Vital Energy and Blood I refine would be enough for at least five major cycles."

"I'll do my best! With external supplements, the time should be halved."

After recognizing the reality, Li Ji'an was not discouraged in the slightest.

After all, there were external supplements. Not only did the Martial Arts Academy provide the necessary supplements and pills, but he also had a fortune of six thousand taels of silver to support more advanced external medicinal supplements.

Even if, in the end, he was still destined to miss out on becoming an Immortal Seed in this life, he would have accumulated experience and laid a foundation for the next.

"Junior Brother, come quickly and try these. My mother sent me new desserts again." As soon as she finished her practice, Ning Yutan offered a plate of exquisite pastries.

Li Ji'an smiled faintly. He had clearly rejected the two women's advances on becoming their competitor that day.

Unexpectedly, this seemed to have instead ignited the two women's competitive spirit.

These days, Ning Yutan had become more proactive.

Even Ning Sujin had slightly let go of some of her reserve.

"Li Ji'an, I've basically grasped the Bone Tempering method. If you don't understand anything, you can ask me."

Regarding this, Li Ji'an let everything take its course.

Time would tell, and people's hearts would be revealed over time. How their relationships would develop in the future, time would tell. As long as he stayed true to himself, was open and honest, acted without violating his conscience, did not deceive, harbored no ill intentions, and did not become enemies, that would be enough.

"Third Miss, I appreciate the offer, but I feel my Vital Energy and Blood is insufficient. I've specifically asked someone to help me buy Spirit Beast meat and blood for replenishment. It should arrive soon, so I won't be indulging in your sweets."

"Eldest Young Lady, to be honest, I was fortunate enough to fully comprehend the two hundred and six Bone Tempering techniques two days ago."

Li Ji'an replied to them one by one.

During this time, the identities of the two women had spread throughout the Martial Arts Academy, and everyone addressed them as such.

"Spirit Beast meat and blood!" Ning Yutan's small mouth instantly formed an 'O' shape in surprise.

In order to win Li Ji'an over to her side, she had also investigated him – an orphan from a small county Daoist Temple.

Spirit Beast meat and blood were rare and expensive; the cheapest would cost over a hundred taels of silver. Especially if one wanted to maximize the replenishment of Vital Energy and Blood, it required drinking its blood raw and eating its meat raw... The bloody and wild scene made her spine chill just thinking about it.

Even with medicinal supplements, it was rare for apprentices to simultaneously nourish themselves with Spirit Beast meat and blood.

In an instant, her perception of Li Ji'an was refreshed significantly.

"Such strong comprehension? No wonder his Bone Structure is inferior to mine, yet he still managed to place second in the Martial Arts Examination," Ning Sujin's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Li Ji'an.

She had possessed excellent comprehension since childhood and, based solely on her comprehension, had closely followed Ning Yutan, whose Bone Structure was better and who had taken the Marrow Cleansing Pill. However, in front of Li Ji'an, she was completely outmatched.

In an instant, her feelings towards Li Ji'an, which had initially been about competing with Ning Yutan, quietly changed.

Young girls admire strength; it was their nature.

Furthermore, looking at him closely now, she noticed that besides his tall stature and handsome appearance, Li Ji'an possessed a different kind of temperament – serene and detached, making people feel very comfortable.

At the same time, Li Ji'an couldn't help but marvel at Ning Sujin's comprehension and talent. It was not much inferior to his own comprehension after four lifetimes.

After finishing his day's training, Li Ji'an returned to his small courtyard, designated as 'Jia'. From a distance, he saw Xiao Wu carrying a sable covered in purple and gold.

The Purple Gold Sable was a first-tier Spirit Beast that specialized in replenishing Vital Energy and Blood. Besides its high price of two hundred taels of silver, it was generally hard to obtain. Fortunately, Xiao Wu had the identity of a constable, so Li Ji'an had entrusted him with the purchase.

Ning Yutan saw it from afar and quickly followed. Although she had received an invitation from Li Ji'an, she only dared to stick her neck out from outside the door. When she saw Li Ji'an actually eating its raw meat and drinking its raw blood, she covered her eyes and mouth, her heart racing, and fled.

--Wild, ruthless, and with an extremely firm desire for immortality!

It was dangerous, yet it also made her curious and awestruck.

"The effect is indeed good, but unfortunately... my current physique can barely withstand it. Replenishing it every three months is the limit." Feeling the surging Vital Energy and Blood within him, Li Ji'an felt a slight disappointment.

In the following days, the attitudes of the two women towards him quietly changed. The only thing that remained unchanged was their overt and covert competition, which even intensified.

Two years passed quietly amidst Li Ji'an's sweat and the two women's open and secret struggles.

"Brother Li, my Bone Tempering is complete! I can start Blood Transformation now!"

On this day, Ning Yutan excitedly ran up to Li Ji'an, the first to share her good news.

Li Ji'an was secretly shocked. Two years had passed. Despite his unceasing efforts day and night, along with medicinal pills and Spirit Beast meat and blood, his Bone Tempering progress was only about seventy percent. Conservatively estimating, it would take another year and a half to complete Bone Tempering.

"Truly a monstrous talent!"

"Ah? I'm not a monster, Brother Li. Say something nice." Ning Yutan blinked playfully.

Although she was two years older and about to turn seventeen, Ning Yutan became even more mischievous in front of Li Ji'an, occasionally acting cute.

"Prodigy! An unparalleled prodigy!" Li Ji'an corrected himself.

"Hehe, Brother Li flatters me. I'm still not comparable to the true prodigies in the Imperial City. My father said someone last year completed Bone Tempering in just one year," Ning Yutan said, but her head had already turned towards Ning Sujin, and her voice suddenly increased in volume.

"Bang! I'm done practicing, where did this fly come from?" Ning Sujin kicked over the stone roller in front of her and turned to leave, clearly quite provoked.

Her Bone Tempering progress was a little faster than Li Ji'an's, about eighty percent complete. She estimated it would take another year to reach perfection.

"She's jealous! Brother Li, she's jealous of me." Ning Yutan complained to Li Ji'an with a wronged expression, though she felt secretly delighted.

As always, Li Ji'an smiled, shook his head, and turned to leave, refusing to get involved in their squabbles.

Returning to his small courtyard, the Young Servant brought him two letters.

"Senior Brother's letters are coming more and more frequently." As people age, they become more nostalgic. Liu Deshan used to write a letter every six months, but now it's once every three months.

The letters were still full of concern, with an added touch of nagging.

In his previous life, Liu Deshan was five years older than Li Ji'an. He was now fifty-four, considered quite old in this world.

Coupled with his excessive obesity and lack of Martial Arts for Body Strengthening, it was uncertain if he would even live to sixty.

In contrast, Qingyun's letter was perfunctory, rambling, and likely written under duress from Liu Deshan.

A seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth is in the prime of their life, full of energy and eager to explore the world. They cannot yet understand separation, nor do they keep thoughts of missing someone in their heart, especially with Qingyun's naturally carefree personality.

After writing a heartfelt reply to his Senior Brother, he couldn't be bothered to waste ink on Qingyun and simply mailed him the Dragon Locking Secret Technique manuscript that Xiao Wu had given him.

This item was something Li Ji'an had stumbled upon in his previous life. It involved repeatedly flushing the perineum with Vital Energy and Blood and guarding the seminal gate, which had the effect of nurturing primordial yang and preventing seminal leakage. Even ordinary people who had not yet refined their Vital Energy and Blood could benefit from its nourishing properties.

In his previous life, he had passed it on to that kid Xiao Wu, and in this life, that kid had secretly passed it back to him.