Chapter Five: A Divine Art That Defied Fate
She groaned, feeling her whole body swell with pressure. But the hot current showed no sign of stopping. It circulated through her meridians for several cycles before gathering in her Qi Sea below her navel.
But by the fourth layer, the training was no longer something an ordinary person could withstand. Starting at this layer, the Fortune Body Forging Technique required the practitioner to temper their body against external force. Beginning with the skin, they would train layer by layer until they reached the internal organs. Only then did the Fortune Body Forging Technique truly begin.
He pushed a scroll made from some unknown silk toward her. Tang Ruowei unrolled it and saw the name of the technique written at the top.
Bai Qiuran said casually, "I've crippled your Mysterious Dragon Technique cultivation. I found a suitable technique for you, so to build up your body, start by practicing this body-tempering art."
As countless earth-element techniques from various sects and races flashed through his mind, along with their strengths and weaknesses, inspiration poured forth the moment Bai Qiuran put pen to paper. After writing furiously, he had extrapolated the technique all the way from the Qi Refining Stage to the Mahayana Stage.
Bai Qiuran clasped Tang Ruowei's hands and replied earnestly, "Child, there's hope for you."
"But as long as you persevere and reach the advanced stages, you'll be able to change your body at will, just like me, while greatly improving its recovery and strength—" -webnovel
But none of them was the best fit for Tang Ruowei. For the sake of his first disciple, Bai Qiuran decided to create a new one himself.
Bai Qiuran had gone to take a look outside her room. His Spiritual Sense confirmed that the girl had indeed been so eager that she'd already started practicing the first layer of the Fortune Body Forging Technique.
Watching her back, Bai Qiuran stroked his chin and smiled knowingly.
"It's perfect for building a foundation."
After hurrying back to her room, Tang Ruowei began practicing according to the scroll.
The first three layers trained the body's form, with three postures per layer. Once she could perform all three without difficulty, she would have broken through that layer.
"That's right. A friend and I created this technique years ago, based on a divine ability left behind by an ancient immortal. It's an external art that requires no foundation to practice or learn."
"But that day, you asked if my... my chest was because of this. Doesn't that mean...?"
"Get up, silly."
Ruowei, your master didn't lie to you. The Fortune Body Forging Technique really can change your body in its later stages. It just gets harder and harder to practice the further you go.
Tang Ruowei blushed. Fighting her embarrassment, she asked hopefully,
As one of the creators of this technique, Bai Qiuran understood it well. The first three layers were basically on the same level as the external martial arts practiced in the mortal world.
Bai Qiuran nodded.
Tang Ruowei murmured,
At that moment, stars shone in Tang Ruowei's eyes.
The girl sprang to her feet, eager to leave. After bidding him farewell, she hurried back to her room and began studying the Fortune Body Forging Technique in detail.
The former princess knelt on the floor, utterly convinced, and bowed before Bai Qiuran in reverence.
Bai Qiuran took Tang Ruowei's hand, then suddenly placed his palm against hers.
With the talent and temperament of an ordinary cultivator, the best they could hope for was to reach the tenth layer. To change their body, they would need to reach at least the fiftieth.
"This is... a divine art!"
Besides, he needed to prepare a suitable cultivation site and technique for Tang Ruowei. He had once possessed a Wood Spirit Root of the Heavenly Spirit Root level, so Seven Star Peak's environment was suited to the wood element. But Tang Ruowei was earth-aligned, so he needed to find a way to create an environment suitable for her.
There were also pills, Dao Souls, Magic Treasures, and all manner of other things to consider for Tang Ruowei.
The technique was taken care of. Next, he needed to find a cultivation site and medicinal herbs for Tang Ruowei.
Putting away the scroll, Bai Qiuran stood and walked out of his courtyard.
Tang Ruowei was more energetic than ever. She sprang up from the floor, clutching the scroll tightly. "I'll practice this external art diligently!"
He formed a hand seal and summoned a small green bird from the spirit realm. Then he had it carry the copied scroll to the Library Pavilion, which was managed by the Fourth Elder.
"Good."
"Yes."
"Yes, Master!"
But now that he'd taken Tang Ruowei as his disciple, Bai Qiuran felt as if he were raising a daughter.
The postures were very difficult for an ordinary person to perform. But Tang Ruowei had practiced martial arts since she was six and had experience with the Mysterious Dragon Technique, so the first three layers shouldn't be a problem.
"I remember... isn't this the one you asked me if I'd learned the other day...?"
The girl still refused to remove the false armor around her chest while practicing. Her stubbornness worried Bai Qiuran. He was afraid she'd make too rapid a breakthrough and kill herself.
Bai Qiuran tossed the apple into the air, then grew a new arm to catch it. Tang Ruowei watched as he sprouted six arms: two of them gestured as he lectured her, while the other four tossed the apple around in a circle.
Bai Qiuran patted her on the head.
He had never had to consider these things for anyone else. Several generations of Sect Masters and elders of the Azure Nether Sword Sect had received his guidance, but they all had their own masters. Their masters would consider these matters for them; Bai Qiuran had never needed to.
Seeing her enthusiasm for training, Bai Qiuran couldn't help feeling that he'd underestimated her.
I wonder how many layers you'll reach, my dear disciple. I'm looking forward to it...
Tang Ruowei seemed to hear a faint pop in her ear, as if a fragile soap bubble had been pierced by a needle. Then the hot current receded as though it had been an illusion. Bai Qiuran released her hand, and Tang Ruowei's consciousness returned.
It seemed he'd accidentally created yet another extraordinary technique. He might as well put it in the Azure Nether Sword Sect's Library Pavilion. Maybe someone besides Tang Ruowei would master it.
He released Tang Ruowei's hands and, from nowhere, produced a fragrant, bright-red apple. He tossed it into the air. His hands didn't move, but a new arm suddenly sprouted near his ribs and caught the apple.
"The Fortune Body Forging Technique is rated a divine-level technique. It's difficult to practice, and it's purely an external art. It can greatly increase your combat strength, but it won't help your cultivation progress."
Seeing through each student's obsessions and using them to kindle their enthusiasm for learning was a basic skill for any good teacher.
"Nuts, I'm your master."
"You're my teacher... no, you're my god!"
With that, Bai Qiuran set down his pen and exhaled. Using magic, he copied the scroll onto a blank one.
Over three thousand years, Bai Qiuran had seen and tried countless wondrous techniques. Most of the techniques now stored in the Azure Nether Sword Sect's Library Pavilion had either been revised by him or created outright.
Fortune Body Forging Technique.
Considering Tang Ruowei's situation, he returned to his Study Room at once. After thinking for a moment, he began writing the technique she would practice.
Tang Ruowei immediately felt a hot current pass from Bai Qiuran's palm into her body. The strange force flowed along her meridians, opening and widening many of them. As it pushed through her body, the swelling sensation, numbness, and pain made the girl break out in a fragrant sweat.
To keep Tang Ruowei from dying because of her breasts, Bai Qiuran had to start preparing the medicinal herbs for her training right away. Medicinal baths would nourish and repair her body.
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