Demonic Qi Body Quenching, Old Man Comes to the Imperial Ancestral Temple

An Le looked at the piece of white jade before him. The white jade had nine gray patterns of varying thickness, arranged neatly on it. Perhaps it shouldn't be called white jade, but rather jade.

"Quenching Demon Jade..."

An Le murmured. To be honest, he was a little surprised. He hadn't expected the Time Dao Fruit to manifest as a physical object.

This [Quenching Demon Jade] was somewhat similar to a cultivation magic treasure, and a rather precious one at that, an auxiliary magic treasure that could aid in cultivation.

After learning about cultivation from Madam Hua, An Le was no longer completely ignorant. Cultivation was like crossing a river; the higher you went, the fiercer the struggle.

Competition naturally involved conflict, and conflict required weapons. Magic treasures were the weapons of cultivators, but magic treasures could also be divided into offensive and auxiliary types.

As he stroked the Quenching Demon Jade, the nine gray patterns on the demon jade seemed to contain a majestic demonic qi. Tempering the body with demonic qi could strengthen the physique like a demon's body!

For a demon to transform, it needed to undergo a hundred years of cultivation. Under the tempering of time, a demon's body naturally became tough. Although powerful Body Forging Martial Artists would not be weaker than great demons in terms of physical body, tempering the body with demonic qi was indeed an efficient method of cultivation.

An Le's interest was piqued. Coupled with the spacious courtyard, he tidied up the potted plants and stood in the courtyard, intending to practice the Tiger Style.

His spiritual power surged into the demon jade. A gray pattern on the jade seemed to boil and writhe, and majestic demonic qi overflowed from it!

His Blood Essence churned beneath his skin, and An Le began to practice the Tiger Style.

As his Blood Essence circulated, the generated demonic qi seemed to be absorbed by every pore, surging beneath his skin and between his meridians. A stinging sensation spread through him.

An Le frowned but endured the pain and continued to practice the Tiger Style.

After one round, An Le's body was covered in sweat, and the sweat was mixed with a bit of blood!

An Le could clearly feel that his skin and physique had become much tougher.

Was this demonic qi body tempering?!

An Le was somewhat surprised. The Five禽 Body Tempering Technique was originally meant to be used with medicinal baths for body tempering, which would accelerate the refinement of the physical body.

Now, under demonic qi tempering, the effect seemed even better than medicinal baths!

In his surprise, An Le continued to cultivate the body tempering technique tirelessly, practicing the Bird Style.

The Bird Style and Tiger Style were what An Le was most skilled at now. He had gained a lot from watching Fourth Master Lin temper his body under the waterfall.

Although the spring rain from yesterday had stopped, puddles formed by the rain still remained in the potholes of the bluestone path in the alley. Fallen leaves, beaten down by yesterday's rain, floated on the water's surface, spinning gently.

With a "pat," the reflection of the world in the fallen leaves and water was shattered by a falling cloth shoe.

Water droplets splashed up and then fell back down, stirring up muddy water in the potholes. The fallen leaves were picked up by the cloth shoe, sticking to the bottom, making a rustling sound as he walked.

The old man in plain clothes, who had emerged from the Imperial Ancestral Temple, walked slowly, his two long eyebrows fluttering in the wind.

Sensing the demonic qi drifting in the air, the old man's expression was indifferent. He soon followed the alley of the Imperial Ancestral Temple to the source of the overflowing demonic qi.

The courtyard gate was not closed, and from within, the sound of churning Blood Essence could be heard, along with the powerful gusts of wind generated by a cultivator practicing punches.

The old man glanced into the courtyard and was immediately surprised: "Oh? Not a demon, but a human."

"Using the Five Animals as a foundation, drawing demonic qi to temper the body... a very interesting idea, but demonic qi is difficult to draw. This demonic qi is emanating from the jade pendant worn by the young man, which is quite intriguing."

"Compared to tempering the body with medicinal baths, demonic qi tempering is more efficient."

The old man stroked his beard and then began to admire An Le's Five Animals Body Forging. As he watched, his eyes grew brighter, and by the end, he even showed a hint of reminiscence.

The Five Birds Body Tempering Technique is a method collected by the Tianbo Lin Manor. It refines the physical body using the movements of the Five Animals. Although it is not a top-tier body tempering method, it is quite good. His Tiger Style and Bird Style actually bear some resemblance to Fourth Master Lin of the Lin family.

The old man smiled, a hint of interest appearing in his eyes.

He had come to punish a demon, but unexpectedly, it was a young man who had caused the demonic qi to appear. In that case, there was no need to reprimand him.

Tempering the body with demonic qi, though rare, was not unheard of. In the Yuan Meng Empire, some martial arts fanatics even hunted thousand-year-old great demons, killing them and bathing in their blood, which contained resentment and ferocity, to temper their bodies. Demonic qi tempering was nothing compared to that.

"Practicing the Five Animals, and his spiritual power also carries the intent of the Sword Waterfall... Could this young man be the one who caused Young Madam Hua of the Lin family to act at the entrance of Quiet Street yesterday?"

The old man mused, guessing An Le's identity.

Although the confrontation yesterday was just a fleeting glimpse, the Jade Guanyin's finger flick had summoned three thousand drops of spring rain to transform into swords, and the power was indeed extraordinary, attracting the attention of many powerful individuals.

In the courtyard, An Le, who was practicing the Bird Style, suddenly felt a palpitation. His mind tensed, as if a pair of deep eyes were observing him.

After finishing the Bird Style practice, An Le was covered in sweat and blood; it was the transformation of his physique.

But he had no time to pay attention to it. He looked towards the courtyard entrance and saw an old man in plain clothes with long eyebrows looking at him with great interest.

The feeling of being spied upon by deep eyes disappeared. The old man became ordinary again, with no outward leakage or display of power, such as Blood Essence or spiritual power, like a common old man.

But in An Le's eyes, strand after strand of Time Qi on the old man swayed like dense seaweed in the wind.

Even Madam Hua's Time Qi could not compare to this old man's!

An Le was even unable to estimate how many strands of Time Qi the old man possessed!

A true cultivation powerhouse!

He was the strongest existence An Le had ever seen, far surpassing Madam Hua.

An Le's heart stirred. Perhaps this old man was the guardian powerhouse in the Imperial Ancestral Temple they had passed earlier?

Facing such a powerful being, and gazing at the strands of Time Qi swaying like seaweed on him, An Le did not hesitate and began to absorb it.

However, after a strenuous tug-of-war, An Le failed to absorb anything.

He couldn't extract even a wisp of Time Qi from the old man.

It had been incredibly difficult to absorb it from Madam Hua before, so failing to do so from an even stronger existence wasn't entirely unexpected.

This further solidified An Le's guess: if he wanted to absorb Time Qi from powerful individuals, his own Cultivation had to keep pace. Otherwise, he'd be stuck in this embarrassing situation of being unable to draw it out.

"Young friend, you just moved in today, right? You look unfamiliar. I also live in this Tai Miao Lane, so we're practically neighbors," the old man said with a smile.

He squinted, looking at An Le with a knowing gaze. An Le's stare just now, that look in his eyes, was rather peculiar. What had this young man seen?

"This junior is An Le, from Chong Prefecture. I've come to Lin'an for the Spring Imperial Examination and bought this small courtyard to cultivate and study. I hope I'm not disturbing you, senior," An Le said, cupping his fists in a respectful bow.

The long-browed old man paused his beard-stroking, understanding that An Le had likely sensed his strength.

"A Cultivator whose Spiritual power has just been born, whose Blood Essence has just begun to open, can actually glimpse my cultivation? Even that unfortunate, unlucky kid Luo Qingchen, whose Dao Heart was repeatedly toyed with, might not have been able to detect my hidden presence."

The old man mused, finding An Le increasingly interesting.

No wonder the Jade Guanyin of the Lin Manor made a move for this young man.

"No need for such formalities. What I said is true, you've moved into Tai Miao Lane, and we are neighbors. Meeting is fate. Little friend, from now on, when you temper your body with Demonic Qi from jade, you can just stay within this courtyard. I'll help you mask any overflowing Demonic Qi to avoid attracting unreasonable Demon Slayers from Lin'an Prefecture and disrupting the order," the old man said with a smile.

An Le was surprised by this.

He really hadn't considered the matter of Demon Slayers.

"Thank you, senior," An Le said with a respectful bow.

The old man waved his hand. "No need for formalities. I just don't want those Demon Slayers disturbing the peace of Tai Miao Lane."

"You practice the Five Animals Body Forging, possessing the demeanor of Fourth Master Lin, and you've learned Hua Jiebing's Sword Waterfall Diagram. You must be that Painter who entered the Lin Manor... I also have some insights into painting, perhaps I can ask you for some advice," the old man said with a smile.

An Le wasn't surprised that the other party recognized his identity. Someone like this was probably on the same level as the Lin Manor's Old Madam.

"It's not for me to ask for advice, but rather for us to exchange ideas," An Le said humbly, bowing.

"Hahaha, exchanging ideas is good. Wait for me, I just finished a painting this morning, I'll go get it now."

The old man was decisive and truly intended to go back for his painting.

However, An Le thought for a moment and said, "Senior, this student must go to the Lin Manor to paint for the young masters who are about to set off. This is something I promised the Lin Manor, and I cannot go back on my word without taking leave first."

The old man's long eyebrows shot up. "You refuse now, aren't you afraid I'll be angered?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a powerful surge of Spiritual power emanated from the old man. Instantly, it was like dark clouds gathering, lightning roaring, and pressure like an overturning mountain!

Facing the terrifying pressure, An Le, empowered by his Fearless Heart Dao Fruit, stood firm like a pine tree, neither humble nor arrogant. He cupped his fists and said earnestly, "A person who is not constant in his words is not trustworthy. If one is not constant in his conduct, he cannot be considered a gentleman. If one only seeks profit, he will do anything. Such a person can be called a petty man."

"Perhaps exchanging painting skills with you, senior, could please you and benefit me, but since I have already made a promise to the Lin family, I must do what I am supposed to do."

Upon hearing this, a flicker of surprise flashed in the old man's eyes. The pressure and immense Spiritual power he was emitting instantly vanished, like the sky clearing after rain.

The old man smiled with satisfaction and admiration. "You have the composure to remain unfazed even when a mountain collapses before you. Little friend, your courage is commendable. A true gentleman values his promises, and a promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold. You are in the right."

"Go ahead. I'll come find you again in the evening."

With that, the old man turned and left the courtyard.

An Le smiled and cupped his fists.

"Then, after I finish work, I'll buy a pot of old yellow wine, and we can drink and discuss painting together, senior."

The old man's plain robe fluttered as his cloth shoes splashed through puddles and fallen leaves on the bluestone slabs. Only a faint voice drifted back from the alley.

"Ah, there's wine... Painting as an appetizer. This little friend knows how to handle things, very good."