The Emei Nine Yangs Technique First Layer

The wooden box was not very large. Though it lacked elaborate decorations, the dark wood, aged by time, gave off an understated air of value, and Gu Shaoan could clearly sense a wisp of sandalwood lingering at the tip of his nose.

Faced with the wooden box Master Miejue held out, Gu Shaoan looked puzzled, but still took it. It felt smooth and cool in his hands.

Master Miejue said, "Inside this box are two Bodhi Exquisite Pills. They were refined using the gallbladders and blood of Bosiqu Snakes, Exquisite Herb, and forty-six other ingredients. Once consumed, they can strengthen your origin and increase your internal power."

"A single pill is worth a year of internal cultivation for a martial artist with Superior Bone Structure. It can also increase a martial artist's physical strength."

Gu Shaoan already possessed advanced medical texts, so he was naturally familiar with the unusual medicinal ingredient that was Bosiqu Snake gall.

At Master Miejue's words, the hand holding the box stiffened for an instant.

Gu Shaoan hadn't expected the Emei Sect to still have something this precious.

Anything that could increase one's Origin Internal Power and improve one's constitution was an absolute rarity, wherever it was found.

Not to mention a second-rate force like Emei—even first-rate forces might not have anything capable of increasing Origin Internal Power and improving one's constitution.

Gu Shaoan hadn't expected the Emei Sect to have such a thing.

Beside him, Zhou Zhiruo was simple-hearted.

When she learned that the Bodhi Exquisite Pills were a treasured legacy passed down by their founding master, Guo Xiang, she felt no desire to claim them for herself. She merely examined the box in Gu Shaoan's hands with some curiosity.

Seeing Gu Shaoan staring blankly at the box, Master Miejue spoke again.

"Your comprehension is exceptional, Shaoan, but your bone structure is only Superior, like your master's. That's already quite good in the martial world, but it still falls short of those Heavenly Prodigies."

"Your internal power may well become your only weakness in the future."

"Fortunately, you've only just begun cultivating. These two Bodhi Exquisite Pills can strengthen your Origin Internal Power, so they're just what you need to build a firm foundation."

"With your Origin Internal Power strengthened and your foundation secure, combined with your own diligence, you'll surely surpass your master one day and reach the level where True Qi transforms into yuan."

"By then, the Emei Sect will surely shine in your hands and return to the ranks of the first-rate sects in the martial world."

It wasn't just Gu Shaoan.

Even Zhou Zhiruo could hear the deep hopes Master Miejue placed in him.

Looking at the wooden box in his hands, Gu Shaoan couldn't deny that he was moved.

From Master Miejue's explanation, he understood that these were the last two Bodhi Exquisite Pills in Emei, and that the method for refining them had been lost. They were extraordinarily precious.

Yet Master Miejue had brought out something so valuable for a disciple who had been in the sect for barely a month.

Whatever her reason for doing so, he was the one who stood to benefit.

Gu Shaoan was not indecisive.

People came in all shapes and sizes; the same was true of martial artists' bone structure and comprehension.

Those with superior bone structure could cultivate for one month and achieve what those with inferior bone structure could in several.

That was why the Heavenly Prodigies of the martial world could be so young, yet possess such profound power that even old martial artists were left astonished.

Gu Shaoan's Superior Bone Structure was not bad by the standards of the martial world, but it was only above average.

He could use Achievement Points to draw rewards, and perhaps one day he would obtain something that could improve his bone structure.

But there was no guarantee.

Improving his Origin Internal Power sooner would still greatly increase his strength.

After nodding, Gu Shaoan slowly opened the box under Master Miejue and Zhou Zhiruo's watchful gazes.

Inside, two pills the size of broad beans rested on soft, bright yellow silk.

The pills were about the size of broad beans and bore faint reddish markings.

They looked as if someone had drawn red lines across tiny clay balls, and they gave off a scent reminiscent of goldthread.

Taking a deep breath to steady his surging emotions, Gu Shaoan picked up one of the Bodhi Exquisite Pills without hesitation.

"Use both at once, while the momentum is with you. That way, you'll get the most out of them."

At that, Master Miejue suddenly spoke.

Gu Shaoan took the other pill as well and, following her instructions, put both Bodhi Exquisite Pills into his mouth at once.

The moment the pills touched his taste buds, their concentrated bitterness—like that of goldthread—made Gu Shaoan's brows knit together.

Who said good pills tasted sweet? Medicine was bitter by nature, and that was all the more true of pills made from a mix of herbs and snake gall.

Grumbling inwardly, Gu Shaoan forced the pills down. His brows remained tightly furrowed.

After the pills reached his stomach, the intense medicinal energy he had expected did not immediately erupt. It was as if a stone had sunk into the sea, leaving no trace of movement; only the bitter taste lingered in his mouth.

Boom!

But ten breaths later, an indescribably immense energy suddenly exploded from Gu Shaoan's Dantian.

It wasn't a raging flame, but rather like molten rock buried deep underground suddenly surging upward, bringing with it a heavy, tremendous force that seemed ready to split his entire abdomen open.

"Ugh!"

Gu Shaoan groaned. His Lower Dantian seemed to fill instantly with an endless torrent of energy, swelling until it felt as if it would tear apart at any moment.

A searing pain and an indescribable sense of swelling struck him. Stars danced before his eyes, his body shuddered uncontrollably, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared across his forehead.

"Gather your spirit and focus. Circulate the Emei Nine Yangs Technique."

Just then, Master Miejue's voice—cold yet laced with concern—washed over him like an icy spring, jolting Gu Shaoan back to his senses.

Almost as soon as Master Miejue finished speaking, Gu Shaoan forced himself to endure the discomfort and sat down cross-legged. The internal power in his Dantian surged into motion at full force, almost instinctively.

His internal power, which had flowed through his body like a gentle stream, was now as fragile as a candle in the wind before the immense torrent of medicinal energy. It seemed on the verge of being swept away and swallowed whole.

The energy transformed from the pills was vast beyond anything Gu Shaoan could have imagined.

It was more like an endless ocean, while he was only a tiny boat that might capsize at any moment.

The Emei Nine Yangs Technique was already Emei's finest cultivation art.

And Gu Shaoan had cultivated the Emei Nine Yangs Technique First Layer to Complete Mastery, refining his internal power until it was dense and solid.

Driven at full speed, his internal power rapidly refined and absorbed the medicinal energy spreading through his body.

As one surge of medicinal energy after another was refined, each of Gu Shaoan's tiny Meridians and channels was forcibly widened. The tearing pain made his bones creak all over.

Some of the medicinal energy quietly entered his Dantian and merged with his Origin Internal Power, while the rest flowed into his body.

It seeped into his muscle fibers, bone marrow, blood, and vital essence.

It was tempering and strengthening Gu Shaoan's sinews, bones, and physique.

During the process, Gu Shaoan could even feel an intense tingling itch deep within his body.

His bones were growing denser, while his muscle fibers were rearranging themselves, becoming tougher and more explosive.