"What are you borrowing?" Li Xian asked.
Su Mo replied, "A body-tempering cultivation technique!"
"You're not joking?"
"No!"
As soon as he heard this, Li Xian's eyes flashed sharply. He reached out and grabbed at Su Mo before him. The claw descended with immense force—no ordinary person could withstand it.
Su Mo said nothing. He merely swept out his right hand in a light slap, blocking Li Xian's claw. The instant their hands met, Li Xian's heart shook violently, and the look he gave Su Mo was one of utter disbelief.
"You really became a Body Tempering Realm Martial Artist!"
At first, Li Xian had not paid much attention to Su Mo, thinking he was joking. But after carefully sizing him up, he realized something was wrong. Facing a peak Body Tempering Realm Martial Artist like himself, Su Mo appeared far too composed, as if completely unaffected by his aura. That was why he had struck out to test him.
Yet the result of that test had left Li Xian deeply shaken.
Su Mo had actually become a Martial Artist.
Although his cultivation was only at the peak of the early Body Tempering Realm, his aura could not be faked. Combined with the fact that Su Mo had come to borrow a body-tempering cultivation technique, Li Xian could not help wondering if Su Mo had broken through to the Body Tempering Realm without ever cultivating a body-tempering technique.
When Su Mo nodded in confirmation, Li Xian was profoundly shaken.
"When did you start cultivating? Were you over eighteen when you began?"
Li Xian continued asking. If Su Mo had started cultivating before the age of eighteen and broken through to the Body Tempering Realm, that meant his natural constitution had not yet solidified too severely. In the future, he would most likely still have a chance to break through and reach the Meridian Opening Realm.
But if he had been over eighteen when he began cultivating, then even if he had broken through to the Body Tempering Realm through some fortuitous coincidence, his natural constitution would most likely have already solidified. His upper limit in martial cultivation would be nearly sealed, and even breaking through to the Meridian Opening Realm would be almost impossible.
That was the importance of one's natural constitution and beginning cultivation early.
If one was over eighteen before beginning cultivation, reaching the peak of the Body Tempering Realm over the course of a lifetime would already be the limit.
Seeing Su Mo nod, Li Xian could not help sighing, a trace of regret flashing in his eyes.
He then said, "Su Mo, body-tempering cultivation techniques are extremely precious. If your natural constitution were still acceptable and had not yet solidified, and if you were still under eighteen when you began cultivating, then I could absolutely recommend you to join our Black Eagle Sect. I might even be able to pass on our sect's body-tempering cultivation technique to you."
"But unfortunately, you fall short on both counts. You won't go very far on the martial path in the future, so I'm sorry. You are not a disciple of the Black Eagle Sect, and I cannot pass on its Body Tempering Realm body-tempering cultivation technique to you."
Li Xian's voice carried a hint of regret.
It was not that he did not want to help Su Mo, but that he could not. The Black Eagle Sect's Body Tempering Realm body-tempering cultivation technique could not be passed on to anyone who was not a sect disciple. Otherwise, once the matter was discovered, not only would he be implicated, Su Mo would also have the cultivation technique he had learned crippled by the Black Eagle Sect.
"It's fine. I just came to ask."
Su Mo smiled. He had actually anticipated this result before coming, so he was not too disappointed.
"However, Su Mo, if you truly need a body-tempering cultivation technique, perhaps you can wait a while. I heard that an old Martial Artist in the Tendon Changing Realm from Anyuan County Town suffered serious injuries when he was young. His qi and blood have now declined, and he wants to return to Qingshan Town to retire. He also plans to establish a martial arts school in Qingshan Town and benefit future generations."
"When the time comes, if you can become a disciple of the martial arts school founded by this old Martial Artist, you'll naturally be able to obtain a Body Tempering Realm body-tempering cultivation technique."
Seeing how open-minded Su Mo was, Li Xian told him the news he had received while passing through Qingshan Town after returning from Anyuan County Town.
This old Martial Artist in the Tendon Changing Realm had left Qingshan Town in his youth and made quite a name for himself in Anyuan County Town. However, he had once been seriously wounded by someone and suffered lasting internal injuries. Now that his age had increased and his qi and blood had declined, he wanted to return to his hometown of Qingshan Town and do something for the younger generation.
He also planned to establish a martial arts school and take in disciples.
When news of this spread, many wealthy families in Qingshan Town were reportedly overjoyed and rushed to send their children to study under the old Martial Artist.
However, the old Martial Artist in the Tendon Changing Realm had not yet returned to Qingshan Town. It was said that they would still have to wait for some time.
"Thank you!"
Su Mo cupped his fists. Although he did not know whether he would have a chance to join the martial arts school, at least he now had a sliver of hope.
"Take care!"
Li Xian nodded, then left Shuanglin Village for Anyuan County Town. The matter of Black Wind Stockade would not end so easily. He had to ask his senior brothers and sisters from the sect to come out of seclusion and wipe out Black Wind Stockade.
"An old Martial Artist in the Tendon Changing Realm is returning to Qingshan Town to establish a martial arts school?"
Su Mo firmly committed the matter to memory. When the old Martial Artist returned to Qingshan Town, he would definitely make a trip there and fight for the chance.
Otherwise, without the support of a body-tempering cultivation technique, it would be extremely difficult for him to break through to the middle stage of the Body Tempering Realm.
Even though his qi and blood were as vigorous as a dragon's and his physical strength was terrifyingly immense, his natural constitution had ultimately solidified. If he wanted to improve his cultivation, he had to obtain a body-tempering cultivation technique.
Only then would he have a chance of breaking through to the Meridian Opening Realm and increasing his lifespan.
Although the Ancient Profound Pearl could improve the innate traits of wild beasts and Fierce Beasts and strengthen the physical body, it could not accelerate cultivation. Thus, only a cultivation technique could free him from his current predicament.
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