Fusion Deduction

Lu Chen pulled out the secret manual and flipped open the first page.

There were no earth-shattering techniques, nor any overbearing, peerless moves. The entire text described how to emulate the great earth and mountains, to condense one's own qi and blood, cultivating internal force that was thick, enduring, and tenacious.

In terms of cultivation speed, it ranked among the slowest of all Yellow-grade upper-tier techniques.

But its strengths were equally prominent.

The foundation was stable, the stamina long-lasting, the internal force cultivated was supremely pure and dense, and it was extremely difficult to suffer a qi deviation. Moreover, it possessed a natural resistance and defensive effect against all kinds of yin-cold and poisonous baleful qi.

"The slowest to cultivate?"

"But time for cultivation is the last thing I lack."

A sharp glint flashed in Lu Chen's eyes.

This technique was practically tailor-made for him!

With the Deduction System, the last thing Lu Chen feared was cultivation—he just needed to handle more corpses.

"This is the one!"

Having chosen his technique, Lu Chen did not linger. He took the copy of the Bedrock Art and left the Armory.

Returning to the Corpse Handling Room, he wedged the stone door shut with a massive boulder. Only after confirming everything was secure did he spread all his gains out before him.

The Bedrock Art, a bottle of Foundation Elixir, and a Hundred Refinements Saber.

He sat cross-legged, sinking his mind into his consciousness, and opened the system panel that had already turned silver-white.

"System, activate the Deduction Furnace."

[The Deduction Furnace has been activated. Please place the martial arts to be fused.]

Without hesitation, Lu Chen made his choice.

"Place Turtle Breath Meditation Method and Bedrock Art!"

[Detected unranked technique Turtle Breath Meditation Method and Yellow-grade upper-tier technique Bedrock Art. The attributes of the two techniques are similar, with a high degree of compatibility. Fusion is possible.]

[The fusion will take Bedrock Art as the main body, absorbing the long-breath characteristic of Turtle Breath Meditation Method. It is expected to generate a brand-new Yellow-grade upper-tier technique.]

[Will you consume 10 years of Demon Devil Lifespan to proceed with the fusion deduction?]

Ten years!

Just a fusion required ten years of lifespan!

Lu Chen's heart ached, but he gritted his teeth and confirmed.

"Yes!"

[Command confirmed. Consuming 10 years of Demon Devil Lifespan. Fusion begins...]

On the silver-white book, an illusory image of a furnace materialized. The two technique manuals transformed into streams of light and plunged into it, where a blazing, illusory flame rose up.

Countless insights into breathing, respiration, qi circulation, and Foundation Establishment surged like a burst dam, colliding, intertwining, shattering, and recombining within Lu Chen's mind!

This process was far more painful than simple infusion. His brain felt as if it were about to burst from the overwhelming flood of information.

But when everything finally settled, a brand-new silver manual, radiating a heavy aura, slowly took shape on the system panel.

[Fusion successful!]

[Congratulations, host, for obtaining a new technique—Ten Thousand Year Black Tortoise Art!]

[Ten Thousand Year Black Tortoise Art (Yellow-grade upper-tier): Fusing the heaviness of bedrock with the longevity of the black tortoise, the internal force cultivated is unceasing, possesses astonishing defensive power, and has a faint nourishing effect on lifespan.]

The five ancient, weighty silver characters of Ten Thousand Year Black Tortoise Art hovered silently on the system panel. Every stroke seemed to contain the weight of mountains and the stability of the earth.

Lu Chen's mind slowly withdrew from the profound fusion process. He felt as if his entire spirit had been hollowed out, yet within his dantian, an unprecedented sense of solidity and heaviness arose.

Without a moment's hesitation, he poured out a pill from the White Jade Porcelain Bottle. It was the size of a longan, pure white, and exuded a faint herbal fragrance.

Foundation Elixir!

This elixir's medicinal power was gentle and long-lasting, specifically used for building foundations, consolidating the root, and guarding the one. It was perfectly suited for his newly born Ten Thousand Year Black Tortoise Art.

The pill dissolved upon entering his mouth. Instead of the explosive heat of a Qi and Blood Pill, it transformed into a cool yet vast warm current, like a mountain stream, slowly flowing into his limbs and bones before finally converging in his dantian.

The foundation, which had felt slightly unstable due to the technique fusion, was instantly solidified by this pure medicinal power.

"System!" Lu Chen struck while the iron was hot, issuing an urgent command in his mind. "Pour all of my remaining Demon Devil Lifespan into Ten Thousand Year Black Tortoise Art!"

[Command confirmed.]

[Detected host has 118 years of Demon Devil Lifespan remaining. Beginning infusion into Ten Thousand Year Black Tortoise Art...]

The silver-white book blazed with light, and the number representing his lifespan began to jump wildly.

[You spent ten years of lifespan, cultivating day and night without rest. Through countless cycles of breathing, you groped for the true meaning of the technique, finally initially combining the heaviness of bedrock with the breath of the black tortoise. You successfully entered the gate!]

[You spent thirty years of lifespan, your mind as still as water, emulating mountains and rivers. You repeatedly compressed and refined your internal force, its texture growing ever thicker and tougher, like bedrock itself. You reached the Minor Accomplishment realm!]

[You spent sixty years of lifespan, meditating in stillness, comprehending the cycle of life and death, the transformation of tortoise and snake. Your internal force circulated without cease, and the qi mechanism around your body formed an invisible barrier, impervious to water and fire, warding off all poisons. Ten Thousand Year Black Tortoise Art has reached Great Accomplishment!]

A full hundred years!

When the number on the panel finally settled on "eighteen," a completely different power awakened within Lu Chen's body with a roar!

If before, the Turtle Breath Inner Qi had been nothing more than a babbling brook, then at this moment, the inner force within his dantian was a bottomless, frigid pool! Its color was pitch-black, its substance heavy and dense, and as it slowly revolved, it carried a deep, congealed stillness—a deathly silence that seemed immutable for ten thousand ages.

Lu Chen took a deep breath. This single breath stretched to an almost inconceivable length, as if it had completely merged with the world's primordial qi, no longer separate from it.

His heartbeat, his breathing, even the sound of his blood flowing—all dropped to an almost imperceptible level at this moment.

He sat cross-legged there. If one didn't look but relied solely on sensing his aura, he was like a cold, lifeless stone, perfectly blending into this gloomy Corpse Handling Room.

Qi concealment! Hiding! Defense!

This cultivation art was practically a supreme treasure tailor-made for someone like him, who walked the path of survival!

Lu Chen slowly opened his eyes. A gleam of profound light, heavy as a mountain, flashed and vanished.

He clenched his fist, feeling explosive power surging within his body, yet this power was perfectly restrained inside, not leaking a single shred.

Lu Chen had a strong confidence that if he were to face that Corpse Vine Demon Tree again right now, he could even rely on the terrifying defensive power of the perfected Ten Thousand Year Black Tortoise Art to withstand several vine lashes without a scratch!

Just then, a frantic, forceful pounding on the door, accompanied by Foreman Wang's sharp, shrill voice, came crashing in like a demonic sound drilling into his ears.

"Lu Chen! Lu Chen! Get your ass out here! A heaven-sent fortune is waiting for you!"