Bone Marrow Tempering

"See you, Senior Brother!"

Feeling somewhat helpless, Su Yi was about to return to his room when he heard a voice dripping with sarcasm.

Turning around, he saw Cheng Wen's head poking out from Room No. 5.

When Cheng Wen saw Su Yi turn around, he pinched his throat and said again, "See you, Senior Brother!"

Su Yi's face darkened. "What kind of mischief are you up to now?"

Grinning, Cheng Wen said, "Me? I was just getting ready to go out for dinner. Who would've thought... tsk, tsk, tsk."

Su Yi watched Cheng Wen wiggle his brows and make faces, black lines covering his face, but he still explained, "We just had a meal together."

He did not care much about being rumored about, but if word got out, with Wu Duoduo's personality, she would be embarrassed to death.

And Cheng Wen would be beaten to death by Wu Duoduo's parents too.

"Mm-hmm, I know. Don't worry, I'll keep it secret."

Cheng Wen nodded repeatedly with a thoroughly serious expression, though his face was full of teasing amusement.

You know jack shit.

Su Yi knew Cheng Wen was just clowning around and teasing him. As long as he did not spread it around, it was fine.

Helplessly, he said, "Do whatever you want. I'm going back to rest."

"Alright, Senior Brother. See you."

The moment Cheng Wen finished speaking, he slammed the door shut and locked it from the inside. At the very last moment, he caught sight of Su Yi charging toward him.

That was close, Cheng Wen thought thankfully.

He knew Su Yi too well. If the door had not been shut, he might have been dragged off for a beating, all under the lofty pretense of "checking the progress of his battle arts."

Once the door was closed, everything was fine. Su Yi was not actually that angry and would not break down the door to barge in.

As for what came afterward, who cared?

Anyway, that bit of mischief had made him happy. He had nearly been tortured mad all summer. If he could not find some fun now, he really might go insane.

Who told Su Yi to cultivate so quickly? The blows to his confidence had left a breath lodged in his chest that he could never swallow down. Now, he could finally vent some of that resentment.

Still, if Su Yi really ended up with that Wu Duoduo...

That actually seemed pretty nice. Cheng Wen wondered whether he should give them another push.

After thinking about it for a while, he shook his head. Forget it. He did not even know whether Su Yi had any interest in her.

Su Yi returned straight to his dormitory. He was not truly angry. Cheng Wen had only been sarcastic three times, after all.

What was the big deal? After so many years of friendship with Cheng Wen, he would not get angry over something like that.

Still, he did not know how Cheng Wen's battle arts had been progressing lately. Another day, he ought to give him some proper guidance.

After all, now that they had entered Martial University, combat experience was still extremely important.

Wu Duoduo, who had returned to her dormitory early, was lying facedown on her bed, clutching her blanket tightly with her head buried inside it. Her feet lifted and fell without rhythm.

Her face was flushed red, and no one knew what she was thinking.

The next day, the freshmen had a day off.

After resting through the night, Su Yi was full of energy. Once he finished breakfast, he went straight to the Battle Art Room and did not leave until the afternoon.

When he returned, he happened to run into Cheng Wen. With great enthusiasm, he invited Cheng Wen to visit his Training Room.

Although Cheng Wen politely refused, he was still unable to withstand Su Yi's warmly beaming smile.

Half an hour later, Cheng Wen, having thoroughly enjoyed Su Yi's enthusiastic hospitality, covered his face and hurried back to his own dormitory.

September 8th, Martial University classes officially began.

Because the first three classes had already learned Stake Standing and the Tempering Method, they had fewer courses than the latter five classes.

The other classes not only had to study general education and specialized courses, but also Stake Standing and the Tempering Method. They had not yet begun studying battle arts.

Therefore, compared to the latter five classes, the first three classes had it somewhat easier.

Of course, Su Yi was the exception!

Apart from general education and specialized courses, all his remaining time was packed with classes related to the Underground Cave.

Underground Cave common knowledge, survival, geography, cultural history, Underground Cave Herb Identification...

With his schedule completely full, Su Yi could only move his time for going to the Battle Art Room and studying battle arts to the evenings.

September 10th.

Morning.

Name: Su Yi

Realm: Third Rank Martial Artist

Blood Qi: 844 cal/859 cal

Mentality: 322 Hz/549 Hz

Bone Tempering: 156 bones (90%), 50 bones (30%)

Knowledge: Mid Grade Combat Method—Falling Blossom Sword—Major Achievement {Optimization +2}; Mid-Grade Footwork—Cloud Step—Major Achievement {Optimization +2}; Basic Cultivation Method—Tempering Method {Optimization +3}; Horse Stance {Optimization +1}—Void Standing Realm; Basic Fist Technique—Minor Achievement;

Basic Leg Technique—Major Achievement; Basic Sword Technique—Major Achievement {Optimization +1};

...

Energy: 105064 points

Damage Status: 18.23%

Over the past ten days, Su Yi had tempered five Spine Bones. Tempering the Spine Bone was indeed excruciating. The incompletely tempered Spine Bones left Su Yi constantly feeling uncomfortable.

But this was a common issue at the Third Grade Mid Stage, and he could only adapt to it. Tempering the Spine Bones all at once was far too dangerous; he truly had no confidence in pulling it off.

He did not have a system that could allocate points, so he could only temper them in batches. Every completed Spine Bone required nearly a full day of adjustment. Otherwise, Su Yi could have tempered ten Spine Bones over these ten days.

The Book of Knowledge's repair progress had reached 18.23%.

The techniques and tricks covered by Mid Grade Combat Methods were already close to being saturated. When he finished reading a combat method yesterday evening, it had only increased by 0.01%.

Su Yi had already decided to shift his target to High Grade Combat Methods.

Unfortunately, High Grade Combat Methods had their own designated area, and one needed to apply for access before entering to read them.

He had yet to reach the Mid Grade realm, so it was truly difficult for him to apply.

Wu Kuishan still had not emerged from the Underground Cave, so Su Yi could only wait patiently for his return.

The only good news was that his Energy Points had already surpassed 100,000.

These days, accumulating Energy Points had become increasingly difficult. On a whim, Su Yi anonymously submitted his realm and combat strength.

As a result, his Energy Points had surged since yesterday, increasing by over three thousand in a single day. Judging by the current trend, today might set another new record.

During the College Entrance Exam interview, Su Yi had actually overlooked the fact that he could build up publicity for himself.

Over the past two days, reports on Su Yi had sprung up like bamboo shoots after rain, too numerous to take in.

Last night, Su Yi had deliberately selected the more influential newspapers that had contacted him for exclusive interviews.

Looking at the Energy Points displayed on the panel, Su Yi impatiently began the Optimization.

One hundred thousand Energy Points were instantly consumed.

Once the Optimization was complete, Su Yi began comprehending the newly optimized Tempering Method.

As he learned more about the new Tempering Method, Su Yi's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

This Optimization had not merely optimized the Tempering Method. Su Yi's body had also undergone slight alterations, allowing it to produce Blood Qi Resonance with the newly optimized Tempering Method and thereby temper his marrow.

"It really works!"

He hurriedly began trying out the new Tempering Method.

"So itchy! So painful!"

Su Yi's face twisted slightly. The process of Bone Marrow Tempering brought pain that pierced into the marrow and itchiness that seeped into the marrow—yet he could neither scratch nor claw at it. It was enough to drive anyone mad.

At this moment, he felt so awful that he wanted to scream, but he gritted his teeth and endured it without uttering a sound.

As his marrow underwent deep tempering, Su Yi also sensed the changes within himself. His skin was steadily tightening, his pores becoming finer, and even his body hair showed signs of falling out. This was a sign of sealing off the loss of his blood qi and forming an internal circulation.

An hour later.

Name: Su Yi

Realm: Third Grade Martial Artist

Blood Qi: 724 cal/861 cal

Mentality: 322 Hz/549 Hz

Bone Tempering: 1 bone (100%), 155 bones (90%), 50 bones (30%)

Knowledge: Mid Grade Combat Method—Falling Blossom Sword—Major Achievement {Optimization +2}; Mid-Grade Footwork—Cloud Step—Major Achievement {Optimization +2}; Basic Cultivation Method—Tempering Method {Optimization +4}; Horse Stance {Optimization +1}—Void Standing Realm; Basic Fist Technique—Minor Achievement;

Basic Leg Technique—Major Achievement; Basic Sword Technique—Major Achievement {Optimization +1};

...

Energy: 5323 points

Damage Status: 18.23%

One bone had reached one hundred percent!

The Lower Three Grades were all about tempering the outer layer of the bones, and ninety percent was the limit.

Bone Marrow Tempering was something only those at the Seventh Grade Peak could consider.

Once Marrow Tempering reached Major Achievement, his blood qi would be like mercury, and his blood qi recovery ability would be greatly enhanced.

It took a full hour to temper one bone completely.

Setting aside the Spine Bones that had yet to be tempered, if he only tempered marrow now, he could temper around twenty-four bones a day. Tempering all 155 bones would take a week, and that did not even include the time needed to restore his blood qi.

If blood qi recovery time was factored in, twelve bones a day would be the most he could manage. Tempering them all would likely take half a month.

Half a month. That meant the time before he could enter the Underground Cave would be pushed back by another half month.

But that was already fast, thanks to the fourth Optimization reducing consumption by 40% and increasing the tempering speed by 40%.

"Adding the 350 Credit Points transferred by Senior Brother, I now have 1,227 Credit Points, plus 25 million in cash."

Su Yi began taking stock of his resources. Aside from the Fourth Grade Leather Armor, three Life-Returning Pills, and a C-grade alloy sword, the only pills he had were ten Third Grade Blood Qi Pills and several Third Grade Bone Tempering Pills.

He was not sure whether they would be enough for his cultivation during this period.

"Bone Marrow Tempering first..."

After the bone marrow was tempered, his blood qi would grow richer, his bones tougher. And once his bone marrow became stronger, it would nourish his body in return, strengthening his physique—including his blood-producing ability.

When he tempered his Spine Bone afterward, it should reduce some of the resource consumption.

It was not that Su Yi did not want to quickly Breakthrough to Third-Rank High Stage, but he had yet to enter the Underground Cave. Marrow Tempering took higher priority and would benefit him more.

Besides, the resources on him could still support him for some time.

"I'll use the Energy Pool to cultivate first."

Inside the Energy Room, Energy Ore released energy. Cultivating there could speed up cultivation, at a cost of ten Credit Points per hour.

The Blood Qi Pool was even more outrageous—thirty Credit Points an hour.

Though the Blood Qi Pool was said to be effective for Middle Three Grades martial artists, it was actually useful to Lower Three Grades martial artists too; it simply was not cost-effective.

Cultivating in the Blood Qi Pool was more effective than cultivating in the Energy Room.

Recovery was faster, and replenishment was faster too.

But the price was simply too steep. With Su Yi's current Credit Points, he could not cultivate there for long at all.

Energy Room.

Su Yi arrived at the front desk and said directly, "Teacher, open an Energy Room for me for five days!"

The instructor in charge of the Energy Room looked at Su Yi in some surprise. "Are you sure?"

How could he not know Su Yi? The big boss of Freshman Year!

He had enrolled at Third Grade Mid Stage, and his reputation was enormous.

The newspaper headline he had read today was: Su Yi! The Outstanding Talent of the Younger Generation!

But five days would cost 1,200 Credit Points. Was Su Yi really that wealthy?

Su Yi handed over his Martial Arts Certificate and said with some heartache, "I'm sure!"

His heart really did ache. Ten Credit Points an hour, 240 Credit Points a day—five days meant 1,200 Credit Points.

Once he finished cultivating this time, his Credit Points would truly be running dry.

The instructor in charge of the Energy Room nodded and immediately processed the payment, directly deducting 1,200 Credit Points from Su Yi's account.

Good heavens, he really could afford it.

Watching Su Yi enter the Energy Room, the instructor returned to reading his newspaper.

If Su Yi had resources, then he had resources. It had little to do with him.