Innate Geng Metal Spirit Bones

At the foot of the mountain, Xi Huang Hall was exceptionally lively today. Word had it that the leader of a great tribe from beyond Wanqu had entered Wanqu to pay homage to the Xi Huang Emperor—and to conduct an inspection along the way.

"What an enormous display. I wonder which great tribe's leader it is?"

At the foot of the mountain, many young Daoist attendants had gathered with the citizens of Wanqu City to watch. Beneath the morning light, colossal beasts like hills stood gathered there—some resembling tigers, some wolves, seemingly lion-like beasts. Dragon turtles, white tigers, white deer, and giant bears accompanied them as well.

The crowd stopped to stare, even more shaken by the sight.

Yang Huai swept them with a glance, then slipped into the rear hall while the opportunity presented itself.

Giant cypresses grew throughout the rear hall. Beneath one enormous tree, Yang Huai saw Feng Ying again.

Feng Ying's brows were furrowed, his face full of conflict. Yet upon seeing Yang Huai arrive, his expression immediately returned to calm.

"It seems you've already made your decision."

Interest flickered in Yang Huai's eyes.

Feng Ying nodded, solemnly drawing a piece of beast hide from his robes. Clutching it tightly, he said,

"I have brought a secret art from my clan. I believe it should suit your wishes!"

"This art is called the Metal Essence Fivefold Tempering Secret Art. It came from the hand of a Divine True Being of the Ninth Heaven. If mastered, it can forge a complete innate body. Naturally, I do not possess the complete secret art, but this one can further develop your metal-aspected physique and improve your aptitude to a certain extent. I believe it is enough to match the value of the secret art in your possession!"

This time, Yang Huai grew serious.

"May I examine it?"

"No problem!"

Feng Ying stepped forward and handed the beast hide to Yang Huai. It was not that he trusted Yang Huai, but that he trusted himself.

Wanqu was the ancestral land of the Wind Clan. Taking advantage of him would not be so easy.

Yang Huai took the sheepskin scroll. Before his eyes appeared an incomparably intricate diagram of primordial patterns. Its overall shape was human, yet within it spread a vast and majestic spiritual resonance.

Behind it were many accompanying diagrams of postures, more than a hundred in all. But the first was the general outline—and the core.

Three spheres of light on the humanoid diagram emitted golden radiance. Deep within that golden light, rune patterns flowed like running water, linked together from countless strange symbols. The moment his gaze touched them, his eyes stung, while his muscles and soul seemed to stiffen.

An intense metallic aura flooded his five senses, as though he had been placed deep within metal and was being crazily compressed.

It was as though it were furiously consuming the power of his soul.

Yang Huai knew that this secret art likely required soul power merely to read, as well as extraordinary perseverance to endure it. Otherwise, one might not even be able to examine it.

Yet that intense metallic aura caused him little discomfort. Instead, it felt as though he had encountered a delicacy.

It was a special sense bestowed by his soul.

Yang Huai knew this was called compatibility.

His innate sword bones themselves belonged to an innate metal-aspected constitution.

Clearly, Feng Ying had gone to great lengths for this transaction.

After a preliminary examination, Yang Huai's expression changed at once.

"This secret art can actually cultivate the innate spirit bones throughout one's body, turning every bone into a spirit bone and forging a complete innate body. But it is far too incomplete. There are more than three hundred bones in the human body, broadly divided into five categories. Yet it contains only methods for cultivating the skull, cervical vertebrae, and upper-limb bones. It is essentially five lacking two..."

His brows drew tightly together.

Seeing Yang Huai's solemn expression, Feng Ying felt rather confident this time. Earlier, with the power of his divine eyes, he had seen that the other party's constitution was related to the metal element. That was why he had paid such a heavy price to bring this secret art out of his clan.

As an innate metal-aspected constitution, the other party should find it difficult to refuse this secret art.

After a moment, Yang Huai raised his head and sighed.

"This secret art is indeed profound and vast, but it is missing far too much!"

Feng Ying's expression did not change as he said,

"Even incomplete, it can further enhance Dao Brother Qingli's innate aptitude, even his innate essence. Of course, if it were the complete Metal Origin Five Aggregates Diagram, Dao Brother would likely never have had the chance to see it!"

Pride gleamed in Feng Ying's eyes.

"Moreover, even incomplete, such a secret art can still lay an extraordinary foundation. If you can forge innate spirit bones, their rate of breathing and absorption will allow your future achievements to rise another level or two. Would that not surpass countless secret arts?"

Yang Huai neither agreed nor disagreed. After pondering briefly, he said,

"How about this? Add the Soul-Calming Spirit-Severing Technique to this secret art, and I am willing to trade. Otherwise, let us forget it!"

He casually tossed the beast-hide scroll back to Feng Ying.

Feng Ying caught it in one hand, anger flashing in his eyes. He felt that Yang Huai was hiking up the price on the spot.

Yang Huai glanced at him and said blandly,

"Dao Brother Feng was right earlier. Whether one's own future is more important, or such a minor art is more important, Dao Brother should know how to weigh it! I have heard that the Wind Clan carries the blood of the ruler of the kingdom. If you can uncover even a trace of that potential, it will be enough to benefit you for a lifetime!"

"And this secret art is merely icing on the cake for me, not a timely gift of charcoal in the snow as it is for you!"

Yang Huai had now precisely grasped Feng Ying's thoughts. The other party would surely find it hard to let go, even knowing that trading two for one might put him at a loss.

Seeing Feng Ying still hesitate, he delivered the final blow with precision.

"Fine. If you are unwilling, forget it!"

Looking utterly unconcerned, Yang Huai turned and walked away.

Feng Ying's face froze, and he called out instinctively,

"Wait!"

Yang Huai did not stop. Feng Ying hurriedly added,

"Deal!"

Yang Huai paused, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.

Got him.

His tactic might have been old, but it worked.

Especially against someone so desperate.

Whoever took it seriously lost first!

Of course, he was also taking advantage of a high schooler. Feng Ying was still young. If he were older and smoother, he would not have been so easy to handle.

Behind him, Feng Ying stared at Yang Huai with clenched teeth and said fiercely,

"You are even more treacherous than I imagined!"

Yang Huai turned around and replied calmly,

"This is not treachery. This is the way of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation!"

"You are gaining more than I am!"

"Once you truly succeed in cultivation, you will know who is more treacherous than whom!"

Yang Huai glanced at him. He refused to yield an inch verbally, even intending to make Feng Ying owe him a favor.

What a profiteer!

Feng Ying cursed inwardly.

The two then exchanged their secret arts. However, compared with the Soul-Calming Spirit-Severing Technique and Metal Origin Five Aggregates Diagram in Feng Ying's possession, the Heavenly Circuit Heart Method was more unusual. Yang Huai had to convert it into an explanation of cloud patterns that cultivators of the Xi Huang Kingdom could understand. It involved extensive knowledge of meridians and hidden apertures. Since the other party had been straightforward, Yang Huai also explained part of the foundational entry methods to him. As for the mysteries that followed, Feng Ying would have to comprehend them himself. Yang Huai had only agreed to exchange secret arts, not provide after-sales service.

Likewise, Yang Huai could hardly wait to study the Metal Origin Five Aggregates Diagram and the Soul-Calming Spirit-Severing secret art.

That afternoon, after completing his daily duties, Yang Huai found a secluded place to cultivate the secret arts.