Human Immortal Martial Arts and Critical Information

Wu Pifu had never expected things to develop this way.

This was the first time the Main Brain had taken the initiative to speak to him!

Could it be because he had gone from being a consumable to a low-level employee?

In other words, he had gone from a Level One Maintenance Worker to a Level Two Maintenance Worker, so the Main Brain now saw him as a person rather than some number?

Regardless, Wu Pifu began considering the information the Main Brain had presented.

He held up the sheet of paper and the black object, one in each hand, before asking, "Main Brain, which of the two things you mentioned contains important information?"

The next second, light appeared on the black object.

Wu Pifu picked up the black object and examined it closely. It was tiny, only as large as the nail on his little finger, a regular rectangular block. After turning it over several times, he tentatively concluded that it was probably a USB drive, or some similar information storage device.

Then he picked up the sheet of paper and looked at it. There was writing on it. It was not random scribbling, but text resembling part of an article or newspaper. However, the paper was not among the things the Main Brain had requested, and he had no time to examine it closely.

He began carefully considering the options the Main Brain had offered.

Raising his job classification by one level would make him a Level Three Maintenance Worker. His evaluation by the Main Brain would certainly rise as well, but it was not particularly useful to him right now.

A cultivation art rated between 0.7 and 0.5, but the Main Brain had specifically labeled it "basic."

That definitely meant it was not a complete cultivation art. Using the Tiger Demon Art as a comparison, it probably contained only around one-tenth of the full content.

If it were a complete cultivation art, he would be set. But even just the basics... it was still incredibly valuable, considering it was rated between 0.7 and 0.5.

Then there were the urgently needed carbon-based nanounits. Though there were only five hundred units, they could restore him or others two or three hundred times at minimum. Not only could they immediately heal Yamadai and Xu Shilan, they would also let him avoid opening an isolation wall. Who knew what lay behind it?

As for the option to awaken ten Level One Maintenance Workers, it was probably the least cost-effective of them all.

Wu Pifu pondered silently. After a while, he said, "I choose to exchange for a reward. I choose the basic cultivation art."

"Exchange confirmed... Exchange complete. Random reward selection initiated."

"Selection complete... Level Two Maintenance Worker Wu Pifu has obtained the body-tempering cultivation art from a baseline reality 0.6 world: Azure Python Shedding Art."

A vast amount of information immediately flooded into Wu Pifu's mind, just as it had when he obtained the Tiger Demon Art. Everything concerning the Azure Python Shedding Art, along with the related supplemental knowledge it branched into, was thoroughly instilled into him.

A long while later, Wu Pifu's face lit up with joy, though a deep sense of wariness also arose within him.

The Azure Python Shedding Art was not the inner-force martial arts technique Wu Pifu had expected. It was a body-tempering art, one that did not involve supernatural properties or cycles of internal energy like inner force or true qi.

According to the Azure Python Shedding Art's description, body tempering was also a complete cultivation system, but it was utterly different from traditional martial arts. Its focus was not on improving control over force and explosive power, but on fundamentally transforming one's physique and strengthening the body's innate foundation. Its stages were skin tempering, flesh tempering, tendon tempering, bone tempering, organ tempering, marrow tempering, blood replacement, and acupoint tempering. The Azure Python Shedding Art only covered skin and flesh tempering; nothing beyond that remained. Even so, it was no longer merely a martial art. It involved the realm of human self-evolution.

The information on the Azure Python Shedding Art also mentioned that this body-tempering system was known as Human Immortal Martial Arts. At its peak, one could be called a terrestrial human immortal, able to move mountains and overturn seas. Longevity, immortality, an indestructible body, and countless other miraculous abilities would arise naturally.

Judging from those descriptions alone, it was already close to the realm of immortal cultivation. And this was only a cultivation art from a baseline reality 0.6 world. What about the Dream Worlds below that?

Thinking of this, Wu Pifu felt that it was all truly awe-inspiring and terrifying. He felt like a tiny insect facing the vast sea and endless stars.

"Still, this body-tempering art suits me perfectly." Setting aside his apprehension, Wu Pifu was immensely satisfied with the Azure Python Shedding Art.

The traditional martial arts system he practiced relied heavily on one's physical foundation. But strengthening the body required reaching the Dan Force stage, where the body would begin cleansing and adjusting itself. Even then, the improvement was extremely limited. Even after reaching the See God, Not Bad stage, where the body underwent further development and evolution, one still could not escape the limitations of mortal flesh.

Body tempering was different. Even with only the skin and flesh tempering stages, once mastered, one's skin and flesh would immediately become as tough as rubber. Ordinary blades and swords would be useless, and even assault rifles would only break the skin and embed bullets in the muscles. At the same time, the body's healing power would increase drastically. Even without circulating blood and qi, brute physical force alone would reach around two thousand kilograms with every movement. Combined with traditional martial arts' control and explosive release of force, casually unleashing eight or nine thousand kilograms of force through a Dark Force burst would be nothing unusual!

Was that even still human?

Once he mastered skin and flesh tempering, even if his traditional martial arts strength remained at the Dark Force stage, he could probably slap legendary figures at the Dan Force or Gang Force stages to death, right?

Moreover, traditional martial arts cultivation could in turn support body tempering. Traditional martial arts emphasized control and internal perception, which were precisely what body tempering lacked. This was especially true at the higher body-tempering stages mentioned in the description, which required extremely powerful control and self-awareness. Those were exactly the strengths of traditional martial arts!

Wu Pifu carefully absorbed the Azure Python Shedding Art. After a long time, he muttered, "What a pity the consumption is enormous. It's not as efficient as traditional martial arts. To practice the Azure Python Shedding Art, I need a huge amount of high-calorie, nutrient-rich food... Ah, my boar demon meat!?"

Wu Pifu suddenly came back to his senses. He first touched the Yellow Lotus Fragment around his neck and the boar demon core tied beside it, making sure they were intact before looking around.

During the final stage of the "week," the terrifying monster had forced open the storage room door. Before that, he had piled all the heavy objects against the door, including the bundle containing the boar demon meat. Therefore, when Jiujiu and he were swallowed into the liquid by the monster, the bundle of boar demon meat should theoretically have been in the same place as him...

After searching for quite a while, Wu Pifu finally confirmed that a large patch of rotten cloth on the ground was the bundle that had contained the boar demon meat. With trembling hands, he lifted the rotten cloth and saw that there was actually still a large chunk of back meat beneath it—the fattest portion from the boar demon's spine.

Wu Pifu picked up the chunk of boar demon meat and weighed it in his hand. It was about twenty pounds, leaving him both relieved and heartsick.

"Less than one-tenth remains. Out of all that boar demon meat, only this piece is left..."

Just as Wu Pifu lamented, Jiujiu landed on his shoulder again and began pecking at the rope necklace he wore.

Wu Pifu nodded and said, "Main Brain, display the information on the demon core."

"Boar demon core."

"Origin: **********... Unknown, unknown, unknown..."

"A crystalline substance containing special energy. This special energy possesses unknown radiation and may induce mutations, aberrations, and deformities in the essential nature of human life. Hazardous item. Use is strongly discouraged."

Wu Pifu stared speechlessly at the huge string of garbled characters, then looked at the specific description of the demon core. After thinking for a moment, he said to Jiujiu, "This thing is extremely dangerous to humans. Are you sure you can digest it?"

Jiujiu chirped incessantly, hopping around on his shoulder as she urged him on.

Wu Pifu removed the demon core from the rope and said once more, "I know you count as a demon too, but this thing is very strange. If you feel anything wrong, you must stop absorbing it immediately. Understand?"

Jiujiu continued chirping, and only then did Wu Pifu hand her the demon core. Jiujiu promptly swallowed it in one bite.

After finishing all this, Wu Pifu turned the boar demon meat over in his hands and said, "Main Brain, display the information on the boar demon meat."

"Boar demon meat."

"Origin: **********... Unknown, unknown, unknown..."

"Contains active unknown energy. Can stimulate human metabolism, strengthen the human physique, activate immune system functions, and provides powerful nourishment for humans."

Wu Pifu carefully compared the difference between the demon core and the demon meat. One contained unknown radiation, while the other contained active unknown energy. But judging from the description, the boar demon meat was highly nourishing to him. He said to Jiujiu, "Come on, time to eat. Let's have a feast today."

Wu Pifu did not know how to cook at all. If he had to name something, he could probably make fried eggs or fried rice, or simply throw everything into a pot and stew it. However, Gaia had no side dishes at all. Apart from the boar demon meat, he only had around one or two pounds of steamed buns left.

Wu Pifu found a discarded sheet of metal and punched it several times until it formed a concave shape, barely making a pot. He added water and began boiling the meat. There were no seasonings whatsoever, and the boar demon meat was incredibly tough. Even after one or two hours in boiling water, it still had the texture of rubber. Wu Pifu did not care. Whenever the water ran low, he added more, letting it continue boiling away.

During this time, Wu Pifu silently studied the various principles and methods of the Azure Python Shedding Art, comparing it with the Tiger Demon Art. Gradually, he became completely immersed in it. His hands moved constantly, and he muttered something under his breath.

Body tempering and traditional martial arts were two entirely different systems, both involving the development and use of the fleshly body. One pursued evolution and strength in order to transcend the mundane, while the other pursued meticulous control to achieve self-perfection. Yet the two had many areas where they could complement one another.

The more Wu Pifu thought about it, the more excited he became. The more he felt that this body-tempering art was profoundly mysterious. Then, at that moment, he smelled an unusual fragrance that jolted him out of his absorbed state.

He did not know how long the boar demon meat had been cooking. The originally pale, faintly red chunk of meat now emitted a soft golden glow, mixed with broth that had boiled into a milky white color. Even without any vegetables or seasoning, the sight of the meat made Wu Pifu's saliva surge.

Jiujiu landed beside him at that moment as well. Somehow, she had even found a small metal shard and cleaned it. Wu Pifu smiled. Unafraid of the heat, he directly reached into the broth and pulled out the boar demon meat. He tore off a piece about the size of Jiujiu's body and placed it on her little plate. Then, ignoring everything else, he opened his mouth and began tearing into the boar demon meat.

One man and one bird began devouring their meal. There was nothing more to say.

A short while later, the man and bird lay on their backs on the ground with bulging bellies, having eaten all of the boar demon meat.

"...It's already amazing that I ate more than twenty pounds of pure meat, but you ate a piece of meat nearly as big as your body. Jiujiu, do you have a four-dimensional stomach?" Wu Pifu lay there for a moment, then forced himself to stand. Looking at the round, plump Jiujiu, he could not help teasing her.

Jiujiu rolled her eyes. She did not even have the strength to bump her head against his forehead anymore, and slowly fell asleep on the ground.

Wu Pifu, meanwhile, began shaking his body at a distance. Slowly following the movements, mental focus, and fist intent described in the Azure Python Shedding Art, he circulated his fleshly body. In particular, he focused on his spine. The Azure Python Shedding Art used spinal movement as its core, achieving skin and flesh tempering through it.

Wu Pifu had just consumed more than twenty pounds of boar demon meat. Waves of heat surged from his abdomen throughout his body. It was the perfect time to practice this body-tempering art!

After an unknown amount of time, Jiujiu woke from the heat.

She opened her eyes and turned over. In her haziness, she seemed to see a blue python prowling in the distance. Startled, she immediately flapped her wings and flew up, only to see steam rising from Wu Pifu's entire body, enveloping several square meters around him. Waves of heat spread outward from within that steamy space. Jiujiu had been awakened by that heat.

Just then, Wu Pifu punched with both fists. A burst of force tore through the steam, creating a path straight through it.

"Success!"

Wu Pifu cried out joyfully, "Main Brain, display my personal information."

"Wu Pifu, human, pureblood."

"Level Two Maintenance Worker, low-level employee."

"Physical body, Level Two (muscle strength 1.5, genetic strength 1.1, neural reaction speed 1.6, hematopoietic and immune function 1.8, self-healing ability 1.3). Soul, Level One (can unfold). Inspiration, Level Two (strange perception 2.2, barrier-breaking perception 1.4)."

"Traditional martial arts: Dark Force, major mastery (51.3%). Tiger Demon Art: peak perfection (0.03%)."

"Human Immortal Martial Arts: skin tempering (0.1%). Azure Python Shedding Art: beginner level (1.6%)."

"Virtual personality. Can absorb self-fragments to solidify into reality. Negative backlash rate in the consciousness sea: 4%. Total negative quantity in the consciousness sea: ???."

"Marks: Buddhist Realm attraction rate 3% (from Buddha Mud). True Emptiness Homeland attraction rate 5% (from the Unborn Mother's gaze)."

Wu Pifu silently read through the information. As expected, the Human Immortal Martial Arts category had appeared. It had only been activated after he entered the skin tempering stage.

After reading it all, Wu Pifu's gaze paused slightly on the four percent negative backlash rate in his consciousness sea. Then he smiled at Jiujiu and said, "Awake? Want to look at that old piece of paper you brought back? I know what's on the USB drive the Main Brain wanted to exchange for now."

"The overview of Dream Worlds—or rather, the terrifying upper limits of baseline realities at every level!"