Baxia Minor Mastery, Thunderclap Enters the Sword

Uncle Zhou refused to give up. He switched to the highest encrypted access level and used the Shen Family's internal intelligence network to search again.

The result was still the same.

"There isn't..." Uncle Zhou muttered, his expression incomparably complicated. "That move simply doesn't exist in the Profound Heaven · Shattering Bone Hand."

Shen Liuli walked over and glanced at the screen.

"What does that mean?"

"It means what he used might not have been the Profound Heaven · Shattering Bone Hand." Uncle Zhou's voice was somewhat hoarse. "Or rather, it was an incomplete Profound Heaven · Shattering Bone Hand."

He shut down the terminal and looked in the direction Jiang Yuan had left.

"Miss, we may have... found a treasure."

The eternal frost on Shen Liuli's face seemed to melt slightly.

"I already knew."

Jiang Yuan returned home and locked the door behind him.

He carefully placed the wooden box on the table, then took the three test tubes containing Crimson-Scaled Python heart's blood from his pocket.

Under the light, the crimson liquid shimmered like flowing gemstones, radiating enticing energy fluctuations.

Its effects during the Body Tempering Stage are exceptional...

Jiang Yuan picked up one of the tubes and sensed the surging vitality within it. He made up his mind.

What he lacked most right now was a body capable of withstanding greater power.

Baxia · Stone-Metal Body!

This A-rank body-tempering martial art was perfectly suited to his current situation.

Jiang Yuan did not hesitate. He went straight into the bathroom and filled the bathtub with hot water.

He unscrewed two test tubes and poured all of the thick, mercury-like Crimson-Scaled Python heart's blood into the water.

Sizzle—

The scalding water seemed as though it had been poured into a red-hot iron pan, instantly boiling over. The entire tub turned a terrifying bloody red as a rich stench of blood mixed with an unusual medicinal fragrance spread through the room.

Jiang Yuan took off his clothes, drew a deep breath, and stepped in.

"Hiss!"

An indescribable agony spread through his entire body the instant his skin touched the red hot water!

It did not feel like being scalded by boiling water. It felt more like countless red-hot steel needles piercing deep into his flesh, wildly churning his muscles and bones!

Jiang Yuan clenched his teeth, veins bulging across his forehead as beads of sweat rolled down his face.

He did not dare slack off in the slightest and immediately circulated the Nine Yang Inner Force within him.

The warm, pure inner force immediately protected the meridians throughout his body, forming a sturdy barrier.

At the same time, he began following the method of the Baxia · Stone-Metal Body, guiding the violent medicinal power to scour his body.

Skin, flesh, tendons, bones, membranes!

Every inch of his body was repeatedly torn apart and reforged under this tyrannical power.

Black, foul-smelling impurities were constantly forced out through his pores, blending into the red bloodwater and making its color increasingly murky.

A faint dark golden sheen gradually emerged across Jiang Yuan's skin, flickering through the steam.

Just as he endured inhuman pain and cultivated with all his strength—

Knock, knock, knock!

Someone knocked on the door.

"Brother Yuan! Open up! I brought you something delicious!"

It was Guo Hongtao's voice.

Jiang Yuan could not spare any attention right now, much less open the door. He could only let Guo Hongtao shout outside.

Outside the door—

Guo Hongtao carried a large bag of fragrant braised meat. Beside him stood a tall young woman in a black dress, her straight long legs exposed.

She wore exquisite makeup and had a head of voluminous wavy hair. She looked several years older than Guo Hongtao, with somewhat similar features.

"Sis, don't rush him. Brother Yuan's probably cultivating." Guo Hongtao chuckled. "When he comes out later, you'd better put on a good show and use your best tricks!"

"Got it. You're always making a fuss." Guo Yuting shot him a look and swept her long hair back. "Is that Jiang Yuan you mentioned really so impressive? Even Shen Liuli paid a huge price to hire him?"

"Of course!" Guo Hongtao looked immensely proud. "Brother Yuan is our school's top prospect now! He'll be some big shot heading to New Star in the future! If you don't seize the chance now, you won't have a shot later!"

Guo Yuting licked her red lips, and a hint of interest flashed through her eyes.

She did not care whether someone was a genius or not, but she knew that anyone valued by the Shen Family's eldest daughter was definitely no ordinary person.

"Fine. Just watch how I win him over."

Just then, an indescribably foul stench drifted out through the crack in the door.

It smelled like several hundred rotten eggs mixed with decaying dead fish, along with a bloody stench. It was practically a biological weapon.

"Urgh—"

Guo Hongtao bore the brunt of it. The moment he took a breath, his stomach churned violently, and he nearly spewed out his dinner on the spot.

"What the hell is that smell?!"

Guo Yuting smelled it too. Her delicate face instantly turned pale, and she subconsciously stumbled several steps back, covering her nose and mouth.

"Is Brother Yuan refining pills in the toilet?!" Guo Hongtao retched, tears nearly spilling from his eyes.

"Go, go, go! I can't take it anymore!"

Guo Yuting could no longer maintain her elegant composure. Dragging her still-retching brother along, she fled downstairs as though escaping for her life.

Inside the bathroom—

Jiang Yuan knew nothing of what was happening outside.

After an unknown amount of time, the bloodwater in the bathtub had turned dark brown, and the violent medicinal power had finally been completely absorbed by him.

He slowly opened his eyes and let out a long breath of turbid air.

"Phew!"

Jiang Yuan looked down and saw that his skin was covered in a thick layer of black grime that gave off a terrible stench.

Beneath the grime, however, his skin possessed a tough dark golden luster.

He stood up, turned on the shower, and washed the filth from his body.

Beneath his new skin, his muscular lines had become even more defined, brimming with explosive strength.

At that moment, the system notification sounded.

[Ding! Detected a substantial increase in the host's physical strength!]

[Baxia · Stone-Metal Body cultivation progress increased. Current realm: Minor Mastery!]

[Effect 1: Base physical strength increased by 100%!]

[Effect 2: When attacked, body-tempering cultivation effectiveness increased by 50%!]

Minor Mastery?

Jiang Yuan clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within him. A satisfied smile appeared on his face.

The heart's blood of two second-tier beasts truly had outstanding effects!

His gaze fell upon the final tube of Crimson-Scaled Python heart's blood.

His body tempering was complete. This last tube should nourish his old companion.

Jiang Yuan picked up the wooden box on the table and opened its lid, revealing the rusty broken sword inside.

Without hesitation, he slowly dripped the final tube of heart's blood onto the blade.

Hum—

The broken sword let out a faint tremor.

That crimson drop of blood seemed to possess life, rapidly spreading along the patterns on the blade.

The rust peeled away at a visible rate, revealing the dark red sword beneath.

At the broken edge, the dark red metal slowly wriggled and grew. In the end, a brand-new section of blade extended outward, a full palm's length long!

The dark golden fire patterns that had originally only reached the hilt also spread upward, all the way to the guard, making the sword appear even more mysterious and magnificent.

[Ding! The Heaven-Reliant Dragon-Slayer Thunderfire Sword has received an energy replenishment. Repair progress increased!]

[Unlocked the second-layer inheritance of the Heaven-Burning Sword Art!]

[Obtained new move: Thunderclap Vibration!]

A flood of information instantly appeared in Jiang Yuan's mind.

Thunderclap Vibration!

It used Pure Yang Inner Force to activate the fire patterns on the blade, merging them with the lightning power contained within.

When the sword was drawn, its sword qi could directly invade the target's body and create continuous high-frequency vibrations, specifically destroying the enemy's muscles, bones, and internal organs!

A move specialized in inflicting internal injuries?

Jiang Yuan held the partially repaired broken sword in his hand, feeling the new power transmitted from its blade.

This move, "Thunderclap Vibration," had arrived at exactly the right time!