On the afternoon of the second day, after returning from the Discarded Artifact Pavilion, Qin Tiexin was not in a hurry to practice "Qi Drawing Instruction".
He closed the door of the wooden house first, but Sun Daniu hadn't come back yet - the work in the mine ended late, and he often couldn't go back until midnight. Qin Tiexin took out Jade Slip of "Basic Body Tempering Instruction" from his arms, put it again between his eyebrows, and carefully studied Body Refining Stage's cultivation method.
In the information flow, the description about the Body Refining Realm is detailed and cruel:
The first level: Body Refining Stage (ninth level)
Core: Break and then stand up, reborn.
This is the most painful and longest step, and it is also the key step to lay the supreme foundation for the future. There are three cultivation methods, which can be used alone or in combination:
1. Medicinal bath: Soak in hot medicinal liquid brewed from dozens of vintage herbs every day. The medicinal power is forcibly penetrated through the pores, Repair the torn muscles. Commonly used medicinal materials include dragon blood vine, Iron Bone Flower, blood-activating grass, etc.
2. Tempering: Beat the body with special iron sand palms and copper human stakes, or ask a fellow disciple to bombard you with Law Technique. Follow the order of "skin and flesh first, then muscles and bones". In the early stage, the body will be bruised, and in the later stage, the skin will be as tough as cowhide.
3. Taking: Take a small amount of Demon Beast blood or elixir to strengthen Qi and Blood, which will turn into heat flow in the body and nourish the internal organs.
Realm breakdown:
Level 1 to Level 3 (Refined Skin and Flesh): The skin membrane is first formed, a white mark is cut with a knife, bluestone is broken with a fist, and the skin and flesh wounds heal within an hour.
Level 4 to Level 6 (Refining the Muscles and Bones): The bone density increases and emits a light silver luster. You can bend a stainless steel spear with your bare hands and walk hundreds of miles a day with a weight of three thousand kilograms on your back without feeling tired.
Seventh to ninth level (Blood Replacement): Impurities in the body are discharged through the pores, and the blood becomes thick, heavy, and full of energy. The power of a punch can reach ten thousand kilograms, and it is difficult to be hurt by ordinary swords. The power of ten thousand kilograms is the sign of the Body Refining Realm's great success.
Qin Tiexin read the end and frowned slightly.
Although the medicinal materials for the medicinal bath are not rare, one serving requires three Spirit Crystal, which is said to last for three days. Training requires special equipment or asking for help, which is expensive. Taking Demon Beast flesh and blood or pills is more expensive - the cheapest "tiger bone pill" costs ten Spirit Crystal per pill, and can only support one day of practice.
The further back you go, the greater the cost.
He touched the remaining sixteen pills of Spirit Crystal in his arms. Tomorrow's meal would cost five pills, and if he bought a portion of medicinal materials, there would be only eight pills left.
But cultivation cannot wait.
Qin Tiexin got up and decided to go to Fangshi at the foot of the mountain first.
***
Flowing Cloud Sect The market at the foot of the mountain is not big. It is a bluestone street with more than a dozen shops on both sides. There is "Hundred Herbs Pavilion" that sells elixirs and talismans, there is "Thousand Forgings Workshop" that sells Law Artifact materials, and there are also small stalls for handyman disciples.
Qin Tiexin walked into a medicinal shop next to the Hundred Herbs Pavilion.
The store is filled with the bitter aroma of herbal medicine. Behind the counter is a skinny old man in his fifties, lowering his head to make medicine.
"Shopkeeper, I want some medicinal materials for Body Tempering medicinal bath." Qin Tiexin said.
The old man raised his head and glanced at him. "New here? Body Tempering's early stage recipe?"
"Yes."
The old man turned around and grabbed medicinal materials from the wooden grid beside the wall. Cut the dragon's blood vine into three-inch sections, take the petals from Iron Bone Flower, and take the blood-activating grass with roots and leaves... He moved quickly, and in a short time, he prepared a package and tied it with oil paper.
"Three pills Spirit Crystal."
Qin Tiexin paid and took the medicine package. It was heavy and you could smell the mixed smell of medicine.
"First time taking a dip?" the old man suddenly asked.
Qin Tiexin nodded.
"Remember, the water temperature should be boiling, and soak for half an hour. You will be hungry after soaking, so be ready to eat." The old man paused, "If there are wounds with open skin and flesh, the effect will be better."
"Thank you, shopkeeper, for your advice."
Qin Tiexin put away the medicine bag and left the shop. When passing by the dining hall, he hesitated for a moment and still didn't go in - he would wait until he finished practicing.
When we returned to the cabin, it was already dark. Sun Daniu hadn't come back yet, so Qin Tiexin breathed a sigh of relief.
He boiled the water first.
There was a small charcoal stove in the room, which was used by the sect to boil water for the handyman disciples. Qin Tiexin added charcoal, set up the iron kettle, and moved a half-used wooden bathtub from the corner - he found this in the junk pile a few days ago, cleaned it and set it aside.
After the water boiled, he poured the whole package of medicinal materials into the bucket, and then poured it into the boiling water. Immediately, the medicinal smell evaporated, pungent and bitter. The color of the water gradually turned into dark brown, with oily star-like medicinal stains floating on the surface.
According to "Basic Body Tempering Instruction", before medicated bathing, the muscles and skin need to be slightly torn through exercise, so that the medicinal power can penetrate deeply.
There are many ways to temper, but Qin Tiexin now has no iron palms, no bronze human stakes, and no help from fellow disciples.
He looked at Edgeless who was leaning against the wall.
The heavy knife Edgeless is over seven feet long, completely black, and heavy in hand.
Qin Tiexin took off his shirt, revealing his strong upper body. The muscles were well defined and glowed with a healthy color under the dim yellow oil light. He held the Edgeless sword hilt and took a deep breath.
Then, start the exercise "Old Qin Household Body Tempering Method".
He has been practicing this technique for more than ten years, and has become very familiar with it. He makes hand gestures, cuts horizontally, slashes diagonally, turns around to block... eight repetitions, like flowing clouds and flowing water.
But this time, he did not close at the end of the eighth pass.
The ninth time.
The muscles began to tighten, and soreness spread from the limbs. Qin Tiexin gritted his teeth and did not mess up his movements at all.
The tenth time.
The soreness intensified, and the muscles in some parts began to experience tearing pain. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, but his eyes remained calm.
The eleventh time.
On the surface of the skin, fine Blood Bead began to ooze. It was not a wound, but a capillary rupture under extreme load. Edgeless became heavier and heavier in his hand, and every swing was like dragging a huge boulder.
Finally, the eleventh time is over.
Qin Tiexin let go of his hand, and Edgeless hit the ground with a "clang". He stood there, shaking all over, every muscle was whining, and his skin was burning with pain, and Blood Bead was dripping down with sweat.
That's it now.
He stumbled to the tub, took off the rest of his clothes, and stepped into the tub.
The hot liquid instantly envelopes the entire body.
"Hiss--"
Qin Tiexin took a breath of cold air. It was not comfortable warmth, but almost burning hot. The medicinal liquid penetrated along the tiny breaks in the skin, like countless red-hot needles pricking, piercing, and drilling into the seams of the bones.
Pain.
But compared to the pain caused by swords on the battlefield, compared to the pain that froze to the bone when climbing over Spirit Severing Mountain, this kind of pain... he can endure it.
Qin Tiexin Close your eyes and sink into the liquid, leaving only your mouth and nose outside.
Time slows down.
After the initial burning pain, there was a strange numbness and itching. The medicine was penetrating into Repair, stimulating birth. He could feel the muscles under the skin twitching slightly, as if something was reorganizing and growing.
Sweat rolled down his forehead in large drops and mixed with the medicine.
I don't know how long it took, maybe a quarter of an hour, maybe half an hour.
Qin Tiexin Suddenly felt that the burning sensation all over his body was fading rapidly. He opened his eyes and was surprised to find that the color of the liquid in the barrel was fading at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Dark brown, brownish yellow, light yellow...
Finally, it became as clear as water, with only some medicinal residue remaining at the bottom of the barrel.
According to "Basic Body Tempering Instruction", one dose of the medicinal solution can be used for three days, and it will completely lose its efficacy and turn into water on the fourth day.
But he only took a dip once.
Qin Tiexin stood up from the bucket. The Blood Bead on his body had long since disappeared. The skin was smooth, and the minor cracks had healed, leaving only a faint layer of redness. The muscle soreness and tearing caused by the previous exercise had mostly disappeared at this moment, replaced by a feeling of fullness and strength.
He stepped out of the tub, dried his body, quickly poured out the medicinal liquid, and wrapped up the remaining medicinal materials.
After doing this, Qin Tiexin sat cross-legged and sat back on the bed.
Follow the breathing method in "Basic Body Tempering Instruction", adjust your breath, and guide Spiritual Qi.
This time, the feeling of Spiritual Qi entering the body is completely different.
Dantian is no longer introduced, but penetrates into the skin like threads. Wherever Spiritual Qi passes, the skin becomes slightly tight and warm, as if it has been repeatedly forged by an invisible hammer. Although there is still pain, it is much milder than the burning pain during the medicinal bath.
Half an hour later.
Qin Tiexin opened his eyes and raised his arms.
The surface of the skin seems to be covered with a very light, almost invisible white film. When pressed with your hands, it is very elastic and tough.
The skin film is initially formed.
This is the logo of Body Refining Realm First Layer.
Qin Tiexin was stunned.
According to the records in the book, even if Body Refining is a very talented person, it will take at least two to three days from the beginning of practice to the first formation of the skin membrane. But for him, from the beginning of training to this moment, it only takes more than an hour.
This speed... even exceeds the speed at which most Dual Spirit Root monks can introduce Qi into their bodies and step into Qi Refining First Layer.
Why?
Qin Tiexin I think of the situation when the medicinal solution was exhausted at one time, and the smooth feeling when Spiritual Qi Body Tempering. Is there really something special about my physique compared to Body Refining?
He lowered his head and looked at his hands. The palms were broad, the knuckles were thick, and they were covered with calluses. These were the marks left by more than ten years of blacksmithing and sword practice.
Perhaps it was these accumulations that made his body ready.
But no matter what, this level of cultivation speed must not be exposed.
If you shoot the first bird with a gun, it will be destroyed if it is as good as Lin Feng. He understands this truth.
Qin Tiexin stood up quickly, wrapped up the remaining medicinal materials, and prepared to find an opportunity to dispose of it tomorrow. He looked at the bathtub again, and decided to go to Fangshi tomorrow to buy a smaller one and put it next to his bed - always using this big bucket would inevitably attract attention.
There is also accommodation. You can live in this wooden house for free for only one month. After that, you have to rent it or find a place by yourself. Now it seems that you have to save money as soon as possible to rent a separate room. Otherwise, sooner or later, any abnormalities during cultivation will be discovered by Sun Daniu who lives in the same room.
While I was thinking about it, I suddenly felt a severe cramping pain in my abdomen.
Hungry.
Indescribable hunger, like I haven't eaten for several days and nights, my stomach is so empty, and my whole body feels weak.
Qin Tiexin grabbed his clothes and put them on, pushed the door open and ran outside.
***
There were not many people in the dining hall. It was late in the afternoon and most people had had dinner. The steward was about to close the stall when he saw Qin Tiexin rushing in and was stunned for a moment.
"Five pills Spirit Crystal." Qin Tiexin took out Spirit Crystal and handed it over, his voice a little urgent.
The steward took the money and handed over the bowl.
Qin Tiexin walked to the wooden barrel, and the handyman who was preparing the rice was about to clean it up. When he saw him coming, he lazily scooped a spoonful of rice. Qin Tiexin directly handed the bowl over. "It's full."
The busboy glanced at him and took another spoonful.
Qin Tiexin sat down in the corner with a mountain of rice bowls in his hands, and just ate.
When the spiritual rice entered his mouth, the warmth slid down, and his hunger eased slightly. But he ate very quickly, barely chewing, and the bowl of rice was gone in an instant. He went to add another bowl.
After the second bowl, I was still hungry.
The third bowl.
The fourth bowl.
The handyman disciples who had not left at the next tables were all stunned.
"Who is this person... eating the fourth bowl?"
"Is it a waste of time?"
"It seems like Discarded Artifact Pavilion is the new one. I just ate two bowls yesterday. What happened today..."
Qin Tiexin turned a deaf ear. After four bowls of spiritual rice, the scratching hunger was finally suppressed by seven points. He put down the bowl and let out a long sigh of relief.
Only then did I remember that it was mentioned in "Basic Body Tempering Instruction" - Body Refining Stage cultivation consumes a lot of energy and requires a lot of food to supplement Qi and Blood. He broke through to Body Refining First Layer today, and the consumption was even more astonishing.
It seems that I have to pay attention to my meals in the future.
He stood up and left the dining hall. There were low comments behind him:
"Body Refining's are all so edible?"
"I heard that in the first three floors of Body Refining Stage, the appetite is two to three times that of ordinary people. When you get to the back, you have to eat Demon Beast meat, otherwise you won't be able to make up for it."
"No wonder Body Refining is burning money..."
Qin Tiexin walked silently.
When he returned to the wooden house, Sun Daniu had come back and was sitting on the bed rubbing his legs. Seeing Qin Tiexin enter the door, he raised his head and said, "Brother Qin, are you eating so late?"
"Well, something delayed me."
Sun Daniu didn't ask any more questions and continued to rub his legs, "The mine is really not for people, my waist is almost broken. But today the manager said I did a good job and gave me two more Spirit Crystal."
Qin Tiexin nodded. "Good thing."
He washed himself and lay down on the bed. Too many things happened today - rapid breakthrough to Body Refining First Layer, abnormal depletion of medicine, and a sudden increase in appetite...
Must be digested well.
Close your eyes and sink into the Illusory Realm Hall of Illustrated Catalog of Ten Thousand Artifacts.
Since he started trying Qi Refining, he found that his speed and stability in writing "Sharpness" Spirit Rune have improved. Although the control of Spiritual Qi is still unfamiliar, he can at least barely complete the outline.
Tonight, he continued to practice.
In the Void Realm, time passed slowly. He wrote Spirit Rune over and over again, feeling the subtle changes of Spiritual Qi flowing on his fingertips. Rest when you are tired, and practice again after resting.
After an unknown amount of time, he quit Void Realm.
The moon outside the window has reached Central Heaven.
Qin Tiexin Gently make a fist and feel the new layer of skin under the skin. Although it is still very thin, it does exist.
Body Refining First Layer.
This is the first step on the road to Body Refining.
But the next question comes: he eats five pills of Spirit Crystal and three pills of medicinal materials every day, which is eight pills. And the income from his daily labor is only thirteen or four pills of Spirit Crystal.
After excluding the consumption, there is not much left.
Not to mention that as your realm improves in the future, the consumption will become larger and larger.
I have to find a way to earn more Spirit Crystal.
Qin Tiexin was thinking. Discarded Artifact Pavilion's work is step-by-step and the income is fixed. Is there any other way?