Great Zhou Martial Immortal

Chapter 38: Practicing magical skills in reverse
Lu Chenyuan sat cross-legged on the Sumeru pedestal, with a heavy black iron sword, as large as a door panel, lying in front of him.

This sword is named "Burning Mountain". It was a family heirloom of a lowly general in the former Joseon Dynasty. It has no edge or blade, and its entire body is dark and heavy. The blade is covered with fine cracks, as if it is about to shatter at any moment.

However, upon closer inspection, one can discover a faint, dark golden luster flowing within those cracks.

That was a sign that a century of bloodshed had permeated the sword's bones, and that the golden aura had been condensed to its extreme.

"What a deadly weapon."

Lu Chenyuan reached out and stroked the spine of the sword. Before his fingertips even touched it, the "Taiyuan" and "Yuji" acupoints on his palm spontaneously emitted golden light.

The sword vibrated with a "hum," and the dark golden luster within the cracks began to flow as if alive, transforming into wisps of condensed golden aura that drilled into his meridians along his fingertips.

The moment of entry.

Lu Chenyuan couldn't help but let out a muffled groan.

The golden aura forged in a century of battlefields is too sharp and heavy as a mountain, pressing down heavily on the meridians. Every inch it travels feels like being pierced by thousands of golden needles, or like carrying a mountain of knives, with heaviness and pain intertwined.

A trickle of blood escaped from the corner of his mouth.

"The aura of war, indeed, harms both the attacker and the defender..."

Lu Chenyuan's mind raced, but he didn't hesitate. He formed hand seals and accelerated the circulation of the "Golden Palace Scripture," using his lungs as a furnace and his heart fire to refine this violent energy. The golden evil energy surged like a river, rushing straight towards the Du meridian.

The Du Meridian governs Yang and controls the Yang energy throughout the body. Its metal element is extremely strong and intense, which is perfect for breaking through barriers.

The Du Meridian has three gates.

First challenge: Break through Changqiang.

When the golden energy reached the Changqiang acupoint at the coccyx, Lu Chenyuan suddenly gathered his energy, condensing all his golden energy into a sharp cone, and fiercely stabbed it into the blocked acupoint.

That golden energy was incomparably sharp. With just a soft sound, the Changqiang acupoint opened, and the golden evil energy surged up the spine like a flood breaking through the dam. But at the same time, the pain erupted again. It felt as if his entire spine was being slowly sliced ​​open by a blunt knife, and the pain made his vision go black.

"hiss……"

Lu Chenyuan took a deep breath, held his mind, and urged the golden energy to surge upwards, causing his spine to light up segment by segment.

Each time an acupoint was broken, it felt as if an iron hammer was striking his bone marrow, causing him to tremble all over in pain, but his back straightened even more.

When the Mingmen acupoint is opened, the entire spine is straight as a sword, faintly emitting a metallic clang!
The second challenge: Passing the spine.

Then, the golden evil energy ascended to the Jiaji Pass, where a sudden change occurred. The golden evil energy that had been there for a hundred years resonated with the golden energy cultivated by the Golden Palace Scripture, turning into liquid golden nectar within the meridians. Wherever the golden nectar passed, the pain intensified, as if someone had poured molten gold directly into the bone marrow!
"I rely on..."

Lu Chenyuan gritted his teeth, enduring the excruciating pain, and channeled the golden elixir to break through the barrier, coating his bones with a layer of dark gold.

During the most painful moments, he could even hear the sound of his own flesh being reshaped.

The crisp sound of forging was as if countless blacksmiths were reforging his bones, hammer blow by hammer blow, bit by bit.

The muscle fibers beneath the skin were taut, twisting together like steel wires in the golden light.

"It really is a gold-consuming technique; the more you consume, the stronger you become..."

Lu Chenyuan was in so much pain that he was sweating profusely, but he couldn't help but marvel at the power of the technique.

The first time I swallowed the cold iron spearhead, I needed to hold the spear blade in my mouth and use my breathing to draw out the metal energy. The second time, I could absorb it using only the three major acupoints of the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin. Now, the metal energy has been further strengthened, and the ability to forge bones is becoming more and more terrifying!

He even had a feeling of being "cast," and could truly feel the transformation of his entire body as the golden elixir passed through, as well as the terrifying power surging beneath his bones and muscles.

The only downside is that it fucking hurts!

The third challenge: Tapping the jade pillow.

When the golden energy reached Yuzhen Pass, it had solidified into a tangible substance. Lu Chenyuan finally understood what it meant to "struggle to move forward," and the stinging sensation reached its peak.

His whole body began to tremble and spasm, and his breathing had a metallic tremor.

The next step is the most crucial one, and the Yuzhen acupoint truly lives up to its reputation as the most difficult point to break through on the Du meridian.

Seven attacks, seven defeats.

Each impact was excruciating.

By the eighth time, Lu Chenyuan emptied his mind, channeled all the remaining metal energy into his acupoints—I'll fucking see how long you can last!
With a loud "boom," a tremendous sound, as if the heavens and earth were splitting apart, seemed to emanate from within his body. His jade pillow opened, and golden energy flowed directly into his gums. All sixteen teeth on his upper jaw trembled simultaneously, being reforged in the golden light.

"puff--"

Lu Chenyuan coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The droplets of blood hitting the ground created honeycomb-like holes in the bluestone floor.

"Nonsense!"

Zen Master Yunhe and the Golden Lion stayed by his side, anxiously watching him break through to the next level. When they saw this, Zen Master Yunhe's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

Jin Ni was getting a little anxious, scratching the floor in frustration and running back and forth beside him, but he didn't dare to disturb him.

Fortunately, Lu Chenyuan had an amazing will. Although he was reckless and went all in, not a single bit of golden energy escaped from his meridians and damaged his body. Instead, it all rushed into his acupoints and pierced through his meridians, directly opening up the Du meridian!

When the Ren and Du meridians are open, all meridians are open.

In that instant, he felt a jolt throughout his body, as if a thousand-pound shackle had been removed. As his pores opened, the primordial energy of heaven and earth spontaneously surged forth, and all his meridians opened, connecting him with heaven and earth.

The innate physique is complete!
Without hesitation, Lu Chenyuan pressed on with his "essence and qi" to tap his upper dantian and open his divine consciousness.

Essence is the essence of the physical body;

Qi is the essence of metal and fire.

This time, without any surprises, the two merged, like iron being forged in a furnace, slowly condensing into a wisp of "divine consciousness" within the Niwan Palace between the eyebrows.

The nascent consciousness is like a candle flame in the wind, weak yet tenacious.

The moment his consciousness was formed, Lu Chenyuan felt his mind become clear.

Within a radius of three zhang, fallen leaves touching the ground, flying insects flapping their wings, and candlelight flickering are all under his control.

Even more remarkably, for the first time, he truly "saw" the inside of his own body—

The bones gleamed with a dark golden luster, like refined steel forged through countless hammer blows, and the bone marrow flowed ceaselessly like molten gold.

The meridians are widened several times over, and the inner walls are coated with a metallic luster, making them as tough as silkworm silk.

Golden light shimmered in his blood, and each heartbeat resonated with a powerful clang, as if a furnace was churning within him.

The internal organs were shrouded in a pale golden halo: the opening and closing of the lungs revealed the faint sound of swords, the heart beat like a war drum, and fine lines appeared on the surface of the liver, like natural talismans. Most amazingly, the dantian and dantian were filled with true qi that had condensed into liquid, like a golden lake, with tiny sparks of electricity occasionally flashing on the surface.

"..."

Even Lu Chenyuan himself was stunned.

Is that human being?
When he opened his eyes again, the Burning Mountain Heavy Sword had turned into ordinary iron, its blade mottled and cracked, as if a hundred years had suddenly descended at that moment.

Lu Chenyuan blew a light breath, and the heavy sword instantly shattered into dust, with only the last wisp of pure golden energy disappearing into his fingertips like a dragon returning to the sea.

An autumn breeze swept through the hall, and a withered leaf drifted through the window. Lu Chenyuan's gaze flickered slightly, and the leaf, still two zhang away, silently snapped in two, the cut as smooth as a mirror.

At this moment, Lu Chenyuan finally understood what the Innate Realm was!
His mouth slowly widened.

boom!
Zen Master Yunhe flicked his finger and struck Lu Chenyuan's head hard. He didn't use his true energy, but Lu Chenyuan didn't react. Instead, the Zen Master's hand hurt as if he had hit a lump of iron, and his face stiffened.

Lu Chenyuan turned around and immediately said, "Master, I know I was wrong. I will definitely follow the proper procedures next time!"

"..."

Before Zen Master Yunhe could utter a reprimand, he was silenced. Seeing the man's ingratiating expression, he felt helpless and said earnestly, "I know your comprehension and willpower are extraordinary, but the energy of metal is inherently harmful. Forcibly breaking through acupoints could easily lead to the energy going astray, with unimaginable consequences! How can such a matter be taken lightly!"

"Yes……"

Lu Chenyuan did not argue, but said with a bitter face, "It really hurt too much. I thought it was better to have a short pain than a long one... I know I was wrong. Don't worry, Master. I will definitely pay attention in the future and take it slowly."

"Ugh."

Zen Master Yunhe sighed. This kid understands the principles, but he just takes risks because he's clever.

This kind of thing can succeed ten thousand times, but if it fails even once, it's all over...

That's true. The "Golden Treasure Scroll" can be said to be the strongest metal-type technique in the world. Its power is astonishing. However, this metal energy must also be extremely sharp. Normally, it will be fine, but once you break through a barrier, it will inevitably cause more pain and more serious injuries than ordinary people!

There are always gains and losses in everything.

For ordinary people, breaking through to a higher realm is never as easy as it is for him.
How long has it been since?

All in all, it only took a few hours.

In conventional cultivation, breaking through the Du meridian alone requires a gradual, step-by-step approach, like grinding water into a stone, slowly breaking through one acupoint at a time. Breaking through one acupoint every few months is considered fast, let alone breaking through the entire meridian at once like he did!
This golden energy is so domineering and unstoppable that it can harm others and certainly harm itself.

"We still need to stock up on more medicine..."

Zen Master Yunhe was confident in his understanding, but very worried about his audacity. This kid was incredibly daring!

Zen Master Yunhe glared at him: "Where are you hurt?"

Lu Chenyuan rubbed the back of his head, about to say that it was nothing serious, just that the forced stimulation of his acupoints had caused damage, when he suddenly sensed something. He glanced outside the hall and vaguely sensed a familiar aura. He immediately turned to look at Jinni and gave him a wink. Jinni was getting more and more familiar with him and they were on the same wavelength. Jinni gently sniffed and its eyes moved cleverly.

Lu Chenyuan realized his mistake and, in a flash, clutched his head and howled in pain. He staggered two steps, then slid down to the ground, his brow furrowed, his voice weak and feeble: "Ouch...it hurts so much...I didn't feel it before, but now it feels like the back of my head is about to split open..."

"..."

Zen Master Yunhe had been nervously leaning over, but upon seeing his affected posture and sensing the sudden, chaotic aura outside the hall, he immediately understood.

—That brat! He's already using his newly formed divine sense on this, and he's quite adept at putting on an act!

Zen Master Yunhe's beard trembled with anger, and he was about to expose him when the temple door was suddenly pushed open with a "bang".

"You are hurt?"

Li Lingyue carried a food box and strode in, her skirt fluttering like a butterfly, her usually cool voice revealing a hint of urgency.

She used her lightness skill to flash to Lu Chenyuan's side, leaned down and leaned closer. Her fingertips subconsciously reached for the wound on the back of Lu Chenyuan's head, but she stopped just before touching it, her fingertips curling slightly as if she was hesitating.

Lu Chenyuan weakly raised his face, his bangs disheveled, making his complexion appear even paler, and his voice was hoarse: "Your Highness, please forgive this humble servant for not being able to pay my respects... My breakthrough was not smooth just now, and I'm afraid I injured my Jade Pillow Acupoint..."

Li Lingyue frowned, but finally reached out and brushed aside his hair, her fingertips gently touching the back of his neck. The cool, jade-like touch made Lu Chenyuan stiffen, thinking to himself that the Taiyi True Qi was truly powerful. Then he heard Li Lingyue say coldly, "Don't move."

Her inner strength flowed like a gentle stream, flowing from her fingertips into his meridians, leaving a cool and refreshing sensation wherever it passed.

Lu Chenyuan smelled the fragrance on her body and thought to himself that the injury was worth it.

I never imagined I'd have the chance to practice a divine skill in reverse.

Previously, it was always the clients who got drunk on orange juice with pulp; this time it's my turn...

There is no way.

Given Li Lingyue's tendency to get angry even when flirting, if he doesn't take the initiative, he probably won't be able to touch her at all next year. He should start thinking about how those clients behave...

Li Lingyue focused on healing her injuries, while Lu Chenyuan carefully recalled the events.

Zen Master Yunhe stood to the side, fiddling with his prayer beads, his eyes practically rolling to the sky.

—These young people nowadays, tsk!
As Lu Chenyuan was secretly making plans, a faint fragrance suddenly wafted to his nose.

He then realized that the two of them were already very close, with his back pressed against a vermilion pillar. In order to control her true energy precisely, Li Lingyue had to lean down and get closer. A few strands of her raven-black hair fell down and swayed gently with the circulation of her inner energy, brushing against his neck almost imperceptibly.

This distance... is too dangerous...

Lu Chenyuan subconsciously looked up and saw Li Lingyue's profile as she concentrated on her internal energy. Her long eyelashes cast fine shadows, and her red lips were slightly pursed due to her focus. Even though Lu Chenyuan had seen a lot, he couldn't help but swallow hard, and his heart skipped a beat.

Li Lingyue suddenly frowned: "Why is your heart beating so fast? Is your internal energy disordered again?"

Lu Chenyuan closed his eyes and made up a story: "Your Highness's internal energy is too cold, this humble servant... is frozen."

"puff--"

Zen Master Yunhe couldn't help himself and almost flung his prayer beads away.

Even the golden lion squatting to the side couldn't help but grin, revealing its sharp tiger teeth, and its tail slapped loudly on the ground.

Li Lingyue was taken aback at first, but when she realized the deeper meaning, her face flushed red from the tips of her ears to her neck. She pulled her hand back as if she had been burned, but because she moved too quickly, her sleeve snagged on Lu Chenyuan's jade belt hook.

"Lu Chenyuan—"

Lu Chenyuan knew she was easily angered, so he quickly untied her clothes to avoid further provoking her.

Li Lingyue pulled back her sleeves and took three steps back, her face flushed as she glared at him: "How dare you!"

Her voice carried a forced air of authority, but trembled slightly due to her unsteady breathing.

Lu Chenyuan thought to himself, "She's made progress. Last time, she was kicked out after I wrote a poem. This time, I couldn't move around easily, and I thought she would run away in a panic. It seems she's starting to become desensitized."

It's not easy.

Lu Chenyuan blinked, pointed to the dark red bloodstain on the ground, and put on an innocent expression: "Your Highness, you are right. It really hurt so badly just now... It's all because of this damned 'Gold-Swallowing Treasure Talisman'. It hurts terribly when it hurts, but it heals so quickly that it spoils the fun!"

The words "spoiler" echoed softly in the hall. Li Lingyue's heart skipped a beat, and a hint of embarrassment and annoyance flashed across her still-blushing face. Her mind was in turmoil, but this time she did not hide. Instead, she felt a hidden joy.

He's finally back...

The Lu Chenyuan who was so serious and respectful just a few days ago was like a lifeless puppet. Now, this man who can be shameless and glib is the one she remembers. Even if she has to blush and deal with these heart-pounding scenes, it's better than losing this vitality.

Li Lingyue gently clenched her fingers inside her sleeve, feeling the secret joy welling up in her chest.

Since that's what we want him to be like, then... let's try to get used to it.

Li Lingyue raised her eyes to glare at him, but her eyes were filled with a tenderness she herself did not realize: "Glib talker... Since your injuries are healed, hurry up and report for duty! Xiao Hanchuan has already appeared and killed the head of Changyin Pavilion. There will probably be some disturbances in the Mechanized City. We must retrieve the 'Heavenly Craft Scroll' as soon as possible to cut off the source of the chaos. You, you hurry up and come out to help!"

(End of this chapter)