Body Refinement for Longevity: From Health Cultivation Exercises to Overcoming All Techniques

The next day, an old man in black robes from the Black Mountain Gang arrived outside the city and headed straight for the cave.

Inside the cave, a strong stench of blood permeated the air, along with a medicinal smell. He sniffed it, "Cartilage-softening powder..."

He murmured something, his voice hoarse, and then, following the scent of blood, he came to a patch of recently turned soil. He raised his hand into an eagle claw shape and suddenly plunged it in, his arm sinking deep into the soil.

With a strong pull, the old man pulled out the entire body of a disheveled old man.

"Worked to death, that's awful..."

As he spoke, he opened his mouth wide, and the old man's corpse visibly shriveled up. Wisps of crimson blood were inhaled into the old man's mouth, creating a horrific and bloody scene.

That's right, this person is Xue Yinzi.

Xue Yinzi closed his eyes, and a series of memories that did not belong to him surfaced in his mind, playing like a slideshow.

"Black market, Chen Han, the Assassin..."

These are the old man's memories from his lifetime.

He nodded with interest, a smile playing on his lips. "Chen Han...interesting..."

······

That day, in Black Lion City.

Xue Yinzi changed his clothes, wearing a patched-up raincoat and ill-fitting shorts that exposed his ankles, making him look no different from a country bumpkin.

He arrived at a street that was relatively close to the Chen family, a famous martial arts family in the city.

He only knew that the man's surname was Chen, but he didn't know if he was under the influence of the Chen family. If he wanted to find him, he would have to do something about it.

It's not that Xue Yinzi is stubborn and insists on killing Chen Han, but rather that this boy is extraordinary.

According to the information he had, Chen Han was only a Dark Force martial artist a few months ago, but now he was able to defeat someone with Transformation Force.

Moreover, in the memories he read, he also felt Chen Han's terrifying fist force, which was clearly something only a peak-level expert could unleash.

Even if this child is exceptionally talented, it is impossible for him to have made such a great improvement in just a few months.

Therefore, Xueyinzi concluded that this child definitely possessed an astonishing secret.

If it were simply a matter of exceptional physical constitution and martial arts talent, then absorbing this child's essence with the Blood Yin Technique would likely be of considerable benefit to him.

They might even have a chance to reach the Martial Master realm, where one can rule over a region!

Xue Yinzi disguised himself as a farmer and drank tea in the teahouse, his eyes subtly scanning the crowd.

Before long, he saw two girls dressed in Chen family attire passing by. He immediately ran up to them, a silly grin on his face.

"Ladies, wait a moment."

Shen Yue and Chen Huaiyu turned around and saw a cheerful old man with yellow teeth when he smiled.

"Uncle, is there anything I can help you with?"

Shen Huaiyu asked.

"Old man, I'm here to find my relatives. Are you two young ladies from the Chen family?"

"Oh, I see. Since we're wearing these clothes, we're naturally from the Chen family."

Xueyinzi laughed even harder, his face practically blooming with joy.

"Great! Those two are descendants of the Chen family. Do you know a young man named Chen Han?"

Shen Yue narrowed her eyes, sensing something was amiss. Wasn't her brother-in-law a live-in son-in-law? Besides the Chen family, what other relatives did he have besides theirs?

"Chen Han does exist, but he is not currently at the Chen family home. He should be back tonight; he has other business to attend to."

"If you wish to find him, sir, you can go to the Chen residence tonight and inquire."

Chen Huaiyu didn't think too much about it and answered the thin old man truthfully.

"Oh, is that so? That's good then. Thank you, young lady. I'll be going now..."

With that, Xueyinzi left.

Only Chen Huaiyu, who seemed completely unaffected, and Shen Yue, who was completely bewildered, remained.

"Maybe I'm...overthinking it?"

Five days have passed in the blink of an eye.

In the past five days, Xue Yinzi has gone to the Chen family to look for Chen Han at least six times, but the result was the same: he didn't even see a trace of Chen Han... Chen Han has disappeared without a trace.

"Heh, gone missing. I bet you got what you wanted and are now hiding at the Chen family's place, too afraid to come out. No problem, I have plenty of ways to lure you out..."

At this moment, Chen Feng, the head of the Chen family, also panicked.

Chen Han has not returned for five days, and there has been no news of him whatsoever.

If it were someone else, he could only sigh and announce their death. It's not safe outside at night; who would stay outside for no reason? That's just asking for trouble.

There's only one possibility: he's dead, his body left to rot in the wilderness.

But Chen Han, this exceptionally talented young man, a rare martial arts prodigy in the Chen family, it's such a pity he died. Unless the truth is laid bare before him, he can't accept this outcome.

At this moment, a servant came to report.

"Chief, that little girl is here again."

"It's that girl Shen Yue again."

"Exactly."

Chen Feng clicked his tongue, feeling troubled. "Just tell her that I've sent more people to look for her brother-in-law, so she doesn't need to worry too much."

"That's not it. She has something to report to you."

"A report? Then let her in."

A moment later, the pretty Shen Yue entered the room, came to Chen Feng, and bowed deeply, looking very reserved.

"Chieftain."

"Well, just say what's on your mind."

Shen Yue nodded and recounted the story of the old man who had come looking for Chen Han that day.

Chen Feng said "Oh," and asked, "Is this the first day Chen Han hasn't returned?"

"Exactly."

Chen Feng's gaze turned serious. It seemed that, just as he had expected, Chen Han had indeed run into trouble. But the fact that someone was still looking for him meant that he was not dead and had most likely escaped.

Where will he go? Why doesn't he return to his family? Is there something he's worried about?

Chen Feng pondered for a while, but found himself completely clueless. He then said, "Hmm, this information is very useful. You should go back now. I will take Chen Han's matter seriously."

"Yes, Chieftain."

After Shen Yue left, Chen Feng summoned his trusted confidants.

"Add more manpower and search for Chen Han with all our might. We must find him alive or dead."

"Yes."

Deep in the mountains and dense forests, in a secluded cave.

Chen Han was practicing Tai Chi health cultivation. His movements were smooth and unhurried, yet full of hidden secrets. His well-proportioned body was covered in sweat, reflecting a faint light in the dim firelight.

Name: Chen Han

[Skill: Tai Chi Health Preservation Exercise (Proficient) 12/500]

His proficiency gradually increased during these few days of arduous training, and at the same time, Chen Han also subtly sensed changes in his physique.

It's lighter and more powerful.

Yesterday, on a whim, he tried to lift a stone and was able to move a boulder weighing nearly 900 jin (450 kg), taller than a person, and several meters wide.

The biggest change is in the muscles and bones. In the end, the muscles and bones of an ordinary person are just ordinary bones. Even those who practice martial arts can only make them a little stronger through training.

Chen Han's bones, however, seemed to have undergone a fundamental transformation. He didn't know exactly what kind of transformation it was, but if he had to explain it, it would be that they were more like animal bones.

"Could it be true, as the martial arts manuals say, that mastering this realm grants one a body of steel and the ability to move mountains and lift cauldrons?"

"This level of skill, which would normally be attainable only by a peak martial artist in normal martial arts, is simply outrageous."

Besides, while others need countless hammering sessions and days of standing meditation to improve their physical fitness, he only needs to practice Tai Chi.

This is clearly not right.

Chen Han had this idea before, and now he felt even more strongly that this technique was not as simple as a health-preserving exercise, but definitely had an unknown background.