Reaching the Jade Skin Realm within the Refining Skin stage enables one to undergo medicinal baths, which then allow for the tempering of qi and blood.
The same principle applies.
The Blood Refining Realm also requires the state of unified qi and blood before one can use the Bone Tempering Pill to refine the bones!
But now,
Gu Sheng’s power unexpectedly seems to have subtly surpassed the previous two steps, gradually refining his bones. Although this refinement is extremely minimal, it is still astonishingly inexplicable and somewhat defies the conventional principles of martial arts.
He suddenly recalled the words of the stall owner when he purchased the secret manual previously.
The Shapeshifting Technique, once advanced to a profound level, provides tremendous benefits to bone refinement.
"I didn’t expect it to be true!"
Gu Sheng’s heart trembled.
When the Shapeshifting Technique reaches the Perfect Realm, it can accelerate bone refinement. If masters of the Bone Refining Realm were to learn of this, their hearts would undoubtedly be moved.
However, even if they are tempted, it is irrelevant; achieving the Perfect Realm in the Shapeshifting Technique, even with a matching cultivation method, would still require at least several decades of effort.
Gu Sheng calmed his mind.
With a shift of power, the last trace of stagnation dispersed.
Suddenly, the bones throughout his body emitted explosive crackling sounds, and immediately after, Gu Sheng’s figure expanded drastically, becoming at least a head taller than before.
Joy flashed in Gu Sheng’s eyes.
The Shapeshifting Technique successfully broke through to the Perfect Realm!
He carefully sensed his body and grew increasingly impressed.
The Shapeshifting Technique was indeed extraordinary; it ingeniously allowed his power to become familiar with the method of bone refinement ahead of time. When he later ascends to the Bone Refining Realm, the process of refining bones will undoubtedly be much more efficient and progress incredibly quickly.
It’s as though the cultivation path for the Bone Refining Realm has already been paved in advance!
How could Gu Sheng not be delighted?
Aside from this additional benefit,
The effects of the Perfect Realm-level Shapeshifting Technique were also significantly enhanced. Now, with just a shift of power, Gu Sheng could alter his facial appearance. The duration of transformation was much longer than before, and he could even roughly mimic someone else’s face with about fifty percent similarity.
Of course, face-to-face encounters with close acquaintances would not fool them.
But in certain special circumstances, it might allow him to escape detection.
As for the transformation of physique, with simple bone refinement, he could not only reduce his size but also grow taller.
Gu Sheng had just tested it; if he pushed his limits, he could become more than a full head taller. In such a state, his strength increased by twenty percent!
"The effects of the Perfect Realm-level Shapeshifting Technique are astonishing; not only does it serve as a powerful auxiliary ability, but it also offers considerable advantages in combat."
Gu Sheng couldn’t help but marvel.
His good fortune truly seemed remarkable.
Gu Sheng continued his intense practice at home.
Maintaining a rhythm of medicinal baths every three days, the progress of the three martial arts advanced in tandem, practiced alternately with steady improvement. No one knew that Gu Sheng had already stepped onto the path of Blood Refining.
Externally, people merely thought that Gu Sheng had just become a Stone Skin martial artist and assumed that significant breakthroughs would not happen for a long time.
Gu Sheng remained low-key, quietly building up his foundation, and steadily growing in strength gave him an increasing sense of security.
Besides martial arts training,
Gu Sheng still ventured into the mountains to hunt, though the frequency of these trips had substantially decreased.
Because the yield from catching small prey was now too negligible for Gu Sheng, serving only to waste precious time that could be spent training.
Currently,
Gu Sheng only entered the mountains when there were reports of nearby wild boar or similar prey from the estate. At least this could barely cover the consumption of his meat supply. If converted into silver coins, it wouldn’t even afford a single portion of Blood Nourishing Powder.
Privately, Gu Sheng continued searching through the mountains for traces of tigers or bears.
Only such large predators could pique Gu Sheng’s interest, offering considerable monetary rewards.
But this wasn’t something that could be rushed—opportunities for such encounters were rare and unpredictable. By Gu Sheng’s own estimate, his finances should suffice to support his training until he reached the limits of his current flesh and blood.
The crucial concern was that subsequent cultivation would leave him penniless, requiring him to save in advance to avoid halting progress due to financial constraints—something Gu Sheng was unwilling to allow.
Time quietly flowed by.
In the blink of an eye, nearly two months had passed. During this period, Gu Sheng made another trip to the black market, mainly because his supply of Blood Nourishing Powder had run out. This time, splitting the purchases across various sellers, he acquired thirty portions, spending over sixty percent of his money.
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