C15 The Declining Body Cultivator Faction

From losing hope in awakening his Origin Genuine Qi to becoming an outer disciple and directly breaking through the never-before-conquered Ninth Heaven of the Dao Mirror, Woo Zhengyang's ever-strengthening body in battle played a crucial role.

Even though he had awakened his Origin Genuine Qi, Zhengyang's physical strength had not yet reached its peak. The Body Tempering Technique was undoubtedly the method to enhance his physical prowess.

Body tempering and vein refining, one internal and one external. These were two equally matched training systems from ancient times. Unfortunately, during a great catastrophe, the path of body cultivation suffered more, leaving behind very few techniques, especially at higher levels. This caused many practitioners to halt their progress, eventually fading from public view.

Zhengyang never expected to find any body cultivation techniques in the Profound Arts Pavilion. Though scarce, discovering them was a pleasant surprise for him.

After encountering that mysterious vortex, Zhengyang gained a physique that strengthened with each battle, and combining it with the Body Tempering Technique made the effects even more pronounced.

As for future levels, Zhengyang wasn't too concerned. At the very least, he had the Sword Sacrificing Spell as a foundation, which could serve as a support.

With this in mind, Zhengyang stepped toward the Body Tempering Technique section. Initially, everyone was busy copying their own techniques and martial skills, so Zhengyang didn't attract much attention. However, as soon as he entered the Body Tempering Technique area, all eyes turned to him, sparking a flurry of discussions.

"Who's that checking out the Body Tempering Technique? Is it another one who's given up on reaching the Martial Master Stage and is looking for a different path?"

"I don't recognize him either. Maybe he's a disciple who's been in seclusion for a long time. What's strange is that I can't sense any genuine energy from him. Could he be using some special technique to suppress it?"

"It would be strange if you could sense his energy. He's the most talked-about disciple in our outer sect these days, and you guys don't even recognize him."

"Huh? Did something happen? Don't tell me Zhongli Huo got defeated!"

"Zhongli Huo defeated? That's a stretch. No one in the outer sect can beat him. But this guy does have a connection to Zhongli Huo. Zhongli Huo is the top outer sect disciple, while he's the very last!"

"The very last? What's going on?" A few more people gathered around.

The informed disciple glanced around proudly before continuing, "This guy's name is Woo Zhengyang. He just joined the outer sect yesterday and passed the first level of the Dao Mirror, earning the number 9,999. Wouldn't you say that's the very last?"

"Only passed the first level and got the number 9,999! Either of those would be enough to make him famous in the outer sect."

"And now, instead of copying the Vein Refining Technique, this guy's diving into Body Tempering. It's really something."

"Maybe he's planning to train in both Body Tempering and Vein Refining at the same time? Haha..."

Inside the Profound Arts Pavilion, silence was strictly enforced, but the crowd couldn't help themselves and began to chuckle quietly.

Body tempering wasn't unheard of, but it was usually the path taken by those who couldn't advance in the more prestigious vein-cultivating techniques. Generally, people wouldn't waste their time on body tempering methods that seemed to lead nowhere.

Woo Zhengyang listened to everything, shaking his head with a wry smile as he continued to browse.

Among the dozen or so body tempering manuals, a few were relatively complete, but they paled in comparison to the vein-cultivating techniques. Still, three of them caught Woo Zhengyang's interest.

"Thick Earth Body Technique": A lower-tier method that uses the power of the earth to fortify the body, enhancing defense by making one's vitality robust.

"Blood Absorption Technique": A mid-tier method that absorbs the opponent's blood power during battle, integrating it into one's own body. When mastered, it provides overwhelming vitality and the ability to heal, primarily used for offense.

The "Thick Earth Body Technique" appeared to be a traditional method, while the "Blood Absorption Technique" seemed more vicious, potentially affecting those with weaker wills. However, its combat effectiveness was undeniable.

The last one, called the "Flesh Condensing Technique," was a higher-tier method that relied solely on refining one's own flesh and blood to increase vitality. When perfected, it would double the density of one's flesh, offering both offensive and defensive capabilities.

The first two books focus on offense and defense, clearly indicating that the second volume is on the second floor. Having both parts of the same technique makes future practice smoother. The third book, however, is just a fragment. After reaching the Martial Master Stage, one would likely need to switch to another technique, which would undoubtedly be more challenging. Yet, this fragment is classified as top-tier, suggesting its power is extraordinary.

After much consideration, Woo Zhengyang chose the third book, "Flesh Condensing Technique." The Qi discipline focuses on cultivating true energy, while the Body discipline emphasizes blood and flesh. If one's flesh and blood are doubled, the capacity for Qi and blood within the body will more than double compared to ordinary Body Tempering Techniques. Given Woo Zhengyang's unique constitution, the effects could be even more pronounced.

The key is that Woo Zhengyang isn't solely a Body practitioner. He can't afford to split his focus between two different practices. A technique that combines offense and defense is particularly suitable for him. As for switching techniques upon reaching the Martial Master Stage, Woo Zhengyang isn't too concerned. With his unique constitution, he'll take it one step at a time.

Taking paper and ink from the side of the bookshelf, Woo Zhengyang began to carefully transcribe each word. In the Body discipline, the emphasis is on direct and effective power, breaking through all barriers. The stages are straightforward: a thousand pounds of force, ten thousand pounds, fifty thousand pounds, and so on. Generally, completing the first chapter of Body Tempering results in breaking through a thousand pounds of force, equivalent to the Reality Condensing Stage in the Qi discipline, earning the title of Martial Master.

While copying down the "Flesh Condensing Technique," Woo Zhengyang assessed his current strength, estimating it to be around 660 pounds. Remarkably, since yesterday morning, without practicing any specific techniques and relying solely on continuous combat, he had advanced to the level of a Three-star Martial Disciple. Such rapid progress was astonishing.

Of course, he owed this transformation to the mysterious vortex that had altered him. However, Woo Zhengyang noticed that as he progressed, his strength increased at a slower pace. To achieve further breakthroughs, he realized that traditional body tempering methods were essential.

The "Flesh Condensing Technique" also used external forces to enhance physical strength, which aligned perfectly with Woo Zhengyang's unique physical attributes. The only challenge was finding a suitable training space. Initially, the stone chamber he lived in was sturdy enough for practice. But as he advanced, he would need more space and stronger opponents, which the small stone room couldn't provide.

As he pondered this, he finished copying the "Flesh Condensing Technique," returned the original to its place, and headed for the door.

"You've been in there for so long, and this is what you copied? Don't you know that the path of body cultivation has declined? Since you've awakened your Origin Genuine Qi, you should focus on energy cultivation techniques. One day, you might achieve something significant! If you choose body cultivation, even if you reach the Martial Master Stage, you won't match an energy cultivator of the same level. Moreover, advanced techniques are scarce, and without them, you'll hit a wall. Do you understand?"

At the entrance of the Profound Arts Pavilion, the steward responsible for its protection noticed that Woo Zhengyang had copied down a Body Tempering Technique. This discovery made the steward furious.

"Uh..." Although the steward had a fiery temper, he genuinely cared about Woo Zhengyang's well-being and wasn't a bad person at heart, leaving Woo Zhengyang at a loss for words.

"Alright, if you want to practice it for a few days, go ahead. I've heard about your situation. Just breaking through the first level isn't much. When you manage to surpass the third, fourth, or even fifth level, you'll still be considered a genius. But remember, to reach that day, you must train diligently and focus on cultivating your energy. Only then can you truly excel!"

"Thank you for your guidance, sir. I will remember your advice!" Woo Zhengyang sincerely expressed his gratitude and left the Profound Arts Pavilion.