C5 Perfect Body

"What are you planning to do? Don't frighten me!"

The words of Patriarch Lieshan sent a shiver of fear through Laojiu. It had been a struggle to get this far, and there was no telling what Lieshan might have up his sleeve next.

"You little rascal, with that sorry look on your face, do you really think I'd harm you? Being a bit slow isn't the end of the world, but you have to put in the effort!" Patriarch Lieshan chastised Laojiu without holding back.

"Fine, if worst comes to worst, I'll just die one more time!"

Stung by Patriarch Lieshan's goading, Laojiu bristled with defiance, determined not to be the one left behind.

"Take it easy. Rest up for now, and we'll begin once you're more stable."

"Then at least explain to me about Body Penetration, Mortal Exuviating, Saint Becoming, and all that."

Laojiu found that there was a lot he couldn't grasp when it came to discussing matters with Patriarch Lieshan. His main problem was his complete lack of knowledge about cultivation. He needed to use this rest period to get a better understanding, to avoid being constantly clueless.

"Body Penetration isn't a level of cultivation; it's merely a technique for refining the body..."

Patriarch Lieshan began to explain earnestly. In ancient times, there was a systematic approach to individual cultivation. Unfortunately, later generations lost this knowledge in the sands of time.

The basic cultivation system was divided into nine major stages: Body Refining, Qi Cultivating, Marrow Entering, Three-qi Gathering, God Cultivating, Transcendence, Life Union, Mortal Exuviating, and Saint Becoming!

Beyond Body Refining, the first three stages up to Three-qi Gathering were considered one threshold, the Middle Rank Three Life Union Stage another, and each subsequent stage, especially Mortal Exuviating and Saint Becoming, represented significant hurdles, with the difficulty of advancement increasing geometrically!

Laojiu was now at the pinnacle of the Body Refining Stage. With an appropriate cultivation technique, he could begin the first stage of Qi Cultivating.

Body Refining was straightforward and comprehensible: diligently enhance the body's functional vitality to better meet the demands of the next stage's cultivation techniques, thus establishing a solid foundation.

Body Refining is not typically included within the Low Rank Three because anyone can engage in Body Refining without the need for a specific cultivation method to guide them, so it isn't considered true cultivation.

To enter the Qi Fostering Rank, one must follow an Inner Cultivation Technique, which primarily uses Qi to nourish the body.

There are said to be thousands of entry-level cultivation methods, too numerous to count. Each method has its unique characteristics, influencing one's future growth path and the level of achievement that can be reached.

However, there's a concept known as Perfect Body Refining that suggests those who achieve a Perfect Body can attain great success even with ordinary cultivation methods. Such individuals are often among the elite at their level and can defeat higher-level opponents without it being considered unusual.

A Perfect Body is rare, and once identified, it garners significant attention from the top powers. These individuals receive an outpouring of resources and focused training.

If an individual from one's own group doesn't possess a Perfect Body, there's a tendency to destroy it to prevent the emergence of a formidable rival.

Legend has it that the Xuanyuan Dragon Monarch had a serendipitous experience while refining his body, almost achieving perfection. His subsequent growth was formidable, and upon reaching the Saint Becoming stage, he was already a preeminent figure, virtually unbeatable among his peers.

The strength derived from cultivation is known as Origin Energy, which is not only highly beneficial to the body but also enables one to unleash power far beyond their natural capacity.

Origin Energy is categorized into individual Origin Energy, produced by living beings through cultivation, and natural Origin Energy, which is inherent to nature itself. Living beings can absorb natural Origin Energy, and a cultivator's advancement is greatly influenced by the abundance of Origin Energy in their surroundings.

Upon hearing Patriarch Lieshan's account, Laojiu was utterly captivated, as if a mere mortal had stumbled into a celestial paradise. It turns out that those ancient records weren't just fanciful tales after all!

"You're referring to the basic cultivation system. Is there a more advanced system as well?"

Laojiu was intrigued by the mention of this and yearned to learn more.

"Why worry about all that? If you manage to reach the Saint Becoming Level in your lifetime, you'll be an exceptional being. Overreaching isn't always beneficial."

Patriarch Lieshan refrained from discussing further details. He, too, was uncertain whether the Yanhuang Star could produce any Saint Becoming Level masters. If such experts existed on this planet, they would likely have been roused from their slumber by now.

Lieshan was unaware that it had been centuries since anyone on Yanhuang Star had attained the Three-qi Gathering, a state also known as the Three Flower Gathering.

Recently, however, some of the newcomers were incredibly powerful masters. The extent of their power, though, was unknown to Laojiu.

"Judging by your tone, it seems that others, including the Xuanyuan Dragon Monarch, aren't natives of Yanhuang Star. Are you also outsiders? What brought you to this desolate planet?"

Laojiu was sharp; he picked up on quite a bit from Patriarch Lieshan's comments.

"No need to rush. They're here now, and these matters will be revealed to you in due time. The moment has come. I'm going to bring out all my life-saving assets to see if I can forge a Perfect Body."

Patriarch Lieshan was excited as well. He had never witnessed what a Perfect Body looked like. Those individuals were always out of reach, never mingling with the likes of them. The prospect of crafting a Perfect Body himself was a thrilling one.

While he spoke, a glint of light passed over the crystalline finger bone, and a thumb-sized, transparent crystal materialized in Laojiu's hand. It resembled a chunk of ice and felt quite chilly.

"This is the Ice Dragon Crystal, a rare treasure my master found. Originally there were two; he used one and has carefully preserved the other, keeping its existence a secret."

"The Ice Dragon Crystal has potent spirit-stabilizing properties. To ensure my Primordial Spirit remained intact, my master sealed it within my finger bone. Without it, my Primordial Spirit likely wouldn't have survived to this day."

Patriarch Lieshan approached the matter with great caution, recognizing the item as an invaluable treasure for cultivating the next generation. His willingness to leave it for the protection of his Primordial Spirit was a testament to the high regard he held for his closed-door disciple.

"What about you, if you give it to me?" Laojiu asked, his voice tinged with concern. He yearned for strength but not at the expense of another's life. Patriarch Lieshan was, after all, a venerable elder deserving of respect.

Being selfish isn't always the right choice.

"Don't worry. Once you've completed your body refinement, the finger bone can be integrated into your body. Nourished by your bloodline, there should be no issues. And if you grow quickly and become strong, I might even be able to regain some of my strength," Patriarch Lieshan reassured him.

Patriarch Lieshan was ready to bind his fate to Laojiu's. If Laojiu remained unharmed, all would be well, but his own demise would follow Laojiu's. He chose not to burden Laojiu with this detail to avoid causing him undue stress.

"Rest assured, once I truly become powerful, I might find a way to help you regain your body," Laojiu confidently asserted, his life now on the cusp of a significant transformation.

"Hehe, it's the thought that counts. Now, about the Ice Dragon Crystal, it's incredibly potent for body refinement, but be prepared for the intense cold elemental energy it contains. It's unfortunate I have nothing else to offer. If you could find a fire attribute remedy to counterbalance it, the results would be even better," Patriarch Lieshan explained with a hint of regret. He recalled the Xuanyuan Dragon Monarch's words about the overwhelming cold elemental energy within the Ice Dragon Crystal, which had nearly turned him into an ice sculpture. Only by surviving that ordeal did he manage to refine a Perfect Body, just a notch below the ideal but still superior to Laojiu's current state.

"Fire attribute remedy? Would this work? I found it near the lava river," Laojiu said, producing two semi-transparent items resembling lotus seeds. Acquiring them had been a life-threatening ordeal. They appeared extraordinary and had grown near the lava river, seemingly meeting Patriarch Lieshan's specifications.

"Wow! A mature Geocentric Lotus – you're in luck, Laojiu. With these two Geocentric Lotuses at your disposal, great things are on the horizon!"

Patriarch Lieshan was beside himself with excitement, almost as if he were the one undergoing the body refinement instead of Laojiu. He took the time equivalent to a tea break to meticulously explain the necessary precautions to Laojiu, his tone more solemn than ever before.

Perhaps he truly saw a glimmer of hope for rebirth in Laojiu's form.

Once all the details were clear, Laojiu popped the Ice Dragon Crystal and the two Geocentric Lotuses into his mouth.

The next moment, Laojiu experienced the real Nine-Fold Heaven of Fire and Ice! One moment, his body felt as if plunged into millennia-old ice; the next, he was engulfed by the searing heat and ferocity of molten lava!

Two potent energies waged war within him, clashing incessantly. His left hand would be ablaze with heat, his right icy cold; even his cheeks would exhibit varying symptoms from one side to the other.

Can you imagine being encased in the absolute chill of ice and snow, only to be carved up piece by piece with a fiery, red-hot blade, stripping the flesh from your bones?

This was the agony Laojiu endured. Yet, he remained astonishingly lucid, without a hint of dizziness, fully immersed in the entire ordeal!

The ordeal lasted only about an hour. Laojiu's skin ruptured countless times, each time healing as if by magic. Blood and shattered bone littered the area, presenting a ghastly sight.

The excruciating pleasure of being flayed and filleted pervaded every inch of his being!

His scales detached one by one, flying off at incredible speed, and his muscles began to take on a translucent appearance.

Patriarch Lieshan was exceptionally pleased, speaking little, as though he were admiring the most exquisite piece of art.

As another hour slipped by, Laojiu's body gradually healed. The scales on his skin vanished entirely, and his muscles slowly turned transparent. Eventually, even his internal organs and bones began to show through, until his entire being resembled a large, semi-transparent pink crystal.

At that moment, Laojiu radiated a sense of sanctity. Even in his state of undress, there was nothing awkward about his presence.

Several hours later, the energy within Laojiu had completely dissipated. His once transparent body gradually solidified, returning to a normal human appearance.

Now, his muscles were exceptionally well-defined, and his skin had a healthy, rosy glow. If he were to step outside, countless women would surely turn green with envy!

Phew...

Laojiu exhaled deeply, reveling in the beauty of the world around him. He realized that being free from pain and discomfort was the greatest joy. Indeed, health is one of life's most precious assets.

"How do you feel? Amazing, right?" Patriarch Lieshan's voice echoed in his mind, laden with unmistakable delight.

"I'm starving. I could eat a whole cow right now!" Laojiu exclaimed.

Patriarch Lieshan was momentarily at a loss for words. The generational divide between them was simply too vast.