Chapter 10: Heaven Grade, Supreme Tier Body Tempering Technique
"This is a bit worn out — how many years old is this thing?"
Fang Yuan couldn't tell.
"Oh well, even old antiques have to retire eventually!"
Fang Yuan tapped his finger on the book.
"Decompose!"
A bright flash of golden light flickered.
Out of thin air, a stack of golden blank pages appeared before him, along with a glowing orb.
[Golden-Winged Silkworm Paper] + [Cloud Body Art Experience Insight]
This time, Fang Yuan didn't look at the orb first. Instead, he tapped on the pages.
[Item]: Golden-Winged Silkworm Paper
[Grade]: Fourth-Tier, Lower Grade (Spirituality Depleted)
[Effect]: Can be used to record Dao technique inheritances, craft Talismans, refine Magical Artifacts, and more.
Fang Yuan was stunned. He had actually decomposed a fourth-tier material from a Yellow Grade, Upper Tier technique book!
Wasn't that equivalent to a Nascent Soul-level treasure?!
Far too precious!
Although its spirituality had been depleted, the paper was autonomously absorbing Spiritual Energy — there seemed to be hope of it recovering its original state.
He then looked at the Cloud Body Art experience insight orb, and was once again shocked.
He tapped on the orb.
[Item]: Cloud Body Art Experience Insight
[Grade]: Fourth-Tier, Supreme
[Effect]: Records the creator's cultivation experience and insights regarding the Cloud Body Art.
Fang Yuan drew in a sharp breath!
Fourth-tier again!
This was a fourth-tier experience orb!
Watching the orb slowly dissipate, he hesitated for only one breath before pressing it against his forehead.
The next moment, a flood of information surged into his mind.
He held on for only a short while before losing consciousness.
* * *
Morning.
Bright sunshine.
Fang Yuan slowly came to, rubbing his brow, still feeling a faint ache.
But within his mind, that vast wealth of experience and insight had truly and completely become his own!
"Good heavens — the Cloud Body Art can actually be cultivated all the way to the Peak Nascent Soul Stage!"
His mind now held only the complete compendium and experience insights of the Body Tempering technique, the Cloud Body Art — but this technique's grade was no longer Yellow Grade, Upper Tier. It was Heaven Grade, Supreme Tier!
The technique led straight to the Peak Nascent Soul Stage, and the level of insight had reached the Completion Stage!
This had undoubtedly been left behind by a great senior of the Luoyun Sect, passed down through many years. The originally precious Golden-Winged Silkworm Paper had grown ordinary with time.
And now, by some twist of fate, it had ended up in his hands — and he had accidentally decomposed it.
"Phew!"
Fang Yuan's eyes burned with intensity. With a single thought, Spiritual Power flowed out from his Dantian and streamed into the flesh, bones, sinews, Meridians, and organs throughout his body.
The Spiritual Power of the Mingqi Art naturally dispersed throughout, and whether it was flesh or bone, everything rapidly devoured the Spiritual Power, allowing his body to transform and grow!
The Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth was also drawn in by Fang Yuan's physical body, swiftly merging within him and driving the advancement of his physical cultivation.
After only half an hour of cultivation, Fang Yuan was forced to stop.
The Spiritual Power in his Dantian had been consumed too heavily.
Turning his gaze inward to examine his bones, flesh, and Meridians, he could see that faint white cloud patterns had already appeared on his bones!
This was the hallmark of reaching the Novice stage of the Cloud Body Art.
These cloud patterns could temper bones, flesh, and Meridians, strengthening the body's durability, while also making the body extraordinarily light — and increasingly attuned to the various cultivation methods of the Luoyun Sect!
A stronger physical body would increase the speed of Spiritual Power cultivation, and improved Spiritual Power cultivation would in turn further strengthen the physical body!
"What a tremendous fortune! A tremendous fortune indeed!"
Fang Yuan was overjoyed beyond measure.
This Cloud Body Art was of immense importance to him — this was the technique that would truly lay his foundation.
"However, cultivating this technique is also a bottomless pit that devours resources. Its demand for Spiritual Power is enormous. On top of that, Spiritual Sense cultivation also requires Spiritual Power. Alchemy has become an urgent priority."
Fang Yuan glanced at the time — there was still over an hour before his shift started.
Being a little late was no big deal.
He made his way to the Artifact Forging Chamber and ignited the furnace.
Earth Fire surged up with a roar. Fang Yuan calmly retrieved his materials and began Artifact Forging.
What he intended to forge this time was a mid-grade Magic Artifact: the Black Iron Sword.
The primary material was first-tier mid-grade black iron, the Spiritual Power circuit was constructed using refined gold, and black forging stone essence was used to reinforce the structure. The overall process was not much different from the lower-grade Magic Artifact he had made before — just somewhat more complex.
With a single thought, his Spiritual Sense spread outward, seized all three materials, and sent them flying simultaneously into the furnace to melt.
By now, he had already raised his mastery of the Spiritual Sense application techniques from the Minor Yan Nine Truth Art to the Major Mastery level. He could simultaneously focus on seven tasks at once, controlling seven Magic Artifacts in operation at the same time. Handling a mere three materials was, naturally, effortless for Fang Yuan.
Under the precise control of his Spiritual Sense, all three materials achieved their most perfect degree of fusion.
The refined gold in particular, guided by the "Silk" character formula's Spiritual Sense technique, perfectly formed a Spiritual Power circuit and was seamlessly fused into the black iron.
The black forging stone essence kept pace in synchrony, cast and fused into the sword body.
When the Black Iron Sword emerged from the furnace and was quenched in the cold spirit water, the entire process had taken just over half an hour!
The forging time had dropped dramatically compared to the last attempt!
At the same time, Fang Yuan noticed that his Spiritual Sense consumption had also decreased significantly. The entire forging process had only consumed 30 strands of Spiritual Sense — with plenty to spare.
"Incredible! The boost a Spiritual Sense technique gives to Artifact Forging is truly immense!"
Fang Yuan marveled. He felt that at his current level of Artifact Forging, he could even challenge upper-grade Magic Artifacts.
"Since there's still time, let me forge another mid-grade Magic Artifact."
This time, Fang Yuan was even more bold — he simultaneously controlled six portions of materials and sent them soaring into the air, then dropped them all into the furnace to be smelted!
The move was breathtaking. Fang Yuan was actually attempting to forge two mid-grade Magic Artifacts at the same time!
One had to admit — it was quite the challenge.
Forging two Magic Artifacts simultaneously was indeed more difficult, and the Spiritual Sense consumption multiplied accordingly.
But fortunately, all these materials had already been purified through decomposition, eliminating the need to refine out impurities. As a result, both Magic Artifacts could actually be forged in complete synchrony.
Every step was performed simultaneously — melting, shaping, integrating the Spiritual Power circuit, sealing!
Another half hour passed.
Two Black Iron Swords flew out of the furnace at the same time and were placed into the spirit water to cool.
The entire Artifact Forging Chamber was instantly enveloped in billowing steam.
A short while later.
Fang Yuan strolled leisurely out of the Cave Dwelling and made his way to the Treasure Hall.
After exchanging a greeting with Xiaobao, he stepped into the Exchange Room.
He placed all three Black Iron Swords on the inspection platform.
"Beep — item inspection in progress, appraisal complete. Mid-grade standard Magic Artifact: Black Iron Sword. Contribution value: 1,500 Contribution Points. Superior quality: additional 500 Contribution Points. Quantity: 3. Total: 6,000 Contribution Points. Confirm contribution?"
"Contribute!"
Fang Yuan said calmly.
The next moment, all three Black Iron Swords were transmitted away.
Fang Yuan took out his token and checked — sure enough, his Contribution Points had reached 6,030.
This was the earning speed of an Artifact Refiner.
Six thousand Contribution Points, earned with ease.
Of course, others couldn't earn as easily as Fang Yuan — they had to factor in costs, success rates, and forging time. Their profit margins were certainly not as generous as his, so there was no comparing the two.
After completing his exchange, he casually redeemed 30 Low-Grade Spirit Stones, then left the Treasure Pavilion and headed toward Scripture Repository Peak.
Xiaobao stood on the roof of the main hall, tilting her head as she watched Fang Yuan's departing figure, muttering, "He's slacking off again!"
But Fang Yuan was not slacking off at all.
He hurried to the Scripture Repository and began browsing through alchemy journals.
This time, with 6,000 Contribution Points in hand, he could afford to exchange for an upper-grade Alchemist's alchemy journal.
But Fang Yuan knew he couldn't always count on finding an alchemy journal packed with abundant insights.
So this time, he chose to go for volume — he directly exchanged for ten first-tier mid-grade Alchemist alchemy journals.
Only then did he walk out of the Scripture Repository with satisfaction.
He ambled back to the Treasure Pavilion and resumed his role as an ordinary Qi Refining disciple, tending to miscellaneous tasks in the rear hall.
He had expected it to be a peaceful day.
But as he left the Treasure Pavilion and made his way back toward the Cave Dwelling —
Three figures stepped out from the undergrowth and blocked his path.
Fang Yuan looked at the three before him with puzzlement.
"Are you Junior Brother Fang Yuan?" the young man at the front asked with a smile.
Fang Yuan replied, "That's me. How should I address you, Senior Brother? What can I do for you?"
The young man smiled slightly and said, "I heard that you obtained a cultivation manual for the Cloud Body Art. I wonder if you'd be willing to trade it to me?"
Fang Yuan was momentarily taken aback, then shook his head. "I'm afraid not. That was a gift from Senior Brother Li Chenggong, and the sect does not permit disciples to trade techniques with one another. If you wish to cultivate the Cloud Body Art, you may exchange for it at the Scripture Repository."
The young man shook his head. "Don't worry, Junior Brother — I can handle everything else. You can sell it to me without concern. I'll offer ten thousand Spirit Stones for it. What do you say?"
Fang Yuan shook his head. "It's not a matter of Spirit Stones. I'm sorry!"
He cupped his hands in a polite bow, gave the three men an apologetic smile, then activated the Lightness Art. His footsteps became swift as wind as he swept past all three of them.
The young man made no move to stop Fang Yuan, only watching as his silhouette disappeared into the distance.
"Young Master Li, should we...?" one of the subordinates nearby asked via Voice Transmission.
The young man shook his head. "We are within the sect grounds. Do not act recklessly!"
He said quietly, "There will be opportunities later. He can't stay inside the sect forever."
Fang Yuan returned to his Cave Dwelling and muttered to himself, "Sure enough, the world of immortal cultivation is fraught with danger — there are pitfalls everywhere! Good thing the sect is safe. My choice to stay was right. As long as I don't leave the sect, I'll be safe."