Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Visceral Fortification
It was already Noon when Li Yuan returned to his residence.
Pushing open the wooden door, Li Yuan walked straight to his bed and sat down, retrieving the Iron Bull Skill manual from his sleeve.
The yellowed manual lay in his palm. With a thought from Li Yuan, the panel appeared:
[Detected equippable item: Iron Bull Skill (Complete)]
[Entry Preview: Viscera Reinforcement (White) — Strengthens the resilience of the internal organs, increasing their tolerance for the impact of Spiritual Power.]
[Permanence Condition: Cultivate two mortal Cultivation Techniques to the Perfection realm.]
[Current Equipment Slots (1/2), Equip?]
"Equip."
At Li Yuan’s thought, the manual in his hand transformed into a faint ray of light that merged into his body and vanished.
In the next instant, a peculiar sensation washed over him.
A vast amount of information suddenly flooded his mind: the breathing skills of the Iron Bull Skill, its energy circulation paths, the essentials of its movements, the cultivation keys for every stance... All of it was imprinted clearly upon his consciousness, as if he had already studied this Cultivation Technique countless times and knew every detail by heart.
’This must be the additional effect of equipping a Cultivation Method Class item—it directly instills the entire content of the technique into my mind, saving me the process of studying and comprehension.’
At the same time, a gentle warmth surged from deep within his abdominal cavity.
The warmth wasn’t intense, but it was dense and lasting, like an invisible film wrapping around his internal organs. His heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys... each organ was slowly steeped in this warmth, as if being gradually reinforced by some power.
Li Yuan took a deep breath and could clearly feel that the organs in his abdomen had become much sturdier.
’This is the effect of the Viscera Reinforcement entry.’
The panel updated accordingly:
[Current Equipment Slots: 2/2]
[Equipped Items: Meridian Opening Pill, Iron Bull Skill]
[Acquired Entries: Circulation Acceleration (White), Viscera Reinforcement (White), Cleansed Constitution (Gray) (Permanent)]
[Iron Bull Skill: Uninitiated (0/100)]
’Although the contents of the Cultivation Technique have been instilled in my mind, the physical cultivation still needs to be done step by step. Knowing how to do something and actually doing it are two different things.’
’However, with a complete understanding as my foundation, my cultivation speed will surely far exceed that of an ordinary person.’
Li Yuan stood up, stretched his limbs, and began to practice.
The first stance of the Iron Bull Skill was called Iron Bull Tills the Land. It required one to stand with their feet shoulder-width apart, hands on the ground, back straight, and guide their Qi Blood to their Dantian in their abdomen using a specific breathing rhythm.
Li Yuan got into position and adjusted his breathing.
With each inhale and exhale, he could faintly feel a warm current stirring in his abdomen.
About fifteen minutes later, the warm current gradually stabilized and began to circulate slowly along a fixed path in his abdomen.
After another half an hour, the warm current could complete the full circulation path of the first stance. Although it was still a bit clumsy, the basic framework was established.
Li Yuan ceased his practice and stood up, moving his hands and feet. He noticed a subtle difference.
As he stretched his limbs, a few faint, crisp cracks sounded from his joints.
When he made a fist, his fingers curled tighter. The muscles in his forearms, shoulders, and back tensed up, feeling much harder than before. His whole body felt as if it had been tightened a notch.
There were changes to his skin as well. It wasn’t that he had become impervious to weapons, but when he pinched the back of his hand with his fingernail, the flesh felt a bit thicker and tougher than before.
With a thought, the panel appeared:
[Iron Bull Skill: Initiated (0/200)]
’I’m initiated.’ It had taken him less than two hours from starting his practice to reaching the initiated level.
According to the manual, it took an ordinary mortal at least one or two months to get from zero to the initiated level of the Iron Bull Skill. Even for a Cultivator, with their superior physique and ability to sense Qi Blood, it would still take several days.
’And yet, I only used less than two hours.’
’The complete understanding gained from equipping the Cultivation Technique, coupled with the Viscera Reinforcement entry’s boost to my perception of Qi Blood, created a synergistic effect that pushed my cultivation efficiency far beyond normal.’
After a short rest, Li Yuan continued practicing.
The second stance of the Iron Bull Skill was called Iron Bull Gores with its Horns. It required him to clasp his hands behind his head, bend at the waist, lower his head, and guide his Qi Blood into his chest cavity using a more complex breathing rhythm.
This stance was much more difficult than the first; the changes in breathing rhythm were more frequent, and the path for guiding Qi Blood was more winding. But with the complete understanding of the Cultivation Technique supporting him, Li Yuan, though slower than with the first stance, encountered no major obstacles.
Once, twice, three times...
The warm current circulated through his chest, gradually becoming smoother.
After about another two hours, Li Yuan once again ceased his practice.
[Iron Bull Skill: Initiated (18/200)]
’The rate of progress is a bit slower than during the initiation phase, but it’s still far above normal.’
Li Yuan glanced at the sky outside. The sun had already tilted westward; it wasn’t long until evening.
He sat back down on the edge of his bed. He didn’t continue practicing the Iron Bull Skill, but instead began to seriously consider his strategy going forward.
’Right now I have three equippable items: the Spirit Stone, the Meridian Opening Pill, and the Iron Bull Skill.’
’I only have two equipment slots, so I have to make a choice.’
’Of the three entries, Spiritual Qi Filter is the current core.’
’Increased cultivation speed and removal of Spiritual Qi impurities—both effects are indispensable.’
’The impurity removal, in particular, directly solves the biggest shortcoming of the Spirit-Introducing Skill.’
’Moreover, the permanence progress for Spiritual Qi Filter is already at forty, the closest to completion among the three entries. I should prioritize it.’
’The effect of Circulation Acceleration is also very powerful—a fifty percent increase in circulation speed means I can complete more cycles in the same amount of time. More importantly, the permanence condition for Spiritual Qi Filter is to complete one hundred cycles. The faster the cycles, the faster I’ll finish.’
’If both entries are active at the same time, not only will my cultivation efficiency be maximized, but the speed of making Spiritual Qi Filter permanent will also increase significantly.’
’It’s just a shame that the permanence condition for the Meridian Opening Pill is too demanding. Ten pills of the same grade would require at least twenty to thirty Spirit Stones. It’s impossible to achieve in the short term, so I can only use it as a temporary boost.’
’As for the Iron Bull Skill’s Viscera Reinforcement—this entry provides tangible help for breaking through. The direct cause of my predecessor’s qi deviation was that his internal organs couldn’t withstand the impact of Spiritual Power.’
’But the permanence condition for the Iron Bull Skill is also impossible to achieve right away. It requires two mortal Cultivation Techniques to be cultivated to the Perfection realm.’
’Right now, I only have the Iron Bull Skill, and it’s only at the Initiated stage. It’s completely unrealistic to master two Cultivation Techniques to the Perfection realm in just a few days.’
’So, the optimal strategy for now is to equip the Spirit Stone and the Meridian Opening Pill at the same time.’
’Spiritual Qi Filter will be responsible for increasing my cultivation speed and purifying Spiritual Qi, while Circulation Acceleration will be responsible for speeding up my cycles. They each have their own role, and they complement each other.’
’Once Spiritual Qi Filter becomes permanent, the equipment slot for the Meridian Opening Pill can be freed up for the Iron Bull Skill. At that time, I’ll have the permanent effect of Spiritual Qi Filter and the buff from Viscera Reinforcement, which will give me a much better chance of breaking through to the Mid-stage Qi Refining.’
’Even though I have to unequip the Iron Bull Skill for now, the progress I’ve made to the Initiated stage won’t disappear.’
Having figured this out, Li Yuan no longer hesitated.
With a thought, he chose to unequip the Iron Bull Skill.
[Equipment unequipped: Iron Bull Skill]
[Viscera Reinforcement (White) entry is temporarily inactive]
The manual materialized in his hand, and the warmth that had been enveloping the organs in his abdomen faded away.
Li Yuan put the manual away and took out the Spirit Stone.
A full day had passed since he unequipped the Spirit Stone yesterday evening, satisfying the twenty-four-hour cooldown period.
’Equip.’
The Spirit Stone vanished from his palm, and the long-missed filtering sensation once again enveloped his entire body.
The panel updated:
[Current Equipment Slots: 2/2]
[Equipped Items: Meridian Opening Pill, Low Grade Spirit Stone]
[Acquired Entries: Circulation Acceleration (White), Spiritual Qi Filter (White), Cleansed Constitution (Gray) (Permanent)]
Both White entries were active simultaneously.
Li Yuan sat down cross-legged and began to circulate the Spirit-Introducing Skill.
Spiritual Qi gathered from all directions. Under the effect of Spiritual Qi Filter, all impurities were automatically removed before they could enter his body, allowing only pure Spiritual Qi to surge into his meridians. At the same time, Circulation Acceleration greatly increased the speed at which the Spiritual Power circulated through his meridians, making each cycle complete much faster than before.
The two entries each performed their function, yet they also amplified one another. Spiritual Qi Filter ensured that every wisp of Spiritual Qi entering his body was pure and flawless, while Circulation Acceleration allowed this pure Spiritual Qi to complete its cycles at a faster rate and flow into his Dantian.
The pure Spiritual Qi circulated rapidly without the slightest stagnation in his meridians. Every cycle was completed cleanly and efficiently.
His cultivation efficiency was a huge step up from when he had only equipped the Spirit Stone.
Li Yuan was completely focused, his mind free of distractions. As one cycle ended, he immediately began the next.
He repeated this process over and over.
After an unknown amount of time, Li Yuan opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath of turbid air.
Outside the window, the sky was filled with stars. He had unknowingly cultivated for the better part of the night.
With a thought, the panel appeared:
[Spiritual Qi Filter (White)]
[Permanence Progress: 52/100]
’A single cultivation session advanced my progress by twelve cycles. That’s faster than any session before.’
