Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

Chapter 327: Chapter 184: Blood Prison 2

After browsing for a while, he found that the strongest Heart Method available was one called the Profound Origin Infinite Skill, which cost eight hundred contribution points.

The technique’s description explained that it had once been supremely powerful but was now incomplete. The Purple Sun Sect had only managed to collect the Heart Method portion up to the Gang Qi Realm. The sections for the Celestial Essence Realm and beyond were lost; it didn’t even include the method for breaking through into the Celestial Essence Realm.

’It’s incomplete and still costs so many contribution points!’

Xu Yang felt tempted again. The Thunder Sound Marrow Cleansing Technique, the Profound Origin Infinite Skill—he wanted them all. He wanted every single Cultivation Technique, but unfortunately, he could only choose one.

’But a Heart Method isn’t what I need most. My Marrow Cleansing speed isn’t slow; what I truly lack are resources. Besides, my Golden Gang Qi isn’t weak. It wouldn’t necessarily lose out to this Profound Origin Infinite Skill.’

Suppressing his impatience, he walked over to the Saber Technique section and went straight to the ones with the highest contribution point costs.

’Shadowless Profound Gang Saber, six hundred contribution points!’

Xu Yang’s eyes lit up. He picked it up to read and discovered it was a Saber Technique that allowed one to cultivate Saber Intent.

Saber Intent was a form of Martial Dao Imagery. It was said that once a Martial Artist cultivated Saber Intent, the power of even their most ordinary Saber Techniques would skyrocket, allowing them to cut through anything and specialize in shattering Protective Gang Qi.

’Five Elements Mountain-Suppressing Saber Technique, six hundred and fifty contribution points!’

It was another Saber Technique that involved Martial Dao Imagery and could be used to temper one’s Heart Spirit.

Xu Yang continued browsing and found three or four more Saber Techniques that cost over six hundred contribution points, all of which incorporated Martial Dao Imagery.

’The Purple Sun Sect’s strongest legacy is its Sword Techniques, followed by its Saber Techniques. As expected, there are many powerful saber manuals here.’

Suddenly, his pupils contracted, and he strode over for a closer look.

’Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture, one thousand contribution points!’

The contribution point cost for this Saber Technique was actually the same as the Profound Origin Infinite Skill—a full one thousand points.

Xu Yang excitedly picked up the secret manual and began to read its description. The more he read, the brighter his eyes shone.

The Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture was both a Saber Technique and a Secret Technique that used Saber Intent to temper one’s Heart Spirit. If cultivated to the realm of "Severing Illusion and True Self-Realization," it could slay the body and sever the spirit, making it an ultimate killing art.

Xu Yang was utterly captivated. He decided then and there that he would choose the Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture. He couldn’t be bothered to look at any other techniques. Even if he found something else, the best it could be was on par with this one.

"Eh...? Brother Xu?"

A voice rang out. Xu Yang looked up to see Han Feng, who had appeared at some point without him noticing.

"Brother Han, are you also here to choose a Cultivation Technique?" Xu Yang asked with a smile, offering a fist-and-palm salute.

Han Feng nodded, his gaze falling on the Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture in Xu Yang’s hands. "Brother Xu, you’re thinking of choosing the Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture?" he asked, a hint of doubt in his voice.

Xu Yang nodded with a smile.

"Brother Xu, you should think this through carefully," Han Feng cautioned. "I’ve asked around about the Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture. While it’s an incomparably powerful, top-tier Saber Technique, its cultivation is exceedingly difficult. It’s said that even some Celestial Essence Martial Artists can’t master it. The demand on one’s Comprehension is absurdly high."

Naturally, many people were interested in a Saber Technique worth a thousand contribution points.

But a Saber Technique of such peerless power wasn’t something just anyone could cultivate. After making his own inquiries, he had been forced to give up on the idea, daunted by the challenge.

"Thank you for the warning, Brother Han, but I’d like to give it a try. It’s no great loss if I fail," Xu Yang replied with a smile.

Han Feng shook his head. "Brother Xu, you’re taking this too lightly. The Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture is no ordinary Saber Technique. It cultivates the Power of Heart and Spirit and Martial Dao Imagery. If your Heart Spirit isn’t strong enough and you try to force it, you’ll suffer a backlash that will damage your Heart Spirit.

"And you know better than I do, Brother Xu, what the consequences are when a Martial Artist’s Heart Spirit is injured."

’So there’s even a requirement for one’s Heart Spirit.’

Xu Yang’s brow furrowed slightly. "Under what conditions is one’s Heart Spirit considered strong enough to cultivate the Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture?" he asked.

The Heart Spirit was intangible, impossible to see or touch, and it wasn’t divided into distinct realms like Gang Qi. If he didn’t meet the requirements, he really couldn’t risk cultivating it recklessly.

"At the very least, you need to reach Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement," Han Feng said. "When I asked Steward Liu about it, he said that a Martial Artist’s Heart Spirit would only meet the minimum threshold to practice the Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture after reaching the cultivation level of Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement."

’Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement, hmm?’

The corners of Xu Yang’s mouth curved upward. As it happened, he was already planning to find time in the next few days to break through to Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement.

Besides, he had already formed a Martial Dao Imagery. While his Heart Spirit might not be comparable to that of a Celestial Essence expert, it was definitely far stronger than others at his level.

He offered another salute. "Thank you for the information, Brother Han. I’ve made my choice, so I won’t disturb you any longer."

Placing the Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture back on the shelf, Xu Yang turned and went downstairs.

"He’s overestimating his own abilities," Han Feng muttered with a cold snort.

From Xu Yang’s demeanor, it was obvious to Han Feng that he still intended to choose the Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture. Paying the departing Xu Yang no mind, Han Feng began to make his own selection.

Whether Xu Yang chose to cultivate the Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture had little to do with him. His earlier warning had just been an attempt to build a little goodwill. If Xu Yang was determined to court death, he wasn’t going to stop him.

...

"Are you sure you want to choose the Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture? Without the cultivation of a Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement, practicing this technique is tantamount to suicide."

When Liu Jinghe heard that Xu Yang wanted to choose the Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture, he assumed Xu Yang wasn’t aware of the Heart Spirit requirement and felt compelled to issue a warning.

"Han Feng just informed me of that," Xu Yang said with a smile. "Rest assured, Steward Liu. I won’t start practicing it right away. I’ll wait until I reach Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement."

Liu Jinghe nodded. "In that case, wait here a moment."

He couldn’t be bothered to wonder whether Xu Yang was telling the truth. As a Steward of the Hidden Skills Hall, his only duty was to inform disciples of a technique’s cultivation requirements. What the disciples chose to do after that was not his business.

They were all young men in their twenties; they could be responsible for their own actions.

Besides, in his eyes, Xu Yang wasn’t the type to listen to advice anyway. The last time, he had advised Xu Yang not to redeem the Fuyue Bear King’s Palm, but Xu Yang had gone ahead and done it regardless.

[Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture - Unlearned (0/500)]

’This technique is truly profound!’

After reading it through once, Xu Yang felt his excitement surge. He could feel a razor-sharp Saber Intent seeping from between the words, suffused with an aura of pure slaughter.

The Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture was truly a superior cultivation technique. After just one read-through, however, he found some parts of it utterly baffling.

He didn’t dare try to comprehend it too deeply, fearing he might damage his Heart Spirit. He could only force himself to memorize the content, swallowing it whole without proper digestion.

Two days later, he returned the secret manual.

[Fuyue Bear Scripture Marrow Cleansing Chapter - Entry Level (2999/3000)]

After resting for another two days to adjust his mindset, Xu Yang began his closed-door cultivation.

There was no rush to enter the Inner Sect. His batch of disciples wouldn’t complete their mandatory three years until September, and only then could they submit apprenticeship requests to the masters of the Inner Sect.

He originally thought he would have to go down the mountain and refine a batch of Gathering Essence Pills to break through to Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement. But thanks to the Profound Yuan Qi Transformation Pills from the Yuan and Ding Families, he now had the elixirs he needed.

After securing the door and stripping off his clothes, Xu Yang sat on his bed and immediately swallowed two Profound Yuan Qi Transformation Pills.

As he began to circulate the Fuyue Bear Scripture, his skin began to vibrate, and a golden light flowed across its surface.

A moment later, a crisp crackling sound, like popping soybeans, echoed from within his body. His tendons and bones began to rumble, and his smooth, jade-like skin flushed a deep crimson. The red hue mingled with the flowing golden light, making it seem as if his very blood and qi were about to burst forth from his body.

Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement!

All his old blood had to be replaced by new blood; the process would only end once he had undergone a complete metamorphosis, with his tendons and bones fully reforged.

Xu Yang’s expression remained calm as he steadily circulated the Fuyue Bear Scripture.

An hour later, blood began to seep from his pores, gradually dyeing his body red.

"CRACK!"

Suddenly, the sound of something shattering echoed from deep within Xu Yang’s body, and he began to tremble violently.

In an instant, his pores burst open like a broken dam, gushing forth a torrent of blood as his skin began to vibrate in a peculiar way.

"RUMBLE..."

A deep rumbling echoed from within him as his blood surged like a dragon. Wisps of new blood, as thick and heavy as mercury, were born, forcing the old blood out of his body.

Through Introspection, he could see his tendons and bones vibrating frantically, squirming as if they had gone soft. They shed layers of fine bone powder, leaving the bones themselves looking even more crystalline and pure.

This bone powder, along with the old blood, was expelled from his body by the furiously circulating Gang Qi.

Xu Yang’s hair was matted and red; he looked like a man bathed in blood. Yet, his aura grew increasingly powerful, and his entire being radiated an air of rebirth. His new blood surged like a mighty river, creating a sound so loud it was almost deafening.

After some time, the flow of blood from his pores subsided. The old blood, mixed with bone powder, began to dry and cake on his skin, forming a black shell over his body.

’I’ve reached Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement!’

A vast, powerful pressure erupted as Xu Yang rose to his full height, his terrifying new aura threatening to blow the roof clean off the building.