Heavenly Sword Saint.
Jian Chen stood quietly beside the bronze cauldron.
The courtyard had become completely silent.
The medicinal herbs were arranged neatly on the stone table.
Moonlight Grass.
Purple Blood Grass.
Ironbone Root.
Jade Muscle Vine.
Cloudmist Flower.
Each herb had a specific purpose.
Jian Chen didn't intend to simply throw them into the cauldron.
Medicinal preparation required precision.
If the order was wrong...
The medicinal properties could conflict with one another.
The resulting medicine might become useless.
In the worst case...
It could even harm the body.
Jian Chen picked up the Ironbone Root first.
He carefully removed the outer layer before cutting it into several thin pieces.
Then came the Jade Muscle Vine.
He separated the vine into smaller sections.
The Purple Blood Grass was handled even more carefully.
Its medicinal power was stronger than the other ingredients.
If extracted too quickly...
Its medicinal energy would become too violent.
Jian Chen worked patiently.
His movements were precise.
There was no unnecessary motion.
After preparing all five ingredients...
He placed the bronze cauldron over a small fire.
The flames gradually heated the bottom.
Jian Chen poured clean water into the cauldron.
He didn't fill it completely.
The amount had to be carefully controlled.
Too much water would dilute the medicinal energy.
Too little would make the medicine too concentrated.
Once the water began warming...
Jian Chen added the first herb.
Moonlight Grass.
The three narrow leaves floated on the surface.
Slowly...
Their green color began fading.
A faint medicinal fragrance spread through the courtyard.
Jian Chen waited.
He didn't add the next ingredient immediately.
The first herb needed time to release its medicinal properties.
After several minutes...
The water gradually became pale green.
Jian Chen nodded.
"Now."
He added the Ironbone Root.
The moment it entered the water...
The liquid changed.
A faint brown color spread outward.
The temperature of the cauldron suddenly seemed to increase.
Jian Chen carefully controlled the flames.
He didn't allow the fire to become too strong.
Then came the Jade Muscle Vine.
The long green pieces sank beneath the surface.
The medicinal liquid slowly became thicker.
A strange fragrance filled the courtyard.
Jian Chen remained focused.
The Purple Blood Grass was the final major ingredient.
He picked it up.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"This is the most important step."
He carefully placed the Purple Blood Grass into the cauldron.
Boom!
A faint wave of medicinal energy suddenly erupted.
The flames beneath the cauldron flickered violently.
Jian Chen's expression didn't change.
He immediately adjusted the fire.
The medicinal energy slowly settled.
Finally...
He added the Cloudmist Flowers.
The pale-white petals floated across the surface.
A faint mist appeared above the cauldron.
Jian Chen watched carefully.
The medicinal properties began merging.
The water gradually changed from pale green to a deep purple.
A rich medicinal fragrance filled the entire courtyard.
Jian Chen slowly exhaled.
"Almost ready."
He continued heating the mixture.
The process lasted nearly an hour.
During that time...
He constantly adjusted the fire.
Sometimes he increased it.
Sometimes he lowered it.
He couldn't afford even the smallest mistake.
Eventually...
The liquid began bubbling.
A thick purple mist rose from the cauldron.
Jian Chen's eyes became sharp.
"Done."
He extinguished the fire.
The medicinal liquid slowly became calm.
Jian Chen waited several minutes.
Then he carefully carried the cauldron into the prepared room.
Inside was a large wooden bathing tub.
Clean water had already been prepared.
Jian Chen poured the medicinal liquid into the tub.
The clear water immediately turned purple.
A warm medicinal fragrance filled the room.
Jian Chen closed the door.
He checked the surroundings one final time.
No one was nearby.
Good.
He removed his clothes and stepped into the medicinal bath.
The moment his body entered the water...
His expression changed slightly.
Warmth immediately surrounded his entire body.
The medicinal energy penetrated through his skin.
It entered his muscles.
Then his blood.
Then his bones.
Jian Chen sat down slowly.
His eyes closed.
He circulated the Heavenly Sword Scripture.
The medicinal energy immediately reacted.
Streams of warm energy were drawn toward his awakened meridians.
Jian Chen guided them carefully.
He didn't allow the medicinal energy to rush through his body.
Instead...
He spread it throughout his flesh.
Every muscle.
Every bone.
Every part of his body slowly absorbed the medicinal power.
A faint layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.
The process wasn't painless.
As the medicinal energy penetrated deeper...
A burning sensation gradually appeared.
It felt as though countless tiny needles were piercing his flesh.
Jian Chen's brows slightly furrowed.
But he remained still.
This pain was nothing compared to opening a new meridian.
He had already endured that pain several times.
Compared with it...
The medicinal bath was almost comfortable.
Still...
The deeper the medicinal energy penetrated...
The stronger the pain became.
Jian Chen gritted his teeth slightly.
His breathing remained steady.
The Heavenly Sword Scripture continued circulating.
Now...
The medicinal energy was assisting it.
The combination produced a much stronger effect.
His muscles slowly became denser.
His bones became more resilient.
His blood circulation became stronger.
Even his internal organs were receiving nourishment.
Jian Chen could clearly feel the changes.
"This is working."
He was about to breakthrough to the iron body realm the first cultivation level in the body cultivation stage
A faint smile appeared on his face.
He continued cultivating.
Time passed.
One hour.
Two hours.
Three hours.
The medicinal liquid gradually became lighter.
The purple color slowly faded.
The medicinal energy contained within it was being absorbed by Jian Chen.
His body had already become covered in sweat.
His skin was slightly red.
Yet his breathing remained stable.
Jian Chen didn't stop.
He continued circulating the Heavenly Sword Scripture.
The medicinal energy was becoming weaker.
But there was still some remaining.
He needed to absorb every trace.
Another hour passed.
Finally...
Boom!
He could fell it he has finally broken through the shackle, he has now step to the first level for body cultivation.
"The Iron Body Realm."
The medicinal liquid became almost clear.
Jian Chen slowly opened his eyes.
He looked down at his arms.
His skin appeared ordinary.
Nothing seemed different.
But Jian Chen knew better.
He clenched his fist.
The muscles beneath his skin tightened.
A powerful sensation spread through his arm.
His body was stronger.
Not dramatically.
But enough for him to notice.
Jian Chen stepped out of the wooden tub.
He dried himself and put on clean clothes.
Then he stood quietly in the room.
He stretched his body.
Crack!
His joints released a series of crisp sounds.
Jian Chen's eyes brightened.
"The effect is better than I expected."
The medical bath has strengthened his foundation.
More importantly...
His body felt considerably more resilient.
He could feel that his flesh could withstand more spiritual energy than before.
Jian Chen slowly circulated the Heavenly Sword Scripture.
Spiritual energy flowed through his awakened meridians.
His body accepted it smoothly.
There was less strain than before.
His eyes gradually became serious.
"One bath isn't enough."
He understood that clearly.
If he wanted to continue opening meridians...
He needed to strengthen his body repeatedly.
The medicinal herbs he had gathered could perhaps support several preparations if used carefully.
But eventually...
He would need better resources.
Much better.
Jian Chen looked at the remaining medicinal ingredients.
A faint smile appeared.
He still had several resources that he hadn't used.
But he wouldn't consume them recklessly.
Every resource had its purpose.
He walked outside.
The afternoon sunlight filled the courtyard.
Jian Chen stood beneath the old tree.
He picked up the wooden sword.
Then...
He began practicing the Flowing Cloud Sword Art.
Step.
Turn.
Slash.
Withdraw.
His movements were smoother than before.
The medicinal bath had strengthened his body.
Although the improvement wasn't enormous...
It was enough to make his movements slightly more stable.
His footwork became lighter.
His sword control became more precise.
Jian Chen continued for nearly an hour.
Then suddenly...
His sword stopped.
He looked toward the distant mountains.
His expression became thoughtful.
Opening another meridian...
That was the target at hand now especially has his has finally step into the Iron Body Realm.
But he was not in a hurry he could further open them after the competition was over.
For now he needed to stabilize his cultivation and make his foundation solid.
He returned the wooden sword to its place.
The medicinal bath had ended.
But for Jian Chen...
It was only the beginning of a new stage of preparation.
His cultivation continued advancing.
His physique was becoming stronger.
His sword technique was gradually returning.
And the annual examination was drawing closer with every passing day.
Jian Chen looked toward the sky.
His eyes were calm.
He had no intention of revealing how much he had changed.
Let the others underestimate him.
Let them believe he was still the same Jian Chen.
When the annual examination finally arrived...
His sword would give them the answer.