Inside the room.
"Ah, that felt good!" Jiangning stretched leisurely as he got out of bed.
Pop! Crack!
His bones and joints emitted a series of crisp sounds.
After a full-body stretch, he felt thoroughly refreshed.
The grogginess from earlier was completely gone his condition had fully recovered.
"Nothing beats proper sleep," he murmured to himself.
Then, he threw off the quilt and got up.
Reflecting on how he'd submerged his hand in the water to recover his energy in the early hours,
it now struck him as similar to drinking strong coffee when exhausted
a temporary fix that didn't address the root fatigue.
After putting on his shoes and socks, he glanced around but didn't see Xie Xiaojiu.
Instead, the whistling sounds of swordplay reached his ears from the courtyard.
Leaving the bed,
he poured himself a cup of cold tea from the table.
Gulp, gulp
Downing it in a few hearty swallows, he rinsed out his system before pushing open the door.
The next moment,
his eyes narrowed slightly.
Outside, the sunlight was dazzling.
Its glare reflected off the snow-covered ground, almost blinding.
Stepping abruptly from dim indoors into the bright snowy yard, his vision needed a moment to adjust.
But within seconds, he'd adapted to the glare.
His gaze landed on Xie Xiaojiu practicing her sword forms in the courtyard.
Her blade moved like a soaring dragon fluid and majestic.
Watching her dance across the snow, two lines of poetry surfaced in Jiangning's mind:
"Swift as Yi shooting down nine suns,
Graceful as gods astride celestial steeds."
"Arriving like thunder's dying roar,
Departing like stilled ocean light."
"Such grandeur in her swordsmanship!" he marveled inwardly.
Just then,
Xie Xiaojiu gathered her momentum and sheathed her sword, the black dress stark against the snow.
"Did my training disturb you, my lord?"
"Not at all." Jiangning smiled. "Your swordplay was impressive. I woke because I'd slept enough."
"That's a relief." She patted her chest, exhaling softly before beaming. "Thank you for the praise!"
"You've become more cheerful than before," Jiangning observed.
Glancing at the sundial in the yard,
he noted it was just past midday not yet 1 p.m.
"Keep practicing. We'll head to the Inspection Bureau together this afternoon."
"As you command!" Xie Xiaojiu replied from behind him.
Back in his room, Jiangning washed up briefly.
Then, he retrieved some dried meat from his spatial ring.
A few strips later, his empty stomach felt satisfyingly full.
Sitting cross-legged, he turned his focus inward.
The next moment,
delight surged within him.
After hours of absorption, the seventy-eight bones he'd tempered now gleamed faintly silver.
"About 20-30% saturation in the bones!"
"At this rate, just four or five tempering cycles per bone should achieve Iron Bone strength!"
Studying the eighteen most advanced bones, Jiangning pondered.
Thanks to proper rest and hours of consolidation, the silver hues across all seventy-eight tempered bones were now evenly distributed.
This meant the infused iron marrow had been nearly fully absorbed.
If needed, he could proceed with the next round of tempering.
Finishing his self-inspection,
Jiangning opened his eyes and rose slowly.
Then,
he clenched his fist, channeling strength throughout his body.
Instantly,
he sensed the difference.
Yesterday's rapid bone-forging progress had enhanced his physique muscles, skin, and tendons resonating together for noticeable growth.
Though less than a 5-10% increase, the boost was tangible. His raw power had surged, and even his qi and blood energy had thickened slightly from the physical improvements.
"The texts were right flesh, muscle, and bone are interconnected. Strengthening the bones transforms the entire body."
"The deeper the bone-forging, the more pronounced the changes!"
Reveling in his enhanced state,
Jiangning couldn't help but admire: "No wonder this stage is called the body's metamorphosis!"
At this moment,
Jiangning truly felt the changes brought by the progress in bone forging.
As his bones gradually approached the Iron Bone stage, his physique was slowly transforming.
Greater strength, higher resilience, richer qi and blood
If described in terms of game attributes, his constitution, power, and defense had all improved.
Moving forward, as bone-forging advanced, these enhancements would only grow more pronounced.
It was easy to imagine that upon truly entering the bone-forging realm and completing the tempering of Iron Bones, his physique would undergo a complete metamorphosis.
With this thought, Jiangning felt a surge of motivation.
The transformation of the body was the essence of power belonging to oneself.
The growth of one's physique would also be the most reliable form of strength.
This kind of strength was far more dependable than power or status.
Next,
Jiangning continued his bone-forging.
Now, after a full night's sleep, his energy and spirit were at their peak his condition optimal for the day.
This was also the most efficient time for bone-forging.
In the blink of an eye,
noon arrived.
"Ah-Ning, time to eat"
"Miss Xie, time to eat"
Liu Wanwan's voice carried through several walls.
"Let's go eat first," Jiangning said as he stepped out of his room, addressing Xie Xiaojiu.
At the table, Liu Wanwan and Jiang Li watched the two with visible joy in their eyes.
Jiangning could almost see visions of chubby grandchildren dancing in their gazes.
He shook his head slightly.
After a quick lunch,
Jiangning returned to his room to continue bone-forging.
Every bit of progress in bone-forging meant another step forward in his strength.
The robustness of his physique was the foundation the cornerstone of a true powerhouse.
The stronger the physique, the more solid the foundation, and the further one could go in the future.
From what he had learned about the Skin-Tempering and Bone-Forging realms, Jiangning had gleaned some insights into the secrets of becoming a Martial Saint.
The pinnacle of skin tampering was the Vajra Body.
The Buddhist concept of the Arhat's Vajra Body referred to those who had reached the highest level of Skin-Tempering, forging an indestructible Vajra Body.
This was why the supreme technique, the Indestructible Vajra Body, was housed in the Vajra Temple.
As for Bone-Forging, its highest achievement lay beyond even Jade Bones.
According to the 108 Heavenly and Earthly Bone-Forging Method, a technique that contained the secrets of the Martial Saint's physique, one could lay the foundation for sainthood by harnessing the forces of Heavenly Yang and Earthly Yin.
From these two dimensions, Jiangning had formed a hypothesis.
A hypothesis about achieving Martial Sainthood!
To become a Martial Saint, one must forge a flawless physical foundation.
The first in a thousand years, the only Martial Saint of the current era
to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with such a figure would be no simple feat.
The foundation of the physique would undoubtedly be of paramount importance.
Jiangning held this aspect in the highest regard.
At the same time, his thoughts drifted to the two great deities from the myths of his past life.
The Eight-Nine Arcane Art, the Indestructible Vajra Body.
In terms of divine powers, those two might not have been the strongest in mythology.
But when it came to combat and survivability, they were undoubtedly top-tier.
This was the advantage of an indestructible physique.
Fearless against all supernatural arts and techniques, capable of weathering any storm.
Only by reaching this stage could one truly cease to fear powerful enemies and gain room to maneuver in dire straits.
And based on the effects of his system panel, Jiangning knew one thing for certain:
Given enough time to grow, he would eventually rise above all else.
Even lifespan might not be an issue for him.
Because of his current understanding, he had begun to see the traits listed on his panel in a new light.
Those traits might not be as simple as they seem.
They might not just be traits they might also involve the authority of gods.
As his thoughts settled, Jiangning cleared his mind of distractions and resumed bone-forging.
In the afternoon,
at around 2 p.m.,
Jiangning and Xie Xiaojiu boarded a carriage bound for the Inspection Bureau.
Yesterday, He Jinsheng, the second son of the Qinghe Count, had entered Luoshui County.
Since retreating was not an option, they had no choice but to face the situation head-on.
No matter how events unfolded, being at the Inspection Bureau was better than being at home.
At home, it wasn't just him there was also his elder brother, sister-in-law, and their family.
If conflict erupted,
given his strength and He Jinsheng's peak sixth-rank abilities, innocent bystanders could easily be caught in the crossfire.
At the Inspection Bureau, however, things were different.
With Hong Minghu present, no matter how intense the conflict, it would be difficult for it to escalate.
Inside the carriage,
Jiangning continued his bone-forging.
Before departing, he had briefly restored his condition.
Now, he was in top form his qi and blood abundant, his energy overflowing.
Time passed like a fleeting white colt.
Before he knew it, night had fallen.
Jiangning returned alone.
As for He Jinsheng, despite spending the entire afternoon at the Inspection Bureau forging bones, he had not caught even a glimpse of the man.
Where this person had gone, he had no idea.
Caw caw
Under the cold moonlight,
a crow cawed from a tree branch.
Jiangning stepped out of his room, a faint smile on his face.
After a day of bone-forging, all 206 bones in his body now gleamed with a silvery sheen.
This meant he had completed the initial tempering of every bone in his body.
Now, all that remained was for these 206 bones to fully absorb the iron marrow before he could begin the second round of tempering.
Standing in the snow, Jiangning closed his eyes, quietly savoring the metamorphosis brought about by his bone-forging progress.
Time slipped away unnoticed.
In his quiet perception, he could distinctly sense the changes within his body.
This transformation was like a seed breaking through the soil.
Though seemingly silent and imperceptible,
from a microscopic perspective, it was in constant flux, never ceasing to stir.
The same was happening within him now.
He could feel his physique growing stronger bit by bit.
With each passing breath, his body surpassed its previous state.
The resilience of his muscles was also increasing incrementally.
With each breath, his muscles became tougher than before.
The strength of his skin, membranes, and tissues was steadily rising.
The same went for his qi and blood energy.
Though slow, these internal changes were relentless.
Like grains of sand eventually piling into a tower.
Like drops of water eventually gathering into a pond.
Standing in the cold wind and snow, Jiangning quietly observed the subtle transformations within.
Time passed
perhaps the span of a cup of tea, or the burning of a stick of incense.
Finally, Jiangning opened his eyes and moved.
In an instant, he vanished from the spot, leaving only the howling wind and drifting snowflakes in the empty courtyard.
The Rocky Shoal.
Jiangning appeared atop the frozen lake.
After days of plummeting temperatures and relentless snowfall,
the lake beneath his feet had solidified into a thick sheet of ice.
Boom
With a single stomp, the ten-centimeter-thick ice shattered beneath him.
His figure plunged into the frigid water.
The moment the icy lake enveloped him, a piercing chill shot through his body, making him shudder.
But the cold dissipated almost instantly, replaced by a soothing warmth, as if he'd stepped into a hot spring.
"Incredible..." Jiangning closed his eyes.
The sensation of being submerged was indescribably pleasurable.
"Nothing compares to being fully immersed. Dipping a hand in a bucket? What was I thinking?"
Recalling his earlier attempts to recover by submerging only his hand, he couldn't help but mock himself.
Now, with his entire body submerged, he felt his condition restoring at an astonishing speed
far faster than when he'd merely dipped his hand in water.
After a few dozen breaths,
he opened his eyes. His body had fully recovered.
The exhaustion from a day of rigorous cultivation had completely vanished.
"Is this the 'impervious to water and fire' effect of the Water-Fire Immortal Robe?"
He flexed his fingers in the water, sensing an invisible membrane separating his skin from the lake.
This barrier ensured that no liquid could directly touch his body.
With this layer in place, it was easy to imagine that
even flesh-dissolving poison would fail to harm him without his consent.
Then,
with a thought, the membrane of the so-called Water-Fire Immortal Robe retreated from his hand.
The lake water touched his skin again.
Yet, thanks to his innate traits, even the icy water felt pleasantly warm, like a hot spring.
"The Water-Fire Immortal Robe somewhat conflicts with my Water Affinity trait."
Jiangning murmured to himself.
With Water Affinity, he feared no ordinary water. Even at depths of hundreds of meters, it was no different from land to him.
But then again
"Not necessarily. While Water Affinity protects me from normal water, it might not work against toxic or supernatural liquids."
From what he knew, certain waters in this world appeared ordinary but could freeze any living being into eternal ice upon contact.
"Against such threats, the Water-Fire Immortal Robe would be indispensable. Without it, I'd have to flee as far as possible!"
This realization deepened his appreciation for the trait.
Based on prior tests,
its fire resistance alone allowed him to bathe in lava unscathed.
By extension, its water resistance whatever its limits was undoubtedly formidable.
Now, submerged in the lake,
he began circulating the Water-Fire True Force, grinding experience for the skill.
[Skill]: Water-Fire True Force (1st Breakthrough: 189/2000) (Trait: Water-Fire Immortal Robe)
Having completed the initial bone-forging today,
his 206 bones still needed time to settle.
Only then could he proceed with the second round of tempering?
In the meantime, he couldn't neglect this skill.
Though its first breakthrough hadn't granted the offensive trait he'd hoped for,
there was always the second breakthrough to look forward to.
After all, leveling this skill wasn't difficult.
The 200 Source Energy required for the next breakthrough was trivial.
As he channeled the Water-Fire True Force underwater,
[Water-Fire True Force EXP +4]
[Water-Fire True Force EXP +3]
[Water-Fire True Force EXP +4]
[...]
Almost immediately, he noticed something unusual.
"Wait... is the EXP gain rate higher?"
After observing the prompts for a while, surprise flickered in his eyes.
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