Cultivation begins with earning spirit stones

Chapter 5 Remodeling Muscles and Bones

Zhang Lin lowered his eyes and summoned the system light screen.

The light screen was like water, and the words appeared clearly in front of him, with lines of small characters listing the items he could currently enhance.

"Physical Strength: Mortal Body. Can be strengthened, cost: 15 spirit stones. Strengthening effect: Overall improvement of muscles, bones, skin and membranes, reaching the physical level of a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator."

"Shangqing Qi-Inducing Technique: Crude. Can be enhanced. Consumes 20 spirit stones. Enhancement effect: Technique grade increases, cultivation efficiency doubles, and can directly lead to Qi Refining Perfection."

"Immersed in spiritual energy, this iron sword is made of ordinary iron. It can be enhanced, requiring eight spirit stones. Enhancement effect: the material is upgraded to the level of a low-grade magic weapon, and its sharpness and toughness are greatly improved."

"A Taoist robe imbued with spiritual energy: coarse cloth. Can be enhanced, consumes three spirit stones. Enhancement effect: improves material quality, slightly increases defense."

"A futon imbued with spiritual energy: Common. Can be upgraded, consumes one spirit stone. Upgrade effect: aids in entering a meditative state and improves meditation efficiency."

As Zhang Lin read through the lines, his breathing gradually became long and even.

He originally thought these things were just external possessions and not worth spending spirit stones on.

But the enhancement effect provided by the system showed him another possibility.

Physical enhancement: Fifteen spirit stones directly elevate the physical level to that of a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

What does this mean?

This means that he doesn't need to spend months or even years honing his body, nor does he need to practice standing meditation, boxing, and strengthening his muscles and bones day after day. He only needs fifteen spirit stones to achieve this in one step.

The time saved can be used to do more things.

The cultivation technique was enhanced, and the twenty spirit stones upgraded the "Shangqing Qi-Inducing Technique" from a crude version to a level that could directly lead to the perfection of Qi Refining, which relieved his greatest worry.

The cultivation methods of Shangqing Temple are too rudimentary. The abbot has been stuck in the late stage of Qi Refining for more than 20 years without making any progress. While aptitude is certainly a factor, the limitations of the cultivation methods themselves are the most fundamental constraint.

If he can strengthen his cultivation technique, he won't need to seek out superior inheritances elsewhere or risk competing for any opportunities during the Qi Refining stage. He can simply cultivate quietly in the temple and steadily improve.

Zhang Lin took a deep breath, suppressing the urgency in his heart, and did not immediately use the spirit stones.

He always seeks stability in his work, and since there are many things that need to be strengthened, he needs to prioritize them.

Fifteen are needed for physical body enhancement, twenty for cultivation technique enhancement, eight for the iron sword, three for the Taoist robe, and one for the futon.

In total, it will require forty-seven spirit stones.

He has forty-one herbs on hand, which will be enough if he sells the orchids tomorrow.

But what about the order?

Which one should be strengthened first?

Zhang Lin closed his eyes and pondered.

Ultimately, he made a decision.

Strengthen your physical body first, then your cultivation techniques, and take care of the rest later.

The physical body is fundamental; with a strong physique, one will not be powerless to fight back even in the face of unexpected situations.

Cultivation techniques are the path to advancement; with superior techniques, cultivation can be twice as effective with half the effort.

As for the iron sword, Taoist robe, and futon, these are all auxiliary items, and can be strengthened one by one after the spirit stones are obtained tomorrow.

Having made up his mind, Zhang Lin sat down cross-legged again, counted out fifteen spirit stones from his cloth bag, and placed them in front of him.

The spirit stones were piled up, their milky-white light flickering faintly in the dimly lit room, like fifteen miniature stars.

"Strengthen the physical body."

With a thought from Zhang Lin, the system screen flickered slightly.

"Consumed fifteen low-grade spirit stones, physical strength is increasing..."

Before he finished speaking, a warm current of energy surged from his dantian, like a hot spring gushing from the ground, spreading along his meridians to his limbs and bones.

The current was not violent, but rather gentle and dense, like an invisible hand that carefully kneaded and reshaped every inch of his body, every muscle, and every piece of skin.

First, the skeleton.

Zhang Lin could clearly feel his bones trembling slightly, as if an invisible hammer was hammering down every tiny crack and every loose texture on his bones to make them denser.

The feeling wasn't painful; instead, it was an indescribable comfort, as if the soreness and stiffness that had been building up deep in the bones for a long time were being gradually dispelled, replaced by a light yet solid sense of strength.

He could hear a faint "crackling" sound coming from his joints, like silkworms eating leaves, delicate and continuous.

Then there are the tendons and veins.

Warm airflow flows into the meridians, and the originally thin and narrow meridians seem to be slowly stretched open, becoming spacious and elastic.

The true energy flows within it, originally like a stream flowing through a narrow channel, but now it is like a river surging across a wide riverbed, smooth and powerful.

Those tiny meridians that he had been unable to open even after three months of cultivation were opened one by one by this flow of energy, as if by an invisible key. Spiritual energy surged in and flowed into his dantian, making him feel light all over.

Next is the skin membrane.

A faint fluorescent glow appeared on the skin's surface, like moonlight shining on a lake, delicate and soft.

Zhang Lin looked down and saw that his hands, which were rough from years of sword practice, were now smooth as jade. The calluses on his palms were still there, but they were no longer rough. Instead, they were like the warm and smooth surface of jade after it had been polished.

He could feel his skin becoming tighter and tougher, as if an invisible armor covered his body, making it difficult for ordinary swords to cut through.

Finally, there is flesh and blood.

The warm air penetrated into the flesh and blood, nourishing and strengthening every muscle fiber, making it more elastic and powerful.

Zhang Lin clenched his fist, his knuckles making a crisp "snap" sound. He could clearly feel the significant increase in his grip strength; with one punch, he could shatter a blue brick.

The whole process lasted about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.

As the warm air gradually dissipated, Zhang Lin opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them.

He stood up, feeling as light as a feather yet as steady as a small mountain.

This feeling is contradictory, yet incredibly real.

He walked to the half-person-high black pottery medicine jar in the corner, bent down, grabbed the rim of the jar, and applied slight force.

The medicine jar popped up, and he lifted it with one hand, raising it above his head.

This medicine pot weighs at least a hundred pounds. In the past, he might not have been able to lift it with both hands, but now he can lift it with one hand without feeling any strain.

Zhang Lin gently placed the medicine pot down without making a sound.

He took a deep breath, feeling the surge of power within him, and was quite satisfied.

Fifteen spirit stones were exchanged for a physique comparable to that of a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

This deal is a good one.

But Zhang Lin did not bask in his joy.

He sat down cross-legged again, counted out twenty spirit stones from his cloth bag, and placed them in front of him.

There are only six spirit stones left.

Twenty spirit stones, their milky-white light merging into a single sheet in the dimly lit room, resembled a small galaxy falling before the prayer mat.

"Strengthen the Shangqing Qi-Guiding Technique."