Chapter 1735
Chapter 1735 (Raw 1745):
The Divine Dragon Body Tempering Art!
It had a total of nine layers, which did not purely cultivate Vital Qi but also reconstructed the physical body into one like that of the ancient Dragon Race. This allowed the physical body to reach similar levels of strength as the ancient Dragon Race, possessing its strong bloodline, a terrifying defense, and an extremely resilient physique.
The first layer cultivated dragon veins, making the blood veins as strong as true dragon veins, so that they could endure a greater volume of Vital Qi.
Otherwise, even if one had strong Vital Qi, one would not dare to use it all.
Xiao Chen knew about Vital Qi injuring the body. Back in the Kunlun Realm, this was how he had damaged his body, resulting in considerable hidden damage later.
The body of a cultivator would always be their base. One could do one's utmost to temper it. However, one absolutely could not leave behind aftereffects and hidden damage.
The second layer cultivated dragon bones, making all the bones in the body like dragon bones.
The bones were the framework of the physical body and the most important protective layer of the internal organs. One could injure the internal organs only after injuring the bones.
Although one's body was no longer ordinary after reaching the Veritable Personage Realm, gaining a remarkable recovery ability, to the point of regrowing limbs, if the heart were instantly shattered, it could still be fatal to cultivators.
After all, it was impossible to regrow a heart without a few months. Of course, while some special techniques could quickly regenerate the heart, these were very rare and precious, beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators.
The Divine Dragon Body Tempering Art's second layer could reconstruct the bones, making them as strong as the ancient Dragon Race's.
This allowed a cultivator to endure more damage and protect their internal organs, preventing fatal damage.
The third layer cultivated dragon blood. Only at this layer could one be considered to be inducted into the Cultivation Technique and formally start cultivating Vital Qi.
As the saying went, "Qi and blood surge together. Qi and blood are inseparable. Qi is born in blood." Blood was the source of Vital Qi. This was especially so after awakening the Azure Dragon bloodline. Xiao Chen could make use of this aspect.
To any cultivator of the Great Desolate Eon bloodline, their bloodline would forever be an inexhaustible treasure trove. Any means to improve the bloodline would be an immense help, so no one could give up on these.
Any natural treasure that could dig out the potential of the bloodline would sell for sky-high prices.
This was the reason why the Life Juice Source was so revered.
After these three layers were still six more. They were all in Xiao Chen's mind. The Blood-Soaked Dragon Emperor personally imparted them to him.
With just one thought, the various details of the Divine Dragon Body Tempering Art would appear in Xiao Chen's mind.
If one wanted to cultivate the Divine Dragon Body Tempering Art, one needed a cauldron. To be specific, an ancient cauldron.
Since ancient times, cauldrons were revered as supreme. The sayings "asking the cauldron for the world" and "support the earth and hold up the heavens with a cauldron" came from this philosophy.
[TL Note: Asking the cauldron for the world means to aspire to rule the world. Support the earth and hold up the heavens with a cauldron means to have an indomitable spirit.]
One needed to observe the cauldron's form, sensing the meaning behind it, and comprehend its spirit.
Xiao Chen sat down cross-legged, and a light appeared in his eyes as he spiritedly looked at the Dragon Pattern Cauldron.
The Dragon Pattern Cauldron was a four-legged square cauldron with sharp and defined corners. Every angle revealed sharpness.
Its surface had dragon patterns that looked very lifelike. When observing these, one would discover that they depicted dragons swimming about the cauldron.
Indeed, the Dragon Pattern Cauldron that came from the Dragon Race was quite suitable for Xiao Chen. Soon, he sensed the meaning of the True Dragon within the cauldron.
The image of an ancient True Dragon appeared in Xiao Chen's mind. It soared among the clouds, churning them and causing rain to fall. As it breathed, lightning flashed and thunder roared.
The might of the Divine Dragon imprinted in his mind, inspiring his heart to worship and not profane it.
Xiao Chen remained calm and comprehended its spirit and nature.
Soon, he entered a trance, forgetting everything around him. The meaning of the ancient True Dragon, imprinted deep in his mind, roamed about unfettered as if its spirit was fusing with him.
Without Xiao Chen noticing, the Dragon Pattern Cauldron merged into his body.
The heavens were above, and the earth was below. Between the heavens and the earth, there was an uncrossable chasm.
Xiao Chen used his body as the cauldron and the dragon spirit as his intent to connect to the heavens above and the earth below. He supported the earth and held up the heavens with a cauldron, creating a connection between them, the universe merging into one.
The power of the heavens and the power of the earth mingled in the Dragon Pattern Cauldron, where they turned into Dragon Energy that swam around his body.
At this moment, the Divine Dragon Body Tempering Art's first layer started circulating automatically. Under the influence of the Dragon Energy, the veins in his body slowly changed.
Xiao Chen had already achieved the Azure Dragon War Body. However, due to the lack of a Cultivation Technique to continue cultivating, its development stagnated.
Now that he formally started to cultivate the Divine Dragon Body Tempering Art, it went very smoothly without any obstructions at all.
In merely four hours, the pure Dragon Energy formed by the vast power of the world completed a minor cycle in Xiao Chen's body.
After half a day, the Dragon Energy completed eighteen minor cycles. Three days later, the Dragon Energy completed a major cycle.
Xiao Chen breathed out and slowly opened his eyes. His entire body felt comfortable, and his veins, full of strength. When he stretched out his hand and clenched his fist, the four Cauldron Force in his body gathered more easily than before.
With a flick of his finger, the four Cauldron Force instantly focused on his fingertip.
"Buzz!"
Space trembled, and dust fell off all the surfaces in the entire courtyard.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!" It looked like fine snow falling, spreading everywhere.
Spiraling ripples spread out from where Xiao Chen's fingertip tapped, scattering wave after wave.
Xiao Chen's veins hurt a little. Bursting out with four Cauldron Force from his fingertip still somewhat of a strain.
However, this was already a huge improvement. Previously, he would not dare to instantly burst out four Cauldron Force so crazily.
Still sitting cross-legged, Xiao Chen closed his eyes and resumed cultivating.
------
One month later, Xiao Chen opened his eyes again. Now, he could be considered to have successfully cultivated the Divine Dragon Body Tempering Art's first layer.
Next up was continuous accumulation. As Xiao Chen's cultivation increased, his dragon veins would strengthen as well.
Now, the veins in his body had undergone a complete transformation, turning into dragon veins. Surprisingly, his strength had also increased by one Cauldron Force.
Now, his Vital Qi reached five Cauldron Force. With a gentle flick, he could instantly burst out with five Cauldron Force.
Suddenly, Xiao Chen shouted, "Explode!" He extended his finger, tapping the air. Five ancient cauldrons appeared overhead, and the energy at his fingertip erupted in an instant.
"Boom!" The Vital Qi shot out, and a pile of things in front turned into dust, scattered with the wind, and completely disappeared.
Not only did Xiao Chen not feel any pain in his veins, but there was also scope for more; that had been far from his limit.
He pondered this, feeling that it was somewhat wasteful if he used only five Cauldron Force.
Perhaps he could infuse his Veritable Essence Energy into his Vital Qi as he had with the Sharp Spirit Finger in the Kunlun Realm.
The Primordial Energy of the Kunlun Realm was far from comparable to the Veritable Essence Energy from balancing Yin and Yang, which formed the Primal Core.
Furthermore, Xiao Chen had condensed a 9-Star Primal Core. His Veritable Essence Energy was even vaster and purer.
"When lighting up five stars on the 9-Star Primal Core, my Veritable Essence Energy already rivals a peak Major Primal Core cultivator's. If I gather all my Veritable Essence Energy and focus it on one point, the offensive power created would not be weaker than five Cauldron Force."
Xiao Chen felt somewhat worried that his newly transformed dragon veins would not be able to endure it.
More importantly, executing the Sharp Spirit Finger would drain all the Vital Qi and Veritable Essence Energy in his body, leaving nothing behind.
However, the resultant energy would not simply have an additive effect but a multiplicative one.
Xiao Chen weighed the pros and cons.
He felt that it was somewhat too risky. Recovering from an injury to his dragon veins would be very hard. The losses would not be worth it.
Actually, using the Sharp Spirit Finger was also risky.
Once executed, Xiao Chen would be drained of Veritable Essence Energy and Vital Qi for a period. This was a killing move to be used at the last moment. If the enemy did not die, Xiao Chen would.
Hence, since learning the Sharp Spirit Finger, he rarely used it.
This was because Xiao Chen did not like putting himself in dead ends.
Even executing the Mahāmāyā Abstinence Violation Saber Technique's Breaking the Mundane and Resolving the Mundane would not leave him in such a sorry state.
The Sharp Spirit Finger's efficiency was too low, of dubious value.
Since learning it, Xiao Chen had used it only a few times, because it meant gambling his life, as it would leave his body in dire straits.
Yet, giving it up was a pity. After all, it was a killing move that could buy his survival in a desperate situation.
Xiao Chen wanted to see if he could alter it into a regular move with higher efficiency.
After this thought popped up, Xiao Chen could not stop thinking about it.
In the end, all his thousands of attempts failed.
"I keep thinking of using the Sharp Spirit Finger for offense. Why have I not considered using it for defense?"
With the change in direction, all sorts of ideas immediately appeared, exciting Xiao Chen, who was already somewhat numb from failure.
I do not have many defensive moves in the first place. My strongest defensive Martial Technique, the Taiji Yinyang Flame Diagram, currently isn't useful.
Indeed, I need a defensive Martial Technique that I can use normally.
How should I alter this?
Xiao Chen thought about it, rejecting the various ideas.
Just when he was running out of ideas, his gaze wandered and landed on the Dragon Pattern Cauldron in front of him.
The square, four-legged cauldron stood tall and firm, unmoving in the face of the wind that came from all directions.
It was just a simple cauldron, but there seemed to be a certain charm to it. Amid the ordinariness, it inspired deep thoughts.
Xiao Chen revealed a trace of a smile on his face. "A cauldron reigns supreme. The cauldron is noble. Ask the cauldron for the world. Support the earth and hold up the heavens with a cauldron. The wisdom of the ancients were all focused on the seemingly simple cauldron. There was such a good reference before me, yet I actually ignored it. I am really foolish."
No matter how strong the wind was or where it came from, the cauldron did not budge.
It towered like a mountain but was even more imposing, vivider, and simpler.
The Great Dao points to simplicity; so, this was what that meant.
Why can I not be like a cauldron, supporting the heavens with my head and the earth with my feet? When the sky and ground change color and wind blows everywhere, I will not move at all.
Even with the churning clouds, the howling winds, or the surging waves, the cauldron remains unchanging.
After finding his direction, Xiao Chen resumed closed-door cultivation. This time, his line of thought turned clearer and lively.
In a mere seven days, he figured out how to alter the Sharp Spirit Finger.
Xiao Chen stood up. With a thought, he silently circulated his energy for the Sharp Spirit Finger.
His Vital Qi surged, and five ancient cauldrons appeared above his head. Five stars lit up on his 9-Star Primal Core, and he drove all of his Veritable Essence Energy.
He merged his Vital Qi and Veritable Essence Energy. Instantly, a strong aura burst out of his body, something greater than a peak Major Primal Core cultivator's, and infinitely close to a Star Venerate's.
However, the energy did not flow to Xiao Chen's fingertip. Instead, it filled his entire body, turning it as hard as a cauldron.
Every single part of Xiao Chen's body, including his blood, froze.
As his aura spread out, it even influenced the surrounding space, freezing it completely.
Time seemed to stop flowing. At this moment, not a single strand of his hair moved.
Xiao Chen's appearance in the courtyard looked very silly. However, even if a Star Venerate arrived now, the Star Venerate would not be able to knock him back.
Dismiss!
Xiao Chen could not maintain such a state for long. He held two fingers together and swung them gently. The frozen space immediately broke, and cracks appeared in the ground. In the next moment, dirt shot up from the countless cracks.