Chapter 594 - 170: Introducing Evil into the Body, Refining Evil into Gang; Inner Marrow Tempering, External Defense of Ten Thousand Techniques

Xia Yao asked hesitantly, "Lord Chu, your physical strength is already astonishingly powerful..." "And now you’ve taken a potent elixir like the Red Flame Stone Marrow Pill. You must be a Body Cultivator, I presume?" "Xia Yao!" Sheng Yang, the Gang Leader of the Fiery Sun Gang, started and softly reprimanded her. Asking about such a thing so rashly was both impolite and extremely dangerous! A Cultivator’s specialization, their Cultivation Technique, and their powerful Magical Treasures were all closely guarded secrets. ’How could she ask such a thing?’ Chu Fan raised an eyebrow, not bothering to deny it. "And what if I am?" Xia Yao took a deep breath, appearing to have made a great resolve. She took a Jade Box from her robes and said, "If I may be so bold, I have something I wish to present to you, Lord Chu." "This is a piece of Bone-Burning Root my family acquired. It’s over four hundred years old." "Its medicinal properties are potent and fierce, specializing in burning the bones to temper the body. For a Body Cultivator, it is a truly rare treasure." "Bone-Burning Root?" Chu Fan’s gaze fell upon the Jade Box, and he could feel a faint, searing aura emanating from within. The atmosphere in the reception hall grew somewhat delicate because of the Jade Box in Xia Yao’s hands. Holding the Jade Box with both hands, Xia Yao’s voice was tinged with urgency, as if she feared Chu Fan would refuse. "This Bone-Burning Root was acquired by an ancestor of my Xia Family long ago. We had originally intended to sell it to the Vajra Sect for a high price..." "Although the item is exceptional, its medicinal properties are overbearing, like a blazing fire consuming the body." "Without an exceptionally profound Body Cultivator’s Cultivation Technique to complement it, an ordinary Martial Artist would be completely unable to withstand it." "However, for some unknown reason, it seems the Vajra Sect has undergone some kind of major change recently." "Not only have they sealed their mountain gates, but even the disciples stationed at the Sub-Branch in Qing Province city completely withdrew overnight two days ago, leaving nothing behind..." Chu Fan took the Jade Box and slowly opened it. His eyes immediately lit up with fervor. The Bone-Burning Root inside the Jade Box had an extremely deceptive appearance. At first glance, it looked no different from an ordinary dead branch or a stick of firewood. But upon closer inspection, one could discern its miraculous qualities. The root was about a foot long and as thick as a child’s arm. It was twisted and gnarled, lacking any sense of regular beauty. It was a dark brown color, as if it had been smoked by fire for a century. Its surface was covered in deep fissures, with patterns resembling dragon scales. To the touch, it was rough enough to cut one’s hand. Deep within the cracks, one could occasionally glimpse a faint, almost illusory Dark Gold sheen. "An excellent item!" A smile touched the corners of Chu Fan’s lips. Some time ago, he had read through all the classic texts sent over by Baili Bing from the Medicine King Valley. His knowledge of Treasure Plants and Spiritual Medicine was no longer what it once was. He had seen the Bone-Burning Root recorded in one of the ancient texts, the *Record of Exotic Woods*. Legend told that in ancient times, a True Dragon had fallen. Its blood soaked the earth, and its undying soul, filled with resentment, became entangled with the ley lines of the land. A particular Iron-Bone Wood tree happened to grow upon that very spot. The immortal divinity within the dragon’s blood and the resilient nature of the Iron-Bone Wood merged over a thousand years, causing the tree’s roots to mutate. They took on the appearance of dried firewood but contained dragon flame within, thus earning the name "Dragon Blood Wood." Because the pain of using it for Body Tempering was like a blazing fire incinerating the bones—an agony so intense one would wish for death—it also came to be known as "Bone-Burning Root." Although whether it was truly touched by dragon blood could no longer be verified. But it was undeniably a sacred treasure for Body Tempering. The older the specimen, the more concentrated its fiery poison and life force. Chu Fan was now desperate to cultivate his Vajra Undying Body to the second level. This Bone-Burning Root was a true godsend! "Since Master Xia is so considerate, it would be rude of me to refuse." Chu Fan closed the Jade Box and stored it in his Sumeru Ring. Seeing him accept it with a look of pleasure, Xia Yao, Sheng Yang, and the others broke into smiles. They had brought a number of gifts, but those other items might not have been worthy of Chu Fan’s attention. But this Bone-Burning Root... With Chu Fan’s acceptance of the Bone-Burning Root, the Fiery Sun Gang had successfully forged a connection with him. After all, Chu Fan was not only a peerless talent of immense power but also a member of the Demon Suppression Bureau! Suddenly... The Sumeru Ring on Chu Fan’s finger flashed faintly with white light. A Small Jade Bottle appeared in his hand. Chu Fan said, "Master Xia, you are currently attempting to break through to the Acupoint Realm?" "Take this bottle of four-pattern Soul Vein Pills." "It can help you open your final five soul veins." "This..." Xia Yao was taken aback. Four-pattern Soul Vein Pills were certainly precious... But if she accepted this elixir, it would be like Chu Fan was trading a bottle of four-pattern Soul Vein Pills for her Bone-Burning Root. It was a profitable trade, but... Seeing her hesitation, Chu Fan smiled. "The Bone-Burning Root is critically important to me." "I accept this gesture of goodwill from you and the Fiery Sun Gang, Master Xia." "If you need my help in the future, don’t hesitate to ask." "I won’t refuse anything that is within my power to do." "But you must also accept this bottle of pills." "Ah..." Xia Yao and the others were overjoyed. Sheng Yang quickly said, "Since Lord Chu insists, Xia Yao, hurry up and accept the pills." "Yes!" Xia Yao took the pills from Chu Fan’s hand. After a few more pleasantries, Chu Fan left the hall. ... 「Nine days passed in a flash.」 In the backyard of the Seven Stars Gang headquarters, next to the Martial Arts Arena. GURGLE... GURGLE... A huge stone pool was filled with a medicinal liquid as black as ink. It roiled and bubbled, with unsettling, bizarre bubbles breaking on the surface. The air was thick with the pungent, strange smell of sulfur. Chu Fan sat cross-legged in the black water, his upper body bare. The medicinal liquid was a mixture containing vast amounts of energy released from Bone-Eroding Demon Crystals and Vajra Mother Ore. To an ordinary person, this was a cauldron of poisonous water that would corrode bone and melt the soul. Yet Chu Fan’s expression was unperturbed, even showing a hint of regret, as if it wasn’t quite enough. ’The medicinal effects are too weak...’ Chu Fan slowly opened his eyes, glanced at the black water, and sighed to himself. As his Vajra Undying Body grew stronger, this level of medicinal bath could no longer bring him the sensation of tearing pain. The Body Forging effect was also greatly diminished. After this Body Tempering Pool was completed, he had waited a full nine days before entering to temper his body. ’At the time, he had felt that while its effects couldn’t compare to the Body Tempering Pool at the Vajra Sect, it was still far superior to an ordinary medicinal bath.’