Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Bodhi Bead Transforms into Golden Bone

West of the city, a ten-mile-long street.

“The aura of that person is somewhat peculiar, could it be the martial arts of Outer Heaven? It is rumored that Outer Heaven plans to return to Great Yan, could that person be an expert from Outer Heaven?”

An Jing adjusted the Inner Strength within his body, his mind still recalling the great battle that had just occurred, filled with questions.

He knew little of the affairs of Jianghu, but he was aware that there was a highly noticeable force within Jianghu, that being Outer Heaven, also known as the Demon Sect.

Many years ago, the Demon Sect’s demonic fire had burned across the lands, and countless sects in Jianghu had trembled beneath their feet, with numerous experts dying at their hands.

In the mouths of those in Jianghu, the Demon Sect was a truly terrifying existence.

“It seems that the rumors of Cao Gang thinking I am a Demon Sect expert are not without basis, no wonder the Cao Gang has gone to such lengths….”

An Jing thought silently to himself.

Nowadays, everyone in the Great Yan Martial World knows that Jianghu is divided into five gangs and seven sects.

The five major gangs, rising from insignificance, are Jiangnan Dao’s Cao Gang, the Golden Corner Alliance in the northwest, Wind and Rain Tower, Sanhu Gang, and finally, the most chaotic of all, Liyang City in the southwest.

Among them, Sanhu Gang is the weakest, but it is the most rumored about, some say its backer is Outer Heaven, others say it’s backed by one of the seven sects, the Blue River Sect.

In Jianghu, opinions are mixed, and no one truly knows which power backs them, but though Sanhu Gang has no First Grade experts openly, its position as one of the top five gangs shows that there are indeed capable people behind it.

Apart from Sanhu Gang, Wind and Rain Tower is the most mysterious gang.

A small building listening to the wind and rain overnight, where in Jianghu could the flowers not fly, no one in Jianghu isn’t afraid of having their name appear on Wind and Rain Tower’s hidden list.

It’s not that Wind and Rain Tower never fails, but the likelihood of its failure is exceedingly low, low to the extent that one might as well expect to find gold while walking.

The most powerful force is undoubtedly Cao Gang.

As An Jing sees it, Cao Gang being subtly referred to as the number one gang in the world is entirely a result of deliberate efforts by those with vested interests, Cao Gang’s massive power isn’t false, but it also contains some inflated elements.

Between Cao Gang and Demon Sect, there truly might be a chance for a martial world conflict to unfold.

And that person who had exchanged blows with him just now, is ninety percent likely to be an expert from above the Dragon List, or even higher is not impossible….

Those capable of entering the Dragon List, the weakest among them are First Grade Human Flowers, demonstrating the strength of Dragon List experts, and those above the Dragon List are undoubtedly true Grandmasters.

Most people consider First Grade to be the peak of Jianghu, but that is with one enormous assumption, that Grandmasters do not come forth.

If a Grandmaster emerges, what then is a First Grade expert?

“Forget it, these Jianghu grievances have nothing to do with me, for now, it is better to find an opportunity to refine and absorb this vermilion fruit, my Cultivation is about to reach the peak of Human Flower, waiting for an opportunity to condense the Earth Flower.”

After pondering for a moment, An Jing walked towards the outskirts of the city.

It was deep in the night at this time, silent and deserted around, An Jing found a secluded spot in a dense forest.

The vermilion fruit, round and bright red, was very rare, with ancient texts stating it flowers every hundred years, and fruits every hundred years, meaning it takes two hundred years to bear a vermilion fruit, growing in extremely harsh environments.

If not harvested, the vermilion fruit on the tree can continue to absorb the essence of the heavens and the earth, becoming a hundred-year vermilion fruit, and even a thousand-year vermilion fruit.

However, given the rarity of the vermilion fruit, hardly anyone can obtain a hundred-year one, let alone a thousand-year one.

An Jing sat cross-legged, placing the vermilion fruit in his throat and swallowing it down.

Instantly, a warm surge of force spread out from his body.

As the Daluo Heart Method circulated, the surrounding Qi, as if guided by something, rushed over in a mighty torrent toward An Jing’s body.

Inner Strength continuously converged toward his meridians, and at the same time, the vermilion fruit inside his body slowly permeated his flesh, turning into streams of red Essence, circulating within An Jing’s body.

The red Essence was extraordinarily domineering, like dragons of fire, making even An Jing’s resilient meridians burn as they were rushed through by the flame-like red Inner Strength.

The red Essence moved extremely fast, and in less than an instant, An Jing’s body turned as red as a cooked shrimp, his skin covered in tiny, flowing red streaks, which looked very bizarre.

The violent Inner Strength, like explosions in An Jing’s meridians, exerted a powerful force, nearly bursting his body open.

“The Bodhi Bead?”

Just then, the Bodhi Bead within him seemed to be attracted as if it completely fused into An Jing’s body.

An Jing furrowed his brows, unable to suppress a muffled sound, his lips slightly parted, and immediately, a large amount of red blood qi flowed out from his mouth, nose, and ears.

In this hazy state, the Bodhi Bead transformed into a golden Essence and completely merged with the red Essence, entering An Jing’s body, the powerful impact even causing him injuries.

Indeterminate time had passed, and those violent golden-red Essences swam through An Jing’s meridians, healing the injuries within his body.

After a period of about one stick of incense, the injuries within An Jing’s body had been mostly healed by that mighty Inner Strength washing over them.

Subsequently, the Essence and the Essence differentiated from the Bodhi Bead moved together, rushing towards the Qi Sea within An Jing like surging waves.

At this substantial influx of Essence into An Jing’s Dantian, it suddenly behaved like magma that hadn’t erupted for thousands of years, nearly boiling over in a frenzy.

The originally pale bones were suddenly covered with a layer of golden light.

Golden Bone!

This was Golden Bone!

In ancient texts, it was recorded that only experts who had reached Master Cultivation and practiced Heavenly Martial Level Body Refining Martial Arts could forge Golden Bone.

Never had anyone, below the level of a Grandmaster, managed to cultivate Golden Bone.

In the midst of the night, An Jing sat cross-legged, his body shimmering with gleaming golden light, resembling a gilded Buddha in a Buddhist Temple.

“Although I am still one step away from condensing the Earth Flower, I have managed to cultivate up to Half-step Golden Bone…..”

About another period of one stick of incense later, An Jing finally opened his eyes and exhaled a breath.

Fusing with the Bodhi Bead not only allowed him to cultivate Golden Bone but also imprinted Buddha Nature in his body, which would yield twice the result with half the effort in practicing Buddhist Martial Arts, and this benefit goes without saying.

…….

Jishi Hall.

Li Fuzhou frowned and cupped his fists, “Sect Hierarch, that Ghost Swordsman indeed has First Grade Cultivation without a doubt. His swordsmanship is tricky, having reached even the four realms of Sword Skill.”

Although there were injuries on his body, preventing him from exerting his full strength, it also appeared that the swordsman might not have used his full strength either, keeping his Qi Mechanism completely concealed. If not for his actions, he would seem like an ordinary person, which was precisely what he found most terrifying.

Zhao Qingmei asked, “Third Master, have you figured out his background?”

She hadn’t expected Li Fuzhou to give such an evaluation of that peerless swordsman; it seemed this person truly was an extraordinary expert.

Others might not be aware of Li Fuzhou’s strength, but she indeed knew it well.

Half-step Grandmaster!

Even though his failed attempt at reaching Grandmaster status had left his body with injuries that were hard to heal in a short time, he was still not someone who just any First Grade Expert could handle.

Li Fuzhou shook his head, “No, that person’s swordsmanship is somewhat inferior to old man from Ghost Valley, and his Inner Strength is lacking too. I always feel he’s hiding something.”

“He has not brought out all his strength.”

Zhao Qingmei scowled, “Who exactly is this person? Could it be that person…..?”

The person Zhao Qingmei was referring to was indeed that influential figure currently dominating the court.

Li Fuzhou nodded, “It’s possible. That person is ambitious and as deep as the sea; having a pawn isn’t unexpected, but it could also be someone from Zhenyi Mountain. Recently, there have been rumors in the marketplace that the court’s figure is no longer tolerant of Jianghu’s figure, clearly showing the depth of their rift.”

Zhenyi Mountain, also known as Great Yan Country Mountain.

None other, for the National Religion Zhenyi Sect was established atop Zhenyi Mountain.

If the Demon Sect evokes terror and fear, then Zhenyi Sect represents just the opposite—the Righteous Path and hope.

The number one great sect, the National Religion of Great Yan, countless prestigious titles resound within it, rendering Zhenyi Sect a critically significant presence in Jianghu, the marketplace, and the courtrooms.

Of course, there is also one most important person living on Zhenyi Mountain.

The number one person in the Great Yan Martial World.