Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 97 Forging Bones and Soaring Through the Clouds
Within the secret realm, the alchemical fire burned warmly.

Shen Tang leaned on Lu Xingzhou's shoulder, keeping him company as they refined pills.

If Chen Zhangsi's ability to refine the Heart-Saving Pill can raise his alchemist rank, then Lu Xingzhou will also gain a similar amount of experience points.

That was the fruit obtained from the secret vault of the Incense Burning Pavilion. I had originally planned to use it to refine various pills for everyone to use in improving their Qi and blood, but because I felt that my pill refining skills were still insufficient and I was afraid of wasting such a precious resource, I put it aside for the time being.

However, given the long period of time that has passed, the necessary auxiliary medicines have already been collected by the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect, and they are now readily available.

The so-called insufficient alchemy skills are actually fine for refining pills for personal use, but if it is intended to benefit Shen Tang's cultivation, then it must be at least a fourth-grade pill. Lu Xingzhou's alchemy skills were previously at the sixth grade, so he really dared not refine pills recklessly.

I have made great progress in studying the Mahayana Notes and the classics of the Incense Burning Pavilion these days, and I estimate that I have already improved to the fifth grade level, but I have not yet been certified.

Of course, someone at the fifth rank can attempt to refine a fourth-rank pill. If they succeed, they are definitely at the fifth rank, or even have taken a solid step forward from their fourth-rank experience.

After all, he handled everything from the formula to the refining himself. According to the alchemist certification system, he could be certified as a fourth-grade alchemist, but the success rate is not high, so it can't be calculated that way directly.

Since I'm planning to leave, I should finish what I haven't done yet. Refining this fruit pill is one of them. It can help everyone improve their cultivation and also give me more experience when I participate in the assessment.

Lu Xingzhou carefully prepared several portions of medicinal herbs, but only put one portion into the alchemy furnace, concentrating entirely on refining it.

The alchemy expert, Anuo, squatted to one side eating a sweet potato, blinking as he watched the pills inside spin: "It failed, Master."

With the help of Ah Nuo, even if it fails, the furnace usually won't explode. The pill will barely take shape, but the medicinal effects are basically not integrated. It looks like a single piece, but if you cut it open, you'll find lumps here and there. If you really want to count it, it still has some medicinal effects, but it's generally called a substandard product.

Lu Xingzhou took the pill, broke it open and studied it for a while, and pondered, "The secret realm fire is fine, the pill furnace is fine... The problem now is that my spirit is not good. After refining for a long time, my spirit becomes scattered and my control is lacking. Forcing myself to refine it will only result in this... I still need to strengthen myself, that's the only way."

Ah Nuo glanced at Shen Tang and thought to herself, "Is your lack of concentration and distraction because you're holding a woman?"

Who refines pills like this? The Taoist priests at the Imperial Alchemy Academy in the capital would kill you if they heard it...

Afraid of being beaten by his master's wife if he said this, A'nuo could only say it tactfully: "The secret realm is spacious and it's easy to get distracted. How about trying to meditate in a secluded room?"

The adulterous couple could easily understand the child's true meaning. Shen Tang's face flushed red, and she stood up awkwardly, saying, "Well, I'll go back to cultivate first... I'll come see you again tomorrow."

"No." Lu Xingzhou grabbed her arm and said seriously, "Anuo is right, we really should go to the secret chamber for quiet meditation..."

Ah Nuo: “…”

The little dumpling watched helplessly as his master scooped up his mistress in his arms and dashed into the secret chamber.

An hour later, Lu Xingzhou returned to the alchemy furnace, pulling up his trousers. His expression was indeed one of complete focus, free from all worldly concerns.

Shen Tang washed her hands inside by herself, then lazily came out, her hair cascading down her back, and sat down to one side with a slight pout.

Ah Nuo sighed, feeling the process of the pill forming this time, which was obviously much smoother than the last time... Sure enough, it seemed that Master would not be distracted this time.

After an unknown amount of time, the alchemy furnace began to tremble slightly.

The elixirs floated up, filling the room with fragrance and carrying a glow like auspicious seven-colored clouds, indicating that they were of very high quality.

Fourth-grade Dragon Elephant Pill.

Lu Xingzhou breathed a sigh of relief and put an arm around Shen Tang: "Mission accomplished, how about a kiss?"

Shen Tang covered his mouth: "What are you talking about? Why don't you take the pill?"

Lu Xingzhou moved her hand away, took the pill with his lips, and leaned down to feed it to her: "This pill was made for you..."

Shen Tang was stunned for a moment, her lips already sealed.

Shen Tang was a complete novice when it came to alchemy. Lu Xingzhou hadn't mentioned that the pill was for her before he started making it, and she didn't even know what kind of pill she needed. Besides, she wasn't at the point of breaking through her cultivation realm yet...

Before Shen Tang could even ask a question, the medicine had already entered her throat and spread throughout her body.

Shen Tang felt his bones and muscles begin to crack and pop as an immense dragon-elephant power surged into his body, making his blood and qi multiply, his bones stronger, and his meridians more resilient.

The power of the Imperial Supreme Scripture within his body was drawn in and began to circulate wildly, with his blood and true energy merging and multiplying.

Shen Tang quickly sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and focused his energy on his dantian.

Her body was like a mountain and a river, shrouded in purple mist that permeated the universe. It was somewhat like the feeling Lu Xingzhou had when she was reborn; she felt that her mortal bones were beginning to show faint signs of becoming jade-like.

In ancient times, it is said that there was a realm of martial arts cultivation called "bone forging". I wonder if this is true?

Under the pull of the physical body, the spiritual platform opens, the bright hall shines, and the sea of ​​soul begins to condense. There is a faint illusion of ascending to immortality... This is not an illusion, but from this moment on, the body will be as light and pure as a feather, and riding the clouds will no longer be a dream.

In ancient times, it is said that Taoist cultivators called this realm "Soaring Clouds." Does it still count now?
Regardless of what it is... Shen Tang thought to herself, she knew very well that everyone was now calling it "the upper three grades".

That was the most important hurdle among the nine ranks, the typical watershed that distinguishes true powerhouses from "newcomers"! "Boom!" Dark clouds suddenly gathered in the sky, as if lightning was flashing in mid-air.

This is deep underground, where did this lightning come from...?

A fire seemed to rise at the Lingtai point, beginning to temper the soul sea.

"This is..." A thought flashed through Shen Tang's mind: "The Great Tribulation of the Upper Three Ranks really does have a minor Heavenly Tribulation... I'm actually facing a double Thunder and Fire Tribulation."

Drawing in heavenly thunder from above and summoning inner fire from below, this is a particularly difficult tribulation.

Difficulties are no problem... It just means that in fourth-grade cultivation, she is much stronger than others, so the third-grade tribulation is also more difficult for her than others. I've heard that those who are really bad at alchemy might not even have a tribulation... Does that mean the Heavenly Dao considers "you to be considered third-grade?"

That means that Heaven believes "your strength is too high, it's best if you don't live," which is why it bestows upon her a powerful tribulation.

That would be a good thing!
Shen Tang suddenly opened her eyes and gently waved her jade-like hand.

The purple sword was drawn, and a vast expanse of purple energy gathered like a dragon, roaring as it ascended to the heavens.

"Boom!" The purple aura and the heavenly lightning collided, causing the secret realm to tremble slightly.

Lu Xingzhou had already figured out what was going on. He fed his wife a pill to increase her strength, and she actually broke through to the third rank, and then even attracted a minor heavenly tribulation! At the same time that Shen Tang drew her flying sword, he quickly fed her another pill.

Generally, outsiders cannot help with tribulations, as this would deprive the person undergoing the tribulation of this crucial experience, resulting in a half-hearted breakthrough. However, this doesn't preclude the use of supplementary drugs, which is perfectly acceptable.

Lu Xingzhou immediately saw that Shen Tang was suffering from a bout of tribulation fire, primarily attacking her spiritual platform. This pill was meant to calm the mind and purify the spirit; it was actually intended to counteract alluring spells…

Shen Tang quickly sensed that it was as if sweet rain was falling in his soul sea, stopping the boiling and scorching flames.

She smiled slightly. Actually, she didn't need help... but with this assistance, things would naturally be easier and she would be more confident.

A purple aura swept by, carrying a light drizzle, and the boiling soul fire was easily extinguished.

The thunder and lightning dissipated, and the calamity subsided.

Shen Tang opened her eyes and met the bright eyes of Lu Xingzhou and A Nuo in front of her.

In a secret realm unknown to anyone, Princess Chaohuang and Shen Tang, the sect leader of the Tianxing Sword Sect, broke through the third-grade barrier. She had just turned twenty-three in the traditional Chinese way of counting the New Year, and her actual birthday had not yet arrived.

If the Demon Suppression Division finds out, he can be removed from the Rising Stars List and will have to compete for a ranking on the Heroes List.

"You've reached the third rank?" Lu Xingzhou asked in surprise.

"It's done."

Lu Xingzhou picked her up and spun her around: "My wife is a genius!"

Genius indeed.

This pill isn't a breakthrough pill, nor is it a cultivation-enhancing pill; it simply strengthens the body's qi and blood, and increases strength. In other words, it makes you slightly stronger than others of the same level, giving you a greater advantage in comparisons.

Unexpectedly, with this tremendous boost, Shen Tang went all out and embarked on the path to breaking through, and actually broke through in one fell swoop.

She dealt with the terrifying double tribulation of thunder and fire with great ease, seemingly without any problem even without the aid of her own Mind-Clearing Pill.

Yes, she was originally a phoenix whose talent far surpassed that of many princes, forcing even the emperor to take action to suppress her.

But just an hour ago, this same woman had been held gently in his arms in a secluded room for "quiet meditation," her cherry lips allowed to be tasted and her sweet saliva secretly passed between them, allowing him to undress and play with her, and shyly using her small hands to help him solve his "problem of not being able to concentrate."

Yes, this time she used her hands, not her feet.

"Who's your wife?" Shen Tang laughed as he spun her around in his arms, pinching his cheek. "Call me Sect Master!"

"Sect Master," Lu Xingzhou readily agreed, "Mission accomplished, let's have a kiss."

Shen Tang reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him passionately. Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible: "No matter how talented I am... it's all thanks to your elixirs. Xingzhou, you are the most precious treasure that Heaven has given me."

Lu Xingzhou responded vaguely, "You are."

Ah Nuo shivered and ran away, covering her ears.

too disgusting.

Don't these people get goosebumps when they talk?
Master wasn't like this before...

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: This is a transitional chapter about cultivation, so don't rush it. I've finished 10,000 words today, so please vote with your monthly tickets!
(End of this chapter)