Chapter 98: Ancient Method

Having given Shen Tang the refined dan and also caused a breakthrough, Lu Xingzhou stayed indoors to continue refining dan for himself and A Nuo.One fruit plus a large amount of different auxiliary medicines can refine many dan.Everyone's needs and directions are not the same, so they must be refined separately. For Shen Tang, it was mainly to strengthen bones and meridians, trying to avoid any changes to the muscles, otherwise, that would make Lu Xingzhou regret it to death.For himself, Lu Xingzhou's refining was the opposite, with more emphasis on strengthening muscles.Due to prolonged sitting in a wheelchair, Lu Xingzhou's body is quite a bit thinner compared to ordinary people. His martial cultivation is mainly internal, with muscle lines that haven't undergone exercise, a typical "weak scholar" type. But this type of martial cultivation is biased, unable to cultivate both inside and outside, and is also inferior in terms of body aesthetics, only relying on looks to get by.Taking this dan can improve things somewhat... but refining many pieces requires cooperating with external skill exercises and spending some time to change.Men in love are very attentive when it comes to wanting to satisfy their wives with eight-pack abs.And for A Nuo, it's another approach entirely, completely focused on energy accumulation, fully activating the original fruit's effect, increasing strength as much as possible.A Nuo's body fundamentally won't have any changes due to these things; all energy can be effectively digested.Master and disciple each divided the dan. Finally, Lu Xingzhou discovered that A Nuo had a breakthrough, while he himself did not.A Nuo had been at the fifth grade for quite a long time and had been intensely taking dan these days, already at the critical point of breakthrough. This great strength pill, upon consumption, directly led to a breakthrough to the fourth grade, and her height slightly increased by an inch...As for himself, due to refining many pieces for a gradual approach to practicing muscles, the medicinal effect was slower, but it barely helped push him to the sixth grade mid-level.This result is already considered beyond expectations, and Lu Xingzhou is quite satisfied."According to reason, this bone and muscle tempering medicine and the energy needed for cultivation are not the same thing; it shouldn't lead to a cultivation breakthrough. A Nuo having a breakthrough is one thing, she's always different from others, but isn't our improvement a bit strange?" The young couple strolled in the mountains, and Lu Xingzhou casually discussed with Shen Tang."Actually, it's not strange," Shen Tang said. "According to imperial records, ancient martial cultivation should have had a forging bones stage... At that time, the process of 'easy tendons forge bones' was very painful, leading to scarce martial cultivation. Dao cultivation, on the other hand, placed too much emphasis on comprehension and root bones, so although immortal families were stronger than they are now, their overall numbers were much scarcer compared to now, not like the current situation where everyone cultivates."Lu Xingzhou listened with interest: "What happened later?""Later, I don't know what changes occurred, but the cultivation methods somewhat changed. Martial cultivation wasn't as painful, so the number of cultivators in this direction increased. You see many cultivators today, but in reality, most are martial cultivation, and the proportion of dao cultivation is not high.""Um..." The proportion of martial cultivation in the world is indeed high, not to mention a typical sword cultivation sect like Tianxing Sword Sect. Just consider the imperial family, the Huo family, the Sheng family, Zhenmo Si, Dongjiang Gang, Danxia Gang... A large proportion of acquaintances are martial cultivators.Shen Tang says she cultivates both dao and martial arts, but in reality, she is also a typical martial cultivator. It's just that the Huangji Jing Shi Jing is somewhat special and contains some elements of controlling objects with magic power, which is why Shen Tang could use his talismans initially.Shen Tang continued: "After the cultivation methods changed, the boundaries between martial cultivation and dao cultivation also began to blur, eventually even the concept of 'forge bones period' disappeared. Later, due to the fact that no one reached the high-grade realms, even the realms of dao cultivation were simply no longer mentioned. Otherwise, according to ancient texts, everyone cultivated half to death just to reach two or three realms, what would be the point... Thus, it gradually evolved into today's nine-grade system.""So that's how it is...""So, for example, me, this dan medicine strengthened my tendons and bones, inadvertently aligning with the meaning of the ancient method 'easy tendons forge bones,' and a breakthrough also came." Shen Tang laughed: "Not only is it not strange, it should be the correct way."Lu Xingzhou said: "That won't cause you pain, right..."Seeing the man's first reaction was concern for her, Shen Tang felt sweet in her heart, smiled and held his hand: "It won't. Instead, your future cultivation can lean in this direction. After all, you are now at the sixth grade and are considered to have forged two leg bones, which will give you some first-mover advantage compared to others."Lu Xingzhou nodded. Referring to ancient methods shouldn't be wrong; this is the correct way of cultivation.At this moment, the two were actually strolling down the street. It was the third day of the first month, and most shops were already open for business. The young couple, being in love until now, hadn't properly gone out to stroll like ordinary couples, so today they were too lazy to care about Pei Chuyun or anything else, and just strolled on their own.Only, their street strolling was a bit awkward. Two wheelchairs rolled side by side, very eye-catching. Since they didn't want to be disturbed by lanterns, no one was pushing the wheelchairs, and they all had to propel themselves, looking exceptionally strenuous and comical.Both people were a little embarrassed by passersby's stares, and both secretly wondered if pretending to be lame was self-inflicted trouble.It's a pity that Shen Tang's pretense is genuine, unlike Lu Xingzhou who does it purely to mess with people."Mom, that couple in wheelchairs, they're so loving... Physically disabled but not separated. I also want to find a husband like that later.""You dare to find a lame person, your old mother will beat you to death.""I didn't say lame, it's that, that..." The little girl thought for a long time, unable to think of a suitable description, and her face was bitter.Although the mother criticized, she actually understood the child's meaning. That feeling of not leaving or abandoning is indeed very sweet.Both are in wheelchairs, yet they still manage to hold hands, tsk.Thus, the two people in wheelchairs discovered that the passersby's eyes weren't malicious at all; instead, the aunties smiled a bit more. Lu Xingzhou's embarrassed face also disappeared, replaced by a smile. Instead, Shen Tang's face became redder and redder, and she said in a low voice, annoyed: "It's all because of you, what are we strolling on the street for... The reputation we painstakingly built in front of everyone by pretending..."She wanted to withdraw her hand, but Lu Xingzhou was unwilling to let her, holding on and not letting go: "What are you talking about, ordinary people don't recognize us..."As soon as the words fell, a Zhenmo Si patrol came up to greet them: "Yo, Sect Master Shen, Mr. Lu, out for a stroll? Happy New Year, Happy New Year!"Shen Tang: "..."Lu Xingzhou's face was burning. He used the New Year's greeting etiquette to subtly withdraw his hand, cupped his hands, and forced a smile: "Happy New Year, Happy New Year... Did the new commander of your Zhenmo Si arrive?""He was appointed before the New Year." The patrol officer laughed: "Mr. Lu also knows him, it's the original Deputy Commander Zhang. We fought side by side in the prefecture yamen, and he was promoted based on his real achievements.""Then everyone also got promoted one level, right?""Naturally," the officer laughed, "We still have to thank Mr. Lu for his help. If you need anything in the future, just find us brothers.""Good to hear, good to hear.""But everyone still misses Commander Sheng... Capable, responsible, and good-looking."Lu Xingzhou chuckled: "Commander Sheng hasn't even returned to the capital. With her achievements, she must be promoted and definitely won't stay in Xia State.""Exactly. Eh, Mr. Lu, haven't you noticed that the spiritual energy in Xia State is a bit denser than before?"The young couple exchanged glances and both smiled slightly.The recovery of spiritual energy in Xia State is not due to a sudden emergence of spiritual energy, but because of changes and variations in the earth veins, which is a longer process. The spiritual energy gets a little denser each day, which is undetectable to insensitive people. They have to wait a long time before they suddenly realize how it has changed... As of now, most people still haven't detected it, only the strong ones in Zhenmo Si are a bit sensitive.This delayed reaction is also a good thing for Tianxing Sword Sect. By the time people discover it's a spiritual mountain treasure land, Tianxing Sword Sect will already be completely different from before. Currently, Shen Tang is already at the third grade, and her confidence is also much greater than before. If there is another large-scale breakthrough, it will be even more stable.Lu Xingzhou thus casually responded: "Xia State is a good place... Who knows, you might see Commander Sheng later."Once Xia State is upgraded again, and if Sheng Yuanyao is assigned elsewhere later, being a state commander would be quite suitable.After bidding farewell to the officer, the two looked at each other and both couldn't help but laugh. Finally, they couldn't continue holding hands and rolling wheelchairs in the main street. Lu Xingzhou then turned to a tea house on one side and asked for a small private room: "This private room, Sheng Yuanyao and Qingli and I sat here..."He stopped halfway through his sentence, secretly thinking it was bad, and carefully looked at Shen Tang's expression. Shen Tang smiled without smiling: "What, Mr. Lu feels guilty?"Lu Xingzhou gave a forced laugh: "Where did you hear that..."Shen Tang said: "Could it be you want to say you are pure with them?"With the little white-haired girl already like that, no one would believe him if he forcibly said he was pure. Lu Xingzhou just gave a forced laugh and poured tea, not answering the topic.As a result, Shen Tang's expression actually changed: "Okay, so you also have something with Sheng Yuanyao?""No, you were talking about them..." Lu Xingzhou was very helpless: "Sheng Yuanyao and I are really pure, alright?"Shen Tang pursed her lips and didn't continue being randomly jealous.Actually, how could she not know that there was really nothing between Lu Xingzhou and Sheng Yuanyao? She just thought of Sheng Yuanyao being in the capital now, and immediately thought of Lu Xingzhou also going to the capital soon, which put her in a very bad mood.After a long silence, she instead said: "If you really go to the capital, you should contact Sheng Yuanyao... With the Sheng family's power behind you, at least the Huo family will have some scruples about you. At the very least, you'll have a guide when doing things.""I know what to do." Lu Xingzhou didn't say more, just picked up a piece of sweet dimsum and brought it to her mouth: "Ah."Shen Tang was amused and her slightly depressed mood quickly dissipated. She rolled her eyes at him and gently bit into the sweet dimsum.The two sat close together, sharing a small piece of sweet dimsum, taking turns to eat it for a long time.The waiter who came in to pour tea glanced sideways, his teeth almost souring off.Just then, a disciple of Tianxing Sword Sect hurried in: "Sect Master, there is a letter transmitted by talisman, it seems very important."The two had just finished eating a piece of sweet dimsum, and Shen Tang was just about to take another piece to feed Lu Xingzhou when she heard the words and paused: "Where is the letter from?""It's from the capital, with a Huo character written on it."Shen Tang's hand trembled slightly. She saw Lu Xingzhou take the letter and open the seal.There was only a very short sentence on it: "After the New Year, Huo Si will go to Menggui City."There was no signature, but the two knew it was Yang Dechang.He was notifying them of a Huo family disciple's travel information.The Huo family's fourth young master, Huo Heng, will go to Menggui City after the New Year...Shen Tang worriedly turned her head to look at Lu Xingzhou's expression. The gentle smile that had been on Lu Xingzhou's face these past few days visibly disappeared, and an unstoppable ferocity appeared in his eyes again.Shen Tang gently sighed, finally brought the sweet dimsum in her hand to his mouth, and said softly: "From Xia State to the capital, Menggui City is exactly on the way. You want to go, right?"Lu Xingzhou was silent for a moment, then gave an "Um."Just about to say something, Shen Tang stuffed the sweet dimsum into his mouth: "Your enemy is my enemy. If you want revenge, I will only help you. How could I possibly keep you by my side?"Please remember: m.xvipxs.net