Chapter 59: Body Tempering to Defy Fate, Medicinal Bath to Devour Gold

Jiang Youling's heart trembled. She had to defeat three consecutive White-Robed disciples to advance!

It sounded easy enough, but the sect's White-Robed disciples specialized in the Great Dao; even at only the fourth level of Qi Refinement, their combat strength was formidable.

In contrast, the miscellaneous disciples were basically nothing more than "showpieces" with high cultivation realms; even if ten of them attacked at once, they wouldn't stand a chance against a White-Robed disciple.

Unless they applied themselves to the grueling work of tempering their physical bodies...

However, the cultivation resources required for body tempering were staggering. Even if one achieved minor success, being able to barely defeat a single White-Robed disciple would be considered quite good.

Jiang Youling pursed her lips tightly, a look of determination appearing on her face. "Although this sounds difficult to accomplish, I will work hard."

Hong Dengyuan pondered for a moment, then took a thin booklet from his storage ring and handed it to her.

"This 'Dragon-Elephant Hell-Suppressing Art' is a top-grade Yellow-rank body-tempering technique that I obtained by chance during my travels. This technique must be practiced starting from the Qi Refinement stage. By the time I obtained this book, I had already reached the Foundation Establishment stage, so I could not practice it. I shall pass this method to you today."

Jiang Youling was both shocked and delighted. She had heard Shen Yingshu mention that most of the techniques available for miscellaneous disciples to choose from in the Scripture Pavilion were low-grade or mid-grade Mortal-rank. Even high-grade Mortal-rank was rare.

This showed just how precious a top-grade Yellow-rank body-tempering manual was.

She bowed, her voice trembling slightly. "Master, your kindness is immeasurable; this disciple has no way to repay you."

"I never required your repayment to begin with."

Hong Dengyuan gave a light chuckle. "However, practicing this body-tempering technique requires not only enduring much hardship but also consuming a significant amount of spirit stones. You must think carefully about whether you truly wish to practice this."

Without a moment's hesitation, Jiang Youling replied, "This disciple is willing to practice this art!"

Aside from body-tempering techniques, there were other spells in the Scripture Pavilion available for miscellaneous disciples. However, most of these were auxiliary spells like Wind-Calling Arts or Rain-Generating Sutras. Those useful for combat were few and far between.

It would be nearly impossible for her to rely on those techniques in the Scripture Pavilion to defeat three White-Robed disciples of the same realm.

But with this *Dragon-Elephant Hell-Suppressing Art* given by Master Hong, the impossible had gained a glimmer of possibility!

Hong Dengyuan nodded slightly. "The path of cultivation is, by nature, a journey against the heavens. Only through a body tempered by a thousand hammers and strikes can one remain unyielding. You may go."

Jiang Youling bowed to Hong Dengyuan once more before departing.

Upon returning to her quarters on Baina Peak, Jiang Youling could not wait to flip through the *Dragon-Elephant Hell-Suppressing Art* and begin practicing according to the methods described within.

However, it was already late. Recalling how she had once neglected sleep due to cultivation, resulting in poor efficiency the following day, she ultimately suppressed her impulse.

It wasn't until the next day, after returning from the Spirit Kitchen following her shift, that Jiang Youling finally opened the *Dragon-Elephant Hell-Suppressing Art* to study it meticulously.

On the first page, she saw several lines of introductory verses

"The body is like a furnace refining true gold; dragon blood and elephant bones forge immortality. Nine deaths and nine lives to break the heavenly divide; a physical body becomes a Saint to battle the Golden Core!"

This technique followed the extreme path of Physical Sainthood, using body tempering as its foundation to break through limits amidst life and death.

Upon reaching minor success, one would be invincible among peers. Upon reaching great success, one could even suppress Golden Core cultivators with pure physical strength!

Invincible among peers! Suppressing the Golden Core!

Seeing these two lines, Jiang Youling felt a surge of spirit, and an infinite sense of fighting spirit and ambition welled up in her heart.

She impatiently turned to the second page, where a section titled "Water-Tempering Method" appeared before her eyes.

"Seek a cascading waterfall and stand beneath the torrent to receive the impact. Initially, limit the duration to half an hour, gradually increasing it over time. Once the body has adapted, seek even greater torrents to increase the effect.

However, this method is harsh. One must bathe once every five days in a decoction made of five mace of Iron-thread Grass, three snake skins, supplemented by two taels of Blood-pattern Vine, one tael of Cold Jade Moss, and nine leaves of Golden-thread Fern.

Failure to follow this path will result in the decay of flesh and bone, damaging one's foundation. When one can practice until blades and swords scratch the skin without drawing blood, the 'Iron-Skin Realm' is achieved."

No wonder everyone said that body-tempering methods were expensive; just looking at the number of herbs required for this medicinal bath, Jiang Youling instinctively knew it wouldn't be cheap.

But since she had decided to temper her body, this medicinal bath was unavoidable.

*Forget it, I'll just note these herbs down first and make a trip to the Qiwu Pavilion tomorrow.*

Jiang Youling continued to the next page, where the book introduced several other body-tempering methods, each requiring a new medicinal bath formula.

According to the book, completing the first three realms would make one invincible in the Qi Refinement stage. Reaching the perfection of the sixth realm, the Golden Body Realm, would allow one to withstand a direct strike from a Golden Core cultivator without dying! Once the seventh, eighth, and ninth realms were completed, one would be capable of suppressing the Golden Core!

With a racing heart, Jiang Youling put the book down. There were a total of three realms in the Qi Refinement stage: the Iron-Skin Realm, the Copper-Bone Realm, and the Mercury-Blood Realm!

These three realms corresponded to the three stages of Qi Refinement: early, middle, and late.

According to sect regulations, only disciples at the fourth level of Qi Refinement were qualified to challenge White-Robed disciples. This meant she had to practice this method at least until the Copper-Bone Realm!

Jiang Youling's thoughts raced.

One moment, she was constantly recalling where a suitable waterfall for body tempering might be. Danyang Mountain seemed to have one, but she wasn't sure if it could be used for tempering...

The next moment, she worried that the cost of the medicinal baths would be too high to sustain long-term; then she feared that her miscellaneous duties would consume too much time, leaving her insufficient time to practice...

It was only after a long while that she rubbed her head, letting the thoughts dissipate one by one.

Using the Water-Tempering Method initially only required half an hour; for now, time was sufficient. If it became insufficient later, she would find a way.

The next day, on Danyang Mountain.

Jiang Youling took the opportunity to ask Senior Sister Wang for information. Upon learning that the mountain's waterfalls had no other use and could be used freely, she decided to use this location as her training ground.

However, to temper her body, she could not avoid the medicinal baths.

Thus, after finishing work that day, Jiang Youling rushed to the Qiwu Pavilion. After visiting several herb shops, she finally inquired about the most favorable price.

One set of medicinal bath ingredients would cost fifty-six spirit stones!

Her monthly salary was not much; combined with her part-time work on Danyang Mountain, her monthly income was only thirty-five spirit stones and one bottle of Heart-Clearing Pill.

However, the Pine-Pattern Sword she had previously commissioned Senior Brother Xie to sell had fetched six hundred and sixty spirit stones. Therefore, she had a total of seven hundred and seventy-four spirit stones on her, along with four unused bottles of Heart-Clearing Pills.

Yet, even with her entire net worth, she could only afford fifteen or sixteen sets of the ingredients for the Water-Tempering Method!

At most, it would only last her less than eighty days.

Could she reach the perfection of the Iron-Skin Realm in a mere eighty days?

Thinking this way, Jiang Youling felt truly uncertain.

But after weighing her options, she still prepared three sets of medicine, intending to practice for a period first to see the results.

After preparing the medicine, seeing that it was still early, Jiang Youling simply took the prepared ingredients and headed directly to the base of the Danyang Mountain waterfall.

It was the hour of Xu; the sky was dark, and there was no one around, leaving only the faint moonlight.

Jiang Youling removed her outer garment, shoes, and socks, placing them by the shore along with her medicine packets and other belongings, then walked barefoot toward the base of the waterfall.

Perhaps because she had once soaked in a cold pool for three days and three nights, she did not feel cold upon entering the water; instead, she found herself quite well-adapted to the slightly cool temperature.