Chapter 68 - 47 Pure Inner Strength
In the following days, besides his regular martial arts training, Lu Yuan spent all his energy and thoughts on studying the jade piece.
He tried all sorts of peculiar and bizarre methods to activate the jade piece.
From enchantments, meditation, blood refining, burning, smashing with stones, trying to influence with his aura… all he could think of and had seen in novels before were attempted.
He even tried some of the magic circles and instrument tracks recorded in the Taoist classics he read in this world.
However, all were to no avail.
Except for proving that the jade piece was indeed extraordinary, impervious to fire and water, indestructible by external forces, and incredibly solid, Lu Yuan made no further progress.
This result left him quite despondent.
But along with this despondency, Lu Yuan gradually realized what he was lacking.
“This jade piece should be the magical artifact mentioned in cultivation novels; it’s not a mere ordinary object. Hence, if I want to awaken it and use it, I would naturally need to use the methods of an immortal.
Such as magical power, spiritual power, and divine sense.
Without these, the jade piece cannot be controlled by my mundane methods.
So, if I want to exploit the jade piece, I need to find an immortal technique that can cultivate these powers.
But the problem is, where can I find a book of immortal techniques to practice from?”
When Lu Yuan thought about this, he was overwhelmed with frustration.
What is it like to have a treasure mountain but unable to use it?
It’s exactly like the present case.
Knowing that the chance of becoming an immortal is right before his eyes but is unable to seize it, is simply indescribable.
However, this frustration only lasted for a moment, Lu Yuan collected his emotions, held the jade piece, and showed a smirk: “Even though I cannot genuinely use the jade piece now, it’s not entirely useless.”
With that, he held the jade piece, infused his inner strength into it, and the green patterns inside the jade instantly lit up.
Half an hour later, when his inner strength had circulated inside the jade piece, illuminating all the patterns, and then retrieved back into his body.
A sense of comfort was felt from the meridians through which his inner strength had flowed.
With imaginary introspection, Lu Yuan could clearly notice that his inner strength, which had just been sent into the jade piece, had become a bit more refined and condensed than before after going through one round.
Although this refining and condensing wasn’t significant, only improving about one-thousandth.
But that doesn’t change the fact that this refining process can be repeated indefinitely.
That is to say, if Lu Yuan repeatedly refines his inner strength in the jade piece a thousand times, the quality of his inner strength could double.
Although it seems to be only doubling, in reality, this kind of improvement is rather terrifying.
One should know that inner strength is a combination of essence, energy, and spirit combined, a doubling in the quality of inner strength means a doubling in Lu Yuan’s essence, energy and spirit.
The effect of this kind of improvement is reflected in various aspects of the body and soul.
“After the increase in inner strength, I need some time for my body to adapt before I can perform the second refining. Therefore, it’s best to do this refining process once every day.
At this rate, in about three years, the quality of my inner strength can double.
A doubling in the strength of essence, energy and spirit!
Oh, by then, I guess I can overpower those at the same level with my refinement, right?”
When Lu Yuan imagined the scene of being unrivaled among peers, he couldn’t help but get excited.
Which man hasn’t fantasized about being invincible to his peers?
And now, in three years, he could potentially achieve this goal.
Of course.
Even if he has such power, Lu Yuan won’t show off.
After all, being unrivaled among peers doesn’t mean being unrivaled under heaven.
There’s a saying.
If you beat the young, the old ones will come.
Many young heroes in Jianghu didn’t understand this and offended many people in their constant show of strength. In the end, they were suppressed by the old monsters and even paid with their lives
As someone who had seen many similar plots and had a stable personality, Lu Yuan naturally wouldn’t make such a low-level mistake.
Keeping a low profile and being sneaky is the true meaning of strength.
Collecting his slightly inflated thoughts, he calmed down his heart and started to study the jade piece again: “However, this kind of improvement in the quality of inner strength should have its limit. Once the jade piece reaches its limit, it should stop.”
Lu Yuan wasn’t naive enough to think that once he had the jade piece, he could rest easy.
Everything has its limits.
Like a human’s lifespan, even for those who live a long life, usually exceed one hundred years, and then they die.
Uh, Lu Yuan?
He’s just an exception, can’t be regarded as normal, just ignore him.
Of course, you can say that you can continually strengthen yourself and then break through the limit. Just like cultivators who practice to break their lifespan limit and achieve longevity through cultivation.
But the prerequisite for enhancement through cultivation is the ability to absorb external nutrients and nourishment by sacrificing the world to benefit oneself, thereby breaking the limit.
But the problem is, where can Lu Yuan find something that can improve the quality of the jade piece and nourish it?
“So far, I’d better not aim too high. Just honestly practice martial arts and then use the jade piece to refine my inner strength. I’m currently incapable of genuinely using this immortal destiny, but I believe that as my strength increase, there will come a day when I can use it properly.” Pumped up, Lu Yuan continued his training.
He still had an hour left for his internal power cultivation today.
Time flew by, and it was already mid-Autumn in August.
At this time, the heat of summer was over, and cool autumn is coming.
On the evening of the full moon on August 15, it was supposed to be a time of reunion.
However, Lu Yuan had transmigrated into this world, and his past life had become history. His parents had died long ago, so even if he wanted to reunite, he didn’t know who to find.
Fortunately, his good friend, Sun Siwen was in the same situation. His parents had also died early. They decided to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival together.
But there are more goodbyes than reunions in this world.
After the night of the full moon, Sun Siwen packed his belongings and prepared to depart for the county town to start his journey of test-taking.
The imperial examination in October was not far away, leaving just over a month.
The county town was eight hundred miles away from Yangmei Town. If Sun Siwen wanted to catch up with the examination period, he had to leave early.
Outside the town, by the road.
Into the adjacent Plum Forest, some plums hadn’t fallen off yet; they were ripely red at this time.
Lu Yuan picked a handful of them in the forest, wrapped them in oilcloth, and then put a few into the wine cup. Then he raised his cup and wished Sun Siwen: “Brother Sun, we part ways here, I wish you a successful journey and to make a name for yourself.”
After that, he put the wrapped plums into Sun Siwen’s hand and earnestly said: “These are plums from our hometown. Brother Sun, take them with you. When you miss home, you can take them out for a taste to alleviate your homesickness. ”
Sun Siwen took the oilcloth wrapped plums, carefully tucked them close to his body, then lifted his cup, and with a touched expression, he said: “I will heed brother Lu’s words, I will not let you down in the county town. On this year’s autumn list, my name will be there for sure.”
After speaking, he looked deeply at Lu Yuan, and then took a glance at Yangmei Town behind him, he turned around and left.
Under the golden morning sun, the slender figure of the scholar looked so determined..