Chapter 110: Chapter 108: Rubbing the Sutra Incantation, East Sea Vajra Institute

To the current Wu Liangchen, the ten-or-so-li mountain road was as easy as a walk in the park.

In just a short while, Wu Liangchen was back in the mountain forest.

The traces of the great battle had been covered by heavy snow. Wu Liangchen walked up to the tree hollow where he had hidden the stone and saw that the mark he had left was untouched. He then cleared away the debris blocking the opening.

After placing the stone on the snowy forest floor, Wu Liangchen started a fire and set the ink cake beside it to slowly warm up.

While he waited, Wu Liangchen pressed a sheet of paper onto the stone’s surface and then tapped it all over with a small wooden block.

The pressure forced the paper into every indentation on the stone.

But he wasn’t done. The paper was too thin and light; if he applied ink now, he might not be able to peel it off later.

Fortunately, Wu Liangchen had come prepared. He unscrewed the flask he carried; it was filled with rice water.

He poured out some of the rice water and spread it evenly over the paper. Once it was dry, Wu Liangchen ground the ink cake, dipped his brush, and rolled the ink across the paper.

Once the ink was dry, Wu Liangchen carefully peeled off the sheet. The paper, now stained black, revealed incredibly clear writing.

Wu Liangchen was overjoyed.

’It worked!’

Wu Liangchen then repeated the process, making rubbings of all the writing on the stone, one sheet after another.

Once he was certain he hadn’t missed anything, Wu Liangchen picked up a large rock and smashed it down on the stone.

CRACK! The stone shattered on impact.

After breaking away the outer fragments, he saw a metal box hidden inside and immediately pulled it out.

The metal box was exquisitely crafted, with every seam fitting together perfectly.

It wasn’t locked, however, so Wu Liangchen opened it with ease.

A glimmer of joy flashed in Wu Liangchen’s eyes when he saw what was inside.

Inside was a small booklet, its cover bearing five large words: Golden Body Cross Training Skill.

’Just as I guessed.’

’But the question is, how did I trigger the system prompt just by touching the stone? What was that all about?’

Puzzled, Wu Liangchen put on his gloves, picked up the booklet, and began to flip through it by the light of the fire.

The first page didn’t contain the Cultivation Technique for the Golden Body Cross Training Skill, but a long personal account.

"To the one who reads this, I am the Monk Konghui of the East Sea’s Vajra Demon Suppression Institute. By the time you read this sentence, my junior martial brother, Kongjing, is surely dead."

"My junior martial brother, Kongjing, was a prodigy. Even our Master said he was a talent the likes of which our institute hadn’t seen in a century. Unfortunately, he was far too arrogant and domineering. After decades of failing to master our temple’s Secret Technique, the Golden Body Cross Training Skill, he began listening to rumors and seeking shortcuts. This ultimately led to disaster, causing him to descend into madness."

"To suppress his demonic nature, our Master planned to forge a Demon Suppression Stone, engraving upon it the Vajra Demon-Suppressing Mantras and the Golden Body Cross Training Skill in the East Sea tongue. However, I believe the Golden Body Cross Training Skill originally came from Great Yan, so I wrote this version of the manual in the Yan Language, placed it within a stone casket, and had it forged together with the Demon Suppression Stone to await a fated person."

Reading this, Wu Liangchen finally understood this Monk’s true identity.

’So he isn’t from Great Yan, but from the East Sea. No wonder I’ve never heard of anyone so powerful.’

’This Vajra Demon Suppression Institute is an interesting place, though. Since Kongjing had already descended into madness, why not just kill him? What was the point of keeping him alive?’

As this thought crossed his mind, Wu Liangchen turned the page.

The next page read:

"To be honest, it was my wish that he be eliminated. Since Kongjing has descended into madness, he will surely become a great menace in the future! But alas, our Master could not bear to do it, believing Kongjing could still recover. That is why he forged the stone to suppress him."

"But I believe our Master’s momentary compassion will invite endless trouble in the future. If my junior brother goes on a killing spree, the karmic debt will fall upon our Master and me. How lamentable, how lamentable!"

Reading this, Wu Liangchen could almost feel the resentment Konghui poured into these words.

"Reader, the fact that you are seeing this proves you have eliminated my junior martial brother. As a token of my gratitude, I gift you a medicinal formula that can strengthen your Qi and Blood. It is designed to complement the Golden Body Cross Training Skill and will aid your Cultivation."

Sure enough, a medicinal formula was recorded on the following pages. Wu Liangchen studied it and found that it used common herbs. Only the preparation methods were somewhat complex, but every step was described in great detail.

’It seems this Konghui was a decent fellow.’

Wu Liangchen continued to flip through the booklet. The following pages detailed the cultivation method for the Golden Body Cross Training Skill.

Every single movement was described in great detail, including the corresponding breathing techniques and the methods for exerting force with muscles and sinews. Nothing was left out.

On the final page was a portrait of a wrathful Vajra guardian, with a final note from Konghui written below it.

"This is the core visualization diagram for the Golden Body Cross Training Skill. The image is of the Great Majestic Vajra. Visualizing it not only tempers the body but also has numerous other wondrous effects. But remember, do not be hasty, and above all, do not harbor a treacherous heart. Otherwise, while you may enjoy a moment of satisfaction, you will surely sow the seeds of endless future troubles. Heed my warning!"

With that, he had finished the book.

Wu Liangchen flipped back and carefully reread the cultivation method for the Golden Body Cross Training Skill, committing the final visualization diagram, in particular, to memory.

After he had done all this, a system prompt appeared.

[Cultivation Technique Name: Golden Body Cross Training Skill]

[Cultivation Technique Grade: High-Grade, Superior]

[Estimated Cost: 74 wisps of Life Fire]

[Consume Life Fire to deduce?]

Just as he’d thought.

After a thorough reading, the deduction cost had decreased by four wisps of Life Fire.

’But... it’s still not enough.’

Wu Liangchen sighed softly and opened his status panel.

[Name: Wu Liangchen][Age: 17]

[Life Fire: 31]

[Cart Pulling (Proficient 413/500)]

[Five Animals Fist (Proficient 188/500)]

[Hunyuan Stance (Proficient 204/500)]

[Eight-Step Wind-Chasing Fist (Proficient 121/500)]

[Sun-Chasing Archery Skill (Proficient 87/500)]

[Jingzhe Blade Technique (Skilled 56/200)]

[Blood Exchange and Bone Marrow Cleansing (2%)]

His Martial Arts had progressed in all aspects, but he was still a long way off in terms of Life Fire.

This was only after he had frantically stuffed himself with food today, accumulating five or six wisps of Life Fire. Otherwise, he would have even less.

But there was no need to rush. He would continue to accumulate Life Fire while also trying to study and practice the technique on his own. As his understanding deepened, the cost would decrease, and it would likely only be a few days before he could deduce the entry-level mastery.

With this in mind, Wu Liangchen packed up the manual and the paper rubbings. He even cleared away the shattered stone fragments on the ground.

Once he had finished, Wu Liangchen kicked out the fire and headed back to Red Leaf Village.

The night passed uneventfully. The next morning, Wu Liangchen devoured an entire large basin of meat before asking the terrified old woman a question.

"Is there an apothecary nearby?"

"An apothecary? No!" The old woman shook her head, but then she seemed to remember something.

"But if you’re looking to buy herbs, sir, you could wait for the big market in Bapang Town in a few days."

"The Bapang Town market?"

"That’s right. It’s the biggest market for dozens of li around. Especially with the new year approaching, the market will be even livelier than usual. They sell everything there! There are even traveling performers. Oh, it’s a wonderful time," the old woman said, her interest piqued.

Wu Liangchen recalled the location marked on his map. Bapang Town wasn’t too far, only about ten li away.

And past that town lay the most treacherous and rugged mountain pass of Thousand Waterfall Mountain.

"So when is this Bapang Town market?"

"Soon. Today is the thirteenth of the twelfth lunar month. The market is on the sixteenth."

Wu Liangchen suddenly remembered. ’Right, it’s already the thirteenth of the twelfth month.’

The new year was just over ten days away. Thinking back on the past year... it had been one hell of a ride.

Wu Liangchen shook his head and went back to his room.

Yang Lian’Er was doing much better by now. With her emotional burdens lifted, even with only First Realm strength, she was no longer bothered by a mere cold.

When she saw Wu Liangchen, Yang Lian’Er’s cheeks flushed slightly as she remembered her absurd behavior from the previous night.

But Wu Liangchen didn’t seem to care about that at all. He just asked, "How are you feeling?"

"Much better. I can leave whenever," Yang Lian’Er said.

"Let’s wait a few more days. The heavy snow has blocked the roads, making travel difficult. We’ll set off once the roads are a bit clearer."

"Alright." Yang Lian’Er had no objections.

Beside them, Wu Mengchan was even more delighted.

The recent period of constant wandering had been taxing even for a girl who was used to hardship. Now, she finally had some time to rest.

She was especially happy to spend a few more days with a good friend by her side.

Seeing his sister so happy, Wu Liangchen couldn’t help but smile before returning to his own room.

Lunch was stewed chicken again, but after the meal, Jin Cui approached Wu Liangchen with a troubled expression.

"Brother Wu, I’m so sorry, but we’re all out of chicken. I sent my husband to buy more in the village, but since it’s almost the new year, everyone is saving their chickens for the festival. No one is willing to sell."

"What do you have left in the shop?"

"Only a crock of cured meat is left. But we don’t lack for fish, since there’s a river right behind the building."

Wu Liangchen nodded. He knew his appetite for the past two days had been astonishing. It was already a feat that this small eatery had managed to keep him fed until now before running out of ingredients.

"I understand. You just do what you need to do. I’ll figure out the rest."

"Alright. I’m truly sorry, Brother Wu," Jin Cui said, feeling terrible.

Wu Liangchen smiled. "It’s fine."

In the afternoon, the sky remained overcast. This was normal for winter in the northern lands of Great Yan; sunny days were a rarity.

Wu Liangchen went to the small river behind the eatery. He saw a thick layer of ice covering its surface, solid enough for a carriage to cross.

Dotted across the ice were many holes that had been drilled for ice fishing.

Wu Liangchen hadn’t come for the fish. Though river fish were delicious, he needed to eat meat to accumulate Life Fire.

He walked to the riverbank and threw a sudden punch downward.

CRACK! A dense web of cracks spread across the ice before it suddenly exploded upward.

With a single punch, Wu Liangchen had cleared the ice from a ten-meter-plus section of the river.

Then, Wu Liangchen reached into the water near the bank. With a few SPLASHES, he picked up a handful of river stones.

These stones, worn smooth and round by the river’s current over countless years, had a good weight and were perfect for throwing.

This was the reason he had come.