Chapter 349: Chapter 290: Wow, Can You Believe I Don’t Know What to Name This Chapter?

The Esoteric Sect has a history stretching back thousands of years.

How could it possibly not have its own special cultivation methods?

And as a candidate to be the future Esoteric Sect Leader, Shaximo was undoubtedly practicing the sect’s most advanced secret techniques. How could his bone strength possibly be weak?

"A frog in a well, that’s all!" This was Zhang Hongying’s assessment of Gao Neng’s confidence.

Shaximo had actually overheard the conversation between Gao Neng and Fang Tangtang, but he didn’t care. He would simply teach Gao Neng a lesson with the facts.

Losing?

He had never even considered it.

’I absolutely will not lose again! If I still lose this time, then I’m no better than a dog!’

Shaximo gritted his teeth, then prepared to start the test.

But just then, Gao Neng leisurely sauntered over to his side, an enigmatic expression on his face.

"Do you know how you lost the first round?" Gao Neng’s voice was quiet, but just loud enough for Shaximo to hear.

"Hm? What did you say?" Shaximo’s eyes flew open.

"You might not believe this, but during the first round, the real pressure I felt was only at Tier Six and Tier Seven. Believe it or not?" Gao Neng whispered again.

"Heh..." Shaximo scoffed.

Of course, he didn’t believe it.

’Only an idiot would believe that!’

’Zhang Hongying helping Gao Neng cheat? Not unless she wanted to quit her job as an instructor.’

’Besides, there were too many ways to get caught. All those researchers were watching with their own eyes. Frankly, Shaximo didn’t believe Zhang Hongying was that stupid.’

"Hm, it seems you really don’t believe me. But that’s fine. You’ll believe me soon enough." After he spoke, Gao Neng glanced over at Zhang Hongying.

"What do you mean?" Shaximo was a little curious.

"Because you’re going to lose this round, too. Your bones aren’t as strong as mine, and they’re not as dense, either. Believe it or not?" Gao Neng said again.

"Of course I don’t believe you!" Shaximo retorted without a second thought.

"Heh..." Gao Neng said no more, simply turning and walking to the side.

??? Shaximo watched Gao Neng walk away, feeling a bit lost. For a moment, he couldn’t quite grasp what Gao Neng had meant.

But soon, it seemed to dawn on him.

’Was Gao Neng implying that he’d win again—in a situation where it was impossible for him to do so—just to prove that Zhang Hongying was secretly helping him cheat?’

’Naive!’

’How could you possibly win?!’

Shaximo might lack confidence in other areas, but when it came to his bones, he was incredibly self-assured. After all, his bone strength could genuinely match that of a Tier Seven Late Stage expert.

Most importantly, training one’s bones had always been exceptionally difficult.

There was a scientific basis for this.

The human skeleton goes through three distinct stages.

The first stage is from birth, when the skeleton is in its growth phase. Bones are relatively pliable, making injuries from falls less likely. The second stage lasts from adolescence to middle age, a period when the bones are extremely hard but have essentially solidified.

The final stage is old age.

In old age, bones become brittle. Even a minor fall can lead to a fracture. They become like pig iron—hard, yet brittle.

In short, the human skeleton changes gradually over time.

This also made training one’s bones an extremely complex affair.

Within the Human Alliance, there were countless prominent families and sects. Yet, throughout history, most of them focused on cultivating qi or preserving health. How many actually paid attention to the bones?

Only the Esoteric Sect!

The Esoteric Sect’s emphasis on bones was unparalleled.

Bone was the very foundation of the Esoteric Sect’s cultivation.

’You, a nobody from no sect or school, think you can surpass me in bone training? Impossible!’ Shaximo would die before he believed such a thing was possible.

And in fact, Shaximo’s confidence was indeed justified.

Take Li Tiannan, for example!

As one of the Strongest, Li Tiannan’s physique had long since reached the ultimate level of enhancement, surpassing Tier Nine. He was immeasurably stronger than the King Realm of the alien races.

And yet, when Gao Neng produced the White Jade Bone Forging technique, Li Tiannan’s eyes lit up.

The reason?

It was because his bone conditioning was his weak point.

With the White Jade Bone Forging technique, the most Li Tiannan could strengthen his bones was to the level of an alien King Realm. But even so, he treated it as if it were a priceless treasure.

This just went to show how rare a Bone Forging Technique was.

Shaximo was very confident.

Gao Neng was equally confident.

One possessed the Esoteric Sect’s Bone Refining Technique; the other, a King Realm Bone Forging Technique from an alien race. As for the outcome, they could only await the machine’s analysis.

The tests for bone strength and density could, in fact, be considered one and the same.

Because the higher the density, the proportionally greater the strength.

The measurement method certainly wouldn’t involve applying intense pressure, or forcefully twisting and pulling the bones. After all, if bone tissue were damaged, the consequences would be dire.

The bone testing method primarily relied on rays.

The Alliance’s research labs used state-of-the-art X-rays, supplemented by ultrasound, to measure the bones’ response and determine the results.

This test was also harmless to the human body.

Shaximo was the first to stand before a testing machine.

Gao Neng, however, simply smiled and took a couple of extra steps to stand before another testing machine nearby.

Then, the rays began to scan.

The scan started with the bones of the head.

First came the X-ray scan, then the ultrasound probe. The process was quick.

Gao Neng didn’t feel anything special. He just had the faint sensation of being seen through. ’Hmm... of course, that might just be my imagination.’

In any case, the density test results for their skulls came out quickly.

Normal bone density is generally represented by a T-score.

However, the Alliance had reformed this measurement system. Just like the values for muscle strength, the results corresponded directly to the Tier system, making them easy to understand.

"Shaximo, skull density: 7.96."

As soon as this value appeared, everyone was shocked. It meant Shaximo’s skull was incredibly hard—even harder than that of a typical Tier Seven expert.

It had reached a full 7.96!

Sure enough, there was a reason Shaximo, a monk, was bald.

After all, he was hard-headed!

And then, Gao Neng’s skull density value appeared.

"Gao Neng, skull density: 7.95."

It was a value lower than Shaximo’s.

But the moment this number appeared, everyone, including Zhang Hongying, was stunned. Their eyes went wide in disbelief.

"Impossible!" Zhang Hongying blurted out.

This was absolutely impossible!

Because Gao Neng was only at the Tier Five Late Stage. In other words, he hadn’t even completed the magnetization process for his bones. How could his skull density possibly reach a value of 7.95?

"Is there something wrong with the machine?!"

"That has to be it. That number is impossible!"

"How could Gao Neng’s head be as hard as Shaximo’s? He hasn’t trained in the Iron Head Skill!"

The others exclaimed in shock as well.

Shaximo’s hard head came from practicing the Iron Head Skill, but Gao Neng hadn’t trained in it. For his skull to be only 0.01 behind Shaximo’s was truly unbelievable.

The crowd didn’t believe it.

Shaximo didn’t believe it either.

’What?! Gao Neng’s skull is as hard as mine? Only a 0.01 difference?!’ The scanning process wasn’t soundproof, so Shaximo could hear the discussions outside.

Gao Neng could hear it too.

So, he was a little bummed out.

’What the hell?’

’My head is actually 0.01 weaker than Shaximo’s?’

’This isn’t scientific!’

’So much for the King Realm Bone Forging Technique!’

’That liar, Li Tiannan! He must not have given me the original version!’

Gao Neng was not happy.

But regardless of what either of them thought, the scan continued.

After the skull density results, next came the sternum and upper limb bones.

"Shaximo, sternum density: 7.88. Upper limb bone density: 7.89."

These were another set of terrifyingly high numbers.

They indicated that Shaximo’s bone density was genuinely on par with a Tier Seven Late Stage expert. He had leaped over an entire major Tier; his strength was absurd.

But immediately after, Gao Neng’s numbers appeared.

"Gao Neng, sternum density: 8.15. Upper limb bone density: 8.35."

...

Silence. Utter silence.

And then, an uproar.

WHOOSH!

The entire laboratory erupted.

"How could this be?! Gao Neng’s sternum and upper limb bone densities actually reached 8.15 and 8.35! His bones are even stronger than Shaximo’s?!"

"I don’t believe it!"

"If the machine isn’t broken, I’ll eat shit right here and now!"

No one could believe it.

Zhang Hongying didn’t believe it either.

If she weren’t the instructor, she would have suspected Gao Neng of cheating with the researchers, because these numbers were absolutely impossible.

"Hahaha, Gao Neng really is stronger than Shaximo!" After seeing the numbers, Fang Tangtang stared in a momentary daze before erupting with joy.

For her, the news that Gao Neng’s sternum and upper limbs had reached 8.15 and 8.35 was sweeter than honey.

Because she was also practicing this very same Bone Forging Technique.

In other words, Gao Neng’s present was her future.

How could she not be thrilled?

"Sister Ning’Er, look! Gao Neng’s bone strength is over 8! He’s at the level of a high-level Tier Eight! This is great! The Bone Forging Technique he gave me is incredible!" Fang Tangtang chattered excitedly to Shen Ning’Er beside her.

"Bone Forging Technique?" Shen Ning’Er asked, puzzled.

"Yeah, the Bone Forging Technique! I’m sure you have it too, right, Sister Ning’Er? Gao Neng showed it to me, so I’m practicing it now!" Fang Tangtang quickly added.

"Gao Neng gave you the Bone Forging Technique?" Shen Ning’Er’s eyes lit up. Her gaze shifted to Gao Neng in front of the machine, and the corners of her lips curved up into a mysterious smile.

Unfortunately for Gao Neng, who was still standing in the testing machine, he happened to overhear Fang Tangtang’s excited words and see the look Shen Ning’Er shot his way.

’I’m screwed, this is bad! I forgot to give the Bone Forging Technique to Shen Ning’Er!’ Gao Neng felt a chill run down his spine. ’This is going to be the death of me.’

He had given the Bone Forging Technique to Fang Tangtang to help her level up faster, but now it seemed that decision came with some rather serious side effects.