Chapter 18: Cultivation Technique—Purifying Marrow, Recasting the Body

By the time Wu Tong returned to the academy, it was already late afternoon, nearing dusk.

He didn't go back to the dormitory, but instead headed for the mountain behind the academy.

At dusk, the rear mountain was gently embraced by the soft glow of the setting sun, radiating an indescribable sense of serenity and peace.

The sky was like a painter's palette, blending from warm orange-red in the west to deep blue in the east. Clouds were edged with golden sunlight, like the finest handcrafted art from nature.

Bathed in the sunset, the mountain ridges took on soft, warm outlines, as though draped in a veil of golden silk. The leaves swayed gently in the breeze, casting dappled shadows that danced across a carpet of fallen leaves, forming a living painting. Every step on the leaf-strewn path echoed with the traces of time.

The air here carried the faint scent of grass, wood, and earth. Anyone arriving would instinctively take a deep breath, receiving this gift from nature.

From a distance, the soft sound of a mountain stream might even be heard, clear and musical like a heavenly melody, adding vitality to the otherwise quiet evening.

Wu Tong reached the mountain summit and stopped beneath a tall tree. He looked up at it and gave a small nod.

"This will do. Based on the data, the Crimson Wheel Scripture: Lesser Yang Chapter can't absorb the sun's essence around noon—it's too intense. If I tried, I'd be burned to ashes. Only early morning and dusk are optimal times for cultivation, and now is just right."

Muttering to himself, Wu Tong gathered soul power and struck the ground.

Pure soul energy surged from his body, stirring the surrounding airflow and wrapping a breeze around his hand.

Guided by his will, the wind swirled and lifted up dust, weeds, and leaves from the ground.

With a gentle wave of his hand, Wu Tong swept the debris toward the edge of the nearby cliff.

He didn't mind the exposed brown soil at all and sat cross-legged on the now-cleared ground, beginning to circulate the cultivation route of the Crimson Wheel Scripture.

As the scripture activated, Wu Tong closed his eyes and calmed his mind. His breathing became steady and deep. A subtle resonance seemed to form between his body and the energy of heaven and earth. Surrounding energy began flowing toward him like the tide.

With each breath, the air itself seemed to shiver. A strand of sunlight pierced through the clouds and shone down on Wu Tong's body. The light was faintly red.

The 720 acupoints in Wu Tong's body began to emit a soft glow.

To the average person, these points were invisible, but in the eyes of Wu Tong—the creator of the technique—they sparkled like stars.

Bathed in sunlight, the acupoints seemed to awaken. They slowly began to spin like miniature vortexes, drawing in both sunlight and surrounding energy.

The two merged in the air and transformed into a gentler form of solar energy—Lesser Yang Energy.

With the continued circulation of the Crimson Wheel Scripture, the Lesser Yang Energy was absorbed into Wu Tong's body in a steady stream.

After being refined, the energy flowed gently through his meridians like warm water—abundant and pure, without the slightest hint of heat or discomfort. On the contrary, Wu Tong felt as though he were soaking in a hot spring.

His skin gradually became clear and luminous, as though draped in a thin golden veil—evidence of the surplus solar energy condensing on the surface.

This energy continuously tempered his skin, flesh, and bones. The impurities in his body were refined by the solar force and began to excrete through his pores.

Specks of black-red impurities surfaced on his skin and were instantly evaporated by the energy, releasing a pungent smell into the air.

Wu Tong didn't seem to notice at all and remained completely motionless, focused on his cultivation.

Changes slowly began within his body.

His blood circulation became more vigorous, ensuring better nourishment of all organs and promoting the removal of toxins. His body grew healthier.

His muscles grew denser and more compact. Strength increased, posture improved, and his body became more balanced, agile, and powerful.

His internal organs began to function in optimal coordination. Heart and lung capacity, bodily regulation—everything operated in harmony, enhancing metabolism and immunity.

Even his nervous system became more sensitive. Reaction time and coordination improved, allowing him to quickly adapt to changes in his environment.

As cultivation continued, Wu Tong was gradually evolving toward perfection—even if the process required immeasurable time.

…

As time passed, the sun in the sky gradually dipped toward the west. Yet its brilliance did not fade and continued to provide Wu Tong with a steady stream of energy.

Around his body, golden mist began to appear, slowly enveloping him completely.

Within that mist, Wu Tong felt as if he had entered a strange world—one without time, filled only with the endless flow and convergence of solar power.

Eventually, when the final rays of sunset disappeared beyond the horizon, Wu Tong slowly opened his eyes.

The golden mist around him began to fade away.

Wu Tong's eyes glowed with a dazzling light—the residual brilliance of unspent Lesser Yang True Qi. He stood up, posture tall and straight like a pine tree. His entire body exuded a sense of unshakable authority and strength.

Feeling the surging power flowing through his activated acupoints and filling every corner of his body, Wu Tong felt like he was swelling with energy. For a moment, he even thought he could blast apart a mountain.

But Wu Tong knew very well—this was just an illusion caused by the rapid increase in power.

As he adapted to the changes, the senses that had been sealed during cultivation slowly began to reawaken.

"Eugh—what's that smell? That stinks."

Wu Tong wrinkled his nose. The burnt stench of expelled impurities rushed up into his nostrils.

Sniffing carefully, he realized the smell was coming from his own body.

Disgusted, Wu Tong quickly channeled Lesser Yang True Qi from the acupoints through his meridians toward his legs. Then he blasted it downward from his feet into the ground.

A burst of recoil sent him flying away from the spot.

Using that momentum, Wu Tong's figure flickered like a ghost through the trees. Before long, he found a small creek in the rear mountain.

He hurriedly took off his clothes and leapt into the water to wash himself.

He scrubbed his body three times until not even the slightest trace of the stench remained.

Then Wu Tong climbed out of the stream, looking down at his completely bare body and the only set of clothes he had with him.

Resisting the urge to throw them away, he activated Lesser Yang True Qi, connecting with the creek water and lifting a stream into the air.

The water twisted and coiled mid-air under his control.

He tossed the foul-smelling clothes into the current and guided the water to thoroughly rinse through every seam and fiber, washing the stench away.

After the clothes were clean, he let the water fall near a tree.

Picking up the damp garment, Wu Tong used his true qi to gently evaporate the moisture from it.

Once dressed again, Wu Tong recalled what had just happened, and his expression turned slightly awkward.

'Looks like I should buy a storage soul tool soon. Better prepare extra clothes and basic supplies—whether I end up needing them or not, it's always better to be prepared.'

With that thought, Wu Tong began walking down the mountain.

(End of Chapter)

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