Free Web NovelChapter 144: Chapter 143: Dragon Elephant Minor Accomplishment, Heaven-Reaching Demon Martial Arts
As he achieved Great Success with his Pharmacist Skill, Fu Juemin was also flooded with a massive influx of Buddhist Teachings.
He had studied the Purifying Light Saber manual many times before, but now as he contemplated it again, every move and stance revealed a completely different meaning, as if it were an entirely new form of Martial Arts.
Fu Juemin practiced the entire saber technique several times. A glazed halo rippled across his body, taking a short while to completely dissipate.
The [Glazed Pure Radiance Slash] was one of the three ultimate killing moves of the Purifying Light Saber. His previous understanding of it had been merely superficial, like light skimming across the surface of water, but now his comprehension was far deeper.
’To better master this saber technique, it would be best to forge a Pharmacist Master Zen Blade. The materials, the blade’s body, and the guard all have special requirements. I’d also have to catch the first rays of sunlight with the blade every morning, visualizing it as pure glaze while absorbing the pure morning qi. Every evening, I’d have to hold the saber and chant the Pharmacist Buddha Sutra, feeling the rhythm of the blade and sutra...’
These were the "optimal cultivation methods" for the Purifying Light Saber that Fu Juemin had realized after referencing Buddhist Scriptures and Teachings.
The Pharmacist Skill was even more of a hassle.
After reaching Great Success, continuing to cultivate it further required him to perform acts of universal salvation to collect so-called... "Wish Power."
The mere thought of it gave Fu Juemin a headache.
’Just adding points is so much more straightforward.’
He shook his head, tossing all these convoluted cultivation methods to the back of his mind.
Any form of Martial Arts, when cultivated to a profound level, required adherence to its underlying principles. The Pharmacist Skill was no exception.
But having practiced the Pharmacist Skill for so long, Fu Juemin could already feel that the cultivation technique was incompatible with his personality. If he hadn’t started it so early and invested so much time, energy, and Skill Points, he would have preferred to pour all those resources into the Dragon Elephant Wisdom Seal.
’Fortunately, I got a lot of Skill Points this time. After spending two on the Pharmacist Skill, I still have one left over...’
Fu Juemin wasn’t in a hurry to use it, instead turning his attention to [Meat Mountain], the new Talent he had obtained from killing the Tai Sui.
’Let’s give it a try.’
He took a light breath, widened his stance, and focused his mind.
The next second...
RIP—
The brocade training uniform he had just changed into instantly ripped apart!
Masses of overgrown, gnarled, and coiling muscles burst from beneath Fu Juemin’s robes. His body swelled rapidly. In the blink of an eye, the slender young man transformed into a bloated mountain of stacked muscle, his form bordering on grotesque.
Fu Juemin frowned, attempting to control the rampantly proliferating muscles.
It seemed to have some effect.
The muscles, which had been growing haphazardly, slowly began to conform to his original skeleton, retracting inward and reshaping themselves...
’I have so much extra muscle now. What would happen if I used it to exert force in combination with [Soft Bone]?’
A flash of inspiration suddenly struck Fu Juemin.
He decided to test it at once, immediately activating [Soft Bone].
He had tried activating two Talents simultaneously before, but this time felt different—Fu Juemin could clearly feel his Qi Blood depleting rapidly.
He paid it no mind and continued his attempt.
[Soft Bone] combined with [Meat Mountain]—exerting force!
A huge bulge instantly shot up on Fu Juemin’s back. The bulge then began to move upward, growing larger with every inch it traveled, the power accumulating within it surging violently.
From an outsider’s perspective, it would look as though the already bloated Fu Juemin had sprouted a gigantic, constantly pulsing, "living" ball of flesh on his back!
The bulge moved slowly but steadily over Fu Juemin’s shoulder and toward his arm. But before the immense power within could be channeled through...
BANG!
Fu Juemin’s entire arm suddenly exploded. It didn’t gush much blood, but chunks of pinkish-white flesh were sent flying everywhere.
’It’s not working!’
Fu Juemin deactivated both Talents. The muscles around the exploded area contracted automatically, and soon, not even a wound was visible.
’The internal power is sufficient, but it’s too diffuse and unrestrained. It’s too hard to control...’
In other words, the extra muscle strength from the [Meat Mountain] Talent wasn’t enough to withstand that terrifying internal exertion of force.
’I need to add an outer ’shell’ to bind, compress, and guide this power...’
Fu Juemin pondered this and naturally thought of [Copper Hide].
Using [Copper Hide] to reinforce the muscles of [Meat Mountain] might just allow this power to be unleashed successfully.
HISS—
Activating three Talents at once was something even Fu Juemin had never attempted.
He took a deep breath, gritted his teeth...
THUD!
[Copper Hide], [Soft Bone], and [Meat Mountain]—the three powerful combat Talents activated all at once.
In that instant, Fu Juemin heard a deafening boom that seemed to emanate from the very depths of the ancient earth.
It was the sound of his own heartbeat!
WHOOSH—
Fu Juemin’s vision went black. He instantly deactivated the Talents and raised a hand to his nose, his fingers coming away dark red with blood.
Just that momentary activation had consumed nearly a third of his abundant Qi Blood, despite his status as a Blood Gate Martial Artist, leaving his body slightly drained.
Within the Dantian in his lower abdomen, the white vortex of Innate Primordial Qi began to spin, rapidly replenishing what he had lost.
’Still not working...’
’But it’s not that the idea is wrong; my body just can’t handle it. Even the Iron Body granted by the Great Success Pharmacist Skill can’t withstand the terrifying strain of activating three Talents at once...’
A glint flashed in Fu Juemin’s eyes. He gently wiped away the nosebleed with the back of his hand. Then, as if coming to a decision, he gritted his teeth and spent his last remaining Skill Point on the [Dragon Elephant Wisdom Seal]!
On his character panel, the [Dragon Elephant Wisdom Seal], which had been at "Entry Level," instantly changed to "Mastery."
In the Basic Attribute Bar, his [Attack] attribute, which was already at a high 30 points, flashed and jumped to a staggering 35!
The [Defense] attribute also soared to 26!
RUMBLE!
Fu Juemin felt as though dozens of volcanoes had simultaneously erupted within his once-tranquil body.
KRA-KRA-KRAK— His muscles and bones groaned in unison, popping and cracking loudly.
The skeletal frame of his "Pure Body," already considered perfect from achieving Great Success in the Pharmacist Skill, was brutally widened and reinforced by a more primitive and savage power!
His frame became visibly more robust.
Feeling the searing, abundant Qi Blood raging through him like a furnace, and sensing his significantly more powerful physique, Fu Juemin didn’t hesitate. He activated all three Talents at once again.
[Copper Hide], [Soft Bone], and [Meat Mountain]!
Unlike before, although Fu Juemin’s body still swelled rapidly, the growth of every inch of muscle now seemed far more solid and stable.
Large patches of dark red patterns, like scabs or copper rust, spread across the surface of his massive body. The grating sound of groaning bones echoed ceaselessly...
THUD— THUD-THUD—
The sound of a heartbeat, as if echoing from the depths of the ancient earth, rang out again and again.
In his Dantian, the white vortex of Innate Primordial Qi spun frantically, shrinking as it was rapidly consumed.
HUFF—CHH—HUFF—CHH—
Fu Juemin panted heavily like a great beast, each exhalation kicking up a gale and carrying a rolling wave of heat.
It was as if a roaring steel furnace was hidden inside his body!
Fu Juemin’s eyes were bloodshot and his vision was blurry. His mind was a chaotic mess, with only a single thought remaining: ’Endure! I have to endure and see this through!’
In a daze, the Pharmacist Buddha Dharma Form deep within his Consciousness manifested.
But this Pharmacist Buddha Dharma Form, majestic and entirely azure, was now trembling violently...
CRACK—
A black crack appeared on the Dharma Form’s brow, and large flakes of its treasured, glazed light peeled away like porcelain shards.
CRACK-CRACK-CRACK—
More cracks followed until, with a final, crisp sound, the entire Dharma Form disintegrated.
In its place...
...were the Demon Boar, the Black Snake, and a gently swaying, flesh-colored Lingzhi.
The three Demon Souls were bathed in raging black fire, their bodies gradually melting. Then, the surging black flames began to rise, faintly outlining and piecing together a new, ferocious, and terrifying Dharma Form in the very spot where the Pharmacist Buddha once stood...
SWOOSH—
At that moment, Fu Juemin’s eyes flew wide open, and two beams of crimson light shot out from the depths of his pupils!
Just as his terrifying aura reached its absolute peak, he suddenly deflated like a punctured wineskin and collapsed to the ground.
Sweat poured off him like rain, and he was on the verge of total collapse.
Yet, having returned to his original form, his face was radiant with an almost feverish glow.
His eyes burned as he stared at the domed ceiling, at the spot where the light poured in. He reached out a hand, as if trying to grasp something...
"Pure Body and glaze... compassion and universal salvation..."
"What damned Pharmacist Skill..."
"A Demon Magic Dharma Form... power to shatter all methods... Heaven-Reaching Demon Martial Arts!"
Fu Juemin’s expression was dazed as he muttered, "This... this is the path I am meant to walk."
