Chapter 13: Bone-Soaking Tempering (Requesting Votes at Dawn)

“Hmph, a mere cultivator at the fifth or sixth level of Qi Refinement, just barely managing to float objects with the help of a magical artifact—he can’t even fly using objects. How can that be considered a true mystical art?”

As Xu Xuan’s heart reeled with shock, the voice of the remnant soul from his past life echoed in his mind.

“That doesn’t even count as a real mystical art?” Xu Xuan was dumbfounded.

“Standing at the lowest rung of the cultivation world, how could you possibly understand? That Qi Refinement cultivator has merely stepped beyond the realm of ordinary mortals, just setting foot on the path of cultivation. If you ever encounter a true powerhouse of this world, you’ll realize just how vast it truly is,” the voice in his mind replied, tinged with disdain.

“So, just how vast is this world?” Xu Xuan, feeling his own insignificance, was suddenly overwhelmed with curiosity about this cultivation world he inhabited.

He was born in Yangmu Village, a poor boy who had never ventured farther than the neighboring town of Pinghua. Even the distant “Yellow Dragon City,” a thousand miles away, was only a name he’d heard in stories.

As for the true extent of the cultivation world, he had no idea, and those around him couldn’t say either.

“How vast is this world?” The voice of the remnant soul suddenly sounded strained and uncertain. “I am but a fragment of your will from your past life, and much of the higher-level memories are blurred and unclear.”

“In any case, what you see now is but the tip of the iceberg of the boundless cultivation world. On the path of cultivation, always remember to be cautious and steadfast—never arrogant or impatient.”

After these words, the remnant soul’s voice grew weaker and fainter.

“I understand,” Xu Xuan nodded, but then suddenly asked, “By the way, how is it you can suddenly appear in my mind and perceive the outside world?”

“You and I originate from the same soul imprint. In essence, we are the same person. Naturally, I can learn of the outside world through your mind. But my presence here is fleeting—both times today, it was the unusually intense spiritual energy outside that startled me awake.”

“...I dwell deep within your soul, and all my strength comes from you. The stronger you become, the more memories I can recover.”

With those final words, the remnant soul’s voice faded to nothing and slipped into slumber.

Xu Xuan took a deep breath, bought a few things in town, and hurried back to Yangmu Village.

On the way home, he continued to cultivate the third layer of the Breathing Technique, letting his mind reach that elusive, ethereal clarity.

To weave cultivation into every detail of daily life—that was the mark of true mastery.

At last, as the sun was setting, Xu Xuan rushed home to find his mother and younger sister waiting anxiously.

“Mother, Huilan, look what I’ve brought back!”

Xu Xuan smiled and set down a bundle from his back.

When he opened it, inside was a bag of spirit grain and a small packet of spirit vegetables.

Both Mrs. Xu and Huilan were stunned.

Spirit grain and spirit vegetables—these were luxuries ordinary families could not even dream of.

The contents of this bundle alone were worth at least a hundred spirit coins, equivalent to a month’s income for the Xu family.

“My goodness, child, where did you get the money for these? You didn’t...”

His mother’s face was stricken with worry, afraid that her son had done something unlawful.

“Don’t worry, Mother, Huilan! I got all of this with my own wits.”

Xu Xuan spoke with calm confidence, ushering his mother and sister into the house.

With a flourish, he poured out the money pouch; spirit coins clattered across the table.

Resting quietly among the coins were three subgrade spirit stones, shimmering with a mysterious light.

“Spirit... spirit stones!” Huilan cried out in amazement.

She had studied basic array methods in town and had seen inferior spirit stones before. After all, many items used by cultivators required spirit stones as their core power source.

“Xuan’er, where did all this money come from?” his mother asked, her heart pounding as she took in the small fortune before her—several months’ worth of family income.

Xu Xuan chuckled, deliberately mysterious. “Didn’t I tell you yesterday that I met a strange old man on the mountain?”

“The eccentric old man? The reclusive master who taught you that odd body refinement technique?” Huilan’s face lit up with excitement.

“Yes. He not only taught me cultivation methods, but also how to identify spiritual herbs and materials. Yesterday, I picked a few on the mountain, took them to the spiritual materials shop in town, and I never expected the things cultivators use would be worth so much!” Xu Xuan’s own excitement was hard to contain.

After all, this was the first real money he had ever earned in his life.

Hearing his explanation, his mother finally relaxed, her face easing into a look of relief, while Huilan beamed with pride.

That night, the three of them dined on spirit grain and spirit vegetables; each bite fragrant and nourishing, with gentle spiritual energy flowing through their bodies like a clear spring.

If they could eat such food every day, even without any cultivation, by adulthood their bodies would naturally rival those of a third-level body refiner.

“It’s a pity Father is still working at the Da Yang family’s estate. We should have him come home soon,” Xu Xuan said with a touch of regret.

“Last time you were injured, we borrowed six hundred spirit coins from the Da Xu family for medicine and treatment. Even though you’ve brought back over three hundred today, there’s still half left, and only ten days until the debt is due...” his mother said, still worried.

“Don’t worry, Mother, ten days is more than enough. I’ll gather more herbs and pay off the debt with ease,” Xu Xuan promised confidently.

This time, his mother and Huilan believed him without hesitation. After all, he had returned in a single day with so many spirit coins.

That night, Xu Xuan sat in meditation on his bed, his mind merging with the bright star within his consciousness.

Surrounding this star was a belt of tiny star-sand—memories from his previous life before the age of sixteen.

While cultivating the third layer of the Breathing Technique, Xu Xuan began to absorb and digest a wealth of knowledge.

This knowledge extended far beyond the “Compendium of Spiritual Fragrances,” encompassing countless insights into the path of cultivation.

Though these memories only spanned his previous sixteen years, they still greatly broadened Xu Xuan’s horizons and deepened his understanding of the vast cultivation world.

Unnoticed, during that night, Xu Xuan’s mastery of the third layer of the Breathing Technique reached a state of perfect completion.

To achieve the third layer in just a few days was a remarkable feat.

An ordinary person would need at least a year or more.

Even in his past life, it had taken him over half a month.

His rapid progress was thanks to his integration of insights and realms from his previous incarnation—a second cultivation, as it were.

“I’ve now mastered the third layer of the Breathing Technique. Tomorrow, I’ll head to the mountains to practice the third transformation: the ‘Drifting Step.’”

Xu Xuan looked forward to the day with anticipation.

...

In the desolate night sky, a few stars glimmered faintly, and the cool moonlight bathed Yangmu Village nestled among the mountains.

The Xu family’s dilapidated courtyard was but one among many in the village, yet it stood out for its poverty.

Several hundred meters away, in a grand two-story pavilion, a burly, broad-shouldered youth soaked naked in a large vat filled with blue liquid, his eyes flashing with a fierce light. “Xu Xuan, you’d better not fall into my hands next time.”

This was Xu Xiaohu, the boy Xu Xuan had bested the day before.

“Shut your mouth! After all these years of painstaking effort training you, you can’t even beat a poor wretch. You’ve brought shame to the name of Xu Dahu!” boomed the deep, cold voice of his father standing nearby.

Under his father’s stern, intimidating glare, Xu Xiaohu immediately fell silent.

Compared to his formidable presence at the mine, Xu Dahu now appeared somewhat weakened, bandages wrapped around several wounds.

His injuries from the other day had been severe, and though his body was tough from reaching the fourth level of body refinement, he had yet to recover fully.

By contrast, Xu Xuan was not only lively and unharmed, but had also advanced to the second level—truly a miracle.

With a splash, Xu Dahu tipped a gourd of gray medicinal powder into the vat, sending up a cloud of chilling mist.

Suddenly, the blue liquid in the vat shimmered with a strange, flower-like glow.

“This is high-grade ‘Bone-Soaking Essence’—not cheap, and it cost me years of savings. With your strength at the peak of the second level, just one or two days’ soaking will help you break through to the third level,” Xu Dahu said gravely, his eyes full of hope for his son.

“In half a month, the Town Academy will come to the village to recruit students—only six spots, and competition is fierce.”

“The Town Academy!” Xu Xiaohu’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, his body trembling with excitement.

As its name suggested, the Town Academy was far grander than the village school.

Entering its ranks meant access to a superior training environment and resources, as well as entry into the town’s social circle.

In short, to be admitted was to step onto a higher stage, drawing closer to success and recognition.

“Once you reach the third level, aside from the scions of the three great clans and two other strong contenders from the village, that last spot will be yours for the taking. Don’t let me down,” Xu Dahu warned.

“Yes, Father! I will not disappoint you. Admission to the Town Academy is my unwavering goal!” Xu Xiaohu declared, eyes blazing. Under his breath, he muttered, so softly only he could hear, “Xu Xuan, are you ready to endure my merciless revenge...?”