Chapter 602: See You On Naihe Bridge With One Slash (1)

Li Xiaofei had assumed that the so-called selection process would involve a series of tests. He expected there would be evaluations of comprehension, examinations of physical aptitude and innate talent, and perhaps even tests of one’s temperament. At the very least, he figured there would be some formal procedures to follow.

But the reality surprised him. It turned out to be much simpler than he imagined.

“All descendants of the Yellow Emperor in Great Xia under the age of twenty-five with pure bloodlines and exceptional talent may come to the cemetery. They only need to walk a lap around the gravestones,” Li Lan explained.

“That’s much easier to handle,” Li Xiaofei remarked.

It seemed the Saints had their own unique methods of selection. Moreover, Li Xiaofei could sense that Li Lan’s approach was straightforward and efficient. She was much more reliable than Liu Shaji, who was often lackadaisical and dismissive.

With the plan decided, Li Xiaofei immediately turned to leave. He needed to inform Hua Qinglian, Hua Zhongyue, and the others about this development.

After he departed, a sudden gust of wind swept through the Cemetery of the Ancestors, causing the pine and cypress branches to sway. The rustling leaves sounded like whispers, as if the slumbering Saints were murmuring in the first moments of awakening.

***

A Grand Commander’s decree quickly spread throughout Xiajing City. The government announced a large-scale youth memorial ceremony to honor the heroes who had perished in the city defense war. The decision seemed reasonable and well-intentioned. However, the choice of location—the cemetery behind White Deer Academy—caught many people by surprise. The memorial event was organized with great urgency.

Various institutions, schools, streets, and communities mobilized the eligible youth to participate in the ceremony. Before long, the once-quiet White Deer Academy was bustling with activity, as people arrived in droves.

Only a select few other than Li Xiaofei knew the true purpose of this so-called memorial ceremony to honor the fallen. But Li Xiaofei had no time to dwell on it. Between taking care of Tan Qingying, who was still unconscious, and fending off endless questions from her father, Old Tan, he was running himself ragged.

Old Tan had been acting strangely ever since Tan Qingying fell into a coma. Perhaps it was some kind of father-daughter bond, but he had become irritable and quick-tempered, often asking bizarre and inexplicable questions.

When Li Xiaofei finally had some time, he entered the Secret Time Pavilion to cultivate. The light was clear and bright inside the grand hall. Li Xiaofei sat cross-legged in the void, meditating on the Formless Nine Revolutions Golden Body Manual.

Thanks to his foundation in the Formless Sword Bone technique, his cultivation of the Golden Body Manual progressed relatively quickly. However, the technique required an immense amount of energy. Fortunately, the residual energy from the severed tail in his body had not been fully refined. This energy was now proving invaluable for his cultivation.

The first step involved tempering the bones and marrow. Li Xiaofei sent his inner qi through the more than one thousand qi pathways within his body to cleanse and refine his bones. The reason it was necessary to reach the Five Spirits Realm before advancing to the Golden Body Realm was because the Five Spirits Realm served as the foundation for forging a golden body.

It was only after strengthening the five vital organs and transforming them into a source of innate qi that one could then use that qi to impact the bones and marrow. The heart, in particular, played a critical role. As the engine driving the body's blood circulation, a powerful heart ensured the blood could flow more effectively, ultimately nourishing and refining the marrow.

The Nine Revolutions Golden Body Manual delved into the mysteries of human anatomy and physiology. It even incorporated aspects of medical science.

Li Xiaofei took his time as he methodically comprehended its intricacies.

Thump, thump, thump.

The sound of Li Xiaofei’s heartbeat grew louder and more distinct as time passed. He continued the process of moving and replacing his blood. His body acted like a taut membrane, and his blood-filled organs became drumsticks pounding against it.

Thump, thump, thump.

The resonance of his heartbeat reverberated through his bones. This rhythmic vibration extended into his marrow, shaking it awake. The profound essence of this process was far too intricate to be explained in just a few words.

Gradually, a faint glow began to emanate from Li Xiaofei’s skin. It looked as though his body had been coated in a thin layer of golden film.

In the Secret Time Pavilion, time did not simply pass—it flowed relentlessly. In the blink of an eye, ten days had gone by. Li Xiaofei slowly exhaled a mouthful of turbid air and opened his eyes. At this moment, his entire body was covered in a faint golden hue. He looked like one of the bronze men from Shaolin Temple.

The Formless Nine Revolutions Golden Body Manual—First Revolution: Skin like Gold.

Once a practitioner completed the first revolution, their skin would become like gold, impervious to blades and bullets and resistant to fire and water. However, this milestone held little significance for Li Xiaofei.

His body had already been tempered to an extreme through earlier cultivation methods. Another ten days passed as he continued his cultivation. The golden glow on Li Xiaofei’s skin started to grow increasingly brilliant.

Second Revolution: Muscles like Gold.

Once he reached the second revolution, the golden essence extended from the skin into the flesh and muscles. The transformation of his body felt akin to being reborn.

Yet, the enhancement still wasn’t particularly significant for Li Xiaofei. He continued to press forward with his cultivation. Another month passed in the blink of an eye.

Now, Li Xiaofei’s entire being resembled a golden statue as it radiated an awe-inspiring divine brilliance. His muscles appeared semi-transparent, and beneath them, his bones gleamed as if they were forged from pure gold.

Fifth Revolution: Marrow infused with Gold.

This revolution marked a crucial turning point in the Golden Body Realm, signifying the complete refinement of both muscles and bones. The sixth and seventh revolutions would focus on transforming the blood and marrow.

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

This was the most critical stage. Successfully transforming the marrow would allow the practitioner to forge the Golden Body. In ordinary Golden Body Realm techniques, achieving marrow refinement was equivalent to completing the realm.

However, the Formless Nine Revolutions Golden Body Manual went beyond this threshold by introducing the eighth and ninth revolutions. These final stages involved using the transformed blood and marrow to reforge and reshape the entire body. This made the technique far more profound than standard body refinement techniques.

Li Xiaofei paused briefly, his golden body radiating energy, before preparing to tackle the ultimate challenge: the transformation of blood and marrow.

Considering the time compression in the Secret Time Pavilion, he still had more than six months until the Stellar Holy War. Li Xiaofei decided to focus entirely on cultivation and ignore the outside world for the moment.

In the blink of an eye, another two months had gone by. Li Xiaofei now resembled a golden sun, as his entire being seemed to radiate a dazzling light. Every bone in his body glowed with a blinding divine radiance.

His blood and marrow had undergone a complete transformation, as it now produced golden blood that nourished his flesh and internal organs. His body grew stronger with each passing moment.

“Eighth Revolution: Body as a Furnace—complete.”

A smile spread across Li Xiaofei’s face. This was the first time he had immersed himself so deeply in cultivation and dedicated himself entirely to understanding a single technique. He had progressed faster than he had anticipated.

He had now spent six months in the Secret Time Pavilion. In this half-year, he had cultivated the Formless Nine Revolutions Golden Body Manual to the Eighth Revolution. This marked his entry into the Golden Body Realm. If he had been cultivating a standard Golden Body Realm technique, this would signify complete mastery of the realm, allowing him to advance to the Dao Union Realm.

However, the Formless Nine Revolutions Golden Body Manual still had one final revolution to complete. The Ninth Revolution awaited. It was the ultimate challenge. The Ninth Revolution was the ultimate level. The so-called supreme of the nine symbolized the pinnacle.

The Ninth Revolution wasn’t just the completion of the Golden Body Realm, but a true unveiling of its mysteries. It was also what set the Formless Nine Revolutions Golden Body Manual apart from all other cultivation techniques.

“Let’s continue,” Li Xiaofei murmured. He felt like he was in peak form.

He resumed his cultivation, taking out the star cores he had collected from slaying colossal star beasts. He absorbed the energy within each star core, channeling it to sustain the immense energy demands of the Ninth Revolution.

Another three months passed in the blink of an eye. The golden glow around Li Xiaofei had fully receded into his body. His skin and muscles had returned to a normal color, but they now looked far more refined. His complexion was now jade white and flawless, as if it had been sculpted from the finest gemstone.

His muscle contours had also changed. Gone was the exaggerated iron-like physique that screamed raw power. Instead, his muscles now flowed smoothly and elegantly, displaying a restrained and harmonious strength.

Li Xiaofei slowly moved his limbs, testing his body. He moved fluidly through the Great Strength Vajra Fist. He could feel an immeasurable strength within him, as if his body housed the depths of an endless abyss or a vast galaxy.

It was a peculiar sensation to realize that he was incredibly strong, but he couldn’t quantify just how strong he truly was. He gently clenched his fist, and a tornado spontaneously erupted violently in the enclosed space.

The sheer force startled even Li Xiaofei himself. This was a new realm of strength.