Chapter 6: Spurious Fabrication of Bone-refinement Ranks_1

"The method of bone refinement has its particulars, it varies in stages…” Even though Xu Yan’s question about bone refinement was unexpected, Li Xuan remained composed. Having been an online novelist in his past life, he was good at making up stories. These days, consuming chicken soup stewed with Nine Leaves Yuan Mushroom had enhanced his memory and sharpened his mind, so he quickly figured out how to fabricate an explanation. "Today, your master will explain in detail the knowledge about bone refinement.” "Bone refinement is an extremely important foundation, it cannot be treated lightly. It determines the strength of your martial arts. If the bone isn’t strong, the body can’t be strong…” Li Xuan’s mind spun rapidly as he began weaving tales in an orderly manner. His theories fascinated Xu Yan who was nodding frequently, sometimes appearing as though he’s having sudden realizations. "So bone refinement has so many considerations. Luckily, my master often instructs me to be calm and patient, otherwise I would rush to refine my bones without understanding its principles. Wouldn’t that ruin my martial arts future?” Xu Yan sighed inwardly. "Indeed, I must heed my Master’s teachings. I must not be impatient, but calm and insightful!” The more he listened, the more he realized the depth of the bone refining stage, and once the bone refinement was complete, his strength would surely increase several times over. "I’m close to mastering skin refinement. After completing it, I must calm down and carefully contemplate the path of bone refinement before I start. I mustn’t rush!” Xu Yan made up his mind. Li Xuan concocted a story while watching Xu Yan’s expressions. Seeing his disciple attentive and serious, he nodded with satisfaction and said, “My child, remember, just because you start training slowly doesn’t mean your training will always be slow.” "Just like building a tower, the foundation is extremely important. If the foundation isn’t solid, it isn’t steady, it can’t withstand wind and rain, and it’s easy for it to collapse. It’s the same with cultivation. Pursuing speed in the early stages might limit your potential and hinder your martial arts progress.” "Many in the past have rushed their initial training, appearing gifted, but later on, with weak foundations, they progress slowly, sometimes even reaching their limits, unable to advance further.” Li Xuan shared these words to comfort Xu Yan, even though he hadn’t sensed qi and blood yet, he needn’t pursue speed in the foundational stage, ensuring a solid foundation was the key. However, when Xu Yan heard this, it invigorated him. He thought to himself, “Master is warning me. Although my training speed doesn’t compare to the gifted individuals of the past, as long as I have a solid foundation, I will surely surpass them in the end!” "My Master has high hopes for me, I can’t let him down!” "I must lay a solid foundation and surpass those legendary individuals!” Xu Yan felt an overwhelming wave of gratitude and said respectfully, “Master, don’t worry. I will remember your teachings, be patient, lay a firm foundation, and will not let you down!” Li Xuan nodded with satisfaction, saying, “I’m relieved to know that you understand my intentions.” He sighed inwardly: “Finally, I’ve managed to fool him again. Even if it takes him a month, or two months to feel the qi and blood, he should be able to stay calm right? Besides, having consumed the chicken soup stewed with Nine Leaves Yuan Mushroom, I’ve grown stronger and his body should be getting stronger as well. He must think that it’s due to his training.” "However, deceiving someone can only last for so long, especially when it comes to cultivation. Xu Yan may be a bit slow to the uptake, so I should come up with an exit strategy. This guy has a powerful background.” Having steadied Xu Yan’s mentality, the rest is easy. He just needs to let him continue his training. There’s still plenty of time for that one-year deadline. "Master, you mentioned bone refinement has stages, could you explain this?” Xu Yan asked respectfully. "Yes, indeed, bone refinement has different stages.” Li Xuan paused, nearly forgetting that he had to construct the stages of bone refinement. "If I make the difficulty for refining bone high, Xu Yan hasn’t even sensed his qi and blood and couldn’t even do skin refinement, the more difficult bone refinement would be even more of a stretch. "Once he can’t cultivate successfully for a long time, he will acknowledge the difficulties and think his talent isn’t enough, he would then suggest leaving and feels guilty for the master’s wasted efforts in training him… "If I give him another chance, like allowing his children to enter, and let him see a glimmer of hope, even if he can’t cultivate himself, let his children cultivate instead… "This way, the chances of being exposed become even smaller, I can also earn a bonus from his future children’s initiation ceremonies…” He had already deceived him once, so he doesn’t mind doing it a second time. Li Xuan decided that once everything was over, he would escape this small mountain village and hide in Wu Country. This way, the chances of running into Xu Yan again would be minuscule. With Xu Yan’s initiation ceremony gift, he could live a better life in Wu Country. He composed himself, putting on a serious expression and said, “The path of Bone refinement comprises four stages: refining the bone to Iron, refining the bone to Bronze, refining the bone to Gold, and refining the bone to Jade…” Xu Yan, looking excited, asked, “Iron Bone, Bronze Bone, Gold Bone, Jade Bone, are these the four stages of bone refinement?” Li Xuan shook his head and answered, “No! These are the four bone refinement stages that represent the potential limits of martial arts and the individual’s strength.” "Iron Bone is the most common stage of bone refinement for martial artists. Qi and blood temper the bones to be hard as iron, resistant to ordinary sword strikes. Of course, Iron Bone is just ordinary, the potential for martial arts isn’t high.” "Bronze Bone is stronger than Iron Bone, and its bones are like bronze. Even after death, it won’t decay for a thousand years. Once Bronze Bone is cultivated, the foundation is deep, and martial arts potential is higher, it is considered above average.” "Only upon reaching the Gold Bone stage, are you considered truly outstanding!” Li Xuan became solemn, “All the legendaries of the past, without exception, have reached the Gold Bone stage!” Xu Yan’s excitement reached a peak, his eyes gleaming as he asked, “Master, how can one cultivate to the Gold Bone stage?” Seeing Xu Yan’s enthusiastic expression, Li Xuan was a bit speechless. This fool, did he really think he could cultivate to the Gold Bone stage? This is just something I made up! So, he said seriously, “Be patient, don’t rush!” "Yes, Master!” Xu Yan quickly reined in his enthusiasm and sat up straight. "Once Gold Bone is achieved, even after death and burial for ten thousand years, it remains golden with hardness surpassing steel. But among the prodigies, only one in ten thousand can achieve Gold Bone.” Li Xuan spoke with a heavy tone, “When I said one in ten thousand, I was referring to one among many prodigies.” "Master, are there also different ranks among prodigies?” Xu Yan asked curiously. "Of course!” Li Xuan nodded, “It’s the same as with beautiful women. Even if they’re considered beautiful, there’s still a difference in levels. It’s the same with prodigies!” Xu Yan comprehended, “I see, just like the top showgirls in Chunxiang Building in the Eastern River County, while they are all considered beautiful, the Oiran is even more beautiful!” Li Xuan gave him a strange look, inwardly cursing him, as expected of a rich young man, he’s been to a few shady places! I want to go too! "Master, as your disciple, I was just making a comparison, I haven’t been there!” Upon noticing Li Xuan’s strange look, Xu Yan immediately explained embarrassedly.