C508 The First Drop of Blood Essence
Since it's a breakthrough, the Skin Stage is naturally not the goal. The spirit liquid around him thinned a bit, but it wasn't completely used up. Plus, Woo Zhengyang still had a good amount of spirit liquid within him, making it easy to enter the Inner Stage.
Woo Zhengyang had acquired the Inner Stage cultivation method during the Heavenly Martial Dao Discussing Great Association in the previous world. He had studied it several times in preparation for this day. Even after entering this body-tempering world, he never considered practicing any other method because the "Dragon Elephant Five Elements Technique" was beyond his imagination in terms of quality.
At first, Woo Zhengyang was intrigued by the "Five Elements" part of the name, as the Inner Stage involves cultivating the internal organs, which align with the five elements. The name alone suggested its complexity. However, after researching further, he realized his initial assumption was wrong. The most remarkable aspect of this technique was the "Dragon Elephant" part.
Body Tempering cultivators, or Martial Disciples, aim for the strength of a bull. When their physical power reaches the strength of ten bulls, equivalent to 2,000 pounds, they achieve the strength of a tiger, which is the threshold for the Skin Stage. Skin Stage warriors cultivate the strength of a tiger, and when their physical power reaches the strength of ten tigers, or 20,000 pounds, they are on the verge of touching the Inner Stage. This 20,000-pound mark is the elephant strength among Body Tempering cultivators and serves as the benchmark for those in the Inner Stage.
Woo Zhengyang initially thought that the Dragon Elephant was a type of mythical beast, or perhaps the creator of this technique added the name just for its appeal. Later, Woo Zhengyang discovered that the Dragon Elephant wasn't a mythical beast but a sacred one, named so because it contains the essence of a divine dragon within.
The "Dragon Elephant Five Elements Technique" doesn't simply cultivate the power of the elephant but rather the power of the Dragon Elephant. This power is derived from the Dragon Elephant borrowing a trace of the dragon's essence, which subtly includes the dragon's strength. Above the power of the elephant lies the power of the dragon, which doesn't symbolize the Tendon Bone Stage above the Inner Stage.
From the Inner Stage up to the Imperial Body Stage, practitioners cultivate the power of the elephant. Only upon reaching the Emperor Body Stage can they cultivate the power of the dragon. In other words, the power of the dragon is something only a martial emperor among body tempering practitioners can cultivate.
The "Dragon Elephant Five Elements Technique" allows body tempering practitioners to develop the power of the Dragon Elephant. Initially, this power doesn't differ much from others, but as one progresses to the King Body Stage, the Venerable Body Stage, and even the Imperial Body Stage, the differences become apparent.
For instance, at the Venerable Body Stage, the typical power of blood and energy, even at its peak, is equivalent to the strength of ninety-nine elephants, or about 198,000 pounds. However, the power of the Dragon Elephant can reach three times that of the ordinary elephant's strength, surpassing the Venerable Body Stage and reaching the Imperial Body Stage. One can imagine the vast difference this creates.
If we were to use previous standards, this "Dragon Elephant Five Elements Technique" might not reach the Imperial Rank, but it would certainly qualify as Emperor Rank. Woo Zhengyang believed that no matter how hard he tried, he probably couldn't find a more powerful technique than this.
Of course, the higher the rank of the technique, the more complex it becomes, and it's much harder to master than ordinary techniques. However, Woo Zhengyang wasn't too worried about this. His energy cultivation technique was already extremely challenging, and now that his body tempering technique had surpassed a major stage, he could afford to slow down a bit.
Speaking of energy cultivation, Woo Zhengyang had been concerned for quite some time. Due to his Ice Crystal Fire Body, Woo Zhengyang had to synchronize his energy cultivation with his body tempering. This was why it was so difficult for him when he became a Martial Master.
Currently, Woo Zhengyang's energy cultivation was still at the early stages of the Reality Condensing Stage, while his body tempering was advancing rapidly. He was very worried about losing balance.
Woo Zhengyang was eager to return to the previous world to catch up on his energy cultivation. However, he realized that rushing back wasn't possible, which frustrated him even more, as he thought his body tempering progress would also come to a halt because of it.
It was Bing'er and the other three women who helped Woo Zhengyang see things clearly. The reason the Ice Crystal Fire Hall required simultaneous advancement in energy cultivation and body tempering was to maintain balance. But Woo Zhengyang's true essence was currently restricted, almost as if it didn't exist.
Woo Zhengyang now qualifies as a typical Body Tempering cultivator, so there's no need to worry about that issue anymore. In fact, this is a rare opportunity. If Woo Zhengyang can reach the Inner Stage, then when he returns to his original world, progressing from the Reality Condensing Stage to the Shape Gathering Stage in his Qi cultivation will be smooth sailing. He'll just need to amass a large amount of sword-shaped genuine Qi.
The Inner Stage involves refining the internal organs and other minor aspects with Heaven and Earth Vital Energy, aiming to push the Body Tempering cultivator's physique to its peak. Practicing the "Dragon Elephant Five Elements Technique" not only involves refining the inner self but also requires aligning with the Five Elements to condense a vital essence. This essence is the source of the Dragon Elephant's power.
With the spirit liquid pouring in, Woo Zhengyang easily stepped into the Inner Stage, but he struggled to condense this vital essence. The "Dragon Elephant Five Elements Technique" relies on this essence; without it, he can't continue his cultivation, so Woo Zhengyang keeps trying repeatedly.
The five organs contain the Five Elements, which give birth to the Primordial. The Primordial is formless and intangible, with only innate energy, a state of the universe more primitive than chaos. It is said that the Primordial can evolve into all things. The "Dragon Elephant Five Elements Technique" aims to harness the power of the Five Elements within the organs to develop the power of the dragon. Even a trace of dragon power, when merged with the power of the elephant, completes the Dragon Elephant's strength!
After countless attempts, Woo Zhengyang felt like he was going crazy. The power of the five elements was elusive, let alone mastering it. What he needed to do was not only gain control over this power but also make it flow according to his will, intertwining and separating at his command—a task that seemed nearly impossible.
During a break in his training, Woo Zhengyang quietly opened his eyes and noticed Situ Jingxiang had left the small lake and was standing on the shore, waiting for him. He realized she had sensed his impending breakthrough and chose not to compete for the spirit liquid, avoiding any disruption to his progress.
"She's truly a good person," Woo Zhengyang sincerely admired. Since she had shown such generosity, he was even more determined not to let her down. Closing his eyes again, he resumed his efforts.
He wasn't sure how much time had passed, but eventually, Woo Zhengyang felt as if he had grasped something. Under his control, it seemed like his internal organs had come alive. Each cycle of energy resonated with the natural order, and Woo Zhengyang felt like the ruler of this world, orchestrating everything.
It was a strange sensation, considering his body was his own. Yet, at that moment, he truly felt he had mastery over his internal organs. From there, things became much easier. Under his command, his organs worked in harmony, and a faint sense of energy emerged within him.
The sensation grew increasingly intense until it finally merged with a drop of vital energy. The first drop of essence blood was formed!