Chapter 5: Body Tempering and Healing

Ye Chen endured the pungent and bitter taste, drinking it all in one go. A strong medicinal heat from the soup entered his abdomen

Ye Chen thought to himself

He felt the slight internal injuries hidden within his body, the fractured subtle meridians, recovering under the powerful effects of the sixth-grade red blood vine. The areas where the blood vessels were blocked, which had been faintly painful, quickly became unobstructed. The flesh no longer ached, the areas where the fascia had been worn were nourished, and the scars in the bone marrow also tingled slightly

Ye Chen used to refine his physical body for two hours each day, which was already the limit of his training

... ...

At night, a sliver of moonlight spilled in through the window, and Ye Chen lay awake on the simple wooden bed.

In the mid-stage of body refinement, levels four to six, the entire body's bone marrow becomes solidified, and the vitality within the bone marrow gradually intensifies. As the vitality becomes more potent, it nourishes the tendons, bones, and muscles, which in turn refines the physical constitution. Consequently, the martial artist's strength also increases.

These three sets of sixth-grade herbs will greatly benefit his body refinement training

Daily practice of striking the wooden post accumulates subtle ruptures in the meridians, commonly referred to as internal injuries. Within the blood vessels, small clots of stagnant blood may also remain

In the initial stage of body refinement, levels one to three focus on exercising the flesh, fascia, and bone marrow

Although the medicinal herb garden in the ancient scrolls cannot continue to cultivate herbs for the time being, Ye Chen is still very pleasantly surprised

The medicinal properties of the苦参 (Kushen) after sixty years can maximally stimulate the vitality of the blood.

Ye Chen sat in meditation for an hour, then leaped up and threw a few punches, each executed with vigor and precision. He felt an unparalleled sense of comfort throughout his body, with no stagnation in his vital energy or meridians.

He sat cross-legged and began to meditate, channeling and absorbing the medicinal energy.

Ye Chen meditated to channel the medicinal power of the Crimson Blood Vine decoction

Ye Chen was lost in a whirlwind of thoughts.

There are still two sets of herbal medicine left, which can last for about half a month. These benefits all come from the ancient scrolls, so it is crucial not to lose this scroll. The ancient scroll must be securely stored! If this ancient scroll is stolen, there will be nowhere to cry.

Years later, the internal and external bruises had not been treated in a timely manner, accumulating to a point where it could render a martial artist disabled, suffering through the remainder of their life on a sickbed

A little waste is acceptable, regardless of these matters! Having eliminated the potential risks, the cultivation after reaching the fourth layer of the Body Refinement stage will proceed much more smoothly. In the future, it is necessary to increase the cultivation time and enhance the intensity of physical training!

This principle is well understood by all martial artists

During the day, it is kept close, and at night, it is tied up as well. Let’s see who can steal it

Ye Chen fully absorbed the medicinal properties of the Sophora flavescens, transforming it into vital energy and blood within the bone marrow

There are also petty thieves within the Northern Foot Academy; otherwise, the academy would not assign specific disciples to patrol the premises and the library at night to prevent thefts

The snake gall fruit is boiled into a medicinal liquid and poured into a large medicinal bath basin

The sixth-grade medicinal herb indeed possesses powerful medicinal properties

Ye Chen is currently at the fourth level of the Body Refinement Stage, which is the crucial time to enhance his vitality and blood energy to the fullest.

However, his room was empty, with a table and a bed, everything was clear at a glance, and he did not know where to hide.

However, it is undeniable that the efficacy of the medication is remarkably good

Next, we will take Sophora flavescens! It nourishes the essence and strengthens the foundation, enhancing vital energy and blood

Ye Chen felt the immense impact brought by the abundant medicinal power and recalled the explanation provided by Boss Zhang of the herbal shop regarding this prescription. Moreover, Boss Zhang had mentioned at that time that it was merely a third-grade herbal remedy, not the sixth-grade herbal remedy he was using now

The scalding medicinal liquid caused Ye Chen to feel a searing pain all over his body, nearly making him cry out in agony, with tears of pain welling up in his eyes

Ye Chen simmered a herb, specifically a sixth-grade red blood vine, in a pot. After half an hour, it was reduced to a bowl of red medicinal soup

I used to rely on low-grade herbs of the first and second categories, which had very weak efficacy, making the treatment of internal injuries quite unsatisfactory, and the progress of body refinement was also very slow. Now, I have directly switched to using sixth-grade herbs, which have increased the potency of the medicine by several dozen times, and the effects are immediate

The higher the intensity of the training, the greater the degree of internal injury and the higher the level of the book.

Ye Chen revealed a youthful smile and fell asleep contentedly. He would need to practice the "Tiger Leap Sword Technique" early the next morning. While enhancing his physical cultivation and refining his physique were certainly important, without possessing top-notch martial skills, he would merely be a strong but reckless brute, lacking in true combat strength

This combination of medicinal herbs is an excellent formula for body refinement. If one has substantial financial resources and uses such a formula daily for body tempering, the progress in body refinement will undoubtedly be remarkably swift

If the herbal medicine for treating internal injuries and removing blood stasis is not taken in a timely manner, high-intensity training may instead lead to a rapid decline in physical condition

He is now fifteen years old. According to the strict requirements of the academy, he must reach the sixth level of body refinement before the age of twenty. Otherwise, he will be directly expelled from the academy.

To this end, he had to work tirelessly in the academy to find odd jobs, earning money to purchase body tempering and healing herbs. However, he could only afford first and second-grade herbs, which had minimal effects on healing and tempering the body. Once he overexerted himself in his training, his body would suffer.

There is also snake gall fruit, which treats external injuries to the skin and flesh

However, many civilian young martial artists cannot resist the temptation to become stronger and are eager for quick success. At the beginning of their training, they make rapid progress, breaking through one level of strength each year. However, due to a lack of herbal nourishment to strengthen their bodies, their physical condition quickly deteriorates, resulting in a situation where they are unable to achieve their goals and become stagnant in the early to mid-stages of body refinement.

I had previously practiced and accumulated quite a few hidden internal injuries within my body, and I have been troubled about how to completely eliminate them. This sixth-grade medicinal herb seems capable of completely eradicating the internal injuries.

Red Blood Vine, Grade Six. It treats internal injuries and invigorates blood circulation to dissipate stasis

Warriors focus on refining their physical bodies through rigorous training. The students in the lower academy must strike wooden posts with their fists, kick them with their feet, and collide their bodies against them daily. This practice is aimed at strengthening their physical form, enhancing their resistance to impact, and increasing their energy.

Simultaneously, a wave of external heat, mingled with the medicinal properties of the snake gall fruit, permeated through his skin into his body, healing the external injuries.

In a day or two, there may not be any significant issues, but over time, the subtle ruptures and extensions of the body's meridians can lead to continuous blockages of blood flow due to stagnant blood. Coupled with injuries to the muscles and bones, minor injuries can escalate into major ones, ultimately beginning to affect one's constitution

Ye Chen was very pleased

A set of sixth-grade herbs costs at least several hundred taels of silver. It is enough to match the living expenses of an ordinary family in the Kingdom of Wu for ten years, truly exorbitant! ... However, the efficacy of the medicine is remarkably good. If this prescription is used regularly to refine one's physique, it seems that it won't be long before one can reach the fourth level of body refinement. There is a strong possibility of advancing to the sixth level of body refinement.

In fact, martial artists in the fourth layer of body refinement generally use corresponding grade four herbs and medicinal books, which are sufficient for body tempering and healing, making it unnecessary to use higher-grade herbs. Ye Chen's use of grade six Blood Red Vine for his injuries is somewhat wasteful

Ye Chen sat cross-legged in the medicinal basin, absorbing the potency of the Sophora flavescens. He felt a vigorous flow of vital energy and blood surging within him, gradually filling his bones.

Soon, Ye Chen felt a warm and bitter medicinal force from the Sophora flavescens flowing deep into the marrow of his bones, and he suddenly sensed that every inch of his marrow seemed to be nourished.

It is important to note that herbal medicines of grade four and above are not sold in the herbal shops of Beilu Academy. They have long been acquired at a high price by wealthy families and large commercial associations, and thus do not fall into the hands of commoners like Ye Chen.

Ye Chen turned over, pondered for a while, and searched around the room. He found a piece of hemp rope used for miscellaneous tasks and tied the ancient scroll close to his body before lying down again

He then removed his coarse cloth garments and, with a "thud," jumped into the boiling medicinal basin, meditating in the liquid made from snake gall fruit.

He currently possesses three sets of herbs, all of which are of the sixth grade.

Ye Chen sat in meditation for nearly an hour, absorbing the medicinal properties of the bitter herb and snake gall fruit. Only after he finished did he emerge from the medicinal basin, wiping away the damp liquid. He felt refreshed and relaxed, as if he had become a different person. He changed into a clean coarse cloth shirt and lay down on the bed to sleep

Ye Chen endured a large bowl of bitter root soup brewed for sixty years, drinking it all in one gulp