In the family's quiet room, Yu Yuanchen slowly withdrew his cultivation, the faint arcs of electricity dancing around his body vanishing into him like swallows returning to their nest. Feeling the increasingly vigorous and solidified level 63 peak soul power within him, as well as the ceaseless, mercury-like flow of his robust qi and blood, he felt no sense of ease in his eyes.
After more than two years of painstaking effort, the Flesh Quenching and Marrow and Bone Quenching had already completed their initial tempering, laying a solid foundation. However, this was merely the beginning of the path of body tempering. Whether it was the further refinement of flesh or the deeper strengthening of bones, both required years of patient, grinding work; it could not be rushed, nor could it be accelerated. He could feel that the improvements in these two areas had already entered a plateau.
The next step, which was also the most perilous—the tempering of the internal organs—left him feeling unprecedentedly troubled.
The internal organs are the hub of human life activities, storing essence, qi, and spirit; they are far more delicate and fragile than bones and flesh. He had initially attempted to apply the "Qi and Blood Compression and Flushing Method" used for bone tempering to his internal organs, but the effect was minimal. In fact, due to a slight lapse in control, he had caused his qi and blood to surge in reverse several times, leading to dull aches in his internal organs. Had it not been for his formidable physique and his timely cessation, he would likely have been injured.
"This method is too fierce and unsuitable for the fragile five internal organs," Yu Yuanchen frowned in deep thought. "I must change my approach. The tempering of the internal organs must prioritize nourishment and harmony over brute force impact."
His thoughts drifted, and by combining the vague medical theories from his past life with his current understanding of the soul master system, a bold concept gradually became clear in his mind.
"The human body's five organs—heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys—belong to the five elements, corresponding to fire, wood, earth, metal, and water. This is the mystery of life's operation and the foundation of energy circulation," he pondered to himself. "If I want to temper the five organs efficiently and safely, I might be able to start from here."
But the problem followed immediately. He was a pure lightning attribute soul master; was he to introduce the power of the other four attributes into his body? That would be tantamount to self-destruction; the consequences of attribute conflict would be unimaginable.
"No, it is definitely not about introducing foreign attributes." Yu Yuanchen's eyes brightened as he grasped the key. "What I need is not the true power of fire, wood, earth, metal, or water, but the 'characteristics' or 'artistic conception' represented by these five attributes!"
He began to analyze them one by one:
"The heart belongs to fire, governs the blood vessels, and its nature is flaming, warm, and ascending. I do not need fire attribute soul power, but can I use my own lightning attribute soul power and qi and blood to simulate that 'vigorous, warm, and driving' artistic conception to nourish and temper the heart?"
"The liver belongs to wood, governs dredging, and its nature is free-flowing, growing, and burgeoning. Lightning attribute can also contain life force (spring thunder awakening insects); can I simulate the 'growth, stretching, and dredging' artistic conception to temper the liver?"
"The spleen belongs to earth, governs transformation, and its nature is heavy, bearing, and generative. Can lightning simulate the 'stability, transformation, and nourishment' artistic conception to temper the spleen?"
"The lungs belong to metal, govern qi, control respiration, and their nature is pure, astringent, and descending. There seem to be few pure metal attribute soul masters in this world, but wind attribute soul masters, whose power characteristics are 'agility, swiftness, and circulation,' are more compatible with the lungs' function of 'governing qi and controlling respiration.' Perhaps I can use the artistic conception of 'wind' to correspond to the lungs, simulating their 'clear, expansive, and descending' nature to temper them."
"The kidneys belong to water, govern the storage of essence, govern water fluids, and their nature is moistening, cold, and hidden. Thunder and rain are accompanied; after a thunderstorm, there is often sweet rain. Can I comprehend a trace of the 'nourishment, dormancy, and containment' artistic conception from lightning to temper the kidneys?"
His train of thought suddenly cleared! He did not need to become an all-attribute soul master; he needed to be a top-tier "imitator" and "learner"! By observing and studying the unique properties and patterns of power operation of wind, fire, water, and earth (and potentially wood in the future) attribute soul masters, he could reverse-engineer and simulate them. This would allow his own lightning power, which was essentially a coexistence of "destruction and creation," to derive corresponding "forms" with different emphases—gentle, burgeoning, heavy, clear, and nourishing—to complete the safe and effective tempering of the five organs!
"If this method succeeds, not only will the path of body tempering be promising, but my understanding and control of lightning power will surely reach an unprecedented height!" An irrepressible excitement surged in Yu Yuanchen's heart. This was undoubtedly a difficult and unknown path, but once traversed, the rewards would be immeasurable.
His goal became clear. He needed to observe and study the energy operation methods of soul masters with different attributes in large quantities. And on the continent, where could be more suitable than "Elemental City," which gathered the five major academies of wind, fire, water, earth, and lightning?
In the current Elemental City, the five major academies stood side by side. The Thunder Academy went without saying; it had close ties with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family, and its core teaching was the development and application of lightning attribute power. The Blazing Fire Academy specialized in fire, the Skywater Academy controlled water (ice), and the Godwind Academy studied wind. However, the original earth attribute academy—the Boulder Academy—was currently in a somewhat delicate situation.
The Elephant Armored Sect was ambitious and had been trying to annex the Boulder Academy to strengthen itself with its deep earth attribute foundation. The Boulder Academy was not monolithic, and some senior members and students had already been secretly infiltrated and wooed by the Elephant Armored Sect. However, the old dean of the Boulder Academy and most of the core teachers and students still held fast to the academy's independence and traditions, unwilling to become vassals of the Elephant Armored Sect. With the subtle support of the other four academies, especially those like Thunder and Godwind that were already on bad terms with the Elephant Armored Sect, the Boulder Academy was still struggling to resist the Elephant Armored Sect, maintaining a facade of independence, but the secret power struggle had never stopped.
As for the Plant Academy, which represented the "wood" attribute, it was located within the Star Luo Empire and was temporarily not in Yu Yuanchen's current plan.
After informing his grandfather Yu Boxuan and his father Yu Mingfeng of this concept regarding tempering the five organs and his plan to go to Elemental City, both were once again shocked by the wild yet logically rigorous ideas of their grandson (son).
Yu Boxuan pondered for a long time, a gleam flashing in his eyes: "Observing and learning the power characteristics of soul masters of various attributes to reverse-engineer the tempering of one's own body... Chen'er, this idea is truly brilliant! Although the path ahead is unknown, if you succeed, it will surely be an act of founding a school!"
He stroked his beard and continued: "Elemental City is a place where all kinds of people gather. If you go alone, although you can hide your identity, it will not be easy to get in touch with the core teachings and outstanding students of each academy. I have a close friendship with Lei Dongtian, the current dean of the Thunder Academy; he can be considered my half-disciple. Why don't I write a letter of recommendation for you to the Thunder Academy to serve as a teacher for the time being?"
"A teacher?" Yu Yuanchen was slightly stunned.
"That's right," Yu Boxuan laughed. "With your current Soul Emperor cultivation and your understanding and control of lightning power, especially the mystery of that 'Thunder God Power,' you are more than qualified to be a teacher at the Thunder Academy. There is a tradition of exchange between the Five Elements Academy, and sparring and visits between teachers are common. Using this as a bridge, you can observe, contact, and even communicate with teachers and outstanding students from other academies with a reasonable identity, which is much more convenient and safer than exploring on your own."
Yu Mingfeng also nodded in agreement: "Father is absolutely right. A teacher's identity is a very good cover, and it can also allow you to understand the teaching system of each attribute power more systematically, which may be more helpful for you to comprehend the 'artistic conception' of different attributes."
Yu Yuanchen thought carefully and felt that his grandfather's suggestion was indeed seasoned and thorough. Infiltrating as a teacher would avoid suspicion and grant higher permissions to access core knowledge, which was indeed infinitely better than being an auditor or a pure outsider.
"Grandson understands. I will follow Grandfather's advice." Yu Yuanchen bowed and accepted.
"Good! I will write to Lei Dongtian immediately. Prepare yourself; you can set off for Elemental City in a few days." Yu Boxuan was decisive. "Remember, this trip is about comprehension and accumulation. Unless it is a last resort, do not reveal your full strength and trump cards. The situation in Elemental City is complex, especially the entanglement between the Boulder Academy and the Elephant Armored Sect; you must be careful to avoid it and not get too deeply involved."
Yu Yuanchen nodded solemnly, his eyes shining with anticipation. Elemental City would be the next stop on his path of body tempering and exploring the true meaning of lightning. He was very curious: when the destructive lightning began to try to simulate the "gentleness" of other attributes, what kind of brilliant sparks would it collide with?
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: GodKun-Chan