Rise of the Sword Son-in-Law

Chapter 139: Body Refining with Thunder Sword Qi

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"Master, please take me with you." Song Lingxue pleaded with a coy look.

Xu Ping’an, however, shook his head resolutely, "This time, the Refining Alliance has a spot to enter the Spirit Realm, and unless something unexpected happens, that spot should be yours. I’ll also participate in the Immortal Dynasty trial to compete for a spot in the Spirit Realm. In three months, you’ll naturally see me in the imperial capital."

"Master is going to participate in the Immortal Dynasty trial?" Song Lingxue asked, somewhat surprised.

Although she didn’t know how her master in front of her could obtain such a spot, every person that participated in the Immortal Dynasty trial was undoubtedly a genius.

She hadn’t expected that her master, besides being skilled in artifact refining, also possessed great talent in cultivation.

"Here are some of my summaries of experiences and insights in artifact refining, and there’s also a Refining Treasure Record. Once you’ve finished reading it, burn it. Don’t show it to anyone, and don’t tell anyone about it, including your father," Xu Ping’an handed two books to Song Lingxue.

"Okay, I will definitely do it," Song Lingxue nodded earnestly.

"I hope that when I see you again in just over two months, you will be able to refine an Intermediate Grade Spiritual Artifact," Xu Ping’an said.

During this time, he also helped Song Lingxue etch a Giant Transformation Talisman for her spiritual snake.

As long as she didn’t encounter a Fifth Rank expert, it should be enough to save her life.

"Master, I will definitely cultivate diligently and never bring you shame," Song Lingxue said reluctantly.

Xu Ping’an smiled and then left the Refining Alliance directly.

His goal had already been achieved, and next, he would head straight to Beishan Prefecture.

However, to enter Beishan Prefecture, one must pass through the County City.

Although Xu Ping’an had already disguised his appearance and no one could recognize him,

he still needed to be careful.

If his identity were exposed, that would be a big trouble.

...

The next day, within a traveling merchant caravan.

Xu Ping’an was driving a horse carriage, following the caravan as it moved forward.

At that moment, he was dressed like any other carriage driver, and the caravan had a total of twenty horse carriages and over a hundred people.

Xu Ping’an blended in among them, hardly standing out at all.

Still using the identity and appearance of Xu Feng, no one recognized him; to everyone, he was just an ordinary young man.

After leaving Giant Sword City, Xu Ping’an encountered this caravan, which was recruiting, and on a spur of the moment, he became a carriage driver.

The caravan’s destination happened to be Beishan City in Beishan Prefecture.

This coincided with Xu Ping’an’s own destination.

Since most of the caravan’s members were cultivators with low Cultivation in the First Layer Realm, the pace of travel was slow, and it would take at least a month to reach Beishan City in Beishan Prefecture.

Xu Ping’an wasn’t in a hurry; he drove the carriage and took Spirit Pills to enhance his Cultivation.

Now that he had unlocked all nine of his Mysterious Veins, next was breaking through to the Fourth Rank.

To do so, he must temper the bones in his limbs.

This process was extremely perilous for many cultivators, but for Xu Ping’an, who practiced Body Refinement, it posed no difficulty at all.

However, Xu Ping’an didn’t plan to simply temper.

Tempering typically involved nine layers.

Meaning the bones in one’s limbs would undergo nine rounds of tempering.

Each additional layer of tempering increased the difficulty.

But the benefits were substantial; not only would the bones become as hard as Mysterious Iron, but it would also continuously strengthen one’s True Yuan.

Yet Xu Ping’an didn’t wish to settle for such straightforward tempering.

While True Yuan tempering could make bones strong, Xu Ping’an believed it was far from sufficient.

To truly temper the bones to be extremely powerful, one had to use even stronger energy.

One would need a tremendous amount of energy to temper the bones in one’s limbs nine times.

Ordinary people, even if they wanted higher levels of energy, wouldn’t be able to obtain it.

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But Xu Ping’an was different; he possessed an extremely powerful energy within himself.

That was the Thunder Sword Qi of the Thunder Devouring Sword.

According to Xu Ping’an’s estimate, the energy of this Thunder Sword Qi was even more formidable than that of Immortal Elemental.

Yet what he was using now was just the strength of Thunder Sword Qi after it had been weakened countless times.

Even so, it was still significantly stronger than True Yuan.

But doing this was undoubtedly hugely risky, the slightest carelessness might result in his limbs shattering to pieces, leaving him completely disabled.

However, Xu Ping’an was not afraid; he had already started silently channeling the Thunder Sword Qi to temper his arm bones.

Tempering, put simply, was using energy to forcefully cleanse the bones.

The process was extremely painful, but Xu Ping’an endured it anyway.

If he used True Yuan for tempering, he could temper three times in a very short period of time without any problem.

But using Thunder Sword Qi to temper, he could only do it bit by bit, very slowly.

After three days, Xu Ping’an finally completed the tempering of his right arm bones.

The effect brought about by the tempering was also enormous.

The hardness of Xu Ping’an’s right arm bones not only increased by a factor of two, but his strength also increased by more than threefold.

Now, with a single punch, he could send a Third Rank, Ninth Layer Realm cultivator flying, even without using True Yuan.

This was much stronger than an average Fourth Rank, First Layer body refinement.

Having witnessed the benefits of tempering with Thunder Sword Qi, Xu Ping’an became even more determined in the path he was taking.

In the following three days, he also completed the first tempering of his left arm bone.

Thus, the first tempering of his upper limb bones was thoroughly completed.

He would also be considered to have reached a Semi-Step Fourth Rank.

Of course, in terms of combat power, even when facing a Fourth Rank, Third Layer cultivator, he would not be the least bit weaker.

...

Meanwhile, as Xu Ping’an was on the move and tempering his bones,

Sitting in the first carriage ahead of him was an elderly man alongside a young boy.

The boy had a graceful and handsome appearance, though he seemed somewhat immature.

The elderly man, with white hair and beard, wore a white tight-fit outfit, exuding an extremely spirited aura.

If Xu Ping’an were here, he would definitely recognize that the elderly man was a Fourth Rank, First Layer Realm expert.

As for the boy, his cultivation was not low either, already reaching the Third Rank, First Layer Realm.

"Old Master Fu, can we really go back this time?" concern flickered in the boy’s eyes as he tightly clutched the token in his hand.

The token bore the character "Fu."

"Rest assured, young master, we certainly can, and even if it costs me my life, I will make sure to bring you safely back to the family," the elderly man stated with determination in his eyes.

The young master before him was the hope of their family.

For the sake of the Fu Family and the young master, he would achieve this goal no matter what.

"But the Luo Family won’t let us go, especially Luo Yan," the boy spoke up.

Upon mentioning this name, a strong sense of anger flashed in his eyes.

If it weren’t for her, he would not have ended up in his current predicament, nor would the entire Fu Family be plunged into such danger.

"Don’t worry, we have already split into three groups and spread the message that the young master will return to Beishan City under the protection of those three groups; they will never expect the young master to be hiding in a merchant convoy," the elderly man assured him.

Hearing this, the boy nodded as well.

This time, they brought many people with them, but the elderly man had sent everyone else out, all to provide a diversion for him.

He, on the other hand, was hiding in the merchant convoy, quietly making his way back to Beishan City.