Chapter 80: Strength Surges, Peak Jun Level
Author: Gu Zhenren
2013-02-09
The first bath in the Marrow Cleansing Cauldron yielded good results. However, when Chu Yun eagerly attempted a second session, he was cautioned by the Marrow Cleansing Cauldron.
While the medicinal bath was remarkably effective, the body requires at least six hours to absorb the medicinal properties. This means… one can only bathe twice a day.
Chu Yun, however, caught the underlying meaning: “So, you’re saying there’s still some residual medicinal power within my body that I haven’t absorbed, correct?”
“Precisely,” the Marrow Cleansing Cauldron replied.
Hearing this, Chu Yun’s face couldn’t help but show a hint of surprise and joy.
What did this mean?
It meant that the full effect of this medicinal bath wasn’t achieved yet. Only after six hours, when the medicinal power was completely absorbed, would the full effect of the bath be realized.
“Extrapolating from this, wouldn’t one medicinal bath be equivalent to consuming a Supreme grade Dragon Eye Fruit?” Chu Yun was exhilarated by this discovery.
“Refine two more portions of the medicinal paste,” Chu Yun commanded the Marrow Cleansing Cauldron. He hadn’t forgotten about Jin Bihan and Xiao Xiaoxian.
“I refuse! We only signed an ally contract, you can’t order me around,” the Marrow Cleansing Cauldron began to act up.
“Very well. It seems you truly want a beating!” Chu Yun patted his Immortal Pouch and rearmed himself.
*Bang bang bang…*
After a thorough beating.
“I’ll refine it, I’ll refine it! Oh, I am truly pitiful…” the Marrow Cleansing Cauldron wailed, once again succumbing to Chu Yun’s might.
The second portion of medicinal paste was soon freshly made.
However, Chu Yun didn’t hand it over to Jin Bihan first. Instead, he summoned Xiao Baozi.
“Mas-master…” Xiao Baozi, appearing as a boy, was exquisitely made and very timid. He was frightened by the Marrow Cleansing Cauldron and hid behind Chu Yun, his chubby little hand gripping Chu Yun’s leg tightly, his small body trembling uncontrollably.
“Another Tribulation Demon?!” The Marrow Cleansing Cauldron immediately widened its eyes, then its expression turned solemn. It asked Chu Yun, “What kind of demonic creature is this? It doesn’t feel like a Demon Soldier, nor does it possess the aura of a Demonic Beast or Demonic Plant. I can’t discern its origin.”
The Three Sovereigns and Four Emperors existed in different eras, and Xiao Baozi had been hidden by the Night Emperor for a long time. It was normal for it not to know.
“Marrow Cleansing Cauldron, you’re getting old. The times are constantly changing,” Chu Yun said, not answering directly but using it as a chance to chide it.
The Marrow Cleansing Cauldron withdrew its gaze from Xiao Baozi and looked at Chu Yun. It pondered, this young man in front of him, why did he give off such an unfathomable feeling? His trump cards seemed endless.
Chu Yun had Xiao Baozi consume a Dragon-Tiger Strength Elixir first… After savoring it, Xiao Baozi immediately revealed the detailed prescription and the powerful side effects of the Dragon-Tiger Strength Elixir.
The Dragon-Tiger Strength Elixir was not only expensive to produce but also had a very low success rate in refinement, less than ten percent. After its effects wore off, one would fall into an extremely weak state, with strength less than one-tenth of their normal level. Furthermore, each Dragon-Tiger Strength Elixir consumed would shorten one’s lifespan by three years.
Despite the severe side effects, one Dragon-Tiger Strength Elixir could forcibly elevate a Jun level expert to Marquis level. The medicinal effect was still quite considerable.
As for future usage, it would depend on the specific situation and the Monster Tamer’s own choices.
Next, Chu Yun had Xiao Baozi swallow a small portion of the Marrow Cleansing medicinal paste. Xiao Baozi quickly identified the medicinal ingredients as Marrow Cleansing Flower and Marrow Cleansing Grass. However, when Chu Yun asked if it could refine it, it shook its head, stating that success would be difficult.
“This Tribulation Demon of yours can actually deduce a prescription from a finished pill, truly remarkable. However, to refine the Marrow Cleansing medicinal paste, a Postnatal Tribulation Demon like it certainly can’t do it. Under this sky, only I, possessing Innate Original Essence, Innate Wood Essence, and Innate Water Essence, can create it based on the Dao aura contained within the True Essence,” the Marrow Cleansing Cauldron said somewhat smugly.
“So that’s how it is,” Chu Yun mused, rubbing his chin. “If that’s the case, then as long as I find these three True Essences and cultivate this Tribulation Demon into an Innate Tribulation Demon, it should be feasible, shouldn’t it?”
“In fact, sufficient Innate Original Essence is all that’s needed. Innate Original Essence is the purest Innate True Essence. If a trace of fiery energy is mixed in, it transforms into Innate Fire Essence. Fusing with water vapor forms Innate Water Essence. However, even so, where can one find Innate True Essence in Xingzhou nowadays?”
The Marrow Cleansing Cauldron said, raising its snowy white eyebrows proudly, “Therefore, if you want to refine the Marrow Cleansing medicinal paste, you’ll still have to rely on this old fellow!”
“That’s not necessarily true. If I were to dismantle you, wouldn’t I also obtain Innate True Essence?” Chu Yun, unwilling to see the Marrow Cleansing Cauldron so pleased with itself, intentionally sized it up.
It truly became nervous, “Hey! What kind of idea is that? How is that possible! These True Essences have already completely fused. If you dismantled me, everything would be lost, and you wouldn’t get anything.”
“That’s hard to say. Maybe you’re lying to me.”
Chu Yun’s smile made the Marrow Cleansing Cauldron feel very apprehensive.
“Forget it. I’ll refine it for you, no matter how much you want. Please stop looking at me like that, it makes me feel… uneasy…” The Marrow Cleansing Cauldron deflated, unwilling to gamble with its own life, and could only concede with a paper pledge.
Over the next three days, Chu Yun took six medicinal baths. Each bath was even more effective than consuming a Supreme grade Dragon Eye Fruit. These six baths significantly improved Chu Yun’s physical fitness.
Physical fitness had always been the bottleneck restricting his strength, but with its improvement, he now had the capital to absorb the spirit light from Dong Yin.
Dong Yin finally understood Chu Yun’s intentions.
“You can’t do this, spare me!” he cried and pleaded endlessly, but Chu Yun turned a deaf ear.
“If you do this to me, you will die a horrible death! I am the junior brother of Marquis Wu Chang. My Falling Locust swarm and my Falling Gourd were collected for me by my senior brother from the Yellow Springs. If you kill me, my senior brother will never let you go!” In his desperation, he revealed a secret, attempting to threaten Chu Yun.
“I didn’t expect Dong Yin to be roommates with the Nine Nether City Lord! This is quite a revelation.”
“There’s nothing to it. Back then, the Passionate King was the sect leader of our Divine Thief Gate.”
“Heh heh heh, while there’s no comparison between the two, they share a common trait: making too many enemies. Their backers dare not acknowledge them, fearing trouble.”
Chu Yun and the other two chuckled for a while, treating Dong Yin’s threat as a joke.
Dong Yin finally fell into complete despair, passively accepting Chu Yun’s actions like a walking corpse.
His spirit light was completely absorbed, but Chu Yun only managed to absorb about one-third before reaching his physical limit again.
To change the Marrow Cleansing Cauldron’s ally contract to a master-servant contract, this spirit light was far from enough. Unless Chu Yun reached the King level, he wouldn’t have the capital.
He hatched the Six Desires Heart Demon Scorpion’s demon egg and obtained this Supreme grade Heart Demon Beast. Newly born, it was only palm-sized, like a brilliant crystal, flashing with six-colored brilliance alternately.
The Riot Ape’s Tribulation Demon Crystal was also completely absorbed. The cultivation of the Innate Drunken Snow Saber immediately skyrocketed, nearly doubling to 360,000 years.
He also examined the Passionate King’s Immortal Pouch. This Upper grade Immortal Pouch was named “Paradise,” with fragrant flowers, gentle breezes, and patches of peach orchards, creating a pleasant scenery. In the center of the peach orchard grew a Luck Demonic Plant. It was none other than a Pan Tao Tree.
The Pan Tao Tree had not yet borne fruit, but it was said that one Pan Tao could increase a Monster Tamer’s lifespan by ten years. Chu Yun couldn’t help but think of the Dragon-Tiger Strength Elixir; if he had Pan Tao, he could use it with peace of mind.
With the “Paradise” Immortal Pouch, the two original Middle grade Immortal Pouches became redundant. Chu Yun gifted them to Xiao Xiaoxian and Jin Bihan.
Now, he only wore two Immortal Pouches, which were more convenient than the average person’s five or six.
Finally, there were the Falling Locust swarm and the Falling Gourd, a set of demonic creatures. Chu Yun was lacking in area-of-effect attacks, so he took them for his own use and signed master-servant contracts.
Thus, his demonic creature lineup gained three new Tribulation Demons: the Marrow Cleansing Cauldron… the Falling Locust King, and the Falling Gourd.
His spirit light also reached the peak of Jun level, just one step away from advancing to Marquis level.
However, this step was rather difficult.
In addition to spirit light, one must also comprehend nature, walk their own Dao, and realize their own Reason. Just like Erlang Tian Jun, who comprehended the Reason of mountains and rivers and forged his own Dao.
Only then could one advance to Marquis level and emit Marquis level pressure. Otherwise, even if spirit light increased through the Spirit Snake, it wouldn’t cause a qualitative change.
Of course, Chu Yun wasn’t the only one whose strength surged.
Xiao Xiaoxian and Jin Bihan already had physical fitness superior to their spirit light. Over these three days, after taking medicinal baths, their physical bodies improved again.
Chu Yun used the Spirit Snake to first absorb Dong Yin’s spirit light, then infused it into the two of them.
They already had a foundation and were greatly supported by Chu Yun. They immediately broke through their limits, both advancing to Jun level.
Xiao Xiaoxian’s eyes turned red with emotion, and he blurted out uncontrollably, “Sect Leader, from now on, if you tell me to go east, I won’t go west. If you tell me to climb a mountain of knives, I won’t go into the sea of fire. Even if you have special needs, and I have to sacrifice my looks, I will fulfill your needs, Sect Leader!”
“Scram!” Chu Yun kicked Xiao Xiaoxian away.
Xiao Xiaoxian rubbed his aching backside but felt supremely happy, grinning from ear to ear, his heart filled with sweetness.
“It’s hard to imagine I’ve actually become a Jun level expert,” Jin Bihan felt as if she were dreaming. Since breaking through that barrier, her relationship with Chu Yun had rapidly heated up over the past few days, and she was immersed in happiness.
In stark contrast to them was Dong Yin.
His face was expressionless, his complexion ashen, and his eyes unfocused. The fact that his spirit light had been depleted had essentially robbed him of the will to live.
He had enemies all over Xingzhou. Without strength, he couldn’t survive.
“Kill me. To die by your hand, Chu Yun, is an honor of sorts.” Finally, he actively sought death, showing a trace of manliness.
Chu Yun granted his wish. Half a day later, the Wine King and Erlang Tian Jun finally arrived together, both bearing minor injuries.
“There were some unexpected events. We discovered a dragon tomb and fought with Greedy Wolf King, Marquis Wu Chang, and others,” the Wine King laughed heartily, apparently having gained much.
“It seems Brother Chu has also had a fortuitous encounter,” Erlang Tian Jun noticed the extraordinary movement beneath Chu Yun’s feet.
“It’s nothing much. I just ran into Dong Yin Bi Miaoshe,” Chu Yun said with a faint smile.
The Wine King then saw Chu Yun’s new footwear and was moved, “You actually eliminated that scoundrel Dong Yin?” (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to (quu…) to cast recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.) (Provided by Purple Cherry Scorpion King, recruiting new members QQ group 97349073).
