After returning to his courtyard Sun Li started studying the scroll gifted by Elder Liu.
"Divine Jade Refining Art"
"A profound body cultivation scripture, that is rumored to give immortal physique when cultivated to perfection. It is divided into two great realms, Body Refining and Bone Forging Realm each with progressive stages that temper flesh and marrow while doubling strength at every breakthrough. "
"In the Body Refining Realm, the cultivator advances from Copper Body, where flesh hardens like metal, to Iron Body, where muscles become cords of steel, and then to Silver Body, where vitality surges and the body gains resilience akin to refined silver. Entering the Bone Forging Realm, one forges Golden Bone, where the skeleton resounds with immense power, before reaching the pinnacle Jade Bone, where bone and flesh merge into unbreakable jade, granting strength and endurance beyond mortal limits."
According to the Divine Jade Refining Art there five levels to body cultivation. They are Body Refinement, Bone Forging Realm, Organ Refining Realm, Origin Martial, Divine Strength Realm.
So if one masters the Divine Jade Refining Art they are comparable to foundation establishment level powerhouses.
Excited Sun Li opened his panel.
[Name: Sun Li]
[Age: 10]
[Cultivation: Divine Jade Refining Art (?) ]
[Skill: None]
[Martial Art: Nine Blood Transformation – Second Transformation (1%)]
"Hmm.. what is this question mark?"
Curious, he pressed it.
Requirement – Third Blood Transformation.
Sun Li frowned, then slowly exhaled. "So that's the condition. Only after reaching the third rank of the Nine Blood Transformation can I begin cultivating the Divine Jade Refining Art. With the system's help, it will still take at least a year… maybe two."
Resolving himself, he left his courtyard. He needed resources, and Sun Hao could provide demon beast bodies, and with the family stipend, he could sustain his cultivation. All that remained was persistence and time.
---
Months passed, foul blood seeped out of Sun Li's pores as he sat cross-legged, his skin glistening under the moonlight. The stench of impurities filled the courtyard a clear proof he had reached major achievement in the Second Blood Transformation.
Opening his eyes, he flexed his arms slightly. His blood and qi flowed like roaring currents, every muscle filled with explosive vitality.
Ever since returning from the library, his resources had doubled, a clear sign the neutral faction was supporting him in secret. But lately this seemed to change, not only has the support weakened there was a decline of thirty percent from the usual supply.
Not far away, he spotted a familiar figure—his old neighbor, Sun Hao. To Sun Li's surprise, the boy's body had swelled by nearly twenty kilograms, yet his cultivation had advanced as well. He now stood proudly in the middle stage of Qi Refining.
With a surprised look Sun Li greeted him enthusiastically, after some pleasantry greetings, Sun Li asked with confused look "Tell me, what's going on? My share of resources has been dwindling since last month."
Sun Hao's expression turned awkward. "Ah… you didn't know? The collateral branch has been moving aggressively. They've been winning over neutral faction members and even some guest elders. My father said they promised them generous rewards."
Sun Li's heart sank slightly. The clan's balance of power had always rested between the main branch and the collateral. With the neutral faction as a mediator even though there was conflict all the time they weren't as severe as taking resource from the whole clan.
After some casual talk they parted ways, without looking around much Sun Li visited the scripture hall. When he entered he found Elder Liu and Wei discussing the current situation of the clan and nearby sea area.
After acknowledging Sun Li's presence Elder Wei continued "My intelligence have confirmed that at least twenty medium-sized island have fallen in the last five years, with almost no survivors from this islands."
With an ugly expression Elder Liu replied "Hmm... it seems there is an Awakened Demon from the Sea Ape clan that is leading this campaign against the Deep Wave Sect."
Upon hearing their conversation, his fists clenched at his side. A strong urge surged in his heart. He needed to get stronger very fast, to survive in this dog eating dog world.
Sun Li dropped to one knee and requested "Elder, my resource has been cut off, please... grant me something to accelerate my path."
After a long silence, Elder Liu finally moved her hand with effortless grace. A jade bottle floated through the air, landing gently in Sun Li's palms.
Her voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable weight.
"Dragon Strengthening Pills. Refined from the blood essence of a flood dragon. Each one carries enough force to temper your bones and marrow. But heed my words—its medicinal power is violent. Take no more than one pill per month, or your veins will burst before you can achieve anything."
Sun Li's breath quickened as he gazed at the crimson pills within. His heart thumped with excitement. He bowed deeply, his voice shaking.
"Thank you, Elder. I will not waste this chance."
Satisfied, Elder Liu flicked her sleeve in dismissal. She and Elder Wei resumed their discussion as if Sun Li had never been there at all.
Back in his courtyard, night shadows pooled across the stone floor. Sun Li placed the jade bottle before him, staring at the faint draconic aura leaking from its seal. His hands trembled, but his eyes burned with fire.
This is it… with the system's retention ability, even this violent energy will not be wasted, I'll surely break through.
He exhaled slowly, suppressing the trembling in his chest. Then, without hesitation, he uncorked the bottle. A faint hiss filled the room, like the breath of ancient beast.
Sun Li closed his eyes, swallowing the first pill.
[Martial Art: Nine Blood Transformation – Second Transformation (85%)]
The pill dissolved the moment it touched his throat.
A torrent of scourging energy erupted within his veins, like molten lava coursing through fragile clay pipes. His body convulsed violently, stream of energy splitting open tiny cracks in his skin and steams rising through his pores.
Too strong!
Sun Li clenched his teeth until blood seeped from his gums, ever inch of his body screamed as if they were being torn apart.
Luckily his system has flared to life, absorbing excess energy and retaining it in his body while also refining the energy endlessly, unfortunately the pain was relentless, threatening to drown his consciousness.
Hours passed like days. By dawn, his courtyard reeked of scorched blood and foul impurities, a dark puddle staining the stone beneath him. Yet his blood and qi surged with newfound power, roaring like a river in flood.
And so it began.
---
Days turned to weeks, weeks into months.
Each month, Sun Li swallowed another Dragon Strengthening Pill. Each time, the violent medicinal power rampaged through him, breaking and reforging his flesh, his marrow, his very essence. He endured nights of screaming agony, bones cracking like thunder, muscles tearing only to knit themselves back stronger.
By the tenth month, his body glowed faintly under moonlight, his skin radiating a coppery shine, tough and unyielding like forged metal.
---
[Ding!]
[Martial Art: Nine Blood Transformation – Third Transformation (100%)]
[Body Cultivation: Divine Jade Refining Art – Copper Body (Initial Stage)]
---
The moment the notification rang in his mind, Sun Li opened his eyes. He stood slowly, every movement radiating raw power.
He clenched his fist and threw a punch toward the courtyard wall.
Boom!
The reinforced stone cracked, shockwave rippled outward, scattering dust across the courtyard.
The courtyard were enforced to take attacks from Qi Refining Realm disciplines, showing his strength can know rival those of cultivators.