Imperial Cultivation

52: Chapter 50: Awakening

52 -50: Awakening

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The Dragon Blood Stone is a stone imbued with dragon blood.

Dragon blood is precious; even stones imbued with it possess just a trace amount of dragon blood, so slight that its value rivals that of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill and requires Ninth Grade Merit for exchange.

However, it is among the rarer items obtainable with Ninth Grade Merit; few opt for it, with most choosing the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill.

“Sir, since the Emperor has issued the decree, it will be swift, likely in the next couple of days,” Gao Lingfeng laughed.

While the two were speaking, a minor official reported that someone from the Auditing Department was outside looking for the Junior Minister.

It was a young clerical officer from the Auditing Department, youthful and with delicate features.

He brought Chu Zhiyuan a Ninth Grade Merit badge.

…

At midday, bright sunlight shone into the Hear Waves Pavilion, making the garden’s flowers even more radiant.

The green bamboo rustled, the breeze blew softly.

The breeze carried with it the faint scent of flowers and crisp air, blowing through the open window, onto Chu Zhiyuan, who was sitting cross-legged on the couch.

He sat cross-legged, wearing a moon-white robe, his hair falling loosely.

His left palm held a crimson stone, carefully examining it.

This Dragon Blood Stone was the size of a fist, crimson as blood.

It had already transformed into a jade-like quality, smooth to the touch, with a faint glow flowing within, resembling red jade.

But its color was deeper than red jade; if you stared at it, it seemed as if flames were surging, ready to ignite at any moment.

The Dragon Transformation Technique was surging, its speed about triple the usual.

The speed was not as fast as the Flying Dragon Ball, perhaps because the dragon blood was too thin, or the grade of dragon blood on this stone was not high enough, not comparable to the Flying Dragon.

He was surprised to find that the Dragon Transformation Technique was drawing power from the stone as it circulated.

The mercury-like silver breath within the Flying Dragon Ball transformed into True Qi when extracted, but the breath extracted from this Dragon Blood Stone was not True Qi.

It was a type of breath that could integrate directly into the Dragon Transformation Technique, not True Qi nor absorbed by the Meridians, very peculiar.

Super Sense observed for more than a dozen Circulations, and suddenly he had a flash of inspiration and began to operate the second-layer mental method of the Dragon Transformation Technique.

The second layer is refining acupoints.

Refining acupoints means opening and establishing acupoints.

This type of acupoint is an unusual existence, like an acupoint yet not an acupoint, seeming real yet seeming void.

This acupoint is like an acupoint on the Meridians but is not an acupoint; it is opened at the junctions of the Meridians by the Dragon Transformation Technique.

Such acupoints do not exist on other animals or humans; they are exclusive to the dragon body, resembling acupoints on a dragon.

Human acupoints are nodes on the Meridians, also places where Qi and blood converge, like the confluence of rivers.

The acupoints opened by the Dragon Transformation Technique, however, resemble vortices, places where breath and Qi can accelerate; with each acupoint opened, breath and Qi circulate faster.

The Perfection of the second layer of the Dragon Transformation Technique requires opening twenty acupoints.

The Twelve Meridians and the Eight Extraordinary Meridians all open one acupoint.

Once an acupoint is opened, the circulation of True Qi accelerates, and both strength and explosive force will significantly increase, thereby enhancing the power of Martial Arts.

…

When the second-layer mental method of the Dragon Transformation Technique was operating, the breath extracted from the Dragon Blood Stone rapidly gathered to his Dantian, but instead of entering it, it rotated around the Dantian.

This breath moved outside the Meridians, flowing freely through the flesh, continuously gathering at the Dantian, circling and spiraling, gradually forming a golden vortex above the Dantian.

Like an eagle spiraling above a rabbit on the prairie.

The mental method was urging, and the breath from the Dragon Blood Stone continuously integrated into the Dragon Transformation Technique’s breath, condensing into the golden vortex above the Dantian.

He had clear inner sight, seeing everything distinctly.

Initially thin, the golden breath gradually thickened with time, becoming more robust, denser, and purer.

Ultimately, it became dazzlingly golden, like a school of goldfish dancing in the ocean, magnificently grand.

The breath from the Dragon Blood Stone was plentiful yet ultimately finite; after about an hour, the Dragon Blood Stone turned into a piece of White Jade.

No breath remaining, just pure White Jade.

Chu Zhiyuan pondered for a moment and opened the Cold Jade Box.

Instantly, the circulating second-layer Dragon Transformation Technique accelerated, the golden vortex’s rotation speed increased swiftly, spinning faster and faster until it abruptly contracted inward.

Finally, it contracted fiercely, consolidating into a golden, radiant bead, resembling a Flying Dragon Ball.

“Boom!” The golden bead suddenly exploded.

He immediately felt the earth shake, the rumbling incessant.

Dizzy and disoriented, with a five-sense disorder, even the Super Sense was ineffective at this moment, and his body and mind were plunged into chaos.

His body vibrated intensely, trembling incessantly, his vision blinded by flashes of golden light, obscuring all else, akin to electrocution.

Once calmed, the five senses restored, and the Super Sense regained clarity, he discovered that his Dantian had become a vortex.

The Misty Purple Energy of the Great Purple Sun Technique transformed into a massive vortex, resembling a purple nebula, spinning as though slowly yet containing immense momentum.

When he observed it, facing the nebula-like vortex of purple energy, he experienced a thrilling sensation, as if an astonishing force could erupt at any moment.

Is this what it means to have opened an acupoint?

The first acupoint opens in the Dantian.

The vortex spins slowly, but when the spirit pushes the Great Purple Sun Technique, it provides significant assistance, facilitating the ease of operation, reducing consumption, and increasing operational speed.

He tested it, and the speed doubled, with mental consumption halved.

For someone with the Heavenly Yuan Technique, mental consumption is trivial, but for others, it means doubling the time they can operate their skills.

Twice the speed, double the operation time, compounding to mean daily cultivation efficiency is four times former levels, or even more.

A year’s worth equals four years for others, ten years equating to forty, how extraordinary!

He enthusiastically operated the Great Purple Sun Technique, repeatedly praising, never having imagined the Dragon Transformation Technique to be so astonishing.

The first-layer vein refining didn’t remotely show the power of the Dragon Transformation Technique.

…

When he withdrew from the wondrous state, he lifted his head to look at the sky outside the window.

The sun had inclined about thirty degrees westward, estimating it to be around two in the afternoon, so he prepared to go to another residence.

Looking at the faded Dragon Blood Stone, he shook his head.

The Dragon Blood Stone was good, but its use was too short-lived.

But the Flying Dragon Ball doesn’t contain such peculiar power, unable to help him develop the remaining acupoints.

If he could acquire more Dragon Blood Stones, new acupoints could be opened quickly; if not, he would have to painstakingly practice the second-layer mental method himself.

Operating the second-layer mental method of the Dragon Transformation Technique, True Qi purifies to a certain extent to undergo a strange transformation, similar to the breath extracted from the Dragon Blood Stone earlier.

This cultivation speed truly cannot compare to the assistance of the Dragon Blood Stone.

Can the Emperor bestow more?

He tossed the White Jade aside, got up, and left the couch: “Mo Yi.”

The elegant silhouettes of four women appeared, their colorful robes flowing, a fragrance wafting, instantly making the room feel romantic.

“This is a reward for you,” Chu Zhiyuan tossed the White Jade to Mo Yi.

This piece of White Jade was valuable, but to him, it was insignificant; he didn’t bother to spend the effort and directly rewarded Mo Yi and the others.

“Thank you, Princely Heir,” Mo Yi examined it and handed it to the other three women.

The four women covered their mouths and giggled, their smiles blooming like flowers.

The light in the room grew even brighter from their radiance.

Chu Zhiyuan said, “Get dressed, I want to go out for a while.”

——

The residence beside the Thick Earth Hall of the Bright Moon Tower is perfect for extreme cultivation.

The Emperor Earth Scripture constantly restores any injuries to the Meridians, allowing him to confidently and boldly reach extremes, challenge the Jade Tower, or practice other Martial Skills with reckless fervor.

He changed his clothing and exited the Prince Qing Mansion, quickly leaving Prince Qing Street, blending into the bustling crowd heading toward that residence.

In the small pouch at his chest, the Flying Dragon Ball lay quietly, positioned over his heart.

The Dragon Transformation Technique was operating frantically, without his urging, like a galloping horse that need not be reined.

He only needed to slightly focus his mind to direct the first or second layers.

As he left Prince Qing Street, the first layer of the Dragon Transformation Technique finally reached Perfection.

Unfortunately, this Perfection isn’t lasting, only valid within each Cultivation Realm.

Now at the Eighth Layer Realm, once breaking through to the Ninth Layer, the first layer of the Dragon Transformation Technique becomes imperfect again, requiring relearning.

His body autonomously operated the second-layer Dragon Transformation Technique.

Walking into the bustling crowd, more and more Martial Arts experts appeared, the proportion of Martial Arts experts in the crowd increased significantly, and if the Military Suppression Department couldn’t implement effective measures, there would certainly be trouble.

Chu Zhiyuan surveyed the various shops and stalls on both sides of the street, his sword-like eyebrows raised, his lips moving slightly.

Guo Chi and Zou Fang heard his voice in their ears simultaneously: “Three Grandmasters are tailing us, they come with ill intent, beware of splitting up, don’t get lured away.”

Both remained composed, with Guo Chi moving slightly closer to him.

“Let’s sit in the restaurant,” Chu Zhiyuan suddenly said.

Guo Chi and Zou Fang immediately understood his intent, stopping to enter with him, while the four Prince Mansion Guards stopped below the restaurant.

Chu Zhiyuan and the two others entered this Qiyun Tower.