Ancient Strengthening Technique

AST 840 – The Heart of Roc in the Large Success Stage, Fated to Be

Everything seemed to be going very smoothly, at least more so than the previous attempt. Previously, he had felt that it was a little tough and he realized that the power of the Mysterious Fruit could seep out. And once it did, the power would be lost.

Qing Shui didn’t know what it was like for others to take it but he felt that he should be absorbing the power of the Mysterious Fruit to the best of his ability. The more he absorbed, the higher the success rate and the greater the benefits he should get.

Gradually, the aura in Qing Shui’s body slowed down. After a short moment, he abruptly opened his eyes, his face in a daze and then he broke into a delighted smile.

He has succeeded!

Now, Qing Shui realized that as long as he controlled it well, the success rate of the Mysterious Fruit was basically very high. It could even reach up to above 50%. The only thing was that it took a very long time for one Mysterious Fruit to mature and even with the current Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal, it would took over two years.

The success this time did not allow his Ancient Strengthening Technique to breakthrough to the seventh heavenly layer. However, one of Qing Shui’s techniques leveled up. This surprise made Qing Shui feel overjoyed.

It was because the Mysterious Fruit had let Qing Shui’s Heart of Roc reach the large success stage…

Toward the end, when Qing Shui sensed that his spirit energy had increased several times, he knew that his Heart of Roc might be reaching a breakthrough. It was because a huge increase to his spirit energy could let the prowess of the primordial flames increase directly.

As expected, when he saw the large success stage for the Heart of Roc lit up in his consciousness, he was happy beyond what words could describe. It was because the Roc form’s battle techniques require very harsh requirements to reach the large success stage. The time required was not short and it also required talent, opportunity and a high level of comprehension.

At the large success stage, the Heart of Roc could allow Qing Shui’s abilities to increase by several times. It was because Qing Shui had the Hidden Weapon Technique and could fully unleash the prowess of the Heart of Roc.

It could increase the prowess of the primordial flames by five times. Just thinking about it made Qing Shui extremely agitated. What wpuld five times the prowess be like? The prowess of the primordial flames could already become Qing Shui’s great weapon previously and now, it has exceeded the majority of Qing Shui’s other attacks.

It would not even lose out to the poison weapons which had been tempered with the five-colored poison. Poison weapons were expendable and would decrease in numbers after each use. They also require the help of the Hidden Weapon Technique and there were great restrictions. In all, it was not as good as the primordial flames.

The Primordial Flame Ball depleted a large amount of energy but was convenient. It was also very flexible and could even be condensed to form into the shape of a sword whose prowess was not to be undermined. Qing Shui could also channel the prowess of the primordial flames through some mysterious items.

It was like how, in the past, in Hundred Miles City, he could use the Gold Needles to channel the primordial flames and incinerate the heart of a Xiantian cultivator. He did not know if the Gold Needles could still handle the primordial flames as they were now.

The primordial flames could refine everything in the world but for some things, time was required. For example, in order to refine the 10,000 Years Coldsteel Needles, it would take the current primordial flames some time to accomplish things. To be able to refine everything in the world did not mean that it was something that could be accomplished immediately. Moreover, there are many mysterious things in the world which have a strong resistance for fire or are things that fire could not get close to.

Fire Repelling Pearl!

Legend has it that it was of a similar existence to the Water Repelling Pearl. It has a natural resistance toward fire and flames that got near to it would be pushed away. Other than the Fire Repelling Pearl, it was also said that there were the Earth Repelling Pearl, Wood Repelling Pearl, Metal Repelling Pearl, Thunder Repelling Pearl…

The five elements contradict each other and each of them was a treasure that was hard to come by. Qing Shui even returned his only Water Repelling Pearl to that old turtle.

Therefore, no matter how powerful the “fire”, when it comes across something that contradicts it, its prowess would also be diminished slightly. There were things that required a very long time to refine and could even take years.

Qing Shui thought of his Big Dipper Sword. He was not sure what material the Big Dipper Sword was made from but he knew that the previous primordial flames were not able to affect the Big Dipper Sword even after burning it for some time.

Therefore, he felt that the Big Dipper Sword might just be a great treasure.

“I have the 10,000 Years Coldsteel! I can give this a try. I wonder how long it would take to refine the 10,000 Years Coldsteel.” Thinking of this, Qing Shui was full of anticipation.

He had the 10,000 Coldsteel Needles which he had forged and thus there was no need to prepare other materials.

Taking in a deep breath, Qing Shui stretched out his hands to be parallel to the ground and started circulating the Ancient Technique Flames of Yin-Yang and his Qi of Ancient Strengthening Technique. Very quickly, a 6 foot long grey colored flame appeared in his hands…

This astonished Qing Shui. To think that it had improved by so much. Gradually adjusting his control, the primordial flames flames in his hand now continued to expand and contract with a throbbing temperature. Even the air was burned, leaving behind a black hole.

“How powerful!” Qing Shui smiled and could not help but exclaimed.

Qing Shui then started to gradually condense it. This was a technique and a process and in this process, he needed to be able to reduce the time spent to the shortest limit. Only then would it bring him more advantages when he was facing enemies.

With prior experience, he got the hang of it very quickly. However, when it was condensed to the size of an adult’s head, it had reached its limit and could not be condensed any more. Qing Shui sensed the two large flame balls in his hands which encompassed a terrifying temperature and prowess within.

Go!

Qing Shui tossed them out into the air!

The two grey colored flame balls that were the size of a human head collided, creating a tremendous explosion. The sky turned black for a moment before immediately recovering. Qing Shui knew that even if his opponent managed to survive the explosion, he would be devoured by the darkness.

Drawing out a 10,000 Years Coldsteel Needle and then channeling in his primordial flames, the 10,000 Years Coldsteel Needle which was as thin as a cow’s hair disappeared in the time it took for one to take a breath. Although it was very fine, it was made from 10,000 Years Coldsteel.

The time it took for one breath was sufficient. Qing Shui was very happy. If he could use it, it would only be a moment as well. Actually, what Qing Shui needed was not its resistance to high temperatures but he needed the material to be able to conduct quickly and it must also be tough enough. Otherwise, it would not even be able to pierce through experts’ flesh. Moreover, if he could hang on for just a short while, he could increase the penetrating impact of the 10,000 Years Coldsteel Needles.

Qing Shui thought of forging some slightly thicker 10,000 Years Coldsteel Needles. Being thin, the 10,000 Years Coldsteel Needle could be used to break through the defences of some experts. After all, being able to gather strength into one point would allow an increase in prowess.

However, who would be able to unleash their entire strength within a needle which was thin as a cow’s hair? Therefore, while everyone understood this theory, Qing Shui had yet to come across one who could put it into practice.

Qing Shui has been cultivating the Solitary Rapid Fist for many years and had even entered a state of epiphany once. Moreover, this was an ancient battle technique and he had only the achievements today because of the the ratio of the time he had in the Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal as well as him having an extraordinary perseverance.

Ordinary people would not be able to use Coldsteel Needles which were thin as a cow’s hair but Qing Shui could do it. It just took him some practice. In his hands, they could be miraculous needles which saved lives but they could also be fatal needles which robbed people of their lives.

In the remaining time, Qing Shui tried to practicing controlling his Primordial Flame Balls, trying his best to be able to condense them even smaller and to be able to do so in a shorter amount of time.

All in all, Qing Shui was very satisfied with the Mysterious Fruit’s effects this time around. After all, if a person were to continue to cultivate his Heart of Roc under normal circumstances, it would probably take the person at least ten years to break through to the large success stage. It would also require encounters and luck. He felt that he must have gotten a streak of luck this time around.

This made Qing Shui turn toward the last Mysterious Fruit. He had wanted very much to eat it. Maybe it would really bring him to the 7th heavenly layer…

Dreams were beautiful but reality was harsh. Regardless if it was medicinal pills or heavenly and earthly treasures, there would be a buffer period. The better the item, the longer the buffer period. Therefore, for something like the Mysterious Fruit, it would be about at least half a year. Moreover, the shorter the duration between both consumptions, the shorter the success rate would be.

To Qing Shui, this would only be a few days time.

Now, Qing Shui was thinking about whether he should be using it for himself or refine it into a Fate Pill. He was not able to use the Fate Pill for himself and if he were to refine it, it would be for the people around him.

In the end, Qing Shui decided to leave it for now. He might have an urgent need for it later. In his remaining time, he focused on his cultivation.

Right now, his happy mood had made him temporarily toss away all other thoughts. The breakthrough for the Heart of Roc caused Qing Shui to feel slightly arrogant…

……

Feeling satisfied, he left the Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal. The sky was just starting to turn bright. Qing Shui had spent half the time in the Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal. When he left, Yun Duan was still deep in sleep but he knew that she was going to wake up soon.

Martial arts practitioners were light sleepers and would be able to sense motions and the time they slept was also very short. It might be because she was with him or that it had been too tiring that she was now sleeping so soundly. He walked over softly, sat by the bed and looked at this lady whom he thought would pass by in his life forever. Even now, he still had the feeling that he was in a dream.

If they had not met, Hu Wei Adventurer Guild would definitely wipe them out completely. This stubborn lady would definitely not take the initiative to look for him, nor would she think that he would be able to solve a problem like this. This was fate. They had met and it was before this problem had arisen.

Therefore, even Qing Shui who did not believe in fate and affinity felt that this lady was blessed to him by the heavens. It was all fated.

Just then, Yun Duan opened her bright eyes. When she saw Qing Shui, her eyes twitched a little. Her long lashes were like small fans and were very beautiful. She was covered in a thin snow-white blanket, giving her an additional sacred feeling. Together with the bedsheets under her, she appeared very dignified and he could not help but think of how he had embraced her her last night.

Qing Shui smiled and reached his hands in, “You’ve waken up? Why don’t you sleep a little longer?”

“Ahhh, how am I going to sleep with you like this…?” Yun Duan tried to dodge Qing Shui’s hand and chided.

After Yun Duan begged to be let off, Qing Shui smiled and gave her a kiss before leaving. He was still going for his morning practice as usual and when he walked out of the building, he saw a bamboo forest.

Green bamboo!

There was quite a large space amidst the tall bamboo forest. When Qing Shui drew in, he realized that the Nature Energy in his body that was automatically circulating was now even faster than before. It was even starting to absorb the Nature Energy in the surroundings, albeit at a very slow rate.

“Hmmm? What is this?”

Qing Shui was now astonished by this scene. When he came across the unknown, he would first feel worried, even if it was something good. Misfortunes and fortunes usually came hand in hand. Suddenly, Qing Shui’s gaze fell on the bamboo forest in front of him.

Between broken rocks striking my root deep, I bite the mountain green and won’t let go.

From whichever direction the wind leaps, I remain strong, though dealt many a blow [1].

Unbending and rising steeply from level ground, how strongly they tower into the sky…[2]

The bamboo has the most unflinching righteousness! [3]

Could it be that bamboo could nurture his Nature Energy?

[1] A Chinese poem written by a Qing Dynasty artist by the name of Zheng Xie on his painting of bamboo and rocks. The English translation was done by Zheng Banqiao, an official in the Qing Dynasty. The latter was also apt in calligraphy and painting as well as in the area of literature.

[2] Translator’s feeble and miserable attempt to translate an extract of a Chinese Poem of an Qing Dynasty official, poet cum educator.

[3] The bamboo has always been seen as a symbol of integrity and righteousness.