After finishing his lunch, Shuyan sat back on the cold floor of the cave, in front of him the scattered scrolls of different Martial Techniques. Now he had to decide what to learn and when to learn. This was a golden opportunity for him to rise above his current standing and Shuyan would grab it with all his might.
This encounter had been dangerous and his body had even undergone a change turning him into something akin to a bloodthirsty beast but now he had also gotten a life changing opportunity thanks to this. This was also the only way to get out of this deadly forest since he wasn't really strong enough to get out of Qinling forest on his own despite the fact that he had gotten stronger due to the Blood Baptism Ritual.
But first he had to decide what to learn. Learning martial arts had been his lifelong dream but now he had gotten his hands on even better practice: Cultivation. It was leagues above martial arts.
"I should check out the Crimson Scripture first." Shuyan muttered and grabbed the delicate scroll. He had skimmed through it before and now he was ready to learn. He slowly unfurled it, his heart beating loudly, now aware of what he was holding and what it entailed.
The same bold words appeared in front of him after opening the scroll. He ignored them, almost restless and quickly got into the main contents which was the techniques for the Body Refinement realm. Shuyan inhaled deeply and calmed his thoughts.
The Crimson Scripture had no illustrations. No diagrams. Only precise words etched in crimson ink—sharp, like they were written with blood itself. But as he read, he found that the descriptions were vivid. More than enough to form a mental image of what he had to do.
The scripture began with the first step of the Body Refinement Realm: Skin Refinement.
Skin Refinement — "Warding the Flesh"
"The skin is the boundary between the self and the world. Harden it, and you will become the first wall your enemies cannot breach."
The technique was simple in theory but brutal in execution.
The Crimson Scripture instructed Shuyan to expose his body to sharp extremes—cold, heat, poison, abrasion—while cycling minute amounts of Ether through the outer layer of his skin. In his case, this meant drawing Ether from raw blood he consumed or spilled, guiding it through the superficial channels along his limbs and torso.
The process would strengthen his skin by regenerating with hardened and more resistance skin. With each repetition, his skin would get tougher and would even be able to resist blades, bites, and bruises.
The method also required manual stimulation—scrubbing with rough stones, bathing in chilling streams, and occasionally coating his skin with diluted beast blood. These weren't symbolic rituals; they were physical tools to spark the body's adaptation.
Shuyan grimaced as he imagined what it would take.
Muscle Refinement — "Binding the Beast"
"Muscles are the tools of movement. What use is a sword if the hand trembles when it swings?"
This stage emphasized the destruction and regeneration of muscle fibers. The scripture outlined brutal conditioning: carrying heavy loads, sprinting until collapse, striking solid surfaces repeatedly, all while channeling Ether into the affected regions.
The Ether wasn't meant to strengthen the muscles directly—but to guide and repair. The body had to be broken first. Only then could it grow stronger.
Shuyan's fists clenched instinctively. He'd spent most of his life doing physical labor. He could bear this much.
Bone Refinement — "Forge the Pillars"
"A house with rotten beams cannot stand, no matter how grand its walls."
This stage chilled him more than any other.
The scripture described how bones, when infused with Ether, would begin to vibrate subtly. This vibration—painful and slow—would cause micro-fractures that the body would repair with denser material.
It was like reforging metal by breaking and reforging it a hundred times.
The Crimson Scripture offered a dangerous shortcut: ingesting beast bone powder dissolved in blood. The Ether-rich slurry would accelerate marrow transformation and bone hardening, but only if the practitioner's organs could survive the burden.
One misstep, and his body might collapse under its own weight.
Shuyan winced. It was brutal.
Organ Refinement — "Kindle the Furnace"
"The organs are the hearth of life. Fan the flames, and your vitality shall outlive mountains and seas."
This stage was broken into parts—each organ representing a different aspect of vitality and Qi control:
Lungs: Governed breath and stamina. Refining them allowed a cultivator to hold breath for minutes, greater stamina and scream with force.Heart: The core of vitality. Strengthening it stabilized Ether flow and prevented internal backlash during spellcasting.Liver & Kidneys: Controlled toxin resistance, blood filtration, and recovery.Stomach & Spleen: Strengthened digestion and energy conversion—important for consuming beast blood or alchemical pills.
The technique was subtle: guiding Ether into each organ, holding it there, and forcing the organ to pulse or resist until it began adapting. Practitioners described the process as "burning from the inside."
The final sub-stage was Marrow Refinement, where the blood itself changed—becoming more vital, purer, capable of supporting greater Qi.
"Blood is the river," the scripture said. "Refine the source, and the stream will carry strength to every shore."
Shuyan felt dizzy just imagining it.
Brain Refinement — "Awakening the Throne"
"The body is a weapon. The mind is the wielder."
This stage was the most important while being the most dangerous. Many warnings were written in bold to warn cultivators.
Those who attempted Brain Refinement too early often suffered seizures, madness, or spiritual collapse. But it was necessary.
Only with a refined brain could one sense Ether. And only then could they prepare for the next great leap: Qi Condensation.
Shuyan finally rolled up the scroll. His heart was pounding. The fire had gone out again, but he didn't feel the cold.
He understood now. This wasn't just about strength or speed. It was about becoming something more—something no mortal could ever be. It was about rebuilding his whole body to turn something into no martial artist could ever hope to be.