Holding the copied cultivation method of "Hundred Bones Resonating", Gu Chengming returned to his small courtyard.
He placed the pile of bottles and jars he had received from Cangjian Pavilion on the stone table, then eagerly opened the "Hundred Bones Resonating" cultivation method.
The content of the cultivation method, as the female disciple had said, was simple and brutal.
There were no mysterious meridian diagrams, nor profound incantations; the entire text explained how to stimulate, beat, and temper every inch of the body's bones and muscles through various extreme methods.
For example, the first layer, "Iron Skin", required the cultivator to repeatedly strike the entire body's skin with a hard wooden stick, following a specific sequence and force, until a layer of fine blood beads appeared on the skin's surface. Then, they would soak in a special medicinal liquid to repair the damage, repeating this cycle.
Gu Chengming looked at the self-abusive cultivation methods described in the manual, and instead of feeling fear, he rubbed his hands together in excitement.
He first found a bottle of "Blood Replenishing Pill" from the pile of elixirs, poured out two, and swallowed them, feeling a warm current spread in his abdomen. Only then did he take a deep breath and retrieve a hard wooden stick, about the thickness of an arm, from the corner of the courtyard.
"Well then, let's begin!"
Following the diagrams for the first layer of "Hundred Bones Resonating", "Iron Skin", he took off his shirt, revealing his slightly slender but well-proportioned upper body.
Then, he raised the wooden stick, aimed at his left arm, and struck it hard.
"Thud!"
A dull thud.
Intense pain instantly shot through his arm, making Gu Chengming gasp sharply.
But he didn't stop. Gritting his teeth, enduring the pain, he continued to swing the wooden stick.
"Thud!" "Thud!" "Thud!"
Dull thudding sounds echoed in the quiet courtyard.
He followed the sequence described in the cultivation method, from his arms to his chest, then to his back, not sparing an inch of skin.
Soon, horrifying redness and bruises appeared on his skin.
After he had struck his entire body, he looked as if he had just been pulled from water, drenched in sweat, his face pale, and his lips trembling slightly.
He forced himself to the stone table, poured a bottle of brown medicinal liquid into a wooden tub, and then immersed himself completely.
"Hiss—"
The moment the medicinal liquid touched his wounds, an indescribable stinging sensation shot through him, making him grimace again.
But after this stinging, a cool and refreshing sensation followed, as if countless tiny hands were gently massaging his injured muscles and skin.
Gu Chengming soaked in the medicinal tub for a full hour.
When he emerged from the wooden tub, most of the redness and bruises on his body had subsided, replaced by an unprecedented feeling of lightness and comfort.
He could clearly feel that his skin seemed to have become tougher than before.
However, when he opened his panel, intending to check the favorability for "Hundred Bones Resonating", he found the panel completely empty.
No favorability displayed.
This meant he hadn't even started.
"No way..." Gu Chengming was dumbfounded.
He had followed the cultivation method's requirements precisely, completing the first round of cultivation without a single mistake. He had endured the pain, soaked in the medicine, and yet he hadn't even begun?
He refused to believe it.
Over the next few days, Gu Chengming seemed to be at odds with "Hundred Bones Resonating".
Every day, he repeated the same self-abusive cultivation. Beating, soaking, beating again, soaking again...
The "Blood Replenishing Pills" and body-refining medicinal liquids he had received from Cangjian Pavilion were being consumed at a visible rate.
However, three days passed.
Aside from making him live in a cycle of "pain and joy" every day, and making his skin increasingly resemble old cowhide, "Hundred Bones Resonating" still showed no favorability.
He still hadn't started.
It was only then that Gu Chengming belatedly remembered something.
Although this cultivation method had no realm restrictions, his own aptitude was simply too poor.
This body was inherently weak, with mediocre aptitude.
Trying to forcibly enter a body-refining cultivation method that demanded extremely high physical prowess, through such self-abusive methods, was predictably difficult.
A miscalculation.
Gu Chengming slumped to the ground, looking at his fresh bruises, wanting to cry but unable to.
If he had known this, he would have chosen an ordinary cultivation method that didn't demand such high aptitude.
Now, he had spent a lot of resources, suffered greatly, and yet hadn't even touched the threshold.
And while Gu Chengming was troubled by the entry problem of "Hundred Bones Resonating", he didn't notice that, due to his "new love" these past few days, someone else had already started to become displeased.
【"Huiyuan Sword Manual" noticed you haven't touched it for three consecutive days.】
【Is it true that you forget your old love when you find a new one?】
Seeing these lines of text suddenly pop up on the panel, Gu Chengming couldn't help but be startled.
Isn't this the most common "love triangle conflict" scenario in galgames?!
He was racking his brains over the new love's entry problem, and now the old love was starting to throw a tantrum.
However, before he could figure out how to appease this "resentful woman", "Qingxin Art" on the other side suddenly popped up as well.
【"Qingxin Art" watched everything unfold with great interest, finding it very amusing.】
Gu Chengming: "..."
He finally understood what kind of capture target "Qingxin Art" was.
So, it was purely a mischief-maker?
However, as a seasoned "galgame Master", how could such a small "love triangle conflict" stump him?
Gu Chengming reacted extremely quickly. Almost the instant those self-pitying lines from "Huiyuan Sword Manual" appeared, he immediately dropped his previous expression, replacing it with one of regret and pity.
He stood up, walked to the wooden sword hanging on the wall, and gently stroked its blade with eyes full of attachment and reluctance.
"Sigh..."
He let out a long sigh, his tone filled with helplessness:
"With my current body, it's still too difficult to perfectly unleash the true essence of 'Huiyuan Sword Manual'."
As he spoke, he turned his head and glanced at the pile of unused body-refining medicinal liquids nearby, a bitter smile appearing on his face.
"Originally, I thought of using body-refining techniques to first enhance my physical strength, so I could better wield the sword intent of 'Huiyuan Sword Manual'. But... was I too naive?"
His heartfelt performance had an immediate effect.
【"Huiyuan Sword Manual" heard your thoughts and suddenly understood.】
【So, you neglected it to better possess it.】
【It felt that its previous suspicions were truly unwarranted.】
【It was somewhat moved, and somewhat guilty.】
【"Huiyuan Sword Manual" Favorability +5】
【Current Favorability: Friendly (50/100)】
Looking at the rising favorability, Gu Chengming resisted making a "plan as expected" expression.
Now that's what you call a galgame Master.
Rate on N.U.
