To Song Changsheng, this was just a minor episode, and he didn't dwell on it. After asking the elder to cancel the task, he returned to his small courtyard.
At this point, all the fundamental requirements for cultivating the "Inscribing Formations with the Body" technique were finally in place it was time to put it into practice.
Over the past few days, he had thoroughly verified the technique and made improvements to several unreasonable parts, enhancing its overall viability.
Although the process remained extremely perilous, there was at least now a genuine chance of success.
"The cultivation process for this method is long and dangerous. To be safe, I'd better go to the Cloudward Hall and train there Grandfather can guard me while I do."
Currently, Song Xianming is in seclusion and ideally shouldn't be disturbed. But since this involved a life-and-death risk, Song Changsheng knew he had to think things through carefully.
Bringing all the necessary materials with him, he climbed to the peak of the mountain and called out respectfully in front of the great hall:
"Grandson greets Grandfather!"
Inside Cloudward Hall, Song Xianming slowly opened his eyes. With a subtle motion of his hand hidden inside his sleeve, he made a quick divination and realized he had already been in seclusion for more than half a year.
"This kid has never disturbed me during my closed-door cultivation… Could it be something major he can't decide on his own?"
With a wave of his sleeve, the main doors creaked open.
Song Changsheng entered, walked straight up to Song Xianming, and greeted him respectfully, "Grandfather."
"What brings you here?" Song Xianming asked kindly.
Song Changsheng held out a jade slip with both hands and replied, "I came across an unusual cultivation technique while I was down the mountain. I've now fully prepared to practice it, but because this is a path no one has ever walked before, I didn't dare proceed without disturbing you."
Song Xianming understood. He took the jade slip, and upon scanning its contents, was immediately shocked by He Yunxuan's boldness. His first thought was: "Impossible."
But after reading through it carefully, he realized that although the technique was indeed mad, it wasn't mere fantasy. It was technically feasible.
Even with his deep knowledge of formation arts, Song Xianming couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for He Yunxuan this was someone who truly deserved the title of Formation Grandmaster.
But as Song Changsheng had said, it was all theory for now. No one had ever attempted it. The first person to try would be like a test subject taking on immense risk.
With a serious expression, Song Xianming looked at him and asked, "Are you sure you want to cultivate this technique?"
Song Changsheng gave a solemn nod. "I've already made up my mind. If I fail… I will give my life trying."
"Does your mother know about this?"
Song Changsheng hesitated briefly, then shook his head. "She doesn't. I didn't want her to worry."
Song Xianming sighed softly. "She should know. This method is extremely dangerous perhaps not quite certain death, but close. If something goes wrong during your training, the two of you will be separated by life and death forever. That's not fair to her."
Song Changsheng lowered his gaze. He knew it wasn't fair to his mother but he also knew she would never let him take such a risk.
In her eyes, nothing was more important than him living a healthy and happy life even if it meant remaining an ordinary mortal.
But Song Changsheng couldn't accept mediocrity. He would rather become one of the countless bones scattered along the road to immortality than waste his years and eventually watch himself be buried beneath the yellow earth.
Today's risk was merely to ensure he could walk farther in the days to come.
As Song Xianming looked at Song Changsheng's resolute expression, he momentarily fell into a trance. In his mind, the image of another man gradually overlapped with the youth before him. He reached out and gently touched his grandson's face, murmuring with a tinge of loneliness:
"You… I once thought you and your father were different. Turns out, you're just like him stubborn as a mule. Once you've made a decision, not even eight true dragons could drag you back."
"Since you've decided, then go ahead and give it your all. I'll stay here and guard you until the day you emerge victorious."
Looking at the aged Song Xianming, Song Changsheng's eyes turned misty. He dropped to his knees and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Grandfather, for supporting me!"
"Ah…" With a soft sigh, Song Xianming stood and walked out of the cultivation chamber without looking back. With a wave of his sleeve, the grand doors slowly closed, leaving Song Changsheng alone inside.
As the final ray of light disappeared, Song Changsheng stood up. He took out all the materials he had prepared and laid them out carefully.
Then, he placed his spatial pouch on a nearby shelf. Glancing at a still-undelivered Beauty-Preserving Pill, he whispered:
"Mother… please forgive your unfilial son."
He stored the pill safely, took one final swig of spirit wine, and with determined eyes, began cultivating "Inscribing Formations with the Body."
First, he brought out a bronze cauldron and refined more than a dozen spiritual herbs into liquid form.
The first step of formation-inscribing required infusing these medicinal liquids into his body a type of body-refinement technique designed to rapidly strengthen the physical form.
While not extremely risky, the process was immensely painful, and once started, it could not be stopped. Even among body cultivators, few dared attempt it.
But Song Changsheng not only had to use it he had to undergo the process nine times, because he wasn't a body cultivator. Only through this could his physique be enhanced to rival a magical artifact in toughness.
Only then could his body endure the inscribing of formation patterns becoming the foundation of a grand array.
Gurgle…
Refining the herbs into liquid was simple enough, and soon the entire chamber was filled with a fragrant medicinal aroma.
Song Changsheng poured the liquid into a prepared large vat and diluted it with a precise ratio of spiritual spring water the first body-tempering solution was ready.
He stripped off his clothes and stepped into the vat.
At first, it felt pleasantly warm all over. But as time passed, an intense itching sensation spread across his skin, like thousands of ants crawling over him.
He gritted his teeth and endured it. Then came waves of piercing pain, so sharp he finally let out a scream, his body trembling violently.
Yet he had no intention of backing down. Instead, he accelerated the absorption, bringing on even more intense waves of pain. He clenched his jaw and bore through it.
An hour later, the medicinal liquid was fully absorbed. Song Changsheng collapsed against the edge of the vat, his entire body twitching rhythmically every fiber of muscle strengthening through those spasms.
The result was remarkable, though the process was brutal.
Once he regained enough mobility, he rested briefly and began refining the second batch of medicinal herbs.
This time, the amount of water was reduced, increasing the concentration of the solution. The number of herbs also increased to twenty kinds.
As he immersed himself again, the familiar agony returned, this time even more intense than before.
After absorbing the second batch, he remained bedridden for an entire day before he could move again.
Still, he didn't hesitate. He began refining the third batch now with twenty-five types of herbs…
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