Before long, Gu Yuan left the Jade Cauldron Tower.
At the same time, he had an extra piece of hard iron token in his hand, with the name Gu Yuan engraved on the front and a simple three-legged, two-eared copper cauldron pattern on the back.
This iron token was Gu Yuan's identity proof as a Medicine Gatherer for the Jade Cauldron Tower.
"As expected, these contribution points are basically the quantification of achievements for the Jade Cauldron Tower. For instance, completing certain tasks released by the Jade Cauldron Tower can earn you corresponding contribution points."
"Additionally, Spirit Medicine can also be exchanged for contribution points. The better the quality of the Spirit Medicine, the more contribution points you can get."
"But these contribution points are really useful. You can exchange them for anything like cultivation techniques, Spirit Pills, weapons, or even hidden information. Unfortunately, I don't have a single contribution point at the moment."
Gu Yuan touched the few books in his arms: "Luckily, common knowledge about the cultivation realm and basic martial arts cultivation knowledge can be borrowed just by spending some silver, although it's quite expensive. Borrowing for half a month actually costs ten taels of silver."
Thinking of this, Gu Yuan couldn't help but feel a bit of pain in his heart.
Although he had earned a good sum of silver yesterday, ten taels of silver is still quite a significant amount.
"Fortunately, with these, I can finally try to start my cultivation!"
Gu Yuan contemplated silently, then turned and left.
...
At the outskirts of the Yunmeng Mountain Range, in a valley.
Gu Yuan sat cross-legged on a piece of bluestone.
In the mountain forest, the cold wind was bone-chilling.
But at this moment, Gu Yuan was only wearing a single-layer garment, arms stretched out, feet moving in coordination, waist, hips, and spine twisting like a snake, practicing a set of fist techniques.
This set of fist techniques was rather strange, with odd, slow movements, somewhat reminiscent of Taichi and ancient yoga from Gu Yuan's previous life.
Not only did it show no sign of power, but it even looked awkward, with an indescribable sense of disjointedness.
Meanwhile, his breathing was long and orderly, with a special rhythm that matched the fist techniques.
His skin, however, was red like blood, steaming like a boiled lobster, looking quite peculiar.
From afar, it seemed like a strange snake in the mist, stretching its body, absorbing the spiritual qi.
After a long time, Gu Yuan stopped.
He let out a long breath, a gust of white air shot out one foot like a sword, then slowly dissipated.
He only felt that all the muscles of his body were sore, swollen, and painful, with waves of heat constantly surging under his skin and flesh.
"The fist technique in the 'Golden Snake Swallowing Yuan Technique' is indeed powerful; even though the movements are awkward and strange, they efficiently engage and train every part of my skin, muscles, and bones, paired with the Visualization Image to strengthen the spirit along with the Breathing Technique to adjust internal and external breathing, stirring blood qi. It's definitely a top-notch martial arts technique!"
Gu Yuan finished his practice, feeling waves of sharp pain and soreness continuously coming from all over his body, making him grimace and gasp in pain:
"Of course, the damage to the body is not small. If I can't supplement and nourish my body in time, it would leave hidden injuries. If they erupt later, it could mean paralysis at the least, death at the worst."
He grabbed a piece of clothing nearby and put it on.
Then, he walked to a nearby earthen stove.
This earthen stove was built with yellow mud and mountain stones, and on top was an iron pot, inside which two pigeons were stewing, with some sliced Yellow Spirit, goji berries, and red dates sprinkled around. The soup was clear and transparent, with a few oil streaks floating on the surface.
The medicinal stew in the pot was called Yellow Ginseng Pigeon Soup, which Gu Yuan found in the medical book inherited by Shopkeeper Xu's family. It had the effect of strengthening tendons and bones and strengthening the foundation and nourishing the essence, just right for his use.
The Iron-toothed Rat, Ah Huang, was watching by the side.
Despite its small size, it was quite smart. Seeing the fire under the stove getting smaller, it would grab a branch and throw it in.
When the fire became strong, it would use its tail to wrap around the inside branch and pull it out.
It was diligent, serious about its work, truly a good helper at home.
Of course, the enticing aroma from the medicinal stew in the iron pot and Gu Yuan's promise of a share for it were also the key reasons for its enthusiastic guarding.
"After stewing for more than an hour, it's ready to eat,"
Gu Yuan looked at it, then began to ladle out the stew, tearing off a pigeon leg and tossing it to Ah Huang as a reward for its efforts in tending the fire.
The pigeon meat was tender, the bones were soft, the broth was rich and fragrant with a hint of sweetness, making it quite irresistible.
Gu Yuan chewed and swallowed everything, skin and bones, and drank all the soup.
Before long, he felt strands of warmth rising in his stomach, these warmths were gentle and pure, merging into his body's limbs and bones.
Gu Yuan immediately felt the soreness, numbness, swelling, and pain in all parts of his body significantly alleviated.
Even his energy gradually restored.
Moreover, his blood qi became increasingly vigorous, circulating continuously within him, causing his skin to feel slightly tingly and itchy, making him want to scratch hard.
"Hmm? Itchy skin, is this a breakthrough?"
Gu Yuan's eyes lit up, sensing something unusual:
"Indeed, although this Yellow Ginseng Pigeon Soup is just a regular medicinal stew, its strength lies in its gentleness and subtle nourishing effect. Moreover, the Yellow Spirit I used wasn't ordinary, but rather an old Yellow Spirit of several decades, extremely nourishing, and the pigeons were Medicine Doves fed with herbs. I spent more than half of my savings on it. With this routine, it will naturally be highly beneficial for martial arts cultivation!"
At the same time, he had an epiphany:
"Plus, with the boost from my Iron Teeth Talent, making my tendons strong and bones sturdy, my physique is already somewhat superior to normal people. Recently, I've been training diligently, so breaking through now is only logical, like a stream flowing naturally into a channel."
"Postnatal Martial Master is divided into three phases: Refining Skin and Membrane, Refining Muscles, and Bone Refining. Refining Skin and Membrane is about making the skin and flesh tough and strong, with blood qi more vigorous than normal people, full of energy, which is the first step in martial arts."
Gu Yuan's bright eyes showed a hint of determination as he sat cross-legged, using Breathing Technique to adjust his breathing, stirring his blood qi:
"It seems that today, I am destined to break through and become a true Martial Master!"
As the blood qi circulated within, tempering the skin and flesh, Gu Yuan's skin felt intensely itchy, along with bouts of stinging pain, and this feeling grew increasingly stronger, continuously coming from all over his body, driving him nearly insane, to the point of being almost unbearable.
In his previous life, Gu Yuan had urticaria, and after taking a hot shower or being stimulated, the cold wind would trigger large red welts, causing unbearable itchiness.
But the change before him now was much more uncomfortable than an urticaria flare-up!
Not only itchy but also numb and stabbing pain.
However, Gu Yuan's breathing remained long and steady, eyes tightly closed, seemingly unaffected, continuing his inhale and exhale unhurriedly, circulating his blood qi.
After an unknown period, the itchiness, stabbing pain, and other sensations on Gu Yuan's body gradually faded away, and he, too, opened his eyes.
"Refining Skin and Membrane, finally accomplished!"