Cultivation: I Can Solidify Equipment Attributes

Chapter 287: Chapter 277: Permanentization of Bone and Membrane Co-cultivation

After the bloodshed in the marketplace, patrols in Mist Forest Marketplace had clearly become much stricter.

Patrols, which had originally been limited to the entrances and a few main streets, were now expanded to include the temporary residences on the periphery and the western alleyways.

At night, even the Loose Cultivators passing through the market gates spoke in hushed tones.

But this tension didn’t last long, as new word arrived that ratcheted up the tense atmosphere in the entire outpost and marketplace another notch.

There was trouble on the outskirts of the Ghost Mist Forest.

The news arrived at dawn. A Qi Refining squad from the outpost, responsible for road patrols and communications, had been ambushed on the old southern patrol route, leaving one dead and one injured.

One Qi Refining Cultivator was killed instantly, while the other barely managed to escape and bring the news back to the outpost.

When Li Yuan heard the news, he was in the management office, looking through the previous day’s entry and exit logs.

The cultivator who brought the news was pale-faced and spoke in a rush.

"On the outskirts of the Ghost Mist Forest, along the old southern patrol route, a Qi Refining squad was ambushed. One dead, one injured."

"The attackers were Qi Refining Cultivators from the Dark Abyss Association."

As he spoke the last few words, the other cultivators in the room, who had been organizing ledgers and Array Maps, all paused.

Li Yuan looked up and asked a question.

"How can you be sure it was the Dark Abyss Association?"

’The Dark Abyss Association can only operate in the open because of some kind of deal. If it were just them, a single Golden Core expert from the Primordial Yang Sect could wipe them out.’

’So how could they dare attack Cultivators from the Primordial Yang Sect?’

"The men from the Dark Abyss Association said so themselves."

The messenger-cultivator swallowed hard.

"Before the survivor escaped, he heard one of them leave a parting shot: since the Primordial Yang Sect dared to set a trap not long ago, their people on the periphery should be more careful."

At these words, the expressions of everyone in the room grew grim.

’A clash limited to the Qi Refining Stage. This wasn’t a formal declaration of war; it was more like a reprisal for the Sect’s recent operation.’

’They’ve definitely crossed a line. After all, the terms that allow the Dark Abyss Association to operate in the open state that they are not to interfere with ruins or Spirit Veins. If the Primordial Yang Sect set a trap and the Association fell for it, that was their own problem.’

’But I don’t know the exact terms of the agreement between the Primordial Yang Sect and the Dark Abyss Association, so I can’t really pass judgment.’

Soon after, orders came down from the outpost.

Patrols everywhere were to be tightened, the marketplace’s Demon-Exploring Array was to be reinforced, Qi Refining Cultivators were not to leave the marketplace alone unless absolutely necessary, and all missions outside the marketplace required a minimum of two people traveling together.

The atmosphere instantly grew taut.

Chen Yi arrived at the management office that afternoon.

Chen Yi got straight to the point upon entering. "The marketplace’s Demon-Exploring Array needs another layer of reinforcement."

"Let me look at the current Array Map first and figure out where we can add to the formation," Li Yuan said.

"Alright," Chen Yi said. "You’re in charge. Just report directly to me if you’re short on Array Materials or manpower."

Li Yuan studied the map for a while before looking up to ask, "How many Array Materials and personnel can the Sect provide?"

"We’ll prioritize Array Materials for you," Chen Yi said. "Three Array cultivators, ten disciples. We’ll provide more if that’s not enough."

That was enough. Li Yuan nodded.

"Alright, I’ll make the changes."

Only then did Chen Yi’s expression relax a little.

"The Sect said this will count as an official mission, and the contribution rewards won’t be small."

Li Yuan didn’t respond to the comment about contribution points. He just pulled the Array Map closer, his fingertip slowly tracing the main circuits of the marketplace. Chen Yi didn’t disturb him, simply standing by and waiting.

After a moment, Li Yuan pointed out the first problem area.

"The original problem isn’t with the main Array Hub, but that the nodes are too scattered. The entrances can perform one scan, but it’s easy to lose the trace after someone enters the market. As long as a person isn’t overtly flagged by the first layer, any subtle fluctuations get washed out once they mix into the crowd."

"So, the first step is to link the four market gates and the three main streets, creating a structure for continuous analysis."

Li Yuan then pointed to several spots on the west and north sides that were originally just for auxiliary detection, explaining the problems with them.

After listening, Chen Yi asked a direct question.

"How accurate can you make it?"

"Anyone who enters the marketplace with Demonic Qi won’t be able to hide it, as long as they pass through the array," Li Yuan said.

"Unless they don’t use any Demonic Qi at all, or have some High-Tier method to completely cleanse their aura. Otherwise, as long as Demonic Qi is still circulating in their body, it will definitely leave an echo."

After hearing this, Chen Yi said nothing more. He just tossed out a "You can get started," then turned to leave and gather the men and Array Materials.

For the next several days, Li Yuan spent most of his time on the Demon-Exploring Array.

His foundation of a perfected Tier One Array Dao was solid. Furthermore, the mutual resonance of his Array Talismans had already been made permanent upon reaching that stage. Now, many problems that would have once required repeated trial and error could be identified simply by tracing the Array Patterns once.

At the same time, Li Yuan added an early-warning mechanism to several of the main nodes.

This mechanism wasn’t responsible for catching anyone, nor did it directly emit Spiritual Light. When the Demon-Exploring Array detected an anomaly, it would simply lock onto that trace of strangeness and immediately relay it to two nearby nodes. This way, even if a target merely grazed the edge of the Array, the anomaly wouldn’t just flash and disappear. Instead, it would be captured by multiple nodes simultaneously.

Once this step was complete, the marketplace’s Demon-Exploring Array was fundamentally different.

The old Array was like a single-point scanner. Now, it was like a true, widespread net. An anomaly in one spot would be detected by two or three other spots simultaneously, then traced along the Array Patterns all the way back to the main Array Hub.

Five days later, the first round of the comprehensive overhaul was complete.

Chen Yi personally brought a team to observe the array test.

To avoid alerting their quarry, the Primordial Yang Sect didn’t use a real Demon Cultivator for the test. Instead, they used Array Materials with sealed Demonic Qi and a few old items that specifically suppressed Demonic Qi for comparison. The first few items were no problem; the moment they passed the Array Hub, the Sensing Patterns on the main Array Disc lit up. But when they switched to an old artifact that concealed its Demonic Qi extremely well, the Array Disc only twitched slightly on the first scan.

An Array cultivator standing nearby had just begun to frown when, in the next instant, two other auxiliary nodes also lit up.

The results from all three locations converged back at the main Array Hub, and the initially faint pattern in the center of the Array Disc instantly became several times clearer.

Chen Yi stared at the Array Disc for two full breaths before slowly letting out a sigh.

"It’s a success."

Li Yuan said nothing, merely noting down the positions of the last two backup nodes in the Array Map.

These modifications were enough to increase the sensitivity of the marketplace’s Demon-Exploring Array severalfold. In the future, if a Demon Cultivator still tried to enter the market while carrying Demonic Qi, it would be nearly impossible to slip by as easily as before, unless their Cultivation and techniques far exceeded the Array’s current tolerance limits.

After the Array was verified, the Sect contribution points were quickly calculated and awarded.

As Chen Yi handed back the identity token, he commented casually.

"This reward is enough for you to exchange for plenty of new things."

Li Yuan took the identity token and put it away without saying much.

Although the Array was now stable, the situation in the marketplace didn’t ease up.

The war between the Qi Shui Sect and the Evil Slaying Sect continued to escalate, and more and more Cultivators began to flow out of Yunzhou. Whereas before only scattered individuals had entered the marketplace, now entire groups were beginning to migrate toward Liangzhou.

Mist Forest Marketplace was already close to the Ghost Mist Forest and had the reputation of being an outpost near ancient ruins, so it naturally attracted even more people.

The main streets were often so crowded that two beast-drawn carts could barely travel side-by-side. The temporary residences on the outer ring had been expanded twice, and it was still not enough. As the number of outside Cultivators grew, so did the friction.

Some fought over market stalls, others argued over purchasing prices, and still others caused disputes over lodging at the inns.

A Cultivator from Yunzhou and a local Loose Cultivator from Liangzhou even had a verbal disagreement that nearly escalated into a fight at the market entrance before they were forcefully restrained by the patrol.

And yet, the marketplace also grew increasingly bustling as a result.

The circulation of resources was much faster than before. The number of people buying monster materials, selling medicinal pills, repairing Magical Artifacts, and carving Array Discs for hire all increased. Several small shops in the marketplace that had previously been on the verge of closing had all lit their lamps once more.

Li Yuan also found the time to make a delivery of the Spirit Water Talismans requested by the Purple Abyss Trading Company and the Wang family.

The Spirit Field he had previously established also yielded its first harvest during this time.

Several common Spirit Medicines and their complementary materials were harvested one after another. While it was far from a windfall, it could fulfill some of his future needs for Alchemy, so he wouldn’t have to purchase everything from the outside.

After dealing with matters in the marketplace and his transactions, Li Yuan finally turned his attention back to Body Refining.

The Nameless Body Refining Technique was already advancing, and Medicine-Refined Strong Body was equipped in his item slot. To make the green trait, "Bone-Membrane Synchronization," permanent, he needed to acquire more Body Refining-related skills.

Li Yuan first purchased some from the marketplace, then used his newly acquired Sect contribution points to trade for more, eventually gathering three different Body Refining methods.

The first was a skill that used the power of ores to temper the physical body. Cultivation required grinding specific ores into powder, drawing out their spirituality, and using the Skill to press it bit by bit into the muscles, bones, skin, and membranes. It was a method of hardening the body through external abrasion.

The second was a skill that purely consumed one’s own Spiritual Power to repeatedly flush the physical body. It relied on no external objects, its advantage being that it was quick to master. As long as one had enough Spiritual Power, one could continuously temper the body.

The third was a method of fire refinement. It used Fire Spiritual Power to sear the body from the outside while refining it from within, specifically tempering the membranes, flesh, and the outer layer of the bones. The method was more intense and was also better suited for someone like Li Yuan, who already majored in Fire Element skills.

For the ore-based Body Refining method, Li Yuan first ran two tests during his initial practice. He confirmed that the truly effective component in the ore fragments was their heavy, metal-aspected earth spirituality, and not just the physical abrasion.

In his subsequent training, he focused solely on using the most effective ores.

As for the pure Spiritual Power Body Refining method, the difficulty lay not in the Skill itself, but in compressing the Spiritual Power steadily enough that it wouldn’t disperse while flushing the body. Li Yuan, with his foundation from "Hundred Rivers Return to the Sea" and "Spiritual Power Condensation," adapted much faster than an ordinary person. After he figured out the circulation route, his subsequent progress was consistently stable.

The fire refinement method, however, was the most suitable for him.

When the Fire Spiritual Power moved along his membranes and the outer layer of his bones, there was a distinct burning pain at first. But his traits—the Blazing Sun Method, Flame Origin Essence Refinement, and Three Elements Body Protection—all stacked together, suppressing the part of the process most likely to cause injury and leaving only the force that could truly temper his physical body.

Li Yuan didn’t need to break these skills down into numerous complete scenes for repeated practice.

He only needed to focus on the new aspects and key results.

A few days later, he had successfully brought all three Body Refining skills to the introductory level.

The moment the last fire refinement skill reached the introductory level, the panel finally popped up.

[Bone-Membrane Synchronization (Green): Conditions for Permanence have been met.]

[Make Permanent?]

Li Yuan stopped circulating the Skill and immediately confirmed.

[Bone-Membrane Synchronization (Green) has become a permanent trait.]

A solid, heavy sensation pressed inward from his skin and membranes, sinking deep into his bones.

It wasn’t a simple pain, nor was it a distinct swelling. It felt more like the once-separate outer layers of his body were being forcefully compressed, squeezed tightly together. The subtle flow of Spiritual Power beneath his membranes became more stable, and the outer edges of his bones seemed to have gained an additional, more resilient layer of support.

The change wasn’t dramatic, but it was extremely tangible.

Li Yuan raised his hand and clenched his fist. As the sinews on the back of his hand tensed, the transference of force along his forearm, shoulder, and back felt more integrated than before.

After Bone-Membrane Synchronization became permanent, Li Yuan did not hesitate. He immediately took out the Compendium of Alchemy he had placed in his storage bag.

[Equipped: Compendium of Alchemy (Complete)]

[Alchemical Insight (Green) is now in effect.]

The moment the trait entered its slot, his already-familiar understanding of alchemical principles, deep within his sea of consciousness, felt as if it had been gently nudged from within.

Li Yuan didn’t immediately start up the furnace, but he could already feel the change.

If he were to look at alchemy formulas and medicinal ingredients now, many of the transitions in medicinal properties that he previously had to pause and study to see clearly would now be much easier to perceive. This wasn’t about gaining new knowledge from thin air; it was about giving his existing Alchemy skills a push forward.

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