I Can Merge Techniques

Chapter 580: Chapter 168: Twelve True Forms Fist Breaks the Limit Again, Ghost Bone Elder Reveals His True Body

Fortunately, everyone’s attention was on Chu Fan, so no one noticed her strange reaction, allowing her to breathe a small sigh of relief.

"Can we use this pool?"

Zhao Tianxing stared at the churning black water and suddenly asked, "If it can strengthen our muscles and bones, a little pain doesn’t matter."

"No."

Chu Fan refused flatly, his voice turning a few degrees sterner. "The corrosive power in the water and the sharpness of the Metal Element have not yet fused. Instead, they’re clashing with each other. Even Cultivators from the Vajra Sect who have practiced Body Refining Techniques for decades might not be able to withstand it."

"If you go in, your muscles, bones, and flesh will rot away instantly!"

"Even with their Demon Race bodies, Xiaoqing and Xiaobai couldn’t withstand this kind of corrosion. It would break down their defenses from the inside out."

"It’s that terrifying?!" Xiaoqing, who was squatting by the pool and secretly reaching out to touch the water, shivered at his words and—SWOOSH!—yanked her hand back.

She patted her chest, a look of lingering fear on her face.

Then, her eyes darted about. Squinting at Chu Fan, who was visible only from the neck up, she stifled a giggle. "Hey, Chu Fan, seeing you soaking in this pitch-black vat reminds me of a horrifying memory."

"A horrifying memory?" Chu Fan’s eyelids twitched, and he opened his eyes a crack.

The others looked at her curiously.

The White Snake said, "You humans love to catch venomous snakes and stuff them in dark wine jars to pickle them in alcohol..."

"I was once pickled like that myself..."

Everyone: "..."

Chu Fan: "..."

The more Xiaoqing spoke, the more the resemblance seemed uncanny. She remarked with an air of mock seriousness, "Look at you now. Don’t you look just like a snake being pickled in wine?"

Everyone was petrified.

Mo Yunzi’s mouth twitched. He wanted to laugh but didn’t dare, and his face turned purple from holding it in.

A vein throbbed on Chu Fan’s forehead. He took a deep breath, decided to just ignore this stupid snake, and closed his eyes again.

Xiaobai couldn’t watch any longer. Fearing her thoughtless little sister would genuinely anger Chu Fan and get a beating, she quickly stepped forward and changed the subject. "Ahem... Chu Fan, I’ve noticed you’ve been cultivating the Demon Suppression Skill every day for the past few days..."

"This technique seems quite extraordinary. Can we cultivate it as well?"

In truth, this was what everyone else was thinking too.

The power Chu Fan now displayed had long since left them in the dust.

"You could, of course, but I don’t think you need to."

Chu Fan’s voice seemed ethereal in the mist, yet it was exceptionally clear. "This is the path I have chosen for myself—the path of ultimate Body Refinement."

"The mainstream cultivation systems in this world all focus on comprehending the Heavenly Dao and absorbing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism. The Demonic Power of Demon Fiends, the Primordial Qi of the Human Race—in essence, they all involve borrowing the Power of Heaven and Earth for one’s own use, with the ultimate goal of controlling that power completely."

"Body Refinement, on the other hand, seeks to make ’all great power one’s own,’ without relying on external sources."

Chu Fan slowly raised an arm slick with the black medicinal liquid and clenched his fist.

A sharp CRACK echoed through the air, an astonishingly loud pop.

"This path is extremely arduous, and progress is slow. For most Cultivators, Body Refinement is ultimately just a minor path for self-preservation. Unless you have a special opportunity, specializing in it isn’t worth the trade-off."

Hearing this, they all nodded thoughtfully.

It was true. A training method like Chu Fan’s, which used Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures like bathwater, would bankrupt them in a matter of days.

"However, I do have a few Divine Secret Skills that might be suitable for you..."

Chu Fan continued, "I’ll sort them out for you later. But don’t bite off more than you can chew... A person’s Life Essence Energy is finite. It’s better to specialize in one Cultivation Technique and master it to the Transformation Realm than to practice ten of them."

"If my circumstances weren’t special, I wouldn’t be training in fists, saber, and Divine Techniques all at once..."

These words were like music from the heavens to the ears of Mo Yunzi and the Cyan and White Snakes.

They had personally witnessed Chu Fan’s endless arsenal of techniques.

Besides the domineering Star Thunder Saber—a fusion of the Seven-Star Bead Slash and the Ninefold Thunder Shock Saber—they were also painstakingly cultivating the Ghost Shadow Illusionary Body Step.

These two Secret Skills alone allowed their combat prowess to far surpass others at their level.

If they could learn another new Secret Technique from Chu Fan...

A fanatical light instantly ignited in their eyes.

Just then, Li Qingxue, who had been silent all this time, spoke softly.

Her voice was gentle, yet it carried an undeniable authority. "Alright, everyone disperse. Don’t disturb his cultivation any longer. The medicinal power in this pool is violent; he needs to focus completely on guiding it and can’t afford any distractions."

Hearing this, the group scattered, returning to their own spots in the Martial Arts Arena to continue honing their skills.

The clamor faded, and silence returned to the poolside.

A warmth spread through Chu Fan’s heart. ’My senior sister has always been so perceptive.’

He cleared his mind of distracting thoughts and let his body slowly sink until the medicinal liquid submerged him past his chin, leaving only his mouth and nose above the surface.

His consciousness sank into his body as he began to operate the Vajra Subduing Demon Skill with all his might.

...

「The setting sun was the color of blood, casting long shadows in its fading light.」

The imposing walls of Qing Province City cast long, dark shadows in the afterglow.

Demon Suppression Guard Qin Fang pulled on the reins, and the horse-drawn carriage slowly came to a stop at the entrance of a deserted alley.

Also in the carriage was another Demon Suppression Guard, none other than Zhao Qingyan, who had accompanied Chu Fan on the mission to the Wang Family estate a few days prior.

The two of them stared at the alley’s entrance, waiting quietly.

Not long after...

"Chu is here."

Qin Fang said in a low voice.

Chu Fan appeared, dressed in practical attire with the Black Abyss Sword at his hip, striding forward like a shooting star.

His aura was contained, as still as a deep abyss and as firm as a mountain, like a piece of uncarved jade.

Their mission this time was at Crow Ridge, sixty li southwest of Qing Province City.

Intelligence reports stated that the area had recently been suffused with Demonic Qi, and several merchant caravans had mysteriously disappeared.

Yesterday, a team from Qing Province City’s renowned Zhenyuan Escort Agency had been completely wiped out there, losing several of their most experienced Darts Masters.

The sole survivor brought back news that the culprits were suspected to be three Tiger Demons of immense strength.

’It’s about to begin.’

Chu Fan thought to himself.

Accepting this mission was no coincidence.

The Demon Suppression Bureau had released this information to lure out the big fish from the Yin Demon Sect hiding in the shadows.

Although it was uncertain whether the target would take the bait, it was better than passively waiting.

Chu Fan’s role was, once again, the "bait."

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