With his comprehension soaring, Lu Changsheng possessed a photographic memory.
He could recall nearly anything he had ever heard in passing.
Pondering carefully now, memories regarding the "Myriad Poison Great Elixir" immediately resurfaced.
Earlier, in the underground hall of Xu Family Manor, Shen Ying had accused the Myriad Poison Cult of slaughtering three hundred and eighteen members of the Shen Family Manor over a decade ago, all to concoct the Myriad Poison Great Elixir.
The Myriad Poison Scripture did not specify how to refine the Myriad Poison Great Elixir.
Yet from Shen Ying's accusation against the Myriad Poison Cult, one could already surmise that this elixir was certainly no easy pill to make.
It might even be utterly evil, perhaps requiring living humans as ingredients.
Why else would they have butchered over three hundred people?
According to the Myriad Poison Scripture, possessing the Myriad Poison Great Elixir was not enough on its own; one also needed a corresponding secret method.
However, this secret method did not appear to be recorded within the scripture.
And that secret method was the true key!
Only by cultivating it to perfection and then consuming the Myriad Poison Great Elixir could one cleanse the bone marrow, ultimately achieving the goal of "marrow transformation."
Once marrow transformation succeeded, it provided immense benefits for a martial artist seeking to breach the life-and-death gateway and achieve the Divine Strength Realm.
Furthermore, undergoing marrow transformation once would drastically enhance one's prowess upon breaking through to Divine Strength.
That was not a boost of a few tens of percent, but a multifold increase!
The Myriad Poison Scripture even mentioned blood exchange.
If a martial artist could undergo marrow transformation and blood exchange before stepping into the Divine Strength Realm, they would instantly become a powerhouse among Divine Strength cultivators, sweeping aside peers of the same realm!
"No wonder the Myriad Poison Cult tried every possible means to refine the Myriad Poison Great Elixir."
"This time, their dissemination of the Strengthening Blood Pills was probably aimed at concocting the elixir as well."
"Unfortunately for them, before they could even begin, Shen Ying and I ruined their plans," Lu Changsheng murmured under his breath.
The claim in the scripture that the secret method combined with the Myriad Poison Great Elixir could induce marrow transformation could not help but stir Lu Changsheng's heart.
He had already completed one blood exchange; if he could also undergo marrow transformation, his foundation would be consummate.
However, Lu Changsheng had no means of achieving marrow transformation at present.
To accomplish marrow transformation or blood exchange before reaching the Divine Strength Realm almost always required external aids.
External treasures were exceedingly rare, and cultivating a secret method to perfection was extraordinarily difficult for most martial artists.
Take Lu Changsheng's Nine-Word Thunder Sound Secret Method, for instance.
Even if he handed it to other Refining Organs martial artists, how many could possibly master it to perfection?
Back then, the Blade-Trailing Heavenly King Li Ji possessed the Nine-Word Thunder Sound Secret Method, yet he had failed to bring it to perfection—he had not even attained minor mastery.
Secret methods were hard, external treasures were rare, and achieving marrow transformation was harder still.
"Achieving marrow transformation and blood exchange before the Divine Strength Realm is profoundly difficult."
"Fortunately, I obtained a Blood Exchange Bead and completed my blood exchange."
"I won't force the issue with marrow transformation; for now, my priority is still refining my organs!"
"If I reach the limit of Refining Organs and still cannot transform my marrow, I will simply break through to the Divine Strength Realm!"
Lu Changsheng quickly formulated a cultivation plan.
He did not insist on marrow transformation.
If it truly proved impossible, he would simply ascend to the Divine Strength Realm.
There was no need to obsess over flawless perfection.
Spending decades waiting around just for marrow transformation would be foolish.
Lu Changsheng stowed the Myriad Poison Scripture away once more.
To him, the Divine Strength chapter in the scripture served merely as a reference.
If he wished to break through to the Divine Strength Realm, he would still need to seek out a suitable Divine Strength technique.
"Right, using silken threads of qi and blood to kill enemies seemed quite effective earlier, inflicting widespread slaughter."
"It's just that my utilization of qi and blood was still too crude, and the expenditure was far too steep. I can try creating a martial technique centered around qi-and-blood attacks."
Lu Changsheng closed his eyes and began attempting to create his own martial technique.
At this moment, his terrifying comprehension score of over five hundred came into play.
Countless thoughts collided.
Countless martial techniques converged and melded within his mind.
An attack centered on qi and blood, ideally minimizing consumption while maximizing lethal power.
Transforming qi and blood into silken threads—each thread like a sharp arrow, lightning-fast. Who could withstand that?
Techniques flashed continuously through his consciousness.
He had mastered every single one to perfection.
To date, the techniques he had cultivated numbered well over a hundred, all at perfection.
What did that signify?
It was as though an entire library of martial arts was housed in his head.
The strengths and weaknesses of innumerable techniques were thoroughly synthesized in his mind.
With just a spark of inspiration, he could forge a brand-new technique.
Time trickled by.
In the blink of an eye, an hour slipped past.
The vague concepts in his mind gradually crystallized.
*Whoosh.*
Lu Changsheng opened his eyes.
By now, he had devised an offensive martial technique centered around the external release of qi and blood.
This technique condensed qi and blood into threads as fine as silk.
A single thread of qi and blood was like a dagger in his grasp, prioritizing speed—swift, accurate, and ruthless!
Once unleashed externally, such a thread could pierce an opponent's vital points in an instant.
Furthermore, qi and blood were exceptionally covert.
Within a certain range, turning qi and blood into silken threads was even more discreet than the Instant Kill Technique, truly killing without leaving a trace!
Yet this technique had a flaw—a severe one.
Distance.
Within a range of three zhang, its power reached its peak.
Beyond three zhang, a single thread of qi and blood held virtually no potency. In fact, past three zhang, the thread would dissipate completely.
Unless countless strands of qi and blood were layered together, barely managing to harm enemies beyond three zhang, the cost was simply too exorbitant.
Once discharged, the silken threads of qi and blood could not be retrieved. Releasing them meant permanently expending that qi and blood for the moment, necessitating a period of recuperation to recover.
In truth, Lu Changsheng had also drawn inspiration from the concept of "flying swords" in his memory.
He treated each silken thread of qi and blood as a flying sword.
They could detach from his body to shoot and slay opponents.
While qi and blood were not made of steel, once their speed became unavoidable, all they had to pierce was mortal flesh and bone.
Against martial artists below the Divine Strength Realm, it would produce miraculous effects.
"Since this technique is based on turning qi and blood into silken threads and draws from flying swords, let's call it the Silken Thread Sword."
Lu Changsheng gave the technique a fitting name.
With that, he summoned the attribute panel to inspect his status:
Host: Lu Changsheng
Comprehension: 546 (Hidden Dragon in the Depths)
Silken Thread Sword: Rudimentary
Heavenly Water Organ Refining Art: Third Layer
Nine-Word Thunder Sound Secret Method: Perfection (Incomplete)
His comprehension had risen slightly over this period, but not by much.
After all, he had run out of martial techniques to practice.
The Heavenly Water Organ Refining Art was the second organ-refining method he had cultivated. Its effects were merely satisfactory; when it came to tempering the internal organs, the Nine-Word Thunder Sound Secret Method still contributed the most.
As for the Silken Thread Sword he had just created, it sat merely at the Rudimentary level.
Even though he had conceived the technique, he still had to invest time and energy to cultivate it to perfection.
Despite his comprehension reaching a staggering 546 points, this Silken Thread Sword technique—relying primarily on external qi-and-blood release—still suffered from various drawbacks.
For example, the immense expenditure of qi and blood.
Another issue was wielding qi and blood like a sword; it was easier said than done.
Qi and blood were inherently soft and pliable, not forged metal. How could they compare to a real, sharp blade?
Faced with these drawbacks, Lu Changsheng could only do his best to play to its strengths while minimizing weaknesses.
If qi and blood were soft, he would specialize in speed.
When speed reached a certain threshold, even a single drop of water could pierce the hardest substance.
The Silken Thread Sword operated on the same principle.
At mere Rudimentary mastery, its power was not yet formidable.
Yet once perfected, its speed would reach terrifying heights, and its lethality would naturally surge along with it.
With such lofty comprehension and the foundation of over a hundred mastered martial arts, the technique he had forged was by no means ordinary.
It was at least fifth-rank or higher, not a whit weaker than the Instant Kill Technique.
Moreover, the Silken Thread Sword could attack across a wide area with supreme stealth, taking lives without a sound.
Consequently, it was very likely a sixth-rank or even seventh-rank martial technique!
After creating the Silken Thread Sword, Lu Changsheng felt fatigue setting in.
He had, after all, just endured a grueling battle at Xu Family Manor and depleted a significant amount of qi and blood.
Instead of continuing his cultivation, he took some tonics to replenish his qi and blood, quickly lay down on his bed, and sank into a deep slumber.
Chapter 48