385 Breaking Through to Physique Tempering Stage Five!

Ling Yun's purpose of tossing the two Fire Talismans simultaneously was to compare their potencies. However, he was surprised to see both of them igniting simultaneously!

The Fire Talisman drawn using the Emperor Brush was rather predictable — it transformed into a red fireball about the size of a basketball.

Despite its smaller size, which was similar to a soccer ball, the fireball from the newly-made talisman was of a different color. Amidst its fiery-red heart was a tinge of azure.

An azure fireball was indicative of its level two status. If it were entirely blue, that would mean that Ling Yun was able to produce Level Two Fire Talismans!

"Big Brother Yun, what's the matter? Is there a problem with your newly-made Fire Talisman?" Tang Meng wondered aloud when he saw Ling Yun's agitated expression and transfixed gaze on the smaller blaze.

About half a minute later, the fire created from the Emperor Brush fire talisman showed signs of extinguishing. On the other hand, Ling Yun's newly-made Fire Talisman lasted about ten seconds longer than it did.

At this juncture, Ling Yun turned to speak to Tang Meng and Tie Xiaohu. "Neither of you is aware that it's not a bigger fire but a higher temperature that counts!"

"Do you see that tinge of azure in the smaller blaze? This means that its temperature is at least double that of the red blaze. If that fireball hits your arm, it'll burn a wound so deep that the bone would be visible in no time!"

Tang Meng muttered to himself, "It's… it's that formidable?"

Ling Yun nodded his head and smiled. "That's right. In combat, it's more potent to break the finger of the enemy than to inflict superficial damage on ten of his fingers! If a person only sustains superficial burn wounds, he could still endure the pain and resume fighting. However, if his body sustains several burn wounds so deep that even the bone is revealed, which do you say is more vicious?"

After giving a satisfactory explanation to the duo, Ling Yun quickly realized the reason that a Fire Talisman written by him with an ordinary brush was better than another one written using the Emperor Brush!

It could mainly be attributed to the elevation in Ling Yun's cultivated realm. While he was still at the peak of Physique Tempering Stage Three previously, Ling Yun had been unable to channel his spiritual energy into the Fire Talisman via an ordinary wolf-bristle brush.

However, now that Ling Yun had arrived at the peak of Physique Tempering Stage Four, he was capable of channeling his spiritual energy even into a dried twig or green leaf in his hand!

Actually, the Emperor Brush had already acknowledged Ling Yun as its owner. Although Ling Yun could have used it to channel his spiritual energy into the talisman, it wouldn't have made much difference to the talisman's efficacy since he was now able to achieve the same effect using an ordinary brush.

Other contributing factors included the talisman paper and ink, various medicinal herbs stored in the mansion's storeroom, and blood from the four black hounds in the courtyard.

Ling Yun had transformed Mansion Number One into a huge spirit gathering formation. As the spiritual energy in the mansion courtyard consolidated, it was apparent that the animals and vegetation in Ling Yun's mansion had greater spiritual energy since they were constantly immersed in such an atmosphere!

Whether it was the herbs or blood from the four black hounds, they all contained a certain amount of spiritual energy within. Using them to produce the talisman paper and ink would certainly yield a better outcome compared to the paper and ink used in the past.

The elevation in Ling Yun's realm had canceled out the difference that the Emperor Brush would have made, and given the superior quality of talisman paper and ink, it was no wonder that the newly-made Fire Talismans were more powerful than before.

Of course, Ling Yun had refrained from using any of his treasures for the sake of a fair comparison. Had he retrieved a ginseng root from his spatial ring and added a whisker of it into the talisman paper or ink, the talisman's effect would have been even more formidable.

Since the newly-made Fire Talisman had already achieved a high standard, Ling Yun had reason to believe that the Healing Talismans made by him would be equally as potent!

Let's go and draw more talismans! With that thought in mind, Ling Yun returned ecstatically to the living room and was prepared to draw the talismans.

Before drawing the talismans however, he requested Tang Meng to purchase a few sets of pajamas for him.

"Pa-pajamas?" Tang Meng was dumbfounded and wondered where he could purchase them.

Ling Yun chortled. "Yes, it'd be best if they're accompanied by a mask and shoes. Given that we have a similar physique, you can just buy the items according to your sizes."

After he had spoken, Ling Yun pointed at the mansion courtyard where Dugu Mo was sitting cross-legged to practice his cultivation. "Buy the type of clothing that he's wearing…"

After settling the issue in front of him, Ling Yun had already made plans to search for several fitting sets of clothing that were similar to Cui Lao and Dugu Mo's. In his opinion, the attire would be appropriate for the activity that night and wouldn't get in his way during combat.

"But Big Brother Yun, I don't know where to buy them from…" Tang Meng couldn't recall seeing such clothing in the stores that he had browsed previously.

Ignoring Tang Meng, Ling Yun was already focusing on drawing Healing Talismans.

Perceiving Tang Meng's difficulties, Tie Xiaohu let out a sudden laugh. "You're done for this time? Let me tell you…"

With his years of involvement in Green Dragon, Tie Xiaohu loved to fight and would usually pay extra attention to such things. With regard to these matters, he was definitely more knowledgeable than Tang Meng, who had enjoyed a privileged upbringing.

After spending three minutes to draw on tens of Healing Talismans, Ling Yun stuffed them into Tie Xiaohu's hands and said, "Go with Tang Meng to purchase the items. If you both take a fancy to them, you can buy a set for yourselves too. But before you leave, treat the wounds of the four dogs."

Clutching the Healing Talismans, Tie Xiaohu and Tang Meng nodded and left the living room, while Ling Yun concentrated on producing more Healing Talismans.

Within two hours, Ling Yun had produced three hundred high level Healing Talismans and Fire Talismans respectively. In the course of his production, he had finished the supply of talisman paper and ink.

Having completed his task, Ling Yun arose and stretched his limbs. At the same time, he began to restore the spiritual energy, which had been drained from his body once more.

"Eh? It seems like I'll be breaking through to Physique Tempering Stage Five soon…" A hint of delight was perceptible in Ling Yun's worried yet composed expression.

In his excitement, Ling Yun had the impulse to expedite the process in the mansion's courtyard. However, he suddenly recalled that the golden needles in Cui Lao's body hadn't been removed yet.

Considering that over two hours had passed since his therapy session with Cui Lao, Ling Yun reckoned that it was about time and instantaneously appeared at the entrance to the guest room. He pushed the door open to enter.

"Ah! Cui Lao, you… you've gone berserk!" Ling Yun was shocked as soon as he entered the room!

He noticed that Cui Lao's face had turned red and white, and his shut eyelids were quivering. His body was trembling violently while pea-sized sweat droplets were rolling down his entire body. This was a sure sign that he had gone berserk!

And it seemed that he had been in this situation for a considerable period already!

Without needing to ask, Ling Yun knew that Cui Lao must have sensed the fantastic effect of the Nine Needles of the Spiritual Pivot therapy, and since his energy center and meridians had recovered, he had taken advantage of the spiritual energy Ling Yun had injected into him to break through to the Xiantian Realm!

However, Cui Lao had forgotten that the nine golden needles were still pricked in his skin!

These nine golden needles were solely meant to treat the hidden injuries in Cui Lao and weren't supposed to help him progress in his cultivation. It was no wonder Cui Lao would meet with a mishap if he wanted to break through to the Xiantian Realm with them in his body!

Ling Yun hadn't expected Cui Lao to be so impatient. Frowning, he flew towards the bed and sat cross-legged behind Cui Lao!

"Cui Lao, don't be impatient. Abandon your attempt to break through to the next realm and regulate the True Qi in your body according to the acupuncture procedure I executed on you just now!

"I'll help you to consolidate your foundation and nurture your inner energy — to direct your True Qi!"

After he had spoken, Ling Yun silently activated the Yin-Yang harmony balance. When both his palms clapped against Cui Lao's back, the Yin-Yang energy gushed forth from his energy center and traveled through Ling Yun's governor and conception vessels into Cui Lao's body.

The True Qi in Cui Lao's body belonged to the fire category, and Ling Yun could only use his own Dark Yin Qi to suppress the chaotic True Qi in Cui Lao's meridians. At the same time, he used his own pure Yang Qi to direct the True Qi in Cui Lao's body to aid his gradual recovery.

Meanwhile, Dugu Mo — who was cultivating in the mansion courtyard — had perceived the unforeseen turn of events happening in the mansion. As he opened his eyes, there was a flash in his gaze. In two rapid movements, he had traveled to the mansion's interior and landed lightly at the entrance of the guest room.

Dugu Mo looked towards the bed and frowned. He remained at the entrance and stood guard for Ling Yun and Cui Lao.

After Dugu Mo had stood there for nearly two hours, Ling Yun was pallid and drenched with perspiration. It was only after he had removed his palms from Cui Lao's body that Dugu Mo exhaled deeply.

Slipping out of bed, Ling Yun gritted his teeth as he stood upright. He shot a glance at Dugu Mo, who was still standing at the entrance, and both of them quietly left the guest room for the courtyard.

"You're quite tired, right?" asked Dugu Mo. A look of sincere admiration flashed across his eyes when he saw Ling Yun's unsteady gait.

"A partially-inducted Xiantian expert went berserk, what do you think?" Ling Yun darted to a patch of Shichiyou herbs and sat cross-legged on the ground. After rolling his eyes at Dugu Mo, he closed them and began his cultivation.

After drawing six hundred talismans, Ling Yun's vast store of spiritual energy had been depleted once again. Before he had the chance to recuperate, Ling Yun was alerted to Cui Lao's berserk state and was compelled to rely on his own Yin and Yang Qi to redirect Cui Lao's True Qi to its correct track.

However, the immensity of the True Qi within a partially-inducted Xiantian expert was beyond Ling Yun's imagination. Despite exhausting his supply of Yin and Yang Qi, Ling Yun had barely managed to snatch Cui Lao from the jaws of death.

Right now, Ling Yun was nearly incapacitated and could only absorb the spiritual energy while regulating his Yin-Yang harmony balance.

However, the repeated cycles of depletion within such a short time were hugely beneficial for Ling Yun. He sensed that he was about to break through to the next stage!

Nevertheless, there wasn't enough spiritual energy accumulated in the Shichiyou herb over the past seven days to replenish even 20% of his depleted energy!

Very quickly, Ling Yun had finished absorbing the spiritual energy from the fully-saturated environment surrounding the Shichiyou herb. As he was too lazy to even move, Ling Yun flipped his hand and retrieved the magical gourd from his spatial ring!

With a gurgling noise, he gulped down a liter of dragon saliva in a single breath before resuming the intense regulation of his Yin-Yang harmony balance!

Soon, Ling Yun felt that the Tai Chi emblem resembling two intertwined fish was spinning faster and faster within his energy center!

Ten, twenty, and thirty minutes had passed!

The Yang Qi within Ling Yun's energy center had surged, and due to an insufficient Yin Qi, there was a spontaneous regeneration of Yin Qi within the Yin eye of the fish-shaped Yang Qi!

There was a resounding noise the moment the Yin and Yang Qi within Ling Yun's body achieved a harmonious balance!

Ling Yun smiled faintly — he had managed to break through to Physique Tempering Stage Five!