"In the Marrow-Cleansing Realm, the marrow is as frost; in the Blood-Exchange Realm, the blood is like mercury. These two realms are known as 'shedding the mortal body and refining the immortal bones,' which are crucial steps for transforming and rebirth in Martial Dao Cultivation."
Liao Ya suppressed the impulse to cry out in extreme comfort and pleasure, and used conversation to distract herself as she introduced the Marrow-Cleansing and Blood-Exchange realms.
"Our machine gun bullets would normally blow a person apart directly, yet a martial artist in the Blood-Exchange Realm can withstand many shots! The brother disciple who ambushed the foreigners shot a high-level expert of Blood-Exchange Realm dead, and I remember he took a full 15 bullets, which just shows how formidable it is!"
Lu Yao, while performing the massage, interjected, "'Blood-Exchange Realm' is the first defensive realm in Martial Dao Cultivation."
It took Liao Ya a few seconds to understand the meaning of his words. She quietly said, "That's also correct... Once you reach the Blood-Exchange Realm, wearing steel armor, you can dominate the battlefield. Ah, ah, ah..."
She cried out twice and quickly covered her mouth. By now, the 'Art of the Dragon Slayer Manual' had reached its later—and most stimulating—stages.
After "resonating the six viscera," Lu Yao's Inner Breath became even more profound, taking care of all the acupoints and reflex zones on the back while simultaneously trembling.
Since the spine connects the whole body, it meant that all organs, acupoints, and even tendons and bones resonated together. The benefits and comfort derived from this could not be expressed in words; each vibration was worth a day of arduous cultivation, and by now, there had already been over 30 vibrations!
Liao Ya, while struggling to keep silent, was also opening all her pores to sweat out impurities in her blood and marrow to make it as hard to distinguish as mixing fish eyes with pearls. In an instant, she was sweating profusely, soaking wet.
After all, some physiological responses are unavoidable, and cultivation can lead to awkward moments that need to be slightly concealed.
Just as Liao Ya was enveloped and trembling in the warmth of Inner Breath, comfortably out of this world, she suddenly realized that her sister was reaching toward her lower body!
She immediately cried out, "What are you doing!" At this moment, she was very nervous. If touched, she would be exposed, and how could she face having her brother-in-law help her with a massage again!
Liao Qe withdrew her hand nonchalantly, "Nothing much, just helping you to wipe off some sweat."
"You're too rough with your hands, don't touch me~," Liao Ya said sternly while getting up to dress. "You learn well and strive to master it as soon as possible."
Having said that, she left as if fleeing.
Completing the full set of the 'Art of the Dragon Slayer Manual' took just about ten minutes. Lu Yao felt somewhat exhausted and began to slowly regulate his breath.
Liao Qe hurriedly sent her own Inner Breath to help and thought to herself, "It seems normal... just the usual help between fellow sect members in cultivation."
After regulating his breath, Lu Yao wanted to talk to Liao Ya about changing houses, when Li Pei, whom he hadn't seen for many days, suddenly visited.
~~~~~~~~
"Welcome." The two formidable ladies stood hand in hand, their posture adding untold charm.
~~~~~~~~
Li Pei chatted for a few more sentences before getting up to take her leave in a carriage.
Being royalty, she felt a significant sense of relief after giving her reciprocal gift.
At that moment, the eunuch Zhang Jin, who was driving the carriage, suddenly said, "Commandery Princess, did you see Young Master Lu's falcons?"
"I did, they were quite majestic, why?"
"All three are exceptionally majestic. The resources required must be substantial—a truly grand gesture!"
Zhang Jin paused for a moment before continuing, "Commandery Princess, forgive your servant for speaking out of turn, but this Young Master Lu is an excellent match in terms of both wealth and talent. You turned twenty this year; it's time to consider the prospect of marriage to avert idle gossip..."
Zhang Jin's implication was clear. After the "Deadly Rooster" incident, the Commandery Princess was no longer a match with the Xiang Family, and she should plan ahead. Fortunately, Young Master Lu was very handsome and seemed to get along well with the Commandery Princess.
Li Pei was about to object, but then she thought of Lu Yao's attributes: extravagant, a Spirit Refining Genius, an Alchemist, a Martial Dao Prodigy, possessing justice and kindness...
A young hero like that would be more than a worthy match for a Commandery Princess! Indeed, it would be an excellent match!
She couldn't help but fall into contemplation... the more she thought about it, the better it seemed! Plus, such a man would be a tremendous asset to herself!
~~~~~~~
After Li Pei left, the three of them looked through the 'Foot Comfort Technique,' which began with some advice:
["Humans have feet as trees have roots; when a tree withers, the roots go first; when a person fails, the feet decline first. Initially, the effects of using one's feet may not be apparent, but after a hundred days of practice, its potency becomes immeasurable. Compared to taking medicine, its effectiveness is a hundredfold."]
In essence, this was a foot therapy secret technique, effortless to learn, unlike the 'Art of the Dragon Slayer Manual' which required a high realm that ordinary people could not achieve.
Nonetheless, it was the kind of foundational treasure that all major sects coveted!
Because not every generation would have a Spirit Refining Expert, during times of decline, they would need these unpretentious methods to overcome difficulties.