Chapter 203 - 116: Mixed Element Gang Body
After the trial, a Master from the Main Courtyard will observe their performance and decide whether to take them on as a disciple.
If they fail to become a disciple, the newcomer can only enter the Outer Courtyard. In the Main Courtyard, this would naturally put them a step behind the disciples of the Inner Courtyard.
Resources, companions, techniques, and location—a Master is a guide on the path of cultivation, helping one avoid many wrong turns.
’The trial!’
A sharp glint flashed in Liang Cheng’s eyes. The trial was still three days away, so for now, his thoughts turned to the Scripture Collection Tower. After all, the Main Courtyard was bound to have Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals that the Martial Arts Academy lacked.
He currently had a full 25,000 Contribution Points, so there was no harm in taking a look.
After quickly washing up, Liang Cheng headed to the Scripture Pavilion.
The Scripture Pavilion was a magnificent, nine-story tower.
He went straight to the Heart Method section and found that while there were many types of Inner Cultivation Methods, none were a higher-level Cultivation Method than his Broken Wave Technique.
It seemed that although the Main Courtyard was a tier above the Martial Arts Academy, there wasn’t much difference in their Inner Cultivation Methods. Techniques for realms above the True Gang Realm were likely only available within a Sect.
Liang Cheng continued browsing, and his eyes lit up when he saw the section for Inner Cultivation Protective Skills.
The Stone Armor Skill was, after all, a Horizontal Hard Skill. These Inner Cultivation Protective Skills were clearly a cut above.
Liang Cheng searched carefully in front of the bookshelf.
*Profound Iron Gang Body*, *Crimson Flame Gang Body*, *Cyan Wood Spirit Aura*...
There were quite a few types, but most required a compatible True Essence with a specific attribute.
Finally, on the innermost part of the shelf, he found a dark-gold Jade Slip.
*Mixed Element Gang Body*
Exchange Cost: eight thousand points
Note: This Cultivation Technique requires an extremely strong physical foundation. Once mastered, the Gang Body protects the user, trains the internal organs, and strengthens the outer physique. The Gang Body provides protection, making one impervious to water and fire and difficult to injure with blades. Furthermore, it grows stronger as one’s Cultivation improves.
’Eight thousand points.’
Liang Cheng mentally noted the price and looked at a few other Gang Body cultivation techniques. Their prices ranged from five thousand to ten thousand points.
*Mixed Element Gang Body* had high requirements but also great potential. More importantly, it was a perfect fit for his situation.
’Eight thousand points...’
’I’ll take it!’
He had 25,000 points. Since it could increase his strength, why not get it?
He quietly transferred five thousand general Contribution Points to his Identity Token, went to the Steward at the Scripture Collection Tower, presented his Identity Token, and exchanged for the *Mixed Element Gang Body*.
When the Steward saw his newcomer status, he couldn’t help but give him a deep look. However, he didn’t say anything. After Liang Cheng received the copy of the cultivation technique, he left immediately.
Returning to his courtyard, Liang Cheng immediately went into seclusion to cultivate.
Inside the Quiet Chamber, Liang Cheng sat cross-legged.
The Mixed Element Gang Body focused on "mixing the internal and external." It used True Essence to temper the entire body, condensing a protective Gang Body on the surface of the skin.
More impressively, it could also nourish the internal organs, forging an indestructible foundation from the inside out.
’As expected of an Inner Cultivation Protective Skill, a whole level above Horizontal Hard Skills.’
The Stone Armor Skill was an External Hard Skill, primarily relying on medicinal baths, physical striking, and Qi Blood tempering.
The Mixed Element Gang Body, on the other hand, was an Inner Cultivation Method that used True Essence as its root and Gang Qi as its application, integrating both offense and defense.
After confirming he had completely memorized the technique’s pathways, he began to guide the True Essence in his body to circulate according to its instructions.
His True Essence surged like a tide, beginning to follow a complex route through his meridians.
It was sluggish at first, but the physical foundation from his Golden Armor Realm Perfection now displayed its astonishing advantage. His meridians were wide and resilient, their capacity far exceeding that of an ordinary person.
On the first circulation, the True Essence flowed through the Twelve Main Meridians, and a faint golden light appeared on the surface of his skin.
On the second circulation, the True Essence permeated the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, and the golden light shifted into a pale golden halo.
On the third circulation, the True Essence began to nourish his physical body in return.
Liang Cheng was surprised and delighted to find that his physical strength, which had stagnated after he reached Perfection in the Stone Armor Skill, was now slowly beginning to increase again!
The Golden Armor Realm and the Mixed Element Gang Body—one external, one internal—were beginning to produce a wondrous resonance.
The powerful physique forged by the Stone Armor Skill became the perfect vessel for the Mixed Element Gang Body.
In turn, the Inner Refining Method of the Mixed Element Gang Body nourished and elevated this physical frame.
’So that’s how it is...’
A moment of inspiration struck Liang Cheng.
He no longer restricted himself to the distinctions between the techniques. Externally, he had the protection of the Golden Armor; internally, the Gang Body flowed.
The pale golden halo grew more and more solid, finally forming a protective Gang Body membrane on the surface of his skin that was as thin as a cicada’s wing yet indestructible.
This protective membrane was not static; it flowed slowly like water. Under the influence of his Broken Wave Technique’s True Essence, one could faintly hear the sound of tides.
[Mixed Element Gang Body: Beginner Level (1/3000)]
’Success!’
The next moment, a sudden change occurred.
[Stone Armor Skill (Golden Armor Realm Perfection) has resonated with Mixed Element Gang Body and is merging with it.]
Then, the entry for Stone Armor Skill vanished, and the Mixed Element Gang Body’s status updated.
[Mixed Element Gang Body: Beginner Level (2000/3000)]
Its progress in the Beginner Level shot up directly to 2000.
At this moment, the initial results of cultivating the Mixed Element Gang Body were becoming apparent:
First, his surface-level defense had reached a new level.
Liang Cheng flicked his own arm, producing a light, metallic CLANG. For an ordinary True Qi Realm practitioner’s blade, let alone breaking the skin, it would be difficult to even leave a white mark.
More importantly, the Gang Body’s protective membrane could neutralize penetrating Power. Its defensive effect against Cold Yin Sword Qi like Fu Qingyun’s was far superior to the previous Golden Armor Realm.
Second, his internal organs were strengthened.
With every breath, he could feel a faint, warm, and nourishing sensation in his organs.
This was a sign that the Gang Body was beginning to strengthen him from within. With long-term cultivation, it would not only resist attacks from Inner Family True Qi and the like but also enhance his Qi Blood circulation and improve his endurance.
Third, his strength was amplified.
Liang Cheng clenched his fist, and the air popped with a faint CRACKLE. When he concentrated the Gang Body into the point of his fist, its destructive power became even more focused.
But the surprises didn’t end there.
As the Mixed Element Gang Body took its initial form, the *Crossing the Sea True Intent* fragment within Liang Cheng’s body suddenly began to operate on its own.
That fragment was itself a profound "Transformation Technique" that could more efficiently convert Qi Blood and medicinal power into Cultivation—Refining Essence and Transforming Qi.
Now, under the harmonizing effect of the Mixed Element Gang Body, its conversion efficiency had more than doubled!
If before it was a "trickling stream," it was now a "surging river."
What surprised Liang Cheng even more was that the Mixed Element Gang Body seemed to have a kind of innate compatibility with the *Crossing the Sea True Intent*.
The trajectory of the Mixed Element Gang Body’s circulation faintly matched the unending, rhythmic ebb and flow of the sea tide from the Crossing the Sea.
’Could the *Mixed Element Gang Body* and the *Crossing the Sea True Intent* actually share the same origin?’
Liang Cheng suppressed his speculation and continued his secluded cultivation.
「Three days passed in a flash.」
During that time, several groups of visitors had come to Liang Cheng’s door, but seeing the sign for his secluded cultivation, they could only leave in resignation, not wanting to disturb him.
However, Liang Cheng was completely unaware of this, fully immersed in his cultivation.
When the door to the Quiet Chamber opened and Liang Cheng walked out, the aura around his body was more condensed, but his appearance showed no major change.
But upon careful inspection, one could discover a faint, pale golden light flowing under his skin—a sign that he had reached the Beginner Level with his Mixed Element Gang Body.
As he blinked, a phantom image of a tide seemed to flash and vanish in the depths of his pupils.
Moreover, with his every move, the air around him seemed to thicken—a sign that his Gang Body was naturally radiating outward and affecting his immediate surroundings.
More importantly, after three days of arduous cultivation, with the boost from the Crossing the Sea True Intent, Liang Cheng’s progress in his inner cultivation was astonishingly fast.
[Third Layer of Broken Wave Technique: Beginner Level (2243/5000)]
[Profound Yin Sword Technique: Great Success (11002/12000)]
[Mixed Element Gang Body: Beginner Level (2082/3000)]
’It’s time to participate in the newcomer’s trial.’
After changing into the Inner Courtyard disciple’s uniform and strapping the Zhenxian Saber to his waist, Liang Cheng calmly walked out of Building C-42.