Immortality and Cultivation: This old man seeks enlightenment through mere survival.

Puff...puff...puff...

The spirit embers were still burning brightly.

Lu Zaian sat cross-legged inside the stone pot, his head and all the other parts submerged in the medicinal liquid.

Only the constantly bursting bubbles emitted rolling heat waves...

At first, protected by the blood scab of the Blood Spirit Pearl, Lu Zaian could not feel any heat.

But as the medicinal power was gradually refined, a warm and fiery sensation seeped into every pore of the body.

Lu Zaian gradually experienced the feeling of being slowly boiled like a frog in lukewarm water.

The essence and blood of the Wind Ghost Crane are originally yin in nature.

Moreover, the remaining ferocity and resentment from the monster's body cannot be directly refined.

However, after being neutralized by the medicinal liquid made from various spiritual materials, and further purified by the Blood Spirit Pearl.

It can then be absorbed and refined!

The protective blood clots gradually melted away.

The pure essence and potent medicinal power penetrated into Lu Zai'an's pores.

The burning sensation, like ants biting, intensified!

"It's so hot! It's burning! It hurts..."

Lu Zaian, who was buried in the medicinal liquid, blushed and frantically circulated the incantation of the Nine Fiends Demon Body.

Boo!

A crane's cry exploded in my mind.

In his dazed state, a strange image vaguely appeared in Lu Zaian's mind:

A crane spread its jet-black wings, creating a hurricane, and disappeared into the rolling dark clouds like a ghost.

Below, in the dense forest, a thick, giant python coils around the treetops.

With its keen eyesight, Feihe immediately flapped its wings and swooped down, plunging headfirst into the giant python!

The giant python suddenly retracted into the branch, frantically twisting its body as it darted through bushes and piles of rocks, attempting to block the crane's attack.

But the crane flies into the forest like a shuttle, and perches on the branch with even more skill!

In the blink of an eye, it nimbly descended, its sharp claws snapping out, piercing through gold and splitting rocks!

This not only blocked the giant python's escape route.

They even managed to precisely lock the giant python's waist amidst the pile of rocks.

The snake's body was instantly covered in blood!

The giant python roared in pain, turned its head, and opened its blood-red mouth to tear at the prey!

The crane takes flight gracefully, avoiding the enemy's strength and striking their weakness!

The crane's claws probed again, and with unparalleled precision, seized the giant python at its vital spot.

One dunk!

Twist it!

The giant python let out a mournful hiss, its erect body crashing down, blood splattering onto the rocky beach...

'Ouch... It itches! It's so itchy!'

Lu Zaian suddenly woke up.

Only then did they realize that the liquid in the pot had decreased by more than half, and the liquid had fallen directly to their chests.

Instead, I experienced intense itching all over my body, especially my upper arms, forearms, and fingers.

It looks like a cat's claws, or like a caterpillar crawling!

Lu Zaian gritted his teeth, enduring torture-like torment.

He could feel his physical strength increasing rapidly!

At the same time, the image of the Wind Demon Crane kept flashing through his mind.

The crane's claws extend and retract, pointing, separating, sealing, locking, buckling, pressing, and twisting!

Several techniques of grappling were etched into his mind.

It seems to have become an indelible bodily instinct!

again and again!

……

Half an hour later,

The medicinal liquid in the pot gradually became clear, and it had already settled at Lu Zai'an's Dantian position.

The dark red, viscous substance changed to a light red, clear broth.

The Flying Crane Demon has been successfully created!

Lu Zaian suddenly opened his eyes, his clear pupils flashing with the shadow of a crane flapping its wings.

He was like a crane soaring into the sky, suddenly rising from the stone pot and flying out!

A set of clothes flashed out of the storage bag in mid-air. Lu Zai'an spun around twice, and the clothes were on. He landed steadily on the ground.

"handsome!"

Lu Zaian casually pulled out a water mirror to look at himself.

The person in the mirror still had a head of silver-white hair, but their face seemed much younger and rosier, their eyes were deep and sharp, and there was a faint smile on their lips.

He's definitely a handsome older man.

When you spread your hands out again, you can see that your ten fingers are long and slender, with distinct joints, and your skin is firm and strong.

The small scars and calluses that existed during his time as an ordinary fisherman have all disappeared.

Looking at these hands alone, no one would associate them with a man in his seventies.

"Test your physical strength."

Lu Zaian conjured a water blade in his right hand, its power equivalent to that of a fourth-level Qi Refining cultivator.

Clang!

After activating the Flying Crane technique, the water blade struck the left forearm, producing a resounding clang of metal clashing against metal!

"No, my Qi Refining cultivation is only at the fourth level, I can't test the strength of my body refinement at all..."

Got it!

After a moment's thought, Lu Zaian took out a mid-grade first-tier Flame Ball Talisman.

Now that Lu Zaian has several thousand spirit stones in his hands, this kind of talisman is no longer a waste for him.

"The attack strength of this Flame Orb Talisman is about the sixth level of Qi Refining, and it also carries a burning effect, which is enough to measure the strength of the body."

The talisman tore apart, and a condensed ball of fire flew toward Lu Zaian's left forearm.

Lu Zai'an concentrated intently, and once his physical body could no longer withstand the attack, he would use his water-based magic to protect himself.

Tsk tsk tsk! !

The fireball emitted a hissing, burning sound.

Even Lu Zai'an's sleeves, which reached his shoulders, were scorched, but his forearms remained completely unharmed!

"So strong! It hasn't even reached its limit yet!"

Lu Zaian took out another Tier 1 High-Grade Ice Spike Talisman!

……

"Hiss... I've reached my limit! It's so cold, my hands are going to go numb..."

After some tossing.

Lu Zaian finally determined the strength of his body tempering.

The rest of his body is at about level seven of body refinement.

Only his arms, especially his fingers, reached the strength of the eighth level of body refinement.

"As expected of a top-grade second-tier body-refining technique, my painstaking efforts in collecting materials have not been in vain."

It's not just about physical strength.

Lu Zaian also possessed the skills of the Flying Crane Grappling Technique in his mind and body.

Lu Zaian then bent his fingers into the shape of a crane's claw and made a few sweeping and grabbing motions at will!

A whooshing sound exploded in the air!

If one were to activate the surging, smoke-like power of blood and qi within their body, the faint phantom of the Wind Ghost Crane would appear behind them!

The phantom of the Wind Crane flapped its wings and extended its claws in sync with Lu Zaian's movements, displaying endless mysteries!

"This must be the so-called supernatural physical abilities of the demon race, but it's too cramped to use them here..."

"There is no such thing as spiritual root talent in body refinement. As long as there are resources, you can keep increasing your strength."

It seems that before I reach the Foundation Establishment stage of Qi Refining, my primary means of self-preservation will be through body cultivation.

Lu Zaian rested his hand on his chin, pondering his stubble.

Body refinement is different from Qi refinement.

A superior spiritual root is destined to absorb spiritual energy faster than a low-grade spiritual root.

There is still a bottleneck to overcome.

The same applies to superior cultivation techniques.

Factors affecting the capacity of mana within the dantian, the number of hidden meridians that can be opened, and the circulation speed of mana refining, etc.

In the cultivation world, there's a common assessment of body-refining cultivators:

Words like "vulgar," "brutish," and "stinky and hard" were used.

It means that physical practitioners don't need to use their brains when fighting.

Anyway, his whole body is muscle, and his mind is also full of muscles.

It's a rock hard lump.

Although physical cultivators are destined to have limited attack methods, they are easily kited by magic cultivators.

But for Lu Zaian, there is one thing that physical cultivation cannot provide that magical cultivation can.

That is the defensive power and sense of security that do not rely on any magical artifacts.

Having a body that grants immortality, cultivation was never intended for the purpose of competing or being strong.

Self-preservation should be the top priority.

Lu Zaian doesn't necessarily have to be able to beat others, but as long as others can't beat him, then he's not at a loss.

Outlast your opponent.