Returning to the familiar small courtyard, Gu Chengming closed the courtyard gate with a backhand, completely isolating the outside world's clamor.
Only then did he let out a long sigh of relief, walked to the table and sat down, poured himself a cup of cool tea, and with a thought, summoned the system panel that only he could see.
Two lines of light blue text appeared before his eyes:
【Qingxin Art: 45/Friendly】
【Hundred Bones Resonating: 50/Friendly】
Looking at these two numbers, Gu Chengming said that this "Hundred Bones Resonating" truly came from behind.
"Qingxin Art" clearly came first, but with today's wave of "market city bargain hunting" plus "killing enemies beyond one's realm" combo, its favorability actually soared, surpassing Qingxin Art.
Am I really some genius at conquering protagonist-like characters?
Gu Chengming rubbed his chin, thinking so.
But then he thought, rather than saying his conquering skills were superb, it was more like "Hundred Bones Resonating"'s self-conquering.
As for the strength faction, they really only need strength to be conquered.
Since "Hundred Bones Resonating" had reached 50, "Qingxin Art" couldn't fall too far behind.
He took out his brush, ink, paper, and inkstone from his storage pouch, skillfully spreading out the Xuan paper.
The previous storybook had already reached the crucial third part
——The master's dao heart was unstable due to accidentally consuming aphrodisiacs, and the rebellious disciple had to make some "ancestor-defying" sacrifices to help the master stabilize her dao heart.
This part of the plot required extremely delicate psychological descriptions and atmosphere rendering, demanding very high writing skills.
Gu Chengming took a deep breath, picked up his brush, and dipped it in ink.
He didn't know how much time had passed, but he made the final stroke, looked at the flowing script on the paper, and nodded in satisfaction.
He glanced at the panel again.
【Qingxin Art looked at you rather resentfully, the chapter-cutting dog cut chapters again】
【Favorability +5】
【Qingxin Art: 50/Friendly】
Gu Chengming was very satisfied and stretched.
Both core cultivation arts had smoothly reached the critical point of transitioning from "Friendly" to "Liked."
This was like playing a dating simulation game, where the favorability of the two main heroines had been maxed out, and now just a few more key events would unlock "Intimate" or even "Pledge" states.
Alas, I, the God of Conquest, am truly as lonely as snow.
Storybook time was over; now it was time for serious business.
His gaze fell upon the bundle of "weeds" casually tossed in the corner of the table.
Those were the "dragon blood grass" he bought in the Market City for two spirit stones.
Since the act had reached this point, it had to have a beginning and an end.
Gu Chengming's expression became solemn. He rose and walked to the window, closing it tightly, then set up a simple warning restriction at the door, fully adopting the posture of "secluding himself to refine a treasure."
Then, he sat cross-legged on the bed, solemnly pulling out one stalk from the bundle of herbs.
The leaves of this grass were withered and yellow, its roots still carrying some soil, emitting a faint earthy and bitter smell.
Gu Chengming's mouth twitched.
Is it really okay to eat this raw?
Never mind, it's not shameful to get stronger.
He took a deep breath, adjusted his facial expression, revealing a look of "both anticipation and apprehension when facing a rare treasure," then shoved the blood activating grass into his mouth and chewed vigorously.
...So bitter.
Although he was cursing inwardly, Gu Chengming's face instantly flushed red, as if a violent energy was exploding in his mouth.
He clenched his teeth, his eyes wide open, and a suppressed growl escaped his throat, as if enduring immense pain and impact.
“What potent medicinal power!”
“As expected of dragon blood grass! Even if it's just a seedling, the essence blood power it contains is astonishing!”
“Hundred Bones Resonating! Help me refine it!”
He roared inwardly, then immediately activated the method of "Hundred Bones Resonating."
【Hundred Bones Resonating responded instantly!】
【It sensed the host's call and "saw" the host's feat of swallowing that divine medicine!】
【Here it comes! The legendary marrow cleansing and tendon transforming!】
【It immediately mobilized all its functions, preparing to welcome the impending immense medicinal power!】
However, what actually entered Gu Chengming's stomach was only a pitifully small amount of herbal plant fiber and blood-activating medicinal power so weak it was almost negligible.
But!
Gu Chengming had a real trump card—favorability.
The series of actions in the Market City before, coupled with killing enemies beyond his realm just now, had raised "Hundred Bones Resonating"'s favorability by 15 points in one go, reaching the 50 mark.
The favorability of a cultivation art was directly linked to cultivation efficiency and compatibility. A nearly fifteen-point increase in favorability meant that the smoothness of the art's operation, the control over the body, and the efficiency of spiritual energy conversion had made a qualitative leap compared to before.
Thus, when Gu Chengming began to circulate the cultivation art, the essence blood within his body instantly boiled as if dry firewood had been ignited.
The previously obscure and difficult-to-understand meridian circulation routes now became incredibly smooth. The essence blood that originally required a great deal of mental effort to guide now spontaneously flushed through his entire body.
And this also caused Hundred Bones Resonating's attitude to change.
【Hundred Bones Resonating thought, "Holy shit, it's actually real?!"】
【It actually had a slight suspicion initially, after all, that grass looked too much like roadside weeds.】
【But now, facts speak louder than words!】
【Is this the Son of Destiny?】
【To casually pick up such a treasure that doubles cultivation speed in some broken Market City, with such a cheat, how can Hundred Bones Resonating not achieve enlightenment and become a saint?!】
【Hundred Bones Resonating is utterly impressed with you】
【Favorability +5】
Rate on N.U.
