Chapter 8: Fortune and Disaster Are Hard to Predict

  "My appearance has changed so much?"

  Lü Yang discovered his own changes afterwards, and was shocked in his heart, it's really hard to express.

  He vaguely had a hunch that his body was undergoing changes, and it was closely related to the strange encounter a few days ago.

  "The day after tomorrow, the martial path is divided into ten major realms: First layer, practicing skin; Second layer, practicing tendons; Third layer, practicing bones; Fourth layer, cultivating divine intention; Fifth layer, harmonizing the three; Sixth layer, penetrating and communicating; Seventh layer, embracing the origin; Eighth layer, guarding against deficiency; Ninth layer, returning to simplicity and reverting to truth."

  "In the nine levels of this boundary, the first three levels are the lower boundary, only need to practice hard and endure physical hardship can be reached. The middle boundary requires cultivating one's body and mind, practicing spiritual intention to reach. As for the more profound last three levels, it is the upper boundary, cultivating to this level has already glimpsed the true meaning of martial arts, enough to be called a master."

  "However, beyond these achievements, there is an even higher tenth level, the realm of perfection. Upon reaching this realm, one's entire being approaches the primordial chaos, possessing all sorts of inconceivable abilities. With just one more step forward, one can enter the Dao through martial arts and cultivate the true self."

  "Now I have improved my bone structure, skin has become better, teeth are straightened... everything shows that my body is undergoing a transformation of rebirth and renewal, exactly the same as what the Grandmaster said."

  Lü Yang often secretly listened to the instructor's lessons in the back mountain, so he knew a lot about martial arts theory. He knew that after a martial artist reached the tenth level of Houtian, their body would undergo many strange changes, such as improved bone structure, better skin, and straighter teeth... All these characteristics matched his current self, so it could be concluded that he now possessed the legendary "reborn" physique.

  Although the tenth round of perfection in the post-heavenly realm, apart from the transformation of "shedding the old skin and replacing it with a new one", there are also accomplishments, cultivation, realms, etc., many aspects of perfection. However, being able to shed the old skin and replace it with a new one at least shows that a single physical body has already reached post-heavenly perfection.

  Without diligent practice and accumulation over time, those who possess this physique are truly rare, unless they have encountered an extraordinary opportunity or have a great destiny that has endowed them with exceptional talent.

  A strange encounter that brings about such a change is undoubtedly a good thing, but at the same time, it also comes with great danger. With Lv Yang's identity and status, if someone discovers this strange occurrence, even if he doesn't get caught hiding the old man in grey's storage bag, he will be captured and interrogated as an evil spirit. Otherwise, he will be suspected of stealing the heavenly treasures and spiritual medicines from the Medicine Mountain.

  His future prospects and fate have become somewhat unpredictable.

  "Indeed, fortune and misfortune are intertwined! The ancients were not deceiving me!" As he pondered his situation, Lü Yang couldn't help but feel a bit worried. "What should I do now? Now, I don't look like a slave laboring on Medicine Mountain at all, but rather like a genius cultivated by a noble family with countless extraordinary skills and secret methods, possessing an exceptionally superior physique and excellent innate abilities. If I were to encounter a martial artist with keen eyesight, I would be unstoppable."

  Lü Yang's concerns were not unfounded. He still remembered that just five years ago, a fellow servant in the medicine garden had stolen and eaten the spiritual fruit from the back mountain, and although he was lucky enough to survive, he did not become a genius and was instead thrown into the alchemy furnace and burned alive!

  In the flesh and blood of a martial arts master, there is a kind of spiritual essence that can be refined into a pill called the Blood Yuan Great Pill, which has the effect of solidifying the foundation and cultivating the yuan, and even increasing one's lifespan. It is extremely miraculous. If Lü Yang was suspected of stealing the heavenly treasures from the Medicine Mountain, he would also be killed and thrown into the alchemical furnace to refine a spiritual pill.

  "No! I won't fall into the same trap as that person! I have to think of a way to prevent others from seeing through me!"

  At this thought, Lü Yang was suddenly shocked and quickly thought of a way to cope.

  "I recall some herbs that have a good coloring effect, perhaps I can use them to cover up my skin tone. After changing the color of my skin, it won't be so eye-catching."

  Lü Yang hastily returned to his residence, then secretly picked some common medicinal herbs near his residence, used a stone mortar to extract the juice, and applied it to his face and hands until he looked sallow and emaciated, covering up some of the changes in his temperament and complexion.

  But soon he found that doing so was a bit too obvious, and it would be better if he didn't apply any at all.

  "This is terrible, I actually forgot that the smell of these herbs is really weird. When applied to the body, others can smell it at once. Originally, no one noticed me, but now they all want to take a second look. Isn't this like telling everyone that I'm strange? Almost got myself killed."

  Lü Yang let out a silent sigh and thought to himself: "That was close."

  Luckily I was cautious and considered many things, so I didn't rashly go out and get noticed by others.

  "For no reason at all, which normal person would apply medicinal herb juice to their own body? Moreover, the slaves and servants of Medicine Mountain, those who handle affairs, miscellaneous laborers, aren't they all aware of the properties of medicine and somewhat knowledgeable about medical principles? Wouldn't they know that these medicinal herb juices have a weak effect on treating illnesses and saving lives, but instead have a good coloring effect? No way, no way, this absolutely won't do."

  Helpless, Lü Yang had no choice but to wash them again. Naturally, with a plain face and a clear conscience, he didn't make any excuses. It's strange to say that this way, it was actually more pleasing to the eye than before, and the initial feeling of incongruity also disappeared.

  "It seems I was just momentarily flustered and lost my footing."

  Lyu Yang stared at his reflection in the washbasin for a long time before finally coming to a conclusion.

  He walked out of the house, found some mud, and deliberately made his clothes, hair, face, hands, and neck dirty and messy, looking like he had been working hard but hadn't had a chance to clean up.

  Although his skin was still fair and smooth, like beautiful jade, but people who didn't pay attention only saw his sloppy appearance and wouldn't take a closer look, nor would they discover his secret.

  "For the time being, I can only do this. Those who are often with me are just servants and underlings, their eyesight is not high, and they are not afraid of being seen through. However, this method can only prevent for a short while, but cannot prevent forever. It's better to go all out, steal the skills, practice martial arts, cultivate my body, until I become a skilled martial artist, even if the masters from the Lü family come, they won't be able to see through me."

  Actually, over the past few years, Lü Yang had secretly learned a lot of things. He planned to wait until he was older and try to get an opportunity to be sent as an envoy to the southern manor to serve as a general manager. At that time, with power in his hands and being far away from the emperor's supervision, no one would be able to control him, and he could start practicing martial arts freely. Moreover, by then, after years of accumulation, everything would burst out at once, and it was not necessarily inferior to those who had been training in martial arts since childhood.

  However, now all his plans have fallen through, and the route of hiding one's light under a bushel can no longer be taken. The only way out is to take a risk, even if the timing has not yet arrived, he must start practicing martial arts at all costs.

  To take control of one's own destiny, one must give up everything; all previous plans and calculations are no longer relevant.