Chapter 16: Sinew Changing and Bone Marrow Washing Classic

  Chong and one lowered their heads, took a closer look at the person's facial features, and called out: "Chong Qing, my junior brother!" Although he didn't see any extreme grief, his eyebrows and eyes couldn't help but twitch. After a while, he raised his head, staring at Chong from afar: "How could you kill him?"

  He slightly raised his chin and said, "A rebellious disciple like you can be killed by anyone. When our master was giving orders in front of the grandmaster, I was also present. The grandmaster personally said that it's okay to capture you alive or directly kill you and bring back your corpse. I heard it all, didn't you?"

  Chong's face darkened, and he paused for a moment before saying: "Although my junior brother has committed the crime of secretly escaping, after all, he is young. He came from the south alone, and it's understandable that he would feel homesick and not think clearly at times. As his senior brother, I should indeed teach him a lesson, but why must we be so ruthless? Letting him off with his life can also be considered accumulating virtue."

  The sarcasm grew thicker, and he said: "Brother is indeed deeply affectionate, even in the Taoist sect, more compassionate than the great Buddhist masters. I suppose it's because you've been traveling together for thousands of miles, cultivating brotherly love on the arduous journey back to Purple Cloud Temple. But I only met him once, and when I saw him again, he was already a traitor - where did this so-called brother come from? Do you think I can be like Brother, ignoring his fleeing footprints, running in the opposite direction for dozens of miles, eating barbecue in the woods to kill time, and then going back to deceive Master with nonsense, saying I didn't see him? This is something I just can't do."

  His face flashed with anger, his hand brushed against the hilt of his sword at his waist, but he didn't draw it. "If that's the case, why don't you take Chongqing's head back to Purple Cloud Temple and report to Master? Just say I disobeyed orders and shared the same crime as Chongqing, ask for Master's command, and when the time comes, bring Master's order and sword to find me. I won't dare resist. Now you don't have Master's order but still dare to come alone and provoke me with your words, do you think my sword is not sharp?" His smiling eyes narrowed, revealing a few hints of coldness.

  He cast a distant glance around, then said: "I was thinking of doing it the way Shixiong said. If I met him and he obediently followed me back, I wouldn't necessarily kill him, even if I did, I wouldn't come looking for Shixiong again. But he refused to die with a peaceful heart, before his death, he spoke many words with deep meaning, after listening, I couldn't figure it out no matter how hard I thought, so I had to come find Shixiong."

  His eyes widened and he exclaimed: "You're saying that..."

  "I'd like to ask, Brother, your practice is not a new method. In the land of Yan and Yu, there indeed exists this skill, which is a supporting exercise for tempering the body. He had read it before, but hadn't cultivated it. Now that he saw it again, the first few chapters were identical to the Easy Tendon and Hard Bone Scripture, but from the cultivation method onwards, they were completely different, without any similarities. He suspected whether he was mistaken or not, so he borrowed the skill from Chong Ming to take a look. Upon taking a look, he discovered an even bigger problem."

  He and Chongming's kung fu, although roughly the same, have subtle differences in their training methods. Ordinary training methods all involve channeling true energy from the meridians to the Qi Sea, but this one channels it to a special Xian bone, condensing into a new 'True Yuan Bone'. Moreover, they stop at the point where the Xian bone is fully cultivated, leaving no power in the rest of the body. Is this still a human cultivation method? He's also seen the world as a young master, and although he doesn't understand the underlying reasons, he's already scared, and didn't dare tell anyone else, fleeing that very night. When I caught up to him, I originally wanted to persuade him to return, but instead he said these words, stirring my thoughts, so I didn't chase after him again.

  Chong Yuan said: "What a coincidence, when I caught up with him, he also told me the same thing, advising me to make arrangements early on and not wait until disaster strikes. Probably because he escaped from your hands and tasted the sweetness, he wants to try this trick on me too. Unfortunately, I'm not buying it, haha." He laughed a few times.

  Chong and frowned: "You didn't have to kill him, at this time we brothers have one more person, the more power, persuade him back, isn't it better to have a deal?"

  "Brother, don't lie in front of a true person. Do you think it's possible to discuss with him? Even if I didn't say anything, you should have already persuaded him back and wouldn't let him run around alone. You just want to make him disappear and disrupt Master's plan a bit. However, Brother, your heart is too soft. Since Chong Qing has confessed cleanly, he's no longer of any value. Keeping him would be a disaster. If neither of us catches him and he falls into that person's hands, not only will the plan proceed as usual, but if he reveals that he already expressed his suspicions to us, that person will know we also have doubts about him. Wouldn't we all be in danger? This kind of trouble should be eliminated completely."

  He was silent for a long time before saying, "You've done everything, must I applaud and praise you?"

  Chong Yuan said, "Brother, don't forget what that person said. If Chong Qing died, they would bring his corpse back to see the real key, which is on Chong Qing's corpse. Now his corpse is in my hands and will never fall into that person's hands, isn't this the safest way?"

  Chong and finally nodded: "It's all right."

  Chong Yuan said: "Shixiong, I have another idea."

  Chong said: "You say."

  Chong Yuan said, "I see that person's arrangement, the key is in the immortal bone. Chong Qing is a Golden Fate Immortal Bone, and Golden Fate Immortal Bones are not rare, you can find one easily. If Chong Qing is gone, there's still Shan Qing and Shui Qing. I think what's truly rare is the Tai Yin Immortal Bone..."

  "Whoa, what's going on...!"

  "Isn't this obvious? Chong Qing may not be rare, but Chong Ming's immortal bones are extremely precious. To ensure absolute safety, we must..."

  Chong took a step forward, grabbed Chong Yuan's shoulder and said: "You mustn't go against the natural order..." Before he could finish speaking, he felt a sharp pain in his chest and fell backwards. Then he heard Chong Yuan say: "Elder brother, your Taiyang Sacred Bone is also an extremely rare treasure..."

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