The Purple Blue Sword Classic consisted of twelve levels in total, the first of which was Body Refining. As the saying went: to master powerful martial arts, one must first possess a strong physique. After all, every technique relied on the body to be executed. Thus, the first level of the classic focused solely on body refining.
Most martial artists in the jianghu strengthened their bodies through physical training and forced movements, building bulky, clearly defined muscles until their flesh was as hard as steel.
To Jian Chen, this method was no different from torturing the body, straining its functions to the limit. While it did make the physique far stronger than ordinary people, it also inflicted severe damage, resulting in drastically shortened lifespans, especially in old age when countless ailments would surface.
Although some individuals and sects had their own body-refining methods, in Jian Chen's eyes, they were all inferior and followed the wrong path. Even the Shaolin Temple's Yijin Jing was no exception.
The Yijin Jing cultivated both inner energy and outer physique, strengthening skin, muscles, bones, and tendons. Yet its external training only scratched the surface, never penetrating to the marrow. To Jian Chen, it merely refined the body's surface, failing to achieve true body refinement.
The method recorded in the Purple Blue Sword Classic was profound and mystical. It focused on absorbing heaven and earth energy, transforming it, and merging it into the flesh, bones, and marrow. Every part of the body, every cell, every internal organ was strengthened at the fundamental level, allowing for a complete transformation.
This not only refined the body perfectly but also brought endless benefits, greatly extending lifespan. In later stages, the physical body would grow stronger alongside one's internal energy. The classic even noted that mastering body refining to its peak could grant a lifespan equal to heaven and earth.
However, body refining was tied to one's own strength. The more powerful the true energy within, the stronger the flesh. The method used true energy to permeate the entire body. Once true energy and physical strength reached a balance, one had to break it immediately and raise true energy further to continue strengthening the body.
Heaven and earth energy flowed endlessly into Jian Chen, circulating through his meridians in a fixed pattern. Under his control, it merged into every cell and internal organ.
There was only one thing that excited Jian Chen about this strange new world: the density of heaven and earth energy. It was over a hundred times richer than in his previous world. Compared to this place, his old world was a barren, desolate valley. One was heaven, the other hell—there was simply no comparison. This was his only consolation.
Yet he noticed something puzzling: although the energy here was largely similar to his old world, it contained a special, unique component. It made up only a small portion, but was tightly intertwined with the natural energy, as if they were one.
When absorbed into his body, it caused no discomfort, so Jian Chen did not reject it. Still, he was deeply curious, feeling instinctively that this energy was far from ordinary.
As the transformed energy poured into his flesh, Jian Chen clearly felt every cell, meridian, and internal organ strengthening. The energy was like a supreme tonic, making them thrive like starved tigers. All the while, his body felt indescribably comfortable, as if floating on air.
Another year passed in the blink of an eye. Jian Chen had now been in this new world for a full two years. During these two years, he had not stepped foot outside Changyang Mansion. Every moment of free time was spent in his room cultivating the first level of the Purple Blue Sword Classic: Body Refining.
Perhaps because the heaven and earth energy was a hundred times richer, he had achieved remarkable progress in just one year. Jian Chen had no doubt that ordinary weapons, wielded by normal people, could not harm him at all—not even pierce the outermost layer of his skin.
Of course, that was only his feeling; he would not be foolish enough to test it.
Over the year, his body had grown at an incredible rate. At only two years old, he stood a full 1.2 meters tall, looking nothing like a toddler, but more like a child of five or six.
This sight astonished everyone in Changyang Mansion. Nearly all placed high hopes on him, believing he was a genius of unlimited potential. All would be confirmed when he turned three.
Jian Chen felt helpless about it. He did not know if his rapid growth was due to cultivating the body-refining technique, since he had not started the Purple Blue Sword Classic at this age in his previous life.
After dinner with his mother Bi Yuntian, Jian Chen returned to his room alone, locked the door, and sat cross-legged on his bed, hands on his knees, eyes closed in the five-heart-facing-sky posture.
But he was not cultivating. He was thinking.
He had been in this world for two years, yet had not left the mansion once. He spent most of his time training, and still knew pitifully little about this world. Apart from Changyang Mansion, he had no idea what lay beyond.
He knew full well that in others' eyes, he was only a two-year-old child, who should be carefree in his parents' arms, too young for such concerns.
After meditating on the bed for a while, Jian Chen finally decided: at daybreak, he would ask his mother. He needed to understand what kind of world this was.
Once he had made up his mind, Jian Chen slowly opened his eyes and climbed out of bed.
Tonight, he did not cultivate as usual. Instead, he stood straight in the center of the room, eyes slightly closed.
In his mind, a set of extremely profound footwork gradually took shape. A scene unfolded like a moving picture: a young man in a white robe, sword on his back, moving at incredible speed with mystical steps. His speed was so great that ordinary eyes could not follow, leaving a string of afterimages even within the small space.
This young man was Jian Chen's past self, and the footwork was recorded in the Purple Blue Sword Classic—utterly extraordinary.
When moonlight slipped through the window cracks, Jian Chen's eyes snapped open.
At last, he moved.
His legs shifted at an inconceivable speed, blurring into a shadow. Even experienced martial artists could hardly maintain such velocity.
His feet stepped in a mysterious, rhythmic pattern. With each rapid movement, his body darted around the room at high speed, stirring a small whirlwind in the confined space.
The motion did not last long. Jian Chen quickly stopped, his face pale, breathing heavily, legs trembling slightly.
He slowly walked to the bed and sat down, bending over to massage his legs.
After only a short while of performing the profound steps, his legs felt completely limp, as if all strength had left them.
Jian Chen shook his head helplessly.
The saying was true: no matter the martial art, one first needed strong bones and tendons. The more profound the skill, the higher the demands. The footwork he had just practiced required a powerful physique and strong true energy to sustain. An ordinary body could not unleash such speed, and pushing beyond its limits would only cause harm.
Mastering profound power was no easy task.
He rested his legs until they recovered, then sat cross-legged again, absorbing heaven and earth energy to continue refining his body.
The night passed quickly. Dawn broke, and a voice came from outside his door.
"Fourth Young Master, the sun is up. Time to wake up!" It was clearly a young girl's voice.
Jian Chen slowly opened his eyes, speaking in his childish tone.
"I know, Sister Honghua. I'm already up."
With that, he climbed out of bed.
At the same time, the door opened. Two teenage girls around eighteen entered, each carrying a large tray.
One tray held a washbasin with a neatly folded new towel beside it. The other held toothbrushing and rinsing utensils.