Beast Taming: I gained the talent of a spirit pet

Before long, Gu Yuan left Jade Tripod Tower.

In his hand, he now held a hard iron牌 (pái, plate/sign), with the characters "Gu Yuan" engraved on the front and a simple bronze tripod with three legs and two ears on the back.

This iron牌 was proof of Gu Yuan's identity as a medicine gatherer for Jade Tripod Tower.

"As expected, the contribution points are essentially a quantification of merit for Jade Tripod Tower. For example, completing tasks issued by Jade Tripod Tower earns contribution points, with each completed task yielding a corresponding amount."

"Additionally, spirit herbs can be exchanged for contribution points, with the amount varying based on the quality of the herb."

"These contribution points are truly valuable. Cultivation methods, elixirs, weapons, and even secret information can be exchanged for them. It's a pity I don't have any yet."

Gu Yuan patted the books in his arms: "Fortunately, basic knowledge about the cultivation world and martial arts can be borrowed for a small fee. It's a bit expensive, though; half a month costs ten taels of silver."

Thinking of this, Gu Yuan felt a pang of pain. Although he had received a considerable sum of silver yesterday, ten taels was still a significant amount.

"Fortunately, with these resources, I can finally attempt to start cultivating!"

Gu Yuan pondered silently before turning to leave.

Outside the Cloud Dream Mountain Range, within a mountain valley.

Gu Yuan sat cross-legged on a blue stone.

The mountain forest was filled with biting cold wind.

Yet, Gu Yuan was dressed in only a thin shirt, arms outstretched, feet coordinated, waist and back twisting like a snake, practicing a set of拳法 (quánfǎ, fist techniques/martial arts).

This set of拳法 was quite strange, with odd, slow movements, bearing some resemblance to Gu Yuan's previous life's Tai Chi and ancient yoga.

Not only did it lack any imposing power, but it was also awkward, with an indescribable sense of incoordination.

At the same time, his breathing was long, with a measured pace, carrying a special rhythm that coordinated with the拳法.

His skin was as red as blood, like a cooked lobster, emitting rising heat, making him look quite peculiar.

From a distance, he looked like a strange snake in the clouds, stretching its body and breathing in spiritual energy.

After a long while, Gu Yuan stopped.

He exhaled a long breath, a white mist shooting out a foot like a sword before slowly dissipating.

He felt that the muscles in every part of his body were sore, swollen, and painful, with heat constantly surging under his skin.

"The body tempering拳法 recorded in this 《金蛇吞元功》 (Jīn Shé Tūn Yuán Gōng, Golden Snake Swallowing Origin Skill) is indeed powerful. Although the movements are awkward and strange, they can effectively involve and train the skin, muscles, and bones of my entire body. Combined with visualizing to strengthen the spirit and the breathing technique to adjust internal and external respiration and stimulate the flow of气血 (qìxuè, vital energy and blood), it is definitely a first-class martial arts method!"

Gu Yuan finished his practice, and waves of intense pain and soreness came from all over his body, causing him to wince and gasp for air:

"Of course, it also causes considerable damage to the body. If I can't replenish and nourish the body in time, it will leave hidden dangers and injuries. If they erupt in the future, it could lead to paralysis at best, or sudden death at worst."

He grabbed a piece of clothing next to him and put it on.

Then, he came to a clay stove not far away.

The stove was built with yellow mud and mountain stones, with an iron pot on top, in which two young pigeons were stewing. Sliced Polygonatum sibiricum, wolfberries, and red dates were scattered around, the soup was clear and bright, and some oil floated on the surface.

The medicinal cuisine in the pot was called Yellow Essence Pigeon Soup, which Gu Yuan found in the medical books passed down by shopkeeper Xu. It had the effect of strengthening muscles and bones and consolidating the foundation and nourishing the origin, making it perfect for him to use.

Iron Fang Rat Ah Huang was watching over it.

Although small, it was quite intelligent. Seeing that the fire under the stove was low, it would pick up a branch and throw it in.

When the fire was strong, it would use its tail to roll up the branches inside and pull them out.

It was conscientious and serious, a good house rat.

Of course, the tempting aroma emanating from the medicinal cuisine in the iron pot, and Gu Yuan's promise that it would get a share, were also key reasons for its hard work.

"It's been stewing for more than an hour, the heat is sufficient, it's ready to eat."

Gu Yuan looked at it, and then began to serve the medicinal cuisine, and tore off a pigeon leg, throwing it to Ah Huang as a reward for its hard work in tending the fire.

The pigeon meat was tender and the bones were crisp, the soup was fragrant and overflowing with sweetness, making it somewhat irresistible.

Gu Yuan chewed and swallowed everything, skin and bones, and drank the soup clean.

Before long, he felt wisps of heat rising in his abdomen, these wisps of heat were gentle and pure, and merged into his whole body.

最⊥新⊥小⊥说⊥在⊥六⊥9⊥书⊥吧⊥⊥首⊥发！

Gu Yuan immediately felt that the soreness, numbness, swelling, and pain all over his body had eased a lot.

Even his energy gradually recovered.

Even his气血 became more vigorous, constantly flowing in his body, making his skin feel numb and itchy, wishing to scratch hard.

"Hmm? Itchy skin, is this a breakthrough?"

Gu Yuan's eyes lit up, noticing the difference:

"That's right, although this Yellow Essence Pigeon Soup is just an ordinary medicinal cuisine, it is gentle and nourishing, and the Polygonatum sibiricum I put in is not ordinary, but old Polygonatum sibiricum that has been aged for decades, extremely nourishing, and the pigeons used are also medicinal pigeons fed with medicinal herbs, spending most of my savings. Over time, it will naturally be of great benefit to martial arts cultivation!"

At the same time, he realized something:

"In addition, I have the blessing of the Iron Fang talent, my muscles are strong and my bones are strong, and my physique is better than ordinary people. During this period of time, I have been diligent in cultivation, and now breaking through is a matter of course and a natural consequence."

"Acquired martial masters are divided into three stages: refining skin, refining muscles, and refining bones. Refining skin means training the skin to be tough and strong, and the气血 is also more vigorous than ordinary people, full of energy, this is the first step in martial arts."

Gu Yuan's eyes were bright with a hint of perseverance, he sat cross-legged, adjusting his breathing with the breathing technique, and stimulating the气血:

"It seems that today, I should break through and become a true martial master!"

As the气血 flowed in his body, tempering his skin, Gu Yuan's skin was numb and itchy, and there was a burst of tingling, and this feeling became stronger and stronger, constantly coming from all parts of his body, which was almost maddening and almost unbearable.

In his previous life, Gu Yuan had urticaria, and once he took a hot bath or was stimulated, a cold wind would blow, causing large patches of red bumps to appear, making him unbearably itchy.

But the current change is much more uncomfortable than the onset of urticaria!

Not only itchy, but also numb and tingling.

However, Gu Yuan's breathing was long and orderly, his eyelids were tightly closed, but he did not seem to be affected in any way, and he still unhurriedly exhaled and inhaled, and circulated the气血.

I don't know how long it took, the various numbness and tingling sensations on Gu Yuan's body gradually disappeared, and Gu Yuan himself also opened his eyes.

"Refining the skin, finally done!"