Upon swallowing the medicine, Li Fan felt a slight surge of energy.
Using the medicine's effect as a lever, he stimulated a sliver of power from his hidden reserves.
"Pfft!"
He spat out a mouthful of blood, startling his master, Guang Yangzi, in the process.
The Creation Forge Technique had already begun to circulate.
Guang Yangzi hurriedly went to prepare more medicinal herbs for Li Fan.
Seizing this opportunity, Li Fan carefully examined his own physical condition.
While recalling the relevant case records from the Heavenly Physician’s Immortal Scripture, he pondered a solution.
His body was far too weak; after only a short while, he felt dizzy and his vision blurred. So he could only empty his mind and rest quietly.
Once he had gathered a bit more strength, he continued his contemplation.
He repeated this cycle.
Three days later, Li Fan, synthesizing knowledge from the Heavenly Physician’s Immortal Scripture, improved upon the prescription he had taken during the second memory simulation process.
After considerable persuasion, he finally succeeded in convincing Guang Yangzi to change his medicine.
The new prescription was remarkably effective. Coupled with the Creation Forge Technique tirelessly improving his constitution, Li Fan was able to get out of bed and walk within two months, albeit with great difficulty.
"Little Junior Brother, you're truly amazing! I never thought the prescription would actually work! How did you know about it?" Second Senior Brother Ling Xiao asked, supporting Li Fan as he walked.
"It just appeared in my mind like that!" Li Fan said, widening his eyes with an air of innocence.
"Little Junior Brother is no ordinary person! He might be the hope for our Embodiment Transformation Dao Sect’s resurgence!" Third Senior Brother Lian Chang couldn't help but exclaim in admiration nearby.
Li Fan simply chuckled foolishly.
The first step is a success.
The key now is to become stronger than Big Senior Brother Si Xing within six years, before the conscription decree arrives.
To go to war in his place, and avoid witnessing the tragic scene of the Embodiment Transformation Dao Sect members perishing one by one with my own eyes.
This is the core of Reverend Tian Yang's obsession.
Li Fan thought to himself.
Big Senior Brother Si Xing is at the Golden Core realm of cultivation. To surpass him in six years through conventional, step-by-step cultivation would be nothing short of a fool's dream.
I have no choice but to find another path.
A glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes.
That day, he sought out his master, Guang Yangzi, in private.
"Embody the self?" Facing his young disciple's inquiry, Guang Yangzi's expression changed drastically.
"Where did you hear that? Was it that brat Ling Xiao wagging his tongue again?" Guang Yangzi fumed, his beard bristling as he cursed.
"Master, I thought of it myself," Li Fan said earnestly.
"The profoundness of the Embodiment Transformation Technique our sect cultivates lies in its ability to make use of external objects.
"But it suddenly occurred to me, what exactly is an 'external object?’
"Big Senior Brother's sword, Second Senior Brother's brush, Third Senior Brother's bell—these are all external objects.
"Then, can't my own frail body also be considered an external object?
"Through the continuous tempering of the technique, my senior brothers' Embodied Objects grow stronger and stronger. If I can treat my own body as an Embodied Object, wouldn't that mean I can alter my own constitution?
"I would never be as weak as I am now." Li Fan spoke, word by deliberate word.
Guang Yangzi's expression shifted several times.
After a long while, he let out a deep sigh.
"Tian Yang, you truly are a heaven-sent prodigy! To have such insight at such a tender age, it's truly..."
Guang Yangzi patted Tian Yang's head, a touch of pride in his voice. "With a disciple like you, our Embodiment Transformation Dao Sect is sure to prosper!
"You are correct. Cultivating the Embodiment Transformation Technique can indeed lead to 'Self-Embodiment'."
Suddenly, Guang Yangzi's face turned solemn. He looked at Li Fan and spoke with grave seriousness. "However, my disciple, you must never, ever attempt it."
Li Fan looked up at his master, his small face full of confusion. "Why not, Master?"
Guang Yangzi's gaze grew distant, lost in thought for a moment before he explained to Li Fan. "The most crucial aspect of the Embodiment Transformation Technique is the unity of the object and the self.
"Self-Embodiment is indeed possible in theory. It is also the most perfect way to cultivate the technique."
"But...” Guang Yangzi sighed. "It's too difficult! Far too difficult!
"Compared to ordinary objects, how infinitely more complex is the human body?
"An object can be tested repeatedly, as one seeks greater harmony with it. If a mistake is made during cultivation, only the Embodied Object is damaged.
"But for Self-Embodiment, one's own flesh must serve as the experimental ground at all times.
"The slightest misstep results in severe physical injury.