CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 49: TESTING THE ROOT BONE! IRON BONE AND SOFT TENDONS!

"Thank you, Pavilion Master!"

Gu Yuan was overjoyed and quickly bowed to express his gratitude.

"No need to thank me; this is something you rightfully deserve."

Xia Mingyang changed the topic: "However, this is not the main reason I called you here."

Gu Yuan appropriately showed a hint of confusion: "Then why did the Pavilion Master call me here?"

Xia Mingyang’s gaze was calm as he sized up Gu Yuan, making Gu Yuan feel as though all of his internal organs were being scrutinized: "You have only practiced martial arts for a short time, yet you have already reached this level of cultivation. This suggests you have some talent in Martial Arts."

"I called you here to have Old Mo examine your innate abilities!"

Gu Yuan was taken aback: "Examine my innate abilities?"

"That’s right."

Xia Mingyang explained:

"Just as some people are born with divine power and a strong physique like a bull, while others are frail and sickly from a young age with weak bones and scattered muscles, this is the difference in innate physique and potential."

"A person’s potential can be good or bad. According to the classification of cultivators, it ranges from inferior, lower, middle, to superior. And beyond superior potential, there are various Spiritual Bodies, Dao Bodies, and Immortal Bodies, but you don’t need to know about these."

"The quality of one’s potential determines the cultivator’s potential. Even though this saying may not be entirely accurate, the better the potential, the faster the cultivation progress, and the greater the future achievements, which is an established fact."

Gu Yuan remained silent, simply listening attentively.

After all, he had only recently begun practicing martial arts and spent most of his time concentrating on training. Coming from a humble background, he had not been exposed to this kind of knowledge, nor had anyone informed him about it. Thus, he didn’t understand.

However, he could easily grasp Xia Mingyang’s words.

This so-called potential is actually a form of physique or even a talent for practicing martial arts.

As for Xia Mingyang wanting to help him examine his potential, it was evidently because of Gu Yuan’s outstanding performance on this mission, which gained the attention of the Jade Cauldron Tower and showed a degree of nurturing potential, prompting them to see how his innate abilities were.

If his talent was ordinary, that would be all. But if it was exceptional, perhaps he might receive more attention.

At this moment, Xia Mingyang looked at Old Mo and said, "Old Mo, I must trouble you next."

"Brother Xia, you’re too kind, it’s no trouble at all."

Old Mo waved his hand and then signaled Gu Yuan to come closer.

Gu Yuan obediently took a few steps forward and immediately felt Old Mo grab his wrist.

In an instant, a powerful yet gentle True Qi flowed into him through his wrist and rapidly spread throughout his limbs and whole body.

Then, Gu Yuan felt like he lost control over his limbs, even his muscles and skin, unable to move at all.

He couldn’t even muster any expressions.

"Oh? This youngster..."

Suddenly, Old Mo raised his eyebrows, as if sensing something.

As soon as he spoke, Gu Yuan’s entire body seemed to undergo a stimulus; he heard the crackling of bones colliding, with a faint clangor of metal clashing.

There was also the sound of bowstrings being tightened within him, as if bows and crossbows hidden in his body were being rapidly drawn, the strings emitting a vibrating sound.

His body suddenly swelled up with visible speed, becoming tall and robust, muscles bulging, as tough as iron!

Dark skin bore pulsing veins like small snakes, exuding a somewhat sinister vibe!

His clothes seemed unable to withstand this, stretching tightly, almost bursting apart!

In just a few breaths, Gu Yuan transformed from a slender seven-foot youth into a towering and robust nine-foot man!

"What... what’s happening here?"

Xia Xiuxue, observing the changes in Gu Yuan before her, appeared visibly stunned.

"Hmm? Iron Bone Talent?!"

Noticing the transformation in Gu Yuan, especially hearing the faint metallic collision of bones, Xia Mingyang and Luo Sheng exchanged glances.

Both seemed somewhat surprised.

Then, hearing the tension of bowstrings, their expressions changed again: "No, there’s more about the tendons..."

"Ah, I’m getting old. In the old days, detecting someone’s potential was effortless for me."

At this moment, Old Mo sighed, withdrawing his palm, and Gu Yuan’s towering physique deflated like a punctured balloon, rapidly returning to his original size.

The human body is neither a spring nor rubber; unless one has practiced the Bone Shrinking Technique or some Horizontal Refinement, typically a martial master’s body would be worn down and injured by such expansion and contraction.

However, Gu Yuan didn’t feel any discomfort, instead feeling a sort of... satisfaction?

Not quite right. It was more like a warm sensation all over, like soaking in a hot spring, feeling energized.

This wasn’t surprising. Firstly, his physique differed from ordinary martial masters, with greater flexibility and strength. Secondly, he wasn’t injured and felt comfortable, likely due to Old Mo nurturing him with True Qi.

Then Gu Yuan looked up to find three pairs of bright eyes fixed on him.

Feeling uncomfortable under the intense gaze of the three men, Gu Yuan couldn’t help but ask: "Pavilion Master, Chief Manager, and Old Mo, is there something strange about me?"

Xia Mingyang ignored him, instead looking at Old Mo: "Old Mo?"

Old Mo stroked his beard and, surprisingly, nodded: "Bones like iron, tendons soft as strings, this is the superior Iron Bone and Soft Tendons potential!"

"Moreover, it stands at the pinnacle among superior potentials!"

Iron Bone and Soft Tendons?

Xia Xiuxue widened her eyes, somewhat incredulously examining Gu Yuan.

To find that the Gu Yuan before her possessed superior potential was truly beyond her expectations.

No wonder Gu Yuan achieved remarkable progress in martial arts within just a month, his swordsmanship refined; it turned out to be a result of his excellent talent!

"Iron Bone and Soft Tendons? Excellent! Very good!"

Xia Mingyang nodded in satisfaction, looking at Gu Yuan with a softer gaze.

He hadn’t expected to find such a gem in this small Beiliang County.

Seeing Gu Yuan’s confusion, Old Mo explained: "Iron Bone and Soft Tendons are both rare talents or innate abilities. The Iron Bone talent means having inherently extraordinary bones; individuals with this talent have strong bones and physiques, abundant vitality, and are naturally endowed with divine power! Practicing martial arts is greatly advantageous with such talent, offering many benefits."

"As for the Soft Tendons talent, it is a renowned talent akin to Iron Bone. Those with this talent possess highly flexible muscles and tendons, great strength, swifter actions, and superior physique, making injuries less likely. It complements the Iron Bone talent."

At this point, Old Mo looked at Gu Yuan with a mildly appreciative gaze:

"These two talents are superior potentials, already a one-in-a-hundred rarity. For you to possess both is to have the best of superior potentials, naturally giving you more advantages than many others."