Longevity Martial Arts: I have a Mysterious Water Snake Avatar

The dining hall kitchen.

Hong Yuan was busy preparing his newly acquired ingredients, turning them into medicinal dishes.

Although "Frost Armor" and "Qinglu Mountain Moving Skill" were both second-tier Cultivation Techniques, "Frost Armor" was just an ordinary second-tier ice-element technique. Its enhancement effects on a cultivator were far from comparable to the unique "Qinglu Mountain Moving Skill" from the Qinglu Taoist Temple.

Therefore, the herbal recipe "Turtle Shell Powder" associated with "Frost Armor" was not as difficult to collect as "Deer Strength Powder."

A dose of "Deer Strength Powder" would cost roughly one hundred and twenty Energy Stones, whereas "Turtle Shell Powder" required only thirty Energy Stones!

After all, Hong Yuan only wanted his Mysterious Water Snake Avatar to quickly master a common Ice Talent Innate Ability.

He did not care whether this Ice Talent Innate Ability was powerful, for even the most powerful would definitely not outperform the Innate Ability refined through the fifth-tier Cultivation Technique, "Myriad Silence Origin Skill."

With thirty portions of 'Turtle Shell Powder' ingredients, digesting these should enable me to advance the Proficient Realm 'Frost Armor' Cultivation Technique to the Minor Accomplishment Stage.

So thought Hong Yuan as he washed the Cold Water Turtle.

Even though his mind was on other matters, Hong Yuan's hands did not stop moving.

The rhizome of Smilax glabra was sliced.

The Cold Water Turtle was washed clean and chopped into large pieces.

Lean meat was cut into chunks, and ginger was peeled and sliced.

In the pot, water was boiled. Upon reaching a boil, the Cold Water Turtle and lean meat were added.

They were boiled on medium heat for a quarter-hour until the blood and impurities were gone, then lifted out and rinsed clean.

The rhizome of Smilax glabra, Cold Water Turtle, red dates, lean meat, and ginger were placed into the clay pot.

Clear soup, Shaoxing wine, and pepper powder were added, then covered and simmered on low heat for two hours.

After completing these tasks, Hong Yuan immediately smelled a rich and thick fragrance, a scent that stimulated the saliva in one's mouth.

Turtle Shell Powder, or rather Turtle Shell Soup, was ready!

"This is what you call enjoyment! Eating those dry and tasteless pills and decoctions—what kind of pleasure is that?"

Hong Yuan stretched lazily, a satisfied smile on his face.

He had improved the "Turtle Shell Powder" recipe, turning it from a mere prescription into a medicinal dish that had become "Turtle Shell Soup."

This method of preparing Turtle Shell Soup was adopted from a traditional dish in Guangdong Province, belonging to the Cantonese cuisine style.

Its effects were to dispel dampness, detoxify, nourish the Yin, clear heat, strengthen the spleen, and benefit the kidneys.

It belonged to a special category of medicinal cuisine.

Hong Yuan placed the pot lid aside on the stove and picked up a grey-white soup ladle. Scooping up a spoonful of the thick white Turtle Shell Soup from the clay pot, he gently blew on it.

Instantly, a refreshing aroma wafted from the stove, spreading to the training room, bedroom, Bee Soldier laboratory...

Without further hesitation, Hong Yuan eagerly gulped down the spoonful of Turtle Soup.

Upon tasting it, Hong Yuan's eyes suddenly brightened.

Too delicious! It was simply a delicacy of the mortal world!

Gazing at the still bubbling Turtle Shell Soup, Hong Yuan briefly used his True Essence to protect his throat before picking up the clay pot. He then devoured the Turtle Shell Soup ravenously, like a gluttonous Taotie.

GULP. GULP.

The boiling hot soup was swallowed by Hong Yuan, the delicious ingredients also being heartily chewed to bits.

Sweet, incredibly sweet.

It was difficult to articulate this feeling with words. One could only vaguely describe it:

Although the soup was scalding hot and richly flavored, it was incredibly smooth to drink, leaving a delightful, lingering taste that made one yearn for more.

And the Cold Water Turtle, after being slow-stewed for an extended period, its naturally tough flesh had become tender and succulent, irresistibly whetting one's appetite.

DRIP. DRIP.

Hong Yuan upended the clay pot, licking the last droplet of Turtle Shell Soup clean with his tongue.

He closed his eyes gently, as if savoring the supreme pleasure he had just experienced, then began to critique the Turtle Shell Soup:

"This flavor is like suction cups, stimulating my tongue and making my mouth water with its irresistible taste! It's so powerful, it jolts my Food Tao and stomach walls, involuntarily igniting my appetite."

"Coupled with that vivid taste of fresh ingredients blended with the tender turtle meat, it's simply indescribably exquisite. All the vigor I'd lost due to the heat has re-emerged."

After tasting, Hong Yuan immediately went to the training room.

The training room was empty and simple, furnished only with a wooden target and a Taoist Mat.

Without further thought, Hong Yuan immediately began performing the cultivation poses from "Frost Armor."

Turning oneself into a turtle, harboring no other thoughts.

"Turtle Breathing..."

When lifting your hands upward, inhale. When pressing down, exhale.

While pressing down, raise the head and forcefully sink the shoulders.

"Tortoise Movement..."

Both palms turn outward, facing away.

Push the left palm out while pressing down with the left foot.

"Tortoise Carrying..."

A set of the Cultivation Technique took the time it takes for one incense stick to burn to perform.

After finishing, Hong Yuan, drenched in sweat, immediately checked the proficiency panel. This is pаrt оf а sеriеs frоm Мy Virtuаl Librаry Еmpirе (М|V|L1ЕМРYR).

[Frost Armor+20]

[Frost Armor+20]

[Frost Armor+20]

[Cultivation Technique: Frost Armor (Proficient 783/1000) → Frost Armor (Proficient 843/1000)]

When he saw the significant increase in proficiency points for "Frost Armor," Hong Yuan couldn't help but show a look of joy on his face.

In the past, completing a set of "Frost Armor" would increase proficiency by a maximum of two points, and sometimes not at all. Yet now, performing it just once immediately yielded 60 points!

He knew this was only the first repetition, and the medicinal effects within his body were definitely not yet exhausted.

Therefore, motivated, Hong Yuan continued to practice "Frost Armor."

If it increases proficiency, grind it out!

"Turtle Breathing..."

"Tortoise Movement..."

"Tortoise Carrying..."

Through such intense grinding and consumption of resources, Hong Yuan's understanding of the "Frost Armor" Cultivation Technique improved greatly.

In just two days, Hong Yuan had advanced "Frost Armor" to the Mastery Realm.

After fully digesting all the ingredients for the Turtle Shell Powder, Hong Yuan was certain he could bring "Frost Armor" to the Minor Accomplishment Stage.

[Cultivation Technique: Frost Armor (Proficient 983/1000) → Frost Armor (Mastered 43/2000)]

Regrettably, the time for the monthly moon bath was about to end, so Hong Yuan stopped his intense training.

He needed to conserve his energy and build up his strength.

Because tomorrow was important. He had to prove through his actions to Zhu Wushang that he, Hong Yuan, was already a second-tier forger.

With closed eyes, his mind shifted to the Mysterious Water Snake Avatar.

...

「The large pond.」

「The Mysterious Water Snake's cave.」

A pair of bright vertical pupils slowly opened, instantly illuminating the dim and narrow cave.

With a gentle slap of his tail against the ground, Hong Yuan unfurled his coiled snake body and swam towards the threshold.

SPLASH!

The water was forcefully parted, creating a loud sound.

The aquatic animals in the shallow areas distanced themselves from Hong Yuan's path, silently avoiding exposing themselves to his sight.

However, upon seeing Hong Yuan's appearance, a few mud-buried turtles with nascent Spiritual Wisdom couldn't help but feel surprised.

For now, Hong Yuan's body had undergone significant changes. Though it was still based on the black color of the Mysterious Water Snake, his belly to the tail end was coated in white ice armor.

Black and white intermixed, as if adorned with silver threads.

Even the turtles that had not fully developed their Spiritual Wisdom noticed the changes in the Mysterious Water Snake. Naturally, Hong Yuan noticed as well.

With a gentle urge of the cold energy stored in his belly, his tail, like an ice machine, emitted a white light, turning some of the flowing water into ice particles.

The power of ice was becoming increasingly favorable to him.

In other words, as the transformation progressed, the Mysterious Water Snake's body was becoming more akin to the Ice Armor Python.

The Ice Armor Python, with formidable defensive power, could create an icy world during the heat of summer. It prefers the cold and dislikes the heat, thriving on causing chaos above the shore!