178: 90% drug resistance? Activate the All-Encompassing Furnace for purification!

blazing flame cabin, private quarters.

Lu Sheng sat cross-legged on the bed, his palms spread open. Two stalks of sea soul grass, emitting a faint blue halo and shaped like curled deep-sea hatchlings, lay quietly there.

Having just consumed one stalk, his Dragon Might Field had awakened; the effects were immediate.

"The more of this stuff, the better."

A flash of desire crossed Lu Sheng's eyes. He grabbed the second stalk of sea soul grass and opened his mouth to swallow it.

Right then.

[Warning! host is detected to be consuming the same type of Saint-Grade spiritual plant consecutively within a short period!]

[Warning! Current drug resistance has reached 90%! Forced consumption will result in a 90% loss of medicinal efficacy, retaining only the taste. Direct consumption is not recommended!]

Lu Sheng's hand froze in mid-air, his brow instantly furrowing into a deep frown.

Ninety percent drug resistance?

Wouldn't that mean eating it for nothing?

This sea soul grass was a treasure, each stalk worth a fortune. Using it as a snack would be a total waste of Heaven And Earth Treasures.

"Tsk."

Lu Sheng put the sea soul grass back into the jade box with some frustration.

This was the downside of the pill-popping path; consuming too much in a short time caused the body to develop immediate drug resistance.

Did he have to wait?

Wait ten days or half a month for the medicinal effects to digest?

No way.

On this peril-filled ocean, time was life.

Just as Lu Sheng was about to close the jade box and look for another way, the System's cold mechanical voice sounded again, but this time it was like heavenly music.

[Ding! It is suggested that the host put the sea soul grass into the furnace for purification and refinement. The furnace fire can remove spiritual plant Impurities, break through medicinal barriers, and condense the essence, allowing the host's absorption rate to reach 100%!]

Lu Sheng blanked for a second.

Then, two beams of sharp light shot out from those dark golden vertical pupils.

"The myriad things furnace... can be used like this?"

He had always thought this tripod could only refine corpses and crystal cores; he hadn't expected it could even reforge Heaven And Earth Treasures like this.

This wasn't just a furnace.

This was clearly a fully automatic super purification machine!

"Good, good, good!"

The corners of Lu Sheng's mouth curled into an excited arc without any hesitation.

"System, open the furnace!"

With a thought, the phantom of that ancient and vast bronze tripod boomed into existence within his consciousness space.

With a wave of his hand, Lu Sheng tossed the remaining two incredibly precious stalks of sea soul grass into the tripod like he was throwing away rotten cabbage.

"Refine them for me!!"

Boom—!!!

The golden flames that had been burning quietly inside the tripod suddenly surged thirty feet high the moment they touched the Saint-Grade medicine.

The churning flames faintly took the shape of a Dragon, letting out bursts of high-pitched, spirited dragon roars.

Under the licking of the golden flames, the sea soul grass rapidly decomposed.

The Impurities that would have caused drug resistance dissipated as green smoke, leaving behind only strands of the purest, most primal deep blue Origin energy.

A moment later.

[Ding! Smelting successful!]

[Obtained: Sea Dragon Blood Essence x 1 drop!]

Lu Sheng's consciousness returned, and he spread his palm.

A drop of dark golden liquid floated quietly above his palm.

It was only the size of a fingernail, yet heavy as lead or mercury. Its interior seemed to contain a deep starry sky, emitting a pressure that made the Soul tremble.

This was no longer an herbal medicine.

This was Dragon blood!

[Item: Sea Dragon Blood Essence]

[Description: Extracted from Saint-Grade medicine by the myriad things furnace and condensed with a trace of Ancient Dragon God aura. It contains massive life energy and the power of laws.]

[Usage: Can be used to strengthen the Physical Body Foundation and break through human limits!]

Two options popped up on the system panel:

[1. Strengthen Muscles (Muscle Strengthening IV -> Muscle Strengthening V)]

[2. Strengthen Bones (Bone Strengthening II -> Bone Strengthening III)]

Lu Sheng stared at these two options, his eyes flickering.

Muscles represented explosive power; bones represented load-bearing capacity.

In the past, he would have chosen muscles without a second thought; after all, might makes right.

But after experiencing that supersonic pursuit earlier, he realized the embarrassment of being a glass cannon.

No matter how strong the muscle power, if the bones couldn't hold up, then throwing a punch might not kill the enemy, but his own arm would snap first—that would be a joke.

"If the Foundation isn't firm, the mountains will shake."

Lu Sheng took a deep breath, his gaze becoming resolute.

"Whether it's a ten-thousand-foot building or an invincible Physical Body, the skeleton is the core."

"System, strengthen my bones!"

[Ding! Consuming 50% Sea Dragon Blood Essence, beginning strengthening!]

As the command was issued.

That drop of dark golden essence instantly split in two.

One half turned into countless tiny golden runes that burrowed through Lu Sheng's pores. Like a swarm of bloodthirsty army ants, they surged frantically toward his entire skeleton.

The next second.

An unprecedented agony struck like a tsunami!

"Ugh—!!!"

Lu Sheng bit his lip hard, his face turning pale instantly as cold sweat poured down his forehead like rain.

This wasn't simple pain.

This was pulverization.

He felt as if every single bone in his body was being smashed bit by bit by an invisible giant hammer, ground into bone meal, and then recast with boiling molten gold!

Pain!

Pain that pierced to the marrow!

Pain so intense his Soul trembled!

But Lu Sheng didn't make a sound.

He sat cross-legged, his hands gripping his knees so tightly that he tore through his pants, his fingers digging deep into his flesh.

Though bloodshot, those dark golden eyes burned with a manic excitement.

The more it hurt, the greater the magnitude of the strengthening!

This feeling of shedding his mortal coil and being reborn fascinated him!

Inside the cabin, the previously still air began to vibrate.

Crack-crack-pop—!

Bursts of popping sounds, like beans roasting, echoed from within Lu Sheng's body.

That was old bone collapsing and new bone being Reborn.

Ten minutes later.

The intense pain receded like a tide.

In its place was a sense of indestructible fullness, as if he could shoulder the very heavens.

[Ding! Strengthening successful! Bone Strengthening Level III!]

[Bone density increased by 300%! Bone marrow hematopoietic ability has undergone a qualitative change!]

[Base Strength +2,000 jin!]

Lu Sheng slowly exhaled a breath of turbid Qi, his eyes flashing with sharp light.

"Refreshing!"

Feeling the surging power within him, he looked at the remaining half of the essence in his palm, a ferocious smile curling his lips.

"Since I'm training, I'll train to the limit!"

"Give me the rest, max it all out!!"

Without the slightest hesitation.

Lu Sheng slapped the remaining half of the Sea Dragon Blood Essence directly into his chest.

"Rumble—!!"

If earlier was just a small hammer tapping, now it was a hydraulic press reforging!

Violent energy instantly swept through his entire body.

Lu Sheng's body trembled violently, a golden light faintly shining beneath his skin. His veins bulged like angry dragons, looking hideous and terrifying.

Crack! Crack!

The sounds of Bone Strengthening became even more frequent, even taking on a metallic texture.

His originally white bones began to undergo a qualitative change under the soaking of the Sea Dragon Blood Essence.

Impurities were completely removed, and the bone quality became incredibly dense.

The color also gradually shifted from lustrous white to pale gold, finally turning into a pure dark gold!

Golden bones!

This was the first step toward achieving a Saint-Grade Physical Body!