Special Training

"Junior Sister, you said earlier that you're only sixteen this year?"

Nalan Yanran stared blankly at Xiao Yi Xian.

"Mm." Xiao Yi Xian nodded gently.

"A sixteen-year-old Six-star Dou Zhe..."

Nalan Yanran muttered under her breath, her expression complicated.

It was obvious that Nalan Yanran had taken a blow.

Originally, she had believed that, with her talent, she was worthy of being called the Misty Cloud Sect's greatest genius.

That had made her somewhat complacent and proud.

Now, Xiao Yi Xian's appearance left her feeling somewhat defeated.

However, Nalan Yanran had always been someone unwilling to admit defeat.

She quickly emerged from her disappointment and regained her fighting spirit.

Junior Sister Xian'er, I'll definitely surpass you. She silently encouraged herself.

She had already decided that she would train even harder from now on.

Only then would she be worthy of her title as the Misty Cloud Sect's Young Sect Leader.

Then Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Yi Xian as if nothing had happened and smiled. "Junior Sister, I never expected you to be hiding your strength so well!"

"Senior Sister, I didn't hurt you, did I?"

Xiao Yi Xian felt even more guilty upon hearing that and asked apologetically.

"It's fine. Come on, Junior Sister, let's continue sparring."

Nalan Yanran smiled and teased, "But you can't use your full strength this time. I can't handle a Six-star Dou Zhe's full-powered strike."

"Mm, I'll be careful."

Xiao Yi Xian thought that she had used forty percent of her strength just now, so she would use twenty percent now.

That should be enough to avoid hurting Senior Sister Nalan, right?

Next, the two began a very "friendly" palm-sparring session.

"Teacher!"

In the courtyard, Gu He was drinking tea in the pavilion when Liu Ling suddenly ran over.

"What is it?"

Gu He took a light sip from his teacup before replying indifferently.

"..."

Liu Ling's mouth twitched, and he said speechlessly, "Teacher, didn't you tell me to come here every day for special training?"

At the mention of special training, Liu Ling felt a faint anticipation.

Could Teacher be planning to give me private instruction?

Sure enough, Teacher treats me the best.

Gu He was momentarily stunned before he remembered. He put on a natural expression and said, "Mm, there is such a matter. You remembered it quite clearly."

"Um, Teacher, what kind of special training are you going to give me?" Liu Ling asked expectantly.

When Gu He had mentioned special training last time, he said it could ensure that Liu Ling would not hurt again during the next Power Transmission.

That excited Liu Ling greatly. As long as Power Transmission did not hurt, wouldn't he be able to endure it longer and increase his strength more?

"This special training will mainly temper your physical body," Gu He said calmly.

Then Gu He brushed a hand across his Storage Ring, and an unusually large bathing tub appeared directly in the courtyard.

"Teacher, what's this for?"

Liu Ling looked at the large tub that had appeared out of thin air, utterly confused.

"Go fetch some water and fill the tub."

Gu He did not explain and directly gave Liu Ling an order.

"Okay." Though Liu Ling was puzzled, he obediently did as he was told.

Very soon, Liu Ling had filled the large tub in the middle of the courtyard.

"Teacher, it's filled."

Liu Ling came before Gu He and reported.

Gu He looked up, then pointed at the water-filled tub. "Jump in."

"Huh?"

Liu Ling froze. Under Gu He's unquestionable gaze, he had no choice but to jump into the tub.

"Teacher, what are we doing?"

Soaking in the tub, Liu Ling asked curiously.

"You'll find out soon enough."

Gu He smiled faintly, then took out a jade bottle from his Storage Ring.

"Remember, your task today is to soak in this tub for half a shichen."

"If you can't do it, then you need not come here again."

Holding the jade bottle, Gu He spoke with a stern expression.

The moment Liu Ling heard Gu He's first sentence, he had a bad feeling.

But after hearing the rest, Liu Ling's heart jolted, and he looked at Gu He in disbelief.

Teacher, you're serious?

The meaning behind Gu He's words was obvious.

If he could not hold out for half a shichen, he might very well be expelled from Gu He's tutelage.

At that thought, Liu Ling's heart tightened, and his eyes gradually became resolute. "Teacher, rest assured. This disciple will definitely endure it."

"Is that so? Don't force yourself."

Gu He spoke lightly, then opened the bottle and poured a stream of red liquid into the tub.

"Teacher, what is this stuff?"

Liu Ling looked at the red liquid Gu He had poured out, puzzled.

"Blood Burning Powder."

Gu He answered indifferently.

The instant his words fell, the water in the tub abruptly changed.

As soon as the red liquid entered the water, rapid bubbles began to rise, as though all the water in the tub had been brought to a boil.

Before long, all the water in the tub had turned crimson.

Liu Ling was about to say something when his expression suddenly changed. An intense scorching sensation surged up from the water.

In that instant, Liu Ling felt as if he had been thrown into a furnace.

"Remember, half a shichen."

Gu He spoke lightly, then returned directly to the pavilion.

Liu Ling's heart trembled at those words, and his expression gradually hardened with determination.

"Teacher, rest assured." Watching Liu Ling's departing back, he silently muttered to himself.

Then Liu Ling's expression instantly turned grave.

He could feel a violent scorching force seeping into his body through every pore, spreading through his limbs and bones as agonizing heat burned him from within.

At that moment, he finally understood what Gu He had meant.

To endure such pain for half a shichen truly required extraordinary willpower.

But no matter how painful it was, I have to endure it!

Liu Ling silently told himself.

Though his teacher's words might have been a joke,

Liu Ling knew that if he truly could not endure half a shichen, he would definitely disappoint his teacher.

That was absolutely something Liu Ling did not want to see.

"Isn't it just half a shichen? I refuse to believe I can't do it." Liu Ling slowly closed his eyes and focused completely on accepting the tempering of the medicinal liquid.

Very soon, the scorching sensation in the tub grew more and more intense, and Liu Ling suffered even more than before.

At this moment, his face had already twisted in pain.

"Endure... I have to endure!"

Though he was steeped in pain, Liu Ling's mind remained calm.

He could feel that after being tempered by the Blood Burning Powder, his physical body was gradually changing.

Liu Ling painfully began circulating the Purple Sun Art, using this opportunity to temper his physical body and Dou Qi.

In the pavilion, Gu He watched the scene, a trace of gratification flashing deep within his eyes.

This kid had not disappointed him.