It's over!
That was Shi Yan's first thought.
Without using his ability, wouldn't he turn into a skeleton?
No—at this temperature, not even his bones would remain.
Yet when he saw Fang Ziwei's somewhat stern gaze, he still chose to trust her.
If she intended to harm him, she would not have gone to such lengths to bring him here.
"Ah—"
The instant he withdrew his ability, searing pain flooded every inch of his body.
Even though Shi Yan considered his Spiritual Power decent and his temperament Tenacity itself, he could not help crying out.
He could feel his skin being incinerated, wisps of black smoke rising from the magma.
Beneath the skin came the flesh.
At this moment, the words "burned alive" became reality upon his body.
In only a few seconds, his screams weakened, and his consciousness began to blur.
This was not merely the burning of magma; it also carried the powerful energy and resentful will of a Level 8 Demonic Beast.
"No, I can't die!"
A thought rose in Shi Yan's heart.
His previous life had been bitter and miserable. This life was supposed to be his chance to defy fate and change his destiny—if he died here, wouldn't this rebirth have been for nothing?
"Ha!"
Enduring boundless agony, his Blood Qi Burst forth and surged through every corner of his body.
If he could not use his ability, he could at least mobilize his Blood Vitality, right?
Fortunately, Fang Ziwei said nothing, tacitly allowing it.
As he mobilized his Blood Vitality, streams of cool energy unexpectedly flowed from the magma that had been about to burn him to ashes.
Those energies entered his body through contact with the magma, and the burned areas actually began to heal.
Moreover, Shi Yan could feel warm currents entering his limbs and bones, gradually strengthening his body.
"Advanced Body Tempering Medicine!"
He had known it. Advanced Body Tempering Medicine worth hundreds of thousands could not possibly vanish after raising his Blood Vitality by only a few dozen points.
The medicinal effects had lain dormant within his body, waiting to take effect at a critical moment.
However, as his body grew stronger and his wounds healed, an unbearable numb itch followed, making Shi Yan want to claw at himself.
"Endure it. Circulate your breathing technique."
Fang Ziwei spoke again, a note of delight entering her voice.
She had not expected Shi Yan to pass the first hurdle so quickly—in only a few seconds.
Then next came the true beginning of his enjoyment of pain!
"Ah!!"
Shi Yan clenched his fists and forcibly endured it, but the intertwining agony of burning and numb itching made him roar again.
"Breathing technique, breathing technique..."
As his consciousness was about to blur once more, he forcefully gathered his focus and began circulating the breathing technique.
The effect was immediate.
As he activated Boundless Sea of Fire, the cool sensation coming from within the magma multiplied severalfold, greatly easing his torment.
But he did not celebrate too soon, because this was only the beginning.
Fang Ziwei had personally acted and risked her life to slay a Level 8 Demonic Beast. She could not possibly let him wrap things up so casually; prolonged "torment" was the proper way to begin.
Sure enough, Fang Ziwei smiled faintly and said, "Not bad. Enjoy it properly. Once the magma solidifies, you can come out."
With that, her figure flashed and vanished.
Hearing this, Shi Yan was utterly baffled.
Such a massive pool of magma—waiting for it to solidify...
"Teacher, will you come collect my body next time?"
Unfortunately, Fang Ziwei did not respond or reappear.
Only the intertwined pain of endless destruction and restoration assailed him again and again.
Luckily, before coming here, he had raised his Martial Virtue Points to 212, giving him two chances to replenish his Blood Vitality.
As his Blood Vitality ran dry, he replenished it twice, allowing him to survive the most unbearable initial stage.
After that... he simply had to get used to it.
There was neither sun nor moon within the cave.
No one knew how much time had passed before Shi Yan entered a peculiar state.
Before his eyes was no longer the magma pool, nor was he accompanied by the giant snake's corpse, but an endless sea of fire.
Just like the simulated scene from when the breathing technique had been taught, he stood amid a sea of fire like its god. With every breath, the sea of flames moved with his rhythm.
After a long while, he discovered that the sea of fire was gradually vanishing, turning into black earth. His breathing also became difficult, as though something were blocking it.
At that moment, his awareness returned, and he remembered that he was still soaking in magma.
Instinctively, he tried to open his eyes, only to find that his eyelids seemed sealed shut and could barely be lifted.
He tried to move his body, only to discover that every part of him was as immobile as his eyelids, as though he had been entombed in hardened cement.
"Solidified..."
Shi Yan seemed to realize something, and Blood Vitality suddenly erupted from his body.
After a burst of explosions, smoke and dust billowed while shattered rocks shot into the air.
Opening his eyes, he finally saw his surroundings clearly.
It was no longer churning magma, but black stone walls formed after solidification.
The Fire Scale Python's corpse was still fiery red, embedded in the black stone wall.
However, compared to when he had first seen it, the snake corpse looked as though its essence had been drained away.
"I... succeeded!?"
Shi Yan was overjoyed. He looked at his hands, then at his body.
Perfectly proportioned, his muscles looked robust and powerful while remaining incomparably balanced. He had also grown a few centimeters taller, reaching roughly 1.86 meters.
That was only the outward change; the internal improvements filled him with even greater delight!
[Name: Shi Yan] [Realm: Second Tier Martial Artist] [Ability: Southern Bright Blazing Fire (SSS-Class), Mad Python Earth Core Flame (A-Class)] [Blood Vitality: 478 cards] [Spirit: 101 Hz] [Martial Arts: Thrusting Punch (perfection), Explosive Flame Eighteen Sabers (perfection), Flowing Fire Thousand Jin Fist (Not Initiated), Eighteen Paths Fire Shadow (Not Initiated)] [Cultivation Method: Boundless Sea of Fire (SS-Class, Second Layer)] [Martial Virtue Points: 12]
Terrifying—far too terrifying!
Not only had his second ability been awakened, it had directly soared to A-Class!
One had to know that for the vast majority of martial artists, their abilities would never change throughout their entire lives!
Further down, his Blood Vitality had increased by nearly two hundred!
Even his difficult-to-improve Spiritual Power had risen by sixty-four Hz!
Pain truly could make one's spirit stronger!
And finally, his breathing technique had risen from the first layer to the second.
Boundless Sea of Fire had ten layers in total. The first three focused on strengthening the body, so the huge increase in Blood Vitality was likely closely related to his Cultivation Method reaching the second layer.
All he could say was—
This special training had been immensely worth it!
Taking out a set of clothes from his Space Ring and putting them on, he was just about to call for his teacher when Fang Ziwei appeared beside the solidified magma pool.
"How do you feel?" Fang Ziwei wore a kindly smile, though the exhaustion beneath it remained clearly visible.
"Teacher, I will never forget your great kindness."
Shi Yan gave Fang Ziwei a deep bow, thanking her sincerely.
Being able to gain another ability was something he felt could benefit him for the rest of his life.
And Fang Ziwei's barely concealed exhaustion likely meant she had paid a great price for it.
"Haha, the greatest thanks you can give me is to grow into a towering giant who commands one side."
Fang Ziwei's words carried expectation, yet also the comfort of one who had completed a mission.
"Take out your saber first. Let off some steam."
"My saber?"
Shi Yan was puzzled, but he still did as she said.
The moment the Lava Spirit Devouring Saber landed in his hand, it was as though a blood-red haze appeared before his eyes, and violent hostility rose in his heart.
Only one thought remained in his mind: kill! Kill! Kill!
Even when he looked at Fang Ziwei, he wanted to raise his saber and cut her down.
"You're quite filial, aren't you?"
Fang Ziwei snorted, clearing Shi Yan's head considerably.
"Your mind has been affected by the Fire Scale Python's resentful will. Only slaughter can resolve it. Go."
As she spoke, she waved her hand, and Shi Yan shot out of the cave like a cannonball.
After a violent rumbling that shook the earth and mountains, a huge hole burst open on the mountainside, and Shi Yan appeared outside.
That disturbance also drew the attention of the Demonic Beasts in the mountain forest.
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