Extreme Training in Death Valley, All the Pain Flies Away, Lung Mist Na'er and Divine Doctor Gu Yue

"Senior Body Douluo, that laugh of yours doesn't sound like a good person's."

The large hand was only 0.01 centimeters away from him. Zhao Xuanzhen opened his eyes, his tone carrying a trace of helplessness.

"Is that so?"

The dark gold slowly faded, revealing Muye's face. The Body Sect Master rubbed his chin and said in surprise, "Though I didn't deliberately conceal my presence, it still shouldn't have been something a Soul Elder in meditation could detect. Your senses seem far too sharp."

Zhao Xuanzhen merely smiled without answering. The wind was his second pair of eyes, inspecting everything around him in his stead.

"Since you found out, Then This Sect Master won't pretend anymore!"

Muye chuckled. Then Zhao Xuanzhen felt his nape tighten, and his entire body flew into the air as though riding the clouds.

The moonlight was silver, and the sea of clouds merged with the sky at the horizon. The cool night wind rushed toward him as Zhao Xuanzhen overlooked the earth from high above. The brilliantly lit Heaven Dou City gradually shrank and receded into the distance.

"Senior Muye, changing a sneak attack into coercion isn't very honorable." Zhao Xuanzhen looked at Muye.

You were dangerously close!

Just now, the Eight Deceitful Gods' protection mechanism nearly activated, and Teng Snake almost gave you a point-blank explosion!

"You kid, you got a bargain and still complain." Muye snorted. "Tonight, This Sect Master is taking you to undergo the most important ritual in a Body Soul Master's life: the Second Awakening of your Body Soul.

"You haven't joined the Body Sect, yet I'm making an exception and giving you a Second Awakening. I'll give you another chance to choose your words. Am I honorable or not?"

"Very honorable."

Zhao Xuanzhen nodded and sincerely raised a thumb.

He had anticipated this exception. Zhao Xuanzhen had noticed it while eating: Muye before and after cooking seemed like two entirely different people. He had likely been persuaded by someone.

Among everyone Zhao Xuanzhen knew, the only person qualified and capable enough to persuade Muye was Illusion Brain Douluo Han Tianyi. It was also Han Tianyi who had directed Zhao Xuanzhen here while keeping him away from Leng Yaozhu. That old comrade had calculated everything perfectly, ensuring that both sides benefited.

No matter what, the favor of a Second Awakening was real. A great kindness must be repaid in full; repaying a small kindness with death was the behavior of a beast.

As a Normal Human, Zhao Xuanzhen would certainly repay Muye in the future and lend a hand in reviving the Body Sect.

The two streaked through the sky when Zhao Xuanzhen suddenly frowned and asked, "Senior Body Douluo, where are we going?"

"I'll tell you when we get there," Muye said mysteriously, though a closer look revealed a rather mischievous air.

An inexplicable sense of foreboding rose in his heart. Zhao Xuanzhen had an excellent sense of direction, and Muye was not flying toward the nearest sea from Heaven Dou City. Instead, they were continually heading inland.

Looks like the place for my Second Awakening isn't the ocean...

Zhao Xuanzhen understood perfectly well. The first Body Sect Master had been framed and sunk into the deep sea. Under the immense pressure of the seawater, his Soul underwent a Second Awakening, unleashing the true power of the Body Soul.

Put simply, the Second Awakening of a Body Soul meant using external pressure to trigger the limits of the human body, squeezing a Soul Master's potential to the utmost and stimulating new potential in a desperate situation.

The sea was merely one kind of pressure among many. Tang Wulin had trained in the deep sea because he had been aboard a ship headed for Star Luo Continent at the time, with almost no other options. Zhao Xuanzhen's circumstances were entirely different. He was now in the inland city of Heaven Dou City, with the heavens and earth open to him.

Muye had no need to fixate on the sea. He had nine different ways to drain Zhao Xuanzhen dry!

An hour later, a canyon entered their sight. Moonlight spilled across jagged mountain rocks, coating the entire canyon in an eerie crimson.

Above the dark-red ground, withered trees twisted together like the clawed hands of demons dancing wildly. Thick red liquid seeped from cracks in the bark, while half-rotted vines hung from the branches like countless nooses swaying silently.

"Welcome to Death Valley," Muye deliberately lowered his voice and said sinisterly.

"Death Valley..."

Zhao Xuanzhen narrowed his eyes. This place was not marked on continental maps, but he had read all three parts of Douluo Continent, even forcing himself through half of that salted-fish story set Ten Thousand Years later. He swiftly searched his memories and found a few scattered details.

Twenty Thousand Years ago, during the Soul Master Competition, Spirit Hall's team had lost to the Shrek Seven Devils led by Tang San. The Golden Generation reflected bitterly on their defeat and vowed to temper themselves, reclaiming their dignity and glory. Hu Liena went alone to the City of Slaughter, while Xie Yue and Yan ventured into Death Valley together!

"Death Valley dates back as far as the era of Spirit Hall."

As expected, Muye began explaining. "Death Valley's environment is extremely harsh, and it has little inherent value, so Spirit Hall always used it as one of its cruelest punishments.

"After Spirit Hall suffered a crushing defeat at Jialing Pass and was destroyed, Death Valley became unclaimed land. Later, Body Sect predecessors incorporated it into the sect. A Second Awakening requires precisely this kind of vile place.

"A Second Awakening is a process of extracting the body's potential. It is an ordeal of extreme suffering.

"Are you ready?"

Without waiting for Zhao Xuanzhen's reply, Muye immediately released the hand grabbing his clothes. Ready or not, down he went!

Fierce winds howled past his ears as Zhao Xuanzhen fell from the sky like a meteor. Moonlight poured down, illuminating the deep blue in his eyes.

"Xun character, Storm."

A gale steadily supported his falling body, and Zhao Xuanzhen landed safely.

"Damn it, what kind of magical little trick is that?"

Muye shouted in exasperation. He had originally planned to launch a sudden attack, save Zhao Xuanzhen at the moment of crisis, and use that to stimulate his potential. But Zhao Xuanzhen could control the wind, and the plan was declared a complete failure!

Zhao Xuanzhen curled his lips into a smile and walked straight along the twisted, winding path toward the depths of Death Valley.

The eerie wind swirled, rolling up fine gravel like bone fragments. Every trace of airflow was like the fingernails of the dead, scratching bone-chilling cold across his skin.

Air poured into his mouth and nose. The suffocating sensation became blades scraping through his chest. Zhao Xuanzhen could faintly hear his bones creaking, his eardrums throbbing painfully, while his body seemed bound by invisible chains that dragged him down toward the abyss.

"Evil Aura..."

Death Valley possessed evil qi that had not dispersed for Ten Thousand Years, constantly corroding the bodies and souls of intruders. Zhao Xuanzhen decisively released Yin and Yang Qi, annihilating the evil attributes permeating the air.

The moonlight shattered into mottled fragments, growing farther away and dimmer.

His foot crushed a half-buried skeleton. The instant Zhao Xuanzhen passed it, ghostly flames lit up within its hollow eye sockets. Green flames shot three feet into the air before instantly going out and turning to ash.

Rustling sounds came from the depths of Death Valley, like countless insects gnawing at flesh. A thick stench of decay spread through the air, mixed with the smell of rust and sulfur until it nearly became a solid entity.

Zhao Xuanzhen halted his steps. In the distance, faint green points of light lit up like ghost flames.

Muye's voice resounded at just the right moment. "The Evil Aura inside Death Valley is not the most terrifying danger.

"What is truly fatal are the undead creatures that have bred here. They are neither human nor beast, fear neither life nor death, and possess an abnormal craving for Life Energy."

The green lights began to sway. They were pairs of cruel, greedy eyes. The grating of bones was hoarse and unpleasant as the undead creatures gradually revealed their outlines.

The liches' stooped bodies were covered in rotting bones. Pus and blood trickled from the broken horns of evil spirits, while skeletal claws scraped across the ground, throwing up sparks.

The fat monster in the front row split open a bloody mouth that reached its ears. Its tongue licked layer upon layer of pointed teeth as green saliva dripped onto the rocks, corroding them into pits that hissed.

Undead creatures naturally existed on Douluo Continent. Otherwise, there would not be abominations, liches, Skeleton Kings, or Soul Masters with Bone Dragon Souls. Death Valley was one of the gathering places for undead creatures.

Densely packed undead creatures filled every inch of the horizon. Zhao Xuanzhen slowly raised his head and looked at Muye in silence. He clearly said nothing, yet it was as though he had said everything.

"The sect has neglected cleaning this place for several decades, so their numbers have gotten a little high." Muye scratched his head awkwardly. "But their overall strength is limited. This Sect Master believes in you. Kill them all, and your true self shall be invincible!"

"Seriously...?"

Zhao Xuanzhen exhaled a breath of turbid air. Three Ten Thousand Year Spirit Rings lit up instantly, and the Earth Disk Dao Arts went Full Power!

At this point, he just had to fight!

"Boom—"

At dawn, a beam of dark-gold light burst forth from Death Valley. Muye shattered a large number of undead creatures with one strike, then pulled a blood-soaked figure from a pile of stacked skeletons and clicked his tongue in amazement.

"You kid can really fight. A peerless prodigy built for actual combat! Your Soul Power and spiritual power were both exhausted, yet you could still barely hold on with that fist technique that borrowed strength to redirect force. It took twenty-seven consecutive waves of undead creatures charging at you to finally bring you down."

Zhao Xuanzhen's entire body had gone limp. After draining the last trace of energy inside his body, he no longer even had the strength to speak. His face was pale as a dead fish, without the slightest hint of life.

The better one's talent, the more painful it was to stimulate potential. Others would collapse after enduring at most eight or nine waves of undead creatures, but Zhao Xuanzhen was far too enduring. His combat power far surpassed the Body Sect's former geniuses. He had fought from the middle of the night until dawn, finally achieving the effect of burning himself out.

The two returned to the Heaven Dou City Blacksmith Association by the same route. Muye tossed Zhao Xuanzhen, who was like a pool of mud, onto the bed. His palms turned dark gold as he struck Zhao Xuanzhen's back dozens of times, silently sending a current of air into him with every strike.

A glow spread across Zhao Xuanzhen's skin. It was a layer of magnificent golden patterns, distributed over his entire body like veins and blood vessels.

"A Body Sect secret technique. It allows your body, which has reached the brink of its limits, to relax as much as possible."

Muye flicked the sweat droplets from his head and said with satisfaction, "Your blood and vitality are so vigorous, and your spiritual strength so abundant—both are unprecedented in my life. The True Self envisioned by the sect's predecessors is indeed extraordinary.

"I can't wait to see what level your True Self Second Awakening will reach...

"Oh, right. You have quite a few injuries. I'll get you some medicine. We'll continue training tonight."

After tossing out those words, Muye hummed a tune and left the room, leaving Zhao Xuanzhen lying on the bed with a sorrowful expression. He felt that he was destined for a lifetime of toil, doomed to work himself to the bone...

"Creak—"

The door was gently pushed open. Before the person even arrived, a fresh fragrance had already filled the air. This definitely was not the smell of food clinging to that cook Muye. Zhao Xuanzhen struggled to turn his head, only to see a graceful black figure carrying a jade bottle and sitting beside him with a bright smile.

Gu Yue.

Perhaps the confusion in Zhao Xuanzhen's eyes was too obvious, so Gu Yue explained, "I ran into Senior Body Douluo on the way. He said you were injured and sent me to help you apply medicine."

"I see. Sorry to trouble you."

Zhao Xuanzhen was in poor condition. Between Teng Snake's spiritual backlash and an entire night of high-intensity training, he felt as though a month's reserve had been used up in thirty seconds. He buried his face in the fluffy pillow, exposing his bloodied back and obediently letting Gu Yue do as she pleased.

"It's no trouble."

Gu Yue smiled like a little fox that had gotten its way. In truth, she had indeed run into Muye, but she had volunteered to apply Zhao Xuanzhen's medicine.

All she needed was to put on the shy expression of a young girl in love, and Muye naturally entrusted the task to her!

The Silver Dragon King, a symbol of wisdom!

Could she really be a genius!?

Lung Mist Na'er, cry. Cry loudly!

Gu Yue tore open Zhao Xuanzhen's tattered clothes and discovered that he was the exceptional type who looked lean in clothes but was well-built beneath them. His jade-white back glistened with moisture, his muscles rising in just the right curves and making him resemble a stalk of green bamboo—vigorous and upright.

Scraps of fabric were stuck to the wounds. Gu Yue gathered Water Element to carefully clean the surrounding area, then precisely removed them with icy tweezers. Finally, she squeezed out a dollop of ointment onto her fingertip. The instant she pressed it on, Zhao Xuanzhen sharply inhaled.

"Does it hurt?"

"...I suspect the Body Douluo is taking revenge. He added several times the usual amount of some spicy herb."

Zhao Xuanzhen turned his head and spoke seriously. Scorching pain attacked him, and his expression twitched slightly.

"Shh—"

The girl pressed her index finger against his lips. The morning breeze carried the fragrance from her sleeves into his nose. In his daze, Zhao Xuanzhen heard the sticky sound of ointment being rubbed open.

Kneeling at his side, Gu Yue's slender legs beneath her skirt hem were like jade soaked in milk. Her hands, covered in white ointment, waved before Zhao Xuanzhen's eyes.

"Endure it. It has always been girls who cried out in pain." Gu Yue's voice rose at the end.

Zhao Xuanzhen was convinced that Muye had definitely tampered with the medicine. Heat burst across his skin as though someone were pouring molten copper into his pores.

Yet the girl's soft palms felt like they were wrapped in icy silk. With a strange rhythm, they moved from his tailbone to his shoulders and neck, pain and coolness intertwining everywhere they passed. Zhao Xuanzhen clearly felt Gu Yue's little finger hook beneath his ribs, deliberately scratching the edge of a wound with her nail.

"Evil Aura... I heard evil attributes are difficult to remove completely. Will the wounds leave scars?"

She leaned down, her nose close to the peak of his shoulder. Her warm breath brushed past him, and a suspicious red spread over the tips of Zhao Xuanzhen's ears.

"No. A Body Soul's recovery ability is very strong."

The medicinal effect surged like countless fire ants biting his back. At precisely that moment, Gu Yue tucked her long hair behind her ear. When the ends of her hair brushed past Zhao Xuanzhen's waist, it felt just like a gentle rain falling from the sky.

"Turn over. It's time for the front."

"Mm."

Dust motes danced like golden powder in the morning light, settling on the girl's eyelashes and forming tiny halos. Reflected in Zhao Xuanzhen's eyes was an exquisitely beautiful, tranquil face, rippling with a slightly red, captivating hue.

"What did you do with Senior Body Douluo? How did you end up covered in injuries?"

"Probably a whole night of clanging, banging, crackling, and smashing..."

"Is that so? Your sound effects are truly a complete mess."

Gu Yue smiled as she played along. Lowering her eyes, she evenly applied the ointment, then slightly parted her red lips and asked meaningfully, "If it were Na'er right now, what would she say at a time like this?"

"Her..." Zhao Xuanzhen tried to imagine it.

"Most likely, 'Zai Zhen, Zai Zhen, be good. All the pain flies away!'"

Gu Yue burst out laughing and imitated Zhao Xuanzhen's tone. "All the pain flies away!"

"You're so childish... huh?"

Halfway through his complaint, Zhao Xuanzhen suddenly realized in horror that the pain had really flown away!

Divine Doctor Gu Yue!