Strength Increased

At dawn, amid a mountain range, white mist drifted between the peaks, obstructing vision considerably. Roars of demonic beasts rang out from within from time to time. Against the endless green, four figures moved slowly through the mountains.

They were Zeng Fan and his group. After a day of rest, Wang Ying had barely regained the ability to move. To recover fully, he would still need to return to the sect, so the four of them set out as soon as possible to avoid encountering any further danger on the road.

Because of Wang Ying's injuries, they naturally could not advance as swiftly as before. Fortunately, they were not far from the sect. As the distance steadily shortened, the five floating giant mountains of the Five Mountains Sect came into view. Zeng Fan and the others finally relaxed, and the sense of danger hanging over them gradually faded.

After returning safely to the Disciple Mountain Range, Chen Yan supported Wang Ying and headed for the Alchemy Hall first. Wang Ying's injuries and severed arm needed immediate treatment, while the remaining matters were left to Yao Ling'er and Zeng Fan.

Watching Chen Yan and Wang Ying disappear into the distance, the two fell somewhat silent. Before this, there had not been anything special between them. It was only because Yao Ling'er's strange whim had angered Zeng Fan that this whole string of events had followed.

Yet after all that had happened in the mountains, their relationship had changed slightly. There was now something different in the way Yao Ling'er looked at Zeng Fan. Still, that small difference was not enough to bring about a qualitative change. It could only settle between them and wait for an opportunity to arise.

Yao Ling'er lightly curled a strand of black hair around her finger, her red lips parting gently.

"This time, you worked hard. I discussed it with Senior Sister Chen. Give us the Body Tempering Fruits first, and once we refine them into Body Tempering Pills, we'll give you some. The two you already ate will count as our extra thanks. How about it?"

After speaking, Yao Ling'er looked at Zeng Fan nervously. By all rights, Zeng Fan could have swallowed all the Body Tempering Fruits himself without giving them any. But their earlier interactions had made Yao Ling'er understand that Zeng Fan was not the kind of person who would do such a thing.

Zeng Fan pondered briefly upon hearing this, then nodded. His gains from this journey had already been immense. Though he had faced life-threatening danger, there was no need to dwell on it after surviving. Besides, the Body Tempering Fruits were most effective when refined into pills. Even if he did not take them himself, giving them to Yuan Jin and Murong Xue would be a good choice.

When Yao Ling'er saw Zeng Fan agree, the tension in her heart vanished. Her girlish liveliness returned, and her voice carried a few notes of cheer.

"Then give me the fruits! I'll hand them to you after I finish refining them." The girl cutely held out her little hand toward Zeng Fan.

Zeng Fan was somewhat astonished by how quickly the girl had changed, though he also felt more at ease.

"You really aren't polite. You're asking for them right away." Though he teased her verbally, Zeng Fan readily took out the remaining Body Tempering Fruits.

After receiving the fruits, Yao Ling'er fidgeted for a moment before suddenly speaking to Zeng Fan again.

"If you ever need pills refined in the future, you can come find me. I'll give you half off!" With that, she headed toward the Alchemy Hall.

"Hey! Shouldn't it be free?" Zeng Fan shouted after her.

"Dream on!" The girl had already gone far away, her answer echoing from afar along with a burst of mischievous laughter.

Zeng Fan shook his head with a smile on his lips. He needed to return to his residence now. His injuries had yet to be completely resolved, and he also needed to begin cultivating the Ironwood Body. Everything had to be handled one matter at a time.

Returning to the thatched cottage, Zeng Fan glanced at Yuan Jin's door and knew Yuan Jin had likely gone out. He returned to his own room first and sat cross-legged on the bed. Zeng Fan felt his whole body relax. Cultivating outside was ultimately unsafe, as he had to stay alert to every movement around him at all times. The Huang Brothers, who had appeared after he killed the Scorpion Tiger in the valley, were a perfect example.

Taking out the healing pill he had bought from the Alchemy Hall, Zeng Fan swallowed it and began treating his injuries in peace. Yao Ling'er and Chen Yan had naturally given him healing items outside, but the human heart was separated by a belly. Since Zeng Fan's injuries were not too serious, he had not taken them. No one could guarantee that no accident would occur.

The medicinal power slowly took effect, and Zeng Fan felt waves of warmth spread through his body. The injuries left behind from the earlier battle also began to heal gradually.

"Hmm?" As his injuries recovered, Zeng Fan was somewhat surprised. Through his inner vision, he discovered tiny wisps of pure energy emanating from various places within his body. Following the medicinal power through his body, they transformed into streams of Spiritual Energy that were absorbed by his body.

Zeng Fan examined it carefully and understood. This energy was flowing out from the injured parts of his body. It should have been the energy from the Body Tempering Fruits absorbed into his body earlier. Because his injuries had blocked his meridians and blood vessels, that energy had been trapped there. Now that the blocked areas had been repaired and cleared through healing, the energy finally had an outlet through which to flow.

This was truly an unexpected delight for Zeng Fan. Healing and cultivation could proceed simultaneously. As the injuries within his body recovered, Zeng Fan guided the spiritual energy emanating within him into his blood. Spiritual Energy and blood were incompatible, but Zeng Fan patiently made them collide again and again.

Finally, at a certain moment, a trace of blood mixed with Spiritual Energy. Zeng Fan remained calm. This was how Body Tempering Blood was cultivated: melting the absorbed spiritual energy into the blood. Once more than thirty percent of the blood in one's body had transformed, one would reach Minor Accomplishment in Body Tempering Blood.

Cultivation required not only fortuitous opportunities, but also the slow grinding effort of water wearing through stone. Fortunately, Zeng Fan was patient. If there was an opportunity, he would fight for it; if there was none, he would cultivate quietly. Cultivation could not be rushed. As the energy in the blocked areas of his body gradually disappeared, Zeng Fan opened his eyes, his aura several degrees stronger than before.

"The remaining injuries will have to recover with time." Zeng Fan took out a cultivation manual. It was the Ironwood Body. It was time to study it. When fighting the Huang Brothers, the defense of their skin had caused Zeng Fan no small amount of trouble.

"Ironwood Body." Ironwood: a type of spiritual wood that grew by absorbing the Metal Qi between heaven and earth. Its texture was hard. The Ironwood Body used a special method to absorb Ironwood essence and condense it within the body. When cultivated to the extreme, one's body would seem comparable to Ironwood itself, impossible to break within the Body Tempering Realm.

After roughly scanning through it, Zeng Fan felt a headache coming on. Cultivating this thing required Ironwood. The sect had it, but it cost Spirit Stones. Spirit Stones again. He only had a few hundred Spirit Stones in total, and buying this Ironwood would empty him out again. Still, increasing his strength was more important, so Zeng Fan could only grit his teeth and bear it.

The next morning, outside the Disciple Hall, Zeng Fan sighed toward the sky. He held several pieces of black wood in his hand. Several hundred Spirit Stones had bought him only this little, making his teeth ache. Spirit Stones really were good things. Where was he supposed to get more now? Otherwise, he would not be able to live like this.

"Forget it, forget it. I'll go back and cultivate first." Shaking his head and thinking no more about it, Zeng Fan put the Ironwood into his Storage Ring and prepared to go back and try it out.

"Zeng Fan? What are you doing here? Did you come looking for me?" A voice sounded behind Zeng Fan. He turned around, unable to help feeling stunned.

"Yao Ling'er?"

It was indeed Yao Ling'er. She was walking out of the Disciple Hall. The moment she saw Zeng Fan, her eyes lit up, and they brimmed with smiles. Today, she had changed back into a long robe, quietly concealing her proud figure. Yet the bright smile she showed Zeng Fan still drew frequent glances from passing disciples.

"You're overthinking it. I came to prepare materials for cultivating the Ironwood Body." Zeng Fan shrugged. The two of them could now be considered friends, so there was naturally no need for excessive courtesy.

"You really don't know how to sweet-talk girls!" Yao Ling'er pursed her lips, looking rather playful and adorable. Then her gaze was drawn to the Ironwood in Zeng Fan's hand.

"You need Ironwood to cultivate that Ironwood Body?" Her expression became somewhat strange.

"That's right. I didn't expect Ironwood to be so expensive. I'm really a pauper now. I don't have a single Spirit Stone left on me." Zeng Fan told Yao Ling'er about the requirements for cultivation, while also complaining about the price of Ironwood.

"Hahahaha, you spent money to buy this? Hahahaha!"

Yao Ling'er suddenly burst into laughter, as though Zeng Fan buying Ironwood was extremely amusing to her. A few tears even appeared at the corners of her eyes.

"What are you laughing at?" Zeng Fan's expression darkened. Having not a single Spirit Stone left had already put him in a terrible mood, and now he had run into Yao Ling'er laughing at him early in the morning. It was like adding frost to snow.

Only when she saw Zeng Fan's expression did Yao Ling'er slowly regain some composure. She waved at him, her tone carrying a few lighthearted notes.

"Come with me. This young lady will take you somewhere. I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"

Zeng Fan looked at Yao Ling'er suspiciously, a vague idea forming in his heart. But he did not dare ask her yet, so he followed behind her toward the Alchemy Hall.

Passing through the Alchemy Hall, Zeng Fan followed Yao Ling'er to a storeroom in the back. Yao Ling'er took out a key, gave Zeng Fan a sly grin, and opened the storeroom. The moment Zeng Fan saw what was inside, he sucked in a cold breath.

An entire warehouse full of Ironwood stood before him!