Lu Sheng fumbled as he caught the Golden Core Kong Xin had tossed over.
Looking at the Golden Core cradled in his hands, Lu Sheng suddenly felt as though none of this was real.
Although Lu Sheng still did not know what effects the Golden Core had, the terrifying power contained within it alone—
Was enough to prove how extraordinary it was.
Moreover, aside from Kong Yunzhang and Lan Linglong, the other Heaven and Earth Dojo disciples were all looking at him with burning eyes.
That further showed just how far from ordinary the Golden Core was.
And yet, in Kong Xin's eyes, such a thing seemed to be nothing worth mentioning.
"This..."
Lu Sheng looked at the Golden Core in his hand and could not help licking his lips. Still, he raised his head and looked at Kong Xin.
"First Senior Sister, isn't this far too precious? I... can't accept it!"
In the end, Lu Sheng still suppressed the greed in his heart.
Even though the Golden Core before him could raise his system level, Lu Sheng was no fool. If he accepted such a grand gift from Kong Xin now, he would have to repay this favor someday!
Kong Xin waved her hand dismissively. "What does this amount to? If you want them, come to me from now on. I can find a few Golden Body realm Demons for you to kill every day, dig out their Golden Cores, and give them to you!"
The moment those words came out, the corner of Lu Sheng's mouth twitched, and his expression turned somewhat strange.
How was it that, from Kong Xin's mouth, Golden Body realm existences sounded like fish waiting on the chopping block, so easily slaughtered?
One had to know that Golden Body realm experts stood several realms above the Viscera Refining Realm.
Looking across the entire southwestern region of Great Xia, there were definitely no more than two digits' worth of martial artists with such cultivation.
Yet Kong Xin did not take them seriously in the slightest.
Just how terrifying was the strength of this First Senior Sister of his...?
Waves surged through Lu Sheng's heart.
"Alright, junior brother. Since senior sister has said so, accept it. Just as senior sister said, this Golden Core really is... nothing much to her!"
At that moment, Lan Linglong's gentle voice slowly sounded.
Hearing Lan Linglong's words, Lu Sheng hesitated for a moment before putting away the Golden Core. Then he gave Kong Xin a slight bow.
"Thank you, First Senior Sister!"
Kong Xin waved her hand and casually sat down in a chair. Her gaze suddenly sharpened as she looked behind Lu Sheng and barked out a reprimand.
"Stand properly, all of you! Now that I'm back, don't even think about slacking off!"
The dojo disciples, who had all been looking for chances to loaf around because of Lu Sheng's arrival, changed expressions one after another upon hearing Kong Xin's words. They promptly resumed those strange stances.
Lu Sheng also sat down in a chair at this moment. Watching one dojo disciple's stance, he could not help feeling puzzled.
"First Senior Sister, what's the use of standing like that?"
Lu Sheng could tell that maintaining such a posture consumed an enormous amount of stamina, but he had no idea what effect it had.
Kong Xin glanced at Lu Sheng and explained, "This is Standing Meditation, a method the Military uses to temper soldiers' physiques. You should know that, aside from their own Blood Qi, a martial artist's physique is also extremely important!"
"Some martial artists with powerful physiques can fight across realms as easily as turning over their hand. So while cultivating Blood Qi, tempering your physique will produce rather good results for the realms you reach later."
"Oh, right..."
Kong Xin seemed to recall something. Her gaze landed on Lu Sheng, and a gleam flashed through her eyes.
"How about you give it a try too? It just so happens that I can see how strong your physique is!"
Hearing Kong Xin's words, Lu Sheng's heart also began to stir.
During this period, thanks to his Slaughter Talent, his physical condition—in other words, his physique—had improved considerably.
It was simply that Lu Sheng had never had any clear understanding of how strong his physique currently was.
This was the perfect chance to try this strange stance and see exactly what level his physique had reached.
"Alright!"
Lu Sheng's eyes lit up. He rose to his feet and walked toward an open area.
"Just imitate them and stand there. The longer you can stand, the stronger your physique naturally is!"
Kong Xin's reminder came from behind him.
Lu Sheng nodded. He then stood beside one of the dojo disciples and copied his posture, drawing a tiger by following the outline of a cat as he assumed that strange stance.
Rest area.
Watching Lu Sheng's movements, Lan Linglong could not help reproaching her. "First Senior Sister, Junior Disciple Brother is only in the Blood Qi Realm and has not yet begun tempering his body. If you make him practice Standing Meditation this early, what if he damages himself?"
Kong Xin's gaze landed on Lu Sheng as she said calmly, "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing!"
Though Kong Xin said so, Lan Linglong was still somewhat worried. After all, Blood Qi Realm martial artists focused primarily on Blood Qi. For the most part, body tempering was only carried out after reaching the Hundred Meridians Realm.
"Enough. Since your First Senior Sister says so, she naturally has her measure. Don't worry!"
At this moment, Kong Yunzhang, who had not spoken all this time, rarely opened his mouth.
Only then did Lan Linglong set her mind at ease and turn to look at Lu Sheng.
By then, Lu Sheng had more or less mastered the Standing Meditation posture.
Standing Meditation itself was not difficult to learn. Yet like the horse stance, one might be able to do it at first, but as time passed, gravity would stimulate the muscles. Without powerful willpower and physical fitness, it was difficult to persist.
Imitating the Standing Meditation posture, Lu Sheng stood quietly in place.
At first, Lu Sheng merely found it somewhat awkward and felt nothing else.
But as time passed, Lu Sheng discovered that as he continued maintaining this posture, every muscle in his body seemed to be bearing an immense force. A sharp, aching thrill instantly jolted his nerves.
"Sure enough, this Standing Meditation isn't as simple as I imagined. But my physique is much stronger than before now, so I should be able to hold on for a while!"
Lu Sheng silently thought to himself.
Rest area.
Kong Xin narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly as she watched Lu Sheng maintain the Standing Meditation posture, then suddenly spoke.
"Junior Sister, how long do you think Junior Disciple Brother can hold on?"
Lan Linglong pondered for a moment. "Junior Disciple Brother has not started tempering his physique yet. He can probably hold on for around two minutes!"
Two minutes was already an excellent level for a Blood Qi Realm martial artist at the peak to endure.
Yet the corners of Kong Xin's lips lifted slightly as she said softly.
"Two minutes? Then why do I feel that Junior Disciple Brother can hold on for... five minutes?"
Before you continue