Body Metamorphosis

The barrel was made of solid wooden staves bound with hoops, like an oversized bowl that could swallow two adults whole. Even with both arms around it, he could barely encircle half of it. When the wood pressed against his face, an orchid-like fragrance seeped into the barrel's natural woody scent and slipped into his lungs.

It was probably normally used to hold some large quantity of specially scented liquid. That was good—it shouldn't leak.

But if I use it for a medicinal bath, can she still use this barrel to hold whatever it originally contained afterward?

As his thoughts turned, Jiang Qiu had already returned to the front of his small brick house. He gently set down the huge barrel, unlocked the door, and inched it inside. The fine wooden fuzz along the rim brushed perfectly against the doorframe.

He could not push it any farther into the bathroom, so he had no choice but to move aside the faux-leather sofa, table, chairs, and other clutter, leaving the barrel standing alone in the middle of the living room.

Basin after basin of hot water was carried from the bathroom and poured inside. Billowing steam, like immortal mist, washed over Jiang Qiu's face and chest. Once the enormous barrel was half full, he brought over a chair, placed another set of Outstanding Student black clothes on it, and set up two sticks of Martial Spirit Incense.

"I heard that the first medicinal bath with Martial Spirit Incense is no less effective than Marrow Cleansing. The more you can absorb, the better. It's supposed to awaken one's martial potential. Once you miss it, you'll never get the same effect again." Jiang Qiu glanced at the two gleaming sticks of Martial Spirit Incense and casually pulled out his phone. "Let's see if there are any precautions."

As his finger tapped and swiped across the screen, a few sparse pieces of information came into view. He quickly scrolled to the bottom of the page.

[Because the materials used to make Martial Spirit Incense are highly stimulating, they bring severe damage while developing the human body's potential, especially during the first use.]

[When using Martial Spirit Incense for a medicinal bath for the first time, it is recommended that the water level cover the chest as much as possible, to prevent the concentration from becoming too high and making the intense stimulation unbearable.]

[It is best to have someone present to watch over you. Those without exceptional talent should not force themselves. Call for help in time.]

[Remember: Never use more than one portion of Martial Spirit Incense during the first use or on the first day. For more than 99% of people, it will only ruin their martial future—unless you are not entirely human!]

After reading it.

Drip.

One stick of Martial Spirit Incense in his hand was unscrewed and tilted downward. A thumb-sized amount of fluorescent blue liquid dripped into the water, sending ripples spreading outward as though ink had been dropped into water.

"Then I'll only use one portion of Martial Spirit Incense. I'll save the other for later."

Pulling off his clothes, Jiang Qiu climbed into the huge wooden barrel with the help of the chair. The water level immediately surged as though some massive object had fallen in. When he finally sat down cross-legged, the waves reached precisely to his chest.

"It doesn't seem any different from ordinary water?" Jiang Qiu wrinkled his nose. An orchid fragrance drifted through the steam, while his skin felt hot and faintly numb.

Sizzle.

Faintly, the water surface that had begun to take on a blue tint gradually faded. The color retreated from one side of the barrel, like fish and shrimp being swept back with the ebbing tide.

Sizzle—

All at once, a strange sensation like ants burrowing into his pores made Jiang Qiu's brows knit. The countless hairs submerged in the water all over his body seemed to be widened by wriggling earthworms. Endless leeches seized the chance to pry apart his flesh and slip beneath his muscles, greedily chewing at something that seemed fused to his body in symbiosis!

The pain of lightning piercing through his spine surged from every limb and bone toward his heart. Ants poured into vessels large and small alike, frolicking wildly through them, while his blood began to boil at an accelerated pace!

"Ghh—"

Within moments, branching blood vessels crawled over Jiang Qiu's white eyeballs. His raised neck and face had turned bright red.

The soles of his feet curled tight. His ten distinct-knuckled fingers clawed at the heated currents at the bottom of the barrel. His rigid body was like a spring about to snap upward, yet his clenched teeth held him firmly beneath the waterline!

It really was stimulating!

The most impassioned roar from the depths of his soul nearly lifted Jiang Qiu's head, but the Slum Area alleyway stretching endlessly through his mind forced it back down, making him listen to the sound of his brass-colored skin being bitten apart and chewed by "worker ants"!

At that moment, he was in magma, in an anthill, in a den of a hundred poisonous insects. Without him noticing, the water turned murky, forcing out all the filth and redness in his body. Only the center of his pupils remained focused on the light!

High-Quality Body Refinement x1

At some extreme instant, a vast torrent erupted from the depths of his heart, sweeping over the Martial Spirit Incense essence that was still gnawing at his flesh and blood, crushing it as easily as a burst dam washing away an anthill!

"Ha—huff—"

Jiang Qiu lay limp as a noodle in the murky barrel, his chest rising and falling violently. The redness around his neck had faded, faintly reflecting a brass-like sheen, like yellow jade still separated from the rock shell by the thinnest layer.

Though he was immersed in cold water, hot blood like great rivers flowed within Jiang Qiu's body. It felt as if taking one more small step would complete this stage of tempering!

His heart pounded against his chest, issuing the command to charge.

His rapid, turbid breaths scattered over his face, crying encouragement.

Copper Skin

Trait: Temper the body and hammer the skin; skin as hard as copper (about to transform)

270/500

Just one portion of Martial Spirit Incense and one high-quality body refinement had raised his progress by 250 points!

If I miss this first medicinal bath, then once I completely adapt to—or gradually develop resistance against—the tempering of Martial Spirit Incense essence, can it still count as high-quality body refinement?

Impossible!

Wang Guanjia had surely already used Martial Spirit Incense several times, yet he still had not developed Copper Skin. Xie Kuang received two portions every month, but his body did not seem stronger than Jiang Qiu's either.

That meant the later tempering effects of Martial Spirit Incense were nowhere near as good. The first medicinal bath was the sole opportunity for the most significant Body Metamorphosis.

"They don't recommend using more than one portion during the first medicinal bath because the body and willpower can't endure it. But what if I can?"

"Even if it destroys my martial foundation, so what? As long as I can still practice, I can start over!"

With that thought, Jiang Qiu pushed himself upright with his knees, waist, and chest. His muscles and bones creaked all over, as though a naked yellow dragon were rising to its feet. When his five fingers curled together, it felt as if he could grasp the outline of the wind itself.

He twisted his neck, stood on tiptoe, and reached out with his right hand to pick up the other stick of Martial Spirit Incense from the chair. "Only my neck and face feel a little sore. My strength is still vigorous. I can endure it."

Drip.

A large drop of fluorescent blue essence fell into the murky water's oil-slick surface. As he sat cross-legged again, a new assault had already begun. Before Jiang Qiu could even sit steady, his whole body trembled and his eyes flew wide. "It's even more stimulating—"

With a low, teeth-gritted growl, his body—just ravaged by the tribulation—was not as resilient as it had been after tempering. Instead, the enemy surged like a blaze fanned by the wind, charging unimpeded into his chest and straight for his heart!

Bang, bang, bang!

The blood pressure shooting to the top of his head felt like a mountain crushing Jiang Qiu's soul. Darkness instantly erased his vision, as though he had fallen into an endless hell.

Yet no matter how his icy soul seemed to peel away and tremble, the moment his nails bit through his palms, the anchor had been set.

High-Quality Body Refinement: 1

Before his consciousness completely sank into slumber, he vaguely sensed the filth and residual blood within his shell being forced out. His skin was tempered into thin sheets of steel, rigid and cold.

Even the deeper layers of muscle seemed to sprout countless claws, wedging themselves into every gap and locking tightly onto his sinews and bones, tempering the most unfathomable depths of strength.

Iron Flesh

Trait: Copper Skin Iron Flesh, Slay Demons Barehanded

20/1000

Did this count as completing the metamorphosis?

Apparently not.

Body Metamorphosis