Medicinal Bath

"Now that you've memorized it, take off your clothes and get into the barrel."

Qin Yan smiled. He had originally thought Wang Pan would need several days to memorize it, but he had learned the martial technique in such a short time.

"Alright."

Looking at the steaming medicinal liquid before him, Wang Pan felt a little uneasy.

Still, he stripped naked, gritted his teeth, and jumped in.

Because Wang Pan believed Qin Yan would not harm him.

"Hiss!"

The moment he jumped into the barrel, Wang Pan's little face twisted up.

The temperature was too high!

Wang Pan's fair skin rapidly turned red!

"Uncle Qin, what do I do next? Circulate the martial technique?"

Wang Pan fought down the urge to leap out of the barrel as he asked Qin Yan, who was trying not to laugh beside him.

"Circulate what fucking martial technique? Just soak there obediently."

Qin Yan's mouth twitched. As long as one could endure hardship, anyone could reach the Skin Refining Stage.

Only upon reaching the Body Strengthening Stage did one need a martial technique. At that point, the Human Body's blood and vitality could grow strong enough for a martial artist to sense it. Only then could they control it as it circulated through the body, strengthening themselves more effectively.

As he spoke, Qin Yan's hands did not remain idle. He directly stirred his own blood and vitality, wrapping it around Wang Pan.

He used his own blood and vitality to temper Wang Pan's body!

It was also a form of protection. Otherwise, if they waited any longer, the heat of the medicinal bath would likely cook Wang Pan half-done.

The reason Qin Yan had not protected Wang Pan with his blood and vitality from the start was that he wanted to see how determined Wang Pan was to practice martial arts.

Wang Pan's performance would determine Qin Yan's attitude toward him from then on.

If he could not even endure this much suffering, then no matter how abundant his resources were, his achievements in martial arts would never amount to much.

Qin Yan would still teach Wang Pan martial arts afterward, but he would not put as much effort into it.

Watching Wang Pan's little face twist from the heat, yet seeing that he never tried to stand up and could even speak to him, Qin Yan's eyes were filled with gratification.

From this alone, Qin Yan could conclude that Wang Pan's future achievements would definitely not be low!

Ordinary people lacked sufficient resources to practice martial arts. No matter how gifted they were, at best they would only reach the Body Strengthening Stage.

Practicing martial arts without resources was nothing more than forcibly draining the body's essence.

As long as they could endure hardship, anyone could enter the Skin Refining Stage in three to five years. But the more hardship one endured, the more severely one's body was damaged!

If they kept exploiting their own essence like this, then even with peerless talent, once they reached the Body Strengthening Stage, they would be unable to advance further, and their lifespan would be greatly reduced.

But Wang Pan had ample resources and could endure the hardships of martial arts. From the very beginning, he stood far above ordinary people!

Not to mention that Qin Yan, a Fourth Realm martial artist, was willing to expend his own blood and vitality to temper Wang Pan's body!

Even if Wang Pan's talent were lacking, with such treatment, he could still reach the third martial realm, the Muscle and Tendon Changing Stage!

Was Wang Pan's talent poor?

It was not!

Wang Pan's Robust Physique talent was no mere decoration!

Wrapped in Qin Yan's blood and vitality, the scorching heat of the medicinal bath vanished, replaced by a gentle warmth.

At that moment, Wang Pan's sense of touch was magnified countless times. He could clearly feel the medicinal power in the bath burrowing into his skin and strengthening his body.

The medicinal power was like countless icy threads, winding around Wang Pan's entire body.

It felt so comfortable that Wang Pan could not help yawning as drowsiness surged over him.

"Splash!"

Just as Wang Pan was about to fall asleep, Qin Yan grabbed him and lifted him out of the barrel.

A gust of wind swept across Wang Pan's body, making him shiver.

"I'm exhausted to death, while you were about to fall asleep in comfort."

Qin Yan's mouth twitched, but when he thought of the next stage of training, his mood brightened again.

"Don't get dressed. Stand properly."

"Young Master, I won't go easy on you next. I can't help you with this—you can only rely on yourself."

Qin Yan stopped Wang Pan from reaching for his clothes, his expression serious.

Before Wang Pan could react, Qin Yan somehow produced a piece of cloth. With a flick of his wrist, it became a cloth rod, which he lashed across Wang Pan's back.

"Ow!"

The sudden pain made Wang Pan cry out.

Wherever the cloth rod struck, bruises instantly appeared.

"Uncle Qin, you really hit hard!"

Tears nearly spilled from Wang Pan's eyes as he complained.

After soaking in the medicinal bath, Wang Pan's skin had become incredibly sensitive, and the pain was amplified as well.

"If you can't persist, you can tell me to stop. Young Master, you don't have to suffer like this."

"Uncle Qin, continue!"

Wang Pan knew that not even a sect's Core Disciples could enjoy treatment like this.

Not everyone could be as good to him as Uncle Qin was.

Qin Yan nodded and lowered his head, beginning to lash him again.

The force contained in Qin Yan's unique technique followed the cloth rod beneath Wang Pan's skin, like a hundred or so embroidery needles relentlessly stabbing at his flesh.

Granny Rong would be ecstatic!

With skills like that, it'd be a shame not to practice acupuncture.

Wang Pan tried to find amusement amid his suffering, letting his thoughts wander to distract himself.

It hurt, but the results were genuinely excellent.

Compared to ordinary people refining their skin by stupidly beating themselves with wooden sticks, the efficiency was countless times higher.

Before long, there was not a single uninjured spot left on Wang Pan's body.

Bluish marks covered him from head to toe, making him look rather frightening.

Wang Pan's entire body trembled, but he clenched his lips tightly and did not make another sound.

At this point, Qin Yan finally stopped, making Wang Pan breathe a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, Qin Yan had stopped. Otherwise, Wang Pan was not sure whether he could have held on.

Qin Yan carefully picked Wang Pan up and placed him back into the medicinal bath, once again wrapping him in blood and vitality.

Wang Pan was too exhausted. Both physically and mentally, he fell into a deep sleep in the warm medicinal bath.

This time, Wang Pan's body absorbed the medicinal power far faster than before. The originally emerald-green bath rapidly faded.

Once the medicinal bath had completely turned transparent, the terrifying blue marks on Wang Pan's body had all vanished.

His skin emitted a soft white glow, like a piece of flawless jade.

"He actually endured it."

Qin Yan handed Wang Pan over to a Maidservant and had her take him back to his room to rest.

The shock on his face could not be dispelled. Qin Yan had originally intended to proceed gradually, but Wang Pan had performed too well, making Qin Yan want to see just how far he could go.

The result had exceeded Qin Yan's expectations!

Of course, Qin Yan knew his limits. Wang Pan looked miserable.

But with the medicinal bath, along with Qin Yan's willingness to expend his own blood and vitality to nourish Wang Pan's body, there was no need to worry that such a brutal method would leave lasting damage.

"At this rate, he'll reach Minor Accomplishment in Skin Refining within half a month at most!"

Qin Yan silently calculated based on Wang Pan's progress today, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

"I think I've found a treasure."

Unable to say whether he was happy or unhappy, Qin Yan's expression was complicated.

Back then, it had taken Qin Yan three months to reach Minor Accomplishment in Skin Refining. Even so, the sect had considered him a Heavenly Talent.

But compared to Wang Pan, why was the gap so enormous?

Of course, Qin Yan had not enjoyed the conditions Wang Pan had—having a Fourth Realm martial artist assist his cultivation.

But even so, he should not have refined his skin this quickly.

"This can only mean that Young Master's talent is extremely high! At the very least, it is no inferior to mine!"

"He lacks no resources, works hard enough, and possesses outstanding talent."

"Should I inform the sect? Hmm... forget it. Young Master is still too young. Once he is older, I'll ask for his own opinion."

"Using my blood and vitality to nourish Young Master's body today was a huge loss. I need the manor to reimburse my expenses at Hundred Fragrances Pavilion."

With that thought, Qin Yan turned and headed toward Hundred Fragrances Pavilion with brisk steps.