Carried on the back of the young Wu warrior Kuafu, Lin Xuan endured the jolts, fighting through the pain and dizziness as they traveled along a mountain path through the dense forest. The Wu warriors had astonishingly long strides, covering great distances with every step. They moved so fast that the wind roared in Lin Xuan's ears.
Lying against Kuafu's broad, rock-hard back, he could clearly feel the powerful, scorching blood and qi pulsing beneath his skin like the heartbeat of the earth. This power was utterly different from the spiritual energy cultivated by immortal cultivators. It was more primal and domineering, carrying a strength that came from the very source of life. It seemed to resonate strangely with the inward, resilient physical strength he sought through the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique, yet it was entirely different.
So this is the Wu... formed from Pangu's blood essence, they're born with powerful bodies and cultivate only their blood and qi, not their primordial spirits... Lin Xuan understood. At the same time, he was secretly grateful. Fortunately, he had encountered Wu who were relatively simple and had no great animosity toward the Human Race, especially those of the Houtu Tribe, whose reputation had always been good. Had he run into a great demon who saw the Human Race as food, or an immortal cultivator with sinister intentions, he might not have survived what had just happened.
After they had run for nearly half an hour, the surrounding pressure of Pangu seemed to ease, and the terrain opened up. Before them appeared a settlement built against the mountainside, filled with a primeval atmosphere.
The simple houses were built from huge rocks and thick logs. There were only about a hundred of them. In the middle of the settlement stood a blurred stone statue of a woman, radiating a profound sense of compassion and solemnity. It was surely an image of Houtu, the Earth Ancestor Wu. Some Wu children dressed in animal skins chased and played in the open space. Though they were small, they already had a knack for throwing stone weights and wrestling, and the sight made Lin Xuan's eye twitch. The adult Wu were mostly busy polishing stone tools and processing their hunted prey. A faint smell of blood and roasted meat hung in the air.
"Big Brother Houyi and Kuafu are back!"
"Eh? They brought back a Human kid, too?"
"Whoa, he's badly hurt. What fierce creature did he run into?"
The Wu greeted Houyi and the others, their curious gazes falling on Lin Xuan. Most of them looked frank and appraising, but not especially hostile. They seemed more curious about the outsider and the injured newcomer.
Houyi waved a hand. "We ran into him in a valley. A Zhen was chasing him all over the place, and he nearly lost his life. Kuafu, take him to the witch doctor first."
"Sure thing!" Kuafu answered, carrying Lin Xuan straight to a small stone hut at the edge of the settlement, where the scent of herbs drifted from within.
Inside the stone hut, an old witch doctor with a deeply wrinkled face and unusually clear eyes examined Lin Xuan's injuries. He didn't use pills. Instead, he took out a crushed herbal paste that brimmed with life force and earth-element spiritual energy, spread it over the wounds on Lin Xuan's chest and arms, then had him drink a bowl of bitter medicinal broth that warmed him from the inside.
"Your bones and muscles are torn, and your internal organs are shaken. Fortunately, your foundation isn't too bad, and you've got traces of some strange body-tempering practice." The old witch doctor glanced at Lin Xuan and spoke unhurriedly. "I used our Earth Spirit Paste and Hundred Herb Soup. You'll be fine after a few days of rest. Kid, the method you cultivate is rather interesting."
Lin Xuan's heart stirred. He knew the experienced witch doctor had sensed something unusual about the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique. He quickly replied modestly, "Thank you, senior witch doctor. It's just a rudimentary method for staying alive."
The old witch doctor chuckled and asked no more.
Kuafu settled Lin Xuan in an empty little hut beside the stone one. It was lined with dry straw and animal skins. "You can rest here and recover. The tribe is perfectly safe. No one will bother you. Just call out if you need anything."
Lin Xuan thanked him again. After Kuafu left, the stone hut fell quiet. Lying on the soft animal skins, he felt the coolness on his wounds and the warmth of the medicinal power spreading through his body, and let out a long breath. At least he was safe for now.
He tried circulating the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique. Though the spiritual energy in the Wu tribe wasn't as wild and dense as it had been deep in Buzhou Mountain, there was an unexpectedly strong, peaceful aura of the earth, which suited the body-tempering method of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique quite well. The Earth Spirit Paste applied to his wounds was especially helpful, its pure earth-element spiritual energy speeding up his body's recovery.
[You've turned misfortune into a blessing, host.] The system's voice rang out. [The Wu's healing herbs contain Earth Essence and can aid you in cultivating the First Revolution of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique, "Establishing the Immortal Foundation." I recommend using this opportunity to consolidate your cultivation.]
Lin Xuan agreed wholeheartedly. He cleared his mind and focused on guiding the medicinal power and spiritual energy of heaven and earth through the technique. This time, the cultivation was far less painful, yet considerably more effective. His broken bones began to mend under the nourishment of the spiritual energy and medicine, and his damaged internal organs were slowly restored.
Three days later, Lin Xuan had recovered most of his strength. His physical toughness had even improved slightly as his body healed from the severe injuries. Houyi and Kuafu visited him a few times during his recovery, bringing roasted meat and wild fruit. The forthright Kuafu also told him plenty of stories about the tribe, and the two grew much more familiar with each other.
That day, Lin Xuan felt his injuries were no longer a concern, so he left the stone hut to stretch his limbs. In the open space, he saw Kuafu and several young Wu warriors practicing martial techniques. They weren't using spells or divine abilities, but relying on the most direct, explosive collisions of strength: blocking, pouncing, and throwing. Their movements had a beauty born of sheer power.
Lin Xuan watched, fascinated. He cultivated the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique to temper his body as well, but it focused more on internal refinement and accumulating strength. He lacked this kind of purely practical combat skill.
After Kuafu finished practicing, he spotted Lin Xuan and walked over with a smile. "Brother Xuanyuanzi, you're looking much better! What do you think? Do our Wu moves meet with your approval?"
Lin Xuan praised him sincerely. "They've opened my eyes. The way you apply your strength is remarkable, and I've learned a lot." He paused, an idea coming to him, then said, "Brother Kuafu, the technique I cultivate also tempers the body, but I'm a novice when it comes to fighting. Watching you all practice gave me an idea. Would you be willing to give me some pointers? We won't use blood and qi divine power—just the most basic physical strength and technique."
He wanted to hone his practical combat skills by sparring with Wu warriors and learn to better control the strength he had gained after breaking through.
Kuafu's eyes lit up. He was already curious about Lin Xuan, who had managed to injure a Zhen, so he readily agreed. "Haha, sure! It'll be good to stretch my muscles! Come on, let's spar!"
The two took their places in the open space. A few Wu gathered around curiously. A Human sparring with a Wu in physical combat was a rare sight.
Lin Xuan steadied his breathing and focused, channeling the power of the First Revolution of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique into his arms. Kuafu grinned and settled into a simple boxing stance. Though he had promised not to use his blood and qi divine power, the aura of a seasoned fighter about him was still formidable.
"Watch out!" Kuafu called, stepping forward. The ground trembled slightly as he drove a straightforward punch toward Lin Xuan's chest, fast as lightning.
Lin Xuan didn't dare block it head-on. He dodged to the side and whipped an arm toward Kuafu's ribs. He tried using some modern fighting techniques, combining them with the speed and strength granted by the Profound Technique.
Kuafu reacted with astonishing speed. He raised his arm to deflect Lin Xuan's strike, then reached back to seize his wrist with incredible force.
Lin Xuan felt as if his wrist were caught in iron pincers. Had the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique not tempered his bones and muscles, he would have been subdued on the spot. He drove off with his feet, lowered his body, and jabbed his other hand toward Kuafu's elbow joint.
The two exchanged blows, fighting fiercely. Lin Xuan had the advantage in agility, and the power of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique was concentrated, allowing him to use clever moves. Kuafu, however, had an exceptionally solid foundation. His strength, speed, and reflexes far surpassed those of anyone at the same level, and his experience was even greater. He could often anticipate Lin Xuan's intentions.
After sparring for about the time it took an incense stick to burn, Lin Xuan was drenched in sweat and breathing hard. He had taken several hits. They weren't heavy, but they still stung. Kuafu, on the other hand, was breathing easily and clearly had plenty left in reserve.
"Haha, that was great! Brother Xuanyuanzi, you've trained your body well, and your moves are strange, too!" Kuafu relaxed his stance, laughed heartily, and patted Lin Xuan's shoulder. "But your force still gets stuck a bit. You need to make your movements flow more smoothly. You've only just recovered, so you'll have to keep practicing!"
Panting, Lin Xuan clasped his hands in salute. "Thank you for the guidance, Brother Kuafu!" He knew perfectly well that Kuafu had held back considerably; otherwise, he wouldn't have lasted ten moves. Still, the sparring had given him a whole new understanding of how to control and apply his strength in combat. The strength granted by the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique needed to be tempered through more battles before he could truly make it his own.
After this encounter, Lin Xuan had gained a foothold in the Wu tribe. Not only had his injuries healed, but he had also learned a great deal from sparring. The Wu's frank and forthright nature had gradually eased his wariness, too.
But in the end, he was Human. He couldn't stay in the Wu tribe forever. Now that his injuries had healed, it was time to consider where to go next. Should he keep climbing Buzhou Mountain, or leave this place and venture into the wider wilderness?
Before you continue