The Marvelous Effects of the Medicinal Bath

The Martial Arts School's mess hall was spacious and noisy, filled with the mingled scent of food and sweat. Long wooden tables were laden with large basins of coarse rice, thin broth devoid of any oil, and small portions of boiled, nearly tasteless scraps of Fierce Beasts. This was the standard fare for the Martial Arts School's apprentices, barely enough to fill their stomachs. To expect this meager sustenance to support high-intensity training was pure fantasy.

Li Yuan, carrying his own portion, sat quietly in a corner. Unlike the other apprentices, he didn't complain, simply eating calmly and quickly. The coarse food slid down his throat and into his stomach. The "Crimson Sun" automatically circulated, attempting to extract a sliver of meager energy from it, but the yield was minimal. This supplement was like a drop in the bucket compared to the energy he had expended practicing the Iron Body Technique last night.

He could feel that while the Crimson Sun Qi and Blood in his Qi Sea was still slowly recovering on its own, the speed was far from that of directly consuming high-energy substances. The tempering of the skin on his arms had also temporarily halted due to insufficient energy.

Resources, he desperately needed more resources!

His gaze involuntarily drifted outside the mess hall, towards the internal general store. It was said that one could exchange money or contribution points earned from completing Martial Arts School tasks for better food, medicinal herbs, or even more advanced Medicinal Baths. But the prices were out of reach for him, who was penniless.

In the evening, after a day of standing meditation and basic physical training, all the apprentices dragged their exhausted bodies back to their respective quarters. Inside Class C Room Seven, the atmosphere was as usual.

Zhao Hu collapsed onto his bed as soon as he entered, grumbling, "Damn it, this Iron Body Technique is brutal, it's killing this Fatty! Feels like my bones are about to fall apart!" Despite his complaints, a hint of satisfaction played on his face, clearly indicating that the day's training had brought him noticeable progress.

Li Gou Er also slumped down weakly, rubbing his sore arms.

Even Shi Feng, who had been silent, had a hint of fatigue in his brow.

Soon, disciples responsible for chores brought in four half-height wooden tubs filled with steaming, dark brown medicinal liquid. This was a daily benefit provided by the Martial Arts School to relieve training fatigue, aid Qi and Blood circulation, and nourish the skin.

"The medicinal bath is here! Hurry up and soak! Don't waste time!" the chore disciple shouted before leaving.

Zhao Hu scrambled up, stripped off his clothes in a flash, and eagerly jumped into his own wooden tub, letting out a comfortable sigh, "Ah... refreshing! I'm counting on this to recover!"

Li Gou Er and Shi Feng also entered their respective medicinal tubs.

Li Yuan was the last. He walked to his own tub and looked at the steaming brown liquid within, catching a herbal scent much richer than the residue from last night. He dipped a finger in, feeling the warmth. Simultaneously, the "Crimson Sun" sent out a clear wave of desire, several times stronger than last night.

This medicinal bath was effective!

Without further hesitation, he shed his clothes and sank into the medicinal liquid.

The warm sensation enveloped his entire body. The medicinal power began to penetrate his skin, seeping into his body strand by strand, bringing a faint tingling numbness that indeed relieved muscle fatigue.

But this was far from enough!

Li Yuan leaned against the side of the tub, closed his eyes, and let his consciousness sink into his body. Unlike the other three who absorbed passively, he actively circulated the "Crimson Sun"!

An invisible suction force, centered on his body, quietly spread out!

"Buzz..."

The medicinal liquid in the tub seemed to have a magnet thrown into it, forming an imperceptible vortex around Li Yuan! The medicinal power, originally evenly distributed in the liquid, now seemed to respond to a king's summons, surging madly towards his body!

The power of "Refinement" was fully engaged!

The pure and scorching Crimson Sun power swept over his pores, instantly capturing and refining the infused medicinal power! The impure herbal components were stripped away, leaving only the most essential, fundamental energy that nourished the flesh and strengthened Qi and Blood. This was rapidly absorbed, flowing into his meridians and merging with his Crimson Sun Qi and Blood!

A warm current several times stronger than passive absorption surged through his body! The depleted Crimson Sun Qi and Blood was rapidly replenished, the tempering process of his arm skin was pushed forward again, and even the deep fatigue from the day's training was quickly soothed by this pure medicinal power!

The efficiency was worlds apart!

Li Yuan felt a surge of excitement. This formal medicinal bath was indeed far more effective than the residue! Although it still couldn't compare to directly consuming the flesh and blood of Fierce Beasts, its advantage lay in its stability and sustainability! As long as he could keep soaking in this medicinal bath, his training speed would undoubtedly surpass others!

He circulated the "Crimson Sun" with all his might, greedily absorbing the essence from the medicinal liquid.

The color of the medicinal liquid in the tub visibly lightened at an astonishing rate. The originally dark brown liquid gradually became clear as the medicinal power was extracted by Li Yuan at a terrifying speed.

In the adjacent tub, Zhao Hu was still enjoying himself with closed eyes, humming, "Mmm... this medicinal bath is good, I feel my Qi and Blood are much more active, and my skin is tingling, it must be strengthening!"

Li Gou Er also chimed in softly, "Yeah, Brother Zhao, I feel it's a bit effective too."

Shi Feng remained silent, but his brow furrowed slightly. He seemed to vaguely sense that the medicinal power in his tub was dissipating faster than expected? He glanced at Li Yuan, who was concentrating with closed eyes, and said nothing.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Li Yuan felt the medicinal power in the tub had become extremely dilute, almost like plain water. He slowly stopped absorbing and opened his eyes.

His Qi and Blood were full, fatigue gone, and the strengthening of his arm skin had progressed a small step. The effect was significant!

He was the first to get out of the tub, dried himself, and put on his clothes.

Zhao Hu then slowly opened his eyes, glanced at Li Yuan's now clear bathwater, and sneered, "Poor guy is too poor to even afford a proper soak in the medicinal bath? Why are you out already? What a waste!"

According to convention, it was best to soak in the medicinal bath for at least half an hour to maximize the absorption of medicinal power. Li Yuan leaving early was, in Zhao Hu's eyes, naturally due to "lack of fortune to enjoy it" or "ignorance of its value."

Li Yuan ignored him and returned directly to his bed, sitting down to silently regulate his breathing and consolidate the medicinal power he had just absorbed.

Seeing that Li Yuan didn't respond, Zhao Hu lost interest and closed his eyes again, continuing to enjoy his still potent medicinal bath.

Li Gou Er looked at Li Yuan, then at Zhao Hu, hesitating to speak.

Shi Feng's gaze swept over Li Yuan's clear bathwater again, a flicker of imperceptible doubt in his eyes, but it eventually subsided.

Li Yuan sat cross-legged on his bed, feeling the now active and surging Crimson Sun Qi and Blood within him, his mind clear.

He had already mastered the profound use of the medicinal bath.

This Martial Arts School, perhaps a place of tempering for others, was, for him, more like a "cultivation accelerator" providing stable "fuel."

However, this one tub of medicinal bath still couldn't fully satisfy the "appetite" of the "Crimson Sun."

His gaze deepened once more.

He still needed... more.

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