Physical Transformation

The half-month deadline arrived in the blink of an eye.

During the last few nights before the minor exam, Li Yuan barely slept. The "Crimson Sun" within his body operated like a ceaseless furnace, working day and night to convert the essence absorbed from the daily medicinal baths and the meager energy extracted from the dining hall food into pure Crimson Sun Qi and Blood. This was then poured into the final sprint of tempering his dermis.

He could feel himself standing at a critical threshold.

The dermis of his arms had long met or even surpassed the standard for minor success in the Iron Body Technique, making them exceptionally tough. His tempering range had long since expanded beyond just his arms; his chest, abdomen, back, and even the dermis of his thighs had been repeatedly hammered countless times over this half-month using his unique Crimson Sun Tempering Method.

Tonight was the final push.

He sat cross-legged on the cold bed board, his consciousness highly focused, guiding the Crimson Sun Qi and Blood surging like a river within him. It was like a surging tide, washing over and penetrating the dermis of his entire body, again and again.

Initially, there was a burning, stinging sensation, as if countless tiny flame needles were piercing his skin.

But as the tempering deepened, a wondrous transformation began to occur.

The repeatedly tempered dermis had its fiber structure forcibly reshaped and reorganized by the Crimson Sun Qi and Blood, becoming denser, tougher, and subtly forming a deeper connection with the subcutaneous muscle. Qi and Blood flowed through it without the slightest obstruction; instead, it was like a fish in water, smooth and unimpeded.

As the first hint of fish belly white appeared on the eastern horizon, something within Li Yuan seemed to vibrate gently.

"Hum..."

A faint hum, audible only to himself, emanated from the depths of his body.

At this moment, the dermis of his entire body felt as if it had become a single entity! An unprecedented sense of "completeness" arose!

He abruptly opened his eyes and looked down at his body.

In the faint dawn light, he could see that his physique had undergone an earth-shattering change!

His muscles, which had only begun to take shape, were now sharply defined, with smooth, explosive lines. His pectoral muscles were thick and broad, his abdominal muscles were clearly chiseled like carvings, and his arms and thighs had thickened by a full circle, stretching the originally somewhat loose coarse cloth clothes taut.

But this was merely the external.

He moved his shoulders slightly, and his joints popped with crisp sounds like popping beans, filled with a sense of power. He attempted to tense the muscles in his chest, and when he pressed his fingers against them, the sensation was no longer soft skin and flesh, but a dense tissue filled with astonishing elasticity and toughness, as if covered by a layer of invisible tough leather.

He walked to the corner of the wall and picked up the iron rod that had accompanied him for a long time. He used the tip to press against his forearm and drew it down with slight force.

"Ch-"

There was no flesh splitting open as he had expected, only a grating sensation akin to a blunt knife scraping across old cowhide. His skin was left with only a shallow white mark, which quickly disappeared.

He applied a little more force, and the tip of the iron rod even bent slightly, yet it still couldn't break the skin!

Sharp light erupted from Li Yuan's eyes!

It was done!

Minor success in the Iron Body Technique! No, it was a powerful physique tempered by Crimson Sun Qi and Blood, far surpassing the ordinary minor success of the Iron Body Technique!

His skin's defense was already close to, or even at, the level of ordinary Iron Body Technique Great Accomplishment! And this was just the defense of his skin. The strength, speed, and reaction from the surging Crimson Sun Qi and Blood within him far surpassed his peers!

He walked to the Center of the Room, where a Stone Lock, weighing about a hundred jin, used for storing miscellaneous items, was placed. In the past, he needed both hands to barely lift it.

At this moment, he extended his Right Hand, his Five Fingers gripping the Stone Lock's Grip. The Crimson Sun Qi and Blood flowed slightly.

"Lift!"

With a low shout, the hundred jin Stone Lock was easily lifted by his Single Arm and raised above his head! His arm was as steady as a Boulder, without the slightest tremble!

He even felt that this was far from his limit!

Gently putting down the Stone Lock, Li Yuan exhaled a long breath of Turbid Air. A stream of scorching air sprayed from his mouth, forming a brief White Silk in the cool air.

Half a month ago, he was still that emaciated Sacrifice on the Li Family altar, at the mercy of others.

Half a month later, he had Reborn, possessing the strength to establish himself in Blustering Wind Martial Hall, and even Astonish the World!

All of this stemmed from that mysterious "Crimson Sun"!

Outside the Window, the Sky Color grew brighter, and the Martial Hall's Wake-up Bell was about to ring.

Li Yuan quickly opened the cold Well Water, washed his body, and changed into relatively clean (still tattered) Clothes. He deliberately restrained the active Qi and Blood all over his body, making the Surging sense of Power Restrained. His Eyes also returned to their usual calmness, even carrying a hint of deliberately feigned Dullness.

He looked at his Reflection in the Copper Basin.

His face was still young, but his Outline was more rugged, his Skin Tone was a healthy Bronze Color, and deep within his Eyes lay a Boulder-like firmness and a subtle, imperceptible sharpness.

"Almost there."

He muttered to himself, the Corner of his Mouth curving into a cold Arc.

Zhao Hu's provocation, others' Disdain, today, it would all be settled!

He wanted to let everyone know that he, Li Yuan, was no longer the Trash that could be bullied at will!

"Dong--dong--dong--"

The Martial Hall's bell rang melodiously, spreading to every Corner.

The half-month Minor Exam officially began.