Enhancing Spiritual Root

Half a month later.

Sea City had already entered the sweltering heat. Over these past half a month, Wang Ping had been tormented by Daoist Yuanzheng once every morning and once every evening, and the pain had been different each time.

During the first three days, Wang Ping had even considered giving up on enhancing his Spiritual Root. Especially when the pain reached its peak, it was like how, in his previous life, a toothache could make him want to jump off a building.

Later, he gradually grew used to it. No matter how extreme the pain became, he could persist in meditating. By the end, he could even calm his mind and steady his breath, looking like someone who had endured torture for so long that he had become numb to pain.

It was another morning. Wang Ping, who had looked exhausted after being tormented by pain yesterday, had recovered completely after a night of Qi Refining.

Clang!

Just like yesterday, Daoist Yuanzheng shoved open the door. Unlike yesterday, however, two Servants followed behind him, carrying a bathing tub.

"Daoist Priest!"

Wang Ping rose and saluted. Yulian crawled from around Wang Ping's arm to his upper arm, flicking her tongue at Daoist Yuanzheng as though warning him of something.

Daoist Yuanzheng reached out and teased Yulian as he said, "Today, I'll formally enhance your sinew and bone. The first step is to use my herbs to alter the medicinal properties within your body."

"Oh? You're quite fierce, aren't you?"

Daoist Yuanzheng was amused by Yulian's adorably fierce appearance.

Taking advantage of Yuan Zheng's good mood, the Servant at the side stepped forward to report, "My lord, everything has been placed."

"Good. Leave, then seal off this courtyard. Without my permission, no one is allowed to enter!"

"Yes!"

The Servants answered and quickly departed.

Daoist Yuanzheng removed the small gourd at his waist and walked over to pour it into the bathing tub. At once, the sound of rushing water rang out, and a heavy medicinal scent spread through the room. With his other hand, Daoist Yuanzheng formed a magic seal. Several streaks of Spiritual Light struck the area around the bathing tub, locking the spreading medicinal scent around the Water Bucket.

Several breaths later, the medicinal liquid from that tiny gourd had filled two-thirds of the bathing tub.

After checking the depth of the medicine, Daoist Yuanzheng put away the gourd and instructed Wang Ping, "Take off your clothes and get in. Once you're inside, use your usual Qi Refining method to absorb the medicinal power in the liquid. Don't worry about the spiritual energy in your Dantian being contaminated. I'll guide you from the side."

"Yes!"

Wang Ping did not put on airs. He obediently removed his clothes and sat down in the bathing tub. Yulian had wanted to go in with him, but Daoist Yuanzheng grabbed her by the tail. "You can't go in!"

"Stand guard outside..." Wang Ping instructed softly.

"Oh!" Yulian looked pitifully at Wang Ping, then turned to look at Yuan Zheng, her eyes seeming to say, Let go.

"Don't cause trouble..."

Knowing the Spirit Snake's temperament, Daoist Yuanzheng set Yulian atop Wang Ping's clothes. Then, with a light wave of his hand, an emerald glow sank into Yulian's head. The next moment, Yulian quietly fell asleep.

"Calm your mind. Refine Qi..."

Daoist Yuanzheng's tone had lost its usual teasing levity.

Wang Ping did as instructed, calming himself and refining Qi as he normally did during meditation. This time, however, what he absorbed was no longer spiritual energy, but the medicinal properties surrounding his body.

When the tangible medicinal power entered his body, Wang Ping felt a familiar stinging pain. Just as the medicinal power was about to spread toward his Dantian, Daoist Yuanzheng sent in a thread of spiritual energy, guiding it toward Wang Ping's limbs and bones.

The pain instantly intensified, but Wang Ping had long since grown accustomed to it and endured it with ease...

Three days later.

After continuous guidance of the medicinal properties, all the medicine in the bathing tub had been refined by Wang Ping's body. His skin had also turned pale blue, as though he had been poisoned.

When the final drop of medicinal liquid was refined by Wang Ping, Daoist Yuanzheng formed a magic seal with his hands and shouted, "Don't move, no matter what!"

Then, a streak of golden light entered Wang Ping's brow along with Daoist Yuanzheng's shout. Next, Daoist Yuanzheng sacrificed a Medicine Cauldron-like magical treasure at incredible speed and suspended it above Wang Ping's body.

Wang Ping, seated in meditation, only felt the pain suddenly double. It hurt more than during any previous session. Just as he was about to lose his endurance, an invisible pressure enveloped his entire body, making it impossible for him to move even half an inch.

"Don't pass out!"

Just as Wang Ping could no longer hold on, Daoist Yuanzheng gave him a reminder, forcing him to grit his teeth and continue enduring.

An hour passed like this. Daoist Yuanzheng opened the lid of the Medicine Cauldron suppressing Wang Ping, and a visible Suction Force formed. Like yanking a rag, it drew all the remaining medicinal properties out of Wang Ping's body.

By then, the pain throughout Wang Ping's body had reached its peak. He wanted to open his mouth and scream, but before he could cry out, all the pain suddenly vanished. Then his entire body went limp, and he completely passed out.

He did not know how much time had passed when Wang Ping felt an itch on his face. The next moment, he abruptly opened his eyes and saw Yulian rubbing her head against his cheek.

"I'm so hungry..."

Yulian had no idea what had happened.

Wang Ping sat up. Yulian naturally coiled around Wang Ping's Left Arm and slid down toward his palm, waiting to be fed. Seeing her like this, Wang Ping subconsciously rummaged through the bundle beside him, took out some Dried Meat, and handed it to Yulian.

Only after Yulian swallowed the Dried Meat in one bite did Wang Ping realize that he was wearing a grayish-white Short Shirt and shorts. He did not make much of a fuss about it. The sky outside was pitch-black. After taking a deep breath and calming his mind, he summoned the Marrow Cleansing Chapter of the Returning Origin Art in his mind, and the Light Screen Panel appeared:

[Returning Origin Art (Marrow Cleansing Chapter): Use spiritual energy transformed through Qi Refining to scour the body from within outward, increasing the body's affinity with the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth. There is no shortcut in this step. Your Spiritual Root is superior. Persist in ten Marrow Cleansings every day, and it can be completed in eight years. (Progress 1/100, today's progress 0/10)]

His Spiritual Root, originally above average, had become superior. The fifteen years of Marrow Cleansing had also become eight years.

Joy appeared on Wang Ping's face. Just as he was about to stand, he found his entire body weak and sore. He could only remain seated in meditation and use Qi Refining to restore his spirits.

"I'm still hungry..." Yulian's voice interrupted his Qi Refining.

"You can get food yourself."

"Oh..."

Wang Ping ignored Yulian as she burrowed into the bundle. He settled his mind and focused on Qi Refining.

The medicinal liquid he remembered being absorbed into his body had completely vanished. Moreover, when his spiritual energy circulated, its speed seemed to have increased considerably.

Half an Hour later.

Having recovered his spirits, Wang Ping began Marrow Cleansing in earnest...

This time, there was unexpectedly none of the pain from before. Spiritual energy flowed freely through his body, and he easily completed one Marrow Cleansing.

After completing ten Marrow Cleansings, Wang Ping could clearly feel that his body was weak. He then sat in meditation and refined Qi until dawn.

Daoist Yuanzheng did not shove open the door today. Wang Ping instead put on his Daoist robe and went out, heading to the courtyard where Daoist Yuanzheng lived, but he did not see anyone there.

So, he went to the shop at the front.

"Daoist Changqing!" The Shopkeeper warmly greeted him.

"Where is Daoist Yuanzheng?"

"My lord has already returned to headquarters to prepare for Secluded Cultivation and pill refinement."

"Did he leave any message?"

"No!"