Blazing Sun Body Burning Secret Manual!

Soon, Zhao Lie, the master of the Blazing Sun Martial Arts School, strode out, his bright, piercing gaze settling on Su Xian.

Su Xian did not shy away either, sizing up this master who was rumored to have little time left to live.

Yet at a glance, a trace of doubt rose in Su Xian's heart.

Although the blood and qi of the Master Zhao before him did indeed appear weak and listless,

judging by Su Xian's perception, if he took proper care of himself, living another ten years would absolutely be no problem,

and if he recuperated well, living fifteen more years might not even be impossible!

How had news spread that his death was imminent?

"Give me a hand?"

Zhao Lie did not waste words. He simply extended his right hand, his eyes blazing as he looked at Su Xian.

This was the most direct test of strength between martial artists.

Su Xian understood at once and nodded, extending his right hand as well.

The two men placed their palms firmly against each other's shoulders.

Rumble!

In the next instant, it was as if explosives had been buried beneath their feet!

A deep, thunderous boom erupted,

and the incomparably hard bluestone floor cracked inch by inch, instantly turning into a fine cloud of powder!

A violent wave of force suddenly spread outward with the two men at its center,

whipping Cui Hao's robes beside them into a fierce flutter.

"Hiss—!"

Cui Hao sucked in a cold breath, his eyes wide and his face filled with shock.

They had only clasped hands tentatively, yet the might was already this terrifying?

"What incredible strength! He's actually a fellow cultivator of the Viscera Nourishing Realm!"

Zhao Lie's heart shook violently.

The surging force transmitted from the palm resting on Su Xian's shoulder instantly made his expression solemn.

He had assumed that the expert Cui Hao mentioned was at most at the Peak Bone Tempering Realm.

Only after this brief contact did he realize that the other's aura was restrained like an abyss, yet when unleashed, it was overwhelming and unstoppable.

His cultivation was actually no weaker than Zhao Lie's own at his peak!

It might even have surpassed it! If they truly fought...

Zhao Lie slowly withdrew his right hand and solemnly clasped his fists.

"May I ask your honored name?"

His tone held an unprecedented seriousness.

"Su Fan."

Su Xian withdrew his hand as well, giving his assumed name before voicing the question in his heart.

"Master Zhao, forgive my bluntness. Although your blood and qi are somewhat depleted, your foundation remains intact. If you rest and recuperate in peace, you should still have more than a decade of life left."

"Why issue such a proclamation, even willing to exhaust your lifelong cultivation to benefit a Bone Tempering Realm martial artist?"

"So it was Brother Su Fan!"

Upon hearing this, a complicated, indescribable bitter smile appeared on Zhao Lie's face.

"Alas... this matter is a long story, difficult to explain in a few words!"

"Brother Su, please come with me. Let us go inside and discuss it in detail."

Zhao Lie made an inviting gesture, then turned and led the way.

Su Xian followed close behind, and the two entered an elegant reception room within the martial arts school.

Zhao Lie personally poured Su Xian a cup of fine tea, then poured one for himself as well.

Amid the curling fragrance of tea, he slowly began, his voice tinged with helplessness.

"To be honest, Brother Su,"

"my actions are not merely meant to extend the life of the martial arts school. I also wish to find a truly promising disciple, pass on everything I have learned in my life, and preserve my legacy!"

He paused, then let out another long sigh.

"Unfortunately, throughout Blackwater County and even the several neighboring counties, I have searched high and low, yet I have never found a disciple who truly meets my hopes, someone with the talent and natural constitution I seek!"

"Left with no other choice, I resorted to this desperate measure, spreading the news far and wide in hopes of attracting some genuine talent."

Zhao Lie shook his head bitterly and lifted his teacup, but had no heart to taste it.

Instead, he turned to Su Xian, his eyes flashing with brilliance and a trace of barely concealed astonishment.

"By contrast, Brother Su Fan, judging by your appearance, you are astonishingly young, yet you have already become a powerhouse of the Viscera Nourishing Realm!"

"With such heaven-defying talent, your future path in martial arts will surely be boundless!"

Zhao Lie changed tack, asking with genuine puzzlement.

"May I ask what brings Brother Su Fan to my humble Blazing Sun Martial Arts School?"

He truly could not imagine what his storm-tossed martial arts school could offer that would attract such a young Viscera Nourishing Realm powerhouse with limitless prospects.

Could it be... that he wanted Zhao Lie's paltry lifelong cultivation?

That was clearly impossible.

Su Xian's gaze fell upon Zhao Lie before him, and he gave a slight nod.

Then, getting straight to the point, he laid out his purpose in full.

"Master Zhao, I came here because I wish to borrow and read your school's Viscera Nourishing Realm cultivation technique!"

"In exchange, I am entirely confident that I can break through to the Aperture Opening Realm within ten years!"

"When that time comes, I will definitely help you break through the barrier of cleansing and refining your blood and qi! At the very least, I can extend your life by ten years!"

"Rather than entrusting the protection of the Blazing Sun Martial Arts School to someone else, why not improve your own strength and take control of the situation once more?"

"Master Zhao, what do you think?"

After Su Xian finished speaking, his gaze was as sharp as a torch, fixed firmly on every change in Zhao Lie's expression.

Break through to the Aperture Opening Realm in ten years?

For him, as long as he had sufficient Demon Lifespan, it could be accomplished in an instant.

But to avoid appearing too earth-shattering and make it easier for Zhao Lie to accept,

he had deliberately described the timeframe as so long.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Lie was stunned at first.

Immediately afterward, a thick, uncontrollable envy swept through his gaze as he looked at Su Xian.

Such a young Viscera Nourishing Realm powerhouse!

He actually dared to declare that he would definitely enter the Aperture Opening Realm within ten years!

Thinking back to how he had squandered a century of his life, he was now only barely at the Initial Organ Nourishing Realm.

Compared to that profound and unfathomable Aperture Opening Realm, the difference was still as vast as mud and clouds, with only a long and misty road ahead!

"If the matter is merely borrowing the Viscera Nourishing Realm cultivation technique of my Blazing Sun Martial Arts School, then this old man can agree to it, Brother Su Fan."

Zhao Lie let out a soft sigh and slowly nodded.

"As for the latter condition..." He pondered briefly, his gaze burning.

"This old man can accept that as well! So long as Brother Su Fan still remembers the promise you made today ten years from now!"

Compared with those harsh conditions that required him to exhaust his lifelong cultivation to benefit another person,

Su Xian's proposal held far too much temptation for Zhao Lie.

Yet he still harbored doubts. With this young man's heaven-defying aptitude,

the cultivation technique he practiced must surely surpass the Blazing Sun Martial Arts School's legacy by far. Why, then, was he specifically interested in their technique?

Seeing Zhao Lie agree, a sincere smile lifted the corners of Su Xian's mouth.

"Rest assured, Brother Zhao. I, Su, will keep today's promise firmly in my heart and would never dare forget it!"

A smile appeared on Zhao Lie's face as well, and he rose at once.

"Brother Su Fan, please wait here for a moment. This old man will go retrieve our secret manual!"

With that, Zhao Lie turned and hurried away.

Before long, he returned carrying an ancient wooden box and solemnly placed it before Su Xian.

"Brother Su, take a look. What is kept inside this box is the foundation of my Blazing Sun Martial Arts School—the Viscera Nourishing Realm cultivation technique, the Blazing Sun Body Burning Secret Manual! Read it to your heart's content!"

As he spoke, Zhao Lie personally opened the lid and pushed the wooden box toward Su Xian.

Inside lay a thread-bound ancient book, its pages yellowed and its edges slightly curled.

Six large characters, written with iron strokes and silver hooks, radiated a scorching, domineering aura from the cover.

Blazing Sun Body Burning Secret Manual

Su Xian picked up the Blazing Sun Body Burning Secret Manual and quickly read through it once. After recording it in the Demon Strategy,

he closed the secret manual, gently placed it back in the wooden box, and returned it to Zhao Lie.

"Brother Su... you've finished reading it already?"