P.S. "Otherworld" has been renamed "Underground World." There may still be a few places where I missed the change, so please bear with me!
"Of course I do. Sorry for the trouble."
Lu Yuan nodded in response to Xia Qingyin's question.
"Little Blue, hurry and bring some water over."
Xia Qingyin's mind stirred, and the Spatial Ring in her hand flashed. A basin of just the right size appeared before them.
"Master, why do I feel like I'm the one doing all the work, but you're the one getting the credit?"
The Deepwater Demon Dragon Cub said this.
That was what it said, but the Deepwater Demon Dragon Cub still did as it was told.
Watching this comical scene, Lu Yuan's mouth twitched.
He was reminded of a phrase he often heard in his previous life—
"We don't produce water. We're just nature's porters!"
It was a perfect match for the scene before him!
After a quick wash, the bloodstains on Lu Yuan's face disappeared completely.
After thanking her, Lu Yuan asked, "Xia Qingyin, did you bring a map?"
Xia Qingyin answered as if it were obvious, "Of course I did."
Hearing her reply, Lu Yuan's eyes lit up. "Perfect. I don't have a map right now. You and Little Blue can train your teamwork and take me along at the same time."
Xia Qingyin nodded in agreement.
Since she could lend a hand to a classmate along the way, she was happy to do so.
As he traveled with Xia Qingyin, Lu Yuan opened his System Panel.
[Name: Lu Yuan] [Evolution Points: 1900] [Ability: Ice Snow Crown (S)] [Realm: First Order Middle Rank] [Spirit: 174 Hz] [Blood Qi: 302 Cal] [Skills: Spear technique (Advanced), Ice Shard Ring Body (D) (Beginner) (↑), Ice Blast Technique (S) (Beginner)] [Body Tempering Art: Profound Nether Ice Soul Body (S) (Zero Level) (↑)]
"Now that I have 1900 Evolution Points, what can I improve...?"
After scanning the panel, Lu Yuan noticed an "↑" had appeared beside his Body Tempering Art.
He had tempered around ninety bones so far, leaving a little over a hundred before he reached the full 206.
As for the other options, like his realm and spear technique, he didn't have enough Evolution Points to improve them.
So Lu Yuan decided to put them directly into his Body Tempering Art.
He stopped and turned to Xia Qingyin. "I think I've had a bit of a breakthrough with the Body Tempering Art I'm learning. Xia Qingyin, sorry for the trouble, but could you keep watch for me?"
At that, Xia Qingyin's almond-shaped eyes widened, and her small mouth fell open. "You've had another breakthrough? In the Body Tempering Art, of all things?!"
After all, mastering a Body Tempering Art depended on perseverance and pushing the body to its limits.
Neither could be done without the other; they went hand in hand.
But given the situation now...
How long had it even been?!
Just a few days ago, he'd advanced to First Order Middle Rank. She'd only just learned that he had also mastered the S-rank skill Ice Blast Technique, and now he'd suddenly had a breakthrough in his Body Tempering Art?
This was downright absurd! Did he think cultivation was a rocket ride?
"Lu Yuan's Body Tempering Art probably isn't S-rank, right?"
Only by thinking this could Xia Qingyin make it seem even remotely reasonable.
"Just luck, nothing more."
Lu Yuan had no idea what Xia Qingyin was thinking. After pressing the "↑" on the System Panel, he simply found an empty spot and sat down to meditate.
[Evolution Points -1100!] [Profound Nether Ice Soul Body (S) (Zero Level) → Profound Nether Ice Soul Body (S) (First Level)]
In an instant, a vast, surging wave of Ice Elemental Energy erupted from all around him.
The process of improving his Body Tempering Art was anything but easy.
Then,
A series of cracking sounds rang out!
At the same time, beads of cold sweat trickled down Lu Yuan's forehead.
His brows furrowed tightly, and his whole body trembled nonstop.
"Lu Yuan, hang in there!"
Seeing him like this made Xia Qingyin nervous too.
It was about an hour before Lu Yuan slowly opened his eyes.
He let out a breath of stale air.
He could clearly feel the blood qi within him surging with far more vigor,
and the Ice Elemental Energy in his body had grown more abundant as well!
He immediately opened the panel to check how his attributes had changed.
[Name: Lu Yuan] [Evolution Points: 800] [Ability: Ice Snow Crown (S)] [Realm: First Order Middle Rank] [Spirit: 194 Hz] [Blood Qi: 422 Cal] [Skills: Spear technique (Advanced), Ice Shard Ring Body (D) (Beginner) (↑), Ice Blast Technique (S) (Beginner)] [Body Tempering Art: Profound Nether Ice Soul Body (S) (First Level)]
Lu Yuan's gaze sharpened.
He remembered that when his Body Tempering Art was still at Zero Level, his Spirit had been 174 Hz and his Blood Qi had been 302 Cal.
Now his Spirit had reached 192 Hz, and his Blood Qi had shot all the way up to 422 Cal.
After all, this was a Body Tempering Art, so it hadn't increased his Spirit by that much.
But the increase in Blood Qi was incredible—a full 120 Cal!
Back when Lu Yuan advanced from First Order Lower Rank to First Order Middle Rank, his Blood Qi had only increased by 50 Cal, not even half of the 120 Cal he'd gained now.
And there was one other crucial point: the total amount of Ice Elemental Energy in his body had grown by about a third.
Before, even if he pushed himself to the limit, he could only use Ice Blast Technique once. Now, he could just about manage it twice!
"Lu Yuan, you're finally done. I have some sandwiches here. Would you like one?"
Xia Qingyin noticed the commotion beside her and looked over.
It happened to be mealtime for Xia Qingyin.
She and her Companion Beast were happily eating the sandwiches she'd brought, one person and one beast.
Before you continue