Returning to the familiar alley, he pushed open the wooden gate. Ping An had not yet returned from the Academy. The house was quiet and desolate. Li Bufan moved swiftly, taking out the small bundle wrapped in coarse cloth from the corner.
Opening the bundle, he found two Cinnabar Fruits lying quietly within, red as blood and fragrant enough to fill the nostrils, each containing immense energy.
Without the slightest hesitation, he picked one up and tucked it into his robes. Although he had eaten a Cinnabar Fruit not long ago, consuming another so soon would likely lessen its effects somewhat. But time was pressing—he could not afford to waste it!
He sprinted all the way, pushing Spirit Monkey Three Leaps to its limit, moving far faster than usual. The icy wind slashed across his face like knives, yet his heart burned hot.
Before long, that familiar Official Road, blanketed in snow, appeared before him once more. The surroundings were vast, empty, and desolate, with only the howling wind.
Li Bufan stopped, gasping violently, his chest heaving like a bellows.
He took out the Cinnabar Fruit. A trace of resolve flashed through his eyes as he opened his mouth and swallowed it whole!
The Cinnabar Fruit melted upon entering his mouth, transforming once again into a scorching, surging torrent that thundered into his limbs and bones!
"Urgh!" Li Bufan could not help letting out a muffled groan. His skin instantly turned crimson, veins bulged, and steam rose from his head, as though his entire body were about to ignite!
The enormous medicinal power rampaged through his body, sending swelling pain through his meridians!
Not daring to slacken in the slightest, he swiftly assumed the stance of the Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique!
"Spirit Ape Stretches Its Arms! Savage Ape Shakes the Tree! Spirit Ape Tumble...!"
He frantically performed set after set of movements, like a restless ape.
This time, his goal was crystal clear—he would use the Cinnabar Fruit's immense medicinal power to break through to Minor Mastery in Muscle Tempering!
The torrent of vital energy transformed from the Cinnabar Fruit was like a river bursting through its banks. Guided by the technique, it crazily battered the deep barriers within every muscle in his body! Every exertion came with searing pain and the tearing and rebuilding of muscle fibers!
The radiance of the [Heaven Rewards Diligence] fate blazed and flickered with unprecedented brilliance! Every insight from his past cultivation, every bit of control over his vital energy, every understanding of his muscles, was driven to its utmost limit at this moment. They merged with the violent medicinal power and charged again and again at that invisible barrier!
His movements grew faster and fiercer, as though he had gone mad! The sweat that emerged was instantly evaporated, and the snow beneath his feet was trampled into a complete mess!
Pain! Extreme pain!
Yet amid that pain, Li Bufan could clearly feel his muscles undergoing a qualitative transformation! They became tougher, capable of containing more vital energy and erupting with greater power!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
It was as though invisible thunderclaps were exploding inside his body! It was the sound of vital energy striking against the bottleneck!
Who knew how much time passed? When that violent medicinal torrent finally began to weaken, a terrifying gleam suddenly burst from Li Bufan's eyes!
Now!
He gathered every shred of his strength, willpower, and remaining medicinal power, unleashing his final—and mightiest—charge!
"Break for me!!"
It was as though a soundless thunderclap had exploded between heaven and earth!
A sensation of power far stronger than before—more condensed, more refined, and perfectly under his control—erupted from the deepest part of his body like a volcano, instantly sweeping through him!
His muscles trembled violently, contracting and swelling as they completed a thorough ascension! His vital energy surged, dense and weighty!
Minor Mastery in Muscle Tempering!
[Heaven Rewards Diligence] Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique, Proficient (688/1000) Breakthrough achieved!
Li Bufan slowly withdrew his stance and stood where he was, panting heavily. He was drenched as if he had been dragged from water, yet he felt a comfort and strength as though he had been reborn!
He clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within him. At last, the corners of his mouth rose uncontrollably.
Gradually, the ecstasy of his breakthrough subsided, replaced by intense soreness throughout his body and exhaustion that seeped into his bones. Four consecutive hours of frenzied cultivation, coupled with the Cinnabar Fruit's tyrannical medicinal power and the drastic transformation of his muscles during the breakthrough, had nearly drained every bit of his energy.
Li Bufan dragged legs that felt filled with lead. With every step, his muscles seemed to howl in agony. Yet his eyes were exceptionally bright. Feeling the power within him, far more abundant and condensed than before, he found all his exhaustion worthwhile.
He raised his head and looked at the sky. The sun had already tilted westward, dyeing the horizon orange-red.
"Oh no, I need to pick up Ping An!" Remembering his younger brother, he ignored the soreness wracking his body, forcibly drew a breath, and used Spirit Monkey Three Leaps again as he hurried toward the county town. Though exhausted, he was faster after his breakthrough and managed to arrive before the Academy let out.
At the Academy gates, Ping An stood with a tiny bookbag on his back, standing on tiptoe as he looked around the crowd. The moment he spotted his brother, he happily ran over.
"Brother!"
"Mm, school's over? Come on, let's go home." Li Bufan took his brother's bookbag and held his hand. Ping An keenly sensed that his brother seemed very tired, that there was still unwashed sweat in his palm, and asked worriedly, "Brother, are you very tired?"
"It's nothing. I practiced for a little too long. Come on, your brother's hungry. Let's go home and eat." Li Bufan smiled and rubbed his brother's head.
The brothers returned home. Li Bufan practically collapsed onto a stool, not even wanting to move a finger. Ping An sensibly ran off to light the fire and prepare to heat the food.
Dinner was still rice mixed from coarse and refined grains, a large basin of tiger meat stewed until tender, and more than ten eggs that Li Bufan had specially boiled.
The moment the food was set on the table, Li Bufan's stomach began growling embarrassingly. After his breakthrough, his body desperately needed energy. He picked up a huge bowl and began eating like a whirlwind sweeping away fallen leaves.
One bowl, two bowls, three bowls! The mixed rice vanished in an instant! He alone devoured more than half of that large basin of greasy, tender tiger meat! Then he peeled seven or eight eggs in one go and ate them dipped in soy sauce!
Ping An held a bowl smaller than his own face and watched his brother wolf down the food. His eyes widened round, his little mouth forming an O, and he even forgot to eat his own meal.
"Brother... you're eating so much... won't your stomach burst?" he could not help asking softly, his voice full of worry and astonishment.
Li Bufan swallowed the last mouthful of egg and let out a satisfied burp. Only then did he feel his hollow body begin to fill up. Smiling, he said to his brother, "It's fine, little brother. Your big brother practices martial arts, so the consumption is especially great. Naturally, I eat more. Once you start practicing martial arts too, maybe you'll be able to eat even more than me!"
Ping An nodded as though he understood, and there was even more admiration in his gaze. "Martial arts are amazing!"
After eating, Li Bufan rested for a while and felt some of his strength return. He knew that eating alone was not enough. His training today had been too intense, and he had to use a medicinal bath to thoroughly recover.
He told Ping An to review his lessons on his own, then went outside, took out the large wooden barrel, and began boiling water. At the same time, he took out the medicinal bath packet he had bought from Doctor Liu and prepared the ground medicinal powder inside.
Once the water boiled, he adjusted it to the right temperature, poured the pitch-black medicinal powder into the barrel, and gently stirred it. A rich medicinal fragrance immediately spread through the air.
He removed his clothes, stepped into the bath barrel, and slowly lowered himself in.
"Hiss—"
The warm, even scalding medicinal broth enveloped his exhausted body. Its power seeped into him thread by thread through his pores. It first brought a faint stinging sensation, then transformed into an indescribable comfort, like parched earth receiving the nourishment of rain.
Under the stimulation and nourishment of the external medicinal bath, the Cinnabar Fruit's medicinal power that had settled within him seemed to be activated once more, slowly releasing. One from within and one from without, it and Doctor Liu's medicine jointly nourished his body, repaired the tiny injuries that his frenzied daytime training might have caused, and further strengthened his newly achieved realm.
The soreness in his muscles rapidly eased under the medicine's effects, replaced by a warm, powerful comfort. His vital energy grew livelier and more condensed as it was nourished.
Li Bufan closed his eyes and leaned against the side of the barrel, savoring the sweetness after pain as he felt his body becoming stronger bit by bit.
The heat and medicinal effects of the bath seeped deeply into his limbs and bones, gradually dispelling the exhaustion after his breakthrough and the aching swelling in his muscles. About half an hour later, Li Bufan rose from the wooden barrel. His entire body felt pleasantly warm, and more than half his energy had recovered. The slight swelling and dull pain from overexertion had vanished, replaced by a clear, unobstructed comfort and a surging sense of power.
He dried himself and changed into clean inner clothes, but did not immediately rest. The vital energy within him was active and surging due to the medicinal bath and the remaining Cinnabar Fruit power. It was the perfect opportunity to consolidate his cultivation and familiarize himself with his newfound strength.
He pushed open the wooden gate and entered the cold, quiet courtyard. Stars speckled the night sky, and the cold wind brushed past him, yet he did not feel chilled in the slightest.
Assuming his stance, the three forms of the Nameless Fist Technique, already at Great Mastery, naturally flowed forth.
Thousands of Soldiers Split Easily! Directly Strike the Yellow Dragon! Feint to the East, Attack to the West!
Supported by the vital energy of Minor Mastery in Muscle Tempering, the power of these three fist forms improved considerably once more! Every punch and kick contained explosive strength, yet remained controlled with perfect precision. His control over his own muscles had reached a new height. With a single thought, his vital energy could instantly reach wherever it was needed.
He performed the fist technique three times in succession. Only after his vital energy settled and he began to sweat lightly did he slowly withdraw his stance. Feeling the increasingly smooth and freely controlled power within him, Li Bufan gained a little more confidence for the life awaiting him at Lin Manor.
Over the next three days, Li Bufan's life became exceptionally regular.
Every morning, he rose early, prepared breakfast for Ping An, and sent him to the Academy. Then he immediately left the city and headed for that secluded fork in the Official Road to train bitterly.
During the day, on that uninhabited snowy plain, he cultivated the Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique and Spirit Monkey Three Leaps with no distractions. After reaching the Proficient realm, his understanding of this technique deepened, and his efficiency in tempering his muscles and circulating his vital energy also increased. Combined with the remaining Cinnabar Fruit power still slowly releasing inside him, his cultivation steadily improved as he advanced toward the peak of Minor Mastery in Muscle Tempering.
The [Heaven Rewards Diligence] fate continued to work its effects. Every cultivation session brought new insights and subtle progress.
Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique breaks through to Minor Mastery (37/2000)
At dusk, he would finish his training on time and hurry to the Academy with his body exhausted yet fulfilled from cultivation, picking up Ping An after school.
The brothers returned home together, and Li Bufan would cook a huge pot of food. His appetite remained astonishing; only vast quantities of meat and rice could replenish the immense expenditure from his daytime training. Ping An had gone from initial surprise to being accustomed to it. He would even place the meat from his own bowl into his brother's, saying childishly during meals, "Brother, eat more, so you'll have the strength to practice and become even more amazing!"
After dinner, Ping An would review the characters and passages taught at the Academy by the oil lamp. Li Bufan, meanwhile, would continue practicing the Nameless Fist Technique in the courtyard or carefully ponder the techniques for exerting force in the Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique, using the tranquility of night to digest the gains from his daytime training.
Such simple yet fulfilling days made Li Bufan's state of mind increasingly calm and steadfast.
After three days of bitter cultivation, as his breakthrough in the Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique became increasingly stable, his strength, speed, reactions, and control over his body all rose another level. His muscle fibers became tougher, and the force they could unleash grew even greater.
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