Death Valley's Extreme Training, Pain Flies Away

Chapter 31: Extreme Training in Death Valley, Pain Pain Fly Away, Lung Mist Na'er and Divine Doctor Gu Yue (4K)

"Ben Ti Senior, that laugh of yours doesn't sound like a good person's."

With the large hand only 0.01 centimeters away from him, Zhao Xuanzhen opened his eyes, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness.

"Is that so?"

The dark gold slowly receded, revealing Mu Ye's face. The Ben Ti Sect Master rubbed his chin, puzzled. "Although I wasn't deliberately concealing my aura, it's not something a Soul Elder in meditation should be able to catch. Your perception seems far too sharp."

Zhao Xuanzhen smiled without speaking. The wind was his second pair of eyes, surveying everything around him in his stead.

"Since you've discovered me, This Sect Master might as well drop the act!"

Mu Ye chuckled, and then Zhao Xuanzhen felt his neck tighten as his entire body flew up as if riding clouds and mist.

The moonlight was like silver, the edge of the sea of clouds merging with the sky. A cool night wind brushed his face as Zhao Xuanzhen looked down upon the earth from on high. The radiant Heaven Dou City gradually shrank and faded into the distance.

"Senior Mu Ye, switching from a sneak attack to coercion isn't very sporting." Zhao Xuanzhen looked at Mu Ye.

You were in danger yourself!

He had nearly triggered the Eight Deceitful Gods' protection mechanism, and the Soaring Serpent had almost gone for a point-blank explosion!

"You ungrateful brat, getting a bargain and still complaining." Mu Ye snorted coldly. "Tonight, This Sect Master is taking you to undergo the most important ritual in a Ben Ti Soul Master's life: the Second Awakening of the Original Martial Soul.

Not joining the Ben Ti Sect, yet receiving an exception for the Second Awakening. I'll give you a chance to rephrase that. Am I sporting or not?"

"Extremely sporting."

Zhao Xuanzhen nodded and sincerely gave a thumbs up.

This exception was foreseeable. Zhao Xuanzhen had noticed since dinner that Mu Ye was a completely different person before and after cooking, likely influenced by someone's persuasion.

Among everyone Zhao Xuanzhen knew who had the standing and ability to persuade Mu Ye, only Illusion Brain Douluo Han Tianyi fit the bill. It was also Han Tianyi who had steered Zhao Xuanzhen away from Leng Yaozhu to come here. The old comrade had calculated everything clearly, benefiting both sides.

Regardless, the favor of the Second Awakening was a fact. Repaying a gushing spring's grace with a single drop of water, or repaying a single drop's grace with a death sentence—that was beastly behavior.

As a normal human being, Zhao Xuanzhen would inevitably repay Mu Ye in the future, lending a hand in reviving the Ben Ti Sect.

The two traveled through the sky. Zhao Xuanzhen suddenly frowned and asked, "Ben Ti Senior, where are we going?"

"I'll tell you when we get there." Mu Ye said mysteriously, looking rather mischievous up close.

An ominous premonition stirred in Zhao Xuanzhen's heart. His sense of direction was excellent, and Mu Ye wasn't flying toward the nearest sea from Heaven Dou City, but steadily heading inland.

"So my Second Awakening isn't going to be in the ocean..."

Zhao Xuanzhen saw through it clearly. The first Ben Ti Sect Master had been framed and sunk into the deep sea. Under the immense pressure of the seawater, his own martial soul had undergone a Second Awakening, unleashing the true power of the Original Martial Soul.

The Second Awakening of the Original Martial Soul was, in essence, using external pressure to stimulate the human body's limits, to squeeze out a soul master's potential to the extreme, and to provoke new potential in desperate circumstances.

The sea was just one of many forms of pressure. Tang Wulin's deep sea training happened because he was on a ship heading to the Star Luo Continent at the time, with almost no other choice. Zhao Xuanzhen's situation was completely different. He was now in the inland city of Heaven Dou City, free to go anywhere above or below.

Mu Ye didn't need to cling to the sea. He had nine ways to drain Zhao Xuanzhen dry!

An hour later, a canyon came into view. Moonlight splashed across the jagged rocks, coating the entire canyon in an eerie crimson.

On the dark red ground, withered trees twisted like demon claws dancing wildly. Sticky red liquid oozed from the cracked bark, and half-rotten vines hung from the branches like countless silent, swaying nooses.

"Welcome to Death Valley." Mu Ye deliberately lowered his voice, speaking ominously.

"Death Valley..."

Zhao Xuanzhen narrowed his eyes. This place wasn't marked on the continental map, but he had thoroughly read three parts of the Douluo Continent saga, even forcing his way through half of the Salted Fish story set ten thousand years later. He quickly rifled through his memories and found a few fragments.

Twenty thousand years ago, during the Soul Master Competition, the Martial Soul Hall team was defeated by Tang San's Shrek Seven Devils. The Golden Generation, reflecting painfully on their loss, swore to temper themselves and reclaim their dignity and glory. Hu Liena ventured alone into the City of Slaughter, while Xie Yue and Yan braved Death Valley together!

"Death Valley can be traced back to the era of Martial Soul Hall."

Sure enough, Mu Ye began to explain. "Death Valley's environment is extremely harsh, and it had little practical value, so Martial Soul Hall always used it as one of their most brutal forms of punishment.

After the crushing defeat at Jialing Pass, Martial Soul Hall was destroyed, and Death Valley became masterless land. Later, it was brought under the Ben Ti Sect by our predecessors. The Second Awakening precisely requires such a cursed place.

The Second Awakening is a process of squeezing out human potential, a trial of extreme agony.

Are you ready?"

Without waiting for Zhao Xuanzhen's reply, Mu Ye immediately let go of the hand gripping his clothes. Ready or not, down you go!

The fierce wind howled past his ears as Zhao Xuanzhen fell from the sky like a meteor. Moonlight poured down, illuminating the deep azure in his eyes.

"Xun character: Storm."

The wind steadily caught his falling body, and Zhao Xuanzhen landed safely.

"Damn, what kind of miraculous little trick is that?"

Mu Ye shouted in exasperation. He had planned a sudden ambush, intending to save Zhao Xuanzhen at the last critical moment to stimulate his potential. But the kid could control the wind, and the plan was a complete failure!

Zhao Xuanzhen curled his lips and followed the twisted, winding path straight into the depths of Death Valley.

An evil wind swirled, kicking up gravel as fine as bone fragments. Every current of air felt like a wandering soul's fingernail, scraping a bone-piercing chill across his skin.

As the air rushed into his mouth and nose, a suffocating sensation cut through his chest like a blade. Zhao Xuanzhen faintly heard his bones creaking, his eardrums aching, his body seeming bound by invisible chains, dragging him down into the abyss.

"Evil Aura..."

Death Valley held an evil aura that had lingered for ten thousand years, constantly eroding the bodies and souls of intruders. Zhao Xuanzhen decisively released his Yin and Yang Dual Qi to annihilate the evil attribute permeating the air.

Moonlight shattered into mottled fragments, growing farther and dimmer.

The sole of his foot crushed a half-buried skeleton. As Zhao Xuanzhen passed, the hollow eye sockets of the bones ignited with will-o'-the-wisp, emerald flames leaping three feet before extinguishing into ash.

From deep within Death Valley came a rustling sound, like millions of insects gnawing on flesh and blood. A thick stench of decay spread, mingling with the smell of rust and sulfur, almost solidifying into a tangible form.

Zhao Xuanzhen halted his steps. In the distance, specks of ghostly green light flickered like will-o'-the-wisps.

Muye's voice rang out at just the right moment: "The Evil Aura within Death Valley is not the most terrifying crisis.

What is truly lethal are the Undead Creatures that breed here—neither human nor beast, fearless of life or death, and desperately craving Life Energy."

The green specks began to sway. They were cruel, greedy eyes. The rasping sound of bones grinding was harsh to the ears as the Undead Creatures gradually revealed their silhouettes.

A Lich's hunched body was covered in rotting bones. Pus dripped from the broken horns of a Banshee. A Skeleton King's claws scraped across the ground, sending sparks flying.

At the very front, a Fat Monster grinned with a bloodied mouth split to its ears, its tongue licking over row upon row of jagged teeth. Green saliva dripped onto the rocks, corroding them with a hissing sound, leaving pits behind.

Undead Creatures naturally existed on the Douluo Continent—otherwise, there would be no soul masters with Abomination, Lich, Skeleton King, or Bone Dragon martial souls. Death Valley was one of their gathering places.

Dense masses of Undead Creatures filled every inch of the horizon. Zhao Xuanzhen looked up at the sky, then quietly stared at Muye. He said nothing, yet somehow said everything.

"The sect has neglected to clear them for decades, so the numbers are a bit high." Muye scratched his head awkwardly. "But their overall strength is limited. This Sect Master believes in you. Kill them all, and true self will be invincible!"

"Really or not..."

Zhao Xuanzhen let out a turbid breath. Three Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings lit up instantly, and the Earthly Dao Technique activated at full power!

Since it had come to this, he would just fight to the finish!

"Boom—"

Dawn broke. A beam of Dark Gold light burst forth from Death Valley. Muye shattered a massive wave of Undead Creatures with a single strike, then pulled a blood-soaked figure out from a pile of stacked skeletons. Clicking his tongue in amazement, he said:

"You really can fight, you Peerless Monster of the Practical School! Both your soul power and Mental strength were completely drained, yet you still managed to hold on with that borrowing-strength-to-strike boxing technique. It took a full twenty-seven consecutive waves of Undead Creatures to finally wear you down."

Zhao Xuanzhen's entire body was limp. After squeezing out the last trace of energy within him, he had lost even the strength to speak. His face was as pale as a dead fish, devoid of any human vitality.

For someone with good talent, pushing their potential to the limit was all the more painful. Others could at most endure eight or nine waves of Undead Creatures before collapsing. But Zhao Xuanzhen was too persistent—his combat power far surpassed the geniuses of the Body Sect in the past. He fought from deep night until dawn, finally achieving a state of complete burnout.

The two returned to the Forging Association in Heaven Dou City by the same route. Muye threw Zhao Xuanzhen, who was as limp as mud, onto the bed. His palms turned Dark Gold as he slapped Zhao Xuanzhen's back dozens of times. With each strike, a stream of air was quietly infused.

Zhao Xuanzhen's skin began to emit a glow—a layer of magnificent golden patterns spreading across his body like blood vessels.

"Ben Ti Secret Technique. It lets your body, pushed to its limits, achieve maximum relaxation."

Muye wiped the Beads of sweat from his forehead, satisfied. "Your surging blood energy and vigorous spirit are the strongest I've ever seen. The true self imagined by the sect's ancestors is truly extraordinary.

I can't wait to see what level your Second Awakening of the true self will be...

Oh, right. You have quite a few injuries. I'll get you some medicine. Training continues tonight."

Muye left a word, hummed a little tune, and walked out of the room, leaving Zhao Xuanzhen lying face-down on the bed with a look of sorrow. He felt that his whole life was destined for hard labor, doomed to toil endlessly...

"Creak—"

The door was pushed open gently. Before the person appeared, a fresh fragrance had already filled the air. This definitely wasn't the smell of food from that cook Muye. Zhao Xuanzhen struggled to turn his head. A black silhouette holding a jade bottle sat down beside him with a smile.

Gu Yue.

Perhaps the confusion in Zhao Xuanzhen's eyes was a bit too obvious. Gu Yue explained, "I ran into Ben Ti Senior on the way. He said you were injured and sent me to help you apply medicine."

"I see. Sorry for the trouble."

Zhao Xuanzhen was in poor condition—the backlash from the Soaring Serpent spirit combined with a full night of high-intensity training left him with a fatigue that felt like a month's worth of reserves spent in thirty seconds. He buried his face into the Fluffy pillow, his blood-soaked back facing up, obediently letting Gu Yue do as she pleased.

"No trouble at all."

Gu Yue smiled like a triumphant Little Fox. In truth, she had indeed run into Muye, but she had volunteered to apply medicine for Zhao Xuanzhen.

As long as she put on a shy, lovestruck expression like a Young Girl, Muye would naturally hand it over to her!

Silver Dragon King—symbol of wisdom!

Lung-fog Na'er—cry, cry loudly!

Gu Yue tore off Zhao Xuanzhen's tattered clothes and discovered that he was the rare type who looked lean but had muscle underneath. His Jade White back glistened with a sheen of water, his muscles rising in just the right curves, making him look like a Nine-section green bamboo—strong and upright.

Bits of cloth were stuck to the wounds. Gu Yue condensed Water Element to carefully clean the area, then used an Ice Tweezer to precisely pick them out. Finally, she squeezed a lump of ointment onto her fingertip. The moment she pressed it on, Zhao Xuanzhen sucked in a sharp breath.

"Does it hurt?"

"...I suspect Ben Ti Doulou is getting revenge. He added several times the normal amount of some spicy medicinal herb."

Zhao Xuanzhen turned his head and said seriously. A fiery pain surged, making his expression twitch slightly.

"Shh—"

The Young Girl pressed her index finger to his lips. The morning breeze carried the fragrance from her sleeve into his Nasal Cavity. In Zhao Xuanzhen's daze, he heard the sticky sound of the ointment being spread.

Kneeling beside him, Gu Yue's slender calves under her skirt hem were like jade soaked in milk. Her hands, covered in white ointment, waved in front of Zhao Xuanzhen.

"Bear with it. It's always the girls who cry out in pain." Gu Yue's voice rose at the end.

Zhao Xuanzhen was convinced Muye had definitely added something extra. His skin erupted with waves of heat, as if someone was pouring boiling copper into his pores.

But the girl's tender palm felt like ice wrapped in silk satin. With a strange rhythm, it pushed from his tailbone up to his Shoulder and Neck. Wherever it passed, searing pain and cool relief tangled together. Zhao Xuanzhen clearly felt Gu Yue's little finger hook past his ribs, deliberately scraping the edge of the wound with her nail.

"Evil Aura... I heard evil attributes are hard to cleanse completely. Will the wounds leave scars?"

She leaned down, the tip of her nose brushing against his shoulder peak. Warm breath swept past, and the tips of Zhao Xuanzhen's ears flushed a suspicious red.

"No. The Original Martial Soul has strong regenerative power."

The medicinal effect steamed like ten thousand fire ants gnawing at his back. Yet at this very moment, Gu Yue swept her long hair behind her ear, and when the ends grazed Zhao Xuanzhen's waist hollow, it was like a gentle rain falling from the sky.

"Turn around. Time for the front."

"Mm."

In the morning light, floating dust danced like golden powder, condensing into tiny halos on the Young Girl's eyelashes. Zhao Xuanzhen's eyes reflected a serene, peerlessly beautiful face, tinged with a moving flush of red.

"What did you and Ben Ti Senior do to end up covered in injuries like this?"

"Probably a whole night of clang-clatter, crackle-crack, pitter-patter-pow..."

"Is that so? Your onomatopoeia is really all over the place."

Gu Yue smiled, picking up the joke. She lowered her gaze, spreading the ointment evenly, while parting her red lips to ask with pointed intent: "If it were Na'er right now, what would she say at a time like this?"

"Her..." Zhao Xuanzhen tried to put himself in her shoes.

"Ten to one, it'd be, 'Little Zhen, Little Zhen, be good, all the ouchies fly away!'"

Gu Yue burst into a laugh, mimicking Zhao Xuanzhen's tone: "All the ouchies fly away!"

"You're so childish... Huh?"

Zhao Xuanzhen was mid-complaint when he realized with a jolt—the ouchies had really, meow-meow, flown away!

Gu Yue, the miracle doctor!