At this rate.
The gap between Qin Yan and this year's top geniuses was closing fast!
"Then there's no time to lose!"
Xiao Huo's smile faded, his expression turning serious and focused.
"Guide that wisp of qi within you and begin tempering the flesh and skin throughout your body.
I'll protect you throughout the process and make sure nothing goes wrong!"
"Yes, Teacher!"
Qin Yan nodded solemnly.
He walked to a more open area in the center of the Pill Chamber.
Taking a deep breath, he prepared to assume the opening stance of the Nine Revolutions Golden Body Spear.
Just then, two bottles of pills flew from Xiao Huo's hand and landed steadily before Qin Yan.
"The bottle on the left contains ten First-Rank Blood Qi Pills.
If you feel your qi running low during the tempering process.
Take one immediately. It will quickly replenish what you've used."
"The bottle on the right contains ten First-Rank Body Tempering Pills.
Take one before you begin tempering your body. It will greatly improve the efficiency and results of tempering your flesh and skin."
Xiao Huo's voice was steady and clear. "Consider these two bottles the rest of your gift for becoming my disciple."
Qin Yan's heart jolted.
First-Rank Blood Qi Pills and First-Rank Body Tempering Pills each sold for fifty thousand Huaxia Coins!
They were even more expensive than the Blood Qi Pills he had taken before.
Together, these two bottles were worth a million Huaxia Coins!
His teacher was astonishingly generous!
"Thank you for such a generous gift, Teacher! I won't let you down!"
Qin Yan did not make a show of refusing.
He took this weighty kindness to heart and carefully put away the two Jade Bottles.
He hesitated no longer.
From the Jade Bottle of Body Tempering Pills, he poured out a pill the size of a longan, fragrant with an unusual medicinal scent.
He tipped back his head and swallowed it.
The pill dissolved as soon as it reached his stomach.
It instantly became a gentle yet immense current of heat that surged through his limbs and bones.
His skin began to burn faintly, as though every cell had awakened.
Now!
Qin Yan's gaze sharpened. His hand closed around the shaft of an imaginary spear.
At his command, the wisp of pale golden qi within him stirred!
Following the method of the Flesh and Skin Chapter of the Nine Revolutions Golden Body Spear, he began to move!
At first, his movements were somewhat stiff.
But as his Spear Momentum unfolded, his blood qi surged along a prescribed route.
The wisp of qi began to flow slowly through his meridians too.
Wherever it passed, an odd mixture of tingling and burning spread through his flesh and skin.
The Body Tempering Pill's medicinal power was fully drawn out.
It merged perfectly with Qin Yan's own wisp of qi.
His skin turned visibly red.
Heat rose from his body, shrouding him in white vapor. He seemed to stand inside a furnace!
Tearing pain and a swelling pressure came from every part of him.
It felt as though that tremendous force would burst his body apart!
"Qin Yan, focus!
Guide your qi and temper the flesh and skin of your arms first!"
Xiao Huo's steady voice sounded beside Qin Yan's ear.
His mental power had long since spread like an invisible net.
It enveloped Qin Yan completely, leaving Xiao Huo aware of every change within his body.
Hearing him, Qin Yan immediately obeyed.
He focused most of his attention on tempering his arms.
Sure enough, once he concentrated the force in one place.
The overwhelming sensation that he might explode eased considerably.
In its place came a deeper, more focused sense of being forged.
"Good! Now move to your legs!"
"Temper the soles of your feet and your ankles. They're the foundation of your strength!"
"Keep your waist and abdomen working together!"
"Don't neglect the flesh and skin of your third leg either!"
"..."
Xiao Huo's guidance was precise and timely.
He spoke whenever Qin Yan was about to make a mistake or run short of strength.
Under his protection.
Qin Yan's first full-body tempering was painful, but it remained under control and progressed steadily.
He could clearly feel his skin growing tougher.
The strength it held was also growing slowly but surely through the tempering.
Time slipped by amid painful endurance and rising strength.
Who knew how long had passed? The instant the last patch of flesh and skin was thoroughly washed and tempered by that wisp of qi and the pill's power—
Hum!
A faint chime rang in Qin Yan's mind.
It was as though some shackle had broken, and his whole body suddenly felt lighter!
An indescribable comfort spread through him.
All his earlier pain and exhaustion receded like the tide.
In their place came a fullness, strength, and sense of control unlike anything he had known!
At that moment, his very level of life took a qualitative leap!
"Congratulations, Xiao Yan."
Xiao Huo approached with a pleased smile. "From this moment on, you're a true First-Rank Martial Artist!"
He had estimated that Qin Yan would need at least a month or two to break through. He had never expected the surprise to come so soon.
"It's all thanks to your protection, Teacher!"
Qin Yan bowed deeply from the heart.
Without Xiao Huo's precise guidance and those precious pills, his breakthrough could never have gone so smoothly or efficiently.
"We're teacher and disciple. There's no need for such formality."
"Don't slack off from here on. Train diligently and consolidate your realm.
Keep up with your studies of the Alchemy Path as well. Don't neglect either pursuit."
"I understand."
Qin Yan answered earnestly.
"Keep those two bottles of pills safe. You'll need them for your training later."
Xiao Huo instructed him, "Once you're back, master everything about First-Rank Spiritual Herbs in the Complete Guide to Low-Grade Spiritual Herbs I gave you.
That's only the foundation. A vast amount of Alchemy knowledge still awaits you."
"Yes, Teacher! I'll take my leave."
After leaving the Alchemy Chamber, Qin Yan returned directly to the estate.
Now that he had become a martial artist, his whole body felt sticky.
He gave off an unpleasant smell from the impurities expelled while tempering his flesh and skin.
He hurried up to the bathroom on the second floor and washed himself several times, until not a trace of the odor remained on his skin.
At once, he felt refreshed and comfortable from head to toe.
After changing into clean clothes, Qin Yan went to the Cultivation Room on the third floor.
With a thought, he opened the System Panel, eager to see exactly what had changed after his breakthrough:
Sky-Supporting Qi Pillar: Fifth Level (Perfection) Level: Early First-Rank Martial Artist Blood Qi: 110 Cal Mental Power: 42 Hz Martial Technique: Nine Revolutions Golden Body Spear, Flesh and Skin Chapter, Second Revolution (77%) Spear Technique: Third Stage (17%) Alchemy Path: Complete Guide to Low-Grade Spiritual Herbs (2.6%) Skill Points: 0 Note: Work hard and you'll see results.
"My blood qi finally broke through!"
Seeing the value of 110 Cal on the Panel, Qin Yan could not help but sigh.
His blood qi had been stuck at 99 Cal for far too long.
From what he had learned in class, he knew that the First Grade Realm was primarily about tempering flesh and skin.
Each round of tempering increased blood qi by 10 Cal.
A First-Rank Martial Artist needed to complete eight rounds of flesh-and-skin tempering to reach the "Bronze Skin" stage of the First-Rank Peak.
In other words, a First-Rank Martial Artist's blood qi peaked at 180 Cal.
He had completed only his first round of tempering. He still had a long road ahead.
Qin Yan thought of Little Senior Sister Lu Youyou.
She had already reached Mid First Grade and was close to breaking through to the late stage.
That meant she had completed four rounds of flesh-and-skin tempering.
Compared with her, he still had a long way to go.