Grueling Training

A month later.

In an open clearing on the Back Mountain, Xiao Yan leaped high into the air. Flames blazed around his fist, glowing a blood-red color, while the faint roar of a beast echoed from within the burning fire.

Flame Fist!

He plummeted forward at high speed, his fist crashing into a wooden target.

Boom!

The next instant, the target shattered into pieces and, under the scorching Heavenly Flames, turned to ash.

Then, Xiao Yan stretched out a hand toward the distant forest, clenched the air, and gave a fierce pull.

Sucking Palm!

A tree as thick as Xiao Yan's waist was uprooted and torn from the ground.

The suction in his palm abruptly transformed into pushing force.

Fire Blowing Palm!

Bang!

The tree instantly exploded into pieces.

"Whew..."

Xiao Yan slowly exhaled and clenched his fist.

Feeling the restless Dou Qi within him, Xiao Yan knew that he would break through to a four-star Dou Zhe within the next few days.

Old Yao floated beside Xiao Yan, nodding slightly as he smiled.

"Not bad. With the enhancement of the Heavenly Flames, this high-grade Yellow Tier Dou Technique can nearly reach the level of a mid-grade Mystic Tier technique. As the Heavenly Flames grow stronger in the future, its power will continue to rise."

"As for your Sucking Palm and Fire Blowing Palm, although they are Mystic Tier Dou Techniques, their offensive power is somewhat undeserving of their rank. Since you are still not very strong, I'll first teach you a Mystic Tier Dou Technique renowned for its destructive power."

"Good!"

Xiao Yan did not ask any questions, merely nodding.

"Close your eyes and focus your mind. I'll pass it on to you."

After casually reminding him, Old Yao extended a finger and lightly touched Xiao Yan's forehead.

After a wave of dizziness and swelling pain in his head, Xiao Yan came back to his senses.

Eight Extremities Collapse: A high-grade Mystic Tier Dou Technique and a close-combat technique renowned for its overwhelming attack power. At mastery, each strike contained eight layers of force. When all eight layers stacked together, its might rivaled a low-grade Earth Tier Dou Technique!

It was here—Eight Extremities Collapse!

Seeing Xiao Yan recover, Old Yao spoke calmly.

"Although Eight Extremities Collapse does not have a particularly high Dou Qi cultivation requirement, it places immense demands on the strength of the body. It is a close-quarters combat technique.

"You are still too young and still growing. If you train your body through ordinary methods, the energy your body should use to grow taller may all be spent repairing your injuries instead. That could leave you shorter than ordinary people in the future.

"Though with that handsome little face of yours, being a bit short would not matter, it is certainly better to grow taller if you can. Therefore, we need to prepare some medicinal ingredients and refine pills that can strengthen your body and repair bodily damage."

"So, how can I increase my physical strength?"

Xiao Yan suddenly realized something, and his expression changed.

"Dou Qi is actually the best energy for tempering the body. However, you are already a Dou Zhe and no longer possess Dou Qi, so... we can only rely on external stimulation."

Old Yao narrowed his eyes, and his aged gaze seemed faintly malicious.

"Don't tell me I have to get beaten up?"

Seeing Old Yao's beaming smile, Xiao Yan's own smile stiffened.

"Correct!"

Old Yao laughed sinisterly. Xiao Yan covered his face with one hand and let out a helpless sigh.

The next day.

In the early morning, a thin layer of pale mist blanketed the Back Mountain's summit and lingered for a long time. A light breeze swept by, suddenly carrying the dull sounds of bodies striking one another.

In a hidden grove atop the Back Mountain, Xiao Yan planted his feet into the soil like stakes, his toes gripping the ground. His teeth were clenched tightly, cold sweat streamed down his forehead, and bluish bruises densely covered his bare body, which was clad only in a pair of shorts.

Behind Xiao Yan, Old Yao, in his soul form, sat cross-legged atop a huge boulder. He watched Xiao Yan, who was gritting his teeth and persevering, with a stern expression, then lightly waved his hand.

As Old Yao waved his hand, the air rippled slightly. A pale-red stream of Dou Qi shot violently from his palm, then lashed heavily across Xiao Yan's shoulder like a whip, immediately leaving a long bruise.

Xiao Yan clenched his teeth so hard that even the corners of his eyes twitched from pain. His shoulder seemed to go numb in an instant, while searing agony drilled straight into his heart.

After the intense pain, medicinal power flowed through his body. A warm sensation spread across the meridians and acupoints in his shoulder as the medicine seeped into his bones and muscles, strengthening and repairing his body.

"Again!"

As the pain in his shoulder gradually faded, Xiao Yan's youthful face was filled with determination.

If he did not put in effort and sweat now, then one day he would only be able to watch as his father and teacher were taken away, shedding helpless tears!

But tears could not change anything!

Looking at Xiao Yan's tenacious figure, Old Yao forced a gratified smile onto his withered face. He nodded slightly, and pale-red Dou Qi shot from his palm once more.

"Bang, bang, bang..."

Within the woods of the Back Mountain, one chilling series of muffled impacts after another, along with low groans, rang out without end.

Old Yao was extremely precise with his strikes. Every attack was exactly at the limit of what Xiao Yan's current body could endure. This ensured that Xiao Yan would not be seriously injured while still allowing him to feel the pain with utmost clarity.

The piercing pain of Dou Qi striking his body nearly made Xiao Yan unable to control his expression.

With every wave of Old Yao's hand, the bruises on Xiao Yan's body grew more numerous...

"Bang!"

Another stream of Dou Qi shot out. Xiao Yan, standing like a wooden post, finally reached the limit of his endurance. His body swayed slightly before he dropped onto the ground, took out a jade bottle from his Storage Ring, removed a pill, swallowed it, closed his eyes, focused his mind, and refined the medicinal power.

There were two kinds of pills used to strengthen the body.

One was the Body Nourishing Pill, taken before being beaten. It could repair bodily injuries suffered for a period after taking it.

The other was the Body Strengthening Pill, taken after being beaten. It could promote the strengthening of one's physique. This ensured that the energy used to strengthen Xiao Yan's body would not be the energy originally meant for his growth. In this way, the effects of such extreme training on his body would be eliminated.

The pain throughout his body had not yet fully faded, but Xiao Yan still calmed himself and refined all of the medicinal power.

A moment later, Xiao Yan opened his eyes. With the aid of the medicine, all the bruises on his body had completely vanished.

"It actually feels pretty good."

Although he had spent half the day getting beaten up, Xiao Yan did not suffer any psychological trauma.

If it could make him stronger, what was there to fear about getting beaten?

"That should be enough for today. I estimate that in at most another month, this method will no longer be of much use to you. If you want to further strengthen your physique, I'm afraid you can only rely on pills and rare heavenly treasures."

Old Yao stroked his beard and spoke with a faint smile.

"Hm? Someone's coming?"

But in the next instant, Old Yao swept his gaze toward the depths of the forest. His body turned into a streak of light and entered the Storage Ring on Xiao Yan's finger.

Xiao Yan reached out and activated the Sucking Palm, pulling over the clothes hanging from a branch. After getting dressed, he looked toward the depths of the dense woods and saw a familiar figure rushing toward him.