Body Tempering

Body Tempering Spiritual Liquid could be used for body tempering; even cultivators who had not yet become Dou Zhe could use it.

Xiao Yan was no fool. Though he did not know what grade of Spiritual Medicine this bottle of medicinal liquid would be judged as if auctioned at the Mitel Auction House, it was certainly exceedingly valuable.

Without tens of thousands of gold coins, it would be impossible to obtain... and that was assuming it could even be bought.

Xiao Yan fell silent for a moment before solemnly cupping his fist toward Yao Wan. "I will never forget Miss Wan's kindness today."

"...Hmph."

As for a promise from a youth who was not even a Dou Zhe, merely at the third stage of Dou Qi, Yao Wan naturally held a certain degree of "contempt" for it.

"Wait until you surpass me before saying such things."

Xiao Yan also knew that Miss Wan probably had no use for his promise, so there was no need to waste words. He merely committed this kindness to heart.

After bidding her farewell, Xiao Yan did not delay any longer. Clutching the small jade bottle in his hand, he returned to his room.

Naturally, Xiao Yan could not take Miss Wan's warning as idle chatter.

Although he had once entered the ranks of Dou Zhe, his physical strength was actually no different from that of an ordinary person. Xiao Yan was not so overconfident as to use the entire bottle of medicinal liquid at once.

After heating a tub of bathwater, Xiao Yan opened the small jade bottle in the wooden bathtub.

The moment he opened it, Xiao Yan smelled the faint medicinal fragrance he had noticed in Miss Wan's guest room.

Though the fragrance lingered around his nose, it was not intense. Like a gentle breeze, it seemed both near and far. Before Xiao Yan could fully grow accustomed to the subtle scent, the elegant medicinal aroma rapidly dissipated along with the liquid as it fell into the bath, as if melting into the mist rising from the hot water.

Seeing that the amount was about right, Xiao Yan put away the jade bottle.

Warm sunlight streamed through the gaps in the window, scattering flecks of light across the tidy room.

He stripped off his clothes and neatly hung them to one side.

With the sound of water, the black-haired youth sat in the bathtub. He closed his eyes, adjusted his breathing, and entered a cultivation state.

Xiao Yan's chest rose and fell gently, his breaths carrying a distinct rhythm. As time passed, the pale blue-green liquid in the tub gradually gave off faint streams of air. Tinged slightly green, they slowly rose before entering his body with the youth's breaths.

Those streams were like water, yet also like incredibly fine steel needles, piercing through his skin and reaching the meridians beneath his flesh.

"Hah—"

Though Xiao Yan kept his eyes tightly shut, he could not help frowning instinctively. He could clearly feel Dou Qi coursing through every part of his limbs and body.

Yet compared with the difficulty he had experienced when circulating Dou Qi himself, this Body Tempering Spiritual Liquid undoubtedly seeped into every corner of his body, opening his meridians and melding into his bones and blood.

Still, such transformation was far from easy for Xiao Yan.

At first, it was only an illusory pain, but it quickly became a needle-like stabbing sensation. Only after a quarter of an hour, when the youth had washed away the sweat and impurities throughout his body, did he gently exhale a breath of turbid air. His furrowed brows gradually relaxed as well.

When he opened his eyes again, the pale blue-green water before him had lost its clear color.

Xiao Yan instinctively stretched, feeling the comfort brought by the initial tempering of his body. To his delight, he also discovered that, with his meridians broadened, his speed of absorbing Dou Qi had increased as well.

It was just a pity.

If not for that inexplicable problem that prevented his Dou Qi from accumulating—

At the thought, he ultimately wiped the water from his body with some unwillingness. Xiao Yan casually put on a clean set of clothes, then sat down cross-legged. After suffering who knew how many blows and disappointments, he once again pulled himself together and quietly began cultivating.

Time passed slowly amid his tireless cultivation. The sunlight streaming in through the window gradually weakened, and the scorching temperature slowly fell.

Only when night descended did Xiao Yan slowly open his eyes, a trace of disappointment flashing through his black pupils.

There was still no sign of the Dou Qi in his body increasing...

Even with the rare Spiritual Medicine that cleansed his marrow and refined his body, the situation was still inevitably discouraging.

...Forget it.

Xiao Yan adjusted his mood slightly, then rallied again and rose to head for Miss Wan's residence.

Yet the moment he stepped outside, he saw the family's old servant carrying a meal box toward him.

"Old sir, what's wrong?"

Xiao Yan paused slightly and could not help asking.

"Third Young Master, the Clan Leader saw that you had cultivated for the entire day again and was worried, so he ordered this servant to bring you some food."

A smile covered the old servant's wrinkled face. He had served the Xiao Family for decades; as far as he knew, even Xiao Zhan had grown up under this old servant's watch.

Therefore, unlike those outsiders who had immediately turned hostile and mocked Xiao Yan after his cultivation path fell apart, the old servant's attitude toward him remained unchanged—respectful, with the kindness of an elder.

Xiao Yan could not bring himself to refuse. "Mm, but I'm not hungry right now. Old sir, just leave the food on my table. I'll eat it when I return."

With that, Xiao Yan hurried out of his courtyard.

"Third Young Master—"

For Yao Wan, a day was merely the time it took to close and open her eyes during cultivation. By the time she sensed Xiao Yan entering the guest courtyard again, night had already fallen without her noticing.

Before Xiao Yan could knock or speak, Yao Wan parted her cherry lips and said, "You've used it already? That was quick."

"I have Miss Wan to thank for so generously giving me the medicine."

Xiao Yan called out loudly from the courtyard.

Yao Wan considered it for a moment, then pushed open the door and stepped out of the guest room. She looked toward the youth beneath the night sky, whose silhouette was visible only in the candlelight.

Beneath the black veil hanging from her Bamboo Hat, a spark flitted through her dazzling starry eyes before vanishing in an instant.

Then the delicate brows hidden behind the black veil knit slightly.

"..."

"Miss Wan, what is it?"

"...It seems I was somewhat overconfident."

As she spoke, Yao Wan lightly tapped Xiao Yan's brow again, sending a trace of pure medicinal potency infused into his bloodline. Xiao Yan immediately felt his body grow lighter, and even the faint lingering stinging sensation from before disappeared.

Xiao Yan blinked. All he could feel was that the stinging pain had vanished; beyond that, he could not immediately describe much else.

He only saw a breeze pass by as Miss Wan slowly lowered the slender jade finger that had touched his brow.

Then the wind grew stronger, lifting the black veil that had been blocking his view.