In the quiet room, Yao Lao picked up the Purple Leaf Orchid with his left hand and narrowed his eyes. A moment later, he let out a soft breath. A flash of bone-white flame suddenly appeared above his left palm.
As soon as the flame rose, the room grew much warmer. Yao Lao remained calm as he used his Bone Spirit Cold Flame to burn the Purple Leaf Orchid into a pool of green liquid.
He continued purifying the liquid with the Bone Spirit Cold Flame. Once he had refined it to its utmost purity, he tossed the Bone Cleansing Flower he had gathered earlier into the flames. After another scorching burn, it completely dissolved into the green liquid.
After pouring the freshly refined liquid into a container, Yao Lao began refining the demon core.
Now, only the final step remained.
The entire refining process lasted more than half an hour.
Lin Yan watched quietly from the side, feeling as though a whole new world had opened up before him.
At last, Yao Lao completed every step.
All that remained before him were a few drops of green liquid, wrapped in the Bone Spirit Cold Flame.
He stored them separately in jade bottles, then looked at Lin Yan and said with a faint smile:
"It's done."
"Little friend, you can take these and begin cultivating."
"One drop of medicinal liquid is enough for one cultivation session. Fill a bath basin with water, then add the drop and soak your body in it."
"If you cultivate this way for a while, breaking through the Body Tempering Realm shouldn't be difficult."
Lin Yan was overjoyed.
He clasped his hands toward Yao Lao and thanked him. "Many thanks, Senior Yao Lao!"
Then he immediately took the bottles of medicinal liquid and carefully put them away, leaving one in his hand.
Following Yao Lao's earlier instructions, Lin Yan filled a bath basin with water and added one drop of the medicinal liquid.
As soon as it touched the water, the entire basin turned green, and a rich medicinal fragrance wafted through the air.
He took off his clothes and jumped straight into the basin. A wave of intense comfort washed over him.
Several hours later, the medicinal liquid in the basin finally lost its color, which meant Lin Yan had absorbed all its medicinal power.
Lin Yan rose from the basin, dried himself, and got dressed. When he tested his physical strength again, he found that his body had become as hard as wood and stone. A look of surprise crossed his face.
"This is the fourth layer of the Body Tempering Realm!"
Lin Yan had thought that reaching the third layer of the Body Tempering Realm would be a fine result for this cultivation session.
He had never expected such a huge improvement. He had risen two levels at once, reaching the fourth layer of the Body Tempering Realm.
"Could it be that the medicinal herbs here are more potent?"
Yao Lao was also a little surprised. He couldn't help stroking his beard.
Still, neither of them dwelled on it for long.
After all, exceeding expectations and growing stronger was a good thing. Besides, they had more important matters to attend to.
"Next, I should practice some martial arts."
"My body has only just absorbed the medicinal power, so it shouldn't absorb any more yet. It would be best to train at high intensity and absorb all the medicinal power still lingering inside me before starting a second round."
Lin Yan shared his thoughts with Yao Lao.
"Good thinking."
Yao Lao was full of praise.
Most people, after discovering how effective the medicinal liquid was, would find it hard to resist immediately trying another dose.
But Lin Yan had managed to stay calm and think things through. That alone showed how levelheaded he was.
"Then let's begin practicing martial arts."
Yao Lao agreed with Lin Yan's idea.
Lin Yan assumed a stance and began training in the courtyard.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
He was clearly using the Lin Clan's First-Grade Martial Art, the Back-Through Fist.
Although it was only a First-Grade Martial Art, if he could train the Back-Through Fist to Ten Resonances, it could rival some Second Grade Martial Arts.
That was the main reason Lin Yan practiced it. This martial art had much greater potential than most!
"Hmm."
"This martial art is quite similar to the Yellow Tier Dou Techniques from our Dou Qi Continent."
"However, our Dou Techniques rely more on the use of Dou Qi, while these martial arts seem to place greater emphasis on the use of the body."
Yao Lao watched Lin Yan practice from the side and made a few observations about the differences between Dou Techniques and martial arts.
But he was a Dou Zun, after all. In the Martial Movement World, that was equivalent to a powerful expert in the Death Profound Realm.
So, to him, these martial arts were child's play.
Yao Lao needed only a few glances to see how the techniques worked. He stepped forward and said to Lin Yan, "Little friend, don't rush into practicing. Watch me do it once."
Lin Yan stopped at once and turned his gaze toward Yao Lao.
Yao Lao wasted no time. Drawing on his own understanding, he performed the Back-Through Fist for Lin Yan.
Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!
A crisp series of sounds rang out. Yao Lao threw a punch, his momentum astonishing. Lin Yan listened and counted. Sure enough, Yao Lao's Back-Through Fist had reached its highest realm: Ten Resonances!
"Did you understand, little friend?"
Yao Lao asked Lin Yan with a cheerful smile.
Lin Yan nodded.
"Let me try."
Then, drawing on what he had learned from watching, he threw a punch.
Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!
Although he hadn't reached the highest realm Yao Lao had just demonstrated, Lin Yan had managed to perform the Back-Through Fist with Six Resonances. It was tremendous progress.
"Little friend, you truly are a martial arts prodigy."
"You only had to watch once, and you've already improved this much."
"Excellent, excellent!"
Yao Lao praised Lin Yan, his gaze filled with approval.
Lin Yan nodded to Yao Lao, then continued practicing the Back-Through Fist.
He practiced for several days in a row.
Finally, during one training session with the Back-Through Fist—
Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!
One punch rang out in a crisp succession of sounds, like waves piling one upon another.
After throwing the punch, Lin Yan's eyes shone with delight.
"This is the Back-Through Fist with Ten Resonances!"
"I've mastered it!"
Yao Lao nodded at Lin Yan in approval.
After a moment's thought, he asked him:
"Little friend, you truly are a martial arts prodigy."
"But with talent like yours, learning such a low-level martial art is a waste."
"I have a High Profound Tier Dou Technique called Eight Extremities Collapse. Would you be interested in learning it?"
Before you continue