Chapter 7

The mountain forest was quiet and secluded, with the occasional birdcall.

The morning sun slowly rose, and before he knew it, it had climbed to the center of the sky.

Inside the rocky cave, Luo Qingchen was still practicing the Rock Stance.

He stood with his knees bent and his arms clasped around himself, his entire body like an immovable boulder.

His clothes were already soaked through, clinging tightly to his skin. The muscles all over his body kept twitching, aching until they had gone numb.

His vision had begun to blur, and his body no longer seemed to belong to him.

Yet he still gritted his teeth and held on.

Only when he was about to black out did his body finally go limp, and he collapsed to the ground.

"Phew—"

"Phew—"

He gasped in huge gulps, his chest heaving violently, feeling as though he had taken a trip through the gates of hell.

The Rock Stance was already this difficult. What about the Mountain Embracing Fist?

His hands trembling, he flipped open the pages and looked at the other technique—the Mountain Embracing Fist.

After resting briefly.

He rose from the ground, endured the soreness, and began practicing the Mountain Embracing Fist slowly, move by move.

After practicing it only twice, he felt stabbing pain throughout his body, as though countless sharp embroidery needles were relentlessly piercing every part of him. The pain made him hiss.

But he did not stop. Enduring the pain, he began the third round.

He knew this was tempering the flesh all over his body.

Gradually, he became more proficient. Even without looking at the illustrated moves in the book, he could execute them accurately.

Once, twice, three times...

Outside the cave, the bright light gradually dimmed.

At some point, the sun had fallen from the center of the sky to the horizon.

A day passed in the blink of an eye.

After completing the final set of Mountain Embracing Fist, he finally could not hold on any longer and collapsed to the ground. Like a fish on the verge of death, he opened his mouth wide and gulped down air.

The skin all over his body was crimson, as though scorched by fire. He looked as if he had been pulled from the water, drenched from head to toe.

The pain had not faded. It felt as though countless ants had burrowed into his body and were constantly tearing at him...

Only as the sun was about to set did he gradually recover some strength.

Then, he discovered a line of small text behind the first health bar in his body: [Flesh Refinement: 1/100]

Was this the cultivation progress?

He had only begun cultivating today. His realm was merely the entry-level Flesh Refinement, and the number behind it probably meant that only by cultivating Flesh Refinement to 100/100 could he break through to the next realm—Bone Fortification!

Yet after cultivating for an entire day, he had gained only a pitiful 1?

If he continued cultivating at this rate, then...

No!

He slapped his forehead. He had nearly forgotten the most important thing—medicinal baths!

The Demon Controlling Sect's techniques could not be cultivated through practice alone; they also needed medicinal baths as support.

Even his "master" frequently needed medicinal baths while cultivating, let alone him, who had just started and whose constitution was at its weakest.

Without medicinal baths, even Flesh Refinement would likely be difficult, much less breaking through to Bone Fortification afterward.

"The book says that the main ingredients for a medicinal bath are fresh blood and Demon Stones..."

He frowned slightly.

He did not lack fresh blood. As for Demon Stones and the other ingredients...

"Right!"

A flash of inspiration suddenly struck him.

Every time his "master" finished a medicinal bath, he would pour out what remained in the bath barrel.

According to Zhang Dashan, there was still some medicine left in the barrel, but it no longer had much effect, because the most important ingredient—the blood—had already been absorbed by Master.

And because Zhang Dashan lacked fresh blood, he had always treated the remaining contents of the barrel as trash and poured them out.

In everyone's eyes, only useless waste remained in that barrel, without any value at all.

However, for someone like him, who did not lack blood, that waste might be reused to aid his cultivation!

At that thought, his spirits immediately lifted, and he got up at once and left the cave.

Last night, that "master" had surely drained all the blood from Yang Ming's body. Today, he would certainly brew medicinal liquid for a bath, otherwise all that blood would go to waste.

Therefore, he had to seize the chance tonight.

Only through medicinal baths could he cultivate quickly and fight for a chance to survive.

He had to catch up with Zhang Dashan as fast as possible.

Otherwise, what awaited him might be nothing but being skinned and refined into medicine.

Outside the cave, night had already fallen.

The entire mountain forest had sunk into darkness.

When he dragged his heavy steps back to the main cave, a familiar, pungent smell of medicinal liquid indeed wafted out from its depths!

He suppressed the emotions in his heart, carefully considered what to say, and walked inside.

Deep in the cave, firelight flickered.

In the large pot atop the stone-built stove, hot water was boiling.

In a corner, Tian Feng sat with his eyes closed in a wooden barrel half a man tall, taking a medicinal bath. Judging from his expression, he seemed to be enjoying it quite a bit.

"Master."

Luo Qingchen stopped at the cave entrance and respectfully said, "Senior Brother is still cultivating outside. Does Master have any instructions?"

Tian Feng kept his eyes closed and did not speak immediately. After a moment, he said, "You just gave blood last night. Do you have the strength to work now?"

Luo Qingchen lowered his head. "This disciple rested for a day and feels that he has recovered some strength."

Tian Feng slowly opened his eyes and looked at him, seeming to inspect him. After a while, he said, "I did not expect your body to be in fairly good shape."

Luo Qingchen's heart tightened. "This disciple naturally cannot compare to Senior Brother's strength, but I wholeheartedly wish to serve Master."

Tian Feng slowly closed his eyes again. "A strong body is a good thing. I am about to break through, and in a few days I may need more fresh blood. During this time, take good care of yourself. If you can endure it, I will take you back to the sect."

"Thank you, Master!"

Luo Qingchen immediately put on an appearance of overwhelming gratitude.

Of course, he hoped to return to the Demon Controlling Sect as soon as possible, because only there could someone help him repair the Ten-Soul Banner.

If more than a month passed, the Ten-Soul Banner might be completely destroyed, and his younger sister's soul would scatter into ashes with it.

He would never allow that to happen!

"If you have the strength, then after I finish my medicinal bath, pour the medicinal dregs in this barrel into the cave on the right."

At that moment, Tian Feng spoke again.

Hearing this, Luo Qingchen was secretly delighted and quickly replied respectfully, "Yes!"

Tian Feng said nothing more and continued his medicinal bath with his eyes closed.

As time passed bit by bit, Luo Qingchen grew increasingly anxious. If Zhang Dashan returned, the plan might change.

At last, Tian Feng opened his eyes and stepped out of the wooden barrel.

Luo Qingchen suppressed the urgency in his heart. Only after the other man had dressed did he lower his head and walk over, beginning to move the barrel.

However, the barrel filled with medicinal liquid was extremely heavy.

He used all his strength just to shift it a tiny distance, immediately exhausting himself until he was breathing heavily.

Tian Feng sat down before the fire. His expression did not change as he said flatly, "If you cannot move it, wait until your Senior Brother returns and let him move it."

Luo Qingchen quickly panted, "This disciple can do it."

As he spoke, he immediately gritted his teeth and started moving it again.

Though every muscle in his body was unbearably sore, though his arms and legs had begun trembling again, he still desperately shifted it bit by bit.

He had to hold on!

What he was moving was not merely a barrel, but his life!

Who would have thought that just as he struggled to move it to the entrance, a familiar set of footsteps sounded outside.

His heart immediately sank.

Zhang Dashan emerged from the darkness outside. When he saw Luo Qingchen struggling to move the barrel, he froze for a moment, then quickly strode past him into the cave and dropped to his knees in panic. "Master, please forgive me. This disciple became engrossed in cultivation and lost track of time."

Tian Feng did not blame him, merely asking, "How is your cultivation progressing?"

Zhang Dashan raised his head, his eyes shining brightly. "Master, this disciple feels that I am about to break through! During today's cultivation, the flesh all over my body no longer hurt, and I feel filled with strength. I estimate that I am only one step away from breaking through to Bone Fortification!"

Luo Qingchen looked at him.

Tian Feng still had his eyes closed, his tone calm and unruffled. "Three months or so is considered quite fast. Starting tomorrow, focus on cultivating properly. I will also enter seclusion for several days. If anything comes up, I will instruct your Junior Brother Luo to handle it."

Zhang Dashan hurriedly said, "Thank you, Master. This disciple will certainly not disappoint Master's high expectations!"

Tian Feng said nothing more.

Zhang Dashan rose, took his leave, and came to the cave entrance. Looking at Luo Qingchen, a faint smile appeared on his face. "Thank you, Junior Brother Luo. This barrel is too heavy. Let me do it."

With that, he wrapped both arms around the barrel. His muscles bulged slightly, and he easily lifted the barrel in his arms before walking toward the cave on the right.

Luo Qingchen's pupils contracted as he followed behind.

Thud!

The barrel was set down in a corner of the cave.

Zhang Dashan gripped the upper rim of the barrel with both hands, preparing to pour out the remaining medicinal liquid. Turning to look at him, he smiled. "Junior Brother Luo, your body is still too weak. You should go get some proper rest."

Just as he was about to pour it out, Luo Qingchen hurriedly said, "Senior Brother, could you not pour out the medicinal liquid in this barrel yet? I want to use it to take a bath."

Zhang Dashan was stunned for a moment. He stared at him for several moments, then suddenly laughed. "Junior Brother Luo, the medicinal liquid in this barrel has long since been absorbed by Master. Only waste remains, along with dregs excreted from Master's body. Are you sure you want to bathe in it?"

Luo Qingchen nodded and sighed. "My body is too weak. I cannot even move this wooden barrel. I am afraid that if Master gives me another task later and I cannot do it well, I will make Master angry. So I want to soak in this remaining medicinal liquid and see whether it can make my body a little stronger."

Zhang Dashan immediately sneered and let go of the barrel. "Junior Brother Luo, this waste will not make your body stronger. Your body is too frail; bathing in this stuff will likely do more harm than good. But if you insist, then take it. Otherwise, you might say Senior Brother does not look after you."

Luo Qingchen said with utter sincerity, "Thank you, Senior Brother. I know Senior Brother is looking out for me, but I truly want to try."

Zhang Dashan smiled. "Fine, then try it. Remember to pour it out afterward. I still need to cultivate, so I will not keep you company."

With that, he left the cave.

Luo Qingchen waited a while longer before removing his clothes and impatiently climbing into the barrel.

The medicinal liquid in the barrel had already cooled. Its formerly rich and pungent smell had become extremely faint, while the dark brown water had turned a pale, murky color.

Clearly, most of the useful medicine inside had already been absorbed.

Luo Qingchen soaked with his eyes closed for a while, then slowly released his clenched left hand.

In his palm was a thin, sharp shard of stone.

Just as he was about to cut his wrist and drip in his blood, his expression suddenly shifted, and he quietly closed his fingers again.

Zhang Dashan had returned. Soundlessly, he entered through the doorway and smiled. "Junior Brother Luo, how does it feel? The water should be cold by now, right? Do you want me to add some hot water for you?"

As he spoke, he walked up to the barrel with a smile and reached in to touch the water.

As he touched the water, he also gave a faint sniff with his nose, as though smelling for something.