New Version of the Water of Life

Chen Zhou spent the morning class slacking off as usual, passing the time in a dream, though this time he avoided the brutal modifications.

While upgrading soul power to elemental power was important, the suffering involved was truly unbearable.

Chen Zhou had already decided that this would be the last time he endured such hardship.

He planned to finish converting his soul power into elemental power and his spiritual power into Mang Power in one go; this would be his final bout of suffering.

It was as if he were cramming a lifetime of misery into one session; after this, he wouldn't suffer again even if someone beat him to death.

Because this stuff was genuinely painful.

However, fearing that the black substances might leak out, Chen Zhou didn't perform the procedure during class, nor did he absorb soul power, choosing instead to continue studying forging.

He planned to visit his teacher that evening to ask for the next stage of training.

After all, his trip to the Spirit Pagoda headquarters would take at least seven or eight days, perhaps even ten.

Therefore, learning the subsequent forging techniques in advance was crucial, especially since he could now easily complete Hundred Refinement.

As the morning classes ended and he arrived at the Xie Family residence again, Chen Zhou felt much calmer.

Although he hadn't mastered the full elemental power, the Water of Life he could mobilize now was significantly more potent than yesterday's.

Both the quality and quantity had improved substantially.

Based on Chen Zhou's own assessment, after this treatment, Xie Mother's condition should recover rapidly, perhaps even leading to a full recovery.

"Sigh, I just hope the head of the Xie Family is smart enough not to leak my ability. While the illnesses I treat are primarily those of ordinary people..."

"If the high-ranking officials of the Federation find out, they will certainly act against me. Before they can do that, I'll likely find a way to destroy the entire Xie Family."

Chen Zhou muttered to himself. He considered himself a good person, but that didn't mean he didn't hold a grudge.

Once someone betrayed his good intentions or prepared to stab him in the back, he wouldn't mind cutting the weeds and digging up the roots.

Arriving at the Xie residence and seeing Xie Mother lying on the bed with her complexion nearly back to normal, Chen Zhou didn't pay much mind.

This time, instead of a mass of water, a cluster of pure green liquid appeared in his hand.

Seeing this vibrant, life-filled liquid, a trace of surprise crossed Xie Xie's face.

Xie Mother didn't know what color the water Chen Zhou had summoned initially was, but Xie Xie did.

Moreover, the water Chen Zhou had summoned before possessed only a faint vitality, yet this current manifestation was incredibly dense.

If this were the result of a single day's change, Xie Xie naturally wouldn't believe it, so his eyes were filled with confusion.

However, Chen Zhou completely ignored his confusion, as the mere thought of returning to the Qiangu Clan filled him with irritation.

It wasn't exactly a pleasant place, but his strength had increased rapidly this time; he might even break through to the second ring.

That seemed like a good thing, as it meant he could finally take his revenge.

Before he awakened his martial soul, he had been bullied quite often by those so-called cousins a year or two older than him.

Now that he had reached the second ring, he was naturally prepared to return all the accumulated hatred, resentment, and humiliation.

Thinking of this, Chen Zhou's mood lightened a little.

He didn't dwell on it and casually pressed the water in his hand onto Xie Mother.

Feeling the massive surge of vitality injected into her body, Xie Mother's expression tightened, and then the wrinkles on her face actually began to show signs of fading.

This scene startled not only Xie Xie but even Chen Zhou himself.

He hadn't expected the effect of this newly filtered Water of Life to be so potent; not only could it replenish lost vitality, but it could actually begin to reverse the aging process.

This was a good thing for Xie Mother, but it wasn't necessarily good for Chen Zhou.

Once he could help people replenish their vitality, it was effectively equivalent to extending their lifespan.

Because the loss of human vitality was inevitable, if he could replenish it, he could easily allow ordinary people to live to eighty, ninety, or even over a hundred years old.

Others might not have realized this, but Chen Zhou grasped the implication immediately.

Thus, he began to dilute the Water of Life in his hand, focusing the primary vitality on the illness within Xie Mother's body.

Watching the color return to Xie Mother's face, Chen Zhou didn't linger for long this time.

"Classmate Xie Xie, I'm leaving now. This is all the vitality I've condensed over the past few days; I've given it all to your mother, and it should help her body recover."

"I'm heading back to Shrek City soon and might not be able to come by for a while, so consider this a head start on your mother's recovery."

Chen Zhou smiled as he spoke, then calmly drained a portion of his own vitality, making his complexion appear somewhat pale.

Looking at Chen Zhou's pale face, it was only then that Xie Xie reacted.

He looked at Chen Zhou with surprise, his eyes filled with genuine emotion.

He hadn't expected Chen Zhou to be willing to exhaust his own vitality just to save his mother.

"Thank you, Brother Chen. I will never forget this kindness. If you need anything in the future, just tell me. I'll go through fire and water for you without hesitation."

Xie Xie spoke with great seriousness and sincerity; he truly hadn't expected Chen Zhou to go this far for him.

Chen Zhou said nothing, merely smiling before slowly leading Na'er out of the Xie residence, leaving the mother and son to look at each other and weep together.

Treating Xie Mother's injuries could be considered the fulfillment of a long-held wish in Chen Zhou's heart.

In the original timeline, the death of Xie Xie's mother was definitely a regret.

Since this matter could be remedied, he would help where he could.

Watching Chen Zhou's pale complexion, a trace of worry appeared on Na'er's face.

"Brother, are you okay? You look so pale."

"I'm fine, it was just a small trick."

Chen Zhou smiled as he spoke, casually brushing his hand over himself.

As the absorbed life force flowed back into him, the color returned to Chen Zhou's face, making it look rosy once more.

Seeing Chen Zhou's appearance, Na'er nodded in a daze, then reached out to pinch his hand.

The young man's skin was like porcelain; holding it gave a faint, warm, and smooth sensation, as if it were a piece of fine china that had been meticulously cared for over many years.

Na'er had always been accustomed to holding Chen Zhou's hand, so she was the most sensitive to this feeling, though she did not understand what it was and did not think much of it.

Chen Zhou did not notice Na'er's actions; although he felt her pinch him, he did not pay it much mind.

At this moment, his entire focus was on the matter of returning to the Spirit Pagoda headquarters.

At the thought of meeting his brothers again, Chen Zhou felt instinctively nervous, yet simultaneously filled with a sense of anger.