Just as Tang Yan was groaning inwardly, the surge of spiritual energy proved far less violent than he had imagined. Instead, it carried a gentle warmth as it flowed ahead of the savage true qi already inside him.
Wherever the spiritual energy from the Pill Cauldron passed, it brought a cool, soothing sensation, repairing his damaged meridians. It did not even need guidance, circulating on its own through a second cycle.
That felt fucking amazing!
Before Tang Yan could catch his breath, the surging true qi came crashing after it. The meridians that had just been repaired were once again stretched and split by this savage spiritual energy.
Tang Yan knitted his brows, nearly crying out. He silently cursed the Pill Cauldron for tormenting him while enduring, once again, the pain of his meridians being forcibly swollen until they burst.
At last, another cycle ended, but Tang Yan felt as though he had taken a trip through a vat of boiling oil.
This torment of alternating ice and fire left Tang Yan caught between life and death. Fortunately, the Tang Yan of today was no longer the great wastrel he had once been, but a true Ninth-Rank Alchemist who had weathered countless hardships throughout his life. An ordinary person would probably have passed out from the pain long ago.
Cycle after cycle, his meridians were damaged and repaired, over and over. The once unbearable pain no longer seemed quite so torturous. After an unknown length of time, Tang Yan finally became wholly absorbed, his mind immersed in cultivation.
When Tang Yan opened his eyes again, sunlight was already streaming through the window.
A sharp gleam flashed through his eyes. Feeling how his meridians had grown several times stronger, Tang Yan's expression became quite a sight.
Origin tier... seventh rank!
From the third rank to the seventh in a single night-four whole ranks! If anyone found out, would they capture me as some kind of monster?
The entire Fragrance-Hearing Kingdom had probably never seen a genius like this! Forget advancing four ranks in succession-even advancing twice in a row would qualify someone as a cultivation prodigy!
Truly, life was unpredictable; fortune leaned against the shoulder of calamity. He had thought he would suffer cultivation deviation, perhaps even explode and die. Who could have guessed that not only would he survive unharmed, but he would also improve so much overnight?
After a brief spell of excitement, Tang Yan calmed down. The Tang Family was surrounded by enemies in Cloud City, and apart from his grandfather and Uncle Mo, there was a gap where its middle generation should have been. His own position was dangerous as well. The seventh rank of the origin tier was still far too weak!
Pushing open his door, Tang Yan headed outside.
The early autumn morning already held a touch of chill.
After walking for about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he heard a series of grunts and shouts. Tang Yan's interest stirred, and he quickened his pace, soon arriving before a courtyard. The plaque above it bore the words "Drill Grounds" in large characters.
This was where the Tang Family's disciples usually practiced.
He pushed open the courtyard gate and entered, only to discover that the Tang Family had quite a few martial artists-around a hundred. Some were sparring on the grounds, while others practiced their techniques alone.
Tang Yan recognized the young man leading them. He was Mo Yanjun, Uncle Mo's eldest grandson.
Mo Yanjun was twenty-three that year and had already reached the second rank of the yellow tier. He ranked among the stronger members of Cloud City's younger generation and served as captain of the Tang Family's guards.
Tang Yan's robes, whiter than snow, were exceptionally eye-catching. The moment he entered the Drill Grounds, he drew Mo Yanjun's attention.
What was this wastrel doing here? The last time this brat entered the Drill Grounds was four years ago, wasn't it?
Following Mo Yanjun's gaze, the others noticed Tang Yan as well, and disdain appeared in their eyes. Martial strength reigned supreme in this world. Although Tang Yan was the Tang Family's eldest young master, his reputation as a wastrel had brought shame upon the family. These martial artists revered strength, so naturally, they held him in no regard.
Taking in everyone's expressions, Tang Yan curled his lips upward without getting angry. With his hands clasped behind his back, he leisurely made a circuit of the Drill Grounds.
As though trying to intimidate Tang Yan, those training abruptly put more force into their movements, making the atmosphere even fiercer.
Only after Tang Yan finished his circuit did Mo Yanjun pretend to notice the young master. He hurried over. "Young Master, you're here! I was busy just now and didn't notice."
"That's all right. I'm just having a look around." Tang Yan waved it off.
"Young Master, what do you think of our guards' training?"
Mo Yanjun asked out of courtesy. Hearing his question, everyone else laughed inwardly. What the hell did this wastrel know?
Just as everyone prepared to hear Young Master Tang's praise, an exaggerated cry of surprise rang out. "What? You were training just now?"
Mo Yanjun, who had likewise been waiting for Tang Yan's compliments, froze at his words, then snorted coldly. "What? Did Young Master Tang think we were playing games?"
"What, weren't you playing games?" Tang Yan exclaimed again.
The guards, who had already pricked up their ears to listen to Young Master Tang, scowled at Tang Yan's words.
"Hmph, a wastrel is a wastrel, after all. Without these guards, how could our Tang Family intimidate all its neighbors and hold its place as one of Cloud City's four great lineages? If Young Master Tang won't respect us, then please never set foot in the Drill Grounds again!" Mo Yanjun said bluntly.
"Get out of the Drill Grounds!"
"Get out of the Drill Grounds!"
"Get out of the Drill Grounds..."
The guards roared below him.
"Enough! You pack of cowards!" Tang Yan bellowed. The imposing presence of a Pill Emperor erupted from him. Beside him, Mo Yanjun's heart jolted, and the entire grounds fell silent at Tang Yan's shout.
"Mo Yanjun, as captain of the Drill Grounds, you only noticed me after I walked in wearing these glaring white robes and made a full circuit around you? Is this the vigilance expected of the Tang Family Guards? If someone with ulterior motives came in and saw all our family's secrets, what would the consequences be?" Tang Yan pointed at Mo Yanjun as he demanded an answer.
Mo Yanjun was left speechless. The brat's argument was sound. He had deliberately pretended not to notice him earlier, never expecting the brat to seize upon it as a weakness.
Tang Yan fumbled inside his robes, took out a token, and held it high.
"On my command, form ranks!"
The furious shout burst from Tang Yan's mouth, leaving all the guards momentarily stunned. What was this brat trying to do? Mo Yanjun, standing closest, was the first to get a clear look at the token. It was the Tang Family's central symbol of authority!
This token could fully represent the Tang Family's commands. He had never imagined that Old Master Tang would actually give it to this brat.
"What are you standing around for? Form ranks!" Although Mo Yanjun looked down on Tang Yan as a wastrel, his loyalty to the Tang Family was unwavering.
At their captain's command, all the guards swiftly formed neat, uniform ranks, heads held high and chests thrust out. Yet their gazes were full of mockery as they looked at Tang Yan. What, was he planning to use his status as young master to humiliate us?
Tang Yan took two steps forward and pointed at the guards. "You're nothing but a pack of cowards, fierce only within your own nest! You only dare throw your weight around with someone like me, who has no cultivation. Why haven't I heard you shouting for the Liu Family to get out of Cloud City?"
"You're not just cowards. You're useless trash!"
At Tang Yan's arrogant words, the guards' eyes reddened as though about to spew fire, and their breathing grew heavy. If we didn't guard your Tang Family day and night, could a wastrel like you sleep soundly every day?
"If the day comes when Cloud City's four great lineages go to war, every last one of you here will be marching to your death!" Tang Yan's words grew sharper with every sentence, until someone finally could not hold back and stepped forward.
"Young Master Tang, what gives you the right to call us useless?" A burly, dark-faced man stepped forward and met Tang Yan's gaze, defiance filling his eyes.
Before you continue