Dawn was breaking. The first rays of sunlight pierced the clouds and fell among the dense woods on the mountain behind Wushan Town, dispelling the night's chill. The thin mist had yet to clear, and a breeze carrying the fresh scent of vegetation brushed the treetops with a soft rustle.
Hillman arrived early at the agreed clearing. On the bluestone beside him sat a small wooden box containing the Dragonblood Pill Hogg had given him and the Body Tempering Pill awarded by the system. His fingertips lightly stroked the box as he looked toward the end of the woodland path, thoughts churning in his mind.
Over the past few days of observation, he had seen Linley's foundation in battle qi grow increasingly solid. During yesterday's practice, Linley had even faintly managed to draw battle qi onto his blade. Such talent was exceedingly rare even across the entire Yulan Continent. Now, with the Body Tempering Pill to nourish his sinews and bones, supplemented by the potency of the Dragonblood Pill, this was the best time to help Linley consolidate his foundation.
"Uncle Hillman!"
The boy's clear voice broke the woodland silence. Hillman looked up and saw Linley running lightly toward him with the Fine Iron Short Sword on his back. Fine beads of sweat dotted the boy's forehead; clearly, he had sprinted all the way here. Yet he showed no trace of fatigue, and his bright eyes brimmed with eagerness to train.
"Just in time." Hillman smiled faintly and beckoned to Linley. "We won't practice swordsmanship today. I'll teach you how to temper your body."
"Temper my body?" Linley paused, then hurried up to Hillman and curiously examined the wooden box on the bluestone. "Uncle, what's this?"
"This is a Body Tempering Pill." Hillman picked up the wooden box and opened it, revealing a lustrous white pill that gave off a faint medicinal fragrance. "Taking it will help nourish your sinews and bones and widen your meridians, laying a firmer foundation for your future training."
Linley's eyes immediately lit up. Looking at the Body Tempering Pill, he twitched his nose slightly as a crisp medicinal fragrance entered his nostrils, leaving him refreshed. But he did not immediately reach for it. Instead, he looked up at Hillman and asked hesitantly, "Uncle, this pill must be very precious, right?"
At that, Hillman could not help ruffling his hair, his eyes full of approval. "It is precious, but you're the one who can get the most out of this pill. Go ahead and take it. In a moment, I'll guide you in circulating your battle qi and spreading its medicinal power throughout your limbs and body."
With Hillman's assurance, Linley hesitated no longer. He carefully accepted the Body Tempering Pill, tipped his head back, and swallowed it. The pill melted the instant it entered his mouth, becoming a warm current that slid down his throat into his stomach and immediately spread.
"Sit cross-legged and use the Basic Battle Qi Circulation Formula I taught you to guide the medicinal power throughout your body." Hillman's voice grew stern. He walked slowly behind Linley, pressed both hands against the center of the boy's back, and slowly infused him with a gentle stream of 8th-level Douqi.
Linley sat cross-legged as instructed, closed his eyes, and concentrated fully on circulating his battle qi. Under Hillman's guidance, the warm medicinal power flowed slowly through his limbs and body like a stream. Wherever it passed, his somewhat stiff sinews and bones grew supple, as though soaked in warm water. Even the faint thread of battle qi in his dantian seemed to grow a little stronger.
Time slipped by. The thin woodland mist gradually dispersed, and sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow.
After an unknown length of time, Linley abruptly opened his eyes, a sharp gleam flashing through them. He slowly stood and moved his hands and feet, feeling strength fill his entire body. Even the fatigue left by his earlier sword practice had vanished without a trace.
"How do you feel?" Hillman withdrew his hands and asked with a smile.
"It feels wonderful!" Linley excitedly pumped his fist, feeling the power surging within him, his face filled with joy. "My body feels so much lighter, and my battle qi flows more smoothly too!"
Hillman nodded, quite satisfied. The Body Tempering Pill's effects had far exceeded his expectations. Linley's meridians had widened by nearly half, and his sinews and bones had grown tougher, paving the way for his future training. Looking at Linley, he said gravely, "Next, we'll practice coating your blade with battle qi. Concentrating battle qi on the blade can multiply the short sword's power several times over. This is an extremely important skill for warriors."
At his words, Linley immediately drew the Fine Iron Short Sword from his back and watched Hillman intently.
Holding a dry branch, Hillman demonstrated it himself. "Focus your mind and calm your breathing. Slowly draw the battle qi out of your dantian, guide it along the meridians in your arm, and concentrate it on the blade. Remember, don't rush, or you could easily damage your meridians."
As he spoke, his fingertips moved slightly, and pale silver battle qi coated the dry branch. The once-fragile branch instantly radiated a daunting sharpness.
Linley watched without blinking and immediately copied him. Closing his eyes, he carefully guided the battle qi in his dantian, slowly directing it toward his arm. At first, its circulation was sluggish, and several attempts ended in failure. But he did not lose heart, instead adjusting its flow again and again.
Hillman stood nearby, patiently guiding him. "Relax your wrist. Concentrate your battle qi gradually, like flowing water nourishing things silently."
Under Hillman's guidance, Linley gradually got the knack of it. A quarter of an hour later, a faint trace of pale golden battle qi finally spread slowly over the blade of the Fine Iron Short Sword. Although the coating was so faint as to be almost imperceptible, this was already exceptionally significant progress.
"I did it!" Linley cried in delighted surprise. Looking at the faint golden glow on the blade, his face flushed red with excitement.
Hillman smiled with gratification and was about to praise him when hurried footsteps sounded in the distance. Looking up, he saw a member of the town guard running toward them, his face filled with anxiety.
"Captain! Something's wrong!" The guardsman ran up to Hillman and said breathlessly, "The hunters from the west side of town are in trouble! They were hunting near Blackwind Valley and encountered an Ironclad Berserk Bear at the peak of the fourth rank. Now they're trapped at the valley entrance. The situation is critical!"
Hillman's expression changed abruptly.
An Ironclad Berserk Bear was a magical beast at the peak of the fourth rank, with thick hide, tough flesh, and astonishing strength. Even an ordinary fifth-rank warrior would have to give it a wide berth. The hunting party from the west side of town had only five members, and the strongest was merely a fourth-rank warrior. Facing an Ironclad Berserk Bear was like throwing an egg against a rock.
"Get the horses ready!" Hillman made his decision immediately and barked the order.
"Uncle, I want to go too!" Linley immediately stepped forward, tightening his grip on the Fine Iron Short Sword, his eyes filled with determination.
Hillman looked at Linley with a slight frown. "The Ironclad Berserk Bear is too dangerous. Stay here."
"No!" Linley shook his head, his voice firm. "I've already learned to coat my blade with battle qi. I want to test my strength, and I want to help everyone too!"
Seeing the determination in Linley's eyes, Hillman considered for a moment. He knew that flowers raised in a greenhouse could never grow into towering trees. Actual combat was the fastest way to improve one's strength. Besides, with him nearby, he could keep Linley safe.
"All right." Hillman nodded and said gravely, "Remember, stay behind me. Without my orders, you are not to act on your own!"
"Yes!" Linley answered excitedly, gripping his short sword tightly.
Hillman hesitated no longer. He turned and raced down the mountain, with Linley close behind. Sunlight fell on them, casting two long shadows. The boy's face shone with eagerness to try his hand, while a faint unease rose in Hillman's heart.
The appearance of this Ironclad Berserk Bear in Blackwind Valley seemed somewhat suspicious.
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