Feng Lingtian was about to reach for the remaining jade bottles on the low table when he noticed everyone staring intently at the two bottles of pills. Zhong Yue stood beside Bai Yu, his eyes fixed on the low table as he muttered to her in a low voice, "What do you think mine will taste like? The earlier ones all smelled pretty good." Bai Yu ignored Zhong Yue, but the corner of her mouth twitched. Lu Qing remained fairly composed, though his fingers unconsciously tapped his arm. Cheng Luo wore his usual smile, but his unblinking eyes were fixed on the low table. Ji Ning stood quietly in the corner, but anyone familiar with him would have known he was standing two steps farther forward than usual. Lu Hanxiao leaned against a wooden post, his expression cool, but his pupils shone faintly. Jiang Lin stood at the very edge of the group as always, the layer of pale golden light in his light brown eyes glowing softly.
Feng Xiaotian glanced around at his teammates' expressions, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, then turned to Feng Lingtian.
Feng Lingtian picked up the two remaining bottles on the low table and raised them one at a time. "This bottle contains Vajra Limit-Expansion Pills, made with singular velvet sky chrysanthemum as the main ingredient. They can break through the upper limits of strength for the power attack system and defense system." Feng Lingtian set down the first bottle and picked up the second. "This bottle contains Mundane-Cleansing Origin-Fortifying Pills, made with eight-petal immortal orchid as the main ingredient. They were refined specifically for the agility attack system and control system, and can remove impurities from the body and increase cultivation speed. Unlike the support system's Nurturing Grace and Supporting Splendor Pill, which overcomes the support system's cultivation shortcomings, this pill improves cultivation efficiency for combat-oriented agility attack and control types." Feng Lingtian held both bottles out to Feng Xiaotian. "Brother, you distribute them."
Feng Xiaotian took the two bottles, first uncorking the Vajra Limit-Expansion Pills and pouring out several bronze-colored pills. He handed one each to Zhong Yue and Lu Qing. Walking over to Shi Yan, Feng Xiaotian placed a pill in his hand. "Shi Yan, you're also a defense type. This one is yours." Shi Yan accepted the pill with both hands, gripped it tightly, and fell silent for a moment. Zhong Yue patted his shoulder from beside him. "The captain's giving you special treatment, and you still can't bear to eat it?" Shi Yan said nothing, but the corner of his mouth twitched. Zhong Yue, Lu Qing, and Shi Yan held their bronze-colored pills without taking them right away. Their gazes rested on Feng Xiaotian as they waited for their other teammates to receive pills too, so everyone could begin together.
Feng Xiaotian then uncorked the Mundane-Cleansing Origin-Fortifying Pills, poured out several pale cyan pills, and handed them to Lu Hanxiao, Ji Ning, and Cheng Luo in turn. He scanned the group-Jiang Lin was standing quietly in the corner, as always. Feng Xiaotian walked over and placed a pill in Jiang Lin's hands. Jiang Lin accepted it with both hands and held it solemnly, his voice quiet but steady. "Thank you, Captain." Feng Xiaotian patted Jiang Lin's shoulder and handed the remaining pills back to Feng Lingtian. Those who had received their pills likewise held them without taking them immediately. Every gaze rested on Feng Xiaotian-they were waiting for him.
Feng Xiaotian poured a pill from the bottle of Vajra Limit-Expansion Pills and cradled it in his palm. Nine people, nine pills, each held in their hands. Feng Xiaotian glanced around at everyone's pills, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
"Start enjoying the changes in yourselves!" Feng Xiaotian said excitedly.
All nine sat cross-legged at the same time, tipped their heads back, and swallowed their pills together.
The radiance of Soul Power suddenly flared across the training ground. A phantom Gale Twin-Headed Wolf appeared behind Feng Xiaotian, its second head growing somewhat clearer. His upper limit of strength was forcibly stretched a considerable distance, and the level-fifty bottleneck had been completely shattered. All he lacked was a Soul Ring to anchor this strength. An extremely faint golden sheen appeared along the edges of Zhong Yue's phantom tortoise shell. His defense rose another step, and he reached level twenty-seven. The blade light of the Wind Scythe in Lu Qing's palm became more solid than before, and bronze-colored patterns appeared along its edge as he reached level twenty-six. The phantom of the great bronze bell appeared behind Shi Yan once more. The wind patterns on its wall flashed, and his Soul Power climbed another small notch, bringing him to level twenty-eight.
On the other side, Feng Lingtian felt Soul Power surging relentlessly through his meridians, climbing all the way until his level finally settled firmly at thirty. Lu Hanxiao opened his eyes, the silvery-white sheen in his pupils brighter than before. He had reached level twenty-seven. Ji Ning's Hummingbird Martial Soul appeared behind him, pale cyan patterns emerging along the edges of its wings as he reached level twenty-seven. Cheng Luo's Wind-Binding Vine struck noticeably faster, and extremely fine cyan patterns appeared across its surface as he reached level twenty-six. Jiang Lin opened his eyes, the layer of pale golden light in his light brown pupils more solid than before. The range of Spirit Mapping expanded from half the training ground to the entire training ground, and his level rose smoothly to twenty-seven.
Su Mei'er leaned against a wooden post at the edge of the training ground with her arms folded, her usual smile on her lips. Ye Qingyu, Bai Yu, and Su Ran stood nearby, quietly watching the radiance of Soul Power rise and fall across the grounds, their eyes holding a measure of anticipation and well-wishes.
By this point, all thirteen had finished taking their pills.
The training ground fell quiet for a moment. Feng Xiaotian clenched his fists, then looked at his teammates beside him. Everyone was feeling the strength that had just broken through within their bodies. No one spoke, but a fire burned in every pair of eyes.
Dugu Bo leaned against the stone bench, his arms folded, and remained silent for a long time. They had all worked-it was not a matter of luck. Every pill had broken through the limits of the Martial Soul itself in a different direction. In all his years, he had never seen pills like these.
Feng Xiaotian turned to face all his teammates. "We'll stop here for today. You've only just finished absorbing the pills, so go back and rest first. Let their medicinal power settle fully within your bodies. Starting tomorrow, we'll continue training."
The teammates exchanged glances and nodded. Shi Yan lowered his head to look at the Martial Soul he had summoned again. The wind patterns on the bell's wall were still glowing faintly. Zhong Yue walked past him and patted his shoulder again. "I'll practice Bell Toll Vibration with you later. Those patterns of yours-I think they can shine a little brighter." Shi Yan nodded, the corners of his mouth lifting another fraction.
Dugu Bo remained leaning against the stone bench with his arms folded, watching the backs of the youngsters as they left the training ground in twos and threes. In the near future, these juniors would become the most dazzling figures of the younger generation. Dugu Bo closed his eyes without making a sound.