Chapter 19

In the early morning, a thin layer of pale mist enveloped the top of the rear mountain, lingering for a long time. A gentle breeze blew, suddenly bringing the sound of a dull thud of physical contact.

In a secluded small grove on the top of the rear mountain, Xiao Yan’s feet were planted firmly in the soil like tree stakes, his toes gripping the ground tightly, his teeth clenched, and cold sweat streaming down his forehead. Wearing only a pair of shorts, his naked body was covered with numerous green bruises.

Behind Xiao Yan, Yao Lao, in his soul form, was seated cross-legged on a large rock. At this moment, he was looking at the determined Xiao Yan with a solemn expression, his hand gently waving.

As Yao Lao’s hand waved, the air slightly rippled, and a pale red streak of fighting qi shot out from his palm, landing heavily on Xiao Yan’s shoulder like a whip, instantly leaving a long green bruise.

The corners of his mouth twitched violently, and he drew in a sharp breath through his teeth. Xiao Yan felt his shoulder suddenly go numb, and a burning pain shot through his heart. Under this intense pain, even his toes felt weak, and he almost lost his balance and fell over...

After the intense pain, a thin stream of fighting qi rapidly flowed through his body. Stimulated by the pain, the fighting qi seemed more vibrant than usual, happily flowing through the meridians and acupoints in his shoulder, gradually seeping into his bones and muscles, quietly reinforcing them...

"Again!" As the pain in his shoulder gradually subsided, the young face of Xiao Yan was filled with determination and stubbornness, and he gritted his teeth and said.

Watching the determined Xiao Yan enduring the blows, a trace of satisfaction appeared on Yao Lao’s withered old face, and he nodded slightly. A pale red fighting qi shot out from his palm again.

"Thud, thud, thud..." In the small grove, a series of muffled thuds and low groans of pain echoed continuously...

Yao Lao’s strikes were very measured; each attack was just enough to reach the limit of what Xiao Yan’s body could endure. This way, he wouldn’t seriously injure Xiao Yan, but still give him a real sense of pain.

The piercing pain from the fighting qi striking his body made Xiao Yan’s face contort in agony.

With each wave of Yao Lao’s hand, more and more bruises appeared on his body...

"Thud!" Another streak of fighting qi shot out, and the Xiao Yan, who was like a wooden stake, finally reached his limit. His legs gave out, and he collapsed from exhaustion.

After a few moments of heavy breathing, Xiao Yan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, lifted his head, and managed a difficult smile, "Teacher, how was it?"

"Very good. Today you endured eighty-four strikes of fighting qi, much better than the nine strikes a month and a half ago..." Yao Lao nodded with a smile, his old eyes showing a trace of surprise. Over the past month and a half, Xiao Yan’s resilience had exceeded his expectations. For example, today, he originally thought that seventy strikes of fighting qi would be Xiao Yan’s limit, but the latter managed to endure up to eighty-four strikes, which truly made him marvel at the boy’s endurance.

Hearing Yao Lao’s words, Xiao Yan let out a heavy sigh of relief. He sat on the muddy ground to rest for a while, and when his body recovered, he slowly got up, took his clothes from a nearby rock, and put them on.

When he put on his clothes, the cool fabric touching the bruises naturally made Xiao Yan grimace in pain.

Yao Lao’s transparent body twisted, and he turned into a beam of light that entered the black ring, leaving behind a concerned remark he had repeated many times: "Hurry back and soak your body in the foundation-building spirit liquid, or the residual bruising in your body will cause serious injury!"

Nodding in understanding, Xiao Yan, now dressed, slowly made his way down the rear mountain.

...

Back in the small house, Xiao Yan, unable to bear the pain any longer, quickly closed the doors and windows, then took off his clothes and jumped into a wooden basin filled with green liquid...

The cold green water touched his bruised skin, and Xiao Yan immediately breathed in a few deep breaths of cool air. The feeling of floating and comfort made him close his eyes in enjoyment, lying still in the basin without moving.

Leaning against the edge of the basin, Xiao Yan’s rapid breathing gradually steadied, and eventually, a low snore escaped from his nose. After enduring the intense torture, Xiao Yan finally succumbed to the mental and physical fatigue and fell into a deep sleep.

During Xiao Yan’s sleep, the green liquid in the basin gently rippled, and a faint, warm energy quietly seeped into his body through the slightly opened pores, cleansing the numerous bruises and continuously adding vitality and reinforcement to his already exhausted body...

As he slept, the reinforcement continued unnoticed.

While reinforcing and repairing Xiao Yan’s body, the green liquid in the basin gradually became lighter, indicating that the medicinal power contained in the liquid was about to be completely absorbed by Xiao Yan.

...

Xiao Yan didn’t know how long he had slept, but when he woke up, the scorching sunlight had already illuminated the room brightly.

Stretching lazily, his bones cracked loudly. Lifting his head, he felt an indescribable vitality and fullness throughout his body, and he couldn’t help but exclaim, "What a relief!"

Standing up from the basin, Xiao Yan suddenly paused. He noticed that the green liquid in the basin had completely turned into clear, transparent water.

"Was the medicinal power completely absorbed?" Touching his nose, Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he closed his eyes with a hint of joy, carefully sensing the state of the fighting qi in his body.

After a moment, Xiao Yan opened his eyes, his hands slightly clenched, and a smile filled with unhidden joy appeared on his face: "Finally, the fifth level of fighting qi!"