Chapter 31

Xu Xiaoshou felt as if half of his body was in an ice cellar and the other half was falling into a volcano.

Pleasure and pain came hand in hand. While his body was being tormented by scorching energy, it was also being repaired by the Red Gold Pill and the "Eternal Life" technique.

The extreme energies of ice and fire intertwined and entered his body. As the carrier, Xu Xiaoshou could only feel the pain.

"Clack, clack, clack..."

Xu Xiaoshou's teeth chattered, completely losing control over the energy. In fact, the "Breathing Technique" was also out of control.

The two energies tore through his meridians and rushed into his dantian. The dantian hissed as if it were about to split, and this pain was almost maddening.

The smell of burning filled the air. The grass where Xu Xiaoshou sat was instantly scorched, and the nearby willow trees turned from green to black. The white jade railing was instantly blackened as if it had been painted with tar.

The fat goose was so frightened that it ran around everywhere, feeling as if the lake water was about to boil it alive.

The scorching energy in Xu Xiaoshou's body, after entering the dantian, wanted to rebel. However, it was suppressed by the "Breathing Technique" after just one cycle.

He took out another Red Gold Pill and inhaled deeply. The pleasure instantly overwhelmed the pain, rapidly repairing his damaged body.

Buzz!

A red wave rippled out, causing the nearby mud and grass to fly, the willow trees to bend, and the white jade railing to explode with a loud bang.

Gurgle, gurgle.

Half of the lake water was boiled, bubbles rose, and fish floated belly-up. Only a group of fat geese huddled in a corner, trembling.

The old man in the straw hat, who was flying halfway, suddenly dove into the lake.

Xu Xiaoshou opened his eyes, cold sweat mixed with blood streaming down his face. He kept patting his chest.

"Survived...?"

Just one breath, and the "Ashen Flame Seed" had shrunk significantly, while his cultivation level had soared from the seventh realm to a much higher level.

The scorching energy was suppressed, and his internal injuries were rapidly healing at a visible rate, causing a tingling sensation.

The combination of "Eternal Life" and the "Breathing Technique" with the Red Gold Pill demonstrated its terrifying recovery power at this moment.

Xu Xiaoshou wiped away the blood and sweat, realizing that apart from his appearance being a bit terrifying and his spirit being exhausted, his condition was no different from that of a normal person.

"Damn..."

"This recovery power is too strong!"

However, thinking about the pain he had just endured, Xu Xiaoshou couldn't help but shudder.

Above the dantian, the "Ashen Flame Seed" was now much smaller and its destructive power had been completely suppressed by "Eternal Life."

Xu Xiaoshou took a few deep breaths of fresh air, watching his body gradually recover. He gritted his teeth and sat down again, a determined look on his face.

Pain be damned!

In his previous life, he had been tortured before. Besides, this thing, though painful, was only temporary. Since it would eventually become a threat, it was better to endure the short-term pain and refine it tonight!

He took out a Spirit Refining Pill and swallowed it, bringing his condition to its peak.

With a fierce expression, Xu Xiaoshou exhaled a large cloud of red energy from his mouth and nose, burning the air. He then swallowed another Red Gold Pill.

Under the lake, the old man, holding his straw hat, was completely shocked, forgetting that he was still in the water and choking on it.

He had heard that the outer courtyard had a congenital physical body and, with a try-it-out attitude, had forcibly sent the "Ashen Flame Seed" into this young man's body.

If it succeeded, there was a chance to create a fire-attribute genius; if it failed, it was just one life, not a big deal.

However, after a day of observation, he was slightly moved.

At first, the young man couldn't withstand it, but later, he somehow managed to suppress the pain with just the Red Gold Pill and even fought on stage.

The audience only saw him turn red from the burning and mocked him for taking drugs before the match, but only he, who had also taken the "Ashen Flame Seed," could understand the immense pain the young man endured while talking and laughing.

Thus, when the young man made a large request, he went along with it and, through Xiao Qiuxiu, sent him ten bottles of the Red Gold Pill he had refined.

Under the moonlight, the young man's cultivation at the lake shocked him again. The young man had abandoned any attempt to refine the energy and began to swallow it in large quantities.

Was he not afraid of death?

The old man, feeling sorry for him, wanted to stop him but, before he could fly halfway, the young man, with his special technique and strong will, managed to endure the pain.

This wasn't over. After just a few breaths, he sat down again...

To continue cultivating!

What kind of monster was this?

Did he have no sense of pain?

The old man was stunned. He felt he had accidentally found a treasure. With such strong willpower, this young man had a bright future.

He decided to take this precious disciple!

The sudden noise from the lake naturally caught the attention of the law enforcement officers of the Spirit Law Pavilion. Soon, a group of black-clad men appeared nearby, but Xu Xiaoshou didn't even notice.

"Step back!"

The old man suddenly flew out of the lake, steam rising as the water on his body instantly evaporated. He pressed his straw hat, his voice hoarse.

The law enforcement officers stopped and looked up, only seeing a silhouette under the bright moon, thin and ordinary.

However, sensing the faint scorching aura from him, they were all shocked.

"Vice Dean?"

"Old Sang?"

A few people in the front exchanged glances, puzzled. "When did he return..."

The leader slapped the speaker on the head, bowed, and quickly left.

"Yes!"

The others followed suit, and the law enforcement officers disappeared.

Old Sang removed his straw hat and stood on the white jade railing.

The evening breeze caressed his wrinkled clothes, carrying away a few withered grasses from his head. The fat geese gathered at his feet, squawking and seeking security.

In his large, dark-rimmed eyes, there was only one person.

"Ha!"

Thinking of something, Old Sang smiled slightly.

The lake would not be peaceful tonight, and the white jade railing needed urgent repair.

Because... from time to time, a wave of scorching heat would emanate from the young man in the distance, with astonishing destructive power.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

...

The next noon, the outer courtyard disciples entered the audience seats with weary expressions.

"Damn, was the Spirit Palace doing renovations last night? It was so noisy, did you hear it?"

"It was from the direction of the lake. My courtyard is nearby, it was so loud. If nothing had happened, I would have thought there was an enemy invasion."

"What noise? I was also near the lake!"

"How is that possible? Are you deaf?"

"Oh, sorry, I remember I have a soundproofing array. Ah, money is a curse."

"..."

"Damn!"

Xu Xiaoshou, with dark circles under his eyes, entered the Outcloud Platform, seemingly a victim, but unknown to others, he was the culprit.

He quickly slipped into the waiting area, feeling relieved.

Usually, he would sleep while cultivating in his courtyard, which had a soundproofing array, so no matter how loud the noise, it wouldn't disturb others.

This habit was brought to the lake, and it exploded, possibly affecting his opponent...

If it did, that would be great!

After a night of refinement, the "Ashen Flame Seed" had completely disappeared, and his cultivation level had reached the peak of the seventh realm.

Breaking through was possible, but not necessary.

Through continuous burning, Xu Xiaoshou had even further solidified his previous cultivation level.

Recalling the process, it was truly moving.

Xiao Qiuxiu continued the 16-to-8 elimination match as if nothing had happened. Xu Xiaoshou instructed the staff and then entered a sleep state.

He was really tired!

Usually, he would complete his cultivation in dreams, and the two days of continuous activity without sleep were really not a habit.

Soon, he fell into a deep sleep. In his dream, a staff member walked over with two bottles and slapped him in the face.

"Slap!"

"Wake up, it's your turn!"