Chapter 22

Hearing Su Zixuan say this, Lin Xi scratched his head and said with a shy look:

"Senior Sister, don't say that. Compared to you, I still have a long way to go."

In front of Su Zixuan, Lin Xi always felt like a little brother standing before a big sister. The impression Su Zixuan left on Lin Xi was very deep.

Before Lin Xi turned eleven, the two of them had a very close relationship. Su Zixuan often guided Lin Xi in his martial arts. Lin Xi reached the first level of Body Tempering at the age of eleven, earning him the title of a genius. This was partly due to Su Zixuan's help.

"You little rascal, you really haven't changed a bit."

Su Zixuan laughed and scolded, then suddenly her voice turned serious as she glanced around:

"What are you looking at? Get lost!"

Her anger made the surrounding Five Thunder Sect disciples immediately look terrified, and they scrambled to escape.

Seeing these guys run off in a panic, Su Zixuan smiled smugly and then walked over, saying:

"You little rascal, tell me the truth. What happened while I was away? How did you suddenly become so powerful? You're almost at the fifth level of Tough Skin!"

Su Zixuan put it rather tactfully.

Lin Xi's six years of decline were well-known on Five Thunder Mountain. When Su Zixuan left, Lin Xi was nothing but a waste. But in the blink of an eye, the waste had turned back into a genius, which even Su Zixuan couldn't help but be curious about.

"Senior Sister, you mean to say, how did I suddenly become less of a waste?"

Lin Xi gave a bitter smile. He wasn't averse to talking about his past experiences:

"This is a long story. It's rare for Senior Sister to come back, why don't you come to my place and sit for a while? I'll tell you everything that happened."

Su Zixuan nodded:

"Alright. I can stay in the sect for a few more days, so it's not too late to meet the Great Elder."

In just a moment, the two of them arrived at Lin Xi's residence.

Seeing the dented and worn iron walls on both sides of Lin Xi's room, Su Zixuan was secretly amazed at Lin Xi's intense training. However, her expression quickly returned to normal.

Lin Xi served a cup of tea, and the two of them sat down. Then, he recounted everything that had happened to him, including being poisoned by Meng Jun, being impeached by the Elder Council, and even his fight with Zhang Long.

However, regarding the Ten Thousand Emperor Map and the Three-Strike Technique, Lin Xi kept these secrets, as they were too important.

Lin Xi always had a brotherly affection for Su Zixuan. Therefore, he told her everything without hiding anything.

Hearing Lin Xi's story, Su Zixuan was secretly shocked. She didn't know that Lin Xi had been poisoned, framed by the Sun Saintess, and impeached by the Elder Council.

"I didn't expect that so much would happen in the short time I was away. But it's good that you handled everything."

Su Zixuan was deeply moved. She looked at Lin Xi, her eyes showing a hint of relief:

"Little Junior Brother, you've finally grown up."

She paused and said earnestly:

"Do you know why I didn't intervene even though I knew they were suppressing you, bullying you, and even calling you a waste behind your back? Even though I knew that as long as I was on the mountain, they wouldn't dare to do anything to you, I still didn't do it?"

Su Zixuan asked and answered herself, not letting Lin Xi guess:

"Because I knew I could help you for a while, but not for a lifetime. The only one who can truly help you is yourself. You were in decline for six years, partly because you were poisoned, but also because you lost your drive to advance and overcome difficulties. That was the fatal part."

"I always turned a blind eye to their actions, hoping that through them, I could reignite your lost will. I wanted you to become the brave and determined person you used to be!"

A warm current surged in Lin Xi's heart. Su Zixuan's words were sincere and heartfelt, treating him like family. On Five Thunder Mountain, Aunt Li Ruyun was one, and Su Zixuan was the second.

"Senior Sister, thank you."

Lin Xi said, moved.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. It's good that you've been diligent, and I've worried for nothing."

Su Zixuan waved her hand and smiled.

"By the way, Senior Sister, why did you suddenly come back to meet the Great Elder?"

Lin Xi asked.

"It's nothing much. There are a few heaven-defying fruits in the Fierce Beast Mountains, guarded by fierce beasts. I just discovered one of them, but my strength isn't enough to defeat the guardian beast. So, I came back to see if my master is interested in going."

Su Zixuan said without any reservations.

"Heaven-defying fruits?"

Lin Xi's eyes lit up.

"Yes. These fruits have existed for at least hundreds or even thousands of years. If you're lucky, you might even find one from the ancient times. Eating them can greatly enhance your martial arts, even boosting your level by several stages. However, every heaven-defying fruit is guarded by a fierce beast. The more powerful the fruit, the more powerful the guardian. In the depths of the Fierce Beast Mountains, some areas are overrun by fierce beasts, and even tenth-level Thunder Roar experts can be killed, making it extremely dangerous."

Su Zixuan explained, clearly having been there multiple times and being very familiar with it.

"What? Even Thunder Roar experts can be killed!"

Lin Xi was secretly shocked.

Tenth-level experts were known as martial legends, and even they could be killed. The danger of the Fierce Beast Mountains was evident.

"Don't think too much about it. Although the Fierce Beast Mountains are dangerous, as long as you don't go too deep, it's not that dangerous. Moreover, the Fierce Beast Mountains are rich in spiritual energy, and there are many herbs that are decades or even centuries old. The bones and blood of the fierce beasts can be used to make medicines and elixirs. Some fierce beasts have formed beast cores, which can be used for medicinal baths to temper the body, making them much more effective than herbs. — In the sect, powerful disciples almost always treat it as a training ground, and many people go there."

Su Zixuan explained.

"Senior Sister, you just said that there are many herbs with deep potency in the Fierce Beast Mountains?"

Lin Xi caught onto this point.

"Yes. Many sects send people there to gather herbs."

Su Zixuan nodded.

Although Su Zixuan made it sound like a public herb garden, Lin Xi knew that the Fierce Beast Mountains were overrun by fierce beasts, and ordinary people would be killed instantly. Even some sect experts could die if they encountered a powerful beast.

Therefore, even though there were many potent herbs in the Fierce Beast Mountains, harvesting them was not as easy as Su Zixuan made it sound.

"Senior Sister, are you going to the Fierce Beast Mountains again this time?"

Lin Xi asked.

"Yes, although there are many fierce beasts, the rewards are also great. If you want to quickly improve your martial arts, it's a shortcut!"

Su Zixuan nodded. She had been there multiple times and was very familiar with it.

Lin Xi thought for a moment and said seriously:

"Senior Sister, when you leave Five Thunder Mountain this time, take me with you."

Lin Xi was bold, knowing the dangers but decided to go for training. Moreover, the herbs in the Fierce Beast Mountains were very attractive to him.

Meng Jun controlled the sect's treasury, almost cutting off Lin Xi's source of herbs. The Fierce Beast Mountains offered Lin Xi a better way out.

"You want to go to the Fierce Beast Mountains with me?"

Su Zixuan was surprised.

"Yes."

Lin Xi nodded and recounted how Meng Jun had cut off his herbs.

"What? Meng Jun actually did this? No, no, I have to go tell the Great Elder and impeach him!"

Su Zixuan said.

"Senior Sister, it won't work. The Great Elder doesn't involve himself much in sect affairs, and you know that. Moreover, Meng Jun is cunning. Although he emptied the treasury, he didn't use his own authority but had his disciples do it. Even if we want to impeach him, we can't find any fault. And as you said, martial arts require a spirit of advancing and overcoming difficulties. If I run away when I face danger, what future will I have?"

Lin Xi said.

Su Zixuan hesitated for a moment and finally nodded:

"Alright, but you can only operate in the outer areas. With your martial arts, you should be able to protect yourself. Additionally, you must get the approval of the Third Elder."

"No problem!"

Lin Xi was overjoyed.

The resources the Five Thunder Sect could provide him were limited, and he had to constantly guard against Meng Jun's schemes. Once he left Five Thunder Mountain, Lin Xi would have the freedom to soar like a fish in the sea and a bird in the sky.

Moreover, being outside would allow him to fully focus on practicing the "Overlord's Dominance."

Su Zixuan stayed in Lin Xi's room for a while, and the two of them caught up. Then, Su Zixuan left to meet the Great Elder.

Su Zixuan stayed on Five Thunder Mountain for seven days. During these seven days, Lin Xi practiced boxing with her every day. With Su Zixuan's help and guidance, Lin Xi's cultivation advanced rapidly, and his skin and membranes became increasingly tough and thick.

Bang!

On a training ground on Five Thunder Mountain, Su Zixuan extended her finger and suddenly pointed at Lin Xi. This time, Lin Xi was not pushed back. As Su Zixuan's finger touched him, waves of ripples spread across his body, trapping her finger.

When it was half an inch deep, a force suddenly rebounded. Su Zixuan's finger was pushed back, and her body trembled slightly, taking a small step back.

"Good, very good! The skin and membranes in your body have been tempered into shape, forming a small-scale system with the ability to rebound. You have reached the initial stage of the fifth level of Tough Skin. The rest is just a matter of gradually tempering the skin and membranes to make them even tougher and denser."

Su Zixuan nodded in satisfaction.

Although she only stayed on the mountain for seven days, Lin Xi's insight and perseverance in training left her in awe. Now, it was difficult for her to stand still and withstand Lin Xi's attacks.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Sister."

Lin Xi said sincerely. He felt that the toughness of his skin and membranes not only allowed him to rebound damage but also increased his muscle's explosive power.

Compared to before, Lin Xi's strength had increased significantly. If he faced Zhang Long now, he wouldn't need to use the "Three-Strike Technique" as his ultimate move!

"Alright, it's time to go. Let's set off."

Su Zixuan waved her hand, and a carriage came over from the mountain.

The Fierce Beast Mountains were far from Five Thunder Mountain, and walking there was not practical.

"Go!"

A moment later, with a long neigh, Lin Xi and Su Zixuan climbed into the carriage, and it sped off, leaving a trail of dust behind.

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