Chapter 43

Hengyi's entire body was completely devoid of any other sensations, as he used all his willpower to force himself to persist, gritting his teeth and not letting up for a moment against the intense pain throughout his body!

The pain far exceeded the injuries he sustained during the battle on Beixiang Mountain when he was hit by the Meteor Fast Strike!

"Hengyi—Are you okay? Don't, don't continue. Your whole body is turning purple! Be careful, you might die!" Hu Baijie had tried to persuade him countless times, but Hengyi couldn't hear her. All his energy and willpower were focused on fighting the pain and forcing himself to continue circulating his true qi.

In comparison, Xu Wenfeng was clearly much more relaxed. Seeing Hu Baijie's worried and anxious gaze, he smiled and said, "The Water Refining Hell won't kill someone at the Earth Venerable realm. Earth Venerables have a lifespan of five thousand years, and their meridians and muscles have been cleansed by earth qi, far surpassing those below the Mountain Venerable realm."

"But he's in such a state..." Hu Baijie knew these facts, but seeing Hengyi's condition made her fear the worst.

The strongest physical race in the universe is the Divine Soul race, even countless fierce beasts and intelligent beings cannot match the robustness of the Divine Soul race.

A thousand years ago, the Xinde civilization gained a lot of valuable information through long-term observation of the Divine Soul Tree and the Divine Soul race, significantly enhancing the physical attributes of the Xinde and human civilizations, reaching eighty percent of the Divine Soul race's level.

After that, a new cultivation hierarchy gradually formed, fundamentally due to the significant enhancement of physical functions. The old strength levels were no longer applicable and gradually phased out. Over time, other races in the universe also managed to steal the Xinde civilization's achievements, evolving their physical functions and adopting the strength levels of the Xinde and human civilizations. Six hundred years ago, the division of strength levels became the universal standard.

However, this enhancement of physical functions cannot be manifested at birth for most races. Humans must cultivate diligently until they reach the Earth Venerable realm to complete the first stage of potential development and gain longevity. To fully tap into the body's potential, one must reach the Heaven Venerable realm, which is why the Heaven Venerable realm is the symbol of true strength in the Divine Gate, as it signifies a significant increase in abilities!

Seeing Hengyi's body turn purple and shiver uncontrollably, clearly suffering from severe cold damage, Hu Baijie's words of persuasion went unanswered. It was evident that Hengyi was concentrating intensely and enduring great pain, with no time to spare.

Xu Wenfeng said, "Why don't you try it too?"

"Really?" Hu Baijie, seeing that Hengyi's condition, though terrifying, was not life-threatening, and hearing this from Xu Wenfeng, the top genius of human civilization, was eager to try.

Xu Wenfeng smiled and nodded, his encouraging gaze finally giving Hu Baijie the determination to try. She immediately attempted to slowly circulate her true qi, and as the flow accelerated, she immediately felt the pain of the cold intensify!

Her body quickly turned blue and purple, but she was naturally resilient, having grown up enduring and restraining herself. She continued to increase the speed of her true qi circulation.

However, when the speed of true qi circulation reached fifty percent, she could no longer increase it, as the intense cold made it impossible for her to maintain her willpower, and her meridians lost all sensation.

Hu Baijie sighed in relief, thinking that if this was all, it would be manageable.

But soon she realized she was too optimistic. The loss of sensation was only temporary, and when it returned, the pain was magnified many times over!

"Ugh... Ugh..." Hu Baijie involuntarily bit her lower lip, groaning in pain. After barely ten breaths, she was about to give up when Xu Wenfeng's voice rang out, "Keep going, the Earth Venerable meridians can withstand it. This cultivation method will forge an incredibly powerful body for you in the future!"

Hu Baijie had no time to respond, but she was amazed by Xu Wenfeng's perseverance and even more so by Hengyi's.

She could only maintain fifty percent of her true qi circulation speed, and given Hengyi's character, she believed he was giving it his all, meaning he was enduring at least twice the pain she was! Yet he hadn't even groaned once!

'Hengyi can do it, I have no reason to fail at fifty percent true qi circulation!'

Hu Baijie was naturally competitive and did not want to be underestimated. She also did not want to feel inferior to Hengyi.

Four hours, usually just enough time for one true qi cultivation session and a rest to recover.

But in the Water Refining Hell, this unheard-of hellish training seemed to last for thousands of years.

When the guard disciple threw out the magic rope and said expressionlessly, "Tie it on, time's up," Hu Baijie felt as if the voice came from a distant sky. She was dazed, not knowing where she was or remembering anything.

She had been so focused on using her willpower to fight the cold that she had lost track of everything, but hearing the guard's words, her spirit slightly relaxed, and she suddenly realized how exhausted she was, with no strength left in her body!

About to fall into the mystic water, Hengyi quickly scooped her up in his arms.

Hu Baijie felt ashamed, as Hengyi still seemed to have strength, while she was now so weak.

The guards threw two ropes, but Hengyi angrily refused, saying, "I can walk on my own."

The two guards smiled dismissively. "You have quite a temper, seems you haven't been punished enough. After you leave, go to the recovery hall first, or you won't be able to come back for ten to fifteen days." They then used magic to open the energy gate of the Water Refining Hell.

The rippling water waves subsided, and the blue light barrier disappeared. Hengyi carried Hu Baijie across the mystic water, and Xu Wenfeng accompanied them out of the cave.

Hengyi, thinking that the Water Refining Hell was a place for punishment and the guards were not under the Beixiang Mountain elders, felt he had made a mistake in attitude and turned to the two guards, nodding slightly, "Thank you, Senior Brothers."

The two guards smiled, their expressions softening slightly. "Remember the rules and don't come back. This place takes half a life to survive."

Xu Wenfeng clasped his hands and smiled, "If my brother comes here to train again, please give him some leeway."

The two guards were taken aback, stunned for a moment before believing they hadn't misheard. They mechanically clasped their hands in return, "Sure."

They were surprised by Xu Wenfeng calling Hengyi his brother and even more surprised that anyone besides Xu Wenfeng would consider this place a holy ground for training!

"Brother, Baijie has fainted!"

Xu Wenfeng turned around and saw that Hengyi was indeed carrying the unconscious Hu Baijie. He quickly said, "Let's go, to the recovery hall."

The two of them used wind flight to head straight for the recovery hall of the Two Poles Hall.

On the way, Xu Wenfeng glanced at Hengyi's magic shoes, frowning and shaking his head. "The Lake Sea Sect is indeed a small sect, not providing proper magic tools to their disciples. When I have the chance, I'll ask Hong for a few."

"That's not good." Hengyi quickly shook his head, knowing he had no connection with Hong and that magic tools were extremely valuable. He couldn't ask for them without reason. If they were Xu Wenfeng's, he would be willing, as he already considered Xu Wenfeng his true big brother. "The sect has them."

Xu Wenfeng smiled. "The peak sect's magic tools are mediocre. I won't force you, but when I have my own, I'll give them to you!"

"Okay!" Hengyi happily agreed, and Xu Wenfeng smiled, patting his shoulder. "You are indeed my brother, with backbone, unwilling to take others' things for free!"

Xu Wenfeng looked into the distance, full of confidence. "We brothers don't need to worry about these external things; we will have as many as we want!"

Hengyi didn't have such thoughts. For him, the mysterious sword given by his master was already a pleasant surprise, which he treasured. He never imagined owning a second soul-bound magic tool.

He curiously examined Xu Wenfeng's magic tools. A faint black glow emanated from his hair, but there was no headgear or decorative items. His white and blue magic robe was almost invisible, seemingly a poor magic tool, but the material and color felt extraordinary. The large sword on his back was hidden in the sheath, with a blue gem at the hilt, emitting a deep blue light but not dazzling. His arm guards were thin and scaly, with no glow, but their gray-black color and emitted energy were clearly not ordinary. The belt around his waist matched the arm guards in color. His magic shoes were the same color and material, different from the ones he knew.

"Brother, what are the names of your magic tools?"

"They are all soul-bound magic tools. The sword is named War God, with an eight-thousand-year history, and its former owners were renowned universe-level experts. The headgear is named Divine Concealment, the magic robe is named Invincible, the arm guards are named Unbreakable, the belt is named War God's Honor, and the magic shoes are named War God's Command. All except the sword were crafted by the top magic tool makers of the two major civilizations, taking a hundred years to complete."

"All, all soul-bound magic tools!" Hengyi's eyes widened in disbelief. The Lake Sea Sect's magic treasure manual listed a soul-bound magic tool as priceless, and Xu Wenfeng had a full set!

"They were all given by Hong. She has been traveling with me for years, probably to protect me from others who might covet my magic tools."

"Brother, why do you call your master by her name?" Hengyi found it hard to accept, as Dachuan had taught him to respect his master and never call them by name.

"Hong is not my master, though she acts like one. It's normal for you to be confused. She appeared at my adoptive parents' home when I was six, saying I had the potential to cultivate. She began teaching me cultivation techniques but forbade me from calling her master, saying she was neither my master, nor my relative or friend, nor my enemy."

Hengyi listened in confusion, finding the situation truly bizarre...

Page AD starts

Page AD ends