Chapter 18

In the medicinal liquid, Lian Chengyu endured immense pain, his body convulsing as he channeled his primordial energy to protect himself, yet he still grimaced in agony. However, thinking about the possibility of entering the Taiyi Divine Kingdom and practicing the *Taiyi Holy Law* to become a superior being, Lian Chengyu endured it all!

It must be said that for the sake of becoming stronger, Lian Chengyu's willpower was extraordinary.

People with weaker willpower, even if they had the title of a tribal young master, would just enjoy some good meat and grain in a small tribe, and indulge in the young girls of the tribe, content with being a licentious village young master. How could they reach the heights that Lian Chengyu had achieved?

"Master Lian, what willpower!"

"Master Lian is truly a man of iron!"

"This boiling medicinal liquid is not something just anyone can endure! Master Lian is truly a dragon among men!"

Seeing Lian Chengyu being boiled in the medicinal liquid, looking like a fully cooked shrimp, the surrounding sycophants, including Zhao Tiezhu, began to flatter him.

They usually spoke in coarse language, but to flatter Lian Chengyu, they had even learned some high-sounding adjectives.

"Add more fire!"

Lian Chengyu gritted his teeth and shouted. Being boiled in 90-degree water was excruciating. At this moment, the veins on his forehead were bulging, his body curled up, and his skin was bright red.

In this state, if Lian Chengyu were to be compared to a "dragon among men," it would probably only be in the context of a boiled lobster.

He was almost at his limit, but the effect of the medicinal liquid was much worse than he had expected! How could this be?

"Add more fire?"

The sycophants exchanged glances, their admiration for Lian Chengyu flowing like an endless river.

"Damn it! Master Lian said to add fire, what are you waiting for? Do you doubt Master Lian's ability to endure? Master Lian's will and ability are far beyond your comprehension!"

Zhao Tiezhu, who had some status, scolded the subordinates harshly. After scolding them, he personally brought a large pile of thick firewood and lit it without hesitation, placing it around the iron bucket, making the fire burn fiercely.

Seeing that Lian Chengyu's cultivation seemed to be at a critical moment, Zhao Tiezhu, to show his diligence, even took a large fan and fanned the fire vigorously.

The flames were almost reaching Lian Chengyu's hair.

"Master Lian, does it feel good?" Zhao Tiezhu chuckled, trying to take credit.

Lian Chengyu could no longer speak. His teeth were grinding, his fists clenched tightly, and his skin was almost cracking, but the effect was still not as expected.

"What's going on?"

Lian Chengyu was shocked and angry. Under Zhao Tiezhu's diligent service, his skin was really starting to split.

Human skin, under high heat, would curl and contract, eventually cracking completely. This was happening to Lian Chengyu!

But Lian Chengyu was too preoccupied to notice. He realized a terrifying possibility that made him feel suffocated.

At his current level, just one step away from the Purple Blood Realm, Lian Chengyu was extremely sensitive to every improvement in his body.

He knew that although he was being boiled in a pot of good medicine, his heart rate had barely changed, and although his bones and muscles had been somewhat polished, the effect was not significant.

After this pot of good medicine, he had absorbed very little!

Lian Chengyu realized that he had probably reached a so-called "bottleneck"!

Lian Chengyu had long heard his master Yao Yuan say that martial artists often encountered bottlenecks, especially before breaking through to new realms. A bottleneck could even last a lifetime without being overcome!

The path of martial arts was endless, and the pursuit of new realms would inevitably lead to a bottleneck at some point. However, Lian Chengyu did not expect to encounter his first bottleneck while trying to break through to the Purple Blood Realm.

He was not willing to accept it!

He was a prodigy, a golden dragon trapped in a shallow bay, ready to soar to the sky at the first sign of wind and clouds!

How could he encounter a bottleneck at the mere Purple Blood Realm!

He refused to believe it!

"Add more fire!"

Lian Chengyu seemed to be using all his strength, shouting in a fit of rage.

"Add... more fire?"

Zhao Tiezhu also felt something was wrong. He saw the skin on Lian Chengyu's inner arms and thighs already cracking. If Lian Chengyu were truly that powerful, he wouldn't be boiled like this.

"Master... if we keep boiling... he'll be cooked..." one of the sycophants hesitantly said.

"Add more fire!"

Lian Chengyu roared, his voice like an angry lion.

Zhao Tiezhu had no choice but to add more fire, and the subordinates fanned the flames vigorously.

The flames burned brighter, and bubbles formed in the medicinal liquid. The pot of medicine was boiling!

Even Lian Chengyu found it difficult to endure the boiling water, especially since his body had not absorbed much of the medicinal effects. In a fit of rage, he let out a roar, and his primordial energy exploded.

"Boom!"

The medicine bucket shattered, and the scalding liquid splashed everywhere!

"Ouch!"

The surrounding sycophants were immediately scalded, crying out in pain.

Fortunately, they were all wearing clothes, and although the liquid was still scalding, the temperature had dropped somewhat. Combined with their tough skin, they could endure it.

It was too damn hot.

However, these sycophants were skilled in flattery. Lian Chengyu was destined to become a warrior of the divine kingdom, and might even be ennobled in the Taiyi Divine Kingdom. If they flattered him well, they would surely have a bright future.

So, including Zhao Tiezhu, the sycophants ignored their scalds and prostrated themselves on the ground, shouting, "Congratulations, Master Lian, on your great success!"

Seeing Lian Chengyu shatter the medicine bucket with such a grand display, Zhao Tiezhu and the others thought he had broken through. This was the perfect time to flatter him!

However... the expected scene of Lian Chengyu laughing and distributing rewards did not happen. Instead, Lian Chengyu's body was bright red, his veins bulging, and his appearance was extremely fierce due to the cracked skin.

"Get out!"

Lian Chengyu, in a fit of rage, kicked Zhao Tiezhu and the sycophants, sending them rolling on the ground.

Zhao Tiezhu was stunned, his buttocks in agony, but he dared not make a sound, not knowing what had happened.

"Get out!"

Lian Chengyu roared, and the sycophants, terrified, were about to flee.

Suddenly, Lian Chengyu waved his hand, "Come back!"

Lian Chengyu's expression was cold, "Bring me the dregs of the medicine!"

"Yes, yes!"

The sycophants dared not ask a single word, crawling away and returning shortly with the dregs, not daring to breathe heavily.

Lian Chengyu examined the dregs and inquired about the process of boiling the medicine, his expression becoming increasingly grim.

The dregs were fine; all the good medicines had been used. Even if a physician from a large tribe were to examine them, they would not find anything wrong. Who could have thought that someone could absorb the medicinal effects without using secret methods?

Seeing the dregs, Lian Chengyu was certain that he had encountered a bottleneck!

"Damn it!" Lian Chengyu punched the wall!

He had shown martial talent since childhood, and according to Yao Yuan, even in a large tribe, he would be considered top-notch.

If the problem wasn't with himself, then it was the Lian Clan that had failed him!

"The medicine the clan gave me is too poor! The young talents from the major families and powerful factions have been using the best medicinal liquids since birth, and even barren bones are considered food. How can I compare to them!"

Lian Chengyu clenched his fists, hating that he was not born into a wealthy family but in such a desolate place.

"This poor Lian Clan has wasted 17 years of my life! If I had been born into the royal family of the Taiyi Divine Kingdom, I would have already reached the peak of the Purple Blood Realm, and might even have a chance to compete for the throne!"

Thinking about this, Lian Chengyu felt even more unwilling. He hated the Lian Clan, even if the clan devoted all its resources to cultivating him, what good would it do!

Why couldn't I be born into a royal family!

Why can't I enjoy everything!

They start from a place I can't even look up to, while I struggle like a dog to climb up! I hate it!

"Someone!"

Lian Chengyu shouted, and Zhao Tiezhu, not daring to delay, ran back, not daring to breathe.

"Pass my order, set up a large tripod, gather the strong men of the village, and start boiling the barren bones!"

Zhao Tiezhu's heart skipped a beat. It was finally happening, and he thought it would take a few more days. "What about the herbs..."

"Continue gathering!"

Lian Chengyu's voice was cold. The Lian Clan's medicinal mountain was once the most precious place, with herbs collected in a planned manner to avoid over-harvesting and depleting the resources.

But now, Lian Chengyu would leave the Lian Clan in a few months, and the medicinal mountain had no value to him. It might as well serve one last purpose.

During his bottleneck period, the herbs had little effect on him, but even a little was better than nothing.

As for the barren bones... only the barren bones could help him break through the bottleneck now!