Chapter 37

Seeing Yi Yun take the lead and follow his instructions, Zhang Yuxian nodded in satisfaction.

However, the others did not think the same way. As Zhao Tiexiang watched Yi Yun eat the tree, he sneered inwardly, thinking that it couldn't be that simple to eat wood.

"Let this kid show off. I'll see how he doesn't bloat to death in a while."

During famines, people would eat grass roots and tree bark, but no one had ever heard of eating wood, especially uncooked hard wood.

Apart from termites and woodworms, there were very few animals in the world that could eat wood directly. The cellulose in wood was indigestible by the human gut.

"Go, dig up some Guanyin soil!"

Zhang Yuxian ordered. Guanyin soil was actually talcum powder. It was called Guanyin soil because, during famine years, people relied on Guanyin Bodhisattva to save them. Since this talcum powder could stave off hunger, it naturally took on the name of Guanyin.

However, in reality, Guanyin soil was a deadly poison. Eating a little bit was fine, but eating too much would cause indigestion, leading to bloating and death.

The Lian clan happened to have this substance. Some might wonder why people would eat Guanyin soil knowing it could kill them.

Firstly, in some places, people were ignorant and believed that as long as they were sincere and prayed to Guanyin for salvation, they wouldn't die.

Secondly, Guanyin soil tasted much better than tree bark and grass roots. In appearance and texture, it was very similar to flour. When people were extremely hungry, they couldn't resist the temptation and would accidentally eat too much, leading to bloating and death.

A large pile of Guanyin soil was dug up and brought over. The Lian clan's people watched as Yi Yun and others practiced.

Seeing the warrior trainees about to eat Guanyin soil, the Lian clan's people were shocked. Eating a little bit of Guanyin soil was fine, but eating such a large amount was unimaginable.

"Let's begin."

Zhang Yuxian said calmly. Yi Yun didn't hesitate and took a large mouthful of Guanyin soil. It had no special taste, just a bit slippery.

At least Guanyin soil was easier to swallow than wood.

The warrior trainees, seeing themselves being outdone by a mere nobody like Yi Yun, couldn't help but feel不服气 (unwilling to accept it).

They all steeled themselves and started eating.

They thought Zhang Yuxian wouldn't harm them. These things might be hard to eat, but for the sake of practicing, they could grit their teeth and bear it!

However, just as this thought crossed their minds, Zhang Yuxian's words shattered their illusions. "The Elephant Swallowing Technique isn't that easy to learn. Many people who swallowed Guanyin soil to learn the technique ended up dying from bloating."

"What!?"

Hearing Zhang Yuxian's words, the warrior trainees, who had just mustered the courage, deflated like punctured balloons.

Eating this wood and Guanyin soil, if they couldn't learn the Elephant Swallowing Technique, they would still die!

They thought it would just be a bit of suffering, but not life-threatening. The reality proved them wrong!

Seeing the expressions on Zhao Tiexiang and others, Zhang Yuxian looked at them with disdain. "Do you think practicing martial arts is like having a meal, where you can laugh and chat and learn supreme martial arts?"

"Martial artists must always be prepared to face death! Even the Jinlong Guard members die during their regular training! If you don't push your body to the limit, how can you break through to higher realms!?"

"The path of martial arts involves entering secret realms, encountering enemies, competing for treasures, overcoming heart demons, closing off to the world, and enduring heavenly tribulations! Which of these doesn't involve the risk of death? This is just the beginning for you. If you don't have the courage to eat Guanyin soil, you shouldn't practice martial arts. Just live out your days in the Great Wasteland!"

Zhang Yuxian no longer pressured them. He didn't even mention how much Guanyin soil and wood beginners should eat.

How much to eat was entirely up to their personal courage.

The warrior trainees looked at each other, unconsciously slowing down their eating.

Yi Yun, however, paused for a moment, remained silent, and continued eating at a steady pace, unaffected.

Zhang Yuxian noticed Yi Yun and nodded again. Just this courage alone was no small feat.

As for Zhao Tiexiang and others, they naturally noticed Yi Yun's reckless eating of wood and Guanyin soil. Zhao Tiexiang maliciously whispered, "This little brat, showing off now, he'll bloat to death soon!"

"Don't argue with a fool, Brother Zhao. We're just beginners, so let's eat a little less. Half a catty... no, three taels should be enough..."

The warrior trainees carefully measured the amount, eating bit by bit, like greedy children with a delicious cake, reluctant to finish it in one bite.

"Brother Zhao, don't overdo it. Let's take it step by step. This time, we'll show our martial talent to Lord Zhang! How can we be outdone by a little kid!"

The warrior trainees were all holding their breath. Previously, Zhang Yuxian had looked down on them, implying that they were only chosen because no one else was available.

They accepted this, but Zhang Yuxian's high praise for Yi Yun, the sickly one, was hard to swallow!

They had thought that practicing martial arts with Zhang Yuxian would involve lifting stone rollers, their strong suit, which would easily outshine Yi Yun and make them feel great.

But who would have thought the training would involve eating trees!

It was like a bolt of lightning!

"It's just eating trees and Guanyin soil. I'm not afraid. Brothers, eat! Outdoing Yi Yun will be a piece of cake."

Zhao Tiexiang grew angrier the more he thought about it. The other men were hesitant to eat, but he decided to eat more, determined to learn the Elephant Swallowing Technique.

By this time, Yi Yun had already eaten over two catties of Guanyin soil. The soil swelled in his stomach, feeling like lead, weighing him down.

Yi Yun's stomach started to hurt.

The pain was initially mild but would intensify, eventually causing unbearable agony.

At this moment, a voice suddenly sounded in Yi Yun's ear, "Follow me and do these twelve movements."

Yi Yun looked up and saw Zhang Yuxian standing before the group, his gaze on him, with an encouraging smile.

Then, Zhang Yuxian began to move.

It was hard to describe Zhang Yuxian's movements. His figure seemed to blur, as if he were in a different dimension, disconnected from the outside world.

He performed one movement after another, each one bizarre yet fluid when connected, giving a sense of smoothness.

Zhang Yuxian's speed was both fast and slow, seemingly imbued with an indescribable grace.

These movements, though visible to the eye, seemed elusive, like illusions in a dream.

Dream...

This thought suddenly struck Yi Yun. Watching Zhang Yuxian's movements felt like being in a dream.

In dreams, things seen and words spoken are very real and clear.

Even in dreams, one can speak eloquently and compose beautiful poetry.

One feels that their eloquence in dreams is excellent, but upon waking, they can't remember what they said or wrote.

Now, watching Zhang Yuxian's movements, Yi Yun had this strange feeling.

Was the "Elephant Swallowing Technique" just a basic practice? Why did it seem more profound than the "Dragon Sinew Tiger Bone Fist"?

Yi Yun found it hard to fathom.

By this time, Zhang Yuxian had stopped. Although Yi Yun couldn't remember all the movements, he knew that Zhang Yuxian had performed the entire set three times!

"Alright, these are the twelve movements of the Elephant Swallowing Technique. Follow them, and you'll make some progress. Digesting some Guanyin soil will be no problem."

What... what?

Hearing Zhang Yuxian's words, Zhao Tiexiang and others stared at each other in disbelief!

What had Zhang Yuxian just done?

They saw a blur, and Zhang Yuxian's body seemed to leave a trail of afterimages before he returned to his position.

Some even wondered if they had hallucinated, seeing double.

They couldn't understand what had happened, so how could they possibly follow his movements?

"Is there a problem?"

Seeing the troubled expressions of the warrior trainees, Zhang Yuxian asked.

"There... there is a problem..." Zhao Tiexiang swallowed hard and asked, "If... if we can't learn your movements, what do we do with the Guanyin soil and wood we've eaten?"

Zhao Tiexiang felt hopeless. The movements were so complex that he doubted he could learn them in three days.

"Hmm?" Zhang Yuxian frowned, seemingly annoyed by Zhao Tiexiang's foolish question. He said impatiently, "When you go to the toilet, use your fingers or a bamboo stick to help. You might not die, but remember not to drink water."

Hearing this, Zhao Tiexiang and others felt as if they had swallowed a pound of fermented feces.

Their expressions were a mix of shock and horror.