The Strange Flame Rekindles in Battle Through the Heavens

Chapter 6 Cultivation

In the early morning, a thin white mist shrouded the mountains, the air was fresh, birds sang, and flowers bloomed—everything was so beautiful. A gentle breeze swept by, suddenly bringing with it the muffled sound of flesh touching flesh.

In a secluded grove atop a hill on the back mountain, there was a boy. He was completely naked except for a pair of shorts, in a horse stance, his feet gripping the ground tightly, his teeth grinding, cold sweat beading on his forehead, and his body covered in bruises, with hardly a spot unscathed.

Behind Xiao Yan, Yao Lao, in his soul form, sat cross-legged on a boulder. He stared intently at Xiao Yan, who was gritting his teeth and persevering.

Yao Lao stretched out his palm, causing a slight ripple in the air. A beam of pale red Dou Qi suddenly shot out from his palm, striking Xiao Yan heavily like a whip and leaving a long, bluish bruise on his body.

Xiao Yan's face twitched uncontrollably, and his body trembled involuntarily. Waves of burning pain pierced his heart, and under this intense pain, Xiao Yan almost lost his balance and collapsed to the ground.

After the pain subsided, Xiao Yan felt a thin flow of Dou Qi rapidly coursing through his body. Stimulated by the pain, the Dou Qi seemed to become even more active, flowing joyfully through his meridians and acupoints, gradually seeping into his bones and muscles, quietly strengthening him.

"Continue!" As the pain gradually subsided, Xiao Yan remained standing in place, gritting his teeth as he spoke.

Looking at Xiao Yan, who was gritting his teeth and persevering, Yao Lao's withered old face showed a satisfied smile. He nodded slightly, and his fighting spirit surged out from his palm once again.

"Bang, bang, bang..." In the dense forest, a series of muffled thuds and slightly painful groans mingled together, echoing endlessly...

The old man's technique was just right. Each attack was just beyond Xiao Yan's current physical limits, so that he would not be seriously injured but would feel real pain.

The excruciating pain from the Dou Qi striking his body contorted Xiao Yan's face, almost distorting it. His body, with each swing of Yao Lao's hand, bore more and more wounds, a truly shocking sight.

Only when there wasn't a single good spot on Xiao Yan's body did Yao Lao put him down.

"Do you have masochistic tendencies? How can you take a beating like that?" Yao Lao said jokingly.

Xiao Yan rolled his eyes and grinned, saying, "You're the one with masochistic tendencies! I'm just trying to get stronger."

"Oh? For whom are you getting stronger? For that girl Xun'er?" Yao Lao asked with a chuckle.

Xiao Yan glanced sideways at Yao Lao with his small eyes, too lazy to say anything. His whole body was burning hot, and he had no strength.

"Hehe, so this is an admission. But I also like Xun'er." Yao Lao said jokingly again.

"Shut up! Nobody's going to think you're mute if you don't talk." Xiao Yan gritted his teeth in anger and quickly put on his clothes.

With a twist of its transparent body, the medicinal aging form transformed into a white light and flashed into the black ring, leaving behind the same concerned words it had repeated many times before: "I won't say anything more to you. Hurry back and soak your body in the Foundation Establishment Elixir, otherwise the residual blood stasis inside your body will seriously injure you!"

Xiao Yan nodded, dressed, and slowly descended the back mountain towards his hut.

Back in the cabin, Xiao Yan quickly closed the door. Enduring the excruciating pain, he slowly took off his clothes and crawled into the wooden tub filled with blue liquid.

The cool, bluish liquid imprinted itself on his bruised skin, and Xiao Yan immediately let out a comfortable groan; it felt so good.

"I really wish I could just lie here forever!"

However, Xiao Yan gave up this tempting idea, sat cross-legged in the basin, formed strange hand seals with his hands, and slowly began to cultivate, because he knew that this was the best time to cultivate.

Unbeknownst to Xiao Yan, while he was engrossed in cultivation, Yao Lao once again appeared beside him in his soul form. Seeing that Xiao Yan was actually persisting in his cultivation, Yao Lao nodded with satisfaction.

He stroked his beard with his right hand, staring intently at the bruises on Xiao Yan's body. After a long while, he revealed an expression of certainty. Just today, during Xiao Yan's training, Xiao Yan had actually withstood over fifty lashes on his first attempt. At the time, he simply assumed Xiao Yan had a high tolerance for bruises. But after thinking about it carefully, he realized it was impossible, since Xiao Yan had never experienced such arduous training before.

Even if Xiao Yan is very good at enduring, his body is still what it is; his spirit can withstand it, but his body can't.

Unable to understand, Yao Lao reappeared and indeed saw that the bruises on Xiao Yan's body were fading rapidly, especially the earliest ones, which had already disappeared.

"It seems we've really struck gold. I never expected his body to hold such a secret. We'll find out when he wakes up." Yao Lao murmured with a smile as he gazed at Xiao Yan, who was enveloped in azure energy in the basin.

As the azure aura diminished, the azure liquid in the basin gradually faded, eventually turning into clear water. When the last wisp of azure aura disappeared, Xiao Yan abruptly opened his eyes, a flash of white light, tinged with a faint azure, appearing in his dark pupils.

He slowly got up, stretched, twisted his neck, and his bones cracked all over.

"So comfortable!" Xiao Yan said, feeling the abundant Dou Qi within his body.

"Stop being so promiscuous!" Just as Xiao Yan closed his eyes and became engrossed in his dream, an old voice suddenly rang out.

"Huh? Teacher, why are you out here?" Xiao Yan asked in confusion.

"Hehe, let me ask you. Have you noticed anything unusual about your body?" the old doctor asked with a smile.

"Something's off? Is there? I didn't know that," Xiao Yan said, puzzled.

"Haven't you noticed that you recover from your injuries exceptionally quickly?" the old apothecary continued to ask.

"Extraordinarily fast? Isn't that normal?" Once, because Xiao Xun'er went out shopping, Xiao Ning seized the opportunity to have Xiao Yan beaten up. Although Xiao Yan tried his best to resist, they outnumbered him, and because he only had fifth-level Dou Qi at that time and didn't know any Dou Techniques, they were beaten black and blue all over and threatened him never to go near Xun'er again. However, when Xiao Yan returned home, his body recovered completely in just one night, and he marveled at the wonders of the Doupo world.

"Normal my foot! Come here, I'll examine you," the old doctor urged, waving his hand.

Startled, Xiao Yan immediately covered his groin and exclaimed, "What are you trying to do?"

Seeing Xiao Yan's appearance, Yao Lao was speechless, his eyebrows furrowing in anger. He reached out and pulled Xiao Yan away.

Xiao Yan suddenly felt his body lighten and shouted, "Flax bag!"

Feeling a wisp of domineering battle qi enter his meridians, probing something, Xiao Yan let out a soft breath. He had thought that Yao Lao had some kind of peculiar hobby.

When the fighting spirit entered Xiao Yan's Qi Sea, Yao Lao's hand tightened suddenly, and then he burst into laughter.

"I never imagined you would have such an incredible opportunity to possess it. It seems that taking you as my disciple was truly the right decision." Releasing Xiao Yan's arm, Yao Lao said with a smile.

Seeing Yao Laozi laughing heartily, Xiao Yan's young face was full of confusion and bewilderment. He immediately asked, "Teacher, what's wrong? What is this 'it' you're talking about?"

"Haha! Don't worry about that, you'll find out in time. Finally, I don't have to be so careful anymore, I can train you freely." The old doctor seemed to be in a very good mood, laughing non-stop.

The old doctor was happy, but Xiao Yan's face fell. And this was already being cautious! They had beaten him half to death!

"What are you still standing there for? Get dressed and go to the back mountain for training." Yao Lao urged, then went straight into the ring.

"Ah! This..." Seeing that it was just getting light, he shook his head helplessly, quickly washed up, got dressed, and opened the door.

"Hmm? Why is there a food box by the door? Did Xun'er make this? This girl got up so early." Xiao Yan scratched his head.

"Hehe! Your little girlfriend really dotes on you, she even prepared breakfast for you. If that guy finds out... he'll be heartbroken." Yao Lao said jokingly.

"Sigh! It's hardest to accept the kindness of a beautiful woman! The better you treat me, the more pressure I feel!" He took the food out of the food box, humming a song, and ate as he went up the mountain. He was obviously unaware that even more brutal training was about to begin.

(End of this chapter)