「Half a month later.」
Scorching heat had descended upon Sea City. For the past half a month, Wang Ping had been tormented by Daoist Yuan Zheng once in the morning and once at night, and the method of torture was different every single time.
During the first three days, Wang Ping had even considered giving up on improving his root bone aptitude. When the pain reached its peak, it felt just like his past life when a toothache made him want to jump out of a building.
Later, he gradually got used to it. He could persist in his meditation even through the most extreme pain. Eventually, he could even calm his mind and quiet his Qi, appearing just like someone who had been tortured for so long they'd grown numb to the pain.
Another morning arrived. Wang Ping, whose expression had been haggard from yesterday's torment, was fully recovered after a night of Qi Cultivation.
CLANG!
Just like the day before, the door was shoved open by Daoist Yuan Zheng. Unlike the day before, however, he was followed by two servants carrying a bathing tub.
"Daoist!"
Wang Ping stood and bowed. Yu Lian slithered up his arm to his shoulder and flicked her tongue at Daoist Yuan Zheng, as if giving him some kind of warning.
Daoist Yuan Zheng reached out to playfully tease Yu Lian and said, "Today, we will formally begin improving your constitution. The first step is to use my medicinal herbs to alter your body's medicinal properties."
"My, you're quite fierce!"
Daoist Yuan Zheng was amused by Yu Lian's adorably fierce display.
Seeing that Yuan Zheng was in a good mood, one of the servants stepped forward to report, "Sir, everything has been set up!"
"Good. You may leave. Seal this courtyard. No one is to enter without my permission!"
"Yes!"
The servants acknowledged the order and quickly departed.
Daoist Yuan Zheng took the small gourd from his waist, walked over to the bathing tub, and began to pour. Instantly, the sound of gushing water, SPLASH SPLASH SPLASH, filled the air, and a thick medicinal scent began to spread. With his other hand, Daoist Yuan Zheng formed one of the Magic Formulas. Several rays of Spiritual Light shot out and struck the area around the tub, locking the spreading aroma in place.
A few breaths later, the medicinal liquid from the tiny gourd had filled the bathing tub two-thirds of the way.
After checking the depth of the liquid, Daoist Yuan Zheng put away the gourd and instructed Wang Ping, "Take off your clothes and get in. Once you're inside, use your usual Qi Cultivation method to absorb the medicinal power of the liquid. Don't worry about your Dantian Spiritual Qi being tainted; I will be here to guide you."
"Yes!"
Wang Ping didn't hesitate. He did as he was told, removing his clothes and sitting down in the tub. Yu Lian tried to follow him in, but Daoist Yuan Zheng grabbed her by the tail. "You can't go in there!"
"You stand guard outside..." Wang Ping instructed softly.
"Oh!" Yu Lian gave Wang Ping a pitiful look, then turned her head to glare at Yuan Zheng. Her eyes seemed to say, 'Let go.'
"Don't you cause any trouble..."
Knowing the temperament of a Spirit Snake, Daoist Yuan Zheng placed Yu Lian on Wang Ping's clothes. Then, with a gentle wave of his hand, a streak of emerald light entered her head. The next moment, Yu Lian fell into a quiet sleep.
"Calm your mind. Begin your Qi Cultivation..."
The usual playful tone was gone from Daoist Yuan Zheng's voice.
Wang Ping did as he was told, calming his mind for Qi Cultivation just as he always did during meditation. This time, however, he wasn't absorbing Spiritual Qi, but the medicinal properties of the liquid surrounding his body.
As the almost-tangible medicinal power entered his body, Wang Ping felt a familiar stinging pain. Just as the power was about to spread toward his Dantian, Daoist Yuan Zheng sent a wisp of Spiritual Qi into him, guiding the medicinal power toward his limbs and throughout his entire frame.
The pain instantly intensified, but Wang Ping was long used to it and endured it with ease...
「Three days later.」
After three continuous days of guiding the medicinal properties, the liquid in the bathing tub had been completely refined by Wang Ping's body. It also turned his skin a pale cyan, making him look as if he'd been poisoned.
As Wang Ping refined the last drop of medicinal liquid, Daoist Yuan Zheng formed a magic formula with his hands and shouted, "Don't move an inch!"
Following his shout, a stream of golden light entered Wang Ping's glabella. Then, with incredible speed, Daoist Yuan Zheng summoned a treasure that looked like a Medicine Cauldron and set it to hover above Wang Ping's body.
Wang Ping, still seated in meditation, felt the pain suddenly double, far exceeding any of the previous practice sessions. Just as he was about to lose control, an invisible pressure enveloped his entire body, making it impossible for him to move even a fraction of an inch.
"Whatever you do, don't pass out!"
Just as Wang Ping felt he couldn't hold on any longer, Daoist Yuan Zheng's reminder forced him to grit his teeth and persevere.
An hour passed like this. Yuan Zheng opened the lid of the Medicine Cauldron that was suppressing Wang Ping. A visible suction force formed, yanking all the residual medicinal properties out of Wang Ping's body as if pulling on a dirty rag.
At that moment, the pain wracking Wang Ping's body reached its absolute peak. He wanted to open his mouth and scream, but before any sound could escape, all the pain suddenly vanished. His body went limp, and he fainted completely.
...
He didn't know how much time had passed, but Wang Ping felt something tickling his face. The next instant, he snapped his eyes open and saw Yu Lian rubbing her head against his cheek.
"I'm so hungry..."
Yu Lian had no idea what had happened.
Wang Ping sat up. Yu Lian took the opportunity to slide down his left arm and coil around his palm, waiting to be fed. Seeing her expectant look, Wang Ping subconsciously rummaged through the bundle beside him, took out a piece of dried meat, and handed it to her.
As Yu Lian swallowed the jerky in one gulp, Wang Ping noticed he was wearing a grayish-white short-sleeved shirt and shorts. He wasn't particularly surprised by this. The sky outside was pitch-black. He took a deep breath, calmed his mind, and called up the Marrow-Washing Chapter of the Guiyuan Technique in his thoughts. A luminescent panel immediately appeared:
[Guiyuan Technique (Marrow-Washing Chapter): Use the Spiritual Qi converted from Qi Cultivation to scour the body from the inside out, increasing the body's affinity with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. There are no shortcuts for this step. Your root bone aptitude is superior. Persist in washing the marrow ten times a day, and it can be completed in eight years. (Progress: 1/100, Today's Progress: 0/10)]
His originally upper-mid grade root bone aptitude had become superior, and the fifteen years required for marrow washing had been reduced to eight.
A look of delight spread across Wang Ping's face. He was about to stand up when he discovered his entire body was sore and weak. He had no choice but to remain in a meditative posture and use Qi Cultivation to recover his energy.
"I'm still hungry..." Yu Lian's voice interrupted his Qi Cultivation.
"You can get your own food."
"Oh..."
Wang Ping paid no mind to Yu Lian burrowing into the bundle and focused on his Qi Cultivation.
The medicinal liquid he remembered being absorbed into his body was completely gone. Moreover, when he circulated his Spiritual Qi, the speed seemed to have increased considerably.
「Half an Hour later.」
His energy restored, Wang Ping officially began the marrow-washing process...
This time, surprisingly, there was none of the previous pain. The Spiritual Qi circulated unimpeded through his body, and he easily completed one round of marrow washing.
After completing ten rounds of marrow washing, Wang Ping clearly felt his body was drained. He then meditated and performed Qi Cultivation until dawn.
That day, Daoist Yuan Zheng did not push his way through the door. Instead, Wang Ping put on his Daoist robes, pushed the door open himself, and went to Daoist Yuan Zheng's courtyard, but he saw no one there.
So, he walked to the shop out front.
"Daoist Changqing!" the Shopkeeper greeted him warmly.
"Where is Daoist Yuan Zheng?"
"The master has already returned to headquarters. He is preparing to enter seclusion for Alchemy."
"Did he leave any message?"
"No!"