"Junior Sister, did you say earlier that you're only 16 years old this year?" Nalan Yanran gazed at the Little Fairy Doctor with a dazed expression.
"En," the Little Fairy Doctor nodded slightly in response.
"A 16-year-old six-star Dou Practitioner..." Nalan Yanran muttered to herself, her face a mix of complex emotions.
It was clear that Nalan Yanran was deeply shaken.
Originally, she had believed her talent was unparalleled, enough to be hailed as the top genius of the Misty Cloud Sect.
This belief had filled her with a sense of pride and complacency.
But now, the appearance of the Little Fairy Doctor had left her feeling somewhat disheartened.
However, Nalan Yanran had never been one to admit defeat, even from a young age.
Soon, she shook off her disappointment and reignited her fighting spirit.
'Junior Sister Xian'er, I will definitely surpass you,' she silently vowed to herself, using the thought to bolster her resolve.
She decided then and there that she would train even harder in the future.
Only by doing so could she truly live up to her title as the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect.
With that, Nalan Yanran turned to the Little Fairy Doctor, pretending as though nothing had happened, and smiled. "Junior Sister, I never expected you to be hiding so much!"
"Senior Sister, I didn't hurt you, did I?" The Little Fairy Doctor felt a pang of guilt and spoke in an apologetic tone.
"It's fine, Junior Sister. Let's continue practicing," Nalan Yanran replied with a gentle smile, then added jokingly, "But this time, don't go all out. I can't handle the full force of a six-star dou practitioner."
"Alright, I'll be careful," the Little Fairy Doctor thought to herself. Earlier, she had used only forty percent of her strength.
This time, she decided to dial it back to twenty percent. That should be safe enough to avoid hurting Nalan Yanran.
With that settled, the two began their "friendly" sparring session.
Snap!
Snap!
Snap!
The rhythmic clapping of their hands echoed through the training grounds.
…
Meanwhile, in another courtyard, Gu He was leisurely sipping tea in the gazebo when Liu Ling suddenly rushed over.
"Teacher!"
"What is it?" Gu He asked calmly, lifting his teacup for another sip.
"..." Liu Ling's mouth twitched slightly before she spoke, her tone tinged with disbelief. "Teacher, didn't you tell me to come here every day for special training?"
At the mention of special training, Liu Ling couldn't help but feel a flicker of anticipation.
Could it be that the teacher was planning to give him some kind of secret technique?
After all, the teacher had always been so kind to him.
Gu He paused for a moment, then nodded as though he had just remembered. "Ah, yes. You remembered well."
"So, Teacher, what kind of special training do you have in mind for me?" Liu Ling asked, his eyes shining with expectation.
The last time Gu He had mentioned special training, he had hinted that it would help him endure the pain of do qi transmission during future power-ups.
This had excited Liu Ling greatly. If he could withstand the pain, he could endure longer sessions and grow even stronger.
"This special training is primarily to temper your physical body," Gu He explained calmly.
He then reached into his spatial ring and pulled out a large bathtub, which materialized in the middle of the courtyard.
"Teacher, what's this for?" Liu Ling asked, puzzled as he stared at the suddenly appearing bathtub.
"Go fetch some water and fill it up," Gu He instructed without further explanation.
"Alright," Liu Ling replied obediently, though still confused.
Soon, he had filled the bathtub to the brim.
"Teacher, it's ready," Liu Ling reported, standing beside Gu He.
Gu He glanced at the tub and pointed. "Get in."
"What?" Liu Ling was stunned, but under Gu He's unwavering gaze, he had no choice but to climb into the bathtub.
"Teacher, what are we doing?" Liu Ling asked curiously as he sat in the water.
"You'll find out soon enough," Gu He replied with a faint smile. He then pulled out a jade bottle from his spatial ring.
"Remember, your task today is to soak in this bathtub for half an hour. If you can't do it, you won't be coming back here in the future," Gu He said sternly.
Liu Ling's heart sank at his words. The ominous feeling grew stronger, but when he heard the latter part, his resolve hardened. He looked at Gu He with determination.
"Teacher, don't worry. I will definitely persevere," Liu Ling declared firmly.
"Really? Don't push yourself too hard," Gu He said lightly, then uncorked the bottle and poured a stream of red liquid into the tub.
"Teacher, what is that?" Liu Ling asked, eyeing the red liquid with curiosity.
"Burning Blood Powder," Gu He replied nonchalantly.
As soon as the words left his mouth, the water in the bathtub began to change.
The red liquid mixed with the water, causing it to bubble rapidly as if it had been brought to a boil. Soon, the entire tub was filled with crimson water.
Before Liu Ling could react, a searing heat surged through the water, engulfing his body.
In an instant, it felt as though he had been thrown into a blazing furnace.
"Remember, half an hour," Gu He reminded her calmly before walking back to the gazebo.
Liu Ling's heart pounded, but his expression grew resolute.
"Teacher, don't worry," he muttered to himself as he watched Gu He's retreating figure.
Then, he closed his eyes and focused.
The scorching dou qi penetrated his pores, flooding his body with excruciating pain.
At that moment, he finally understood the true meaning of Gu He's words.
Enduring this agony for half an hour would require an iron will.
But no matter how painful it was, he had to persevere. Liu Ling silently steeled himself.
Even if the teacher's words were meant as a joke, he knew that failing to last the full half hour would disappoint him. And that was something he could not allow.
"Isn't it just half an hour? I can do this," Liu Ling whispered to himself, his eyes shut tight as he immersed himself fully in the liquid, allowing it to temper his body.
As time passed, the heat in the bathtub grew more intense, and the pain became almost unbearable.
Liu Ling's face contorted, but his mind remained focused.
"Hold on... I must hold on!"
Amidst the torment, Liu Ling could feel his body gradually transforming under the effects of the Burning Blood Powder.
He struggled to circulate the Purple Sun Art, using the opportunity to temper both his physical body and his dou qi.
From the gazebo, Gu He watched with a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes.
This disciple of his had not let him down.
…
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