Little Stinky Xi, Peerless in Body Refinement

Li Che silently held the wine cup, savoring the warm yellow rice wine. The aroma filled his senses, but his mind had already wandered far, to the towering Dao Tree that stretched into the heavens above the vast land.

When his daughter turned one, the Dao Tree bore fruit—a phenomenon that stirred the depths of his soul. It produced the Dao Fruit known as [Dragon Elephant Vajra]!

This was the second Dao Fruit Li Che had received. The first, [Immortal Craft], had awakened and enhanced his talent for woodcarving, granting him the skills to carve a place for himself in the world. That talent led him to become a woodcarver at the Xu Woodcarving Shop, secure lodging in the Xu family courtyard, and, most importantly, provide a safe haven for his daughter, Li Nuanxi, to grow to her first birthday.

Li Che deeply understood the significance of the Dao Fruits. They were no ordinary treasures but heavenly gifts imbued with divine truths. He had eagerly awaited the ripening of the second Dao Fruit, and now it was finally here.

[Dragon Elephant Vajra (Dao Fruit): Blood and flesh like a dragon and elephant; indestructible like a Vajra; peerless in body refinement.]

In an instant, a tide of profound knowledge surged into Li Che's mind. Information about the [Dragon Elephant Vajra] Dao Fruit flowed through him, bringing with it the understanding of its immense potential. He felt his blood begin to boil and surge, as though his very flesh and bones were undergoing a dramatic transformation. It was as if his entire being was awakening to a newfound strength.

If he chose to, he could activate the Dao Fruit immediately, triggering the metamorphosis within his body. Yet, with Old Chen by his side, Li Che decided to hold back. Now was not the time for impulsiveness. For now, he would savor the knowledge of the Dragon Elephant Vajra and the promise it held.

Blood and flesh like a dragon and elephant; indestructible like a Vajra; peerless in body refinement!

Excitement surged within Li Che's heart as he raised the cup to his lips, drinking the yellow wine in one bold gulp. This Dao Fruit wasn't just a gift—it was exactly what he needed at this point in his journey. It would enhance his martial prowess and bolster his ability to protect the precious life he cherished most: his daughter.

More importantly, the Dao Fruit confirmed the pattern he had begun to suspect. Each year, as his daughter grew, he would gain a Dao Fruit. This revelation brought both hope and responsibility. It meant that he must safeguard her life at all costs. He must ensure her path to maturity was free from harm, for her safety was the foundation upon which their future rested.

Li Che's mind raced. If his daughter could truly live forever, and he continued to gain a Dao Fruit annually, wouldn't that mean accumulating immeasurable power over time? The possibilities were both thrilling and daunting.

"Hey, since when did you start drinking like that?" Old Chen's voice snapped him back to the present. The older man looked at him with an amused, curious expression.

Li Che chuckled, his gaze softening as it fell on his toddling daughter, Xi Xi. She giggled as she maneuvered her walker around the courtyard, her small face alight with innocent joy.

"Before I knew it, the little one's already a year old," Li Che said warmly.

Old Chen smiled, a hint of nostalgia flickering in his eyes as he looked at Xi Xi. "Yeah, she was just a tiny thing not too long ago. And now, look at her. She's grown so much."

He took another sip of his wine, then added, "I don't have any children of my own. This little Stinky Xi feels like a kindred spirit to me. From this day forth, she's my granddaughter in all but blood."

Li Che understood the sentiment behind Old Chen's words. Smiling, he poured another cup of wine for the elder. The two men clinked their cups together and drank in companionable silence.

The Training Ground

Snow fell thick and fast, blanketing the training ground in a sheet of white. Several figures moved tirelessly, their vigorous training scattering the falling snow as their vitality surged.

Li Che arrived dressed in a simple training uniform. The cold bit at his skin, but his body, tempered by the knowledge of the Dao Fruit, felt warm from within. As he stepped onto the training ground, two figures noticed his arrival and paused their exercises, exhaling clouds of warm breath into the chilly air.

Zhao Xuan, tall and slender with neatly tied jet-black hair, greeted him with a crisp smile. "Master Chen, you're here?" she called out. "Isn't today Xi Xi's first birthday celebration?"

The other figure, Wang Zhengping, a sturdy and dependable man, grinned. "We were just about to finish up and head over to the party ourselves," he added.

"Hahaha, of course, you're both invited!" Li Che said with a hearty laugh. "As her uncle and aunt, you two had better not come empty-handed. Bring proper gifts!"

"The banquet's been set up at Chunfeng Inn in the Outer City," he continued. "The chefs and staff have already taken care of everything, so there's not much left for me to do. Xi Xi is with Old Chen, so I thought I'd come here to pass the time by training."

Wang Zhengping whistled. "A feast from Chunfeng Inn, eh? Looks like we're in for a real treat tonight."

After a bit of light-hearted chatter, the three of them resumed their training. The cold air and falling snow did little to deter their resolve.

The second steward of the Xu family, Xu Beihu, had once advised them that achieving mastery in skin tempering required at least two years of diligent practice. Any slacking would only prolong the journey. Thus, none of them dared to take their training lightly.

Li Che was a few years older than Zhao Xuan and Wang Zhengping, now twenty years old, making him three or four years their senior.

If he wasn't diligent, as he aged and his vitality declined, advancing in martial arts would become increasingly difficult. That was why Xu Beihu had always emphasized that body refinement relied most on diligence—a race against time.

For nearly a year now, Li Che had spent his mornings training, his afternoons carving wood, and his evenings experimenting with mechanisms. His days were filled with purpose and fulfillment. Despite this busy schedule, he had never neglected body refinement, having already reached the stage of minor achievement in skin tempering. In terms of progress, he was even slightly ahead of Zhao Xuan and Wang Zhengping.

Although Xu Beihu had often remarked that talent did not play a significant role in body refinement, small differences still existed, and Li Che's steady progress attested to his diligence and determination.

Today, Li Che came to the training ground with a specific goal: to test the effects of the [Dragon Elephant Vajra] Dao Fruit. Gripping a stone weight, he let his vitality surge through his body. His boiling blood coursed through his veins, striking his skin membrane, which instantly turned crimson, radiating intense heat waves.

At the same time, the [Dragon Elephant Vajra] Dao Fruit seemed to awaken fully, pulsing rhythmically as his vitality surged! A prompt materialized in his mind:

[Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (Lv1, 1%)]

Joy flickered in Li Che's eyes as a formless force spread through his body. This power struck his skin membrane as if thousands of blows were being delivered in an instant, accelerating his progress in skin tempering at a remarkable rate.

Previously at minor achievement in skin tempering, Li Che now felt a sudden and profound transformation within himself. His skin membrane grew astonishingly tough, faintly glowing as the energy of the Dao Fruit coursed through him. Harnessing the activated power of the [Dragon Elephant Vajra], he advanced directly to perfection in skin tempering!

Unlike the [Immortal Craft] Dao Fruit, the maturity of the [Dragon Elephant Vajra] Dao Fruit could increase through sheer effort. In other words, hard work alone could enhance its effects.

Delighted, Li Che focused his mind, and the faint glow receded from his skin. His overwhelming vitality also subsided, as though the energy coursing through his flesh had been absorbed back into the [Dragon Elephant Vajra] Dao Fruit. With just a thought, he could summon this energy again, instantly regaining the strength of perfection in skin tempering.

"What a marvelous Dao Fruit," Li Che murmured to himself, admiration evident in his tone. The ability to retract the energy gained from the Dao Fruit back into itself was an invaluable advantage.

"This way, I don't have to worry about raising suspicions by advancing too quickly. My natural aptitude… Xu Beihu tested it before. If my progress appeared unnatural, it would surely invite suspicion and perhaps even disaster."

Li Che's eyes narrowed as he pondered this further. "In chaotic times like these, for the Xu family to have maintained their position in Feilei City for two hundred years, they must possess ruthless methods… It's always wise to stay cautious."

With a light exhale, he calmed his thoughts and resumed his training. For half a day, Li Che systematically practiced the techniques of skin tempering at the training ground.

[Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (Lv1, 2%)]

The Dao Fruit's maturity increased by another 1%, and a brighter smile spread across Li Che's face. Taking advantage of the moment when no one was watching, he once again released the stored energy of the Dao Fruit.

In an instant, his vitality surged anew, and he returned to the level of perfection in skin tempering. His skin emitted a faint golden glow, his temples bulged slightly, and a tremendous force coursed through his fists and palms.

Experiencing the additional strength brought by a mere 1% increase in Dao Fruit maturity filled Li Che with excitement. This newfound power meant he was now qualified to break through to the Tendon-Muscle Strengthening Stage. He could finally begin practicing internal force techniques!

Additionally, the [Dragon Elephant Vajra] Dao Fruit possessed a unique function: the ability to unleash Dragon Elephant Power. Unfortunately, with so many people present at the training ground, it was not the right time to test such an extraordinary ability. Still, Li Che's mind raced with possibilities. He could only imagine the immense boost the Dragon Elephant Power would bring.

Afterward, he calmly reabsorbed the vitality into the Dao Fruit. Looking up, he let the snowflakes gently fall on his face, their cool touch contrasting with the warmth of his inner energy.

A smile lingered on Li Che's lips.

In terms of personal combat strength, the future was finally beginning to brighten. It was so promising that… perhaps one day, he might even have the power to slay the Spirit Infant Cult Leader!