Formidable Strength

While the Elder taught, Xiu Ying's eyes were glued to the map. Her eyes twinkled as the bold thought of obtaining the scroll sprouted in her mind.

Quickly throwing that thought away, she focused on learning about the sect's relationship with the dynasty and their duty to aid the army to stop the barbarians from taking more of their lands and force them back to the Wildlands.

After the lecture, Xiu Ying left along with the others. "Xiu Ying," a soothing voice called out.

Hearing that voice, Xiu Ying's eyes narrowed and she turned around, a cautious glint flashing through her eyes.

"I heard what happened to Li Chen. Is he alright?"

Xiu Ying's brows were slanted at Bai Fenxi's question.

Seeing Xiu Ying's expression, Bai Fenxi chuckled. "We talked and he actually said we could be friends."

"Old Cat said that?"

"Old Cat?" Bai Fenxi's brows furrowed.

"Sister Bai, Sister Xiu. The handsome gentleman is in the Ten Thousand Flaming Pagoda!" 

A fellow disciple yelled and the eyes of both girls flew wide open.

The handsome gentleman was the No. 1 inner disciple, renowned for his exceptional looks, refined aura, talent, and combat strength.

A golden aura swirled around Xiu Ying and blue around Bai Fenxi.

Both girls went after the others at an amazing speed.

Arriving in a crowded place, Xiu Ying stands at a tall black pagoda. This pagoda was owned by the Mistress of the Flaming Pagoda and that was fairy Mo Xueyi!

At this moment, the fourth floor shone along with the other lower floors.

"The handsome gentleman has broken the third floor, beating senior Zhao Pan's record with a few seconds!"

"He's awesome!"

"How long do you wait till he'll take the fifth floor?"

As the crowd kept getting rowdy, the fifth floor emitted a resplendent purple color, causing everyone to gasp.

"Senior Yuan must have had a breakthrough! His strength is simply outrageous!"

In the next second, the light dimmed, and a handsome man garbed in light green with a white coat elegantly walked out.

His right hand wrapped around a gorgeous sword and his gentle smile alone made the ladies blush.

No doubt, even among handsome men, he stood at the top.

However, a certain nonchalant, golden-haired man in the crowd wasn't less good-looking. 'Fifth floor. I'll certainly get there!' Determination lurked within his gaze as he left the crowd silently.

With the same determination, both girls separated.

Under the tutelage of her master, Xiu Ying's training became several levels harder. She fought against wild beasts, learned control, and cultivated with minimum rest while also nurturing her phoenix fire intent.

Walking along a paved path with waist-high flowers on both sides and carpet grass behind the flowers, spreading to the horizon, Xiu Ying hummed to herself.

Her melodic tune entertained her as she looked around the desolate yet incomparably beautiful place.

This was her master's island.

It was one of the several floating islands above the clouds, orbiting the autumn mountains.

Plucking a flower, she admired it for a moment and then flames erupted from her palm, forming tendrils that coiled around the flower, eventually consuming it.

A smile formed on her face.

Suddenly, she thought of something and soared forth, intermittently stepping on the ground and floating once again.

Eventually, arriving before the edge, a barrier stopped her from falling off. However, that wasn't her intention.

"It's been a month. Will Old Cat finally leave that small abode and do something?" She hissed, lightly hitting the barrier.

"It seems the rumors are true." An angelic voice made Xiu Ying turn. Hovering several feet into the air was her master, wearing a gentle smile.

"What rumours?"

"That you dealt with Elder Lu Yan as an outer disciple. I saw his scrunched face and it was quite amusing," Mo Xueyi chuckled.

"Tsk!" Xiu Ying clicked her tongue.

"Have you mastered the Red Lotus technique?" Mo Xueyi asked softly.

"Mn, I've learned a little." Xiu Ying bit her lower lip, her eyes shifting about.

"Stop being unserious, Xiu Ying. Go study that technique and the Dharma of Self-Transformation and show me what you've comprehended at nightfall." 

Taking one last glance at the clouds below, Xiu Ying nodded. 'I've been thinking about him a little too much. It's been a month already. Enough of this.'

Xiu Ying's demeanor changed and she walked toward the manor situated at the mountain's peak.

****

Inside a small abode, a raven-haired man sat cross-legged on a wooden bed and his fists were joined.

While his eyelids trembled, his fluctuating aura slowly regained stability. 

Opening his eyes, Li Chen held his chest, came down, grabbed his sword, and left the abode.

Although his wounds had healed, he still struggled to negate the effects of Lu Buping's energy on his internal system.

"Isn't that Li Chen?"

"It's him. He looks like a feeble grass."

"Senior Lu wasn't merciful. He should have spared the newbie."

"He can't even walk properly."

"You're talking about walking. I heard he hasn't even increased his level since then."

Ignoring the annoying voices and even some blatant mockery, Li Chen proceeded till he arrived in the discipline hall.

[Disciple Li Chen greets Elder Lu Yan!] Li Chen cupped his hands.

Lu Yan examined the man, whose cupped fists were slightly trembling. 

"In this state, he'll barely be able to profit from the baptism." 

The youth Xiu Ying met whispered into Lu Yan's ears and a smile crawled up his lips. 

"Follow me," his voice boomed.

They walked into a small chamber behind the main hall and Li Chen saw a rectangular tripod on a metal platform.

The platform was made for the large ancient tripod. The carvings on the tripod depicted images of scenarios that occurred over a thousand years ago.

The tripod was large enough to fit a dozen people! 

Li Chen's eyes narrowed when he saw four inner disciples walk into the room, led by an outer elder.

Approaching the tripod, Li Chen and the others saw the greenish bubbling water and took a step backward.

"That medicinal bath has the essence of a four-eyed striped crocodile. Remove your clothes and go in." Lu Yan said.

Others quickly removed their shirts and entered the tripod, while Li Chen slowly removed his top. He could feel others' piercing gazes, but he wasn't bothered.

After removing his top, the bandages around his body were revealed. The faint tattoo on his forearm made the Elder next to Lu Yan frown. He slowly raised his hand but thought of something and lowered his hand.

With a piercing gaze, he watched Li Chen grab the top of the tripod and leap in.

"Absorb as much as you can. Every bit refines your body, giving you the physique of a wild beast,"  Lu Yan said.

Li Chen assumed a lotus position and closed his eyes. In a matter of seconds, his body began to itch and the itch slowly became almost unbearable.

His body trembled, and his eyelids trembled even more but he kept absorbing as much as he could.

SPLASH —!

SPLASH —!

Two disciples jumped out of the tripod, scratching their bodies.

Lu Yan and the other outer Elder shook their heads.

Not even ten minutes passed and the others left the tripod, leaving only Li Chen. Although his body trembled greatly, he maintained his posture.

His sheer determination amazed the others. 

"His will is unyielding." The other elder nodded.

"He'll eventually leave. None of them ever absorbs even up to thirty percent during their first baptism." Lu Yan scoffed.

As if waiting for this moment to land a heavy slap on Lu Yan's face, the water swirled around Li Chen.

"What's going on?" A disciple asked, feeling a formidable presence descending in the room.

Unbeknownst to everyone, including Li Chen, deep within his sea of consciousness, a colossal being sat crossed-legged, his golden body glowing brightly in the ever-dark void.

Internally, Li Chen underwent changes. His bones grew tougher, his tendons hardened further and his muscles absorbed the largest amount of energy.

Suddenly, a glowing ball of condensed essence floated out of the water and Li Chen sensed it.

"Isn't that the condensed essence of the four-eyed striped crocodile's physique?" 

Before Lu Yan could react to the situation, which had spiraled out of control, Li Chen grabbed the essence, and it dissolved into his arms, flowing into his body.

[AHH!]

BOOM—!

A burst of green energy blasted upward from the tripod. It moved past the hole on the roof and kept moving until it seemed to reach the clouds!

Lu Yan's hair fluttered as he gazed at the scene with a dumbfounded expression. 'This can't be!'

A silhouette leaped out of the tripod when the energy beam died. The deep growls of a raging beast reverberated from his surroundings.

Feeling the need to exert his energy, Li Chen turned and slammed his feet against the tripod.

BOOM—!

The heavy tripod, easily weighing 3000 jin, tumbled down the platform. 

Clenching his fist, Li Chen stared at his powerful arm, smooth as jade and coursing with such mind-blowing power.

Cracking his neck, a certain glint flashed through his eyes.

Others felt like they watched a broken sword get reforged. His piercing aura billowed off him, threatening to blind them.

[Li Chen thanks Elder Lu for this fortuitous encounter.] Li Chen cupped his hands and bowed. 

The corners of Lu Yan's eyes twitched. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of something on Li Chen's body.

His eyes narrowed greatly and he pointed his finger at Li Chen. "Tell me…"