In the southwest corner of the village, in an area dense with desolate houses, there was a rarely frequented large courtyard with two large altars standing there.

The altars contained a blood-colored elixir, and the stench was so strong that it was overpowering even from a distance.

"Madam's beast blood medicinal bath is made from the heart blood of a hundred beasts, along with hundreds of herbs, simmered in an alchemy furnace for hundreds of hours."

"Of course, such a precious broth is naturally for the madam's use."

"These two altars here are 'waste baths,' the discarded froth from brewing the treasured broth, reboiled with fresh spring water to make a bath."

"Although they are waste baths, they are still of great assistance to us clay embryos."

"You've hunted numerous rare species, and rightfully deserve a share of the 'waste bath.' Madam is fair in her rewards and punishments, you should be grateful."

Pang Long walked to the area near the large altar.

Firewood was burning beneath the altar, keeping the beast blood scalding hot.

Only in this way, would the medicinal efficacy not settle, constantly stimulating its potency.

"But let me warn you first."

"The temperature of these two waste baths is extremely high, don't try to endure too much. If you greedily seek its medicinal power and end up cooking yourself alive, it wouldn't be worth it."

"I will also be soaking in the altar, so I won't be able to tend to you. You'll need to gauge this yourself."

Pang Long forewarned.

The altar was as tall as a person, and once submerged, only the head could stay out. Although the elixir wasn't boiling, it was extraordinarily hot, just a light touch would make the fingers burn red and hot.

"So this is a medicinal bath."

Li Xian gained insight.

"But it's not all like this," Pang Long explained, "Martial Artists eat, cultivate, and soak in myriad ways. Just as there are thousands of ways to eat and cultivate, so too are there thousands of ways to soak."

"This is the most common fire soak method."

"Get ready, then jump into the altar. Whether it's suffering or hotness, you'll only know by trying for yourself."

Pang Long grinned, removed his clothes, and leaped up to a height of a yard. His build was rough, but his martial arts mastery was very sophisticated.

He landed into the altar without a splash, unwilling to waste even a drop.

He composed his breath and focused his mind, closing his eyes. The surrounding scorching sensation surged in, unbearably painful, contorting his facial features in a grimace.

But if one wants this kind of medicinal power, they can only withstand it by employing the Qi manipulation technique to alleviate the pain.

Actually...

Disciples from esteemed families often apply a special ointment to various parts of their skin before undergoing fire soaks, to keep the body cool.

To avoid scalding.

But neither Pang Long nor Li Xian had that privilege.

After all, they were merely treating what the madam discarded as treasure.

"Phew."

"This place is serene, Pang Long set it here clearly to avoid disturbances."

"Faced with the medicinal bath, even if it feels like a sea of fire or a mountain of blades, you have to take the step."

Seeing Pang Long's grim expression, his features tightly shut, Li Xian realized it wasn't easy for him. If it was difficult for Pang Long, it would be worse for him.

He removed his clothing.

Grabbing the accumulated snow from the ground with both hands, he smeared it all over his body.

Grabbing the rim of the altar with both hands, he slightly exerted strength, suspending his body in midair before jumping into the large altar. With a "splash," water splattered everywhere.

He ultimately couldn't reach Pang Long's level.

The blood-colored elixir covered his entire body. The intense scalding sensation swept over his body from all directions.

Pain!

Intensely accumulating pain.

Beyond the scorching, it felt like countless ants were penetrating his skin, a pain signifying the medicinal power beginning to work on his physique.

"So this is the medicinal bath?"

Li Xian muttered to himself, and as he opened his mouth, a pale golden mist drifted out. It was the medicinal power coursing through his body, escaping through his mouth.

"No wonder Commander Pang keeps his eyes and mouth tightly shut."

With sudden realization, Li Xian closed his mouth and eyes. Though his outer skin suffered the burns, indescribable pain surged, a cooling medicinal power grew within.

Cleansing various parts of the body.

Nourishing his physique.

Unlike the previously consumed [Essence of Heaven and Earth], this time it was a body-strengthening effect, aimed at enhancing strength, fortifying bones, and honing Qi-blood.

Baking and tempering the innately defective, leaky clay embryo in intense flames.

Filling gaps and fixing defects.

"Commander Pang speaks right, injuring the body would have the opposite effect."

"I should go easy, another half an hour, then leave!"

Li Xian knew, if he forced himself, half an hour more would be sufficient. But the skin's burns would impede the martial practice process for the next few days.

It wasn't worth it.

Focusing on absorbing the medicinal power.

As a blush arose on his skin, through this process, it seemed the skin became more resilient.

Pang Long's body bobbed gently.

"The bottom of the altar being seared by flames was exceedingly hot, the burns on the soles of my feet were far more severe than the skin."

The firewood beneath the altar burned vigorously.

His soles felt like they were stepping on hot coals.

Li Xian suddenly had a bright idea, performing his "Clear Wind Leg," giving the altar a light kick. The altar had no reaction, but the "waste bath" slowly began to swirl.

This was the "vortex force" of the Clear Wind Leg.

Li Xian had an epiphany.

He kicked again, the waste bath forming a vortex in which Li Xian was caught, slowly spinning. Thanks to the vortex's rotation, Li Xian's feet left the altar bottom.

And surprisingly found the scalding sensation on his skin had lessened.

It turned out that this vortex made the medicinal medium even, easier to absorb. Also, given it was midwinter with cold temperatures, the upper layer of the medicinal bath was icy while the lower was extremely hot.

Once the vortex formed, the two levels mixed, slightly reducing the scalding sensation. But overall, it remained quite excruciating.

"Endurance, endurance."

"Who would have thought it was the real test of patience."

Li Xian was on the verge of giving up, but unwilling to exit too soon, he scooped the bathwater with his right hand, pouring it over the firewood.

The flames diminished significantly.

The temperature naturally lowered, hence extending the time without getting scalded.

The medicinal power streamed into his body.

The Qi-blood felt immensely robust.

His Inner Qi also increased correspondingly.

Originally planning to exit the altar after half an hour, he ended up enduring for an entire hour, only jumping off the stone altar once the sensation of medicinal power absorption was gone.

The beast blood formed into blood scabs, sticking to his skin.

"Whew—"

He punched the air, his bones crackling like fireworks.

Whenever muscles and bones grew, there was a similar reaction.

"Commander Pang truly is formidable, enduring such intense cooking for so long."

On another stone altar, Pang Long's features twisted, still enduring. Unlike Li Xian, he persisted through sheer force, but the medicinal power he absorbed was undoubtedly denser than Li Xian's.

Not far away, there was a water well.

Flowing fresh water, Li Xian drew water, gently lifted it. With a "splash," the bucket rose too quickly, spilling water everywhere.

"I've gained so much strength!"

Li Xian was astonished.

Controlling the force this time, he successfully drew cold water, splashing it over his body, washing away the blood scabs.

Li Xian's entire body was fair and radiant, under the moonlight, he appeared like a beautifully crafted jade.

This medicinal bath made his skin tougher, bones harder, and strength greater.

Immense benefit!

His Inner Qi markedly increased, surpassing countless days of hard training.

After putting on clothes, and after a while, there was a "splash," and Pang Long also emerged from the stone altar.

However, compared to Li Xian, he was much more disheveled. His entire body was covered in severe blisters, with far more serious burns.

"It turns out that Commander Pang was truly the one enduring," Li Xian thought.

There was a soft thunderous rumble.

Pang Long too had made significant progress, gradually exhibiting a third phenomenon—Chest Drumming Like Thunder.

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