Alfred extended a finger. A gentle thread of soul power wrapped around the vine and carried it above the bathtub.

With a precise pinching motion, an invisible force twisted sharply, snapping the vine cleanly in two. Pale azure liquid streamed down, dripping into the steaming water below.

The juice dispersed instantly, tinting both the water and rising steam a soft blue. The fragrance thickened, saturating the air.

When every drop had been extracted, only the vine's husk remained. Alfred's eyes flashed. His finger flicked rapidly, soul power shaped by the Mysterious Heaven Method condensing into invisible blades. They pierced the husk dozens of times in an instant.

The vine exploded into fine powder, drifting down like mist and dissolving into the bath without a single grain wasted.

Ray stared, eyes glowing with awe. Alfred hadn't summoned his martial soul once. Every step had been completed through sheer control of the Mysterious Heaven Method.

This… this is real mastery.

Next came the thousand-year Land Dragon Tendon.

Among the four spirit items, it looked the most ordinary. About two meters long, tan in color, and several times thicker than the vine.

"This tendon was originally five meters," Alfred said calmly. "It shrank during processing. Under normal circumstances, it must be boiled for three days and nights before it can be used. But since we're extracting it into a broth, there's only one way."

He stepped forward, lowering into a half-squat. With a wave of his hand, the tendon floated up. His palms faced each other, and a spiraling current of wind formed between them.

Controlling Crane, Capturing Dragon.

Ray recognized the art immediately.

Left hand Controlling Crane. Right hand Capturing Dragon.

Alfred's hands rotated in smooth, circular arcs. His internal soul power surged, growing denser and stronger as the tendon began spinning faster and faster.

A sharp whirring filled the room.

Despite the storm of power between his palms, Alfred's upper body remained utterly still. Ray could sense the immense force being restrained, yet not a wisp of it leaked outward.

Teacher's control… it's terrifying.

The tendon's tan color slowly deepened into red. Air screamed around it as friction built.

Pressure from the Controlling Crane, Capturing Dragon, combined with high-speed rotation and intense air friction, began to soften the tendon.

Gradually, it curled inward, compacting until it resembled a tight, scarlet dumpling.

Can it be used like this? Ray's understanding of the art was shattered and reformed.

After a quarter hour, droplets of red liquid began to fall. Each drop hissed upon contact with the water, releasing thick steam. Ray felt the bath's temperature climb.

The liquid mixed in, turning the water murky.

Another quarter hour passed. The tendon was completely reduced to juice, the bath now a dark, unsettling green. The once-pleasant fragrance was overwhelmed by a pungent, fishy odor, the two scents wrestling for dominance.

Alfred straightened and retrieved the thousand-year Sea Dragon Marrow.

This item required far less effort. He compressed it with soul power, wringing out its essence as easily as the vine. When it entered the bath, the water itself barely changed, though the steam took on a faint pink hue.

At this point, the bath looked utterly terrifying.

"Go in," Alfred said, nodding.

Even for him, this method was unprecedented. Curiosity flickered beneath his calm exterior.

Ray inhaled deeply, forcefully banishing thoughts of three years' worth of hard-earned money dissolving into that tub. He picked up the Dragonscale Fruit and bit down.

Sour.

Violently sour.

The taste nearly made him choke.

Three million. Over three million! he roared silently, forcing himself to chew and swallow every bite, even the skin.

As the fruit settled in his stomach, heat bloomed outward. Ray stripped quickly and dipped a toe into the tub.

Hot!

Far hotter than expected. The Land Dragon Tendon's essence had driven the temperature to an almost unbearable level.

Teeth clenched, he lowered both legs in. Tears welled in his eyes, but he endured.

"Clear your mind. Steady your breathing," Alfred instructed.

Ray exhaled sharply and began circulating the Mysterious Heaven Method.

The Dragonscale Fruit responded instantly. Warmth surged from his abdomen, flowing through his limbs.

He thought the internal heat would help him adapt.

Instead, it amplified his sensitivity.

His body trembled violently.

At that moment, Grandpa Miel's voice echoed in his mind, grave and commanding. "Submerge completely. Leave only your head exposed."

Heart pounding, Ray clenched his jaw and plunged the rest of his body beneath the surface.

Agony.

It felt as though he were being boiled alive.

Only sheer willpower kept him from leaping out.

Endure. Endure it.

Eyes squeezed shut, he forced himself to remain still.

From Alfred's perspective, Ray's skin turned crimson the instant he submerged, like a freshly cooked shrimp. His body twitched uncontrollably.

Alfred frowned. Is this really safe? I've never heard of such a method. Where did he even learn it?

He raised a hand, prepared to summon his martial soul and cool the bath—

Then he froze.

A faint golden mark had appeared on Ray's forehead.

Even with his keen eyesight, Alfred could barely make it out. It seemed to consist of three thin golden lines, intricate and ancient.

Alfred's pupils shrank.

"What… is that?"

It took only moments after the golden mark appeared for Ray's entire body to be laced with fine, glowing lines of gold. They spread like an intricate network, wrapping him in an almost sacred brilliance.

As soon as the golden patterns surfaced, his breathing steadied. The violent tremors that had wracked his body gradually eased, as though he were finally adapting to the searing pain.

The golden lines pulsed rhythmically, releasing a strange energy that flowed across his flesh. It was not soul power. It was something purer, deeper, and far more profound.

Alfred's eyes narrowed as he silently observed, relying solely on his perception.

Such vigorous blood essence…

He had never seen blood energy surge with such ferocity in a human body.

Golden scales surfaced on Ray's right arm, stopping just short of forming the dragon claw. Yet these scales were different from before. They were sharper, more refined, and dazzlingly radiant, as though forged anew.

The water around Ray began to bubble, truly resembling a pot brought to a rolling boil. His body trembled lightly within it.

The golden patterns grew clearer, emitting a faint, rumbling resonance. Wisps of golden breath streamed from his nose and mouth. With every exhale, his body was further tempered and refined.

So his bloodline truly is being refined…

Alfred nodded to himself. There was no longer any doubt. Ray could endure this, and the results would be extraordinary.

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