Lin Yan observed the Martial Arts Tree in his mind’s eye. The tree’s height was rising at an extremely slow, yet undeniably visible, pace.
’This effect isn’t any slower than when I take a Bodhi Pill.’
Lin Yan raised an eyebrow in surprise. According to his master, a single wisp of Cold Gang was equivalent to half a Bodhi Pill. But he had only circulated the Eight Desolates Dragon Elephant Technique for three Circulations, and he’d already achieved the same effect as half a Bodhi Pill.
But more than the effect, it was the efficiency that mattered to Lin Yan.
In the past, it would take him two full days to completely refine the medicinal effects of a single Bodhi Pill. But now, only three Circulations—a mere fifteen minutes—had passed.
’If I can absorb a wisp of Cold Gang in fifteen minutes, then there’s no question what I have to do!’
’Absorb. I have to absorb it frantically!’
One wisp, two wisps, three wisps...
Lin Yan became immersed in this slow but fulfilling growth, losing all concept of time.
...
Before the stone door, Lin Qinghe frowned slightly.
Two days had passed. He had been worried about Lin Yan, which was why he’d made a special trip down here.
Normally, a Martial Artist at the Blood Exchange Second Transformation could last two days at most. Lin Yan had already reached that limit.
He was afraid Lin Yan might have met with some accident.
Although Cold Gang could be absorbed to accelerate the compression of a Blood Exchange Realm Martial Artist’s Qi Blood, the "cold" in its name wasn’t just for show. If one absorbed too much without being able to refine it, it would harm the body.
That was exactly what he feared.
Placing his palm flat against the door, Lin Qinghe used Concentrating Spirit to perceive the situation for a moment. There were no abnormal Qi Blood fluctuations from within, nor any chaotic diffusion of Gang Qi.
Lin Qinghe breathed a sigh of relief. Everything was normal with Lin Yan.
’Well now, this kid isn’t at the Blood Exchange Second Transformation. He’s been hiding his Realm?’
Once he confirmed Lin Yan was unharmed, Lin Qinghe immediately realized what this meant. It was highly likely that Lin Yan was already at the Blood Exchange Third Transformation.
’No wonder the boy was so eager to come in here. Blood Exchange Third Transformation... and with his talent in the Sword Dao... That kid has his eyes on this year’s grand competition.’
’Blood Exchange Third Transformation... Two streams of Perfect Level Sword Intent...’
’The grand competition is just a few days away. Every little bit of improvement counts.’
’With Lin Yan’s current strength, scraping into the bottom of the top ten seems possible.’
’This is going to be good!’
A playful look appeared on Lin Qinghe’s face. When the grand competition began, and Lin Yan took the stage and revealed his true strength, he couldn’t wait to see how many jaws would drop.
’You little rascal, you like to hide your strength, don’t you? Fine, I won’t tell a soul. We’ll enjoy the show together, just the two of us.’
...
Lin Qinghe left. Inside the stone chamber, Lin Yan continued to absorb the Cold Gang with single-minded focus.
He had long since lost track of how many wisps of Cold Gang he had absorbed, only occasionally glancing at the height of his Martial Arts Tree.
Nineteen and one-tenth feet, nineteen and two-tenths feet, nineteen and three-tenths feet, nineteen and four-tenths feet...
When the Martial Arts Tree’s height reached nineteen and five-tenths feet, Lin Yan’s brow furrowed. It wasn’t that he was dissatisfied with the tree’s height; rather, he could feel his body growing stiff.
Although the Cold Gang entering his body was immediately absorbed under the guidance of his Eight Desolates Dragon Elephant Technique, it still had an effect on him.
’Give up just like that?’
Unwilling to give up, Lin Yan’s will surged, and he chose to activate Stone Waist Thunder Ridge.
Stone Waist Thunder Ridge, activate.
A continuous series of cracks erupted from his spinal joints, like the roll of muffled thunder. From his tailbone all the way up, each vertebra trembled, minutely adjusting its position. His entire spine became like a bow being slowly drawn taut, or a flood dragon awakening from a deep slumber, unfurling within his body.
His frame grew visibly taller. A layer of dark golden Blood Gang erupted from his pores, nearly twice as dense as before. His flesh and meridians, which had grown stiff from the accumulated Cold Gang, were like frozen earth touched by a spring breeze, thawing inch by inch, softening and returning to life.
The feeling of stiffness receded.
It wasn’t being suppressed, but cleansed away.
With his body restored, Lin Yan wasted no time and resumed absorbing the Cold Gang.
The fifth day, the sixth day, the seventh day!
The Martial Arts Tree’s height reached nineteen and six-tenths feet, nineteen and seven-tenths feet, nineteen and eight-tenths feet.
By now, the mass of Qi Blood within his Dantian had been compressed to a crimson-gold, the color of blood purified to its absolute limit.
Deep within his being, Lin Yan sensed a change in his body.
At this stage, the Eight Desolates Dragon Elephant Technique was guiding his Qi Blood. In addition to the constant compression within his Dantian, it would also pause at his heart with each cycle, as if preparing to strike something.
’A Gang Acupoint?’
An idea struck Lin Yan. He guided the Cold Gang toward a position an inch below his heart, but as soon as it reached the area, it instantly dissipated. It was as if a barrier there was preventing the Cold Gang from getting close.
’Is the Cold Gang’s energy insufficient?’
Just as Lin Yan prepared to try again, his gaze suddenly shifted toward the stone entrance.
The grinding sound of a mechanism came from the stone door. As it opened a crack, Lin Qinghe’s voice drifted in from the outside.
"It’s been nine days! If you don’t come out soon, you rascal, the grand competition will be over before you get there."
Outside the door, Lin Qinghe sounded somewhat helpless. He hadn’t expected Lin Yan to actually be able to stay inside for a full nine days.
Logically, he shouldn’t have disturbed Lin Yan, allowing him to absorb even more Cold Gang, but the grand competition waited for no one.
If he missed this one, Lin Yan would have to wait another two years for the next.
His only choice was to come and wake Lin Yan. As for whether to participate, that was a decision for Lin Yan to make.
’Nine days have passed already?’
Surprise filled Lin Yan’s eyes. This was the first time he had gone nine days without food or water, yet he felt no hunger.
’Cold Gang... Truly worthy of its name as a form of Heaven and Earth Energy.’
"Thank you, Elder Qinghe. I’m coming out now."

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