Ling Xiao's return to the inner courtyard lingered for a few days before returning to calm.
Ling Xiao was unfazed by this and continued his tireless cultivation every day. Besides using his Three-Part Returning Qi to gather profound energy every night, he spent most of his daytime practicing the "Vajra Five Transformations" and the rest of his time in the inner courtyard library, seeking out information on the continent's history and related knowledge to broaden his understanding of this world.
Currently, Ling Xiao only knew the first two transformations of the "Vajra Five Transformations": the first transformation, "Skin Refining," and the second, "Tendon Refining."
The first transformation, "Skin Refining," first required strengthening various body parts to maximize their resistance to external attacks. This approach was similar to the Iron Shirt and Golden Bell Guard techniques Ling Xiao had learned in his previous life. In his previous life, Ling Xiao had practiced many impressive martial arts, but lacked any defensive external skills. His goal now was to cultivate the "Vajra Five Transformations" so that he could have something to rely on before his strength could protect him. At the very least, he would have a way to survive against a stronger opponent, preventing him from being easily defeated.
For five consecutive days, Ling Xiao began his mornings with extensive physical exercise, such as long-distance running, frog jumps, and push-ups...
At noon, when the sun shone brightly, he stripped off his shirt and stood in the blazing sun for two hours, then plunged into cold water to cool down. Once cool, he could once again withstand external attacks.
These were the basic steps of "skin refining," a perverted, self-destructive practice.
Now, after over a month of practice, Ling Xiao had become a low-level Xuan practitioner. His physique had become increasingly erect, and after several days of "skin refining," he appeared much stronger, his skin gleaming black, giving off a healthy, vibrant energy. At noon on the sixth day, Ling Xiao was still as usual, sitting in a horse stance, shirtless, arms outstretched, two full buckets of water each, bracing himself under the blazing sun, scorching at its most intense.
Stripe after stream of sweat streamed down his resolute, handsome face, his dark muscles turning red as if roasted on a grill, his flesh ready to be eaten at any moment. The two full buckets of water in his hands remained calm, unwavering.
Not long after, ripples began to form on the water, as if trembling and threatening to ripple out. Ling Xiao gritted his teeth and persevered. He stared at his reflection in front of him, mentally screaming, "Hold on... hold on... two hours are almost up."
Finally, when his reflection reached the spot he had previously marked, Ling Xiao's mind relaxed. The bucket between his hands finally formed a few traces of water. Ling Xiao turned, took two steps forward, and poured the water from the bucket into the large wooden barrel, then jumped back into it.
"Ziz..." As Ling Xiao entered the barrel, a faint sound seemed to emanate. Then, his expression changed, and he couldn't help but let out a "hiss..."
At that moment, it was the sound of his burning body suddenly cooling down when it encountered the cold, like a piece of red-hot iron dropped into water.
Ling Xiao gritted his teeth and began to practice the Five Transformations of the Vajra Technique.
Gradually, Ling Xiao's nerves finally relaxed, and the pain on his face faded. After a while, Ling Xiao jumped out of the bucket, muttering, "It hurts so much! I'm really looking for trouble! Why did I choose this cultivation method? If people saw me like this, they'd think I was a masochist."
Regardless of his complaints, Ling Xiao remained a very stubborn person. Once he chose a path, he would persevere.
...
As the days passed, the Ling family was about to welcome a major event: the annual family test would be held in three days at the inner courtyard's martial arts training ground.
The younger generation of the Ling family was intensively training, striving to improve their strength at both the martial arts apprentice and profound practitioner levels. If they remained at last year's level, they would become a laughing stock. In the Ling family, everyone valued strength and talent above all else.
If a person's strength failed to improve for two consecutive years, they would be expelled from the inner courtyard and assigned to manage the family's external businesses, or to serve as a guard to protect the family's assets. Their status within the family would plummet. Those who hadn't reached the Xuanzhe level before the age of twenty would also be exiled. This clearly shows the Ling family's emphasis on martial arts, a major reason why they consistently held sway over the Li and Luo families.
Ling Xiao ignored all this, seemingly unconcerned, cultivating tirelessly and, in his spare time, teaching Bai Yuxi how to cultivate.
Although Bai Yuxi had always treated Ling Xiao like a young master, he never considered her a servant. Besides helping her with simple daily tasks, he wouldn't let her do any heavy work. Now that he had returned to the inner court, the family had assigned him four servants: two male servants and two female maids. Ling Xiao had his mother, Meng Xiyun, arrange their duties for these four, so Bai Yuxi now had more free time.
Ling Xiao had long envisioned Bai Yuxi staying by his side as his personal maid for the rest of her life. He didn't want his beautiful godsister to become another man's pet. He was a normal man who liked women, especially beautiful ones, and he wanted to possess them all. Therefore, he chose selfishness. Unless Bai Yuxi fell in love with another man, he might let her go, but he would never allow that to happen. What man would complain about having too many women?
In reality, Ling Xiao had underestimated Bai Yuxi's deep devotion to him. She had already chosen Ling Xiao as her young master, and she would never betray him, not even for her own death.
Ling Xiao had originally wanted to teach Bai Yuxi the internal martial arts technique of Sanfen Guiyuan Qi, but it was a very powerful technique, unsuitable for a woman. After careful consideration, he chose the "Water Moon Divine Art," an internal martial arts technique practiced by a woman in her previous life, for Bai Yuxi to practice, and then taught her the accompanying sword technique, the "Water Moon Sword Technique." This set of martial arts and sword techniques were created by Ling Xiao's previous life, Uncle Shuiyue. He was a peerless master second only to his old ghost master. He only accepted one female disciple in his lifetime, but she was tragically killed by the Ghost Gate. In a rage, Uncle Shuiyue, using the Shuiyue Sword Technique, slew twelve Ghost Gate innate masters in a row, until the Ghost Gate leader arrived and forced Uncle Shuiyue to stop. After that, Uncle Shuiyue refused to accept another disciple and passed on the martial arts and sword techniques to Ling Xiao, saying it was a gift for his future wife.
Whenever Ling Xiao thought of Uncle Shuiyue's charming face, a smile of satisfaction would always fill his heart. It was a pity that time could not be turned back.
"Ouch..." A soft cry of surprise rang out. Ling Xiao regained consciousness and saw Bai Yuxi lying on the ground, her brow furrowed in pain. He hurried over, "Yuxi, what's wrong?"
Bai Yuxi turned around, a forced smile on her face. "Master, I... I'm fine." She responded and started to stand, but a sudden pain in her foot caused her to stumble and fall again.
"Be careful!" Ling Xiao dodged, quickly reaching Bai Yuxi's side and holding her up.
"Did you twist your ankle? Don't rush into martial arts training," Ling Xiao asked concernedly.
However, Bai Yuxi lowered her head and didn't answer.
Ling Xiao was about to ask again when he suddenly felt two soft breasts pressed against his arms, a wonderful sensation washing over him.
Ling Xiao looked closely and realized that his hands were actually clasping Bai Yuxi's breasts, holding them firmly. No wonder they felt so comfortable. Ling Xiao gave an awkward smile, reluctantly removing his hands and saying, "S-sorry..."
"No, it's okay," Bai Yuxi replied softly, blushing.
"Come, sit down. Let me see if you've sprained something," Ling Xiao said, quickly changing the subject, secretly exclaiming, "It's so flexible!"
Ling Xiao helped Bai Yuxi to the stone bench and removed her cloth shoes, revealing her delicate, white, round, smooth feet, inviting a gentle caress.
Ling Xiao gently stroked the swollen ankle, saying, "It's swollen, but it's okay. I'll get you some cold water and massage it, and it'll be fine."
After saying this, Ling Xiao stood up to get some water.
Bai Yuxi raised her rosy cheeks, her eyes full of affection as she gazed at Ling Xiao's back. A deep smile spread across her face, as if the pain from the sprain had completely vanished. "Young Master... that's so kind!" Bai Yuxi sighed silently in her heart.
Ling Xiao filled the water and placed Bai Yuxi's slender feet in it to soak. He then transferred some profound energy to her ankles to help loosen the joints and reduce the swelling.
Soon, the swelling on Bai Yuxi's ankles disappeared.
Ling Xiao carefully helped Bai Yuxi put on her shoes and instructed, "Alright, take a day off today. Meditate well. You should be fine tomorrow."
Bai Yuxi nodded, her pretty face blushing as she softly replied, "Thank you, Young Master."
"Silly girl, why are you being polite? You're my... godsister! It's only natural for a brother to take care of his sister," Ling Xiao said with a smile, almost revealing his true feelings.
Bai Yuxi glanced at Ling Xiao and said, "Young Master, am I really stupid?"
"Why do you ask?" Ling Xiao asked in surprise.
"I can't even learn the sword moves you taught me," Bai Yuxi said sheepishly. Ling Xiao consoled her, "Silly girl, you've only been learning for a few days. Kung Fu isn't something you can master in a day. You have to have confidence in yourself. Maybe in the near future you'll even surpass me, Young Master." Bai Yuxi waved her hands repeatedly.
Ling Xiao smiled and was about to say something when a loud cry of surprise rang out from within the room.
"Haha, another breakthrough!" The voice came from the direction of the study. It was undoubtedly Ling Zhan's cry.
Ever since Ling Xiao gave Ling Zhan the half-thousand-year-old black ginseng king, Ling Zhan had been cultivating the Three-Point Returning Qi while absorbing the thousand-year-old black ginseng king's medicinal properties. This was his fifth meridian breakthrough in recent times.
Ling Zhan emerged from the study room refreshed and radiant, a world away from his previous slovenly and dejected appearance. Meng Xiyun also emerged from the house, her face brimming with joy, and approached her husband, excitedly asking, "Brother Zhan, have you become a Level 5 martial artist?"
Ling Zhan gazed at his still charming wife and nodded earnestly, saying, "Yes, I've already broken through my sixth meridian. I believe I'll be able to become a profound practitioner again in a month at most."
"That's fantastic!" Meng Xiyun exclaimed. She had never dreamed her son and husband would be able to cultivate profound energy again. They could finally shed the label of "useless father and son." She felt immensely proud of them, and all the grievances they'd endured over the years instantly vanished.
"Xiyun, I've wronged you all these years. I swear I'll never let you suffer again," Ling Zhan declared solemnly, holding his wife's hand.