After finishing the two servings of food newly brought by Xiao Hong, Zhao Liuyun still felt an empty sensation in his stomach. He raised his hand and ordered two more.
He continued to study the skill descriptions.
[Class Skill: Focus Power (By mobilizing muscles and causing muscle groups to exert force with high concentration, one can unleash power far exceeding the ordinary.)]
As expected, the skill leaned toward the physical body and strength.
However, Zhao Liuyun's gaze lingered on the words "mobilizing muscles" for a long time.
Earlier, while researching [Adjustment], he had thought about "letting the muscles move themselves as a way to massage and relieve fatigue."
Later, he realized that force originating from the muscles themselves is exercise, while force originating from the outside is massage. By coordinating Controlling Crane, Capturing Dragon with Soul Power vibration, he had truly applied [Adjustment] to his own body.
But now...
The concept he had once set aside had reappeared before his eyes in another form.
Zhao Liuyun held his breath and concentrated, attempting to use his will to drive those muscles that were normally not under voluntary nervous control—
The extensibility granted by [Dexterity] played an astonishing role; the muscle fibers actually began to surge slightly like a tide!
As for the muscles that were already under voluntary control, they were even easier to manage.
Perceiving the source of the signal for muscle activity with surprise, Zhao Liuyun discovered that, like the visual ability of the Demon Dragon Silver Pupils, it originated from Mental Power.
Mental Power transmitted instructions, pulling at every inch of muscle texture like silk threads.
A flash of inspiration struck his mind—
Setting aside the potential combat uses for a moment, this meant that body tempering could also be attempted by applying muscle activity internally. If he could create a compatible set of training methods, he could temper his physique anytime, anywhere, and with persistence...
As a physician who was well-versed in the anatomy and musculature of the human body, Zhao Liuyun felt quite confident in this.
After a trip to the restroom and wolfing down two more portions of food, his hunger finally eased significantly.
He cast a calm gaze toward his status panel.
[Physique: 28]
1 point came from two months of forging and medicinal baths.
6 points came from [Steel Sinews and Iron Bones], which provided 1 more point than [Strong and Sturdy].
Corresponding to the strength of a Rank 28 Soul Master, it was still a bit low.
At times like this, Zhao Liuyun truly envied Huo Yuhao. With a 400,000-year-old Great Beast spirit bone to temper the body, he finished a journey in one step that other Spirit-system Soul Masters couldn't complete in a lifetime.
Spirit bone effects were staggering. While Zhao Liuyun felt envious, he also selected his target—
Ah Yin's Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone.
Setting aside the miraculous effect of regrowing severed limbs, the sheer ability of a 100,000-year spirit bone to transform one's constitution was enough to make anyone covet it.
The only thorny issue was that there was no opportunity in the short term.
Tang San was still at Nuoding Academy, and Tang Hao had long been expelled from the Clear Sky Sect. With nowhere else to go, Tang Hao was certainly traveling back and forth between Ah Yin's location and Nuoding Academy.
If he went now, he would very likely run into him.
He had to wait—wait for Tang San to head to Soto City for school or go to Heaven Dou City.
In the former case, Tang Hao explicitly appeared and even gave Zhao Wuji a beating. However, Heaven Dou City contained many Soul Douluos and even a Titled Douluo like Dugu Bo, and the Sword and Bone Douluos occasionally made appearances. If Tang Hao wanted to protect Xiao Wu, he wouldn't dare leave easily.
That would be the best time for Zhao Liuyun to obtain the spirit bone!
Beyond spirit bones, there was another shortcut to improving physique—
Whale Glue.
Zhao Liuyun had long thought of Whale Glue, which could increase physique without side effects. Currently, it was still treated as an aphrodisiac, so the price wasn't high.
However, since it was produced in the ocean and sourced from difficult-to-handle, large-scale whale-type soul beasts, it truly couldn't be found in ordinary places inland.
The Ye family specialized in the medicinal herb trade and the medical path, so they likely had some. However, this particular shop was mainly a transit point for herbs produced in the Star Dou Great Forest and didn't carry specialties from the coast.
Furthermore, with the persona Zhao Liuyun had cultivated, it wasn't convenient for him to directly ask for it.
Weighing all considerations, he decided to wait for now.
Medicinal baths were sufficient for the moment. He would wait until he had developed a new body-tempering method or until his relationship with the Ye family progressed further before requesting Whale Glue.
As for now...
They provided his food, drink, and medicinal baths. He could also roughly tell this was a test. Zhao Liuyun refused nothing, accepting all the benefits while keeping a mental tally of the favors.
...
About three days passed. Having consumed meals prepared with the meat of century-old soul beasts for several days, the intense hunger caused by the rapid increase in his physique finally subsided.
Coincidentally, the weather outside was bright and beautiful, making it a perfect time for Zhao Liuyun to fulfill his promise from a few days ago.
After requesting permission from Meng Yuan, and accompanied by a Soul King and a Soul Ancestor as guards, he found Ye Lingsi, who was studying hard. "Ling-si, come on. I'll take you out to play today."
"Yay! Yay~!"
Ye Lingsi cheered with great excitement, her tone revealing a sense of relief and liberation.
Zhao Liuyun understood immediately. It wasn't that she absolutely had to go out to play. Born into wealth, how could she have not visited a Soul Hunting Town? This place was nothing more than food stalls and general stores; there wasn't much interest in it.
This little girl, Ye Lingsi, just didn't want to study and wanted to find an excuse to slack off. She was exactly like the students from his past life who faked being sick to skip class.
But—
Catching a glimpse of the cold gaze from her mother, Meng Yuan, out of the corner of his eye, Zhao Liuyun chuckled inwardly.
Your backside is itching; a good spanking will fix that. When we get back, this girl will know what's what.
However, seeing her usual carefree and innocent appearance, she seemed to be the type who forgets the pain as soon as she's fed.
"Wahoo!" The moment they stepped out the door, Ye Lingsi was instantly full of energy, her eyes filled with curiosity as she looked left and right.
Zhao Liuyun gently took her hand to prevent her from getting lost. Behind them were the two silent guards.
"Come on, come on, Brother Liuyun, I'll take you to eat something delicious." Ye Lingsi licked the corner of her mouth and pointed a slender finger toward one side of the street. "Let's go there first, there's a kebab stall that smells amazing."
Zhao Liuyun knew she was just craving treats, so he only smiled slightly and said warmly, "Alright, whatever you say."
One gold soul coin per skewer—the price was quite expensive. But they used high-quality soul beast meat, and the heat was just right. The charred aroma of the charcoal fire, the richness of the fat, the pungency of the cumin and chili powder... various aggressive scents wafted toward them.
One bite revealed a crispy exterior and tender, juicy interior, leaving a lingering aftertaste. People who came to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt souls wouldn't lack this bit of money; the small stall was crowded, and business was booming.
Zhao Liuyun led Ye Lingsi and bought six skewers, and the two ate as they walked. The two guards naturally settled the bill.
"And, and, there's a place over there where the soup is quite good." Ye Lingsi ate happily, skipping as she walked.
While chewing slowly, Zhao Liuyun comforted her with a smile, "Alright, alright, don't rush. Eat slowly, no one is going to take it from you."
As the two were in high spirits, a frivolous voice suddenly cut in.
"Fair-skinned and tender, innocent and lively—what a lovely little girl. Come, tell big brother, what's your name?"
"Brother Liuyun..." Ye Lingsi looked up and timidly gripped Zhao Liuyun's hand.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here." Zhao Liuyun whispered a word of protection and pulled the little girl behind him. He stopped the guards who were about to move and looked coldly toward the source of the voice.
The speaker was a short, stout little fatty. He had short hair, small eyes, and two wisps of a mustache on his upper lip that twitched as he spoke, giving him a somewhat lecherous air.
He wasn't very old, his gaze was lustful, and he had the cultivation of a Great Soul Master...
A surge of disgust crossed his heart, and Zhao Liuyun rebuked him unceremoniously, "Where did a poorly-bred toad like you come from? How dare you make such a racket here!"
"You're the damn toad!"
The lecherous fatty blew his top, his soul power surging and his eyes filled with anger, clearly intending to manifest his martial soul.
"Remember this well, I am a man who doesn't change his name in travel or his surname in hiding—the Phoenix martial soul, Ma Hongjun!"
Afraid that others wouldn't know, he announced his name loudly.
Zhao Liuyun's brow furrowed. It really was this lecherous-by-nature dead fatty. Rumor had it he wouldn't let go of anyone from a six-year-old child to an eighty-year-old grandmother. He had originally thought that was just a joke...
You've only recently come out of your village; you haven't had a good beating yet, have you!
A shimmer of clear light suddenly bloomed in his palm, and the Moonlit Lotus, as bright as moonlight, appeared.
Fights between soul masters were common; passersby were used to it and moved aside, clearing a space. Zhao Liuyun's first soul ring lit up at the same time the lecherous fatty manifested his "Evil Fire Grass Chicken" martial soul.
"First Soul Skill: Stopping Hostilities!"
A flash of purple light flickered.
Thump!
Amid the gasps of the onlookers, the previously aggressive Evil Fire Grass Chicken crashed to the ground. In close-quarters combat, mental power didn't need to be overly concentrated; he just had to aim.
With [Battle Instinct] providing the drive, the instant activation hit the mark, proving almost invincible.
However, Zhao Liuyun felt no joy in victory. He just turned his head and whispered to the Soul Ancestor guard:
"They have people behind them. Go quickly and ask Senior Meng to come."
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