Chapter Five: Healing and Strengthening!

“What’s happening?!” Startled by the strange phenomenon in his own body, Su Yi was at a loss for what to do. He watched as that crimson substance began to flow like water, slowly passing by the softly glowing jade pendant. As it did, Su Yi noticed the blood-red matter grew even deeper in color, more vividly scarlet, looking almost like fresh, flowing blood!

“I might not know what’s going on… but it seems this jade pendant can strengthen that crimson substance…” Forcing himself to calm down, Su Yi pondered for a while before making his guess.

After circulating several times, the blood-red substance seemed to have reached its limit. Suddenly, it stopped, then burst apart into a mist of blood, which shrank back abruptly, returning instantly into Su Yi’s body!

At that moment, Su Yi discovered something unexpected—within his body, several streams of cold energy began to flow forth, drifting through his body like mountain brooks, passing slowly through every part of him.

Wherever it went, his muscles and bones, like starving wolves, lunged at the cold stream, ravenously biting and devouring it…

Soon after, Su Yi was amazed to find that his previous hidden injuries were quickly healing!

It wasn’t long before Su Yi felt a newfound clarity throughout his body, the fatigue of the day swept away. He stretched out his right hand, clenched his fist tightly before his eyes, then released it, clenched again, released again—repeating the motion several times.

“Could it be that blood-red substance?!” Su Yi thought in astonishment. With his current level of cultivation, to achieve such comprehensive and smooth healing would have taken at least most of a day!

Yet for some unknown reason, his injuries had healed so quickly! And what’s more… he felt stronger now?!

This was incredible to Su Yi—healing alone would have been impressive, but the injured spots were actually strengthened as well?!

What kind of power was this? Su Yi couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. Then, regaining his composure, he speculated that there might always have been some hidden mysterious energy in his body, lying dormant without his knowledge.

For reasons unknown, it had been awakened today. It didn’t seem to be aggressive, but its ability to heal wounds was astonishing!

Before Su Yi could consider it further, a wave of intense swelling pain swept through his whole body! The sensation was overwhelming, making him furrow his brow as if he might explode at any moment!

Though his body didn’t literally rupture, it felt as if some energy was surging madly inside him, muscles tearing as though countless tiny blades were slicing him apart from within!

“Ah!” Su Yi gritted his teeth, determined to endure, and just as he nearly reached his limit, the mysterious cold stream began to flow again, bringing relief and healing wherever it passed, even to the torn muscles, and leaving behind a hint of hidden strength…

Relieved, Su Yi let out a breath and was astonished to sense his physical strength had increased significantly in this short span!

He had once been a level-ten Battle Practitioner, so he had some experience with power. Now, his instincts told him his physical strength was already on par with a level-two Battle Practitioner!

Realizing this, Su Yi could barely believe it. Battle energy could indeed strengthen the body, and as a former level-ten practitioner, his body had been enhanced. But after losing his energy, that strength had gradually faded, and recently he’d been no stronger than an ordinary person.

Yet now, by physical strength alone, he was comparable to a level-two Battle Practitioner?!

In disbelief, Su Yi threw a punch; the faint whistle of air and the surge of power in his arm sent his spirits soaring!

Indeed, this strength matched that of a level-two practitioner! Though still below his former level-ten self, it was undoubtedly much stronger than his current energy allowed!

“How is this possible?” He hadn’t even begun to cultivate battle energy again—so how did he gain such a powerful body? He’d never heard of energy alone fortifying the body to such a degree.

The only explanation was that mysterious blood-red substance!

Su Yi’s gaze sharpened. Lifting his arm, a wild idea struck him. He brought his arm to his mouth and bit down hard!

A bloody mark appeared on his arm, and, to his shock, he watched as the wound healed at a speed visible to the naked eye!

Moreover, his lingering sensitivity from being a level-ten practitioner let him sense, to his further astonishment, that the power in the healed spot had grown stronger!

“This is insane… If I keep injuring myself, wouldn’t I just keep getting stronger?! And that jade pendant I’ve always worn even started glowing—what’s its origin? It must be something extraordinary!”

Though uncertain about what the future held, Su Yi’s heart pounded with excitement!

But… should he continue cultivating battle energy at all?

Even as excitement surged through him, a trace of hesitation flickered in his heart. Though he wouldn’t admit it, the prospects of this path…

He didn’t know how much time had passed when the cold stream flowing through his body gradually faded, and fatigue crept back in. Unable to puzzle it all out, he let go of his thoughts, his eyelids growing heavy, and finally drifted into a hazy sleep…

…

A ray of sunlight pierced the darkness, and soon it was already bright outside.

Blinding light startled Su Yi awake. He sat up, feeling inexplicably refreshed, as if he’d had a wonderful dream.

Glancing out the window, he was surprised. “Is it this late already?” Normally, he would have been up early to start his training.

Remembering last night’s strange events, excitement stirred within him. Though he hadn’t become a Battle Practitioner again, he now possessed the strength of a level-two practitioner. It wasn’t much in his previous eyes, but only after losing it did he realize its value—right now, it was more than enough for him…

He opened the door, greeted by the fresh scent of earth. Su Yi closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and felt his spirits lift further. Hands clasped behind his back, he walked slowly toward the auction house along the stone path.

By then, others were already walking in twos and threes toward their respective posts, filling the air with greetings and cheerful banter.

“Hey, did you hear? Last night, the Lie Family got robbed!”

“The Lie Family? Really? They’re one of the top powers in Changling City—who would dare target them?!”

“Exactly! The clan leader, Lie Chen, is a Xuan-rank cultivator, said to be at the fifth grade Battle Lord level, plus all the other experts in the family. Robbing them is suicide!”

“Pfft! Don’t overestimate them. Even at the fifth grade Battle Lord level, among Xuan-rank cultivators there’s a division between Battle Lords and Battle Dragons. Even a peak sixth grade Battle Lord would be helpless against a Battle Dragon!”

“So you’re saying the robber was a Battle Dragon expert?”

“Heh! Not to brag, but I’m pretty well-informed around here. A guard from the Lie Family let slip something—guess what he saw last night?”

“What else, the robber?”

“Hey, don’t keep us hanging so early in the morning. Spit it out!” a crowd of voices urged impatiently. The man, basking in their attention, stretched out the suspense before finally lowering his voice mysteriously. “He saw the robber, yes, but—”

“He was flying in the sky!”

A thunderclap of shock silenced the crowd.

“No way… One of the empire’s top ten experts turned to thievery?!”

“Yeah, people like that usually hold power and influence in the empire. Why would they…”

“Maybe they’re just making excuses to shift blame…”

Su Yi frowned slightly at the news. He didn’t much believe that an expert of at least Battle King rank would do such a thing. Habitually stroking his chin, he muttered, “Could it have been a flying battle technique?”

“Flying battle technique?” A nearby guard turned at his words, his eyes showing a hint of disdain. Hearing what Su Yi had said, he couldn’t help but reply with a mocking tone, “Flying battle techniques have been around for years, but let’s be real—they’re pretty useless! Just forming battle energy wings on your back burns through so much energy that even a Battle Dragon can barely manage. Earth-rank cultivators might handle it, but by then they can already fly naturally. Why bother learning a flying technique?”

Su Yi nodded in agreement. Indeed, even a Battle Dragon expert would only use such a draining technique to experience flying, not to fight. It wouldn’t be realistic to rely on it in battle.

But perhaps the intruder snuck in first, then stole, and only used the flying technique to escape? To know for sure, he’d have to learn the details of that night’s events.

While talking, the group reached the auction house and split up for their respective duties. Su Yi glanced at the others, shook his head slightly, and slowly made his way toward the appraisal room.

To stay at the auction house, one had to work—there was no free lunch. He had once been among the guards, but after his decline, he could only find other work.

Su Yi had spent a few years at the auction house and had seen many herbs, battle techniques, and weapons sold there. With this experience, he was at least competent enough to help out in the appraisal room.

Just as he was about to leave, someone called his name. He turned to see an old man standing there, smiling warmly at him.

“Uncle Moben, is there something I can do for you?” Su Yi approached and asked politely.

Moben smiled kindly and nodded. “The young lady has requested your presence.”

Me? Su Yi found it odd but nodded nonetheless. Under the jealous gazes of the others, he followed Moben to meet Maya.