Chapter 555: Half a Month Later

As a four-star master teacher, his eyesight was astonishing. The pill in the other's hand, though appearing high-end, was actually an aphrodisiac for savage beasts.

The more powerful the savage beast, the lower the success rate of mating. To ensure better reproduction, beast tamers usually fed this pill to the beasts.

After taking it, the beast's body would react, working day and night to guarantee fertility.

This pill was even larger than a fist, specifically used to induce estrus in savage beasts. And he was supposed to take it?

Jun Ruohuan swallowed his saliva, feeling like he wanted to die.

"That's right, this is indeed a medicine for savage beasts, but it's just right for your current situation. Hurry up and take it... Oh, by the way, you must swallow this pill whole, not chew it slowly..."

Zhang Xuan instructed.

"Swallow it whole?"

Jun Ruohuan swayed.

How could he swallow a fist-sized pill? Even if his mouth could fit it, his throat couldn't swallow it down.

Big brother, what grudge do I hold against you? You're not trying to help me improve my cultivation, but to kill me, right...

"It must be swallowed whole, without any mistake, or the effect will be lost!"

Casually tossing the pill to Hall Master Kang, Zhang Xuan instructed: "You're his teacher, so help him swallow it!"

"Me?"

Seeing the aphrodisiac for savage beasts land in his palm, Hall Master Kang's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help but look up: "This... can it really help Jun Ruohuan improve?"

"Of course!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Alright then..."

Hall Master Kang gritted his teeth: "Jun Ruohuan, come over and take the medicine. Hey, don't run..."

With a low shout, he grabbed Jun Ruohuan with a big hand, pressed him to the ground, gritted his teeth, and stuffed the large pill into the other's mouth, then surged his true energy to force it down his throat.

"Cough, cough..."

Jun Ruohuan coughed incessantly, tears and snot streaming down.

He no longer looked like a young master at all, but rather a beggar.

All so-called grace and temperament were thrown to Java, cast beyond the nine clouds.

"Stop the nonsense, guard your primordial unity, and cultivate according to the technique!"

Seeing him still had time to let his nose run, Zhang Xuan shouted.

"Yes!"

Though full of frustration, he knew that if he didn't comply and was fed another pill, he'd want to die. Jun Ruohuan quickly sat cross-legged.

As soon as he sat down, he felt an unbearable heat burning through his body, and all his pores opened wide.

Boom!

The originally narrow meridians that blocked the flow of true energy expanded under the stimulation of the medicine. The previously turbid true energy seemed to become clear in an instant, and with a roar, it passed through smoothly.

Crack! Crack!

The shackles of his cultivation at the early stage of Mortal Transcendence Fourth Layer emitted a crisp sound, and he broke through to the middle stage.

"It... really succeeded?"

Hall Master Kang was startled, and Palace Master Wu on the side also widened his eyes.

Originally, they thought Zhang Xuan's method was bizarre and unbelievable, but seeing Jun Ruohuan break through with their own eyes, they realized that the other truly had the skill and... had found the crux of the problem.

"Well, his true energy is blocked. To get it through, two methods are needed: first, to expand the meridians; second, to purify the true energy..."

Seeing their shock, Zhang Xuan smiled: "That aphrodisiac just now works on savage beasts, speeding up blood circulation and expanding meridians. It naturally has the same effect on humans!"

When Jun Ruohuan had competed with him before, he had used his master teacher abilities, and the library had already recorded the flaws. Although half a month had passed, his cultivation hadn't changed, so the flaws naturally hadn't changed either.

Thus, Zhang Xuan easily found the crux.

Moreover, what he just said was only part of the reason. More importantly... he had secretly infused a strand of Heavenly Dao true energy into the pill. After the other took it, not only did his meridians expand, but his true energy was also diluted and purified, making breakthrough naturally easy!

However, Heavenly Dao true energy was too important. Hidden in the pill and swallowed whole, it could go undetected. If chewed slowly, it would be easily noticed. That's why he had Hall Master Kang force it into his mouth.

Once the medicine entered the stomach, it dissolved, and the Heavenly Dao true energy merged with his own power, diluting the true energy and becoming undetectable.

"This..."

Hall Master Kang was stunned.

Although he felt it wasn't that simple, the student's smooth breakthrough was right before his eyes. Besides this explanation, he couldn't think of a better reason.

"But... what about after the breakthrough? The medicine's effect should still be there, right?" he couldn't help asking.

This method could make someone break through, but what about after?

Such a large pill, its medicinal properties still present—how to resolve that?

"Oh, I haven't thought about that!" Zhang Xuan shook his head matter-of-factly.

"Haven't thought about it?" Hall Master Kang swayed. Jun Ruohuan, who was cultivating cross-legged, felt a tightness in his chest and nearly suffered a qi deviation.

What do you mean by 'haven't thought about it'?

You made me take such a large aphrodisiac, and now... I'm left to fend for myself?

"Don't worry, it's just a beast's aphrodisiac. Beasts have low intelligence, so it's understandable they can't resist. But Young Master Ruohuan can't possibly be worse than a beast, can he? Surely he can resist!"

Zhang Xuan said, "Doing this will, first, help him break through, and second, test his willpower... A堂堂 Mortal Ascension realm Fourth Layer expert who can't even control such desires is far too weak!"

"Hmm!" Hall Master Kang nodded.

Mortal Ascension experts already have strong control over themselves; though the desire between man and woman is intense, they can still restrain it.

Compared to breaking through, it is indeed trivial and not a big deal.

"..." Young Master Ruohuan wept again.

He thought there might be a solution, but it turned out he was truly left to fend for himself... For a moment, he was immensely distressed, unsure if it was heartache or a physical reaction.

"Thank you, Teacher Zhang!"

After who knows how long, having finally consolidated his cultivation and suppressed his desires, Young Master Ruohuan came before Zhang Xuan and bowed deeply.

Though the process was long and cruel, he was truly convinced by the man before him.

The resentment from having the Mother Water devoured clean had vanished completely.

To be honest, even if the Yin-Yang Pool had remained intact, in a month he would at most have advanced from the initial stage of Turbid Clarity to the mid stage. Now, breaking through in the blink of an eye had already exceeded expectations.

"You're welcome. Your meridians have been widened, and your true qi flows swiftly. As long as you have enough medium-grade spirit stones, breaking through to the peak of Mortal Ascension Fourth Layer within a month is no problem!"

Zhang Xuan nodded with satisfaction.

The Heaven's Path true qi had merged into the other's body, diluting the originally viscous true qi. Future cultivation would surely be smoother and yield greater progress than now. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he had turned misfortune into a blessing.

"Teacher Zhang has improved my disciple. I am deeply grateful. These five medium-grade spirit stones are a token of my gratitude..."

After carefully examining his student's body and knowing it had undergone a transformative change, Hall Master Kang realized it was far more than just taking an aphrodisiac pill. He flipped his wrist, took out a jade box, and respectfully handed it over.

Master teachers also require payment for guidance. The other's methods were unfathomable, surpassing even him, comparable to a five-star master teacher. Though five medium-grade spirit stones were many, as compensation they were still somewhat insufficient.

However, this was all he had; even if he wanted to offer more, he couldn't.

"Hall Master Kang, you're too kind. It was also my fault for rendering the Yin-Yang Pool unusable..."

After a polite remark, he took the jade box, removed one spirit stone, and tossed it to Ruohuan, who was not far away: "Cultivate diligently recently. Refining this should allow you to reach the peak of Mortal Ascension Fourth Layer!"

Then he took out another and handed it to Zhao Ya. Turning to Palace Master Wu, who was nearby, he said, "Palace Master, since that Mother Water has been wasted, could I borrow the Ice Plain from your Ice Origin Palace?"

Though the yin-yang energy in the Mother Water had been absorbed clean, the earth vein and the Ice Plain remained.

"What do you want to do?"

Palace Master Wu looked wary.

The Ice Plain was the lifeblood of the Source Fire Ice Plain people, rarely lent out.

"Nothing much. Zhao Ya has a pure yin constitution. Merging with the Ice Plain will allow her cultivation to advance rapidly. Barring accidents, it can resolve the issue within your body in about half a month. If she cultivates step by step, it would be difficult without half a year."

Zhang Xuan hesitated, then said.

He had originally thought the Yin-Yang Pool could also help Zhao Ya advance quickly, but now that it was destroyed, he had to think of other ways.

Fortunately, the Ice Plain remained; using it might yield even better results than the so-called Yin-Yang Pool.

"This..."

Palace Master Wu was stunned.

She hadn't expected the other to still be thinking of curing her ailment.

Suppressing her breathing, Palace Master Wu said, "She has a pure yin constitution, which is crucial to us Source Fire Ice Plain people. It's nothing to give her a portion of the Ice Plain, even the whole thing. I'll go fetch it..."

With that, she turned and left.

Before long, she returned with a jade box.

Opening it gently, inside was a spirit-stone-like object emitting intense cold, as if it could freeze a person into an ice lump upon appearance.

Others felt piercing cold at the sight, but Zhao Ya's eyes lit up, feeling her blood boil.

"Zhao Ya, cultivate according to the technique I taught you these days. Ask me directly if you have any questions!"

Handing her the jade box, Zhang Xuan instructed.

"Yes!" Zhao Ya nodded.

"Alright, I need to go into seclusion to cultivate too!"

Having arranged everything, Zhang Xuan said.

Hall Master Kang had given him five medium-grade spirit stones. He gave one to Ruohuan and one to Zhao Ya, leaving three, enough for him to advance to the peak of Mortal Ascension Second Layer.

Palace Master Wu had someone arrange several clean rooms for everyone to stay.

Zhang Xuan, Ruohuan, and Zhao Ya all began to cultivate diligently.

Time passed quickly, and half a month went by in the blink of an eye.

With the help of the three medium-grade spirit stones, Zhang Xuan broke through to the peak of Mortal Ascension Second Layer that very day, and then spent the time consolidating his cultivation.

As for Young Master Ruohuan, he had finally reached the late stage of Mortal Ascension Fourth Layer two days ago.

However, among the three, the one who made the most progress was not him, but Zhao Ya.

In half a month, with the aid of the Ice Plain, her constitution had been successfully activated by thirty percent, and her cultivation had broken through from half-step Mortal Ascension to Mortal Ascension Fourth Layer! Her personal cultivation was even higher than that of her teacher, Zhang Xuan.

With her cultivation progress, her temperament became even more超凡脱俗. From afar, she looked like a celestial maiden descended from the nine heavens, untouched by worldly affairs.

Young Master Ruohuan was so excited that he developed feelings of admiration, but... remembering Teacher Zhang's power, he reluctantly withdrew his thoughts.

He had suffered so much even without improper thoughts; if he actually had them, he feared he wouldn't survive until the Master Teacher Tournament.