Chapter 540: Chapter 341: Because He Is Still Alive - Part 2
Knowing that General Frozen was interested in this young man, Wan Qiao suddenly found herself intrigued. Previously, this youth was merely Lan Feng’s vessel, but now, she began to take notice of this man.
"Stay here for a while," she said firmly. It was evident that arguments were unwelcome. "I’ll help you train. Your physical condition is certainly weak. Any one of my guards—even those ranked lower than you—could send you sprawling in actual combat. That’s something we need to address. Secondly, you need to accelerate your cultivation. As an expert, roses don’t bloom on laziness; you must work hard!"
Hearing her words, Yan Xiaobao was utterly baffled by her sudden change of attitude. However, upon hearing her offer to assist him in training, he found it too good to refuse.
"I came here for the first time hoping for your help to leave the Divine Domain," Yan Xiaobao began, but before she could deny him, he quickly added, "Your offer is far better than what I originally wanted. But my friends are worried about whether I’m still alive. Help me send a letter to them, and I’ll gladly stay here to train under your guidance."
"Humph," the woman snorted at him, but after pondering for a moment, she nodded. If she truly wished to teach him, it would be best not to focus on nor worry about him returning to his friends in another nation.
"Write them a letter tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll send it out. You better prepare yourself to start training with me tomorrow. If you ask Lan Feng, I believe he’ll tell you exactly what it’s like." A cruel smile appeared on her face, sending a shiver down Yan Xiaobao’s spine. It was clear that this training would be hellish, but despite that, Yan Xiaobao felt thrilled. He yearned to become stronger, something achievable only through rigorous training.
As he thought he would have some respite, Wan Qiao suddenly stood up. Leaning closer to the young man, her brows furrowed.
"Boy, why do you smell like a magical beast?" Her voice was dangerously low and sharp enough to feel like it could pierce anything. "This is definitely not Lan Feng’s scent. Boy, are you trying to deceive me? Are you truly not a magical beast in disguise?"
Hearing her accusations, Yan Xiaobao froze for a moment. Lan Feng had warned him not to deceive Wan Qiao; instead, he should value his life above his secrets.
"I don’t know how to explain it," Yan Xiaobao sighed deeply, "No matter how I explain it, it’ll sound absurd."
"Try me," she said, her interest piqued by his cryptic response.
"My inner self contains various energy sources. One of them is the beast core of some unknown creature. I’ve been relying on this energy for a long time, and it’s growing stronger and stronger. Unfortunately, I can’t control it, so recently, I’ve avoided using this power."
"You have multiple energy sources within you?" she asked, completely shocked, with disbelief written all over her face. The confusion she displayed was enough to elicit a strange sense of satisfaction in Lan Feng, who silently enjoyed seeing her astonished.
"It’s hard to explain. It feels as though every energy inside me has its own space," Yan Xiaobao admitted, unable to elucidate his inner chaos. This only led him to become more perplexed about himself.
Seeing the confusion on his face, Wan Qiao placed a hand on his shoulder and closed her eyes. A golden light belonging to her surged from his veins and penetrated his meridians, forcing its way toward his Lower Dantian, where it radiated brightly. This allowed her to thoroughly examine his body.
For Yan Xiaobao, being filled with such foreign energy was anything but comfortable. It felt as though his body was being invaded, with the energy forcefully threading through constricted meridians and entering his Dantian.
Despite the discomfort, Yan Xiaobao gritted his teeth and permitted the woman to investigate the contents of his inner self. After a grueling ten-minute examination, she withdrew her energy, and Yan Xiaobao fell to the floor, feeling lighter. His head spun as he attempted to verify that his internal energy and physical condition were still intact.
"How fascinating," Wan Qiao remarked with a smile curling on her lips. She finally understood why Zhong Hui found this young man intriguing.
"Tomorrow, I need you to demonstrate the power of your beast core. We’ll have some additional classes—you and me, alone—where we’ll tame your beast. During my examination, I saw a core belonging to a creature I’ve never encountered before. Truly remarkable."
Yan Xiaobao nodded, his excitement apparent. The opportunity to learn how to control his inner energy was something he had long desired. Now, having arrived at the Divine Domain’s palace, he harbored no regrets. When a servant guided Yan Xiaobao to his designated room, he realized it would likely become his base for the foreseeable future.
Upon entering the room, Yan Xiaobao’s first action was to survey his surroundings. The space was austere, almost resembling a prison cell, with only a stone bed, a stone chair, and a stone table. The overall ambiance felt stark, but Yan Xiaobao knew it held everything he needed. Though there were no storage units in the room itself, a belt laden with storage stones provided an adequate solution.
On the stone table, Yan Xiaobao discovered paper and a pen. Without hesitation, he sat down and began crafting a letter to his friends. While he wasn’t certain of the current whereabouts of Sha Yun, Deng Wu, and Wang Julong, he decided to address his note to the Rong twins, knowing they were members of the main branch of the Royal Academy. He guessed the trio would seek them out upon arrival.
Dear Rong Ming and Rong Xing,
I write this letter assuming you both are still participating in the primary division of the Royal Academy. How many years has it been since we last met? I hope you are both doing well in the Capital.
I imagine you’ve recently encountered Deng Wu, Wang Julong, and Sha Yun. I ask you to inform the three of them that I am safe. However, I’ve now stumbled upon something—something that will keep me occupied for an indefinite period.
I trust our friends have shared stories of our travels. When I return, I promise to recount the rest.
Your friend,
Yan Xiaobao.
As he reviewed the letter, Yan Xiaobao recognized it lacked significant details but conveyed the critical news: he was alive. This, after all, was the main purpose of writing the letter.
Rolling up the scroll, he secured it with a thin thread and infused it with a touch of spiritual energy before sealing it.
Setting the letter aside on the table, Yan Xiaobao moved toward the stone bed and began cultivating. He knew that the next day’s training, considered hellish by Lan Feng, loomed ahead. He couldn’t wait to experience just how grueling it truly would be.
While Yan Xiaobao remained in the room, no one came to disturb him—not even a servant bringing food or water. Clearly, he was meant to fend for himself. Fortunately, he had prepared for this situation by storing ample supplies of food and drink during his journey. Preserving dried meat, fruits, and nuts had proven essential.
Although Yan Xiaobao brought plenty of provisions with him, he rarely felt hungry. Currently, Yan Xiaobao was an intermediate cultivator at Duke University. Inner energy flowed through his body, strengthening every cell and organ. His physique constantly absorbed the essence of the heavens and the earth, naturally sustaining itself.
At this stage, regular eating wasn’t necessary for him—only once a week sufficed. Keeping this in mind, Yan Xiaobao couldn’t genuinely blame Wan Qiao for not providing meals.
The night passed peacefully, with human and Phoenix alike cultivating their inner energy. While refining their energies, their speed was far slower than usual.
Lan Feng still felt traumatized by the thought of undergoing training again, while Yan Xiaobao eagerly anticipated the harsh regimen, knowing it would make him stronger. Strong enough to stand tall without always relying on Lan Feng—a prospect he greatly looked forward to.
With expectations for training overshadowing Yan Xiaobao’s thoughts, he found himself unable to refine the multitude of essences into Qi or spiritualize his spiritual energy into divine energy. All he could do was imagine the training that awaited him.
*Knock* *Knock*
At the first light of dawn, a servant knocked on the door. Yan Xiaobao immediately rose and opened the door, his eyes glimmering with excitement.
The journey to the training grounds was long and winding. They passed through countless hallways, magnificent gardens, and exquisite terraces. Humans and beasts roamed freely, while lakes teemed with various fish and birds fluttered about. The entire palace was breathtakingly beautiful, rich with exotic charm, leaving Yan Xiaobao spellbound.
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