Chapter Ten Cultivating the Body

  The next morning, in the Lu family's courtyard, Lu Fan watched as a group of workers came and went within his own yard, slightly furrowing his brow.

  "Lu Fan, how about you, do you like red wood furniture or do you like rosewood?"

  Smiling brightly, she stood beside him, facing Lu Fan.

  Lu Fan said slowly: "Actually, where I originally lived was pretty good."

  "Shaking his head, 'No, Lu Fan, you're living too humbly. Originally, your father couldn't help you, but now that your grandfather has given the order to raise your status, your courtyard should naturally have the demeanor of a young master from a large family. At first, your grandfather suggested letting you move to the Qingzhu Garden in the back, but I think this place is still where you grew up and are familiar with, so it's better to stay here. Just expand the courtyard a bit, change some furniture, and fix up the house, that's all. For the next few days, let your grandfather take care of you and go live with him at night, learn more things. Once this place is fixed up, you can come back."

  He patted Lu Fan's shoulder, and the meaning of his words was already very clear, letting Lu Fan follow Grandfather to improve his cultivation.

  There's no doubt that last night's test allowed Lu Haoran to thoroughly see Lu Fan's potential, so the old man is preparing to cultivate Lu Fan alone for a period of time.

  "Alright father, I'll go over tonight."

  Satisfied with their departure, they handed over a small bag to Lu Fan as they left. Upon opening it, he found that it was filled with gold coins, totaling more than ten.

  Lu Fan smiled lightly and put it away, originally he had saved tens of thousands of yuan over the years, but it was not as much as this one time.

  But money is indeed a good thing, can't do without it.

  Taking big strides outwards, since he couldn't cultivate at home anymore, Lu Fan decided to go visit his master and learn some useful things.

  Last night, the two of them got drunk, but Wu Chen still patted his chest and promised Lu Fan that as long as Lu Fan grasped the time to practice, within a year, with his help, Lu Fan would definitely be able to cultivate both internal energy and external aura at the same time, laying the foundation for Wu Chen's so-called dual cultivation.

  Lu Fan was eager to see how his master would help him accelerate his progress. If he could reach the eighth level of Body Refining before next year's annual festival, he might even be able to get into the Martial Arts Academy. That had been his childhood dream!

  Lu Fan quickened his pace, and along the way, he encountered many of the Lu family's younger generation, all of whom whispered to each other upon seeing him approach.

  Jealous and envious glances kept falling on Lu Fan's body, but all of these were ignored by Lu Fan.

  Last night, Lu Fan's performance has already cleared his waste title, replaced by the demon Lu Fan. After all, a three-fold increase in one month is simply beyond the description of a miracle, it can only be said that he is a demon.

  Lu Fan also heard their nickname, but compared to the waste Lu Fan, he was delighted to accept the current title of demon.

  He's just being his usual self, he actually wishes he could be even more so.

  When passing by the martial arts arena, Lu Fan suddenly saw Zhang Yuehan with Lu Ming.

  This woman just returned home for the New Year's holiday and didn't expect to come again today.

  Lu Ming saw Lu Fan with a frown and a cold attitude, while Zhang Yuehan looked at Lu Fan with an unusual gaze. She had heard about Lu Fan's behavior last night, but until now, she still didn't dare to believe it.

  Lu Fan pretended he hadn't seen them and continued walking towards the main gate.

  But just then, Lu Ming suddenly called out to him.

  "Lu Fan, stop right there."

  Lu Fan stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Lu Mingdao: "What's up?"

  Lu Ming said coldly: "You injured my brother, what's there to say? Lu Tianxia's arm still can't move until now."

  Lu Fan furrowed his brow. Lu Ming's words were as if he wasn't his brother at all.

  In fact, in terms of blood ties, he is actually closer to Lu Ming than Lu Tianxiao.

  "What do you want then."

  Lu Mingdao said, "Nothing much. I'm about to go to the academy soon and don't have time to deal with you for now. But three months later, when the Jiang family of Lincang goes on a hunting trip in Xishan, I'll definitely come back. At that time, we can have a good fight and see if you're really not trash anymore."

  As for Lu Ming's low-level provocative tactics, Lu Fan really wasn't interested. However, when they went hunting in the western mountains, everything didn't go according to the Lu family's rules, and when the time came, if Lu Ming really wanted to find him for a fight, he wouldn't be able to dodge it.

  "Suit yourself, whatever you like."

  Lu Fan turned and left, Lu Ming looked at Lu Fan's back and said: "If it wasn't for my father stopping me, I would have beaten him up last night. He really thinks he's capable just because he reached the sixth level."

  Zhang Yuehan stood by silently, without saying a word.

  She stared at Lu Fan's eyes from head to toe, and unexpectedly, Lu Fan really didn't want to look at her again.

  "What's wrong, Yuè Hán?"

  Lu Ming noticed that Zhang Yuehan was a bit distracted and asked softly.

  Zhang Yuehan shook her head and said, "Nothing, can you tell me about the specific situation last night? How did he suddenly become stronger?"

  Lu Ming gritted his teeth and said, "Only ghosts know how he suddenly became so strong."

  。。。。。。

  On the other hand, Lu Fan had already arrived at Wu Chen's store.

  When Lu Fan came in, Wu Chen directly closed the shop door and said, "Go inside."

  With Lu Fan walking to the store, what appeared in front of him was a spacious courtyard, with various wine jars placed along the wall. At the very back, there was a small house leaning against the wall, which was obviously Wu Chen's room.

  In the middle of the courtyard, there is a large three-legged cauldron, with a completely black body and eight dragon-shaped handles, majestic and imposing.

  Wu Chen pointed at Ding and said: "From today on, you will cultivate here."

  Lu Fan was somewhat puzzled and asked: "Master, are you telling me to cultivate in the courtyard or go into the cauldron?"

  Wu Chen said: "Inside the cauldron. The first pass for a Qi Refining Master is to refine the body! If you can't get past this pass, then don't even think about refining your Yuan Qi in this lifetime."

  Lu Fan's eyelids twitched, and he thought of the word "refine body", which sounded terrifying. Wouldn't they just refine him like a dan medicine?

  Lu Fan walked to the side of the tripod, and Wu Chen said at this time: "Take off your clothes and go in. First, let's try it out and see how long you can last on the first day. With your talent, becoming a Qi Refining Master is still a bit difficult. Although I have already helped you to wash your marrow and change your bones, there is still some difference. So this first trial of refining your body is very crucial, try to hold on as long as possible."

  Lu Fan suddenly remembered that legend has it that Qi Refiners are all people with extraordinary talents, and ordinary people have no hope of cultivating them. But what exactly is this so-called extraordinary talent? Thinking of this, Lu Fan spoke up: "Master, what kind of talented person can become a Qi Refiner?"

  "Wu Chen said: 'Yes, of course, it's people who have an affinity with the heavens and the earth, and those who have sufficient yuan yang or yuan yin. For example, people born with the ability to control water and fire, those who are not afraid of thunder, those who can use wind, and so on.'"

  Lu Fan heard that Zhang was a big mouth, and indeed he had extraordinary talent. In comparison, Lu Fan was simply an "useless" ordinary person.

  "Master, can I still become a Qi Refiner? I'm so ordinary and plain."

  Wu Chen smiled lightly and his expression showed confidence.

  "Others may not be able to accept a disciple like you, but I can. In the past, I was also someone with relatively poor talent, and it was only through gradual effort that I reached the pinnacle. I'm telling you, on the path of cultivation, apart from striving, there's nothing else. If you don't have any other talents, then consider making effort your talent. In this world, those who are naturally gifted and exceptionally talented are not rare. But those who single-mindedly pursue their goals, cutting through thorns and never giving up, are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. What you need to be is someone who bravely presses forward, not someone who is complacent."

  Lu Fan bowed his head and said: "Yes, Master."

  "Wu Chen waved his hand and said: 'Alright, hurry up and go in.'"

  Lu Fan took off his clothes and got into the cauldron with his upper body inside.

  A huge cauldron, which could hold ten or eight people without a problem. At this moment, the interior of the cauldron lit up with a bright glow, and then Lu Fan saw words appear, a string of words that emitted flames-like light rushing towards him.

  In an instant, Lu Fan was surrounded by flames, and his body was engulfed in purple fire.

  Outside, Wu Chen stirred the tripod fire with his left hand in a fist and his right hand in a palm.

  The entire courtyard was filled with a surging flow of air, the wind fanning the flames, and purple fire soaring upwards.

  Lu Fan inside the tripod was already in so much pain that he couldn't speak, the pain he had experienced when practicing Bung San Kuen at Western Mountain was nothing compared to this.

  The intense pain made Lu Fan unable to even fall asleep, how he wanted to jump out of the cauldron and escape the sea of fire. But in Lu Fan's mind, Wu Chen's words kept echoing, trying to hold on for a little while longer.

  Moreover, Lu Fan also felt that apart from the pain, his body was not damaged. On the contrary, after introspection, he could see that his meridians and bones were strengthening. It seemed that such burning was helpful in enhancing physical strength.

  Lu Fan forcibly supported himself, his whole body violently trembling.

  Outside, Wu Chen had already stopped urging and was quietly waiting for Lu Fan's outcome.

  It's been many years since he last started the gentle fire tripod. Today, using it once again, it still feels so natural and effortless in his hands. The situation inside the tripod was clear to Wu Chen.

  The fire he stirred up was called the Purple Heart Heavenly Fire, which was specifically used to scorch people's original energy. With this fire, Wu Chen had once made a notorious name for himself in the Refining Qi Realm.

  But as long as the temperature is suitable, Zixintianhuo can also be used to temper and refine the body. Most importantly, it can stimulate a person's yuan yang and yuan yin, allowing them to release their yuan qi. The specific effects of course vary from person to person, but time can make up for this, which is the method Wu Chen found to turn those who cannot become Qi Refining Masters into Qi Refining Masters.

  It looks easy, but in fact, the purple heart fire involved inside is unique, and so is the control of the fire.

  Wu Chen had already adjusted the flame to a level that Lu Fan could accept. As long as he endured the pain, he would appreciate the benefits.

  Wu Chen quietly waited, in his opinion, Lu Fan would be able to hold on for a short while, which was already quite good. Later, he could gradually increase the time, as long as Lu Fan could hold on for half an hour every day, after a month, Wu Chen would be able to refine Lu Fan's "innate talent". At that time, he could formally start practicing the Qi Refining techniques of the Cultivators. Meanwhile, Lu Fan's body would also undergo tremendous strengthening, and it was estimated that it would help him quickly improve his Body Tempering cultivation.

  The time of one incense stick has passed, the time of two incense sticks has gone by, and Lu Fan still hasn't come out.

  Half an hour passed, and Lu Fan still didn't make a move.

  This time, Wu Chen was shocked. If he hadn't still been able to hear Lu Fan's heavy breathing inside the cauldron, he would have thought that Lu Fan had fainted.

  Wu Chen wanted to see how long Lu Fan could hold on. Was he born with a natural inability to feel pain?

  Time quietly passed by, and after two hours had finally elapsed, it was Zi Xintian's Heavenly Fire that burned out first.

  Lu Fan suddenly jumped out of the Wen Huo Ding at this time.

  Lu Fan's entire body turned bright red as he let out a loud roar and punched the ground with all his might.

  But this punch he threw out suddenly brought up purple flames.

  A loud rumble, and a deep pit was blasted out of the ground. Purple flames scorched the earth before vanishing without a trace.