Chapter 004: Waterfall Body Tempering

  The next day.

  Yang Tian left early in the morning, heading straight for the back mountains without stopping. His steps were steady, his breathing deep and even, but his speed was fast. Each step covered nearly a zhang (about 3 meters), and the distance between his steps was almost identical.

  If one observed closely, they would notice that when his feet touched the ground, only a faint footprint was left, almost invisible to the naked eye. This showed Yang Tian's exceptional control over his body.

  The mountain path was rugged, but Yang Tian was very familiar with the terrain. His steps didn't falter. After running for a long time, beads of sweat appeared on his nose, and his breathing deepened slightly, but his pace didn't slow down.

  After about three quarters of an hour, the sound of flowing water suddenly reached his ears. Yang Tian finally slowed his pace and arrived at a waterfall.

  *Boom, boom, boom!*

  Ahead, a thousand-zhang-high waterfall cascaded down from above, like a dragon plunging into the sea. The torrent crashed into the pool below, sending up waves as high as a zhang and producing a thunderous roar.

  The water in the pool was deep and icy cold, but the water from the waterfall wasn't cold. However, as soon as it touched the pool, it became freezing. This puzzled Yang Tian.

  This waterfall had become his little secret.

  The main reason was that Yang Tian had accidentally caught a type of fish in the pool called the **Frostfish**. These fish were usually found in the depths of icy pools or extremely cold places, so finding them here was rare.

  These fish were delicious, with an excellent texture, and were considered a delicacy. Not only were they from icy pools, but they were also expensive. They were a great tonic, especially helpful for blood refinement. Cultivating the body required not only good bones but also strong blood energy. Some people were born with insufficient blood energy and had to rely on external supplements.

  Although there were many spiritual herbs that could replenish blood energy, they were not something ordinary people could afford. Only disciples from major families had the privilege to enjoy them.

  Since Yang Tian discovered these fish in the pool, he had kept it a secret. If powerful individuals found out, his life could be in danger.

  Yang Tian's gaze fell on the roaring waterfall above. The torrent crashed against the rocks, and the sound of the roaring water filled his ears.

  After a moment, Yang Tian took a deep breath, clenched his teeth, and a look of determination settled on his face.

  Yang Tian stepped forward, bending his waist slightly, and did something that would leave anyone speechless—he jumped onto a large rock directly under the waterfall, where the torrent was crashing down.

  *Boom, boom!*

  The torrent instantly slammed into Yang Tian's entire body. Unable to withstand the impact, he was pressed against the rock. Excruciating pain spread through his body, and his bones creaked under the pressure. It was clear how much pain he was enduring.

  "Argh!" Clenching his teeth, Yang Tian let out a low roar. His blood energy surged, and he forced his back to straighten. With great difficulty, he managed to sit cross-legged on the rock, enduring the relentless pounding of the waterfall.

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  This was something Yang Tian did every day. Although this method was crude, it was far more effective than meditating in silence. Moreover, with the Ancestral Dragon Ring, the concentration of Heaven and Earth Essence was even more intense.

  *Boom, boom, boom!*

  The torrent crashed into the pool, sounding like thunder. Yang Tian's body, which was on the verge of collapsing, suddenly straightened under the deafening roar. He was completely drenched in the torrent, and within moments, his body was covered in blood streaks.

  "Yang Tian, hold on! If you want to repay your foster father, hold on! If you want to uncover the truth about your family, hold on!" His face twisted in agony as he roared on the rock. The waterfall seemed to echo his roar, its thunderous crashes bearing witness to Yang Tian's terrifying growth.

  *Huff, huff...* His breathing became rapid, and the abundant blood energy in his body rapidly dwindled. Yang Tian's face turned pale, and his teeth chattered from the cold.

  The dozen or so drops of blood energy in his Qi Sea were nearly depleted.

  After a quarter of an hour, Yang Tian's body could no longer withstand the impact of the torrent, and he fell into the pool.

  *Sss...* His nearly closed eyes snapped open as the icy cold water jolted him awake. Struggling, he swam to the shore.

  *Huff, huff...*

  Collapsed on the shore, Yang Tian gasped for breath, slowly recovering from the near-suffocating experience. What he had just done was indeed insane, but to fulfill his determination and to find out what had happened to his parents, the young man had no choice but to train desperately. Only by becoming stronger would he have the right to protect what mattered to him!

  Inside the Ancestral Dragon Ring.

  Yang Tian's figure appeared. He struggled to support himself with his arms, slowly drawing his legs together and forming hand seals. The surrounding Heaven and Earth Essence was stirred, rushing into his body. Yang Tian's spirit was revitalized, and his breathing gradually stabilized.

  His body was like a black hole, devouring the surrounding Heaven and Earth Essence.

  As vital energy washed over his body, his rigid muscles gradually loosened, a wave of tingling sensation spreading through him. The essence of heaven and earth slowly mended his damaged skin, causing the streaks of blood on his body to fade away.

  Blood refinement required not only condensing blood energy but also tempering the body. Only with a strong body could one contain more blood energy. A body as solid as a rock was necessary to advance to higher realms. Disciples from major families used spiritual herbs to temper their bodies, allowing them to cultivate several times faster than wandering cultivators.

  After a while, Yang Tian's damaged skin returned to normal. The repaired skin was slightly tougher than before, but he didn't stop absorbing the essence energy. His skin greedily absorbed the essence, becoming tighter and more resilient.

  The essence energy continuously flowed into his body, nourishing his flesh and blood. A faint glow emanated from Yang Tian's body, and his blood energy once again became abundant, rumbling like thunder.

  The young face, feeling the sensation of growing stronger, broke into a faint smile. It seemed foolish, but beneath that smile lay a terrifying determination.

  *Sigh...* Yang Tian exhaled deeply and slowly opened his eyes. His body was now full of vitality, and his blood energy was much more abundant than before.

  "What a monstrous technique! It used to take hours to recover, but now it only takes a quarter of an hour. Could this be a Heaven-tier technique?" A thought crept into his mind but was quickly dismissed. Heaven-tier techniques were too monstrous. Yang Tian had only heard of them; only those at the pinnacle of the continent's power pyramid had the right to possess them.

  "Come on!" Enduring the tremendous force, the young man's face twisted in determination as he roared, unable to hide the excitement in his eyes.

  *Boom, boom, boom!*

  A series of thunderous roars seemed to respond to the young man. His brows were furrowed with determination. The allure of strength was indeed irresistible...

  As time passed, the sky gradually brightened. Yang Tian slowly opened his eyes, and a faint red light flickered in his gaze. Just as he was about to head to the pool, a faint, almost imperceptible movement came from the distance.

  *Huff...*

  Taking a deep breath, Yang Tian quickly calmed his racing heart. He pressed his hand against the ground and silently moved behind a large rock, his gaze fixed on the source of the movement.

  "Huh? Who's that?"

  Looking at the shadowy figure sneaking over from a distance, Yang Tian frowned slightly. The figure was quite small and thin. Staring at the distant figure, Yang Tian's brow furrowed. This person didn't seem to have good intentions.