C19 Magma Body Tempering

Over a month had passed since the turmoil within the Tang family, and tranquility had once again settled over the household. Yet, there was a newfound sense of confidence in the eyes of the Tang family disciples—a stark contrast to the past.

The phrase "This is the Tang family, I call the shots here!"—uttered by Tang Yuan—had become a rallying cry among the disciples, with some still feeling a surge of adrenaline upon recalling that moment.

Tang Yuan, disinterested in the day-to-day management of the family, entrusted the Tang family's affairs to Tang Hu and Tang Jing. They had been stewarding the family's matters effectively, allowing Tang Yuan to devote the majority of his time to his cultivation.

With less than five months until the opening of the Small Holy Mountain, Tang Yuan was confident he could elevate both his martial and magical abilities to the Spirit Sea Stage.

A natural magma pool had recently emerged in the back mountain, not too far from the Small Holy Mountain. Rumors circulated that a damaged magical artifact had been discovered nearby.

Some speculated that the magma pool might be connected to the interior of the Small Holy Mountain, prompting many to seek their fortune there. However, with no significant finds, the area had become deserted.

Just yesterday, Tang Yuan's martial arts cultivation hit a plateau at Level Five Heaven. To break through, he would need to employ special techniques, and the magma pool was his chosen location for this endeavor.

Determined, Tang Yuan set out for the back mountain and, to his delight, encountered no other cultivators along the way. An uninterrupted practice session was always preferable.

Fortune seemed to favor Tang Yuan, for upon arriving at the magma pool, he found the area deserted. He approached the pool, which was merely ten feet across and had appeared out of nowhere.

"The temperature is quite suitable; it should suffice," Tang Yuan noted with a smile as he gauged the heat.

Cultivating martial arts differed from magic; the latter involved drawing in the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth to reach the Spirit Sea Stage, while martial arts used Spiritual Force to temper the body. By pushing these practices to their limits, one could achieve Saint Becoming, at which point the formidable power of martial arts would be unmistakably evident.

Tang Yuan methodically channeled his cultivation technique, the Chaotic Body Tempering Technique, a martial arts method he had developed in his past life. The full potential of this technique remained a mystery to him, even as he practiced it.

In his previous existence, the woman he loved had achieved Saint Becoming through this very technique, rendering her impervious to ordinary spells.

Now, Tang Yuan was shrouded in Spiritual Force, his figure bathed in a golden glow. He settled himself beside the magma pool, his clothes quickly catching fire from the intense heat. Unperturbed, he remained focused on his cultivation, a layer of black grime forming on his skin.

Eventually, Tang Yuan opened his eyes and wryly smiled at the sight of the dirt covering him. Naked as he was, he'd surely draw a crowd if he ventured out now.

With a moment's hesitation, Tang Yuan cautiously extended a foot toward the magma pool.

"Hiss!"

Moments later, he was nearly hopping in pain, his foot seared and swollen from the magma's burn.

"Determined," he thought, and after several attempts, a determined look crossed his face. Taking a deep breath, he leapt into the pool!

Enveloped in golden Spiritual Force within the magma, Tang Yuan's skin turned a fiery red from the intense heat. In less than half the time it takes an incense stick to burn, he emerged, his skin as red as a well-cooked lobster.

After a brief respite, he steeled himself and plunged back in.

Over the next month, Tang Yuan's daily visits to the pool saw his endurance grow. Eventually, the magma pool felt no different to him than a warm hot spring.

"Is a breakthrough finally within reach?" he mused, exhaling deeply after the prolonged effort.

Other cultivators would likely be green with envy at his rapid progress, advancing from Level Five Heaven to Level Six Heaven in under two months.

Continuing to practice the Chaotic Body Tempering Technique, Tang Yuan felt a distant rumble of thunder within him as the air around him thickened.

Then, with a resonant buzz, he felt a release. The constraints of Level Six Heaven had been shattered at last.

Immersed in the distinct sensations that Level Six Heaven bestowed upon him, Tang Yuan couldn't suppress a chuckle. His hypothesis was spot on: the true path of cultivation lay in the dual practice of martial arts!

"In this lifetime, I am determined to rip through that astonishing Thunder Tribulation. I want to see for myself who is manipulating it!" Tang Yuan's gaze was intense and focused.

As he reflected on the Thunder Tribulation he had once faced, a wave of emotion flickered in Tang Yuan's eyes. He recalled sensing a formidable presence just as he was about to confront the Tribulation. It was fleeting, but Tang Yuan was convinced it was no illusion.

"Had I not been momentarily distracted, how could I have sustained injuries during the Thunder Tribulation? And how could I have been harmed by that treacherous disciple!" The thought of Zhou's betrayal brought a flash of sorrow to Tang Yuan's eyes.

The child he had nurtured from a young age had turned against him!

Shaking off the sentimentality that seemed to have followed him into this reincarnation, Tang Yuan gave his head a wry shake and once again settled his mind.

"This magma pool certainly didn't just appear out of nowhere. There's likely something unusual about it." With this notion in mind, Tang Yuan fell silent for a moment before projecting a strand of Divine Sense toward the magma's depths.

Some time later, Tang Yuan's eyes snapped open, and he broke into a wide smile. Just as he had anticipated, there was indeed something hidden within!

Taking a deep breath, Tang Yuan submerged himself in the magma and, guided by his Divine Sense, swam deeper.

Before long, Tang Yuan encountered something substantial. He reached out to touch it, only to freeze in astonishment. His hands had encountered something soft!

"This sensation!" Tang Yuan's face flushed with recognition. He tentatively reached out again, his hands confirming the familiar softness.

"Indeed." Where his hands met resistance, the softness was undeniable. Tang Yuan could already surmise that the woman's figure was exceptional.

Indeed, who could have imagined that at the very bottom of the magma pool lay a woman!

Tang Yuan channeled a thread of Spiritual Force into her body and, to his amazement, discovered that she was still alive!

Since she was alive, Tang Yuan felt fully justified in rescuing her—whether his motive was influenced by her attractive figure was something only Tang Yuan himself would know.

Carrying someone, Tang Yuan's pace had significantly decreased. As his Spiritual Force was nearly depleted, he finally exhaled deeply and with effort, heaved the woman onto the shore.

He himself climbed up slowly and glanced at the woman sprawled on the grass. Tang Yuan smiled; his intuition had been spot on – the woman indeed had an impressive figure.