Divine Level Witch Doctor

When the Little Red Fox saw Zhao Yuan holding the Diospyros lotus Fruit without moving for a long time, it thought he didn't know the fruit was edible. It grew so anxious it started scratching its ears and cheeks, chirping nonstop while gesturing with its little paws, urging Zhao Yuan to hurry up and eat.

Its expressions and movements were so adorable that Zhao Yuan couldn't help but chuckle.

"Alright, since this is such a kind gesture, I won't refuse it. Though I still have no idea why you're willing to give me this Diospyros lotus Fruit." As he spoke, Zhao Yuan wiped the fruit on his clothes and took a bite.

An exquisitely refreshing sweetness instantly filled his mouth.

The Diospyros lotus Fruit was surprisingly delicious. It tasted a bit like an apple, but it was juicier and much sweeter.

In just two or three bites, Zhao Yuan had eaten the entire Diospyros lotus Fruit, leaving only the pit in his hand.

The pit of the Diospyros lotus Fruit resembled a peach pit, except its shell had no wrinkles and was perfectly smooth. Like the fruit, it was a brilliant red. The shade varied across its surface, making it look at first glance as if it were wreathed in flames.

Xiaoyang shuffled over. The Mountain Spirit's keen intuition told it that the Diospyros lotus Fruit was an exceptional treasure. It hadn't dared to compete with Zhao Yuan for the fruit itself. But now, seeing that Zhao Yuan had finished the flesh and was holding the pit, it got an idea. Smiling obsequiously and pointing a large finger at the pit, it asked, "Master, can I eat this?"

"No," Zhao Yuan refused flatly.

Xiaoyang's head drooped in disappointment.

Obviously, the pit must have contained a significant amount of residual Qi; otherwise, a Mountain Spirit would not have been so tempted by it.

Its crestfallen look made Zhao Yuan chuckle. He explained, "This pit isn't for eating. I plan to take it back to the medicinal herb cultivation base and try to grow it. If we successfully cultivate a Diospyros lotus tree, we'll have an endless supply of Diospyros lotus Fruits in the future."

Upon hearing this, Xiaoyang's eyes lit up. "Master is so thoughtful!" it exclaimed. "Let's do that! Let's do that!"

Zhao Yuan carefully stored the pit away. He felt it would be rude not to reciprocate the gesture. Since the Little Red Fox had given him a Diospyros lotus Fruit, he should give it something good in return. However, it seemed he had nothing on him suitable for a little fox. After a moment's thought, he simply took out the Soul-Stabilizing Incense, Bone Refining Pills, Blood Circulation Soup, and other Medicine Pills and potions from his Storage Ring Space. He beckoned to the Little Red Fox. "Come here, little one. Take whatever you fancy."

Fearing the Little Red Fox might be too timid to approach, Zhao Yuan deliberately stepped back and raised his hands to show he meant no harm.

The Little Red Fox's eyes darted around. It seemed to understand Zhao Yuan's intention, letting out a joyful cry as it bounded over to the pile of Medicine Pills and potions. It looked at one, sniffed another, and after deliberating for a good while, it picked up a bottle of Bone Refining Pills in its mouth.

Zhao Yuan surmised, 'Looks like the Bone Refining Pills don't just temper the human body; they're effective for animals too.'

The Little Red Fox was so small and thin; its body could certainly use some strengthening. Otherwise, even though it was clever and had eaten a Diospyros lotus Fruit, it would still have a hard time escaping from a fierce beast or a hunter.

Zhao Yuan was about to walk over and collect the other Medicine Pills and potions from the ground when, after just two steps, a searing torrent of heat erupted in his stomach. With lightning speed, it spread through his limbs and out to the rest of his body.

HISS!

Zhao Yuan couldn't help but cry out in pain. But he wasn't particularly surprised, much less afraid. Instead, he muttered to himself, 'It's finally here!'

He knew the effects of the Diospyros lotus Fruit were kicking in.

Zhao Yuan knew that in this world, there was no such thing as a free lunch.

This was especially true for Cultivation.

Any item that could raise one's Cultivation, be it an Elixir or a Spirit Fruit and Spiritual Medicine like the Diospyros lotus Fruit, would only grant its benefits after putting the user through a grueling ordeal. It was just as Mencius wrote: "When Heaven is about to confer a great office on any man, it first exercises his mind with suffering, and his sinews and bones with toil. It exposes his body to hunger, and subjects him to extreme poverty. It confounds his undertakings. By all these means it stimulates his mind, hardens his nature, and supplies his incompetencies."

One cannot become refined steel without being hammered and tempered.

Now, faced with the agony inflicted by the Diospyros lotus Fruit, all Zhao Yuan could do was endure.

He immediately sat down cross-legged, regulated his breathing, and began to circulate his Creation Technique.

The scorching energy from the Diospyros lotus Fruit rampaged tyrannically through his body, relentlessly destroying his meridians.

It felt as if he were being simultaneously incinerated by a raging fire and hammered with colossal force. Even with his immense fortitude, the agony drove him to the brink of madness.

He gritted his teeth, holding on for dear life.

Five seconds passed. The Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian was completely crushed and melted by the searing energy.

Thirty seconds passed. The Twelve Principal Meridians were completely destroyed.

Fifty seconds passed. The Eight Extraordinary Meridians met the same fate as the Twelve Principal Meridians.

Then came the Fifteen Connecting Meridians, the Twelve Meridian Tendons, the Twelve Skin Areas...

In less than three minutes, Zhao Yuan's entire system of meridians had been obliterated, with not a single one left intact.

'Is this Diospyros lotus Fruit really supposed to be improving my body? Feels more like the damn thing is trying to kill me.' By now, Zhao Yuan couldn't even think about circulating his Creation Technique. He no longer had the strength to even sit up and had long since collapsed to the ground, drenched in sweat and barely breathing.

And yet, he was still holding on, still conscious.

Nearby, the Little Red Fox's jaw was agape, seemingly in disbelief that Zhao Yuan could endure for so long. When it had swallowed the Diospyros lotus Fruit, the pain had made it pass out in the blink of an eye.

'This human is incredible!'

The Little Red Fox thought to itself.

However, just as it had this thought, Zhao Yuan's vision went black, and he collapsed into unconsciousness.

The moment he lost consciousness, the searing energy that had been ravaging his body suddenly became docile. Although the temperature remained just as high, it ceased its destruction and instead began to re-forge the meridians it had annihilated.

Ten minutes later, the re-forging of the Twelve Principal Meridians was complete.

Twenty minutes later, the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, the Fifteen Connecting Meridians, the Twelve Meridian Tendons, and the Twelve Skin Areas were also completely re-forged.

The newly forged meridians were many times stronger than before. This might not have given Zhao Yuan a dramatic leap in power, but it laid an unparalleled foundation for his future Cultivation. Without a doubt, his future training would now yield twice the results with half the effort.

The moment the forging of his meridians was complete, Zhao Yuan awoke.

The intense agony of being burned and hammered from within was gone, replaced by a feeling of fullness.

A fullness that came from being suffused with power!

He could clearly feel that his Cultivation had broken through to the Peak of Marrow Cleansing. He was now just one step away from Qi Listening—the final stage of Body Refining.

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