In the courtyard house of Soul King Village

Li Xuan was observing the Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger Painting. In his eyes, the painting was no longer an ordinary image - the dragon and tiger within manifested vividly. A true dragon soared through the nine heavens, spitting water and breathing fire, summoning wind and rain. A fierce tiger rode the raging winds, mighty and peerless, tearing everything apart.

The true essence of the Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger Art was significantly stronger than that of the Mysterious Water Black Snake Art. If the true essence of both paintings were represented numerically, the Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger Art's upper limit would be seventy-nine threads, while the Mysterious Water Black Snake Art's upper limit would be seventy threads.

The Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger Art had nine more threads, and each thread was more potent than those of the Mysterious Water Black Snake Art.

For a normal martial artist practicing the Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger Art's true essence, it would be extremely difficult. They must maintain their virginity, ensuring their yang energy doesn't leak from their body.

Within a day, only during the morning when energy is most abundant could they observe and comprehend it. Observing at other times would harm their body.

Nothing noticeable would appear in just one or two days, but over time, serious problems would emerge. Internal hidden injuries would accumulate, potential would decrease, and during combat, these hidden injuries might suddenly flare up, affecting combat power.

Li Xuan had no such concerns. The Pure Yang Martial Seed within his body was sufficient to eliminate all side effects, allowing him to comprehend the Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger Art's true essence throughout the entire day.

Nearby, Huo Lingling was comprehending the Mysterious Water Black Snake Art's true essence. Li Dalong wasn't comprehending any true essence but was hiding in a corner, performing various movements to temper his body, striving to enter a grade level as soon as possible.

Li Dalong looked at the two with pity in his eyes. Initially, he had also wanted to directly comprehend the true essence, wanting to show Hun Mie that his talent wasn't inferior to theirs.

But Hun Mie had strictly forbidden it, severely scolding him.

Later, Hun Xiaoyan secretly told him that comprehending concept paintings had specific patterns. The Mysterious Water Black Snake Painting was best observed at night, as daytime observation efficiency was low and one could easily suffer backlash from the true essence, leaving hidden injuries within the body.

The Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger Art's true essence was even more dangerous.

He wanted to warn the two, but Hun Mie seemed to have detected his intentions, clearly telling him that if he leaked the information, his marriage with Hun Xiaoyan would be canceled.

'They'll practice for at most eight days, probably won't get seriously injured.' Li Dalong thought to himself.

He had already decided to stay. Huo Lingling and Li Xuan's intentions were clear - in a few days, they would return to Blue Star with the train.

They weren't from the same world.

At dusk

Li Xuan and Huo Lingling prepared to leave, with Hun Xiaoyan seeing them off. As they approached the gate, Hun Xiaoyan took something wrapped in white cloth from her bosom, about the size of a fist.

"What's this?" Li Xuan inquired.

Hun Xiaoyan stuffed it into Li Xuan's hand, "Take it. It's medicinal ointment to assist cultivation. Spend less time comprehending concept paintings, focus more on building foundations. Martial arts shouldn't aim too high without proper foundation."

After saying this, Hun Xiaoyan turned and left immediately.

Li Xuan concealed the cloth bundle well and only opened it after leaving Soul King Village and returning to the cave.

Inside was a lump of black paste-like substance without any particular smell.

Li Xuan took a small amount and applied it to his arm. After a moment, the area where he applied the ointment began emitting a burning sensation.

Hmm~

Li Xuan felt that his speed of gathering qi and blood had increased somewhat.

"It really is medicinal ointment that assists cultivation!"

Huo Lingling marveled, "I never expected Hun Xiaoyan to be such a good person."

"Her words before leaving were clearly reminding us not to casually comprehend concept paintings. Hun Xiaoyan has a kind heart, no wonder Li Dalong would fight to the death for her in the future." Li Xuan said.

When Li Xuan was comprehending the Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger Art's true essence, he had already sensed that concept paintings shouldn't be casually comprehended. The Pure Yang Martial Seed greatly enhanced his judgment regarding martial arts matters.

He was forcibly comprehending the Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger Painting relying on the Pure Yang Martial Seed, creating a false appearance to make Hun Mie lower his guard.

Every day when he went to comprehend the concept painting, he would release his qi and blood in advance, suppressing his body from generating qi and blood to prevent Hun Mie from detecting that he had already broken through to the Ninth Grade.

Huo Lingling could comprehend the Mysterious Water Black Snake Painting during daytime because her physique was too strong, plus she had the self-healing Supernatural Characteristic that could slowly repair hidden injuries, making her unafraid of being harmed by the true essence.

When the true essence backlashed against Huo Lingling, it also deepened her comprehension of the true essence, bringing her close to comprehending one thread of the Mysterious Water Black Snake Art's true essence.

"Lingling, use the ointment for cultivation and break through to the Ninth Grade as soon as possible." Li Xuan said.

Huo Lingling's physique was originally extremely strong, even slightly stronger than a peak Ninth Grade martial artist. Once she generated qi and blood, the combat power she could unleash would directly reach the Eighth Grade. If she then used the Berserk Characteristic, Huo Lingling's combat power would be immeasurable. Even if she couldn't defeat a Seventh Grade, she could still fight against one.

Huo Lingling hummed in agreement, dipped her finger into the ointment, took a small amount, and applied it to her arm.

Afterward, Huo Lingling began performing various movements.

Days passed by

In the courtyard house, Hun Mie's face was ugly, his voice filled with anger, "Where's the Blood Tempering Ointment! Did you give it to Li Xuan and Huo Lingling!"

Li Dalong thought he had been exposed and stepped forward, "Father, Xiaoyan used it on me."

"How much could you possibly use! Do you think I don't know Xiaoyan gave you the Blood Tempering Ointment? I'm asking about the rest of the Blood Tempering Ointment!" Hun Mie roared furiously.

The Blood Tempering Ointment was highly valuable, made from various medicinal herbs and the essence blood of graded fierce beasts as raw materials. It required forty-nine days of brewing to complete this secret medicine.

During the brewing process, the fire couldn't be extinguished. When the water in the pot dried up, fresh fierce beast blood had to be added, consuming tremendous time and energy.

Since becoming village chief, Hun Mie had only brewed two pots of Blood Tempering Ointment total, and his daughter had given away a quarter pot. He was almost furious to death.

Hun Xiaoyan lowered her head and said quietly, "Father, they have such good talent. It would be such a pity if they were ruined because they didn't understand martial arts."

Hun Mie almost fainted from anger, "Exactly because their talent is too good that I didn't want to remind them! Do you know how exceptional their talent is?

Li Xuan already shows traces of having cultivated the Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger Art. He'll enter a grade within a month, and it will be through the Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger Art!

And Huo Lingling - her physical strength rivals that of an Eighth Grade martial artist. If an early Eighth Grade martial artist doesn't use qi and blood power, their explosive strength isn't even as great as Huo Lingling's. Do you understand what this means?

Huo Lingling has a special physique! Not an ordinary special physique! Once she enters the Ninth Grade, she can crush Eighth Grades! When her qi and blood accumulates to peak Fourth Grade, relying on the Mysterious Water Black Snake secret method, she will definitely break through to Third Grade!

In comparison, the man you fancy, and even your father my talent, are far inferior to them!"

Hun Xiaoyan said softly, "But they're not staying in Soul King Village. They're leaving in a few days."

"What if they don't leave? You've also heard that the other world is very cruel. Who knows how many apocalypse survivors want to stay on Tianniu Island." Hun Mie retorted.

Hun Xiaoyan pouted and ran away crying.

Li Dalong wanted to comfort Hun Xiaoyan but felt he should explain the source of Huo Lingling's strength, so he told Hun Mie about the existence of Supernatural Characteristics.

"Father, Huo Lingling might not have a special physique. She might have just absorbed Supernatural Characteristics. Her true form isn't human."

Hun Mie pressed, "Do Supernatural Characteristics have the ability to make the absorber continuously evolve?"

"Yes."

"If Supernatural Characteristics can enable continuous evolution, what difference is there from a special physique? Both can make martial artists far surpass their peers and have profound foundations." Hun Mie said.

Li Dalong scratched his head, "Seems like there's no difference."

Hun Mie glared at Li Dalong, "Go comfort Xiaoyan. I won't pursue the Blood Tempering Ointment matter anymore. You should also advise her more, don't let her randomly give things away. I don't need the Blood Tempering Ointment. Xiaoyan's talent is poor, unsuitable for martial arts training. The Blood Tempering Ointment was all reserved for you. When she gives it away, you have less to use, and your progress slows down."

Li Dalong nodded repeatedly, 'What is this move by my future father-in-law called? Seems like borrowing a knife to kill someone? No, it's sowing discord?'

Hun Mie simply wanted him to break with Li Xuan.

But he wasn't willing.

He had interacted with Li Xuan on the train and always felt that Li Xuan was extraordinary.

Li Dalong trusted his intuition.