Chapter 156: The Unfortunate Nanhuang Dojo, Beaten by He Lanchan Once Again!

The furnace-body tempering of Nanhuang Dojo was indeed wondrous.

Half an hour passed in a flash; under Inner Vision, Qin Shi saw his half-conical lungs moistened by wispy smoke, as if wrapped in white cocoons around a mass.

As breathing alternated and blood flowed, the fragile organs seemed strengthened, gradually becoming more vibrant.

"Underwater breathing, filtering poison gas, helps adapt to space environments... once the 'Taihuang Soldier' is fully forged, one could even survive by swallowing various 'Qi'—basically no different from ancient cultivators, drinking mist and dew, feeding on Qi to nourish the spirit."

Qin Shi's thoughts drifted; some unknown powder boiled in water, turning into misty white smoke that surged toward his nose, bringing a strange experience.

Many illusions jumped before his eyes; the surrounding world seemed twisted, presenting bizarre colors, large swathes of chaotic hues occupying his vision, then turning into hazy scenes.

Sometimes neighbors from Old Factory Street, classmates from Zidi Xuexiao; sometimes Cheng Ze wanting to break free from the mire, the arrogant and domineering Qin Lihao...

People and events once deeply imprinted kept flashing, surrounding him.

"This kick is quite strong."

Qin Shi immersed himself in the feeling, like being poisoned by mushrooms in his past life and seeing little people.

While appreciating extremely realistic clusters of illusions, he maintained clear cognition.

Through powerful spiritual power, he silently observed the process of his mind being eroded.

"Espers are so disliked, not without reason."

Qin Shi curled his lips, as if viewing from a god's perspective, and found that as the inhaled gas increased, his mind trembled silently.

The originally pure and flawless light of spirit inexplicably took on a few streaks of strange color, like ink drops falling into a cup of clear water, slowly spreading.

This was the source of the illusions.

"Espers using telekinesis is roughly like this: seize a crack in the mind, drill through the gap, create or implant false memories... if it were the New Martial Arts school, or an Old Martial Arts school that hadn't taken the Limit Breaking Path and had no Spiritual Residence Inner Landscape, they'd have to carry detection equipment and deploy a silent force field to guard against it."

Qin Shi couldn't help but feel fortunate; following his current upgrade path, as long as the Seven Great Limits didn't block his steps, he was very likely to grow into a "stat monster" of the martial path!

"Competing on technique—where's the comfort in competing on stats?"

Ding!

The Stele Panel suddenly jumped, the 【Overgrowth】 achievement flashing.

Gained a 【Breath-Eating】 badge!

"Once the Nanhuang Dojo's 'Universe Furnace Secret Canon' comes later, with all five secret treasuries opening, more should be activated."

Qin Shi closed his eyes, operated the Body Tempering Furnace; fierce heat surged from beneath his feet, covering his four limbs and hundred bones, refining the white-cocooned lungs into a crimson color.

The hilum, root, and lobes of the lung—these extremely fragile organ tissues, like rough blanks in a forging furnace, were slowly strengthened.

"My breathing efficiency seems higher."

Qin Shi fantasized that in the future, like Superman, he could compress gas through breathing, turning it into a terrifying exhalation.

That powerful vitality should be enough to support him roaming the Star Sea and walking the Galaxy!

"This kid is really fierce!"

The white-haired old man's gaze was fixed on the screen; the image transmitted by the camera almost made him jump.

The fine powder ground from three bowls of "Devil Vine"—half a gram could make twenty doses of hallucinogen.

Amateurs at eighty or even ninety points of vitality, inhaling this much gas, would be like taking banned substances, losing control of their bodies, their five senses blinded, nerves numbed, then dancing wildly or crying out in pain.

But Qin Shi seemed fine, his mind unmoving, his expression barely changing.

"The more I understand Qin Shidi's talent, the more terrifying I find it."

Third Senior Sister Old Yu, who had just finished making nutrition meals and was waiting for Qin Shi to finish cultivating, said with pursed lips.

As a top student of the Shen Neng Xi at Southwest United National University, selected from genius boys across the regions, she had seen many, but monstrous talent like Qin Shi's—spiritual spirituality and flesh vitality both top-tier, advancing side by side—was extremely rare.

"To walk a path without weaknesses, one must pay dozens, even a hundred times more effort than others; otherwise, how could one pull ahead?"

The white-haired old man narrowed his eyes; Qin Shi's most outstanding talent was an unreasonable breakthrough speed, almost unaffected by common factors like learning comprehension, resource absorption and digestion, and he had never known confusion or difficulty.

Using He Lanchan's words to describe Qi Wuxiang, he was a "ruthless cultivation machine."

"Qin Shidi walked in a few months what others take years to walk; this level of focus deserves credit."

Old Yu agreed with her master's view; she herself was a "top genius" in the eyes of the world, and understood that every bit of progress on any path was hard-won, but others couldn't empathize, only seeing the glamorous side.

Just like being hailed by Southwest United as the "Spiritual Ability Witch," with great master-level skills of a single thought blooming, spirit binding, and void blossoming, making Netherworld Creatures tremble at the sound of her name.

But the brighter the light of spirit, the closer it was to the Netherworld, and the heavier the erosion suffered.

Old Yu almost every day could not sleep peacefully, tormented by nightmares.

Those frenzied sleep-talking had started when she was a few years old, endlessly entangling her, wanting to drag her into the pitch-black abyss.

If not for following her master, cultivating the "Universe Furnace Secret Canon," suppressing her mind, and burning away distracting thoughts, she might have gone mad long ago.

"The path after Sitting Forgetting is not easy to walk, Little Yu."

The white-haired old man sighed; he couldn't help his third disciple much; the end of the Esper path was either becoming a Saint or falling into demonhood.

Holy Spirit or evil demon, often just a thought apart.

One of the Three Ministries of Dongxia, the Security Bureau, secretly established a powerful secret department named the Judgment Court.

To deal with the Esper path, because the light of spirit polluted by the Netherworld transformed into "retainers" or degenerated into "evil demons" of the same kind.

"I can't stop here, Master. If I fear and then retreat, I'll only be like a soldier afraid of death on the battlefield, dying to stray bullets or shelling."

"Charge at them, advance unswervingly, only then can one receive medals and rewards."

Old Yu's serene face flashed a trace of resoluteness; every path was not a smooth road, danger inevitably accompanied it.

Espers were trapped by the Netherworld, Martial Artists limited by the Mortal Body, and Mechanics easily became extreme fanatics of the "Ascension School."

For example, Eldest Senior Brother Jie Xu Sheng; the last time she saw him, sixty percent of his body had already been replaced with metal implants.

In the Ancient Era, the Dongxia Empire would definitely have purged him.

Once more than fifty percent of blood flesh tissue was lost, one could be judged as a "Potential Iron Citizen."

Fortunately, the Dongxia Republic was relatively lenient, setting the alert threshold at around sixty-five percent.

"You lot, not a single one puts my mind at ease."

The white-haired elder said helplessly.

The eldest brother had a perfectly good career as a scholar but refused to pursue it, insisting on researching the outlandish Jiao Wu, hoping to rely on it to defeat the Research Institute's immortality project.

"If Eldest Senior Brother succeeds, he will be crowned 'Mechanical Sovereign' — an honor bestowed by the Pillar Divine Machine."

Old Yu smiled and said:

"That brings glory to your face too, old man."

The white-haired elder said irritably:

"If he goes mad and replaces all his flesh and blood except his brain with implants, directly choosing to ascend as an 'Iron Citizen'.

And then you fall into depravity, sinking into the Netherworld. The Nanhuang Dojo produces two great heretics, plus that Nie Zhai Fourth Junior Brother, decades old and still a kept man.

Truly a family misfortune! After I die, when I meet that bastard He Lanchan, I might well be laughed at by him!"

Old Yu's smile was serene as he looked toward Qin Shi inside the room, pores relaxed, inhaling white smoke like a whale:

"Master, isn't this leaving you a good seedling? Qin Shidi has a docile temperament, is sensible and obedient, and quite clever — far stronger than us."

The white-haired elder fell silent, then said:

"Let's just hope he doesn't end up like you lot, suddenly sprouting weird ideas. The Nanhuang Dojo's inheritance must ultimately have someone to carry it on."

……

……

Having absorbed the last mouthful of Devil Vine Powder, the dense swirling smoke dispersed; Qin Shi's face was slightly flushed, as if after exercise, blood flowing faster, his whole body emitting heat.

The hallucinations grew increasingly severe, the erosion of his spirit increasingly intense.

The scenes he saw gradually changed.

As if falling into the Netherworld, armies of bizarre followers swarmed toward him.

While he gripped an Electric Shock Military Knife, slashing wildly.

Bathed in blood, fighting spirit soaring!

Just as he was fighting to his heart's content, the hallucination shattered again.

In the blink of an eye, Qin Shi appeared in the Star Cup arena, where prodigies of the new generation issued challenges, taking the stage in turn.

That feeling of fist striking flesh, of striving with one's life, of sublimation — incomparably real.

Almost making one forget it was all false.

"The aftereffects are kicking in."

Qin Shi guarded his true heart, maintaining clarity.

A thought suddenly occurred to him: if he used spiritual field power to interfere, reversing control of the hallucination, could it benefit his cultivation?

"The Spiritual Path is originally about refining the false into the true; combined with the Void Meditation Method, there's no fear of losing oneself in hallucinations."

Qin Shi silently dual-tasked; the 【Muscle Memory】 trait blessing, he continued operating the Self-Cultivation Furnace, then emptied his spirit sea, reciting the Dragon Snake Scripture.

Moments later, the air in the room seemed stirred, emitting a trembling hum; the hallucinations in his brain sea, under spiritual interference, slowly twisted into substance, emerging vaguely like a mirage.

Boundless starry sky, parched earth — against this background, a powerfully built figure nearly two meters tall stood silently, like a towering, silent massive stele.

The white-haired elder closely watching Qin Shi's movements frowned — wasn't this his own youth image?

It actually appeared inside this brat's hallucination!

"Qin Shidi truly respects his teacher! With his spirit eroded, he projects you, old man — shows he silently regards you as the target to chase, his life's ultimate goal."

Old Yu remarked with emotion.

Devil Vine contains hallucinogenic effects; combined with the water decoction method, it silently drags a person's spirit into layers of delusion.

Those emerging images, to a certain degree, also point directly at the heart — cannot be faked.

"Did this kid absorb too much? Logically, it shouldn't trigger spiritual turmoil, interfere with reality……"

The white-haired elder's mouth corners rose, revealing amusement while also harboring a trace of worry.

But very quickly, his expression froze.

The misty hallucination on the screen abruptly twisted; the powerful figure standing atop the star was directly kicked flying!

Only to see Qin Shi, at some unknown time, leap into the scene; his aura appeared even more surging, dense life force condensing into a massive furnace, pouring out endless light and heat.

At first glance, like a divine spirit bathing in heavenly light!

Old Yu's smile also stiffened, eyes glancing sideways at the white-haired elder, afraid the old master might suffer qi and blood rushing to the heart and faint on the spot.

"Good lad! Using me as a whetstone to practice the Furnace Method!"

The white-haired elder licked his lips, expression unpleasant.

In the hallucination, himself being wildly beaten again and again, like a sandbag, crushed and hammered by Qin Shi operating the Universe Furnace Secret Canon.

"Little Yu."

The white-haired elder called.

"Let your Qin Shidi witness Master's true ability."

Old Yu seemed unable to bear it, thinking of Qin Shi's delighted expression when usually eating heartily, enjoying her nutrition meals, and hesitated:

"Master, would that be too cruel?"

The white-haired elder's eyes widened, he rebuked:

"This is for your Qin Shidi's growth. Since he wants to increase cultivation experience through sparring with Master, I shall satisfy him!"

Old Yu sighed long; she was an Esper at the Sitting in Oblivion Stage; in terms of spiritual field power, she far surpassed Qin Shi.

Naturally she could, through spiritual resonance, project Master's spiritual power into Little Junior Brother's hallucination.

"Awesome! Spiritual reflection hallucination, even more vivid than Qiguang Heng University's Virtual Combat Room! Whale-swallowing the Zhou Tian, Furnace refining the body — the path Old Zhang pioneered is indeed extraordinary!"

Qin Shi felt his Breath surging, like boiling water; the powdery smoke absorbed into his body completely wrapped his lungs, making his internal organs even stronger.

Beating Lao Zhang again and again deepened his understanding of the Universe Furnace Secret Canon.

Perhaps swapping in someone else would also have this effect.

But it would never be as good as Lao Zhang, who made his hands feel blazing hot.

Boom!

As the furnace inside his body roared, driving surging power, his fist smashed toward the powerful figure.

Thud!

The atmosphere rippled like water, stirring up tangible waves!

Qin Shi was startled — his fist had actually been caught by Lao Zhang.

The powerful figure condensed from the illusion seemed to have been infused with a Soul, suddenly becoming vivid and lifelike, just like a real person.

"Kid, furnace-refining the body, driving the Mortal Body — it's not that simple!"

Lao Zhang laughed mockingly, his voice dull like an iron hammer striking a drumhead:

"Your Breath circulation has only speed and ferocity, lacking a share of true intent. You must make the five viscera resonate, the hundred bones move as one — watch closely—"

As Lao Zhang's five fingers suddenly clenched tight, the entire parched ground collapsed with a rumble, as if smashed down by a mountain; air waves surged outward, raising vast clouds of dust.

Qin Shi heard a deafening boom, as if a giant spirit pounded the Zhou Tian; dense Light Radiance of five interwoven colors gushed forth, and then he felt as though an ancient divine elephant had trampled past — his bones scattered, and he was knocked flying far away!

Because of mental interference with the illusion, everything was on the spiritual level, but under "believing it to be true," it still acted upon the fleshly Mortal Body.

Therefore, Qin Shi nearly cried out in pain, as if he had truly been beaten.

His whole skeleton trembled unceasingly, as if breaking inch by inch.

"Lao Zhang actually broke into my illusion!"

Qin Shi's face twisted; this punch's force was exquisite to the finest degree, stopping right at the limit of what he could endure.

"Striking too ruthlessly!"

The thought had barely risen before the powerful figure strode forward, nearly tearing through Xu Kong, arriving in an instant.

Lao Zhang grinned wide, stomping down heavily, simply like an earth dragon turning over, kicking up a veil of rolling earth!

Qin Shi stood unsteadily, steps staggering; with his center of gravity lost, he was directly thrown into midair!

The next moment, he was like a ball, struck by a flying kick, flung out in a sharp arc.

Lao Zhang's figure flashed explosively, appearing again before Qin Shi's movement trajectory, sweeping out another kick!

Boom boom boom boom boom—

"Treating me like a ball to kick! Lao Zhang is really not treating me like a human!"

Qin Shi's spirit fluctuated violently; such a savage beating nearly shattered his Mortal Body.

He steeled his heart, mentally communicated with the Inner Landscape, and summoned the Dao Nature Avatar Super Xiao He, shifting it into the illusion.

Hum!

The atmosphere distorted once more; Xu Kong like a mirror surface, the white-haired man walking upon it suddenly entered Lao Zhang's sight.

"Xiao Qiang! Let's have a fight!"

The white-haired man smiled brilliantly, revealing his signature unrestrained expression:

"Watch me beat you until even your mother wouldn't recognize you!"

Finally freed from being kicked like a ball, Qin Shi panted heavily, sitting on the mountain watching the tigers fight.

He even mentally interfered with the illusion to manifest melon seed drink.

Squatting to the side, cracking seeds while shouting:

"Master Zhang! Focus, don't lose face!"

Lao Zhang gritted his teeth; this kid turned the tables, actually calling out He Lanchan to teach him a lesson.

He thought that Little Yu outside would surely feel heartache for her master.

As long as the mental resonance was lifted, the illusion would collapse.

"Xiao Qiang, watch closely — this punch will be very cool!"

The white-haired man trod on Xu Kong, flashing a few times, and appeared above Lao Zhang's head in an instant.

He tugged his palm, as if dragging a vast expanse of Tian Di, the stars trembling for it.

One heavy punch stamped onto Lao Zhang's face!

Beating him until nosebleed sprayed wildly!

"Little Yu... save Master!"

Lao Zhang, bruised and swollen, screamed frantically.

He was inside the illusion, unable to display Grandmaster strength at all; conversely, He Lanchan had been infinitely elevated by Qin Shi, practically at peak state.

He could only take the beating!

"Master seems to be calling me?"

The tranquil-faced Old Yu frowned.

Then she shook her head; she couldn't bear to see the scene of Qin Shidi being brutally beaten.

"Better go cook for a while, ease the guilt. Hope Master doesn't strike too ruthlessly... teaching a lesson for ten minutes is about enough."

(Chapter End)