Chapter 121: Make Another One

The flying vessel carried them a considerable distance before settling them down. "Focus on your body tempering; do not slack off," their Junior Martial Uncle commanded.

Meeting his stern gaze, Ji Jiuxuan adjusted her attitude. Fortunately, body tempering was not subject to a time limit, or she might have been forced to slack off again.

"Yes, Martial Uncle."

Nie Xingyuan watched them from the deck of the flying vessel. Meng Jiao’s speed was now on par with Ji Jiuxuan’s, making it seem as though her previous lightning-fast pace had been a mere illusion.

"Senior Sister, you don't need to specifically wait for me," Ji Jiuxuan said, breathless. Since she had modified her energy-gathering techniques, her subsequent body-tempering regimen had also been adjusted, making the workouts significantly more grueling. She would need time to adapt before her speed could truly increase.

"I’m not waiting for you; this is simply the limit of my current speed," Meng Jiao replied. Seeing the doubt in her junior sister’s eyes, she whispered, "Master adjusted my training. Managing even this much is already an accomplishment."

Ji Jiuxuan appeared mollified, though she remained skeptical. She gritted her teeth; she had to improve her speed—she could not let her Senior Sister waste time accompanying her. Little did the secretly pushing Ji Jiuxuan know, Meng Jiao was suffering internally. Keeping up with her junior sister’s pace was exhausting. *Master’s adjustments are truly punishing for his disciples,* Meng Jiao thought. *Will I collapse in this desolate place only to be devoured by wild spirit beasts?*

Nie Xingyuan was quite satisfied with their diligent display. He had always maintained that the members of Wangchen Peak needed a stern lesson. Little A-Jiu was working so hard, yet they continued to misunderstand her and spread baseless rumors.

As the day drew to a close, Ji Jiuxuan punctually called out to Nie Xingyuan, "Martial Uncle, I would like to rest." She was, after all, a child who valued a strict sleep schedule.

Nie Xingyuan channeled his spiritual energy, lifting Ji Jiuxuan onto the vessel.

"Master, I would like to rest as well," Meng Jiao said, her face grim. Today had been brutal.

"Very well," Nie Xingyuan replied. Before Meng Jiao could celebrate, he added, "Rest for a moment, then continue."

Meeting his gaze, Meng Jiao swallowed her request for a full night’s sleep. Since she was now under her master’s direct supervision—a rare occurrence—she stilled her heart, cycled her spiritual energy through several major meridians, and felt instantly revitalized.

"Junior Sister, you must wake up early tomorrow to save me!" Meng Jiao lamented, hugging Ji Jiuxuan. She finally understood her master’s intentions.

Her junior sister possessed extraordinary talent but was occasionally lackadaisical in her cultivation. While they didn't mind her temperament as long as she was happy, since they wanted to help her gain experience, they had to maximize the efficiency of her training. This was merely an indirect way to force her to exercise more. Given the aptitude her junior sister had shown today, it was for the best! She absolutely could not be the one to drag them down.

"Don't worry, Senior Sister, I will definitely wake up early tomorrow to save you."

Ji Jiuxuan looked sympathetically at her sister, who had begun another round of training. Her heart was heavy with guilt; it was all her fault that her sister was suffering.

"Martial Uncle, could you let Senior Sister rest?" Ji Jiuxuan asked. She had been exhausted just watching her sister for the past few days.

"Do not worry, your Senior Sister is fine," Nie Xingyuan said, pointing at Meng Jiao. "A-Jiu, have you noticed that your Senior Sister’s body tempering has improved significantly? In terms of pure physical strength, she could now challenge opponents of a higher rank without issue."

This phase was the "impact-resistance" stage. The rings he used provided not just gravity, but also varying degrees of blunt force. Ji Jiuxuan had never imagined the rings served such a dual purpose.

"The ring would be useful for you, too. You should ask your Martial Uncle for one—the combination of heavy pressure and impact is perfect for the next stage," the System suddenly chimed in.

Ji Jiuxuan shivered. Subconsciously looking at her sister, who was struggling to push forward, she noticed for the first time a strange tension in her sister's expression. *Impacts! Is my sister’s today my own tomorrow?* Images of the brutal descriptions within the body-tempering scrolls flashed through her mind, and she swallowed hard.

"Can I not have that?" she bargained with the System. She could be brave in sword practice, study complex arrays, or learn new skills, but being tortured daily for results felt like something she could swap out.

"I suggest the host stick to this method; otherwise, the alternatives will be far more agonizing," the System warned. It insisted it was a benevolent system, offering friendly advice mixed with necessary threats.

"What other methods?" Ji Jiuxuan asked cautiously. The implication was clear: if not this, then something worse.

"Getting beaten up. Finding someone to pummel you. The stronger they are, the more effective it is," the System suggested matter-of-factly. "Your Senior Sister is a good candidate. After her, your Martial Uncle could take over—his own body tempering is excellent. If that fails, there’s always your grandfather."

"I think I’ll stick with the ring," Ji Jiuxuan decided. Asking them to beat her up seemed awkward for everyone involved.

"Doesn't the host want to grow? It’s just a little pain! Body tempering is meant to be this way. Practice hard—you wouldn't want to become a burden when you go out, would you? Or find yourself in danger with no ability to protect yourself, only to end in regret?"

The System, which had previously encouraged her to slack off, had suddenly undergone a personality shift, pushing her toward diligence. It was a rare occurrence. However, the System had hit upon her deepest concern: in this life, her family was what she cared for most. If they fell into danger because of her, her heart would never recover.

She gritted her teeth. *It’s just pain! I can overcome it.* She wasn't truly fragile, but the sight of the pressure from her sister’s rings had instilled a genuine fear. Once worn, those rings would generate pain every single second.

Looking at Nie Xingyuan, Ji Jiuxuan took a deep breath and said with a smile, "Martial Uncle, do you have any more of those rings like Senior Sister’s?"

"You want one?" Nie Xingyuan saw right through her and laughed. "Don't worry, there will be one for you." Given the girl’s talent, he would certainly need to craft a reinforced version to be effective. "Focus on your training, and I will give you one when we return."

"Thank you, Martial Uncle!" Ji Jiuxuan was now calm. It was just pain. For the sake of her cultivation and to ensure she wouldn't be a burden, she could endure it. She did not realize that because her rate of spiritual energy absorption was so abnormal, she had just walked into a trap—Nie Xingyuan was about to give her a "great surprise."

"You're welcome," he said, patting her head gently. "Go and rest."

Ji Jiuxuan performed a cleansing spell and curled up under her covers, drifting into a deep sleep. She was truly exhausted from the day’s training. Because of the recent body tempering, her rate of spiritual absorption had increased significantly while she slept. Knowing that Nie Xingyuan and Meng Jiao had already discovered the secret of her rapid advancement, she knew she couldn't afford for this autonomous absorption to be revealed.

A-Jiu trusted them too much.

From within her ring, a surge of spiritual energy emerged, masking her aura. Even the rapidly circulating energy went unnoticed.

"Find a concealment method for A-Jiu another day; it’s too easy for her to be discovered like this," a black dragon said, looking at a phantom figure casting spells in the void. "Have you figured out where you’re hiding your secret stash?"