Wei Zhao was not particularly puzzled by this turn of events. After all, when he had completed tempering his body and circulated the second level of the Xuanyuan Dragon-Controlling Formula for the first time, he had drawn forth a similar phenomenon.

Thus, Wei Zhao paid no attention to the strange signs and continued steadily circulating the mnemonic formula of the second level of the Xuanyuan Dragon-Controlling Formula.

Next, Wei Zhao felt as though the acupoints throughout his body had suddenly opened wide. The energy gathered within the jade pendant's space swiftly poured through those acupoints and into his body.

The situation was much the same as before. Yet to Wei Zhao's surprise, after entering his acupoints this time, the energy did not flow directly into his body as it had during body tempering. Instead, it was entirely absorbed by his meridians.

Was this strengthening his meridians before cultivation began? Once that possibility occurred to him, Wei Zhao felt that his guess was quite reasonable. It was as though the energy and true qi within the jade pendant's space were nourishing his meridians, leaving him indescribably comfortable.

As time passed, the third-level mnemonic formula circulated faster and with greater familiarity. Wei Zhao could feel the endless energy and true qi within the jade pendant's space pouring into his meridians at an ever-increasing speed.

With Wei Zhao at its center, more and more pure energy gathered within the jade pendant's space, converging toward him as it awaited entry into his meridians...

Wei Zhao could even sense the changes taking place within his body. His meridians were becoming tougher and more robust. He could clearly feel that as they thickened, the speed at which he circulated the mnemonic formula increased as well.

When Wei Zhao finally stopped, he was already able to circulate the mnemonic formula of the third level of the Xuanyuan Dragon-Controlling Formula with complete proficiency.

Wei Zhao did not continue cultivating. Wu Chengtian and Huoshaoyun were still waiting for him outside, and the two of them were probably wound tight with nerves. He ought to go out and give them a chance to relax.

Returning from the jade pendant's space to reality, Wei Zhao pushed open the door and walked out.

"Chief, you've finished strengthening your meridians?" Wu Chengtian asked at once when he saw Wei Zhao emerge.

"Yes, it's done." Wei Zhao nodded.

"By the way, Chief, what exactly does strengthening the meridians mean?" Huoshaoyun had wanted to ask this earlier. He had never heard of anything like it.

"In simple terms, it means you'll recover from injuries faster." Wei Zhao could not explain it properly, so he offered a simplified answer.

"I see. That's wonderful!" Enlightenment dawned on Huoshaoyun's face, and he nodded. "That'll be incredibly useful in a battle of attrition!"

"Heh..." Wei Zhao chuckled. Huoshaoyun had seen only one of the benefits. He had no idea that Wei Zhao could now condense true-qi bombs much faster as well. That was the real weapon of mass destruction in battle.

...

The Ancient Feng Family.

Not long after Feng Nitian took the Great Recovery Pill, he finally awoke. Although the injuries all over his body had healed, his arm could not regrow. He could never use the Heaven-Defying Divine Skill again, and his meridians had been ruined as well. His cultivation was completely gone, and cultivating another set of mnemonic formulas was out of the question.

Thus, Feng Nitian felt that life was worse than death. Though he was conscious again, he remained morose and dispirited.

Seeing his son like this tore Feng Tianhu's heart apart and filled him with fury. Why was it that Feng Shipian could participate in the trial, return safely without a hitch, and even obtain a Great Recovery Pill, while his own son, Feng Nitian, had been beaten into a cripple?

All because he had acknowledged some damn chief? It was nothing more than blind luck!

"Nitian, how are you feeling?" Feng Tianhu asked, his heart aching.

"Dad... I'm finished. I'm crippled!" Feng Nitian had already examined his own body and discovered that he was no different from an ordinary person anymore—not even as capable as one, because he no longer had either arm!

"As long as your injuries have healed, that's enough... At least you're alive. That's better than remaining unconscious, isn't it?" Feng Tianhu tried to console him.

"But living like this is worse than death!" Feng Nitian could not help throwing his head back in anguish. In a hoarse, desperate voice, he cried, "Dad, you have to avenge me!"

"Nitian, don't worry. I will avenge you!" Feng Tianhu nodded. "Whoever did this to you, I'll repay him double! Tell me his name and which sect he belongs to!"

"Dad, that man is called Ling Yi. I don't know what sect he belongs to either. He seems to be an unaffiliated cultivator. But he used to be enemies with Zhang Naipao. Just ask Zhang Naipao of the Tomorrow Repeats Tomorrow Sect, and you'll learn who he is."

"Ling Yi? That name sounds familiar. Where have I heard it before?" Feng Tianhu paused briefly, then suddenly remembered. "Right. During the trial of the Profound Pill Sect, Feng Shipian acknowledged a chief named Wei Zhao. Under Wei Zhao's protection, he had an absurd stroke of luck and managed to pass the trial..."

"What? Feng Shipian went to take part in the trial too?" Feng Nitian stared blankly for a moment. "What happened? How long was I unconscious? How was the Profound Pill Sect's trial held while I was out?"

"Nitian, you were unconscious for more than half a year!" Feng Tianhu sighed, his voice tinged with sympathy. "As for Feng Shipian taking part in the Profound Pill Sect's trial, it was actually part of a scheme. I intended for him to die there. But who would have thought he would actually return alive?"

"A scheme?" Feng Nitian asked, stunned.

"Yes. I planned to have him obtain a Great Recovery Pill for you and heal your injuries. It was practically an impossible task, but that Feng Shipian somehow had a stroke of luck during the Profound Pill Sect's trial. He actually acknowledged a chief, passed the trial without a hitch, and even managed to obtain a pill for you!" Feng Tianhu briefly recounted everything that had happened.

"That bastard really is lucky!" After hearing this, Feng Nitian showed not the slightest gratitude. Instead, he cursed resentfully. The Ancient Feng Family had long since lost all trace of familial affection; only strife remained.

"Indeed. I'll ask right now who this Ling Yi really is!" Feng Tianhu was also in contact with the Tomorrow Repeats Tomorrow Sect. In truth, the ancient sects maintained varying degrees of contact with one another.

After saying this, Feng Tianhu took out his phone and called Purestar Heavenly Venerable of the Tomorrow Repeats Tomorrow Sect! (To be continued)

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