Chapter 3: Ba Duan Jin and Wu Qin Xi

The next morning, heavy dew blanketed the ground, and the air was bone-chillingly cold. Inside the thatched house, Lin Xiao sat cross-legged, his breath forming a faint mist in the frigid air. After a simple meal to replenish his strength, he repaired the leaks in the roof, his hands steady despite the lingering weakness in his body.

Following the exertion, warmth spread through his limbs, driving away the cold. The evil fire had erupted once and would not return in the short term. However, Lin Xiao knew that when it did, it would be more ferocious than before. He had already prepared himself mentally for it.

A day's plan begins in the morning.

Though he had yet to acquire a spirit ring, Lin Xiao had begun conditioning his body. Since the Clear Heart Technique could suppress the evil fire, perhaps certain physical training methods from his previous life could help as well.

He tested them one by one.

In the end, he found that the **Five Animal Play (Wu Qin Xi) was more effective. After a single session, the residual pain from the previous night's eruption faded significantly. A warm current seemed to flow through his body, penetrating every limb and bone, subtly repairing the injuries caused by the evil fire. At the same time, his physical strength increased ever so slightly.

"Among the Five Animal Play exercises, my bird form is the most proficient, and its effect is slightly stronger than the others—deer, tiger, bear, and ape."

He also practiced the Eight Pieces Brocade (Ba Duan Jin) technique. While it was not as effective as the Five Animal Play in strengthening his muscles and bones, it had a superior effect on warming the internal organs.

Lin Xiao made his decision.

Five Animal Play in the morning, Eight Pieces Brocade in the evening.

He practiced the routines repeatedly to deepen his memory.

"The mind follows the action; the spirit and form are combined; looseness and tightness coexist; movement and stillness merge..."

By the time he finished, four hours had passed. The sun now hung high in the sky. Lin Xiao wiped the sweat from his forehead and took a short rest.

At noon, he made himself a bowl of noodles.

While eating, his thoughts drifted back to the core issue—the evil fire. The problem stemmed from the defect of his martial spirit, making his body incapable of withstanding its flames. This reminded him of Dugu Bo and his Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor martial spirit.

"Without the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to suppress his poison, Dugu Bo would have died long ago. My Clear Heart Technique works the same way, suppressing the evil fire rather than curing it."

The solution was clear. If he could find the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he might be able to obtain a celestial herb that could completely resolve his condition.

But there was a problem—Lin Xiao didn't understand magical herbs.

If he rushed in blindly and consumed a poisonous herb, he might die before curing anything.

"I still have time. The Clear Heart Technique can keep the fire at bay for now. I just need information..."

The people who knew about celestial herbs in the original novel were Tang San, Yue Guan, and the Breaking Clan.

He dismissed Tang San immediately.

"Tang San never shared his knowledge until he became a god. He didn't even give Dugu Bo a single herb despite using the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for himself. If I show any knowledge of his secret, he'll probably try to kill me."

Tang Hao's presence made it even riskier. Tang San's path was a dead end.

Next, Yue Guan, the Chrysanthemum Douluo.

"He's an elder of the Spirit Hall. If I want to approach him, I'd have to join them, but I'm not ready to align with any faction. Besides, Spirit Hall is full of Titled Douluos, and Pope Bibi Dong oversees everything. If I reveal knowledge of celestial herbs, will I even get a share?"

Lin Xiao shook his head. Yue Guan's path was out.

Finally, the Breaking Clan.

"They've always kept their alchemy secrets hidden—even from the Haotian Clan. Even if I married the clan leader's daughter, I might not get access."

Lin Xiao exhaled sharply. No easy options.

Was this the difference between novels and reality?

In a book, a single sentence could solve everything. In real life, a single mistake could cost him his life.

Frustrated, Lin Xiao absentmindedly snapped his fingers.

A strange spark flickered in his palm.

He stared at it, deep in thought.

"The temperature of this fire is so high… Could it be the Ultimate Fire?"

Suddenly, everything clicked.

Fire is the nemesis of poison.

Extreme ice was not the only counter to toxins—extreme fire could work too. In the original novel, Tang San's so-called immunity to poison came from training in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. But Lin Xiao was born with innate full spirit power—a trait characteristic of an ultimate attribute!

"Ma Hongjun's martial spirit is strong, but his innate spirit power was only level eight. He only obtained Ultimate Fire after taking a celestial herb. I… I was born with it!"

Lin Xiao's mind raced.

If he wasn't afraid of poison, then his plan could work.

Even if he encountered toxic plants, he could isolate himself with Ultimate Fire and explore the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well safely.

A smirk tugged at his lips as he stared at the flame in his palm.

He both loved and hated this domineering fire.

For the first time in days, he felt hope.

Afternoon.

Lin Xiao stepped out of his house. He had people to see.

He went door to door, visiting the villagers who had once shared their food with him.

Knocking on Aunt Wang's door, he smiled.

"Aunt Wang, I'm leaving the day after tomorrow."

Aunt Wang gasped. "Xiao Xiao, leaving? Where will you go? Oh, I'll miss you so much… You're such a good, smart child..."

Lin Xiao chuckled. "It's alright, Aunt Wang. I'm going to become a powerful soul master!"

She wiped her eyes, nodding. "Then I'm relieved. You will have a bright future, Xiao Xiao!"

Next, he visited Uncle Li.

"Xiao Xiao? Come in! Sit! Eat! I'll get you some food!"

Lin Xiao waved his hand. "Uncle Li, I've already eaten. I just came to say that I'll be leaving soon for training."

"Training? As expected of a soul master! You're following your teacher, right?"

Lin Xiao hesitated. Then, he nodded. "Yeah… something like that."

By the time he finished his farewells, the sun had set.

Returning to his thatched house, Lin Xiao gazed up at the moon.

Beyond the horizon, the unknown awaited him.

What does the future hold?