Chapter 18: Taking Off Clothes Again? A Comprehensive Transformation

"Take off your clothes."

Lin Xiao let out a sigh of frustration—he had just put them on.

"Hurry up, Lin Xiao! What are you standing around for?" Ye Lingling urged, waving her hand impatiently.

"My mom just wants to check your physical strength, not take advantage of you. Besides, you're so small, who would want to look at you?"

Lin Xiao: …

Clenching his fists, Lin Xiao swore silently to himself:

One day, I, Lin Xiao, will grow so tall and strong that no one will dare call me 'small' again!

Reluctantly, Lin Xiao stripped off his clothes.

Ye Qingxian immediately began her examination. "Hmm, your physical strength has already surpassed that of an ordinary Great Soul Master. That's impressive—but I expected no less after your training."

She pinched his shin thoughtfully. "Your bone age is still six years old. Looks like the evil fire body forging didn't interfere with your physical development. Good—you'll still be able to grow taller naturally."

Lin Xiao: What's with all this focus on my size? Of course, I'll grow up eventually!

"I want to feel, too!" Ye Lingling suddenly chimed in with a mischievous grin, reaching out to poke at Lin Xiao's arms.

After two quick pokes, Lin Xiao reflexively grabbed her hand.

"Lin Xiao! What's your problem? I was just helping you check your strength!" she protested.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Lin Xiao looked at her expressionlessly. "Aunt Ye can do it. You can't."

Ye Lingling puffed up like an angry cat. "You really don't know how to appreciate kindness! Why does she get to, but I don't?"

Lin Xiao: Because Aunt Ye is a healer, and you're just messing around!

Dugu Yan, standing off to the side, didn't say a word. Her face was slightly flushed. She couldn't help but notice how Lin Xiao's physique had transformed—young though he was, his body was now well-toned, every muscle perfectly refined by the harsh training.

"He's… surprisingly well-built for his age."

Ye Lingling, meanwhile, couldn't help but feel slightly awkward. Why is a kid this young already more fit than some grown men?

Finally, Lin Xiao couldn't hold back.

"Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west. Don't look down on the young and poor! In a few years, I'll be taller than both of you!"

Ye Lingling: "So you're admitting you're small now?"

Lin Xiao decided not to respond. He would just quietly grow and let his progress speak for itself one day.

Ye Qingxian finished her inspection, nodding thoughtfully. "Excellent. Lin Xiao's physical potential hasn't been stunted in the slightest—on the contrary, his physical strength is already slightly above that of an average Great Soul Master."

"Now, Lin Xiao, test your flexibility. Try some stretches or difficult movements. Let's see how well you can control your body."

Putting on his clothes again, Lin Xiao complied. He bent down effortlessly until his hands touched the ground and stretched further until his palms were flat. He did a perfect split and then effortlessly balanced himself upside-down on one finger.

Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan stared in awe.

Ye Lingling: "…Is he even human?"

Dugu Yan: "This… this is monstrous."

Ye Qingxian finally intervened. "Enough showing off. It's clear now—the evil fire body forging not only increased your physical strength but also unlocked hidden potential. For now, I don't see any side effects."

But Lin Xiao knew the truth. The drawbacks were obvious: only someone with the Nine-Hearted Begonia, combined with his Ice Heart Art and Five Animal Exercises, could survive the ordeal. And not everyone could endure the soul-wrenching pain of the evil fire body forging process.

"Mom, can Yanyan and I try body forging, too?" Ye Lingling asked eagerly. "Maybe we could use a different method?"

Dugu Yan nodded with anticipation. "It's worth a try."

But Ye Qingxian's response was cold and firm.

"No. Absolutely not."

Ye Lingling flinched under her mother's sharp gaze.

"You don't understand the severity of what Lin Xiao just endured," Ye Qingxian continued. "I conducted his training before you got home because I didn't want either of you to see him in that state—crying out in agony, on the verge of passing out, enduring pain worse than death."

Ye Lingling's face turned pale.

"If he had passed out even once, the evil fire would have consumed him, and not even the Nine-Hearted Begonia could have saved him."

Suddenly, Lin Xiao's calm demeanor felt even more admirable to both girls. The pain he had endured was unimaginable—and yet he had never once complained.

Breaking the heavy silence, Lin Xiao spoke up with a gentle smile.

"Forget the evil fire body forging—it's too dangerous for you two. But you can still strengthen your body through intense training. If you can't handle exhaustion, how will you ever endure pain?"

Both Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan looked at him with newfound respect.

Ye Qingxian, seeing the admiration in their eyes, softened her tone.

"Good. Now you finally understand. Don't envy Lin Xiao's strength—respect the suffering it took to achieve it."

But then, with a smirk, she teased Lin Xiao:

"Of course, during his training, he was screaming for his mother and nearly bit through a towel."

Lin Xiao: "Aunt Ye! Why are you ruining my reputation?!"

Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan burst into laughter as they glanced at the shredded towel nearby.

Ye Qingxian: "Next time, I'll get an iron bathtub. Just in case."

Lin Xiao could only sigh in defeat.

One day… just wait. I'll be taller, stronger, and no one will laugh at me again!