Chapter 121: Body Tempering

Yi Tian had been well-prepared. Before the Three-Eyed Dragon Centipede’s attack could erupt, he had already shifted his position a thousand feet away.

The creature’s attack missed, sending it into a state of thunderous rage.

Having succeeded, Yi Tian immediately fled into the distance. An Qing, Lan Chen, Princess Zhaixing, and the members of the Samsara Squad all rushed out of Wanren Mountain. They knew that a rampaging Three-Eyed Dragon Centipede was terrifying; if they did not leave in time, there would surely be casualties.

Behind them, the Three-Eyed Dragon Centipede gave chase, its third eye flashing with blinding rays, yet it could no longer truly threaten them. Eventually, Yi Tian and the others vanished into the vast mountain ranges beyond Wanren Mountain.

They regrouped on a peak about a hundred miles from the mountain.

"The Blood Bodhi Fruits are in hand. There are thirty-three in total. My Samsara Squad only needs twelve; you all may distribute the rest as you see fit. I shall not interfere."

Yi Tian spoke calmly. He was not being greedy; there were fourteen people present, and even with his share, everyone could receive at least two, with some left over. His claim to twelve was hardly excessive.

Before An Qing could respond, Lan Chen impatiently retorted, "That won't do! Your group is too large—you're taking nearly a third for yourselves. If not for my Spirit-Confusing Incense, the Three-Eyed Dragon Centipede’s strength wouldn't have been suppressed so significantly. Lady An Qing’s contribution at the critical moment was immense, and Lady Luo Xiang’s intelligence was equally vital. It could be said that our contributions far outweigh those of your few."

"Therefore, I propose that Lady An Qing, Lady Luo Xiang, and I each take eight. The remaining nine should be divided between Princess Zhaixing and Lady Luo Hong, two each. Considering your efforts, you may have five."

The young master of Gulan City spoke with the air of one bestowing a generous favor.

Yi Shan, Yi Kuang, and the others were incensed. They had long tolerated this young man, and seeing him stir up trouble again, they could barely restrain themselves from teaching him a lesson. Clearly, such a distribution would leave Yi Tian’s group at a massive disadvantage. To receive only five fruits—not even one for each member—was intolerable. The rest of the Samsara Squad would never agree to it.

"Lady An Qing, what is your view?" Yi Tian turned to the elegant woman. She held significant sway over Tang Luoxiang, Princess Zhaixing, and Lan Chen. He wanted to gauge her stance. If they forced a disadvantageous deal upon him, he would have to take a harder line. After all, they had played the most vital role; without Yi Tian’s intervention, they would never have been able to harvest the fruits from under the beast’s nose.

An Qing replied, "This success was only possible thanks to Young Master Yi and his companions. I have no objections to your proposed distribution."

Princess Zhaixing opened her mouth to speak but hesitated. Luo Hong looked surprised; she hadn't expected An Qing to agree to let Yi Tian’s team keep twelve fruits. Though she personally disagreed, her own contribution had been minor, so she felt no right to object. As for little Tang Luoxiang, she merely snorted, offering no rebuttal. Spoiled as she was, she understood the value of Yi Tian’s contribution; the distribution was not unfair.

However, the woman accompanying Tang Luoxiang and the two Yuanfa-level guards beside Young Master Lan Chen were visibly displeased. Despite their strength, their status prevented them from openly opposing the decision, leaving them to simmer in secret. The Blood Bodhi Fruit was a precious tonic for body tempering; every single one was worth a fortune.

Young Master Lan Chen wanted to push the issue, but seeing that no one supported him, he was forced to concede. He had witnessed the strength of Yi Tian’s group during the battle—especially that arrow from Yi Shan, which had instantly slain a top-tier Yuanfa-level expert. Lan Chen himself was only at the Yuangang level, as were Yi Kuang, Yi Feng, and Yi Li. Yi Tian’s Samsara Squad had proven far more formidable than he had anticipated.

The final tally: twelve for the Samsara Squad, five for An Qing, six for Tang Luoxiang, three for Princess Zhaixing, one for Luo Hong, and six for Lan Chen. The thirty-three fruits were fully accounted for.

The group returned to Huangqin City. Shortly after, An Qing, Tang Luoxiang, Princess Zhaixing, and Luo Hong departed. Even Lan Chen returned to Gulan City under guard, though he soon reappeared in Huangqin City, accompanied by ten top-tier Yuanfa-level experts.

"Keep a close watch on those rooms. Notify me the moment they make a move," Lan Chen commanded his guests. These experts were highly paid retainers of Gulan City, kept for major crises. He knew he couldn't expect them to remain indifferent to the allure of the Blood Bodhi Fruits. His father had even secretly dispatched a top-tier Yuandan-level expert to follow them. This time, snatching the fruits from Yi Tian would be foolproof.

Yet, as long as Yi Tian remained in Huangqin City, they dared not strike. Huangqin was a vital fortress located deep within the Fulong Mountain range, designed to block the incursions of high-level beasts. There were at least eighteen such cities in the region, each governed by a powerful lord and serving as a crucial resource hub for the major sects. Even the most formidable experts dared not violate the rules set by these sects within the city walls.

Meanwhile, having each obtained two Blood Bodhi Fruits, Yi Tian’s group was eager to refine them. In his meditation chamber, Yi Tian bit into the fist-sized fruit. A warm current surged into his throat and settled in his stomach, slowly releasing mysterious, life-giving energy that permeated every fiber of his flesh, bones, and cells.

Yi Tian felt as if he were soaking in a warm spring. This mysterious energy continuously fortified his body. He could perceive his physical strength increasing at a tangible pace. When the warmth finally faded, he felt every cell in his body brimming with power, strengthened a hundredfold.

He consumed the final fruit. It took three full days to absorb the essence. When the six members of the Samsara Squad finally emerged, they felt as if their bodies had undergone a miraculous transformation. Their vitality was surging, and their physical durability had reached an astounding level—even Yi Shan’s attempt to cut his own skin with a top-grade spirit weapon left nothing but a white mark.

Their physical bodies had reached the human limit: one hundred thousand jin of strength. Even if they consumed more fruits, their strength would not exceed this threshold. Human lineage acted as an invisible shackle, limiting their potential. Only by breaking the chains of their bloodline could they further develop their physical power.

While some cultivators were limited by their bloodlines, those who tempered their bodies—the tendons, membranes, bones, and organs—could achieve incredible results. If the bloodline was the engine, the physical body was the vehicle's chassis. A body-tempering warrior and an ordinary cultivator with peak physical strength were as different as a bulletproof vehicle and a standard steel car.