Chapter 31: Cao Youqian — "Master, I've Read Books Too"
"It's not that there aren't other options, but the Thousand-Year Cold Pool and the Land of Thousand-Year Earth Fiends—your small frame probably wouldn't survive them."
Chu Feng spoke with utter seriousness.
Upon hearing the names of those two places, Cao Youqian's face immediately turned bitter.
"Master, aren't those places a bit too extreme…"
Chu Feng chuckled. "Endure the hardest suffering to become the best of the best. Your senior brother went through the same."
Cao Youqian turned to glance at Xiao Chen beside him.
Xiao Chen gave a slight nod. "Indeed. Back then, I cultivated beneath a thousand-zhang waterfall. At first, it was worse than death."
Hiss…
Cao Youqian sucked in a cold breath. No wonder Senior Brother was so strong—he had cultivated through such brutal means.
Thinking about all he had experienced lately, he gritted his teeth. "I'm willing."
"I knew I wasn't wrong about you."
Chu Feng had Cao Youqian shut off the formation within the earth fire, then said, "Let's go. Time to head back. I'll also hand you the Chaotic Body Tempering Art."
"Master, you want me to temper my body?"
Cao Youqian looked stunned. He had never taken that path before.
"That's right."
Chu Feng explained patiently, "Your dantian is naturally smaller than others, but your meridians are larger. Among your eight extraordinary meridians, many are already congested with pill toxins. If you want to grow stronger in a short time, your only option is to temper your body.
"After all, your comprehension is average. Even if I taught you a supreme technique, you wouldn't grasp it right away."
Hearing this, Cao Youqian didn't feel hurt in the slightest—rather, he was happy.
So Master really had thought this through, and wasn't just throwing some random technique at him to brush him off.
The trio returned to the Miscellaneous Dao Institute.
Chu Feng handed the Chaotic Body Tempering Art to Cao Youqian.
"Read through it first. Tomorrow I'll personally guide your cultivation and point out your flaws."
"Thank you, Master."
Cao Youqian treasured the manual like a precious gem and quickly stored it in his spatial pouch.
The second half of the night passed uneventfully.
At dawn the next day—
Chu Feng, for once, rose early.
He waited for Xiao Chen and Cao Youqian in the main courtyard.
Before long, both arrived.
"Disciple greets Master."
"At ease."
Chu Feng turned his gaze to Cao Youqian.
"How did you find the Five Elements Body Tempering chapter?"
Cao Youqian clasped his hands. "Reporting to Master, I've finished reading the first chapter. This Chaotic Body Tempering Art can only be described with the phrase 'the great way is simplicity itself.'"
Chu Feng teased, "Didn't expect you to read one night's worth of books and suddenly become more refined in your speech."
Cao Youqian said meekly, "Master, I've read many books before… The playboy thing was just an act."
"Got it."
Chu Feng waved his hand. "Let's go."
The two followed Chu Feng as they headed toward the back mountain and the earth fire cave.
Moments later, the trio arrived at the entrance of the cave.
Chu Feng didn't rush Cao Youqian inside. He first had the boy teach him and Xiao Chen how to control the jade token.
Then he said, "Take off your storage pouch, robes, and the rest."
Cao Youqian hugged his plump self tightly. "Wait, do I have to go in naked?"
"Aren't you still wearing your underclothes?"
Chu Feng rolled his eyes at him.
"Master, I still have a question," Cao Youqian said.
"Speak."
Chu Feng spat out a single word.
"I saw in the Five Elements chapter that I have to cultivate inside this earth fire for eighty-one days. Even if I don't burn to death, won't I starve to death!?"
Chu Feng said in mild exasperation, "We're tempering the body, not refining pills. You only need to cultivate for nine hours a day. The remaining three hours you can rest. Do that for eighty-one days."
Hoo…
Cao Youqian let out a long breath of relief, then placed his storage pouch and belongings on the ground, stripped down to his inner garments, and entered the earth fire cave.
"Ignite!"
Without asking further questions, Xiao Chen directly activated the formation.
Boom!
A flame shot up from the cave.
From within came Cao Youqian's scream. "Agh! So hot! Senior Brother, I wasn't ready yet!"
Chu Feng said calmly, "You talk too much—start cultivating."
"Yes, sir!"
After spitting out a single word, Cao Youqian didn't dare speak further.
That initial burst had burned his inner clothes into ashes.
If not for his body's spiritual power automatically forming a protective layer, he would've been scorched black on the spot.
Following the body-tempering method in the Five Elements Chapter, he began training within the earth fire—not by allowing the flames to directly burn him, but by shielding his body with spiritual power while drawing in the fire spirit essence within the earth fire to cultivate.
Meanwhile, Chu Feng pulled out a tea table from his storage ring and began brewing tea at a relaxed pace.
Across from him, Xiao Chen sat cross-legged and began cultivating.
Cultivation wasn't just about fighting; it also required quiet introspection.
Over the past half-year, he had been constantly battling. His cultivation level had indeed risen rapidly, but his state of mind hadn't kept up.
If he continued this way, his heart would be filled with bloodlust, and when the time came to break through, he would definitely be plagued by inner demons.
That was one of the key reasons he had returned to the Miscellaneous Dao Institute—to calm his mind and refine his spirit.
Moments later, the rich fragrance of tea spread through the air.
Chu Feng's voice drifted to Xiao Chen's ears.
"Don't just focus on cultivating. Drink some tea. Taste life a little."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen immediately opened his eyes. Though he didn't fully understand Master's intentions, he still rose to his feet and said, "Master, let me pour the tea."
"Mm."
Chu Feng didn't say much more.
Xiao Chen poured two cups, placing one before Chu Feng and holding the other himself. After gently blowing on it twice, he took a sip.
The tea was just ordinary spiritual tea, but for some reason, the moment it touched his throat, a deep sense of calm washed over him.
"Master, this tea…"
Chu Feng interrupted, "Don't ask too much. Just taste it with your heart."
His two and a half years in the Miscellaneous Dao Institute had not been wasted. The former head had taught him many things besides cultivation.
Beyond music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, Chu Feng had also mastered tea brewing, cooking, winemaking—all to a refined level.
While the old headmaster was still alive, he often praised Chu Feng's talent, saying that even if he couldn't cultivate, he would still live an exceptionally rich and meaningful life.
Chu Feng had only smiled at that. After all, in this world, strength was the only true path.
The miscellaneous paths were only meant to assist cultivation.
After finishing the cup—
Xiao Chen felt clarity in his mind, a stillness in his heart, and the killing intent around him visibly faded.
He couldn't help but sigh. "Master, your tea skills are incredible. A cup of ordinary spiritual tea brewed by you has the effects of a top-grade brew."
Chu Feng laughed. "Don't tell me you've forgotten what our Miscellaneous Dao Institute was originally about?"
Xiao Chen paused, then suddenly understood. That's right—their Miscellaneous Dao Institute had once focused precisely on these miscellaneous paths. Of course it was normal for his master to be skilled in them.
"Master, do you know all the crafts of our institute?"
====================================================================================
Get access to 20 chapters in advance and enjoy 2 daily updates by supporting the series. Available on Patreon: https://patreon.com/Alex_Cruise or Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/anish_44