Chapter 572: Icefield Envoy

As a four-star master teacher with astonishing insight, he immediately recognized the pill in the opponent's hand. Although it appeared sophisticated, it was actually an aphrodisiac for wild beasts. The more powerful the wild beast, the lower the success rate of breeding. To ensure better propagation, beast tamers typically administered this type of pill. After consumption, the beasts would experience a strong reaction, engaging in activity day and night, thereby ensuring fertility.

This pill, larger than a fist and specifically designed as an aphrodisiac for wild beasts, was meant for *him* to take? Young Master Ruohuan swallowed hard, feeling a surge of despair.

"Yes, this is indeed medicine for wild beasts. However, it's perfectly suited for your current situation. Take it quickly... Oh, and remember, you must swallow this pill whole; no chewing or slow swallowing," Zhang Xuan instructed.

"Swallow it whole?" Young Master Ruohuan staggered. How could he swallow a pill the size of a fist? Even if it fit into his mouth, his throat would never manage it.

"My dear sir, what exactly have I done to offend you? Are you trying to improve my cultivation, or are you trying to kill me...?"

"It must be swallowed whole, without any mistakes, or the effect will be lost!" Zhang Xuan casually tossed the pill to Hall Master Kang. "You are his teacher; please help him swallow it!"

"Me?" Hall Master Kang's mouth twitched as he looked at the aphrodisiac for wild beasts in his palm. He couldn't help but look up. "This... can it really help Ruohuan improve?"

"Of course!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Alright then..." Hall Master Kang gritted his teeth. "Ruohuan, come here and take your medicine! Hey, don't run!" With a low cry, he seized Young Master Ruohuan, pinned him to the ground, and with a grimace, shoved the large pill into his mouth. Then, with a surge of true qi, he forcibly pushed it down his throat.

"Cough, cough..." Young Master Ruohuan coughed incessantly, tears and snot streaming down his face. There was not a trace of the young master left; he looked utterly like a beggar. All his supposed grace and composure were completely forgotten, cast to the winds.

"Stop wasting time! Concentrate your mind and cultivate according to the technique!" Zhang Xuan bellowed, seeing him still sniffling.

"Yes!" Despite his immense frustration, he knew that if he didn't comply, he might be force-fed another, which would make him wish for death. Young Master Ruohuan quickly sat cross-legged.

As soon as he settled down, an indescribable burning heat surged through his body, and all his pores opened wide.

*Boom!* The previously narrow meridians, which had blocked the flow of true qi, expanded under the medicine's stimulation. The formerly murky true qi instantly seemed to clarify, and with a rumble, it flowed through unimpeded.

*Crack! Crack!* His cultivation, previously stagnant at the early stage of Mortal Transcendent 4-dan, emitted a crisp sound as it broke through to the middle stage.

"It... it really worked?" Hall Master Kang was startled, and Palace Master Wu, standing nearby, also widened her eyes in disbelief. They had initially found Zhang Xuan's method incredible and hard to believe, but witnessing Young Master Ruohuan's breakthrough firsthand made them realize that he truly possessed the ability and had, in fact, pinpointed the root cause of the problem.

"Yes, his true qi was blocked. To resolve this, two methods are necessary: first, expanding the meridians, and second, purifying the true qi..." Zhang Xuan smiled, observing their shock. "That aphrodisiac pill I just gave him is effective for wild beasts because it accelerates their blood circulation and expands their meridians. When consumed by a human, it naturally has the same effect!"

When Young Master Ruohuan had competed against him previously, he had utilized his Master Teacher abilities. The Library of Heaven's Path had already recorded his flaws, and despite more than half a month passing, his cultivation remained unchanged, as did his imperfections. Thus, Zhang Xuan easily pinpointed the underlying issue.

Furthermore, what he had just explained was only a partial truth. More importantly, a trace of Heaven's Path true qi was secretly embedded within the pill. After Young Master Ruohuan consumed it, not only did his meridians expand, but his true qi was also diluted and purified, making the breakthrough naturally simpler.

However, the Heaven's Path true qi was too significant to risk detection. Concealed within the pill, it would remain unnoticed if swallowed whole, but chewing it slowly would reveal its presence. That's why Hall Master Kang was instructed to forcefully administer it. Once the medicine dissolved in his stomach, the Heaven's Path true qi merged with his own internal energy, diluting his true qi and making it impossible to detect.

"This..." Hall Master Kang was dumbfounded. Although he suspected it wasn't that simple, his student's successful breakthrough was undeniable. Apart from this explanation, he couldn't conceive of a better reason.

"Then... what about after the breakthrough? The medicinal effects should still be present, correct?" he couldn't help but ask. While this method could indeed facilitate a breakthrough, what would happen afterward? With such a large pill, its effects would surely persist. How would that be managed?

"Oh, that... I haven't considered it!" Zhang Xuan shook his head dismissively.

"Haven't considered it?" Hall Master Kang faltered. Young Master Ruohuan, cultivating cross-legged, felt a sudden tightness in his chest, nearly suffering a cultivation deviation.

"What do you mean you haven't considered it? You made me consume such a potent aphrodisiac, and then... I'm left to my own devices?"

"Don't worry, it's merely an aphrodisiac for wild beasts. Beasts have low intelligence, so it's understandable if they can't withstand its effects. But surely Young Master Ruohuan isn't weaker than a mere beast, incapable of resisting, is he?" Zhang Xuan said. "This method serves two purposes: first, it enables his breakthrough, and second, it tests his willpower... A dignified Mortal Transcendent 4-dan expert should not be so weak as to be unable to control something like this!"

"Indeed!" Hall Master Kang nodded. Mortal Transcendent experts possess extremely strong self-control. While carnal desires are intense, they can certainly be restrained. Compared to achieving a breakthrough, this matter is indeed of minor importance and poses no significant harm.

"..." Young Master Ruohuan burst into tears once more. He had hoped there would be a solution, but it turned out he was truly left to his own devices. For a moment, he felt immeasurably sad, unsure if it was emotional distress or merely a physical reaction.

"Thank you, Master Zhang!" After an unknown period, having finally consolidated his cultivation and suppressed the effects, Young Master Ruohuan approached Zhang Xuan and bowed deeply. Although the process was prolonged and brutal, he was genuinely and completely convinced by the person before him. The resentment he had previously harbored because Zhang Xuan had consumed all the Mother Water vanished entirely.

To be honest, even if the Yin-Yang Pool had remained perfectly intact, in a month's time, he would have, at best, advanced from the early to the middle stage of the Turbid-Clear Realm. Now, he had broken through in the blink of an eye, far exceeding all expectations.

"Don't mention it. Your meridians are now wide, and your true qi flows rapidly. As long as you have sufficient mid-grade spirit stones, reaching the peak of Mortal Transcendent 4-dan within a month will be no problem!" Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction. The Heaven's Path true qi, having merged with his body, had diluted his previously somewhat viscous true qi. His subsequent cultivation would undoubtedly be much smoother, and his progress far greater than before. It would not be an exaggeration to say he had gained a blessing from misfortune.

"Master Zhang has enabled my humble disciple to progress; I, Kang, am immensely grateful. Please accept these five mid-grade spirit stones as compensation..." After carefully examining his student's body and confirming a profound transformation, Hall Master Kang knew it was far more complex than merely consuming an aphrodisiac. With a flick of his wrist, he produced a jade box and respectfully presented it. Guidance from a master teacher required payment. Zhang Xuan's methods were unfathomable and clearly superior to his own, already comparable to a five-star master teacher. While five mid-grade spirit stones were a considerable sum, as compensation, they still seemed somewhat inadequate. However, this was all of Hall Master Kang's worldly possessions; he couldn't offer more even if he wished to.

"Hall Master Kang, you're too generous. It's also my fault that the Yin-Yang Pool is unusable..." Zhang Xuan said politely. He took the jade box, extracted one spirit stone, and tossed it to Ruohuan nearby: "Cultivate diligently these days. Refining this one should allow you to reach the peak of Mortal Transcendent 4-dan!" He then took out another and handed it to Zhao Ya, before looking at Palace Master Wu not far away: "Palace Master, since that Mother Water has been rendered useless, might I borrow the Ice Plain from your Ice Plain Palace for a while?" The Yin-Yang qi within the Mother Water had been entirely absorbed, but the ley lines and the Ice Plain itself remained.

"What do you intend to do?" Palace Master Wu asked, her face filled with caution. The Ice Plain was the lifeblood of her Source Fire Ice Plain people, rarely offered for use by outsiders.

"Nothing much. Zhao Ya possesses a Pure Yin Physique. Integrating with the Ice Plain would allow her cultivation to advance rapidly. If all goes well, your internal issues could be resolved in about half a month. For her to cultivate step by step, it would likely take at least half a year to achieve the same," Zhang Xuan said after a moment of hesitation. He had originally considered using the Yin-Yang Pool for Zhao Ya's rapid progress, but with its destruction, he had to devise another plan. Fortunately, the Ice Plain remained, and utilizing it might even prove more effective than the Yin-Yang Pool.

"This..." Palace Master Wu was momentarily stunned. She hadn't expected Zhang Xuan to still be considering a solution for her ailment. Suppressing her breathing, Palace Master Wu said, "Her Pure Yin Physique is incredibly vital to us, the Source Fire Ice Plain people. Granting her a portion of the Ice Plain, or even all of it, would be a trivial matter. I will retrieve it now..." With that, she turned and departed.

It wasn't long before she returned with a jade box. Gently opening it, she revealed a substance resembling a spirit stone, emanating an intense chill that seemed capable of freezing anyone solid on contact. While others felt a bone-chilling cold from the object, Zhao Ya's eyes gleamed, and she felt her entire bloodline surge with excitement.

"Zhao Ya, cultivate according to the technique I've imparted to you over the next few days. If you have any questions, ask me directly!" Zhang Xuan instructed, handing her the jade box.

"Yes!" Zhao Ya nodded.

"Alright, I shall also enter secluded cultivation now!" Zhang Xuan declared, once all arrangements were complete. Hall Master Kang had provided five mid-grade spirit stones. Zhang Xuan gave one to Ruohuan and one to Zhao Ya, leaving three, which were sufficient for him to advance to the peak of Mortal Transcendent 2-dan.

Palace Master Wu arranged several clean rooms for everyone's accommodation. Zhang Xuan, Ruohuan, and Zhao Ya all began to cultivate diligently.

Time passed swiftly; half a month went by in a flash. With the aid of the three mid-grade spirit stones, Zhang Xuan broke through to the peak of Mortal Transcendent 2-dan that very day and subsequently focused on consolidating his cultivation. As for Young Master Ruohuan, he finally reached the late stage of Mortal Transcendent 4-dan two days prior.

However, among the three, the one who made the most significant progress was not him, but Zhao Ya. In half a month, with the aid of the Ice Plain, her physique was successfully activated by thirty percent, and her cultivation successively broke through from Half-Step Mortal Transcendent to Mortal Transcendent 4-dan! Her personal cultivation now even surpassed that of Zhang Xuan, her teacher. With her cultivation advancing, her aura became even more ethereal and refined. From a distance, she appeared like a celestial fairy descended from the heavens, untouched by worldly concerns.

Young Master Ruohuan was greatly moved, developing feelings of admiration. However, recalling Master Zhang's formidable power, he reluctantly suppressed his thoughts. He was already suffering immensely without any improper intentions; if he truly harbored them, he feared he wouldn't survive until the Master Teacher Grand Competition.