Shuro glanced indifferently at Lee before shifting her gaze to Lewis.

Lewis was cultivating not the elixir arts or martial practices of Tera, but rather an esoteric manual titled The Abyssal Mystic Dragon Vajra Scripture. The difference between martial practices and esoteric doctrines lies in their scope - martial practices are more comprehensive, emphasizing both the cultivator's innate cultivation and advancement through the realms of attainment. Esoteric doctrines, on the other hand, tend to be more specialized, focused solely on tempering a specific aspect of power.

The Abyssal Mystic Dragon Scripture was precisely such a corporeal tempering doctrine, with an extraordinarily distinguished provenance as one of the secret unattainable arts of the Nine Dragon Immortal Abode.

In the past, one of the dharmapalas cultivating at the Nine Dragon Immortal Abode founded by the Nine Dragon Sovereign had practiced this scripture. After reaching grand mastery, his strength enabled him to move mountains and divert seas while his corporeal body became tyrannically robust, reputedly making him the foremost corporeal shield of the Nine Dragon Immortal Abode.

Moreover, among the hundreds of corporeal tempering doctrines in the Nine Dragon Sovereign's memories, The Abyssal Mystic Dragon Scripture was firmly ranked in the top ten. This doctrine was initially easy to pick up but grew increasingly arduous later on. Most critically, it was the sole doctrine capable of cultivation without any true qi, relying solely on one's vital blood and energy. It was thus perfectly suited for Lewis at the Junior Elixir Realm.

Even Shuro had not expected the seemingly foolish and dull-witted Lewis to grasp its crux in a mere three hours.

The efficacious resonance between Lewis and this doctrine was perhaps predestined.

This was the only explanation Shuro could surmise.

The slate grey firmament glowed with an aura of light in the eastern horizon. The long night receded as daybreak arrived, with the first ray of dawn descending upon the mundane world.

At this moment, between heaven and earth and the nine celestial spheres, countless cultivators were also emerging from their secluded mountain grottoes and ascending to the cloud-wreathed summits to vie for this most yang-infused inaugural ray of dawn.

To ordinary mortals, this dawn radiance was but a faint wisp of light.

Little did they know that the primordial body of each ray of sunlight was as majestic as a celestial rainbow, brimming with infinitely more copious quintessence than even the oceans. Else how could it instantly traverse the billion upon billion li between heaven and earth, sweeping across the mundane world and illuminating the human realm in but a fleeting moment?

Yet however boundless its magnificence and vastness, it could not withstand the pillaging and division by the countless cultivators.

A great wind gusted in from the distance, stirring up a flurry of dancing snowflakes.

Previously, Shuro had assumed the winds at daybreak were caused by the sun. Only today did Shuro finally realize the dawn winds were related to but not originating from the sun itself.

These were the collective exhalations of the countless cultivators vying for the first ray of dawn!

"Lewis!"

Shuro called out in a low voice.

Lewis abruptly opened his eyes, the irises turned ash grey and covered completely in dense cracked patterns, resembling fractured earth. As his eyes blinked open and shut, fine dark qi retracted back into his crown Baihui acupoint. Without warning, he lunged forward, craning his neck as if a great tortoise stretching to breathe.

Lee's eyelid twitched as he reflexively rubbed his own inhumanly long neck, a resentful look in his eyes.

The brat! What's with him suddenly posing like this, could it be to mock me? He's really gotten emboldened with his new backer!

Before Lee could continue his internal grumbling, something unexpected happened.

A fiery aura manifested on Lewis' brow, then rippled downwards as if a bronze statue melting from head to toe.

"What's going on?"

Lee swallowed nervously. As he turned to look at Shuro, his entire body froze in shock.

The sun traversed the distant heavens, its dawn radiance plunging down thousands of li through the long void towards the human world, only to be caught in Shuro's mouth under the dilapidated pine.

The strand of dawn Lewis inhaled was minute as sesame seeds, yet the one Shuro swallowed whole in midair was the size of a peach, manifesting as a rainbow bridge. From up close, it could even be glimpsed by the naked eye.

"This, this, this..."

Lee gaped at Shuro in alarmed astonishment, for once tongue-tied despite his usual glibness.

How could Lee have guessed Shuro was guiding Lewis in cultivating some sort of "immortal art"? Swallowing the rising sun and transforming it into a rainbow was something only immortal masters in legends could accomplish!

Lee's eyes grew wet with the emergence of tears.

But these were not tears of joy, rather of regret and remorse.

If not for his moment of madness in visiting the Green Pear Nunnery, perhaps he could also be cultivating this "immortal art" together with Lewis now.

"Restrain!"

Soon, Shuro shouted again.

Without a second thought, Lewis immediately closed his mouth and sat down cross-legged in meditation.

The true fire of the sun was one of the most extreme fires between heaven and earth. The primordial purity of the first ray of dawn was precisely due to the vitality of the solar true fire it contained at this moment. Ordinary people did not feel scorched when bathed in sunlight because its intensity was dispersed.

But cultivated masters ingesting specifically the solar true fire contained within would dare attempt such a feat only with sufficient attainment. Slightly weaker masters with improper methods, incinerated instantly by the solar true fire into annihilation, were innumerable.

It was due to Lewis cultivating the Abyssal Mystic Dragon Scripture that he could gather a wisp of solar true fire. As for Shuro, he had initially only wanted to protect Lewis without any thoughts of harvesting the solar true fire. But when that first ray of dawn descended from the heavens, sweeping over the billion li of land, an intense thirst suddenly arose within Shuro's heart.

Shuro quickly realized this sensation of thirst came from the disappeared innate true fire. Just like the innate true water's craving for the ethereal moon essence and the marvelous spring in the River Lord's cave dwelling, the innate true fire also possessed an intense desire to possess fiery objects.

This verified Shuro's earlier conjecture that the innate true fire and true water had not actually vanished. Instead, they must be hidden somewhere inside his body, awaiting the summoning during his second transformation.

The arrival of the first ray of dawn was swift, and its dissipation equally fast. The winds from the vast earth also gradually abated as the cultivators across the world, satisfied after pillaging the sole daily dawn, returned to their respective abodes.

At the same time, an image flashed across Shuro's mind - precisely a cultivation diagram of the Fire Elemental Apparition art from the paintings in the River Lord's cave:

The solar true fire absorbed by Shuro circulated through his spine's pathways down to his lower abdomen. Rising from the elixir field, it flowed according to the cultivation route in the Fire Elemental Apparition art.

Beneath the dilapidated pine, the youth was immersed in a sea of fire. Strangely, these flames erupted from every single pore on his body. Before long, even his eyes, ears, and nostrils spewed fire. Despite this, Shuro in the flames appeared especially tranquil and peaceful with a satisfied and content expression.

"This, this, this..."

Lee goggled, staring fixedly at Shuro in disbelief.

As time slowly trickled by, Lewis had already finished his cultivation. He too saw Shuro akin to a phoenix bathing in flames. But completely contrary to Lee's reaction, Lewis's face showed not a shred of shock or concern.

His gaze seemed to have pierced through a veil of mist, not exactly illuminated, but clear as a pool of spring water. And his entire demeanor abruptly transformed, becoming sedate, staunch, tenacious, faintly exuding an odd aura - seemingly able to withstand the weight of the world like an unmoving boulder despite burdened with ten thousand jun.

This demeanor formed a stark contrast against his slender build and handsome delicate features.

Silently getting to his feet, Lewis walked over behind Shuro and stood with hands hanging down.

Lee grumbled internally then quickly scrambled to stand upright behind Shuro as a guardian.

Just half an hour later, sounds of space rending came from the distance.

Lee was shocked, realizing it was the commotion caused by Shuro that had attracted some high-level master. Glancing back at Shuro, he saw only a human-shaped fire shadow, whose body shuddered violently as it dispersed into millions of fire seeds, drifting towards the snowy ground in all four directions before vanishing in but a moment.

A bizarre fire streaked over from the distance, materializing into a white-robed elderly daoist with snowy hair and beard upon landing in the backyard.

Dispersed Master!

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Lee sucked in a breath of cold air in recognition.

Dispersed Master's brows furrowed as his gaze searched every inch of the courtyard, seeming to look for something.

Feeling the tremendous oppressive might, Lee broke out in a cold sweat, apprehensive of Dispersed Master noticing any clues. In his consistent mindset, the dispersed immortals were the only existence in the mundane world that could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the immortal masters. Moreover, Dispersed Master was Tera's foremost elder and unparalleled first master of the Fire Elemental Apparition art. His attainments in fire arts had reached the pinnacle with no rivals.

"Only you two here?"

After a long pause, Dispersed Master looked towards Lee and asked indifferently.

Lee's cheeks stung, as if sliced by two fiery sabers. Shocked once more in his heart.

"Indeed, sir." Lee respectfully replied.

"How strange...perhaps I'm getting old after all." Dispersed Master shook his head, a flicker of melancholy in his lowered eyes.

Lee secretly wiped away some cold sweat. He knew Shuro was still in the courtyard, yet even Fire Master Dispersed at the pinnacle of fire arts failed to detect anything amiss.

"Pretend you never saw me."

Dispersed Master didn't even glance at Lee or Lewis again before dissipating into a fiery wisp drifting away.

"Such tremendous pressure!"

Lee sighed lightly, wiping away the beads of sweat on his forehead.

His peripheral vision landed on Lewis beside him, only to see the composed and unruffled youth without the slightest reddened face or hurried breath, maintaining complete equanimity.

"Brat's put on quite the expert airs after just one day!"

Lee felt rather sour inside.

Flames sprouted from the snowy ground, one, two, three... eventually congregating into a fiery silhouette.

"Lewis, take a blow!"

The fiery shadow spoke, transforming into surging torrents of fire charging towards Lewis.

Standing by Lewis's side, Lee could clearly sense the power contained within this punch had at least reached the lower Spirit Realm.

Bang!

Shuro's fist slammed squarely into Lewis's chest.

So fast!

Lee was shocked in his heart. His eyes hadn't even blinked before Shuro appeared right before him, with speed no weaker than a semi-dispersed master. But even more astonishing to Lee was how Lewis seemed entirely unharmed after taking a three thousand jin fiery fist head-on without even shifting a fraction. His chest's clothes were tattered, revealing only a half inch deep imprint.

"Good, again!"

The fiery silhouette let out a long laugh as its aura abruptly turned sharp and aggressive.

In that instant, the power within Shuro's fist surpassed three thousand jin, slowly advancing towards five thousand. Lewis's expression was no longer as relaxed, brows locked and face taut as he gritted his teeth to endure.

Lee watched with trepidation, both awed by Lewis's corporeal resilience and Shuro's control over power. After all, incrementally amplifying strength pound by pound within a single fist was an extremely consummate skill in martial arts.

Not until the power within Shuro's fist surpassed ten thousand jin did Lewis finally fail to endure.

Crack!

A sound like the splintering of aged trees rang out. Through the tattered clothes, one could see the web of cracks over Lewis's body, which superficially resembled the markings on a turtle's shell.

After staggering back ten steps, Lewis came to a halt, deeply inhaling. The turtle shell patterns on his skin slowly faded from visibility at a visible rate, while below his brow, dark qi lingered over his face before dispersing in an instant.

This entire series of transformations caused Lee's scalp to tingle.

"Below the Upper Spirit Realm, none can pose a threat to you any longer. If you continue practicing the doctrine I imparted according to your current pace, at most seven years, even dispersed immortals will be unable to harm you."

Shuro reverted to his original form, smiling as he spoke.

Lewis's progress could be considered extremely swift, related to his innate talents. However, The Abyssal Mystic Dragon Scripture was merely a corporeal tempering doctrine after all. Lewis's cultivation level remained at the Junior Elixir Realm without actual improvement. In other words, he could withstand attacks below the Upper Spirit Realm, but for now could only exert power between the Junior and Greater Elixir Realms.

Nonetheless, as his cultivation level rose in the future, Lewis's strength would naturally be brought out. Given time until he cultivated to the Upper Spirit Realm, although unable to move mountains or divert seas, flicking his finger would be enough to send the two bronze lions at the vice manor's gates flying.

"Th-Thank you, sir."

Lewis stammered, a flush rising on his cheeks.

Practicing The Abyssal Mystic Dragon Scripture had imperceptibly nurtured a towering and lofty bearing in him. Although it had only been a single night, it had already changed him entirely beyond compare. But the moment he opened his mouth, Lewis's true nature was exposed as he reverted back to that flustered stammering youth.

"No need for thanks between us."

Shuro grinned, striving to appear more amiable. For this innately kindhearted stammering lad, Shuro hoped even more that Lewis would view him as a friend.

Seeing Lewis's reaction, Shuro felt disappointed.

The reverence in Lewis's eyes had not decreased, instead growing even more abundant. Inarticulate with words, his gaze had already revealed his thoughts.

Such an expression frequently appeared in the Nine Dragon Sovereign's memories.

With a single stamp, traversing the nine heavens, all lands invaded became devout followers, clouds amassed. By the end, all he saw were these expressions and gazes. Ensconced aloft in his immortal abode, enjoying unrivaled supremacy, the Nine Dragon Sovereign grew accustomed to solitude, ultimately becoming a lonesome recluse.

Observing discreetly on the side, Lee noticed Shuro's slightly darkened complexion without knowing what had happened.

After a brief hesitation, Lee humbly stepped forward. "Young sir, your subordinate has bought and brought back everything you wanted."

As he spoke, Lee set down the hemp cloth bag, secretly relieved he hadn't discarded these items back then.

Opening the package, Shuro took out a small cauldron, a medicine gourd, two palm leaf fans, ten jin of charcoal, as well as a pile of herbs.

"And these were always kept on my person." Lee gritted his teeth and took out the herbs, trembling as he handed them to Shuro.

"You were quite thoughtful." Shuro casually glanced at Lee and said indifferently.

Lee smiled obsequiously, apprehensive inside.

"Do you know what this is?" Shuro picked up one stalk of herb.

This herb was entirely translucent, its stem and leaves purple. Merely palm-sized, with four rounded leaves, each leaf had a tiny seed. It gave off a faint ginseng-like fragrance.

Before Lee could speak, Shuro already said, "This is called Sky Reaching Grass, mostly growing on precipitous ten thousand ren cliffs, with a minority sprouting underwater. It can be considered a treasure of heaven and earth. Its essence lies entirely in its seeds - monkeys who eat it grow wings, hawks who peck it sprout feathers. Humans who ingest it can purge turbid qi within the body, summon the winds and fly for a hundred yards, remaining aloft for three days and three nights before descending."

Lee listened dumbfounded, half believing and half suspicious.

"As for this, do you know what it is?" Shuro picked up the second stalk of herb and continued asking.

Lee shook his head.

What lay in Shuro's palm was a leaf yellowed like a withered butterfly. If not for its crystalline translucence, exuding an amber radiance, it would easily be overlooked.

"This leaf-like object that isn't a leaf is called Golden Silver Butterfly. Among these herbs, it ranks in the top three value-wise. It requires esoteric methods to process for forty-nine days, supplemented by eighteen auxiliary medicines, roasted for a hundred days over a fire, only then coalescing into a pill. This pill is called Golden Silver King, allowing the user to grow golden bones and refine silvery skin. But it is mostly used on the immortal masters' exotic beasts. Lee, do you know why?"

"Why is that..."

"Because most people harbor private shameful desires difficult to divulge openly. The state of mind during ingestion of pills and medicines is also key - with impure psyche, taking Golden Silver King Pill would likely result in one's body petrified into an unmoving golden silver sculpture, incapable of budging an inch."

A chill rose in Lee's heart. He vaguely felt Shuro's words were pointed, but didn't dare inquire further, afraid of exposing himself. He thought - just take your words as truth!

Next, Shuro picked out several more herbs, explaining their names, origins, and effects one by one, almost reciting from memory fluently without any difficulty. Lee listened blankly as if hearing a storytelling session. With each herb Shuro named, Lee was shocked once more, his gaze towards Shuro transforming accordingly.

By now, only two possibilities remained: first, this "Young Master Chuan" was the greatest scam artist under heaven and earth, whose glib tongue could paint white black and bring the dead back to life with a few words. Second, this mysteriously youthful-looking lad possessed unfathomably profound immortal roots, even able to reverse Marco's fate. Identifying immortal herbs would naturally be effortless for him.

"Lee, do you know what this is?"

At this time, Shuro picked out another stalk of herb and looked at Lee.

At first glance, this herb appeared utterly unremarkable, similar to the ubiquitous common plantain. But only upon closer inspection would one notice the faint wisps of mist circulating around it, seeping out from every tiny pore, hazily floating about in a misty blur.

Before Lee discerned anything, Shuro had already put the herb away without any explanation.

Something was fishy!

The crafty old fox Lee had already faintly sensed something extraordinary about this herb from Shuro's strange looks and subtle expressions, alongside the first time he didn't explain the properties of an herb. All of this aroused Lee's suspicions.

Seeing Shuro about to pick up another herb, Lee's heart suddenly jumped for no reason he knew himself.

"Young sir, might you explain that stalk of herb?"

Unable to restrain himself, Lee pointed at the previous herb and asked.

"You truly wish to know?" Shuro idly fiddled with the herb in hand, eyes evasive and gaze tinged with playful mockery.

Even Lewis noticed something amiss, looking over curiously.

The more Shuro acted this way, the more Lee's heart itched. As a crafty old fox himself, by now he had vaguely sensed something extraordinary about that herb.

"Young sir, stop teasing Lee now."

Lee pleaded aggrievedly.

Lewis shook violently. Although knowing Lee was shameless, he hadn't imagined Lee could be so shameless to this extent!

"This herb itself has no name. Only when used as the sovereign herb in a pill formula would it have a designation - its name is Disperse Stasis Powder Rank 19. Among all the stasis dispersing sovereign herbs under heaven, it ranks 19th, treating the 19th type of stagnation syndrome. The sovereign herb is akin to the king among medicines, often requiring other assistant and minister herbs to jointly form a complete pill formula. As for dispersing stasis, it is easier to comprehend - stasis refers to obstructed and stagnated qi and blood flow."

Lee listened patiently, feeling this herb was increasingly ordinary the more he heard, truly nothing special compared to the earlier herbs.

Just then, Shuro's tone abruptly shifted, seeming to smile yet not smile. "There are a total of 179 types of stagnation syndromes under heaven. The corresponding sovereign herb for each is different. Now the symptoms of the 19th stagnation syndrome are: one's true qi scatters and melts into the blood, the entire body's qi and blood congeal and accumulate in the lower abdomen, appearing heavily rotund like a ten month pregnant belly."

"Additionally, the rest of the body becomes especially emaciated, in particular the cheeks, with protruding cheekbones resembling a dried corpse. In this condition, the qi and blood would churn and roil each full moon under the moon's pull, lacerating the five viscera and six bowels. Just like a woman's menses, agony strikes every month for seven days, with unbearable pain."

"Moreover, due to the scattering and dissolution of true qi into the blood qi, this person's cultivation level would plummet to below Foundation Establishment. In Tera's elixir arts and martial practices, that would be a decline back to the Greater Elixir Realm. Aside from this, their temperament would also change, becoming timid, frightened, and cowardly."

Before Shuro finished speaking, Lee's eyes had already reddened completely.

Under Lewis's stunned gaze, two streams of old tears slid down from Lee's eye sockets. Lee trembled, unable to restrain himself as he looked at Shuro. Cheeks flushed, throat throbbing, he was too moved to speak.

The 19th stagnation syndrome Shuro described matched his strange affliction flawlessly!

This time, Lee was truly convinced!

Back then, to treat this bizarre injury, Lee had practically traveled all over Tera's famous mountains and blessed monasteries. Lacking Marco's great abilities and reputation, few immortal masters were willing to grant him an audience. He also lacked Marco's patience. Disheartened, he went into seclusion in Caelius Capital. But deep down, Tera's formerly arrogantly prestigious Fox Magistrate had never truly abandoned hope.

At this moment, Lee's emotions were bare and honest, not the slightest bit feigned.

Yet due to his highly protrusive cheekbones, the tears gathering above them looked as if sprouting springs rooted atop, unable to flow down for a long time, leaving Lewis gaping speechlessly.

"Young sir, is there still a cure for my stagnation?"

Lee wiped away those two tear-springs, gazing pitifully at Shuro.

Although his words sought confirmation, in his heart he was already completely convinced. If even Marco's fate could be reversed, for Shuro with his evidently profound immortal roots, his insignificant minor affliction would surely be child's play!

Just thinking of restoring his power and once again becoming a commanding martial arts master, Lee's face was awash with tears yet his heart brimmed with joy.

"Too late. Perhaps three to four years ago there might have been a chance to save you."

Shuro gave a light laugh, coldly staring at Lee and enunciating word for word, "But as things stand, your condition has deteriorated beyond redemption, incurable by any medicine."