Chapter 31: Chapter 31: A Complete Transformation, Great Advancement in Inner Power

Xie Yuan held the emerald-green fruit up to his eyes, examining it closely.

The fruit was vaguely gourd-shaped, thin at the top and thick at the bottom. Its entire body was a beautiful bluish-green, making it look less like a fruit and more like a work of art.

’The tiger and the bear were both willing to die for this, but in the end, it fell into my hands. Heavenly treasures belong to the virtuous, after all.’

Xie Yuan grinned.

’It looks a bit like a Ginseng Fruit... I wonder what kind of treasure it really is.’

He pondered for a moment, considering how to use this thing.

’Steam it? Use it in medicine?’

But he was completely clueless about such things and didn’t know the fruit’s origin.

And asking about it at an apothecary was out of the question.

After thinking it over and over, the only option was to eat it directly.

Xie Yuan wiped the fruit with his hand and, without further hesitation, lifted it and took a huge bite.

The fruit was crisp to the bite but melted the moment it entered his mouth.

As soon as it was between his lips and teeth, the pulp rapidly turned into juice. Xie Yuan swallowed instinctively, feeling a cool stream travel down his esophagus and into his stomach.

A comfortable coolness spread from his stomach. Xie Yuan felt as refreshed as if he’d drunk a glass of ice water on a hot summer day. With a single motion, he popped the rest of the fruit into his mouth.

The fruit transformed into a cascading emerald spring, flowing from his mouth into his stomach, then spreading throughout Xie Yuan’s body like a cold, deep pool.

Xie Yuan felt as if, in the middle of a scorching summer, he had stepped into an air-conditioned room set to 16 degrees Celsius, the surrounding air brimming with a refreshing chill.

It was also like leaping into a clear, emerald pond, completely submerged by the spring water, his whole body filled with a soothing clarity that seeped into his very bones.

All thirty-six hundred of his pores relaxed and opened. Xie Yuan felt as if he were drifting in the emerald pond, slowly floating toward its center, surrounded by specks of fluorescent light.

The emerald spring soaked him inside and out, yet there was no sense of suffocation. The coolness was omnipresent, and those shimmering specks of light seemed to be nourishing his body and mind, little by little.

Xie Yuan slowly sank into this fantastical state, his consciousness drifting deeper and deeper until he was oblivious to the outside world.

As Xie Yuan slept, the Spiritual Liquid transformed from the emerald fruit flowed through the meridians of his body. Just as he had felt in his vision, it slowly nourished his body, seeping into his blood, his bones, and was gradually digested and absorbed.

...

After soaking in the emerald pond for an unknown amount of time, Xie Yuan felt the surrounding coolness gradually weaken and reluctantly opened his eyes.

’That was a really comfortable bath... Ugh, just an illusion.’

He stretched languidly and subconsciously felt his clothes. There was no sign of them being wet.

Knowing it was an illusion brought on by the fruit’s effects, Xie Yuan let out a breath, feeling his mind had cleared considerably.

’What in the world was that fruit? After eating it, I feel like I’ve soaked in an emerald spring. My whole body feels completely cleansed!’

’My mind feels much better, and my body is full of strength... Let’s see, huh?’

Xie Yuan stood up and assumed a stance inside his room. He felt that his limbs were light and nimble, and the breath in his abdomen was abundant. It was as if he had become a different person.

This change was even greater than when he had broken through to the 1st Layer of the Iron Cloth Shirt—much, much greater.

He blinked, and numbers appeared before his eyes. Then, Xie Yuan’s eyes shot wide open.

[Iron Cloth Shirt · 2nd Layer: (519/800)]

[Body-Nourishing Art · 2nd Layer: (1108/2000)]

The progress for Chopping Wood hadn’t changed, but the progress for his Iron Cloth Shirt had shot up by a huge amount.

The Qi and Blood in his chest had grown much stronger. Even though he hadn’t actively trained his skin, it had strengthened accordingly.

This had to be the effect of the fruit’s medicinal power. Xie Yuan felt his constitution had been greatly enhanced; he was cleansed inside and out, and his Qi and Blood were abundant.

He was no longer a weak mountain village boy, but a strong and vigorous martial practitioner!

’The problem of my poor foundation is completely solved! And also, this Inner Power...’

’The 2nd Layer?!’

Xie Yuan couldn’t help but blink again, repeatedly checking the words "2nd Layer," making sure his eyes weren’t playing tricks on him due to his previous weakness.

’It’s real. I’m not weak anymore.’

’It’s really the 2nd Layer!’

His Body-Nourishing Art had broken through directly to the next level, and its progress bar was already more than half full!

Xie Yuan could feel a discernible flow of energy in his meridians. According to the Fist Manual the Daoist had given him, this should be internal breath—the very sign of breaking through the 1st Layer!

Excitement showed on his face. He assumed a stance and threw several punches into the air. As he swung his arms and lifted his legs, the sound of his movements tearing through the air echoed.

’With this strength, I’m probably almost a Martial Artist!’

That fruit didn’t just improve his constitution; it also greatly advanced his internal breath!

Previously, he had only gained 200 points in his Body-Nourishing Art after a full month of bitter training, and a breakthrough was nowhere in sight.

But with this one fruit, he directly broke through the threshold of the 1st Layer and was already halfway through the 2nd Layer!

With such internal breath, not only would his strength and constitution improve, but his progress in practicing external arts would also speed up significantly!

’What a divine Ginseng Fruit!’

Xie Yuan was overjoyed, feeling his constitution completely transformed by the dual enhancement of his Inner Power and the fruit, while his Inner Power’s progress had also surged thanks to the fruit’s medicinal effects.

A complete rebirth!

A change like this could truly be called a complete rebirth.

Xie Yuan was thrilled for a good while before he gradually calmed down.

He touched his body and felt a bit greasy. His face felt like it hadn’t been washed in three days. He mused:

’In situations like this, aren’t you supposed to excrete black gunk through your skin?’

’My skin must be constipated. It just secreted some oil, which is much easier to clean up.’

Xie Yuan fetched some clean water to wipe himself down, then changed his clothes. He had already returned the cotton-padded coat to Wang Lei; these were his own clothes now. He’d earned enough money recently to buy a couple of new outfits.

Compared to when he had first woken up, he no longer had to worry about starving or freezing.

After tidying himself up, Xie Yuan opened the door to his house and stretched in the courtyard.

’So refreshing!’

PATAK. The door to a nearby house opened, and Li Lan poked her head out.

"Yuanzi? You’re home? You... eh, you?"

Seeing Li Lan’s astonished expression, Xie Yuan asked in confusion:

"What’s wrong, Sister Orchid?"

Li Lan hopped right over the fence and reached out to touch Xie Yuan’s face.

"Yuanzi, how did you get so fair-skinned again? And more handsome! My, my, this big sister really likes what she sees. Have you been hiding from the sun for a few days?"

Xie Yuan felt a bit awkward and dodged Li Lan’s hand, leaning over to look at his reflection in the nearby water vat.

He hadn’t noticed before, but now he saw that he really did look a bit more pleasing to the eye than before he ate the fruit.

The youth on the water’s surface had fair skin, sword-like brows, and star-like eyes. He was full of spirit and energy. Compared to before, when he was handsome but somewhat frail, his whole bearing was much more upright and imposing, which naturally added to his charm.

Such a clean-cut and handsome young man hardly looked like he belonged in a mountain village. Anyone who saw him would have their eyes light up and offer a word of praise.

’Even Henry Cavill and Chris Evans would have to bow before me.’

Xie Yuan preened inwardly, then heard Li Lan speak again.

"Yuanzi, I thought you had gone out. Have you been home these past few days?"

Xie Yuan was a little confused.

"Didn’t I just get back from fighting the bear yesterday?"

He looked up at the sun. It was already in the west. He had slept until the afternoon.

Li Lan exclaimed,

"Yuanzi, you fought that bear three days ago, didn’t you?"

’Three days?’

Xie Yuan was shocked. ’I actually slept for that long?’

But considering the fruit’s effects, it was to be expected.

’And I’m not thirsty or hungry. This fruit really is packed with energy.’

If before, he was just at a point where he wouldn’t starve or freeze to death, then now, after eating the fruit, he had broken the shackles of his body and could pursue much more.

The most important thing was to become a Martial Artist as soon as possible, so he wouldn’t be bullied anymore.

Xie Yuan thought for a moment, then asked Li Lan:

"Sister Orchid, has Brother Shitou been back recently?"

Xie Yuan felt that now, he could finally give his previous idea a try.