Chapter 008: The Startled Bow and the Suspended Arrow

In just a few days, Xu Xuan had managed to break through from the first stage of Body Refining to the second. He felt as if he were living in a dream, unable to believe the reality of his achievement.

In the village, those who reached the second stage of Body Refining were usually adults. Most ordinary people would only have a chance to advance to the second stage after turning eighteen or twenty, after enduring simple yet arduous training.

Xu Xuan, however, was not yet sixteen years old. Compared to most practitioners, his progress was already outstanding. Only the wealthier families—such as the three great houses—had the resources and complete, superior body refining techniques, supplemented by spiritual medicines, to nurture young talents who could reach the second or even higher stages at such a young age.

Without a doubt, Xu Xuan’s destiny had changed at this moment.

That night, after a long period of excitement, Xu Xuan finally drifted into sleep.

Once more, he entered the sea of memories. He noticed that the solitary bright star within had begun to radiate its light further, expanding its glow. Nearby, countless tiny grains of stardust hovered—fragments of scattered memories.

Immersing his mind within, Xu Xuan suddenly found himself absorbing deeper insights, emotions, and recollections from a previous life.

Among the fragments, the youth from his past life possessed talents rarely seen in a hundred years within the sect, yet stubbornly persisted in cultivating the seemingly useless body refining technique. His fellow disciples, after reaching the seventh stage, used their spiritual roots and talents to ascend to the ranks of the “Qi Refining Immortals”—figures revered by villagers of places like Yangmu Village—while he continued to challenge the eighth, ninth, and even the legendary tenth stage of body refining.

For this, his peers ridiculed him relentlessly, calling him a fool.

In that previous life, he had admired the ethereal, beautiful Li, a fellow disciple. Their feelings were mutual, but their affection sparked jealousy and conflict with other senior disciples.

Scattered scenes from dreams revealed even his personal emotions from that past existence.

“Ah!”

After absorbing these memories, Xu Xuan was struck by a sudden insight. Some aspects of the youth's character in his previous life were uncannily similar to his own in this life—such as his unwavering determination, never abandoning what he set his mind to.

The next morning, under the astonished gaze of his mother and Hui Lan, Xu Xuan left the house with his medicine basket.

With the memories of his past life and the aid of the “Spiritual Herb Manual,” Xu Xuan decided to venture into the mountains to gather spiritual materials.

...

Yangmu Village covered an area of over twenty miles, home to more than two thousand people, dominated by the Yang, Xu, and Zou families, each settling in clusters.

Xu Xuan followed a winding path into the territory of the Great Xu family.

From afar, he could see the imposing five-story pavilion of the Great Xu family, rising above its neighbors, surrounded by ornate courtyards stretching over several acres.

To ordinary families, the Great Xu family was a powerful clan, worthy of awe and respect.

Xu Xuan, as always, felt a hint of envy, though now that feeling was diminished.

Since recovering his memories, he understood that the influence of the Great Xu family was insignificant compared to the wider world. In his past life’s immortal sect, even forces ten times stronger than the Great Xu family would have to bow in reverence.

In those transcendent sects beyond the mundane, local powers were as insignificant as ants.

His previous experiences had broadened Xu Xuan’s horizons.

Passing by the Great Xu family, his demeanor was more composed than before.

At that moment, Xu Xiaohu, broad-shouldered and burly, was just leaving the manor. A glint of malice flashed in his eyes.

“Well, if it isn’t little Xuan. Just recovered from your illness, and already running into the mountains to gather herbs?”

Xu Xiaohu stood with hands on his hips, blocking the path, his voice increasingly sharp. “Your good-for-nothing crippled father supposedly has the strength of the third stage of Body Refining, yet he can’t even pay off a measly debt of six hundred spiritual coins.”

“How dare you insult my father?”

Xu Xuan halted, his expression icy.

He hadn’t wanted to argue with Xu Xiaohu, but the lackey of the Xu family dared insult his father.

“So what? We haven’t settled yesterday’s score. If you want to pass here today, you’ll have to crawl under my legs…”

Xu Xiaohu spoke slyly.

In his mind echoed the words of the Xu family’s young master:

“Who would have guessed Xu Xuan would recover so quickly? I set the debt repayment deadline expecting him to need half a month to heal. If his family regains another laborer, the chances of repaying the debt increase. Find a way to keep Xu Xuan bedridden for another month. By then, won’t Hui Lan have to obey me?”

“Here are fifty spiritual coins. Once it’s done, you’ll get another hundred coins and an entry-level cultivation manual.”

Following the young master’s instructions, Xu Xiaohu had left the lavish Xu family manor, only to unexpectedly encounter his target right outside.

“Take back your words. Apologize.”

Xu Xuan suppressed his anger, his icy gaze fixed on Xu Xiaohu.

Xu Xiaohu hesitated, suddenly feeling inexplicably uneasy.

Then, regaining his composure, he lunged at Xu Xuan with a punch. “You stubborn brat—are you itching for a beating?”

As a grown man at the second stage of Body Refining, dealing with a youth like Xu Xuan should have been effortless.

Since Xu Xuan’s father had been crippled, Xu Xiaohu and his father, Xu Dahuhu, had bullied Xu Xuan’s family relentlessly.

Even Xu Xuan himself had endured frequent humiliation.

Bang!

Xu Xuan met the attack without fear. His gaze was resolute as he caught Xu Xiaohu’s punch with a steady palm.

Both retreated, kicking up a cloud of dust.

“A fight! Everyone, come watch!”

Many idle villagers from the Xu family gathered, their eyes filled with amusement.

Some watched Xu Xuan with pity.

The difference in strength between Xu Xiaohu and Xu Xuan was vast. In the past, Xu Xuan had suffered much at Xu Xiaohu’s hands.

Yet, when Xu Xuan caught the fierce punch—

“What… Body Refining stage two?”

Xu Xiaohu’s expression changed dramatically: Xu Xuan had just recovered from illness, and in a few days, had advanced by a whole stage?

Moreover, his punch felt as if it had struck a sponge—oddly ineffective.

After cultivating the “Nine Transformations of Dragon and Serpent,” Xu Xuan’s body possessed flexibility far beyond ordinary people.

As he absorbed the blow, his arms, torso, and legs bent and flexed slightly, dispersing most of the force.

The movement was so natural that no outsider could detect anything unusual.

“Newly entered the second stage? Let’s see what you can do!”

Xu Xiaohu, enraged, launched a barrage of punches and kicks.

The spectators jeered, “Xu Xiaohu, if you can’t take him down in three moves, you’ll lose face in the village!”

Under Xu Xiaohu’s wild attacks, Xu Xuan predictably fell behind.

In terms of strength, he was no match for Xu Xiaohu.

Both were at the second stage of Body Refining, but Xu Xiaohu had advanced earlier and was two or three years older.

One was a fifteen-year-old, slight of build; the other an eighteen-year-old adult, powerfully built.

Just in physique and strength, the difference was clear.

Furthermore, Xu Xiaohu had years of fighting experience in the village, renowned for his ferocity and dominance among his peers.

Xu Xuan, only recently at the second stage, lagged behind in strength and experience.

Yet, despite being at a disadvantage, he showed no sign of defeat.

His arms twisted and bent in strange ways, displaying extraordinary flexibility as he blocked Xu Xiaohu’s storm-like assault.

“Hah! Hey—”

Xu Xiaohu began incorporating techniques he’d learned from his father, his attacks increasingly fierce and imposing, earning cheers from the crowd.

By contrast, Xu Xuan seemed unable to defend himself.

But as time passed, Xu Xuan gradually adapted to the onslaught.

His breathing followed the rhythm of the breathing technique—alternating long and short, with a peculiar cadence.

Soon, he felt his arms, torso, and legs moving with even greater suppleness.

At a certain moment, he realized Xu Xiaohu’s attacks were nothing special; as long as he protected his vital spots, there was nothing to fear.

Gradually, Xu Xiaohu’s ferocity waned, sweat beading on his brow, his breathing growing labored.

Many villagers noticed the shift and exchanged surprised glances.

Now was the moment!

Xu Xuan’s eyes flashed. His body contracted into a half-arc, dodging a punch.

He then wrapped his hands around Xu Xiaohu’s arm like snakes, swift and agile.

These movements, aided by the breathing technique, came naturally.

“Ow—”

Xu Xiaohu grunted, yelping in pain as Xu Xuan twisted his arm.

“Get off me!”

His eyes reddened with fury, and he summoned his brute strength to throw Xu Xuan off.

Lacking combat experience and faced with a disparity in strength, Xu Xuan lost his balance.

Swish!

Xu Xiaohu’s eyes gleamed with malice as he sent a punch whistling toward Xu Xuan’s head.

“Not good…”

Xu Xuan was off balance, one foot lifted off the ground.

If struck, his frail body would stand little chance against Xu Xiaohu’s powerful build.

It seemed an inevitable defeat.

But at the critical moment, Xu Xuan’s blood surged within him, generating a resilient force. One foot hovered, while the tip of the other dug into the earth like a root; his hands, curved like serpents, hung in midair.

Even more astonishing, his torso twisted backward over ninety degrees.

What a remarkable posture:

Xu Xuan’s entire body resembled a drawn bow, one foot suspended like an arrow, his center of gravity balanced in the void, holding steady.

For a moment, the wind stilled.

Under the pale morning light, the scene grew eerily quiet. The villagers watched, their eyes fixed on his form.

Everyone’s heart held its breath, fearing that any sudden movement might shatter the breathtaking pose of the youth.

(Two chapters delivered… Four days since the book’s release, the rankings continue to rise. The author thanks everyone for their recommendations and clicks.)