The quiet room wasn’t cool at all—instead, it was like a furnace.

The boiling water in the cauldron bubbled continuously. When Jian Chou immersed her entire body, she immediately felt like she was about to be cooked.

Too hot—it became an indescribable agony!

Almost the instant she entered, Jian Chou’s entire skin was scalded red, immediately deepening in color.

However, the cauldron water had been refined with spiritual herbs and pills, containing restorative spiritual energy within. Almost the moment her skin was scalded red, spiritual energy drilled through her body’s pores, circulating throughout her being like fine silver needles piercing around her.

Accompanying the excruciating pain came an indescribable prickling itch.

Like ten thousand ants devouring her heart…

In that instant, Jian Chou truly had the impulse to bash her head against the bronze cauldron and die!

Fudao Shanren truly didn’t deceive me!

Body cultivation methods were indeed brutal!

Such a savage act as cooking oneself—probably no one in all of Yashan would be willing to attempt it, right?

However…

Jian Chou kept thinking, at least it wouldn’t kill anyone…

The consequence of wild thoughts was that at this moment, life was worse than death!

Except for her skeletal bones protected by spiritual power, all other parts had to endure this pot of medicinal water’s cooking, continuously being boiled until tender, then restored by the medicinal water.

The sweat on Jian Chou’s forehead had just emerged when it was immediately evaporated by the high temperature.

Her thoughts were chaotic—she even wondered who originally invented this method.

Southern Sea Chan Sect?

Insane!

She could almost smell her own cooked flesh…

The cooked meat was essentially dead meat, so it automatically dissolved into the medicinal water.

Fresh flesh and blood grew at visible speed, rapidly absorbing the medicinal power from the water…

Although the pain pierced her heart, Jian Chou could feel that the newly grown flesh was indeed more resilient than before.

This thought provided her with a small comfort.

However, the next moment, such comfort was shattered by renewed waves of agony.

Destruction followed by reconstruction.

All flesh and blood, except the skeleton, had to undergo a process of being nearly cooked, then immediately regenerating and being cooked again.

This body cultivation method was indeed horrifying.

It was said that some cultivators were directly cooked to death in the cauldron.

Jian Chou hoped she wouldn’t be the next one.

To resist such high temperatures, a cultivator’s physical body would automatically absorb the surrounding heaven and earth spiritual energy. When flesh and blood regenerated, it would begin tempering the body, continuously improving physical flexibility.

The first time, separating one portion of spiritual power to temper the body, only to find the body still destroyed by high temperature.

So, during the second tempering of flesh and blood, the cultivator’s body would automatically increase spiritual power output. This output proceeded simultaneously with flesh and blood growth. Compared to using spiritual energy to temper the body and remove impurities after flesh formation, though achieving similar results, it was far more effective than post-natal tempering.

Regenerated flesh and blood, born already tempered by spiritual power, would have a stronger affinity for spiritual energy and be naturally resilient.

The medicinal power in the surrounding water continuously assisted this regeneration.

Destruction was painful, yet rebirth was incomparably pleasurable.

The battle disc beneath Jian Chou’s feet began spinning frantically.

Under this unique body cultivation method, the body’s consumption of heaven and earth spiritual energy reached nearly terrifying levels.

Vast amounts of heaven and earth spiritual energy were continuously gathered by spirit-gathering arrays, transforming into white light that poured through Jian Chou’s brow center, madly drilling into every part of her body.

Who knows how many hours passed?

The spiritual energy in the spirit stones forming the fire-gathering array had been consumed by nearly half; the thick black medicinal water around Jian Chou had also turned a light black.

Her tightly closed eyes continued to endure the suffering.

However…

She was about to become numb.

Or perhaps her newly grown flesh had already adapted to such high temperatures.

Round after round of refinement, beyond endless agony, also let Jian Chou sense something slightly different.

For instance, each time new flesh grew, she felt the temperature in this giant cauldron had decreased somewhat…

The cauldron’s temperature never decreased.

Rather, Jian Chou’s flesh could withstand increasingly higher temperatures.

If initially entering this giant cauldron was like being thrown into scalding lava, then when flesh was refined the second time, this temperature was at most like boiling water; the third time, like a freshly extinguished fire pit…

The temperature Jian Chou could sense around her decreased time after time.

And the time this giant cauldron could “cook” her also grew longer and longer.

One moment, then another.

One hour, then another…

Pain made the torturous time feel even longer.

Jian Chou had no idea how much time had passed—perhaps a lifetime.

“Do you think… your Big Senior Sister might have been cooked to death?”

Fudao Shanren counted on his fingers—three days had already passed.

He guiltily surveyed the circle, looking at the five disciples sitting across from him, from leftmost: second Qu Zhengfeng, third Kou Qianzhi, fourth Shen Jiu, sixth Chen Weishan, eighth Jianghe.

Kou Qianzhi held his sword, his gaze moving from Fudao Shanren’s face to Qu Zhengfeng’s face, finally settling back on Shen Jiu’s face.

He seemed to have something to say, but ultimately remained silent, closing his mouth.

This matter went back three days ago.

Three days ago, when the fourth junior brother Shen Jiu went to the Pills Hall, he happened to see Big Senior Sister leaving. Casually asking what Big Senior Sister was doing, he unexpectedly heard Little Radish from the Pills Hall reveal something horrifying: Big Senior Sister had requested a giant cauldron capable of cooking people!

Shen Jiu was immediately shocked, constantly pondering why Big Senior Sister had followed Qu Zhengfeng’s example and also wanted to cook and eat people.

Initially, Shen Jiu hadn’t paid much attention.

Recently, Yashan had been quite lively because this year happened to be Yashan’s once-a-decade recruitment of new disciples. As a Yashan disciple with decent seniority and strength, Shen Jiu needed to help with many matters.

This year, many young people came seeking fame, wanting to enter Yashan.

The difference was that this year, the number of female cultivators was exceptionally high.

So everyone immediately thought of Senior Sister Jian Chou.

Mm, it was time for Yashan’s only female cultivator to be useful.

Shen Jiu immediately thought to find Jian Chou, but arriving at her door and preparing to knock, he discovered the array built for cultivation to prevent others from trespassing.

Shen Jiu often set up such arrays himself, so he was familiar with them and recognized them at a glance.

In that instant, the self-proclaimed “Yashan’s most handsome” Shen Jiu finally activated something other than his face—

For instance, his brain.

Since others were cultivating, he naturally shouldn’t disturb them, so he retreated. Remembering the giant cauldron matter, he became somewhat worried.

Qu Zhengfeng was dark-hearted—if he ate people, so be it, but it would be bad if Senior Sister Jian Chou also learned such habits.

So Shen Jiu finally found Fudao Shanren hiding in some corner of Yashan, explained the situation, expressed his concerns, and asked about Big Senior Sister Jian Chou’s condition.

Unexpectedly…

Fudao Shanren directly scolded him: What cooking people? What cooking people?! Your Big Senior Sister is body cultivating, body cultivating!

In that instant, Shen Jiu was completely dumbfounded.

Who the hell uses a cauldron for body cultivation?

Having been sprayed in the face by his unreliable master, Shen Jiu truly had the impulse to spray back, but considering he still couldn’t beat his master, he endured it and calmly asked Fudao Shanren, “What body cultivation method requires a cauldron?”

Thus…

Leading to the current scene.

Fudao Shanren felt extremely guilty.

Jian Chou hadn’t emerged for three days.

According to the “Human Artifact” body cultivation method, generally, the first time using a cauldron to cook people for body cultivation requires five days to make the physical body capable of withstanding boiling water temperatures.

Logically, with only three days passed, he needn’t worry.

However…

His uneasy gaze slowly swept across several disciples’ faces, and Fudao Shanren’s voice grew increasingly weak, “Actually, it’s just body cultivation, right? Maybe it’s not that dangerous… The body cultivation methods I obtained, though perilous, are the best. There shouldn’t be people cooked to death… Your Big Senior Sister is at least a Foundation Establishment cultivator—how could she not endure even boiling water temperature? Besides… she has a Heavenly Void Body…”

“Then, Master, why didn’t you use this method for body cultivation yourself…”

Little fatty Jianghe, thinking of gentle, kind Senior Sister Jian Chou taking the path of no return in body cultivation, felt like collapsing.

He stared directly at Fudao Shanren and said this faintly.

Just this sentence was enough to choke Fudao Shanren to death.

“How could Big Senior Sister Jian Chou encounter such an unreliable master…” Shen Jiu collapsed powerlessly on the table, murmuring, “When I came over just now, the sect leader asked me to find Senior Sister Jian Chou for recruiting new disciples. If Senior Sister Jian Chou cooks herself to death in her room, what am I supposed to do… What is Yashan supposed to do…”

Originally, Yashan had difficulty recruiting female cultivators because Yashan’s disciples’ cultivation methods were generally too cruel.

New disciples, after half a year of basic cultivation, regardless of gender, would first be grabbed by earlier-admitted seniors for a beating until their tempers were gone; afterward came truly intensive cultivation; in a disciple’s second year, they needed to complete ten challenges in Yashan’s underground beast arena, regardless of victory or defeat…

Only after completing all this would a disciple truly become a qualified Yashan member.

Previously, it wasn’t that they hadn’t recruited female cultivators, but most couldn’t endure such high-intensity cultivation and combat, ultimately withdrawing…

Thus, Yashan gained a bad reputation for not caring for female cultivators.

Now, such a powerful Senior Sister Jian Chou, though directly accepted as Fudao Shanren’s disciple, whether wielding a giant axe, bearing the Tianpan, or that earth-shattering kick, all announced to cultivators across the Shijiu Zhou continent—

Our Yashan’s female cultivators can also be this style, and can withstand this intensity of cultivation and combat!

What a fine golden signboard!

Even if they couldn’t recruit suitable female cultivators this year, at least they could parade Senior Sister Jian Chou before everyone—who the hell said our Yashan had no female cultivators? Here’s one!

Unfortunately…

The current Senior Sister Jian Chou…

“Yashan’s Big Senior Sister is about to be cooked to death… about to be cooked to death… about to be cooked to death…”

This sentence continuously echoed in his mind, making Shen Jiu want to crawl under the table.

Qu Zhengfeng sat nearby, silent for most of the time.

He slowly adjusted his sleeves, glanced at Fudao Shanren, as if trying to see what he was thinking.

After a long while, he said, “The ‘Human Artifact’ body cultivation method is extremely dangerous. Unless one has extraordinary mental fortitude, the moment of entering the boiling cauldron would cause immediate unconsciousness. Without conscious control of spiritual power in the body, protection would fail, leading to being cooked within the first hour.”

Finishing, he saw dense cold sweat appear on Fudao Shanren’s head.

Qu Zhengfeng’s voice was flat. “Master, if you’re hungry next time, could you tell this disciple first?”

“…”

Fudao Shanren stared blankly at Qu Zhengfeng for a long time, his mind turning corner after corner before shouting, “What nonsense are you saying? I wasn’t thinking of cooking your Big Senior Sister to eat!”

Everyone looked at him with indescribable expressions.

“Damn, what kind of looks are those? Are you itching for a beating? Don’t you trust your master?!”

Seeing this, Fudao Shanren was nearly driven to death by these rebellious disciples.

“That was girl Jian Chou wanting to cultivate her body herself—it has nothing to do with me! The ‘Human Artifact’ body cultivation method, she’d already read it and chose it herself!”

“…”

This unreliable master, Qu Zhengfeng, didn’t want to say anything more.

He directly stood up and walked outside.

Shen Jiu saw this, and various thoughts turned in his mind.

Qu Zhengfeng using cauldrons to cook people?

Or body cultivation?

He hurriedly stood up too, “Second Senior Brother, are you going to find Big Senior Sister? Take me along!”

Finishing, he had already transformed into a stream of light and disappeared from the room.

This was where Yashan’s disciples gathered, located between the two lowest stone stairs on the mountain wall.

Shen Jiu rushed out to see Qu Zhengfeng already ascending straight toward the upper mountain wall.

He quickly caught up, “Speaking of which, I recently heard Second Senior Brother initiated drawing swords against Kunwu’s Wu Duan—truly unexpected… So when can we two have a go?”

Qu Zhengfeng glanced at him sideways, coolly, saying nothing.

Shen Jiu’s heart itched, “Although, Second Senior Brother, you’re famously black-hearted and ruthless, and I was once beaten senseless by you, but… fighting with you is just exhilarating. Now that you’ve initiated drawing swords, you must have joined my Sword-Drawing Sect—drawing swords at slight disagreements feels quite satisfying, right? Previously, the junior brother misunderstood Second Senior Brother. Anyone who draws swords is straightforward… Second Senior Brother, you’ve never initiated drawing swords against me—could you give me a chance?”

Being challenged to swords by Qu Zhengfeng!

That would be like red rain from heaven, sun rising in the west!

Shen Jiu was essentially the same as Kou Qianzhi—a battle maniac who wished he could fight from dawn to dusk.

If not for being brutalized too severely by Qu Zhengfeng before, he would want to fight him daily.

What was fighting like back then?

Simply Qu Zhengfeng telling them to attack, and they attacked—there was no such thing as initiating sword-drawing!

Yashan sword-drawing, especially between fellow disciples, unless dealing with truly evil people, mostly involved mutual assessment of strength. Like Shen Jiu, he never drew swords against just anyone.

Of course…

From Qu Zhengfeng’s perspective, there weren’t many people worth drawing swords against.

So hearing that Qu Zhengfeng had also stepped into the “Sword-Drawing Sect,” Shen Jiu couldn’t contain his excitement.

Seeing Qu Zhengfeng remaining silent and completely uninterested in responding, Shen Jiu couldn’t help sighing, “Second Senior Brother, let’s discuss this. Consider anything offensive I said before as unsaid…”

This time, Qu Zhengfeng finally looked back at him, “You also know you’ve offended me…”

His flat voice carried a cold undertone.

Shen Jiu immediately slapped his mouth—he’d let something slip.

Qu Zhengfeng didn’t pursue it further, directly turning and landing before Jian Chou’s door.

Behind them, Fudao Shanren and the other disciples finally caught up.

Little fatty Jianghe looked at this quiet door, feeling somewhat fearful.

The array blocked outside interference and also outside investigation—they couldn’t understand the situation inside.

Even knocking, the possibility of Jian Chou hearing was extremely small.

Jianghe said tremblingly, “Should we knock?”

Sword-obsessed Kou Qianzhi also focused his attention on the door for the first time, muttering, “What if we open the door and see Big Senior Sister Jian Chou has cooked herself to death?”

“Smack!”

Fudao Shanren unhesitatingly slapped him!

“What nonsense!”

Kou Qianzhi immediately shut up.

However…

Chen Weishan hadn’t shut up yet. With his honest expression, he looked at the door several times and finally thought of a very key question, “Big Senior Sister probably wouldn’t cook herself to death, but if we go in and Big Senior Sister hasn’t finished cultivating… is Big Senior Sister wearing clothes or not?”

Eerie silence suddenly appeared at Jian Chou’s door.

Finally, Fudao Shanren reacted quickly and slapped again, “What filthy things are you thinking?! We’ll knock!”

Inside the room.

The air floated with gradually fading medicinal scents.

Jian Chou sat cross-legged in the cauldron. The spiritual energy gathering toward her brow center ancestral aperture had gradually shrunk to a tiny thread. The spiritual energy needed for body cultivation seemed to suddenly decrease.

The heavy sweat on her forehead had disappeared. Her entire body felt warm, muscles and bones relaxed, as if soaking in warm water.

The medicinal water temperature in the giant cauldron could no longer cook her, and even the medicinal power had become shallow. Initially, like needle pricks, now like gentle caressing.

“Bubble bubble…”

She could still hear the medicinal water boiling, proving this giant cauldron was still boiling.

Jian Chou slowly opened her eyes, looking around—the medicinal water had become opaque gray.

In that instant, Jian Chou had an extremely nauseating suspicion…

This gray wasn’t any color left by herbs, but the flesh and blood melted from her own body…

Knowing she couldn’t look further, she quickly suppressed that strange feeling, rose from the giant cauldron, used the fastest speed to retrieve a tank of clean water from her qiankun bag, washed herself thoroughly, then put on her outer robe.

That instant feeling was too refreshing.

Jian Chou could sense her body’s changes. Her skin had become more than twice as delicate, the calluses on her palms from years of labor had completely disappeared, yet her skin’s resilience exceeded imagination.

Every inch of flesh and blood had grown accompanied by spiritual power tempering, more refined than post-natally tempered flesh.

“Human Artifact” truly treated humans as artifacts.

When cultivators generally began cultivation, they were flesh and blood bodies—no one was born with spiritual power tempering their form, so they were naturally weaker physically. However, the “Human Artifact” method aimed to wash away human “physicality,” using herbs and the body’s repair ability to promote regeneration under spiritual power tempering.

Thus, the newly appeared physicality possessed a naturally strong and resilient foundation.

On this foundation, conducting the next step of body cultivation would achieve twice the results with half the effort.

This journey of suffering was truly worth it.

The first layer of this body cultivation method, called Gold and Iron Body, didn’t mean being hard as gold and stone, but rather that ordinary mortal metal implements couldn’t harm the body.

Jian Chou thought about it, took out an ordinary small dagger from her qiankun bag, and slashed at her palm—it only left a shallow white mark!

The jade slip said the first layer required about five days to complete, with subsequent layers taking exponentially longer.

How much time had passed now?

Jian Chou originally wanted to calculate the time but discovered that the cauldron tempering process was too painful, making it impossible to estimate how long had passed…

Standing in place, Jian Chou couldn’t think of an answer.

She simply stretched, feeling light as a swallow, as if she could immediately float up.

Currently, every inch of her flesh and blood contained refined spiritual power—as long as she wanted, she could immediately unleash powerful attacks.

Though her realm hadn’t increased, Jian Chou thought her strength should have risen another level.

Finishing her stretch, she walked to the door and slowly pulled it open.

A silver-white moonbeam followed the opening door crack and shone inside.

Accompanying the moonlight were figure after figure.

Jian Chou was astonished. Looking up, six people were standing at her door. Though they stood backlit and their faces weren’t clear, seeing their body outlines, Jian Chou knew this was Fudao Shanren and the six masters and disciples!

In that instant, the doorway was extremely quiet.

Qu Zhengfeng’s brow furrowed slightly without speaking.

Fudao Shanren felt a huge weight lift from his heart, wanting to embrace the nearby disciples and cry loudly: Damn, thank goodness she didn’t die!

Kou Qianzhi was quite composed, showing no major reaction.

Little fatty Jianghe pounced on Chen Weishan, laughing loudly, “Great! Senior Sister Jian Chou didn’t cook herself to death! Great! Not cooked to death!”

Cooked…

To death…

Jian Chou’s mouth twitched severely.

What exactly did you all come here for?!