Chapter 170 - 118: The Loss of the Superpower Bureau, Junior Alchemist (Part 3)

Someone like him was practically born for the Rock Martial Skill.

THUD!

The staff swung down in an instant.

He struck again without hesitation, channeling his satisfaction into strictness.

Spray after spray of sweat burst into the air as the room’s incandescent light quietly illuminated the scene.

The light merged with the mist, appearing like splashing droplets of glowing rain.

Luo Qianshan remained strict throughout the entire process, his eyes gleaming. It was as if he could clearly perceive the state of every muscle and bone in Lu Chao’s body—their progress and their injuries—for the angle and landing spot of his staff was different with every strike.

The sound of muffled thuds echoed ceaselessly through the room.

Zheng Wu, who was standing guard at the door, swallowed hard and winced. ’If that were me,’ he thought, ’I would have been beaten into a pulp by now.’

Finally.

THUD!

Another muffled thud rang out.

Lu Chao’s body swayed. Veins bulged on his face, and his eyes grew more bloodshot.

Clearly perceiving that he had reached his limit,

Luo Qianshan finally stopped and spoke softly.

"That’s all for today."

As he finished speaking, he slowly withdrew the Ironwood Long Staff.

As he retracted his Martial Arts Power, the wooden staff disintegrated, crumbling into a pile of splinters on the floor.

"Same as usual. A half-hour soak in the medicinal bath."

"However..."

Seeing Lu Chao grit his teeth to stay standing, looking somewhat dazed,

Luo Qianshan looked over at Zheng Wu and ordered, "Double the dosage of the medicinal powder."

"Yes."

Zheng Wu nodded quickly. He stepped forward to steady Lu Chao, then went to the wooden tub, filled it with hot water, poured in several packets of the secret medicinal powder, and stirred continuously.

Once he was sure everything was in order,

Luo Qianshan nodded to himself, discreetly shaking out his wrist behind his back before walking slowly down the stairs.

’Is it over...?’

As if sensing the change, Lu Chao struggled to regain a sliver of consciousness.

A searing pain spread through his entire body. It wasn’t just on the surface; it felt as if his very bones and tendons had been shattered.

The stabbing pain came in waves, making the slightest movement unbearable. It was as if a peculiar wound had been left deep inside his muscles, a maddening sensation like thousands of ants gnawing away at his flesh.

"HUFF... HUFF... HUFF..."

Lu Chao gasped for breath, overwhelmed by the pain.

His face remained deeply flushed. He braced his hands on the rim of the wooden tub to hold himself steady.

It wasn’t that his willpower was lacking; cultivating this Martial Skill was simply excruciating.

It was like forging a weapon: one must endure what ordinary people cannot, suffer endless torment, and pass through a thousand hammerings and a hundred refinements—quenched in fire—to truly achieve a body of steel.

"Junior Brother Lu, just hang in there a little longer."

Seeming to sense his struggle, Zheng Wu consoled him while stirring the medicinal bath. "Master said your talent for the Rock Martial Skill is far beyond that of any ordinary person. He said you’re pretty much the most suitable person he’s ever seen for it."

"All this pain is for the future. The rewards will be immense once you’ve mastered it."

He couldn’t tell how much progress Lu Chao had made; he was simply worried he wouldn’t be able to hold on.

With a wry smile, Lu Chao managed to climb into the wooden tub and sit cross-legged. "Senior Brother Lu, don’t worry."

"I will master this Martial Skill."

He rarely made promises.

He did so for two reasons. First, the martial arts school was in dire straits, and its disciples were dwindling.

Second, the dosage of the medicinal powder had been increased again. He could sense his own progress and felt that success might not be far away.

As he sat cross-legged, soaking in the medicinal bath,

Lu Chao expanded his senses. It felt as if fine streams of heat were seeping out from the medicinal bath, entering through his pores and rushing to every part of his body.

Skin, muscles, bones...

This special energy merged with his [Basic Toughness], transforming into a more powerful regenerative ability that gradually healed the hidden injuries from his training.

At the same time, it seeped into the crevices of his bones and permeated every inch of his muscles, transforming into new strength that made them grow stronger, firmer, and more compact.

’This is the third time they’ve increased the dosage of the medicinal powder.’

’Maybe I can succeed before the end of the month.’

A strong intuition surfaced in his mind, and Lu Chao slowly clenched his fists.

As the pain in his body subsided, his eyes grew bright with anticipation for the power of the Rock Martial Skill.