Chapter Seventeen: Strengthening the Body

  After the internal force test and martial skills test, what's left is for the clan leader and nine elders to decide. In another month, it will be a competition between the excellent young masters of the three strongest families in Yushui City. The Xia family will select five of its most outstanding young masters to participate in the competition for the quota of the Purple Leaf Academy exam at that time.

  The three major families of Yushui City, Xia Family, Wang Family, and Xi Family, will jointly select 15 outstanding young family members to compete for the five admission quotas of Zilei Academy. These five quotas are crucial to any family.

  After Xia Yan left the square, he walked towards the humble courtyard where he lived in the backyard. In his mind, he recalled the various martial arts techniques he had remembered on the square just now. Refining these martial arts techniques would also take some time for Xia Yan, and when refining these martial arts techniques, Xia Yan felt a slight fatigue in his body, and his head was slightly dizzy. It seems that refining martial arts techniques also has its limits!

  "Good words!"

  Just as Xia Yan had just arrived at the backyard, a clear and familiar voice came from behind. Xia Yan's heart moved, his face also showed a slight ripple, and he slowly turned around to see Xia Zixing with a delicate and refined face walking towards him.

  Xia Yan's face wore a faint smile as he said, "Thank you for having Xiao Yu send over the 'Falling Petals Broken Jade Sword'!"

  Xia Zixin's eyes narrowed, and she shook her head slightly, exhaling a soft breath. "All along, I thought you hadn't broken through the martial arts meridian," she said. "I didn't expect that you're actually ahead of all of us. Xia Yan, why did you never show your true strength before?"

  Xia Yan was taken aback for a moment, and it wasn't until later that she understood what Xia Zixing meant. Xia Zixing thought that she had been hiding secrets all along. Xia Yan couldn't help but smile wryly, wondering whether to explain or not.

  "I can only say that ten months ago, I hadn't even opened up a single martial arts meridian, let alone had any foundation in martial techniques." Xia Yan said directly, his eyes flashing.

  Xia Zixin's beautiful eyes suddenly widened, and she thought to herself, could it be that at this time, Xia Yan still wants to hide from me? But this seems unnecessary! Moreover, Xia Yan's expression doesn't seem like he's telling a lie. But...

  In less than a year, how can you possibly open up all 100 of the martial arts meridians? Even if you don't sleep and practice day and night, it's still impossible. Moreover, mastering martial skills is not something that can be achieved overnight.

  In Jade Water City, there has never been anyone who cultivates as quickly as you.

  "Alright, I need to go change clothes, look at me now..." Xia Yan smiled slightly and glanced at her own clothes.

  Xia Zixin puckered her lips, with a hint of smile in her eyes: "Alright then, Xia Yan, let's have dinner together tonight? My father also has some things he wants to say to you."

  Xia Yan furrowed his brow for a moment, thought for a while, and then said, "Okay!"

  After parting with Xia Zixin, Xia Yan continued to walk towards his own humble courtyard. Along the way, he ran into several young masters of the Xia family. If it were in the past, these young masters would have either mocked him openly or avoided him. But now, they all fawned on Xia Yan and competed with each other to greet him.

  The sudden change left Xia Yan speechless. Especially when he met the maid, Xiao Cui. When Xiao Cui saw Xia Yan, her expression froze instantly, and she quickly lowered her head to avoid him, but suddenly stopped in her tracks.

  With Xia Yan's current tone of voice, it would be easy to drive her out of the Xia family with just one sentence. So, she wanted to turn around and stop in her tracks, because Xia Yan had already seen her.

  "Master Xia Yan!" Little Cui lowered her head and squeezed out a few words from her small mouth, her voice extremely low.

  In the past, had she ever called Xia Yan "Young Master"?

  Xia Yan saw that her face was as pale as pig's liver, and her chest was heaving up and down. He thought to himself, "Why must I bother with this maid?"

  "Ah, good job!" Xia Yan nodded and said casually to Xiao Cui, without any anger on his face.

  Xiao Cui originally thought that Xia Yan would definitely retaliate, even if not physically, he would at least scold and mock her. But unexpectedly, Xia Yan didn't say anything, his face calm and pleasant, as if he had forgotten all about the past.

  "Master Xia Yan!" Little Cui suddenly knelt down and bowed, tears swirling rapidly in her eyes, ready to fall at any moment.

  "What's this?" Xia Yan was startled by Xiao Cui and asked hastily.

  "Xia Yan Shao Ye, in the past, Xiao Cui had eyes but no pearls, and was very disrespectful to Xia Yan Shao Ye. Please don't drive Xiao Cui away from the Xia family!" Xiao Cui finally burst into tears.

  Xia Yan couldn't help but laugh and said: "Who says I'm going to drive you away?"

  Xiao Cui heard Xia Yan say this, raised her head, and looked at Xia Yan with eyes full of tears. She murmured: "Young Master Xia Yan, aren't you going to drive me away? Xiao Cui was not good to Young Master Xia Yan before, Young Master Xia Yan must be very angry in his heart. Now that Young Master Xia Yan has seen Xiao Cui, he doesn't hit or scold her, so he must want to drive Xiao Cui away!"

  Xia Yan listened to her words and couldn't help but look at this little Cui with new eyes. This girl, she was actually able to think of so many reasons?

  "Hehe, don't worry, you're the tribe leader's maid, how could I drive you out of the Xia family? Alright, hurry up and get up, it wouldn't be good if others saw this. I'll head back to change my clothes now, see you later." Xia Yan said as he turned around and quickly walked away.

  Xiao Cui gazed at Xia Yan's back, and in her heart, it was as if she had overturned a bottle of five flavors, with all sorts of tastes present. In her mind, she kept saying, "Young Master Xia Yan is truly a good young master, far better than those other young masters."

  Back in the small courtyard, Xia Yan busied herself locking herself in her room, bathing and then changing into a clean and refreshing set of clothes.

  "Hey kid!"

  Just as Xia Yan was about to practice the various martial skills he had just memorized in the square, the old Holy Emperor appeared again.

  "Today feels pretty good, huh? Haha, I didn't expect that you were looked down upon like this before!" The old emperor laughed heartily, his face flushed with joy.

  Xia Yan looked at the old Emperor helplessly, pouted and didn't respond.

  "Listen, kid. I almost forgot to tell you something about my experience in the Ling Luo Realm. You must not mention it to anyone, not even your closest relatives. Do you understand?" The old emperor's expression changed extremely quickly, from laughing and teasing Xia Yan just a moment ago, to being serious and instructing him now.

  Xia Yan furrowed his brow and looked at the old emperor in confusion: "Why?"

  To be honest, if the old emperor hadn't instructed him, he would have definitely told Third Master Xia Changhe about this matter. Xia Changhe was the person Xia Yan trusted most, so Xia Yan wouldn't keep it from him.

  "Why so many whys? Just do as I say. And, although you've already opened up 108 meridians of martial arts, your physical toughness is still far from enough. From today on, you'll cultivate according to my method. Hmm, let's start by strengthening your body first!" The old Holy Emperor glared with his eyes, then flipped his eyelids and nodded his head as he walked around the room, saying this.

  "Strengthen the body?" Xia Yan's eyes narrowed slightly.