Chapter 24

C24 – It Was Effective

“You’re nothing but trash, and yet you dare to bully my brother!”

Jiaang Lin sneered with a mix of scorn and derision as he stepped on Tang Tian’s ribs, breaking several.

Tang Tian, overwhelmed with frustration and rage, was powerless to respond. He was forced to swallow his anger.

He stood no chance against Jiaang Lin. Any further backtalk might provoke Jiaang Lin to punish him even more severely.

“Remember this—if you dare to bully my brother again, breaking your ribs will be the least of your worries! Get out of here!”

​Jiaang Lin’s icy threat hung in the air as Tang Tian remained silent. With a swift kick, Jiaang Lin sent Tang Tian flying out of Shaang Duoge’s courtyard.

“And what about the rest of you? Are you waiting for me to kick you out one by one?”

Jiaang Lin’s chilling gaze swept over Tang Bei and the other disciples from the Dao Artifact Hall. They shuddered in fear, suddenly coming to their senses.

​Not daring to linger and provoke Jiaang Lin further, they scattered in a disgraceful retreat, having truly felt the extent of Jiaang Lin’s might.

​Even Tang Tian, who was at the Body Refining Level Seven Peak Stage, was no match for Jiaang Lin. How could they dare to stand up to him?

“Has your strength increased recently?”

Shaang Duoge asked Jiaang Lin, his eyes wide with astonishment.

Just yesterday, Shaang Duoge had witnessed Jiaang Lin confront Tang Bei and the others, easily discerning that Jiaang Lin’s cultivation was at the Body Refining Level Four.

And now, in merely a day’s time, Jiaang Lin had the prowess to severely injure Tang Tian, his strength soaring to the Body Refining Level Eight!

Such a rapid advancement of four realms in a brief span was nothing short of astounding.

Even Shaang Duoge, once the unparalleled prodigy of the entire Dragon Abyss Empire, had never experienced such a swift rise through the realms in a single day as Jiaang Lin had.

Understandably, Shaang Duoge was profoundly astounded, recognizing Jiaang Lin’s Martial Dao Talent as far surpassing his own by manyfold.

“Surprised, aren’t you?” Jiaang Lin said with a smile.

​”It’s more than surprising; it’s astonishing!” Shaang Duoge exclaimed, his curiosity piqued. He couldn’t help but wonder how his brother had transformed so drastically. Once considered a failure in the Martial Dao, he had suddenly become a prodigy!

“Let’s not dwell on that. Look what I’ve brought for you!” Jiaang Lin chuckled. Reaching into his pocket, he produced a jade bottle containing five golden pills, each the size of a pigeon egg.

“Is this the Yang Fire Pill you were talking about?” Shaang Duoge asked, his eyes widening at the sight of the pills.

“Here, take the remaining four Yang Fire Pills. Consume one every three days.

After you’ve taken them all, the dark Qi in your body will be completely purged. Then, you’ll be able to reclaim your vigor and ascend to your rightful place as the unparalleled genius of the Dragon Abyss Empire, outshining your peers once more!”

Seeing the Yang Fire Pill’s success, Jiaang Lin handed the remaining four pills from the jade bottle to Shaang Duoge.

“Jiaang Lin, I truly... I’m at a loss for words to express my gratitude.”

Shaang Duoge was both astonished and elated upon discovering that the Yang Fire Pill was effective in expelling the dark energy from his body. His astonishment stemmed from the fact that he hadn’t anticipated his brother’s capability to find a solution for the dark energy that even the head of the Imperial City Pill Refining Master Guild had been unable to address. His elation came from the prospect of using the Yang Fire Pill to completely eradicate the dark energy, reclaim his former cultivation level, and once again display his prodigious talent—free from the relentless scorn, mockery, humiliation, and beatings he had endured.

Simultaneously, Shaang Duoge felt a deep sense of gratitude for having met a brother like Jiaang Lin, especially after years of hardship.

“Look at you, being all formal with me again!” Jiaang Lin said with feigned displeasure.

​Hearing this, Shaang Duoge couldn’t help but laugh heartily, dropping the formalities with Jiaang Lin.

“Come on, let’s go inside and have a drink,” Shaang Duoge invited warmly.

​”The celebration can wait until after I’ve taken down that scoundrel Qiao Junhan. I need to diligently improve my cultivation level in the meantime. That way, I can give those who’ve looked down on me in Clear Water Town a real shock,” Jiaang Lin declined politely.

He was determined to concentrate on his training to swiftly advance to a higher realm and master more advanced martial techniques. If he failed to defeat Qiao Junhan, his reputation as the once preeminent warrior of the Divine Martial Continent would be tarnished.

“Fair enough. I’ll take this chance to use the Yang Fire Pill to cleanse the dark energy from my body. Once you’ve triumphed over that rascal Qiao Junhan, I’ll throw a grand banquet to celebrate properly,” Shaang Duoge agreed with a smile.

​”Alright, I’ll take my leave now. Take good care of yourself in the meantime, and don’t let Tang Tian and those other minor characters push you around!”

Jiaang Lin offered his farewells with a parting word of caution.

“Think they can bully me? They no longer have the means to do that!”

Shaang Duoge responded with a chuckle.

Armed with the Yang Fire Pill, he could gradually dispel the dark energy within him and reclaim his peak form. It was inevitable.

Moreover, having taken the Yang Fire Pill, his cultivation had advanced to Body Refining Level Seven.

Even though his cultivation was still a notch below Tang Tian’s, Shaang Duoge’s arsenal of formidable martial arts techniques from his past made it a trivial matter to best Tang Tian.

“Well then, I’m off!”

Jiaang Lin said, beaming.

With a swift bound, he sped away, making his way back to the Jiaang family.