Reversing the Milky Way

Following yesterday's hint, Bai Cheng retrieved all the remaining Body Tempering Pills, leaving six. Without much thought, he immediately swallowed one and carefully sensed the changes within his body. However, aside from a surge of heat within him, Bai Cheng still didn't feel any significant changes in his body.

He then swallowed another pill, and the familiar heat wave returned, but he still felt nothing. Bai Cheng couldn't help but wonder, what was going on? Had this Body Tempering Pill expired? Everyone else was in excruciating pain after taking it, but I've taken two pills and I don't feel anything at all. It was the same before.

Just as Bai Cheng was pondering, Wei Ran stared at Bai Cheng with a somewhat blank expression. He had also come from the Body Refining Realm, and he was very clear about the effects of the Body Tempering Pill. Its main function was to open up the body's meridians and strengthen various acupoints, so that the body could become stronger step by step. The process was extremely painful.

However, Wei Ran observed Bai Cheng for a while but couldn't discern the expected reaction after Bai Cheng took the Body Tempering Pill. Considering that Bai Cheng was in the mid-stage of Body Tempering and his body could absorb a certain amount of spiritual energy, he suddenly had a bold idea: although Bai Cheng's current strength hadn't reached the required level, his physical resilience was already sufficient to absorb spiritual energy for cultivation. However, this was merely a guess, so he needed to verify it.

Then, Wei Ran flashed to Bai Cheng's side.

Bai Cheng: "W-what's wrong, Uncle Wei Ran?"

Wei Ran: "Come on, try to attack me, give it your all."

Bai Cheng was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. "Is this meant to give me some pointers? I've never fought against a cultivator before."

After saying that, Bai Cheng got into a fighting stance and said, "Excuse me!"

Having said that, Bai Cheng stepped forward, his fist enveloped in a gust of wind, and fiercely attacked Wei Ran. However, Wei Ran was greatly disappointed upon seeing this. He immediately raised his hand, extending his index finger to meet Bai Cheng's fist. Just as the two collided, a powerful surge of spiritual energy erupted from Wei Ran's fingertip. Bai Cheng felt as if his fist had struck a boulder, remaining completely still. Then, a tremendous force propelled him, sending him flying against the wall in the courtyard.

In contrast, Wei Ran maintained his raised hand gesture, a barrier of golden spiritual energy appearing in front of his fingers. Bai Cheng coughed twice after regaining his balance, then looked at the barrier in front of Wei Ran. He had put all his strength into his punch, but it had no effect whatsoever on the spiritual energy barrier.

Bai Cheng: "Is this spiritual power?"

After dispelling his spiritual energy barrier, Wei Ran said to Bai Cheng, "You can't compete with cultivators with brute force alone. No matter how strong you are, you can't even touch them. Where did your previous state go?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Cheng replied, "Actually, that previous state required spiritual energy within the body, but I don't have any spiritual energy right now. Although I can activate that state, I don't have a good way to absorb spiritual energy from heaven and earth, so I can't activate that state." Hearing this, Wei Ran understood.

"So you're saying you don't have a good way to absorb spiritual energy right now, right?"

After saying that, Wei Ran took out a pill and tossed it to Bai Cheng. The moment Bai Cheng received the pill, although it was very blurry, he could feel a spiritual energy seeping out of the pill, and even the surface of the pill had a faint blue halo.

Having seen the illustrated guide to elixirs before, Bai Cheng immediately recognized it as a third-grade elixir, the Spirit Gathering Pill.

"What... what does this mean?" Bai Cheng asked, puzzled.

"Anyway, you already owe 1,800 silver coins, so what difference will it make if I give you 30 more?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Cheng understood. However, this single bite cost thirty silver coins, which was probably the most expensive thing Bai Cheng had ever eaten in this world.

After taking the Qi Condensation Pill, Bai Cheng suddenly opened his eyes wide. He was shocked by the changes in his body. A huge surge of spiritual energy flowed from within him. At this moment, every cell in Bai Cheng's body seemed to be bathed in a hot spring of spiritual energy. He could clearly feel that the Qi Condensation Pill in his body was continuously releasing spiritual energy. In addition, the spiritual energy in the air around Bai Cheng also began to surge into his body.

However, not long after, Bai Cheng felt something was wrong with his body. As the spiritual energy in his body increased dramatically, Bai Cheng gradually felt a swelling and pain coming from all parts of his body. This was because there was too much spiritual energy in his body and he could not absorb it.

"This pill is amazing! It's even more potent than the Spirit-Infused Fruit."

As pain coursed through his body, Bai Cheng's heart pounded wildly. The mysterious fragment, as if sensing the spiritual energy within Bai Cheng, emitted a faint blue light and then frantically absorbed it. Wei Ran watched this scene in astonishment. Although one must reach the Great Perfection of the Body Refinement Realm to withstand the influx of spiritual energy, seeing Bai Cheng, who was only at the mid-stage of the Body Refinement Realm, completely unharmed was still hard to believe. He had initially been somewhat worried about Bai Cheng, but now it seemed he had been overthinking it.

Bai Cheng's body gradually returned to calm, and at this moment he could clearly feel the spiritual energy circulating within his body.

"Good. Now, try using the spiritual power within your body to launch an attack on me again."

After hearing this, Bai Cheng nodded and said, "Then you'd better be careful, Uncle Wei Ran."

After speaking, Bai Cheng's aura suddenly surged, and lightning seemed to flash beneath his feet. Wei Ran narrowed his eyes upon seeing this, "Not bad, your aura is quite strong." He then signaled for Bai Cheng to attack.

Upon seeing this, Bai Cheng attacked Wei Ran without saying a word. As Bai Cheng exerted force with his feet, he left a deep footprint on the stone slabs in the courtyard.

Wei Ran's pupils suddenly contracted. "So fast!" He immediately raised his hand to try to block Bai Cheng's punch, but Bai Cheng's fist disappeared just as it reached him. Instead, Bai Cheng delivered a side kick to his face.

"Good lad, you actually know how to change your tactics, but..." Wei Ran snorted coldly, quickly extending two fingers to block Bai Cheng's side kick. At the moment of impact, a powerful surge of spiritual energy erupted, and Bai Cheng was also shocked by Wei Ran's move.

"How could this be? Even if I didn't activate the fragments, I definitely poured spiritual power into that kick, yet he couldn't even move his feet an inch."

Bai Cheng, no longer able to focus on his surprise, continued his fierce attack on Wei Ran. With each move, golden arcs of electricity crackled around him. Bai Cheng's speed was so great that golden spiritual energy flashed continuously throughout the courtyard.

In the blink of an eye, Bai Cheng's attacks had exceeded a hundred moves, but Wei Ran simply blocked Bai Cheng's fierce attacks with one hand behind his back and only two fingers of his right hand. With Bai Cheng's final attack, he activated the fragmented spiritual power within his body, gathered it all in his left arm, and then leaped high into the air.

Bai Cheng raised his right arm high, gathering his strength, and the veins in his arm suddenly glowed blue. Then, he swung the punch at Wei Ran. Wei Ran's eyes narrowed upon seeing Bai Cheng's move.

"That punch was actually quite interesting."

Having said that, he pulled his left hand out from behind his back, and then suddenly exerted force. A golden spiritual energy appeared from the tip of his fist, then spread to his arm, forming a golden armor made of spiritual energy, and then met Bai Cheng's attacking fist.

Just as Bai Cheng and Wei Ran's fists collided, a huge surge of spiritual energy emanated from Bai Cheng's fist. The shockwave rapidly spread between the two, causing the entire courtyard of Yu Qing'an's house to tremble. The shockwave spread in all directions, instantly raising a cloud of dust around Yu Qing'an's house. Bai Cheng was also blasted away by this attack, falling directly onto the village street more than two hundred meters away from his home.

The people around were also startled by the situation at Yu Qing'an's house. Fortunately, many of the residents were out working during the day; otherwise, with such a scene, they would have had to sue Bai Cheng for disturbing the peace. Luckily, Bai Cheng adjusted his angle when he landed, so he wasn't seriously injured.

After getting up, Bai Cheng dusted himself off. What was that move all about? He thought he saw Wei Ran's arm covered in a layer of spiritual energy armor.

Before Bai Cheng could think much about it, a little girl of about three or four years old was running down the village street with a paper windmill in her hand. She bumped into Bai Cheng and fell flat on her face. The paper windmill in her hand also fell to the ground, and the little girl burst into tears.

Seeing this, Bai Cheng quickly helped her up and comforted her, "Little sister, are you alright?" Tears silently streamed down the little girl's face, her rosy cheeks were covered in dust, and her little mouth was pouting. She then quietly picked up the paper windmill that had fallen to the ground. Although the paper windmill was tattered and broken, the little girl still carefully arranged it, but the windmill wouldn't turn.

Seeing this, Bai Cheng felt a pang of sadness. "Little sister, don't cry. Big brother will buy you a new one, okay?"

Upon hearing this, the little girl's eyes immediately lit up.

"really?"

Bai Cheng nodded and said, "Really."

Hearing this, the little girl was overjoyed. Her expression instantly changed from sadness to happiness, and the tears in her eyes stopped. Just then, a woman rushing over from a distance...

"Xiaomei, I told you not to run so fast, now you've fallen!"

He immediately took Xiaomei into his arms and comforted her. Upon seeing the newcomer, Bai Cheng recognized her as Madam Gu from the village; her daughter was only three and a half years old. After picking up Xiaomei, Madam Gu glanced at Bai Cheng, her eyes filled with disgust.

Seeing this, Bai Cheng could only smile awkwardly. Looking at Xiao Mei's cute expression, Bai Cheng said, "I'll buy you a new one here tomorrow."

Xiao Mei nodded and responded with an "Mmm." Seeing this, Madam Gu also took Xiao Mei and left. Bai Cheng sighed softly and then returned home.

Wei Ran was sitting at the stone table in the courtyard, looking at his right hand, which was clenching into a fist. Although he could block Bai Cheng's attack with two fingers, what was this tingling sensation in his fingers? He vaguely saw that the spiritual energy emanating from Bai Cheng's body was golden, but shouldn't it be blue when Bai Cheng activated his spiritual power? Could this kid have a physique with two attributes?

Thinking of this, Wei Ran saw Bai Cheng return looking disheveled. A mocking expression appeared on his face as he said, "Oh, you're back? Looks like you're quite the ladies' man, aren't you? You had a romantic encounter just by going out the door."

As a cultivator in the late stage of Qi Condensation Realm, Wei Ran's divine sense was able to perceive a distance of two thousand meters in radius. He knew everything from when Bai Cheng met the little girl to what happened afterward.

Bai Cheng knew Wei Ran was teasing him when he heard this, so he said, "Don't make fun of me, Uncle Wei Ran."

Bai Cheng paused for a moment, then asked, "By the way, I suddenly thought of something. Since this Spirit Gathering Pill can replenish such a large amount of spiritual energy, why not give it to Yue Ling? Maybe she can wake up that way."

Hearing this, Wei Ran also said with a solemn expression, "The Spirit Gathering Pill is a third-grade pill. Although it seems that Yue Ling's cultivation level when she went berserk had reached the Qi Condensation Realm, it is difficult for a person to absorb the medicinal power of the pill while unconscious. It is much more effective to directly swallow the spiritual plant itself. Moreover, although Yue Ling seems to be unconscious due to excessive use of spiritual power, you should know that ordinary people can still move around normally even without spiritual power, let alone someone who is about to reach the Great Perfection of the Body Refinement Realm."

Upon hearing this, Bai Cheng suddenly remembered that when he encountered bandits, he had been unconscious for several days due to excessive consumption of spiritual energy. At that time, his cultivation level was too low, and his body could not fully withstand the spiritual energy within him.

However, as far as Bai Cheng knew, Yue Ling had long been able to control her spiritual energy. If it was just due to excessive consumption of spiritual energy, how could she have remained unconscious for so many days? Thinking of this, Bai Cheng went into the house to check on Yue Ling, who was lying unconscious on the bed.

As he passed through the hall, the purple eyes in the portrait of Yue Ling's mother on the wall flickered slightly, and the pupils followed Bai Cheng's steps into the room.

As Bai Cheng passed by, he felt someone's gaze watching him. When he suddenly turned around, the gaze from the shadows disappeared.

"What's wrong? Is it just my imagination? Maybe I've been too tense lately, always being suspicious."

After saying that, he sighed and went into the inner room to Yueling's bedside. As soon as he saw Yueling lying on the bed, Bai Cheng remembered how lively and cheerful she used to be. Without her usual playfulness, the house seemed to have become quiet and deserted all of a sudden, and even Uncle Yu had looked quite haggard lately.

Thinking of this, Bai Cheng also grabbed Yue Ling's small hand and held it tightly in both hands. Now he regarded Yue Ling as a very important person to him.

Just then, the portrait of Yue Ling's mother in the hall suddenly moved without any wind, and her purple eyes burst forth with a suffocating spiritual power.

At that moment, Wei Ran was brewing a pot of tea in the courtyard and sitting at the stone table. His eyes were slightly narrowed, and he picked up the teacup with his right hand, intending to savor it. Suddenly, his pupils dilated, and in the next instant, he vanished completely, leaving only the cup of tea that had been filled with tea lying on the stone table, rolling around and spilling tea all over the ground.