Douluo Continent: Rebirth of Ma Hongjun, Phoenix of Ultimate Light

Chapter 53 Breakthrough Ahead of Schedule!

Shao Xin revised Dai Mubai's prescription three times.

The first edition was based on Ma Hongjun's prescription with reduced dosages: 4 qian of Quenching Bone Grass, 5 qian of Blood-Activating Vine, and 1 qian of Concentrating Flower.

Dai Mubai soaked for three days and the effect was good, but Shao Xin felt it wasn't enough.

He carefully observed Dai Mubai's condition after the medicinal bath—the soreness in his bones was moderate, his meridians were unobstructed, and his mind was stable; everything was as expected.

But precisely because everything was within expectations, Shao Xin felt that the prescription was too conservative for Dai Mubai.

"His martial soul is the White Tiger, a top-tier beast martial soul. Beast martial souls rely much more on the physical body than weapon martial souls, and the White Tiger has even higher requirements for bones and muscles than the Evil Fire Phoenix. His formula could be even more potent."

Shao Xin increased the amount of Bone-Tempering Grass from four qian to five qian, Blood-Activating Vine from five qian to seven qian, and kept the Mind-Concentrating Flower at one qian.

The second version of the recipe was soaked by Dai Mubai for three days.

The tingling sensation from the bone-strengthening herb surged from deep within the bones, much stronger than the first version, but still without any stinging pain.

In the third edition, Shao Xin increased the amount of Bone-Tempering Grass to six qian—the same amount as Ma Hongjun.

Add one ounce of Blood-Activating Vine and one and a half mace of Mind-Calming Flower.

When Dai Mubai first took a bath using the third edition of the formula, he sat in the tub for fifteen minutes. When he came out, his legs were weak, and he had to lean on something to support himself.

I stood against the wall for quite a while.

"That's too intense?"

Shao Xin asked.

Dai Mubai shook his head, panting, and said, "Just right."

He said it was just right, but Shao Xin noticed that the knuckles of his fingers, which were supporting him against the wall, had turned white.

Shao Xin knew exactly what "just right" meant: just barely able to withstand it, just barely on the edge of the limit.

Dai Mubai is not one to complain; he is different from Ma Hongjun.

Ma Hongjun calmly assessed his limits, then steadily stepped onto the line, neither crossing it nor backing down.

Dai Mubai gritted his teeth and pushed himself to the limit. If he made it, he would make it; if he didn't, he would still keep pushing.

Shao Xin wrote in his notebook: "Dai Mubai, six qian of Bone-Tempering Grass is tolerable, one liang of Blood-Activating Vine is slightly too strong, and one and a half qian of Mind-Concentrating Flower is moderate. Further adjustments can be made based on the patient's reaction."

The effects of medicated baths are visible to the naked eye.

Ma Hongjun was the first to sense the changes.

His Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul places a great burden on his body; the stronger the flames, the greater the pressure on his bones and meridians.

Previously, he dared not exert full force to ignite the flames for extended periods, as his meridians would become hot and painful, like red-hot iron wires.

But now, the Bone-Tempering Grass has compressed his bones more firmly, and the Blood-Activating Vine is gradually repairing his meridians that were scorched by the evil fire.

Expand.

He could feel his body transforming into a more robust vessel, capable of containing even greater power.

The changes at Oscars are even more noticeable.

Food-type Soul Masters are inherently less physically capable than Battle Soul Masters; this is determined by their Martial Soul, and no one can change it.

However, he had been undergoing Zhao Wuji's grueling training for the past six months, and his physical abilities had long surpassed those of ordinary food-type soul masters.

With the aid of the new prescription, the bone-strengthening herb compresses the bones more firmly, and the blood-activating vine unblocks the meridians more smoothly.

His physical abilities are approaching those of a Soul Master of the same level at an astonishing speed.

But the most noticeable change is in Dai Mubai.

When he came to Shrek Academy, he was at the peak of level 29, just one step away from level 30.

He hadn't been able to take this step even after three months in the Star Luo Empire.

It wasn't that he wasn't working hard enough; it was that the environment didn't allow him to live in constant fear, terrified that Davis might one day decide to kill him, or that those sycophantic ministers would stab him in the back. Even when he was exhausted and lay down on the bed, he couldn't fall asleep, his mind filled with thoughts of how to survive until tomorrow.

The efficiency of practicing under such circumstances is self-evident.

But things are different here.

Dai Mubai doesn't need to wake up in the middle of the night, doesn't need to strain his ears to listen for footsteps outside the door, and doesn't need to glance around every corner to see if anyone is watching him.

The night at Shrek Academy was very quiet, so quiet that the only sounds were the chirping of insects and the sound of flags fluttering in the wind on the training field in the distance.

Meditation after a medicinal bath, sleep after meditation, and then training after waking up from sleep.

Training, medicinal baths, meditation.

day to day.

Flander stood by the office window, watching Dai Mubai's figure on the training field, and said in a low voice, "At this rate, it won't take twenty days."

The twelfth day.

Dai Mubai stood in front of the testing crystal and slowly injected his soul power into it.

A blue light appeared, and the numbers started jumping from twenty-nine.

The peak is at twenty-nine, and thirty!

Dai Mubai stared at the number, his hand still pressed on the crystal ball.

Zhao Wuji was the first to speak: "Twelve days, from the peak of level twenty-nine to level thirty, much faster than expected."

His voice was clearly filled with shock.

Once one's soul power reaches the peak of the Great Soul Master level, each level of advancement requires accumulation.

Moreover, the transition from level 29 (peak) to level 30 is the first major qualitative change.

It's quite difficult.

It used to take time to accumulate, but now it's much faster, all thanks to the prescription.

"Great achievements come from small beginnings."

Flanders stood to the side, arms crossed.

"He already had a good foundation, and his soul power accumulation was already sufficient. What he lacked was his state of mind. The medicinal bath helped regulate his body and also calmed his mind."

It was rare for Flander to speak at such a long length, and he stopped after he finished, but the meaning was already very clear—Dai Mubai's breakthrough was not accidental, but an inevitable result after changing his environment and calming his mind.

Dai Mubai removed his hand from the crystal ball and turned to look at Ma Hongjun and Oscar.

"I've finally reached level 30."

His tone was calm, but the slight upward inflection at the end betrayed his feelings.

"Congratulations."

Ma Hongjun said.

Congratulations!

Oscar was even happier than Dai Mubai.

"We can go hunt for our third spirit ring now!"

Flander's voice came from the side: "No rush. Rest today and prepare supplies. We'll set off first thing tomorrow morning."

Take a day off.

Ma Hongjun took a medicinal bath and added seven qian of bone-strengthening herb.

This was the first time he had used this dosage. His bones ached for nearly half an hour, so much so that he tossed and turned in bed, but he never experienced any sharp pain.

Shao Xin was keeping time with his pocket watch, his brows furrowed tightly. He was ready to pull Ma Hongjun out of the bathtub if he showed any discomfort.

But the boy persevered to the very end, his face as calm as if he were taking a hot bath. If Shao Xin hadn't seen the bulging veins on his neck, he would have almost been fooled.

After soaking, Ma Hongjun lay on the bed with his eyes closed, feeling the limits of his body. He felt that the upper limit of the age of the third soul ring should be much higher than previously estimated.

Oscar also tried it once, increasing the amount of Bone Tempering Grass from five to six qian and Blood Activating Vine from seven to nine qian.

Halfway through his soak, he grinned and said to Shao Xin, "Teacher Shao Xin, I think I can handle a thousand-year soul ring now." Shao Xin glanced at him and told him to shut up and soak properly.

Dai Mubai did not soak.

He had just broken through to level 30, and his soul power was still unstable.

Shao Xin said he'd take the medicinal bath after hunting for the spirit rings; he needed to settle the spirit rings first and stabilize his spirit power so the bath could have the best effect.

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