The next day, early morning.
Rumors of the Marquis's Mansion's Seventh Young Master transforming into an Evil Demon swept across the entire Wuyi County overnight, causing many to tremble with fear.
Meanwhile, Wang Ruoxie quietly left the Marquis's Mansion and walked along the bustling streets.
"Although I know quite a few methods to temper the body, none of them are bearable for my current physique. It seems I'll have to use the most ordinary potions to temper my body."
Wang Ruoxie, dressed in a black robe, deliberately covered his face with a cloak to avoid drawing attention.
Given his physical condition, hunting Demon Beasts was currently impossible. He had to first use potions to temper his body and then, once fully recovered, hunt Demon Beasts and devour their essence blood.
However, he didn't have much silver on him, probably not enough to buy the necessary ingredients for potion brewing.
After pondering for a moment, Wang Ruoxie's lips curled into a cold smile as he walked forward according to the route in his memory.
Soon after, Wang Ruoxie walked into a Medicine Hall.
He was met by an elderly man in a white robe seated in the main hall.
"What can I do for you today, young master? What herbs are you looking to buy?"
Noticing Wang Ruoxie's arrival in a black robe, the elder narrowed his eyes slightly before smiling and asking.
"Fiery Sun Grass, Centennial Blood Ginseng, Tiger Tooth Flower... Centennial Spirit Milk, Thunder Profound Lotus Seed, I need ten sets."
Wang Ruoxie responded indifferently.
Upon hearing this, a flicker of surprise passed through the elder's eyes as he carefully assessed the person before him, the voice suggesting merely a young man.
The black robe's fabric, made of quite precious Silk Brocade, indicated wealth or high status, thus making this a worthwhile transaction.
Smiling, the elder said to Wang Ruoxie, "Young master, these herbs aren't cheap; ten sets will cost a total of five thousand silver taels."
"Alright, bring them out."
Wang Ruoxie nodded, replying.
Seeing Wang Ruoxie not even bargaining over the price, the elder's smile grew even wider, mentally noting his luck at encountering an easy mark just as he opened the shop.
Without hesitation, the elder retrieved ten sets of herbs from the medicine cabinet behind him and placed them, wrapped, on the counter.
Wang Ruoxie reached out to take the herbs from the counter, then turned directly and headed for the door.
This scene left the elder momentarily stunned, but he quickly reacted, his face darkening as he hurried to block Wang Ruoxie's path.
"Young master, aren't you forgetting something?"
The elder coldly gazed at Wang Ruoxie, speaking.
"Master Zhao, it's been a while."
Wang Ruoxie slowly removed his cloak, addressing the elder coldly.
"It's you."
Upon seeing Wang Ruoxie's face, Master Zhao's pupils contracted suddenly. He naturally recognized the person in front of him, the Seventh Young Master of the Marquis's Mansion.
After a moment's surprise, Master Zhao forced a smile and said to Wang Ruoxie, "Seventh Young Master, isn't this a bit excessive? If you need silver, you could say so. For the Marquis's sake, I could let you have credit."
"Old dog, I'm here to collect what's owed, so don't mention the Marquis."
Wang Ruoxie looked at Master Zhao indifferently, spitting out cold words.
This fellow, pretending to treat him, used cheap, ordinary herbs to deceive his mother's meager silver salary, even incurring a debt of five hundred silver taels to him.
Today, he intended to make the man pay back several times over.
"Seventh Young Master, what do you mean? You know, Third Madam still owes me five hundred silver taels. If we're talking debts, it should be me collecting."
Master Zhao's face turned extremely unsightly. Although the person was the Seventh Young Master of the Marquis's Mansion, he, too, was a notable figure but had been called an old dog.
If not for the other's status, he would certainly teach this sickly fellow a lesson.
"If the Marquis knew you deceived my mother, perhaps there'd be no place for you to stand in the whole Wuyi County."
Wang Ruoxie smirked coldly and spoke to Master Zhao.
"I heard Seventh Young Master is an Evil Demon reincarnated, almost burned by the Marquis as a sacrifice to the heavens. If he knew you were stealing expensive herbs, for the family's honor, you might find it hard to escape blame."
Master Zhao also smirked coldly and said, "Moreover, Third Madam is kind-hearted and gentle. If she knew her son was robbing from others, who knows what she'd think?"
"So you know. Since that's the case, let me show you what an Evil Demon is."
As Wang Ruoxie's voice fell, his eyes turned blood-red, an intense, chilling aura emanating from him.
Master Zhao felt as though the person before him was a demon from the Nine Netherworld, a terrifying aura assaulting his fragile soul.
"Se...Seventh...Young...Master, I deserve death, spare...my life, I'll never...dare again."
Accompanied by a thud, Master Zhao knelt directly on the ground, his body trembling violently.
Though he had heard rumors of the Marquis's Mansion's Seventh Young Master transforming into an Evil Demon, capable of draining Qi and Blood, he'd thought them mere tales, as how could anyone truly be an Evil Demon reincarnation? But now he had to believe.
"My mother is kind-hearted, and yet you deceived her with her love for her son. My mother is generous, but I, Wang Ruoxie, will not tolerate being bullied."
Looking down at Master Zhao, Wang Ruoxie raised his hand and swung it fiercely.
"Slap!"
With a crisp, clear sound, a distinct palm print appeared on Master Zhao's face, blood steadily dripping from the corner of his mouth.
Master Zhao lowered his head, an icy glint flashing in his eyes, not daring to utter another word to anger the other.
"These ten portions of medicinal herbs are the price you have to pay for deceiving my mother all these years. If you dare to provoke me and my mother again, I will not let it go lightly."
Wang Ruoxie gave Master Zhao a cold glance, then lifted his foot and walked directly out of the Medicine Hall.
"Little brat, today's humiliation will be returned a hundredfold in the future."
Master Zhao's eyes were filled with venomous intent as he silently vowed in his heart.
...
Wang Ruoxie didn't delay and rushed straight back to the Marquis's Mansion.
"Isn't this Seventh Brother?"
Just as Wang Ruoxie was about to enter the Marquis's Mansion, a figure suddenly blocked his path.
"Wang Ruochi."
Raising his head slightly, Wang Ruoxie cast a nonchalant glance at the other.
Wang Ruochi was the third son of the Second Madam of the Marquis's Mansion, ranking sixth among the brothers, and nominally his sixth brother.
Though only a few months older, Wang Ruochi had awakened to the Third Grade Barbarian Tiger Power early and had already broken through to the Fifth Layer of the Body Tempering Realm in martial arts.
In childhood, due to their similar age, their relationship was decent, but as they grew older, Wang Ruochi increasingly distanced himself.
Eventually, he often sneered, calling him a useless person unable to awaken the family's Bloodline Power or cultivate martial arts.
"Seventh Brother, I recall Father said you're not allowed to step out of the Lock Heart Hall. It seems you've already violated Father's words."
Wang Ruochi looked down at Wang Ruoxie, speaking indifferently.
"That's my business, none of your concern. If you can't stand it, go report to him."
Wang Ruoxie replied indifferently, then apathetically ignored Wang Ruochi, lifted his foot, and walked past him into the Marquis's Mansion.
"Hmph, an arrogant guy whose Sea of Qi is already crippled, simply ignorant."
Wang Ruochi's face darkened, snorted coldly.
Immediately, a trace of a sneer flashed in his eyes, secretly thinking, "In three months, the annual Hunting Tournament takes place, and all sixteen-year-old members of the Wang Family must participate. By then..."
After returning to the Lock Heart Hall, Wang Ruoxie instructed Fu'Er to prepare a large tub of scalding hot water immediately.
In the entire Lock Heart Hall, besides him and his mother, only Fu'Er remained.
An out-of-favor Third Madam, a seemingly wasted Seventh Young Master; naturally, the servants and guards didn't want to come to the Lock Heart Hall.
But it's just as well; at least Wang Ruoxie wouldn't be disturbed doing whatever he wanted.
Following a special ratio, Wang Ruoxie placed a portion of medicinal herbs into the tub; moments later, the hot water started boiling, deep green bubbles rising from below.
As the bubbles burst, strands of green vapor spread into the air.
This was the most ordinary Body Tempering Potion. His previous self would disdain to use it, but now, due to many limitations, he could only temporarily use it to temper his body.
Without hesitation, Wang Ruoxie jumped into the tub, immersing his whole body except for his head in the now completely dark green potion.
"Hiss!"
At that moment, Wang Ruoxie felt countless sharp needles constantly piercing his skin, even feeling like his skin was melting, chunks of flesh being torn off.
If it were anyone else, they'd likely be unable to endure such pain.
"This body is exceptionally weak, even struggling to bear this little bit of medicinal force."
Wang Ruoxie chuckled wryly, then closed his eyes, gritting his teeth to "enjoy" the forceful potion's power.
Immediately, strands of medicinal force, imbued with special energy, crazily penetrated his body, flooding into his limbs, incessantly washing every inch of his flesh.
Though in excruciating pain all over, a faint smile emerged on Wang Ruoxie's face, as he clearly sensed his body recovering at a rapid pace.
Several hours later, Wang Ruoxie slowly opened his eyes, discovering the originally green potion had turned black.
He knew it was impurities expelled from his body, whereas the medicinal power had thoroughly integrated into every inch of his flesh, even down to each cell.
Stepping out of the tub, Wang Ruoxie changed into a clean outfit.
Feeling his now transformed body, a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Third Layer of the Body Tempering Realm."
He had broken through, advancing two small levels in just a few hours.
However, Wang Ruoxie also understood that the Body Tempering Realm is mainly about refining the body and nourishing Qi and Blood; once the body is strong, breaking through realms becomes effortless.
The Body Tempering Realm is divided into nine layers, and with each advancement, the Qi and Blood become more vigorous, and strength greatly increases.
Feeling the power within himself, amplified several times over, Wang Ruoxie swung a punch into the air.
"Boom!"
The air surged, thundering like a sonic boom.
"At least five hundred pounds, one Tiger's strength."
Wang Ruoxie pondered, noting that the Third Layer of the Body Tempering Realm equated to one Tiger's strength, indicating the potion's power wasn't weak.
"It seems your body has already recovered."
Suddenly, a cold voice resonated.
Wang Ruoxie turned his head to see a stunningly beautiful girl gazing at him with a detached look.