I'm Feng Aotian—And I’m Running Away from My Wedding - Chapter 25

In the dim light of dawn, Li Baiying appeared by the cold pond.

“Ancestor, I’m ready to begin at any time.”

She stretched her body with confidence, her expression eager and ready.

“Good, then start by running a hundred laps around the pond.”

“Ah? A hundred laps?”

Even though Li Baiying had mentally prepared herself, she couldn’t help but pause in surprise. “Ancestor, if I have to run a hundred laps, it might take me three days and three nights.”

“Even if it takes seven days and seven nights, you must complete it.” The woman chuckled lightly, drawing out her words. “What, are you scared?”

“No, I’ll start right away.”

Without another word, Li Baiying set off, her legs carrying her forward like a straight arrow.

“Don’t rush. I’ve given you seven days and nights to finish.”

The Ancestor yawned contentedly. If she had a physical form, she would likely be lounging with her legs crossed, watching the scene unfold.

A thin mist hung in the air, and with every breath, the cold seemed to seep into her lungs.

Li Baiying passed through the waterfall and ventured deeper.

She had never come this far before, having always stayed near the stone cave. So, when she saw the dark green miasma drifting from the other side of the cliff, she felt a sense of novelty.

“Ancestor, is that a swamp over there?”

“Yes, the Poison Mist Swamp. Any living being that steps into it turns to bones buried beneath. However, ” The woman chuckled softly, “the poisonous gas is merely the result of a formation. Once it’s dispelled, it’s just an ordinary swamp, nothing special.”

She spoke lightly, but Li Baiying could easily imagine the dangers hidden within. Still, her attention was caught by something else. “There must be treasures inside, right? Like herbs or magical artifacts?”

“Hmph.” The woman didn’t answer, merely saying casually, “Watch your step.”

Hearing this, Li Baiying quickly sidestepped, narrowly avoiding a patch of ice that was about to crack.

The first lap was relatively easy for her, requiring little effort.

Although the cold pond seemed endless at a glance, it wasn’t overwhelmingly vast. Even so, it took her a full hour to complete the lap.

“Ancestor, at this pace, I’m afraid it’ll take me eight or nine days to finish.”

By the time she started the second lap, she could clearly feel her legs losing their earlier strength.

“That’s why I’m pushing you to your limits. Seven days, no more.”

The woman’s tone remained lazy and unhurried.

“I’ll do my best.” Li Baiying no longer dared to boast that she would definitely complete the task. Although she had always focused on physical training in the past, it was usually done alongside her cultivation practice.

Training with such single-minded focus was a first for her.

The second lap, the third lap… By the time she started the seventh lap, the sun was already setting in the west.

As she passed the stone cave again, Li Baiying caught sight of the steaming grill and the fragrant roasted fish. Her stomach growled loudly.

Qin Yixiao stood at the cave entrance, casting her a questioning look as if asking when her training would end.

“Ancestor, I-”

“Fine, go eat something, but keep an eye on the time.” The woman agreed surprisingly readily, adding, “If you exceed seven days, I won’t teach you the Water Gathering Spirit Technique you begged me for last time.”

Recalling the breathtaking scene of stacking the cold pond’s surface layer upon layer until it reached ten thousand zhang high, Li Baiying’s eyes instantly lit up. She patted her chest and vowed, “Even if I have to run until I cough up blood, I’ll get it done.”

Despite her words, she slowed her pace and stopped by the grill.

“Eat slowly, don’t choke.”

Qin Yixiao watched her devouring the food as if she’d never eaten before and couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Have you eaten nothing since morning?”

“Yeah, I need to seize every moment for cultivation.”

Li Baiying swallowed the last bite of fish, scooped up some pond water to wash the grease from her lips, and spoke rapidly, “I’ve decided to train according to the demonic cultivation method. It’s the only path I have to avenge my family.”

As if completely forgetting their previous argument on the matter, she grinned brightly, “When I turn into a demon beast, don’t be scared of me.”

“Are you really sure about this?” Qin Yixiao stared at her blankly, unexpectedly burned by the fierce determination in her eyes.

“Yes. Once I’ve decided something, no one can change my mind.” Li Baiying stood up and waved at her, “You should rest early. Don’t wait for me for the next six days.”

Her figure soon shrank to a small dot in the distance, swallowed by the faint mist.

On the first day, Li Baiying only ran eleven laps.

By the time the sun cast its morning glow across the horizon, she was just beginning her twelfth lap.

Strangely enough, despite not resting all night, she showed no signs of fatigue. Instead, her mind grew increasingly clear.

“Senior, do you think it’s because I’ve been exposed to the cold wind? I don’t feel sleepy at all.”

She couldn’t resist voicing her discovery.

“Check again,” the woman hinted impatiently, “Your dantian, or your calves.”

Li Baiying immediately used inner vision to examine her body.

Deep within her dantian, her shattered golden core was being burned by crimson flames, slowly merging with them. Meanwhile, her calves felt warm, with a faint, persistent itching on the skin’s surface, as if something was about to sprout from her flesh and blood.

“You’re currently practicing the body refining technique of demonic cultivation’s foundation stage. In other words, it’s about further stimulating your body’s potential, turning it into a vessel capable of containing greater power.”

What she didn’t tell Li Baiying was that normally, martial artists transitioning to demonic cultivation needed to undergo a complete energy dissipation process. Coincidentally, Li Baiying’s shattered meridians and destroyed dantian had inadvertently achieved perfect energy dissipation. This meant she could practice demonic techniques without any lingering concerns, fully committing to a new path.

“Understood!” Hearing the word “power,” Li Baiying’s spirits lifted, and she unconsciously began to pick up speed. She wanted to see just how far her current physical capabilities could take her.

“Take it easy.” The woman noted her enthusiasm and lazily reminded her before falling silent.

On the second day, Li Baiying ran twelve laps.

As she continuously exerted her leg strength, the faint heat flow became more pronounced. Several times, she felt an itching in her calves, like an inflated balloon about to burst if poked.

She couldn’t help but look forward to the changes after seven days.

On the third day, thirteen laps. On the fourth and fifth days, she gritted her teeth and increased her speed, managing fifteen laps each day.

Running seemed to have become an instinct engraved in her muscles. Her focus narrowed to this familiar path, blocking out everything else.

“Mental fortitude is strong, a promising seedling for cultivation.” The woman observed within her mind, refraining from speaking aloud.

She could tell that Li Baiying had already entered a state of flow. Even if she spoke now, the other would not respond.

By the time she finished the sixteenth lap on the sixth day, Li Baiying suddenly stumbled and fell to the ground.

“Hiss…”

A fierce red glow formed unique crimson patterns on her calves as scales emerged from her flesh one by one, shimmering with a piercing, eerie light in the darkness.