Afterward, the three sat quietly, gazing at the starry sky while Zhong Shenxiu shared his knowledge of the constellations. In the blink of an eye, the day had passed.
The next day, Zhong Shenxiu suddenly decided to perform the Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Transformation for Kaini as well; in this world where strength reigns supreme, lack of power was simply not an option.
Robin was very eager and immediately offered to fetch the hot water, having prior experience and knowing exactly what needed to be done.
Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Zhong Shenxiu meticulously prepared a large vat, mixing various exotic flowers and rare herbs with an expression of deep concentration.
Kaini’s situation differed from Robin’s initially; her meridians and bones were already fully formed, meaning the process couldn't be completed in one go as it had been for Robin. It had to be done in several stages! Furthermore, since Kaini had absolutely no prior experience with breath control, Zhong Shenxiu needed to remain nearby to guide her energy flow.
It was, by all accounts, significantly more troublesome!
At that moment, Kaini, unable to assist, simply sat aside with a gentle smile on her face, her expression placid, showing no sign of worry or nervousness. It was less about her taking things lightly and more about her absolute, profound trust in Zhong Shenxiu. She didn't even ask a single question, merely watching in silence!
At some point, Robin had moved to sit beside Kaini.
Kaini turned her head to glance at Robin without speaking.
But surprisingly, it was Robin who spoke first, her voice remarkably soft: "Sister, no matter how uncomfortable it gets later, you must endure it. It won't be long before everything feels wonderfully comfortable!"
She had been worrying about Kaini all along!
If Zhong Shenxiu was the person Robin loved most, then Kaini was the person closest to her heart!
The current Robin tried to confide everything in Kaini—this was a secret shared only between the two of them, one that even Zhong Shenxiu was unaware of!
"Alright, I will remember that," Kaini replied with a smile toward Robin.
The hot water was poured into the vat, releasing an unusual fragrance, distinctly different from when Robin had undergone the cleansing.
Then, Zhong Shenxiu brought out the bamboo tube containing the 'Spiritual Nectar,' poured a single drop into another empty tube, and diluted it with pure spring water. He shook it until it was evenly mixed.
Next, a small amount of this diluted mixture was carefully poured into the vat. Immediately, a burst of seven-colored light erupted, though it vanished quickly, not lingering for long!
Once the temperature of the liquid in the vat had gradually cooled, Zhong Shenxiu called Kaini over.
Just as with Robin, Kaini needed to disrobe and immerse herself in the vat. Without any hesitation, Kaini began to undo her clothing.
When all her garments were removed, what was revealed was not a captivating figure, but a shocking expanse of scars. From her back to her chest, there were dozens of them—some left by blades, others the result of savage beast bites, making them truly difficult to look upon!
No one could have imagined that beneath Kaini’s flawless exterior lay such a tapestry of wounds. It was clear that every scar documented a period of unbearable memory!
Both Zhong Shenxiu and Robin froze upon seeing Kaini's scarred body.
Kaini, however, appeared remarkably composed. She first traced the longest scar across her abdomen, then offered a faint smile. "I apologize for startling you both."
Robin’s expression softened, reminding her of her own past. But unlike Kaini, Robin’s wounds were self-inflicted from practicing dark magic, whereas Kaini’s injuries were clearly the result of external violence!
Zhong Shenxiu’s expression quickly hardened into resolve. He didn't ask how Kaini acquired these scars, but he silently vowed that not another single mark would ever appear on her body from this day forward!
At this point, Kaini pointed toward the vat and asked, "May I enter now?"
Zhong Shenxiu nodded once, saying nothing.
Although the liquid in the vat had cooled considerably, it was still very hot, yet when Kaini submerged herself, she didn't even flinch; a faint tranquility remained on her face.
What kind of woman was this? How much suffering must one endure to forge such unyielding strength?
Once Kaini was settled, Zhong Shenxiu gently placed his hand on her back, regulating the flow of her blood and slowly channeling his spiritual energy into her body.
Kaini, following Zhong Shenxiu’s instruction, closed her eyes, concentrating intently on the path of the warm current moving within her.
Just as Robin had predicted, the beginning was intensely painful, feeling as if something was tearing her body apart. But as she gradually calmed her mind, that agonizing sensation began to dissipate, replaced by an indescribable comfort.
Throughout Kaini's Marrow Cleansing, Zhong Shenxiu’s hand never left her back.
His guidance served to accelerate the process, but more crucially, it was to prevent any unforeseen accidents!
Robin watched from a distance, resting her chin in her hands, the gentle breeze stirring her hair, looking utterly serene!
Time slipped by, transitioning from dawn into evening. Only then did Zhong Shenxiu slowly withdraw his hand, and Kaini opened her eyes.
"That is enough for today," Zhong Shenxiu told Kaini.
Kaini smiled. That sensation had been so mysterious, like waking from a vivid dream. Looking down, the medicinal liquid surrounding her had turned pitch black and emitted a tart, sour odor.
Kaini rose from the vat. In the moonlight, the water droplets cascading from her body were visible. Inconceivably, the numerous scars that had covered her skin were gone, replaced by perfectly smooth, flawless skin!
Kaini touched her abdomen again; the feeling transmitted through her fingertips was no longer rough, but silken smooth!
The first stage of Kaini’s Marrow Cleansing was complete. The medicinal infusion had injected spiritual energy that purged the impurities from her body and repaired her damaged cells.
Kaini smiled again, saying nothing, but she turned and embraced Zhong Shenxiu tightly! Silence often speaks louder than words, and this moment was the perfect testament to that.
Robin also stood up, but instead of joining Kaini and Zhong Shenxiu, she went to prepare food.
The three ate this meal with great ease, creating a feeling akin to a family gathered together.
When it was time to sleep, perhaps due to the cleansing, Kaini felt unusually alert. She gazed sideways at the faces of Zhong Shenxiu and Robin, a faint, almost imperceptible smile returning to the corners of her lips, much like the hazy moon in the sky.
Robin turned over, her eyes opening; she hadn't been sleeping either. Seeing Kaini watching her, Robin simply offered a gentle smile without a word. These past two days had brought Robin the most smiles she'd experienced in a long time!
Kaini winked at Robin and motioned for her to lean closer.
Robin slowly leaned her head over, moving with extreme care so as not to wake Zhong Shenxiu.
Kaini whispered something into Robin’s ear. Robin initially paused, then shook her head, looking at Kaini with a strange expression.
Kaini gestured again for Robin to lean in. Another brief exchange of whispers followed, but Robin still shook her head, her cheeks flushing slightly.
This time, Kaini said nothing more, but offered a mysterious smile, then turned and lightly kissed the cheek of little Zhong Shenxiu, her movement so gentle it made no sound.
Afterward, Kaini nudged her chin toward Robin, her expression clearly saying: Your turn!
Except for the time Zhong Shenxiu faced his heavenly tribulation, Robin had never felt this nervous. After much hesitation, spurred by Kaini’s encouraging gaze, she finally leaned in and pressed her lips lightly onto Zhong Shenxiu’s cheek, like a butterfly briefly touching a flower.
Then, Robin recoiled as if shocked, shrinking back. She stole glances at Zhong Shenxiu’s face while keeping her head lowered. Seeing no reaction, she let out a breath of relief.
Kaini was thoroughly amused by Robin’s antics but suppressed her laughter with great difficulty!
But was Zhong Shenxiu truly asleep? Only the heavens knew! As Kaini and Robin kissed him, his fingers twitched almost imperceptibly.
The next day, Kaini and Robin kept their midnight conversation a secret, occasionally sharing knowing glances!
Today, just like yesterday, Zhong Shenxiu prepared herbs for Kaini, and it was clear the components in the vat were significantly different from the day before.
This was the second stage of Kaini’s Marrow Cleansing, arguably the most critical one. This stage focused on tempering Kaini’s meridians and bones; once complete, Kaini’s learning of breath control techniques and all future profound skills would yield twice the result with half the effort!
Zhong Shenxiu had already devised a detailed plan: after this stage, he would immediately begin teaching Kaini practical skills, aiming to forge her into an absolute master in the shortest time possible!
Zhong Shenxiu had already roughly mapped out the profound techniques he would impart. Once Kaini mastered what he taught, she would instantly transform from a delicate woman into the third powerfully formidable figure!
Because this stage of cleansing was so vital, the process lasted exceptionally long—a full day and night—until the morning of the second day when Zhong Shenxiu finally ceased his guidance.
At this point, Kaini, already captivatingly beautiful, now possessed an enchanting allure in every gesture. Her skin, like congealed jade, specifically incited an irresistible urge to touch and cherish it!
After Kaini was fully dressed, Zhong Shenxiu took no rest. He immediately began instructing Kaini in a martial arts cultivation method: the Reformed Jade Maiden Heart Sutra!
Why call it Reformed?
The reason was simple: in its original form, the Heart Sutra was unsuitable for Kaini because it emphasized a life of pure detachment and minimal desire.
After Zhong Shenxiu’s modifications, this restriction was lifted, and numerous powerful moves, along with essential breathing and energy circulation methods, were incorporated, laying a solid foundation for Kaini’s future cultivation path!
Kaini’s comprehension was noticeably sharper now. Zhong Shenxiu only needed to explain the principles two or three times before she grasped the essence completely!