After returning from the sect treasury, Ethan Carter stayed in his room, silently refining pills. By the evening of the next day, Ethan Carter finally produced the first batch of pills in this world.

  “Finally succeeded.”

  Ethan Carter grabbed a Detoxification Pill, feeling a weight lifted from his shoulders. Although it was his first time refining it, Ethan Carter was already thoroughly familiar with all the signs of a successful refinement. There was no doubt—this was a Detoxification Pill.

  Gulp!

  Ethan Carter opened his mouth and swallowed it directly. Then he began practicing a set of “Small Heavenly Gang Fist,” using the circulation of blood and energy during the practice to accelerate the dissolution of the pill’s medicinal power in his abdomen.

  In less than half an hour, Ethan Carter’s whole body was steaming hot, and little by little, a black, sticky, foul-smelling liquid began to seep from every pore of his body.

  “The medicinal power is dissolving, and the toxins are starting to be expelled!”

  Ethan Carter was well aware of what was happening and continued to speed up his practice. The entire room was filled with the explosive crackling of his joints. Gradually, the black liquid seeping from Ethan Carter’s body increased in quantity and viscosity. The stench was so strong that even Ethan Carter felt nauseated.

  In just an hour, the brocade robe on Ethan Carter’s body had turned completely black. The smell was like a cesspit. Six years’ worth of toxins was no small matter. However, Ethan Carter didn’t mind at all; instead, he grew more and more excited.

  “Good, just like this!”

  Ethan Carter felt that as the toxins were expelled, his whole body became lighter and lighter. His bones grew tougher, his muscles more flexible, and his punches flowed more smoothly, without the previous sluggishness.

  Later, Ethan Carter even felt that with each breath, his body had an urge to soar and ascend.

  “Bang!”

  Ethan Carter’s muscles suddenly exploded, and the toxic liquid clinging to his body, along with his clothes, burst apart and splattered everywhere.

  This was the “Explosive Force” of the “Small Heavenly Gang,” which Ethan Carter used to rid himself of the toxic liquid.

  “That’s enough. With a few more doses, all the toxins can be expelled within two days.”

  Ethan Carter clenched his fist and flexed his arm, a series of cracking sounds immediately coming from his joints, extremely nimble. Previously, limited by his physical condition, he couldn’t use many martial arts techniques. But now, it was different—he could even perform some advanced power-exertion skills.

  “Dong dong!”

  Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. A voice came from outside:

  “Junior Sect Master, the hot water you requested has arrived.”

  “Come in.”

  Ethan Carter said. His eyes flashed, and he quickly picked up a robe and draped it over himself.

  The door opened, and two disciples from the Body Refinement Hall pushed in a wooden tub half as tall as a person, filled with steaming hot water.

  This kind of nanmu wood tub was called a “Body Tempering Tub,” used by sect members to steam medicinal herbs and temper their bodies during training.

  With James Thompson’s previous example, the disciples from the Body Refinement Hall had learned their lesson. They no longer dared to mock or ridicule Ethan Carter; each kept their head down, their attitude extremely respectful.

  “Martial strength determines everything. It seems that not taking myself seriously as the Junior Sect Master just won’t do.”

  Ethan Carter took in their expressions, then casually pointed to a spot and said, “Just put it over there.”

  After setting down the Body Tempering Tub, the two disciples hurriedly left, not daring to linger for even a moment. Clearly, they were also afraid of Ethan Carter’s methods.

  Ethan Carter selected some potent medicinal herbs and put them into the hot water in the tub. After soaking for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, he immediately undressed and stepped into the tub to begin a medicinal bath for body tempering.

  A medicinal bath for body tempering is a process where, through the effects of the medicine, one tempers the tendons, bones, and skin, greatly enhancing all aspects of a martial artist’s abilities and preparing for higher realms of martial arts.

  In the deep mountains of this world, many medicinal herbs grow. These herbs, nourished by the essence of heaven and earth over years, gradually accumulate rich and pure energy. What martial artists must do is, during the medicinal bath, use blood and energy circulation techniques to absorb the energy infused in the water into their bodies.

  That is the purpose of the medicinal bath for body tempering!

  In Ethan Carter’s view, this method of using medicine was undoubtedly a waste of the spiritual herbs’ properties. But Ethan Carter would soon face the elders of the Five Thunder Sect and had no time to refine more powerful pills.

  Therefore, temporarily using the medicinal bath to strengthen himself became the best choice.

Chapter Six: The Ten Levels of Martial Arts

  Ethan Carter sat cross-legged in the wooden tub, with only his head above the water. He closed his eyes, regulating his breathing and circulating his blood and energy to absorb the medicinal power from the water.

  In this world, breathing techniques and blood circulation are the most basic skills, essential for all sect martial artists, and form the foundation of the martial arts system here.

  From ordinary disciples to high-ranking elders, even the top experts at the tenth level of martial arts, all need to undergo medicinal baths for body tempering and must never slack off—this is a daily martial arts practice!

  Ethan Carter had never learned blood circulation techniques, but his body had already mastered them and made them instinctive. With a single thought, his blood and energy immediately circulated throughout his body, his blood boiling and roaring, truly astonishing.

  Thus, as Ethan Carter took his medicinal bath, he also reviewed the martial arts system of this world through the memories in his mind.