"This Dragon Pearl's Energy can actually heal wounds. It's simply miraculous!" Ye Tian couldn't help but exclaim.
Just a moment ago, a searing pain had wracked his body, but now he felt a cool sensation spreading from the wound. The pain had vanished completely.
"With this Dragon Pearl inside me, I won't have to fear injury anymore! Ye Feng, just you wait! I'll give you exactly what you've got coming!" A resolute light gleamed in Ye Tian's eyes.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, new, tender flesh had grown over the mangled wound on Ye Tian's chest. It was perfectly smooth, like a baby's skin.
However, the surface layer of Dragon Ball Energy was not yet depleted. It was now slowly returning to his meridians and resuming its circulation.
Ye Tian knew that even if this Energy could allow him to break through to the Dragon Vein Fifth Layer, he didn't dare do so now. He understood very well that forcing a breakthrough without a sufficient Mental Realm would result in a powerful backlash.
After calming his excitement, Ye Tian began to slowly circulate the Dragon Ball Energy through his meridians. The powerful Energy made intermittent crackling sounds as it moved, accompanied by a painful, swelling sensation.
Ye Tian didn't dare to be careless, focusing all his attention on the changes within his meridians. The swelling pain felt as if his meridians were about to rupture, but he gritted his teeth and endured.
Beads of sweat dripped ceaselessly from his face. He knew that if he could absorb all the Energy released by the Dragon Pearl, he would undergo a tremendous change. Even if he couldn't break through immediately, the results would be nearly as good.
He didn't know how much time had passed, but the swelling pain in his meridians eventually disappeared. Ye Tian let out a small sigh of relief; he really couldn't have endured it for much longer.
After inspecting his meridians internally, he discovered they were now more than twice as wide as before and seemed to have become much more flexible.
He knew the significance of wider meridians—only the meridians of powerful experts were different from those of ordinary people. This was mainly because their meridians stored immense Energy. Now that his had widened as well, it meant he could also store more Energy.
What would be the result of unleashing such powerful Energy in an instantaneous attack? He didn't even have to think to know—his Attack Power would be at least several times greater than it was now...
What surprised Ye Tian even more was that the Dragon Pearl's Energy had actually fused with the Spiritual Power within his body. He could clearly see particles of Energy constantly leaping and swimming around.
"Now that I've broken through to the Fourth Layer, it's time to go to the family's Martial Arts Pavilion and pick a Martial Skill for Cultivation. Relying on just Thunderbolt Fist will make it very difficult to defeat opponents in the family tournament," Ye Tian muttered to himself.
Thinking of Ye Feng's Wind-Splitting Claw, Ye Tian felt a pang of envy. If he could possess a Martial Skill like the Wind-Splitting Claw, he was confident he could execute it with even greater power than Ye Feng.
Although he could now begin Cultivation of the First Form of Dragon Form Hundred Transformations, he didn't dare practice it here. It would be disastrous if he were discovered. To practice it, he would have to go to the deserted back mountains and do it in secret.
Ye Tian had already made up his mind: after getting a Martial Skill from the Martial Arts Pavilion, he would go to the back mountains to practice. He would practice it along with Dragon Form Hundred Transformations, and in the time he had left, he should be able to make significant progress.
He glanced out the window. It was already high noon, the time when the family disciples were eating. Ye Tian felt no hunger at all. Going to the Martial Arts Pavilion at this time wouldn't attract any unwanted attention.
The Martial Arts Pavilion was not far from where Ye Tian lived. It was a three-story building, and he arrived shortly after leaving his room. A small thrill of excitement stirred in his heart.
Outside the Martial Arts Pavilion, a middle-aged man was lounging leisurely on a reclining chair, basking in the sunlight. He acted as if he hadn't even seen Ye Tian arrive.
Although it was Ye Tian's first time at the Martial Arts Pavilion, he knew of this man. This was the Third Elder, responsible for overseeing the family disciples as they chose their Martial Skills.
Despite his lazy appearance, his strength was actually formidable, ranking within the top five in the entire Ye Family. Only an expert of his caliber was qualified to guard the Martial Arts Pavilion.
"Third Elder! Ye Tian has come to select a Martial Skill! I ask for your permission," Ye Tian said respectfully, slowly walking up to the Third Elder.
The Third Elder slowly opened his eyes and sat up. He sized up Ye Tian for a moment before asking, "Just broke through to the Fourth Layer?"
"Yes! The family tournament is fast approaching, and I still don't have a suitable Martial Skill. That's why I wish to enter the Martial Arts Pavilion and choose one for Cultivation," Ye Tian said.
"Since you've reached the Fourth Layer, you may choose one Martial Skill from the first floor of the Martial Arts Pavilion. The Martial Arts Manuals cannot be removed from the Pavilion, and you may only stay inside for two hours. How much you can memorize is up to you," the Third Elder stated matter-of-factly.
Ye Tian knew that Inner Sect Disciples were allowed to take a Martial Arts Manual out of the Martial Arts Pavilion and return it the next day. The difference in treatment between the Outer Sect and the Inner Sect was simply too great.
But he didn't dare utter a single word of protest. "Understood! I will be out in two hours!"
The door to the Martial Arts Pavilion was closed. With a slight wave of his hand, the Third Elder swung it open. Ye Tian felt no fluctuation of Energy at all, and he was filled with awe for the Third Elder's power.
"Go on in. And you absolutely must not secretly take a Martial Arts Manual with you. If you are discovered, you will be expelled from the family, so don't even think about it," the Third Elder added as a final warning.
Ye Tian nodded and slowly walked inside. He knew that the Martial Skills on this floor were the most basic ones. They might be a bit stronger than Thunderbolt Fist, but it was impossible to find a Martial Skill on the same level as Ye Feng's here.
After glancing around the first floor, Ye Tian discovered there weren't as many Martial Arts Manuals as he had imagined. At most, there were about a hundred books, arranged sparsely on four bookshelves.
He knew very well how precious Martial Arts Manuals were. For the Ye Family of Lisha City to possess this many was already quite good. Since he was inside, he couldn't waste a single moment.
Ever since the Dragon Pearl entered his body, Ye Tian's memory had become so powerful it was nearly photographic. With this talent, he could memorize the entire contents of a Martial Arts Manual in a very short amount of time.
On the way here, Ye Tian had already decided what kind of Martial Skill he would choose. A Body Cultivation Martial Skill was unnecessary; the Divine Dragon Vajra Body taught to him by the Divine Dragon was more than enough. He could, however, pick a Body Technique Martial Skill. After all, Dragon Form Hundred Transformations could not be easily displayed in front of others.
As for an Attack Class Martial Skill, he wanted to choose one that could be used with a Weapon. After all, the power of a Martial Skill that used a Weapon was bound to be much greater than an unarmed attack.
Ye Tian hoped to find a Martial Skill for the sword. After all, the Heaven-defying Martial Skill the Divine Dragon had given him was a sword technique. Perhaps he could start laying the foundation now to make his future Cultivation of it smoother...