“Today, Nie Shuang actually brought out her family’s secret ointment for you.”

While massaging Su Jie, Uncle Mang took out a jar of ointment. The ointment was a vibrant green, emitting a fragrant aroma. When applied to the skin, it gave a cooling sensation, as if one were bathing in an icy world, refreshing the mind and invigorating the spirit.

“What kind of ointment is this?” Su Jie knew that Nie Shuang had always treated him well. Although he had refused her offers multiple times, she still gave him the ointment as compensation for the Zhou Chun incident.

This matter had nothing to do with her originally, but to protect the academy’s reputation, she still attempted to keep his mouth shut.

“The Nie family used to prepare dishes for the imperial court. You’ve heard of the famous Nie’s Private Kitchen. Besides that, they also had ancestors who served as imperial physicians, responsible for the emperor’s health. As the saying goes, ‘culinary and medicine are inseparable.’ Even now, many medicinal dishes in the academy follow Nie family recipes,” Uncle Mang explained.

Su Jie had indeed heard of Nie’s Private Kitchen. The reason Odell came here was not just to find hidden masters and learn from them, but also to taste this renowned cuisine.

The authentic Nie’s Private Kitchen was exceptionally delicious and highly nutritious, truly a feast for the senses. After eating with Odell for a month, Su Jie had not only enjoyed every meal but also noticed significant physical growth during that time.

The medicinal dishes in the academy, however, were not true Nie family recipes—just some modified versions.

“This ointment is for strengthening the tendons and bones, right?” Su Jie asked.

“That’s right, but that’s only part of it,” Uncle Mang replied. “You know that during the Qing Dynasty, apart from archery and horseback riding, the emperors also trained in ‘buku’, which was wrestling. Wrestlers always applied a layer of oil to their bodies to prevent injuries and protect their tendons and bones. Back then, a Nie family physician was responsible for creating the emperor’s ointment, and it was incredibly effective.

Now, the Nie family has thoroughly analyzed the ingredients of this ointment and refined it through numerous lab experiments. The current version focuses on rapid recovery, enhancing tendon and fascia elasticity, and protecting the joints. It penetrates through the skin into the tissue layers, working from the outside in—making it the best medicine for external body conditioning.

This jar of ointment isn’t available on the market. It’s an experimental product from the lab and isn’t ready for mass production yet.”

As Uncle Mang massaged him, the ointment spread across Su Jie’s body, seeping into his pores. He felt as if an iron band had wrapped around him, compressing his entire body inward. It almost seemed like he had shrunk.

Of course, it was just an illusion, but it indicated that the medicinal effects had started to take effect within his body.

Su Jie knew that some tightening creams on the market made women’s skin feel firmer after application. Over time, continuous use made the skin appear tighter and prevented sagging.

Similarly, this secret ointment worked in the same way—but on a deeper level. It penetrated into the body, creating a sensation of tightening in the bones, tendons, and soft tissues.

He felt as if he had become shorter and smaller, yet denser—like cotton being compressed into solid wood.

But this was purely a sensation. To achieve real results, he would need to use it for a long time.

After the massage, acupuncture followed, and then electrical stimulation.

Today, Su Jie seemed to have adapted more to the electrical stimulation. Though it was still painful, it wasn’t as unbearable as before. Moreover, the ointment’s medicinal effects were kicking in—his bones tingled from within. Instead of being pure torture, the electrical current actually felt satisfying, like scratching an unbearable itch.

With the ointment’s effects, the electrical stimulation lasted much longer than usual.

Yet, when it was over, Su Jie felt an unprecedented sense of exhilaration. Not just comfort—but sheer exhilaration.

As he left, satisfied, Nie Shuang appeared and asked Uncle Mang, “How did the trial go this time?”

“The clinical trial results were excellent,” Uncle Mang replied. “As expected, combining your family’s secret ointment with electrical stimulation not only relieved pain but also maximized the medicinal effects, achieving rapid body shaping.

Based on our calculations, with daily stimulation like this, in one week, his tendon and muscle flexibility, elasticity, and overall strength could increase by 30%.”

“I brought out this secret ointment not just to keep him quiet but more importantly to support your experiment,” Nie Shuang said. “Su Jie has strong external martial arts conditioning, making him the perfect test subject. If the experimental data proves effective, we can use this combination to train others or even enhance our own physiques.”

“Exactly,” Uncle Mang nodded. “These past few days of experiments have provided us with valuable data—at the very least, we’ve determined how much pain a person can endure, how resilient the nervous system can be, and how muscle spasms from pain stimulation can enhance elasticity. We’re also figuring out the right balance in the data.”

“In fact, research on physical fitness is already well-documented in training camps worldwide,” Nie Shuang said. “What’s lacking is data on the interaction between mental resilience and physical strength. For example, what kind of endocrine response is triggered when a person is in extreme joy?

Or what substances does the body release to protect itself in moments of extreme pain? These are the key subjects we need to study.”

“You’re absolutely right,” Uncle Mang agreed. “From Su Jie, I’ve gathered a lot of information on how psychological endurance affects physical endurance. Many psychological hypotheses have been confirmed through him—he’s an excellent test subject.

If I’m not mistaken, Odell has been conducting similar experiments on him since he arrived.”

“Odell is pursuing the so-called supernatural abilities,” Nie Shuang remarked. “But in my view, it all comes down to achieving absolute mental tranquility—an insight that sees through everything, allowing the mind to influence the body in profound ways.

That’s why he went to Tibet and India—to observe those who cultivate their minds and see how far they can go.

Physical conditioning is relatively easy, but mental conditioning is far more difficult. However, I can see that your research is already yielding some results.”

“I’ve made some progress. Before, I hadn’t made much headway. I used massage as a cover to make bets, but in reality, it was all to find the perfect research subject. It wasn’t until Su Jie arrived that I made a breakthrough and obtained some critical data. Right now, the biggest issue is that our academy’s computers and artificial intelligence aren’t very advanced. If we could introduce cutting-edge analysis systems, my research would advance by leaps and bounds.”

“Just wait,” Nie Shuang said. “Zihao has secured an investment from Feng Yuxuan, the successor of Haoyu Group, which is the leading company in domestic artificial intelligence computing. The two of them have a good relationship, and Feng Yuxuan has agreed to join our academy’s artificial intelligence human training project.”

“Haoyu Group is indeed very strong in computing. If this project gets up and running quickly, my data and ideas, once researched, could significantly elevate our academy’s training standards. Not only would we be able to produce more top-tier fighters, but we could also cultivate elite security personnel for the nation,” Uncle Mang said.

“If things progress further, you might even have a chance to regain your sight,” Nie Shuang remarked.

“Don’t bring that up again. It’s better this way. Being blind means I don’t have to see the superficiality of the world, and my mind can remain at peace,” Uncle Mang replied coldly.

*****

Inside the Martial Arts Academy

The training field was filled with students practicing, creating a heated and intense atmosphere, completely different from regular academies.

In ordinary schools, especially high schools, physical education classes were often sacrificed in favor of academic subjects to prepare for college entrance exams. But here, martial arts took priority, and every student had exceptional physical conditioning.

“If a fight broke out between schools, Minglun Martial Arts Academy could probably take on a hundred regular high schools,” Su Jie thought to himself while practicing alone on the training ground. The thought was somewhat amusing.

As he trained, he browsed the academy’s website.

The website was well-built, clearly developed by a professional team. Its responsiveness and layout were on par with major web portals.

It featured academy news, coverage of both domestic and international fighting tournaments, and numerous instructional videos from teachers covering traditional martial arts, various combat techniques, and jiu-jitsu. Additionally, there were many martial arts manuals—yes, actual martial arts manuals—including old boxing records and modern fighting techniques compiled by the academy’s instructors.

The website also hosted various forums where students could exchange insights and learning experiences.

In this region, Minglun Martial Arts Academy had the best website. Even students from other martial arts academies and training centers were active in its forums. It was a well-established community with a strong martial arts culture.

Su Jie spent an hour browsing the site daily, learning new things and staying updated on the latest trends.

“Minglun Martial Arts Academy really does offer a lot of high-end medicinal treatments. For example, this special ointment called ‘Tiger ointment’—it looks like a simplified version of what I’ve been using, but it’s still insanely expensive.” He noticed that a small bottle of the ointment cost thousands of yuan.

In fact, the most valuable aspect of the academy’s website was its medicine section. It sold medicinal oils, ointments, and various supplements designed to enhance physical conditioning. The academy’s principal was originally a renowned traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, so all the formulas were highly effective.

Beyond that, the forum contained numerous testimonials from students, overseas martial artists, and professional athletes who had used these treatments. Many shared their experiences and improvements, giving Su Jie plenty of valuable information. Even after he left the academy, he could still purchase specific products for his own training.

“What? A contract with Haoyu Group?” Just as he was about to browse further, he noticed a news update.

“Haoyu Group… That’s where my sister works.” Su Jie frowned deeply.

Then, he saw a picture of Liu Zihao shaking hands with someone.

The man was tall, handsome, and even more striking than Liu Zihao. His sharp features and imposing presence rivaled that of top celebrities.

Haoyu Group’s young successor, Feng Yuxuan.

“It’s him.” Su Jie’s eyes flashed with a hint of cold determination. If Gu Yang were here, he would immediately recognize it as hatred.

“Good thing I didn’t sign a contract with Minglun Martial Arts Academy. Otherwise, I’d be at their mercy. If Liu Zihao is teaming up with that guy, then there’s no way I can work with this academy.” Su Jie shook his head, closed the website, put away his phone, and resumed training.

After a while, his mind finally calmed, and he regained focus.

“Normally, I can enter a focused state in just a few seconds, but after seeing that news, it took me a full five minutes to settle down. This proves that external factors can still greatly affect my mentality. I wonder when I’ll be able to train myself to remain unmoved by outside distractions, to do what needs to be done with unwavering determination.”

Su Jie acknowledged his weakness.

“That guy still affects my state of mind.”

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