Too harsh.
It was simply too harsh.
Naruto had never imagined that Master Tianzang's training would be this brutal.
Yesterday, Tianzang had only lectured him and demonstrated techniques. He hadn't laid a hand on him.
So why had he suddenly become so ruthless today?
Was this some kind of delayed reaction?
Naruto couldn't figure it out.
But he had no choice.
After being whipped several times, the burning pain completely drove away his sleepiness. His body trembled, yet he forced himself to stay focused and continue practicing.
One move.
One breath.
One formula.
Everything had to match perfectly.
He repeated the sequence again and again, constantly refining it.
Meanwhile, Tianzang held the whip in his hand and paced around Naruto, watching every tiny detail.
"When you push your palms forward, put strength into it!"
"Lower body steady!"
"Where's the formula? Where is it?!"
"I've been reciting it for you, but you've forgotten again!"
Snap!
Another whip cracked through the air.
"Agh!"
Naruto gasped sharply and stared at Tianzang in shock.
"Keep practicing!"
There was no sympathy in Tianzang's voice.
Naruto clenched his teeth and continued.
Thus, they trained nonstop until noon.
The sun hung high in the sky.
Heat shimmered in the air.
Naruto was exhausted.
Hungry.
Dizzy.
He felt like his body was about to collapse.
The student uniform on his body had been torn apart by the whip, revealing bloody wounds underneath.
Finally, he couldn't hold on anymore.
"Master… I think I'm in trouble…"
This time, Tianzang did not refute him.
He merely hummed softly, put away the whip, raised one hand—
And directly lifted Naruto into the air.
Then—
Threw him off the cliff.
"Go rest."
"Practice again in the afternoon."
"Ahhhhh—!"
Naruto flailed wildly in midair, screaming in terror as he plummeted downward.
Just before he hit the ground, an invisible force suddenly wrapped around him, slowing his fall.
He landed heavily.
Bang!
"Ow!"
Naruto clutched his head and rolled on the ground in pain.
"What was that noise?"
Chuigen Tianxing walked out of the house and looked around.
When he saw a bloodstained figure lying on the ground, his face darkened.
"Hey! Who are you?"
"Don't you know this is the residence of direct disciples?"
He walked closer.
Then Naruto raised his head weakly.
"Second… Senior Brother…"
"Oh shit!"
Tianxing's eyes widened.
"Senior Brother! Third Brother! Come out!"
"Naruto's back!"
"He's been beaten half to death!"
His roar instantly alarmed Tianlang and Tianjian.
All three rushed over.
"Naruto! What happened?"
"Who hit you this badly?!"
Tianjian immediately checked his injuries.
Tianxing tried to suppress his laughter.
Only Tianlang looked serious.
"Does Master know you're injured?"
Naruto nodded bitterly.
"He did it…"
"It's training…"
Hearing this, all three let out a sigh of relief.
Oh.
If Master did it, then it was normal.
Naruto looked at them in confusion.
"Judging by your reactions…"
"Is it normal for Master to beat people like this?"
Tianxing snorted.
"Be grateful."
"If Master didn't value you, he wouldn't even bother hitting you."
"Only those qualified get beaten."
Tianjian nodded.
"Yes, Naruto."
"This is your blessing."
Naruto was speechless.
So getting beaten was a privilege now?
Tianlang said,
"Tianjian, Tianxing, help him to the woodshed."
"Prepare the medicinal bath."
Naruto screamed.
"I'm already like this!"
"And you still want me to soak?!"
"That'll hurt like hell!"
Tianjian and Tianxing lifted him up.
Tianjian said calmly,
"You'll recover faster."
"And I'm sure Master will come back this afternoon."
Tianxing nodded.
"Exactly."
Naruto wanted to cry.
But he had no choice.
Also—
Why was Tianxing smiling so happily?!
Medicinal Bath
In the woodshed, Naruto sat in a large wooden barrel.
Tianjian kept pouring medicinal liquid inside.
Naruto bit on a cloth, trembling in pain.
"Medicine's ready!"
Tianxing carried another bucket over.
"Third Brother, here!"
"Thanks!"
Tianjian mixed the medicine with cold water and poured it in.
Naruto shuddered violently.
He almost jumped up.
"Ahhh—!"
Tianxing rushed over and pushed him back down.
"Hey, don't move!"
"If you don't soak properly, you won't recover!"
Naruto bit the cloth harder.
Tears streamed down his face.
He looked utterly miserable.
Tianxing chuckled.
"Enjoy it."
"After pain comes rebirth."
Tianlang entered.
"How long left?"
"Half an hour."
Tianlang nodded.
"Tianxing, move."
Tianxing quickly stepped aside.
Tianlang activated his chakra-like dark matter energy.
He chanted softly:
"The origin of fire."
"The sun shines."
"The heart becomes flame."
"The body accepts fire."
After finishing the mantra, he thrust both palms forward.
Blue flames surged out and enveloped Naruto.
"Aaahhhhhhh!!!"
A pig-like scream echoed throughout the mountain.
Naruto's veins bulged.
His body convulsed violently.
He struggled desperately, but the blue flames suppressed him completely.
He couldn't move.
It burned.
It burned unbearably.
It felt like every cell in his body was being roasted alive.
Tianxing wiped sweat from his forehead.
Some painful memories were resurfacing.
Naruto screamed for nearly four minutes.
His voice turned hoarse.
Finally—
He fainted.
But no one stopped.
They continued observing.
Tianjian muttered nervously,
"Hold on, Naruto…"
"Absorb the medicine…"
This blue flame was the Fire Mountain Gate's Inner Flame Technique.
It accelerated the absorption of medicine and transformed the body.
Naruto was undergoing tempering.
Tianzang's whip earlier was like a hammer.
Beating away impurities.
Now, the medicinal bath was quenching molten steel.
Survive—
And be reborn.
After half an hour…
Naruto was still breathing.
He hadn't died.
"It's done!"
Tianjian exclaimed in relief.
Tianlang withdrew his flames.
Tianxing rushed over.
"Hey!"
"Naruto!"
"Wake up!"
He slapped Naruto's face.
Tianjian brought medicine.
Tianlang stood nearby.
After a while, Naruto slowly opened his eyes.
"It hurts…"
"So much…"
Tianjian handed him the bowl.
"Drink this."
Naruto was extremely thirsty.
He took a sip.
"Ugh—!"
It was unbearably bitter.
He almost vomited.
Before he could spit it out—
Tianxing grabbed his mouth.
Tianjian poured the rest in.
Tianlang used dark matter to open Naruto's throat.
The liquid went straight down.
Naruto's eyes bulged.
Afterward, they let go.
Naruto coughed violently.
His face turned red.
Just as he was about to curse—
A loud voice rang outside.
"Where's Naruto?!"
"Come out!!!"