After nearly half a year of frantic training, Han Li finally stood before Doctor Mo to undergo his evaluation.
Zhang Tie stood next to Han Li, utterly at a loss. This was understandable; Han Li had long learned from him that after these six months of practice, Zhang Tie had achieved absolutely nothing with the technique.
Han Li knew Zhang Tie's dedication to cultivating the formula was no less than his own. While Zhang Tie lacked Han Li's almost reckless, all-consuming drive, he had still invested tremendous effort, genuinely and earnestly.
Yet strangely, the technique had produced no effect on Zhang Tie whatsoever. No matter how hard he worked, not a single hint of results appeared. It seemed this particular method simply had no affinity with him.
Han Li felt uneasy himself, far from confident. He knew Zhang Tie would most likely fail this assessment, and while he himself had seen a small degree of effect, it was barely any better than Zhang Tie.
His frantic cultivation had only made the strange energy flow within his body a little stronger than before. If previously the energy flow was as thin as a single hair, now it was perhaps as thick as a thread. But whether this was enough to pass Doctor Mo's test, he truly had no idea. Han Li's heart leapt into his throat, a flutter of anxious uncertainty.
"Are you ready? Show me the results of your training." Doctor Mo narrowed his eyes, sitting coldly in his armchair and regarding the two of them.
"Ready," Han Li and Zhang Tie replied, forcing themselves to sound steady.
Doctor Mo slowly rose from his chair, placing the book he never went anywhere without onto a table.
"Extend your hand."
"Channel your energy for me to see."
With one hand, Doctor Mo grasped Zhang Tie's right wrist at the pulse point. His other hand was placed on Zhang Tie's Dantian.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Doctor Mo withdrew both hands from Zhang Tie. With an expressionless face, he examined Zhang Tie thoroughly from head to toe.
Zhang Tie's face flushed crimson. He hastily pulled his hands behind his back and lowered his head, not daring to look at Doctor Mo. He knew the doctor must have realized he had achieved absolutely no results with the technique, and would certainly not be pleased.
"Your turn."
To everyone's surprise, Doctor Mo showed no inclination to berate Zhang Tie. A flicker of disappointment crossed his eyes, then he turned to face Han Li.
As before, Doctor Mo grasped Han Li's right wrist pulse point.
"How cold! Ice-cold, not at all like a living person's hand," Han Li thought, a bit unnerved.
Doctor Mo's skin was somewhat dry and calloused, and the pressure against Han Li's skin caused a slight, prickling pain. That was Han Li's first sensation from the doctor's grip.
Perhaps stimulated by the external contact, the energy within Han Li's body began circulating on its own before he even willed it. It flowed through his Eight Extraordinary Meridians, passing through all his Acupoints, racing from his Dantian up to his head, then out to his limbs, completing a rapid circuit before returning to his Dantian. As soon as this energy began moving, the slight discomfort on Han Li's skin vanished instantly.
"Oh?" Doctor Mo couldn't help but exclaim softly. It seemed he had detected the energy within Han Li's body.