C15 Heading to the Empyrean Mountain Range.
After the debacle, Chen Fann felt an immense pressure bearing down on him. Had he not made a breakthrough, Elder Hall of Penalty's punch might have overwhelmed him.
"Chen, I told you, you can't let your guard down. If you'd listened to me and drained that thieving girl, we wouldn't be in this mess," Taotie chided from the sidelines.
"Senior Taotie, I have my principles. I can't bring myself to harm others without cause," Chen Fann responded.
Seeing Chen's resolve, Taotie held his tongue.
Chen then retreated to his cave to practice the Nine Circles True Body technique, tirelessly fortifying his physique. His frame was robust, yet not overly muscular; he simply exuded a sense of efficiency. Still, he sensed potential for further growth and relentlessly tempered his body in his cave, day and night.
A week into his regimen, Chen felt a shackle within him shatter, unleashing a surge of spiritual energy throughout his body.
Qi Condensation Layer Seven!
His arduous training had finally borne fruit; the cells within him were now fully nourished by the Nine Circles True Body.
"Chen, you can ease up on the body refinement. Continuing as you are won't yield more results. It's time to venture out. The mountains beyond your sect seem like a good challenge," Taotie advised Lin Fan.
In the ensuing days, Lin Fan dedicated an hour each morning and evening to his stance practice. The remainder of his time was spent enhancing his physical strength and mastering the Myriad Poisonous Hand technique. Each day was brimming with purpose.
During this time, his senior brother, Ye Kai, stopped by for a brief visit, remarking, "Junior Brother, you're a true cultivation fanatic," before leaving the cave.
For a cultivator, time is precious; squandering it is akin to sabotage.
Chen, with his intense dedication to training, clearly had a deep-seated drive. Ye Kai chose not to interrupt Chen's progress.
Chen's strength had grown to the point where he could deliver a punch with over 3,500 pounds of force, and a combined blow from both fists would yield a staggering 7,000 pounds. Few of his peers could withstand such power.
Not only had his physical prowess improved, but Chen also noticed a significant increase in his speed, which would prevent him from being at a disadvantage in future battles.
However, Chen identified a glaring issue: he lacked a proper weapon. Securing one became his utmost priority.
Chen left his cave to seek out Ye Kai, expressing his need for a weapon and his willingness to pay for it.
"Haha, Junior Brother Chen, we shouldn't be so formal with each other. Take this Black Iron Sword as a gift from your senior brother. It's fitting for a hero like you," Ye Kai offered with a laugh.
Hearing this, Chen felt it would be rude to refuse, so he gratefully accepted the steel sword and thanked Ye Kai profusely.
Feeling he had reached his training's limits, Chen realized it was time to hone his combat skills. Further physical training would yield little additional strength.
Instead, gaining real combat experience and delving into advanced fighting techniques would allow him to fully leverage his strengths.
But combat training was no simple task. As an ordinary disciple of the Empyrean Sect, Chen Fann had yet to earn his stripes in the wider world of martial arts.
In the race against time, Chen Fann knew that only through life-and-death battles could he significantly enhance his strength swiftly. With the sect competition a mere three months away, he couldn't afford to waste a moment.
Taotie had a point; clashing with Demonic Beasts could yield the same results. In a realm where spiritual energy was rich, not only humans but animals too could cultivate. They transformed the absorbed Spiritual Qi into Demonic Power, giving rise to the Demonic Beasts.
As Demonic Beasts continued their cultivation journey, they evolved and gained strength, paralleling human cultivators. In Miracle Land, both humans and Demonic Beasts were categorized into ten levels, each with three sub-levels: low, mid, and high.
The higher the level of the Demonic Beast, the more formidable and intelligent it became. The intellect of top-tier Demonic Beasts matched that of humans, some even surpassing human cunning.
Battling Demonic Beasts was fraught with peril, surpassing the dangers of human combat due to their robust physiques and inherent auras—attributes that ordinary cultivators lacked. Many would turn to jelly at the mere sight of a Demonic Beast, their strength dwindling to a fraction.
Yet, Chen Fann brimmed with newfound confidence. Since Ye Xiongtian had forcibly removed his Golden Core, his aura had shed its former timidity.
In its place was a heart emboldened by martial valor, for he believed that only through strength could one assert the ultimate truth. Without it, one was merely a passive casualty to circumstance. Having endured his fair share of misfortunes, Chen Fann was determined to rewrite his destiny through martial prowess.
With the black iron sword strapped to his back, Chen Fann organized his attire and provisions before setting off toward the Tian Ji Mountain Range.
Several hours later, he reached the outskirts of the Tian Ji Mountains, where the Spiritual Qi was noticeably denser than in the outside world. Such an environment was a magnet for Demonic Beasts.
Chen Fann surveyed his surroundings with meticulous care, wary of inadvertently wandering into a Demonic Beast's territory.
"Chen Fann, it's fine to be on edge, but don't let the tension overwhelm you," Taotie chided, observing Chen Fann's anxious demeanor. "Otherwise, you'll go mad before reaping any benefits from this training."
Taotie was ever vigilant, ready to detect the slightest disturbance. Should a real threat emerge, he would take control and guide Chen Fann to safety.
After all, Taotie wouldn't stand idly by and watch his host perish; their fates were intertwined.
"Footsteps!"
At the sound, Chen Fann's senses sharpened. He wasn't one to act rashly; a confrontation with a level three Demonic Beast could spell disaster.
The footsteps were faint, yet to Chen Fann's keen senses, they rang crystal clear. One might assume they belonged to a rabbit or a fox, but Chen Fann, concealed in the underbrush, was stunned at the creature's true identity.
A three-meter-tall bear loomed before him, its head swaying as it sniffed the air, hungrily searching for the human scent that had piqued its interest—Chen Fann's scent.