"Fellow Daoist is actually a Sword Cultivator? The sharpness of that sword just now was truly astounding."
Water Smoke Guest’s attitude suddenly became much humbler.
Although he had achieved the Yang Gang Skill, when it came to real combat ability, he was about on par with the crow demon, fearing he might get chopped by Zhong Shenxiu’s sword.
"Haha, the Hundred Steps Flying Sword was simply a jest."
Zhong Shenxiu sheathed the Poison Dragon Sword and smiled.
He did not know any sword technique. Just now, he had merely used his mana to command the Poison Dragon Sword to kill.
But a Divine Power Practitioner’s beloved flying sword, refined through years of dedicated cultivation, used to kill a minor Gang Sha stage demon was just like using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken, effortlessly done.
How could a crow, no matter how fast it flew, outrun a flying sword?
"It seems there are some mortals below. There’s no need to bother with them."
Zhong Shenxiu glanced at the people below who were worshiping him and walked into the Tiger Flood Dragon Cave on his own.
Upon entering the cave, he immediately nodded with joy, "This place indeed possesses a ley line node. No wonder that crow demon occupied this area... What about the Dragon Tiger mixed Evil Qi?"
Zhong Shenxiu ventured deeper into the cave and arrived at the innermost part, where he saw a pool.
This pool was as dark as ink and bitterly cold. Next to it was a bird’s nest containing several eggs.
"It really is the Dragon Tiger mixed Evil Qi."
Zhong Shenxiu scooped up a handful of pool water and nodded slightly. He handed over a gourd containing Nine Heaven’s Gang Qi to Water Smoke Guest, "Thank you for leading the way. This is your reward."
"I am ashamed," said an elderly Water Smoke Guest, who bowed with a bitter smile. "It’s I who should thank the fellow Daoist for taking action and ridding the nearby cultivators of this menace."
"I plan to enter closed-door cultivation here for some time,"
Zhong Shenxiu said, not focusing on that.
"Since fellow Daoist has removed that menace, naturally, you are the master of this place and may stay as long as you like..." Water Smoke Guest quickly nodded.
He had already realized that this Hua Wu was not at all like a Loose Cultivator but seemed like a disciple of a great Daoist sect, perhaps from the Inner Sect or even a True Disciple.
Each one carried such an imposing aura, wielded sharp magical treasures, was generous in actions, and had unfathomable Daoist skills!
If he had been younger, he would surely have felt all sorts of envy and resentment.
But now, he felt only desolation.
After sending Water Smoke Guest away, Zhong Shenxiu came to the edge of the pool and immediately activated the Dragon Tiger Magic Power.
In the void, faint sounds of dragons roaring and tigers howling echoed. The black water of the pool bubbled as if boiling, occasionally emitting strands of black vapor.
This was the buried Dragon Tiger mixed Evil Qi being forcibly extracted by him, ready to be refined for spells.
The Ten Thousand Beasts True Body Technique was an essential method chosen by disciples of the Supreme Dragon and Tiger Sect during the Gang Sha Stage, for it built a robust foundation.
Especially for disciples with poor Innate qualifications, it was crucial.
The body of Su Daoshi, which was alright during childhood but later went through hardships on the frontier, had suffered from poor development.
Moreover, the previous cultivation of the Profound Yin Soul had taken a toll on his vitality. Even though Zhong Shenxiu had improved some aspects after his transmigration, he could not entirely remedy them.
This time was an exceptional opportunity for recovery.
He cultivated for half a day, using mana to forcibly gather half a gourd of the Dragon Tiger mixed Evil Qi, feeling a bit exhausted. He turned to the bird’s nest, ignited a flame, and roasted the eggs.
Before long, the eggs were cooked through, releasing a fragrant aroma upon breaking the shells.
Zhong Shenxiu devoured them in a few bites and couldn’t help but praise, "This crow demon isn’t that powerful, but its eggs are indeed delicious..."
Let’s not even discuss these eggs; he wouldn’t bother using that crow demon as a spirit pet, hence the only use left for them.
After eating his fill, he continued to gather the Dragon Tiger mixed Evil Qi.
Once the cultivation was complete, he immediately began refining spells.
Zhong Shenxiu looked solemn, opened the gourd containing the Evil Qi, and took a fierce breath.
From the calabash, wisps and threads of the Dragon Tiger Evil Qi immediately surfaced, wrapping around his body, constantly drilling into his pores.
"Ten Thousand Beasts True Body!"
He roared in a low voice, visualizing the roaring images of numerous beasts as blood surged through his body, with the distant sounds of dragon and tiger roars faintly transmitted.
On his left side, wisps of evil qi converged to form a dragon-shaped phantom, while a fierce tiger appeared on his right.
These two illusions, one on the left and one on the right, gradually approached each other and then intertwined, absorbed into Zhong Shenxiu’s body.
His entire skeleton burst into noise, and he unexpectedly began to grow taller.
Moreover, his skin turned bright red, radiating intense scalding heat, and a large amount of yellowish-black sweat was expelled.
Accompanying this was intense pain!
"Damn it, this Ten Thousand Beasts True Body Technique is a foundation-establishing technique, which originally follows a gradual progress, thoroughly transforming the body through processes akin to rebirth, but by forcefully using Dragon Tiger Evil Qi, it’s like swallowing a harsh, potent medicine, completing in one day what should take years, no wonder it hurts!"
Zhong Shenxiu felt almost drained, yet he looked spirited and felt mentally uplifted once again.
Within his sea of consciousness, the rune representing the Ten Thousand Beasts True Body Technique finally condensed, collapsed inward, and transformed into a seed.
He saw a prompt in the Heavenly Show System:
[Life-destined Daoist Skills: Carefree Wind Escape (Level 6), Ten Thousand Beasts True Body Technique (Level 6)]
"Another Daoist skill cultivated to the sixth level, condensing the talisman seed, becoming a life-destined Daoist skill."
A wave of joy emerged in Zhong Shenxiu’s heart.
He lay quietly, not knowing how much time had passed before he had the strength to get up again, feeling utterly frail.
After resting a bit more, he struggled to wash himself with water from the pool, tearing off a layer of dirty, dead skin, revealing skin as smooth as a freshly peeled egg.
After busying himself, Zhong Shenxiu discovered he had grown taller and become more perceptive than before, feeling weak in his body yet experiencing a different kind of powerful sensation.
Clearly, his body had undergone a rebirth, reaching a state of utmost perfection.
This would lay a solid foundation for his future cultivation.
Having mastered a Daoist skill, Zhong Shenxiu felt exhilarated, lifted the seal, and walked out of his cave dwelling.
Outside, without knowing when, several tents had been erected, guarded by martial artists.
Seeing this, Zhong Shenxiu frowned slightly.
"Young man Xu Hanlin (Xu Wen duo), greets the Immortal Master!"
Upon seeing him emerge, two martial artists immediately rushed over, kneeling on the ground with profound respect.
"We originally planned to hunt nearby, saw the divine might of the Immortal Master slaughtering a demon creature, and presumed that the Immortal Master had matters to attend to, so we took the liberty of collecting that demon bird’s corpse, properly segmented and stored it, please have a look, Immortal Master."
Xu Hanlin bowed respectfully, and then his subordinates brought over the gathered crow feathers, bones, and meat.
Zhong Shenxiu scoffed upon seeing them.
He truly didn’t care about these trifles and found it bothersome that these mortals had to meticulously clean them.
And this man claimed to be Xu Hanlin, could he be Xu Shaoling’s father?
This entire family really stumbled into his hands.
"Not bad, not bad, you’ve worked hard."
He smiled faintly, swept his sleeves to collect the items, ascended into the sky, and disappeared into the clouds.
On the ground, the Xu siblings were a bit dumbfounded.
Xu Wen duo scratched his head: "Didn’t you say that this Immortal Master had a superb sword and that his Daoist skills would definitely surpass those of Qingmu Immortal Master? We cleaned the battlefield for him, and have been standing guard for several days; even if there is no merit, there is hard work. Shouldn’t he casually reward us with something that could serve us for a lifetime?"
Xu Hanlin was also slightly dazed: "I just heard that those cultivators are detached, never owing any favors; how could I know this one would be so... thick-skinned?"
He ended up lowering his voice as he spoke, fearful of being overheard.
"Sigh... Now we didn’t catch the spiritual fox, and this Immortal Master, more formidable than Qingmu Immortal Master, also looks down on us..." Xu Wen duo almost wanted to burst into tears, "It seems our Shaoling really doesn’t have that fate..."