In the tree hollow, a seemingly corporeal stream of blood-red qi swirled around Luo Feng. RUSTLE, RUSTLE, RUSTLE... The surrounding vines, seemingly influenced by an invisible force, trembled violently and swayed unceasingly. CRACK! With another crisp sound, a peculiar ripple emanated from Luo Feng. The ceaselessly swaying leaves suddenly stilled. The eerie, blood-red qi stream, like a spiraling funnel, instantly contracted into Luo Feng’s body.
A moment later, Luo Feng opened his eyes. Lightning seemed to flash within his Obsidian-like pupils, their gaze captivating. He extended his right hand, and a peculiar ripple burst forth from within him. BUZZ! A crystalline, transparent stream of qi appeared on his hand, containing terrifying power.
"To condense Qi into Gang... I’ve finally stepped into the seventh level of the Essence Storage Realm!"
Looking at the transparent Qi Force, a confident smile appeared on Luo Feng’s face.
Even after consuming the Spirit Blood Pearl, Luo Feng hadn’t been entirely certain the previous night if he could break through to the seventh level of the Essence Storage Realm. The transformation from Tempering Body to nurturing the spirit was not so simple. Those with insufficient talent might struggle for years to achieve such a breakthrough. Ji Wuyue had spent a year trying and still failed to advance.
From stepping into the sixth level, the God Bravery Realm, to now condensing Qi into Gang at the seventh level of the Essence Storage Realm, it had been, all in all, less than two months. And now, his Cultivation had surged all the way to the peak of the early stage of the seventh level of the Essence Storage Realm! Such a cultivation speed could only be described as terrifying.
Once a Martial Artist stepped into the seventh level of the Essence Storage Realm and condensed Qi into Gang, their strength would increase manifold! Luo Feng’s Meridian Wheels were twice the size of an ordinary person’s, and now that he had awakened ten Meridian Wheels, his power growth was even more terrifying. Although his Cultivation was only at the peak of the early seventh level, his strength already surpassed that of an average mid-seventh-level expert. If Luo Feng were to fight Xiao Yu now, he was confident he could defeat him within a few moves. He could easily shatter Xiao Yu’s Azure Cloud Gangqi without much effort.
"Let’s see how powerful this Gang Qi is," Luo Feng muttered. He retrieved a Mortal Iron Sword from his storage ring and, channeling Gang Qi to his fingertips, used his fingers as a sword. PSSH! His fingers stabbed at the iron sword as if it were tofu, directly piercing through it and leaving a hole! Luo Feng’s eyes lit up with delight; the Gang Qi’s power was far greater than he had imagined.
BUZZ! At that moment, a peculiar ripple suddenly spread through the tree hollow. Luo Feng glanced at Bing Ruolan beside him. Bing Ruolan’s short, pale blue hair drifted as if weightless, though there was no wind. Her smooth, moon-like forehead gleamed with fine beads of sweat. The air around her fluctuated eerily, accompanied by a sound like the rising and falling of tides.
Hm? She’s about to break through!
CRACK! A crisp sound, like an eggshell cracking, emanated from within Bing Ruolan. The tree hollow instantly fell silent. Bing Ruolan opened her eyes, excitement shining in her sapphire-like pupils.
"Ruolan, congratulations," Luo Feng smiled.
Bing Ruolan looked up at Luo Feng, her beautiful blue pupils shimmering. She suddenly threw herself into his arms, her joyful sobs echoing in the hollow, "Luo Feng, thank you! Thank you! Thank you..."
Two months ago, she had been worried about whether she could even reach the fifth level of the Iron Bone Realm. She had never imagined she could reach the seventh level of the Essence Storage Realm so quickly. At this moment, joy completely filled her heart. And Luo Feng was the only person with whom she wanted to joy.
Luo Feng was momentarily stunned, feeling the delicate body trembling in his embrace. He hesitated, then almost involuntarily, his arms wrapped around Bing Ruolan’s slender waist.
A moment later, as if realizing her impulsive behavior, Bing Ruolan let out a soft gasp and quickly stepped back. Standing aside, Bing Ruolan’s delicate earlobes flushed a beautiful crimson, the enticing color spreading down her snow-white neck. Her glistening eyes dared not meet Luo Feng’s. Biting her lip, she whispered, "Luo Feng, I... I was just too excited..."
"I understand." Luo Feng smiled at the flustered girl before him and extended his hand. "Let’s work together to enter the Golden Palace."
Bing Ruolan paused, momentarily stunned, then reached out her delicate hand and clasped Luo Feng’s tightly.
"Yes!" Nodding, Bing Ruolan looked at Luo Feng, a sweet smile gracing her face.
Day had dawned. Morning sunlight spilled through the gaps in the leaves, bathing the two figures standing face-to-face in the tree hollow. Bathed in the warm morning sun, a tender affection began to take root in their hearts.
Having achieved their breakthroughs, Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan prepared to journey back to the academy. In ten days, the academy would select participants for the New Talent Conference; they had to return before then. Having reached the seventh level of the Essence Storage Realm and gained the ability to condense Qi into Gang, their speed had significantly increased.
They left the Misty Swamp and arrived at the Beiming River. Just as Bing Ruolan was about to find a tree to fashion a raft for crossing the river, Luo Feng stopped her.
"Ruolan, wait. I’m going to greet an old friend first."
"An old friend?" Bing Ruolan looked puzzled.
Luo Feng smiled faintly, walked directly to the edge of the turbulent Beiming River, and let out a long shout.
SPLASH! A huge shadow erupted from the water, sending massive waves billowing. A gigantic python, over ten meters long, surfaced. The colossal python’s black Scale Armor reflected a cold, metallic light. Its baleful eyes stared at Luo Feng, a murderous intent lurking within.
"It came out to welcome us," Luo Feng said, turning to smile at Bing Ruolan.
Bing Ruolan pursed her lips, a playful glint in her eyes. She finally understood that Luo Feng’s ’old friend’ was the Black Dark King Serpent that had attacked them before.
ROAR! The Black Dark King Serpent clearly remembered the human who had injured it. Its triangular eyes stared fixedly at Luo Feng as it thrashed about in the river, its enormous mouth letting out a furious bellow towards the sky.
"No need to be hasty. This time, I’ll be sure to play with you properly!" Luo Feng clenched his fists and sneered. A crystalline layer of Gang Qi enveloped his legs as he leaped, dashing across the water’s surface towards the Black Dark King Serpent.
ROAR! The Black Dark King Serpent roared, the fierce gust of air it expelled causing the river to surge and carrying a nauseating, fetid stench. A WHIPPING CRACK! The snake’s body writhed, its tail, as thick as a water barrel, whipped through the air towards Luo Feng with astonishing power, seemingly intending to smash him into paste.
"Bring it on!" Having reached the seventh level of the Essence Storage Realm, Luo Feng was eager to test his newfound strength. He let out a great cry, battle intent blazing in his eyes. Gang Qi enveloped his fist as he punched at the airborne serpent’s tail.
Mid-tier Yellow Grade Martial Arts: Tiger Roar Fist!
CRACK! The Gang Qi vibrated. This seemingly casual punch stirred up a fierce gale, and the resulting sonic boom sounded like ten thousand tigers roaring in unison. With imposing momentum, it shot straight for the serpent’s tail.
HUM! Suddenly, a gigantic wave, four to five meters high, erupted from the river. Ripples spread out violently from the man and serpent at the center, forming a massive whirlpool! CRACK! The hard Scale Armor on the Black Dark King Serpent’s tail burst apart. The Gang Qi blast tore open a bloody hole a meter in diameter.
HISS... The Black Dark King Serpent let out a piercing, sorrowful hiss, its triangular eyes turning bloodshot as it glared at Luo Feng! WHOOSH, WHOOSH, WHOOSH... The massive serpent’s body suddenly writhed and spun wildly on the river’s surface, rapidly forming a ten-meter-diameter whirlpool that threatened to engulf Luo Feng.
Luo Feng stood on the water’s surface. Eight crystalline dragons of qi energy soared and coiled around him, allowing him to drift upon the water like a fallen leaf, rising and falling with the waves. Watching the Black Dark King Serpent churn the river waters, Luo Feng snorted coldly. He lifted his right foot, which glowed with Gang Qi, and stomped down hard.
BUZZ! Circles of ripples spread out rapidly with Luo Feng at their center. Within a radius of over thirty meters, the river surface instantly calmed, and the waves subsided.
A series of muffled explosions thundered from beneath the water. The Black Dark King Serpent shrieked repeatedly, its gigantic body flung into the air by the surging waves as if struck by a heavy blow. Luo Feng had just executed the Thunder Rush Shock Cloud Step! The Gang Qi detonated underwater, and four successive violent shockwaves severely injured the Black Dark King Serpent.
SPLASH! The gigantic serpent’s body crashed onto the water’s surface. The previous ferocity in the Black Dark King Serpent’s eyes had vanished; it glanced fearfully at Luo Feng, then twisted its body agilely, attempting to flee.
"Trying to flee? Not so easy!" Luo Feng sneered, his foot tapping lightly on the air as if it were solid ground. WHOOSH! Luo Feng’s body skimmed across the water, leaving a large wake. He rushed to the Black Dark King Serpent’s side, his fists, enveloped in Gang Qi, hammering down relentlessly. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM... The Gang Qi exploded repeatedly. The Black Dark King Serpent’s ten-plus-meter-long body was blasted into the air, flying over ten meters before crashing heavily onto the opposite riverbank, where it lay moaning weakly.
Landing on the riverbank, Luo Feng gazed at the dying Black Dark King Serpent, a sense of exhilaration welling within him. The last time he passed the Beiming River, this creature had left him utterly disheveled. Luo Feng had harbored this grudge ever since, and now, he had finally redeemed himself.
Bing Ruolan, having fashioned a simple wooden boat, had also crossed the river. Looking at the slain Black Dark King Serpent beside them, her elegant Daimei arched slightly, a hint of surprise in her eyes. The Black Dark King Serpent was a Tier 3 Intermediate-grade Demon Beast, its strength comparable to a mid-stage seventh-level Essence Storage Realm expert. It was the ruthless and brutal overlord of these waters. Ordinary mid-stage seventh-level Essence Storage Realm Martial Artists wouldn’t dare provoke the Black Dark King Serpent in the Beiming River. Yet now, Luo Feng had beaten it to death with just a few blows!
Even witnessing it firsthand, Bing Ruolan found it hard to believe. Having witnessed so many incredible feats by Luo Feng’s side, Bing Ruolan quickly regained her composure.
SWOOSH! Luo Feng walked over to the serpent’s carcass and drew his Tiger Soul Saber. With a flash of the blade, he cut into the Black Dark King Serpent’s vital spot, seven inches down. A flick of his wrist, and a walnut-sized gallbladder, radiating a jade-colored spiritual light, fell into his hand.
"This Black Dark King Serpent’s gallbladder is so large! My luck is really good," Luo Feng exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with delight as he examined the gallbladder in his hand. Although the Black Dark King Serpent’s gallbladder wasn’t as precious as a Spirit Blood Pearl, the Yuan Qi it contained was still substantial. It could also nourish a Martial Artist’s body and strengthen their qi and blood, making it a Spiritual Treasure coveted by many.
After a moment’s thought, Luo Feng offered the gallbladder to Bing Ruolan. "Ruolan, this gallbladder is for you. Consuming it should help you stabilize your Cultivation at the seventh level of the Essence Storage Realm."
Bing Ruolan didn’t refuse. She thanked him, extended a delicate finger, and accepted the gallbladder, storing it away. She had relied on the Spirit Blood Pearl to barely reach the seventh level of the Essence Storage Realm, and her Cultivation was not yet stable. She truly needed this Black Dark King Serpent’s gallbladder.
"What should we do with the serpent’s body?" Luo Feng gestured to the Black Dark King Serpent’s corpse nearby. Besides the gallbladder, other parts of the Black Dark King Serpent were also valuable. Its meat could strengthen a Martial Artist’s qi and blood. Its hide could be used to craft superior leather armor, resistant to ordinary blades! Its teeth could be fashioned into bone swords and knives, harder even than refined steel! Altogether, it was worth hundreds of thousands of taels; it would be too wasteful to simply discard it.
"Let’s take it to the Passing Away Tavern. There are many Martial Artists there," Bing Ruolan suggested with a faint smile.