Zhou Leng ate for a full three hours, finally reaching the original stinky tofu stand.
"How was it?" Xu Qingjin asked.
"Satisfying." Zhou Leng replied.
Xu Qingjin laughed happily.
The night breeze was slightly cool, one wearing a skirt, the other shorts, they slowly headed towards Ruda.
Both of them were martial artists, not afraid of the cold,
On the way, Zhou Leng recounted his experience of going to the dwarven world.
As for details about the Eye of the Ancient God and divine texts, due to being spell-bound, he couldn’t mention them, only speaking of what he could.
After Zhou Leng finished speaking, Xu Qingjin sighed, "The story of the Flower of High Earth and the Mountain Melting Furnace is really moving. It’s such a pity that there were misunderstandings back then; if the divine texts weren’t written wrong, how wonderful it would be."
"Yeah, so one must study divine texts well." Zhou Leng replied casually.
Xu Qingjin lowered her head, blushing slightly, and whispered, "I plan to take the divine text path. In a few days, I’ll be preparing for the basic divine text research exam. Next up, I’ll work hard on divine texts."
"It won’t be long before human divine texts see great development. Your choice is definitely right. On the path of divine texts, I’ll also keep going."
"Mm." Xu Qingjin lifted her head, looking at the ever-extending road ahead, the light of street lamps shining in her eyes.
The demonized watch vibrated.
Zhou Leng looked at the phone, and it was Zhao Nandi calling.
"Hello, Teacher Zhao." Zhou Leng said.
"Mm. The matter is urgent. Because it’s confidential, I won’t share the details. In short, for a period of time in the future, I will be very busy and might not have time to guide you with divine texts. Don’t slack off. In addition, during this period, focus on your basic skills in divine texts; be sure to build a solid foundation, which will be immensely helpful to you in the future..."
Zhao Nandi said a lot, then hung up the phone.
Zhou Leng guessed that they had already finished the meeting, and experts would be assembled for in-depth research.
Zhou Leng said to Xu Qingjin, "My divine text teacher in Xiong City is a very powerful divine text expert, quite a good person."
"A divine text expert... so impressive." Xu Qingjin exclaimed in surprise.
"She was the proctor for my basic exam and might have seen that I had some talent in this area and wanted me to take the divine text path, but I refused."
"Indeed, you’re getting more impressive; both divine texts and martial arts are so formidable." Xu Qingjin remarked.
"There are always people better than you and skies beyond the sky; we must keep striving." Zhou Leng’s gaze drifted beyond Ruge Mountain, towards the stars beyond the sky.
As they neared lights out, the two of them quickly ran back to Ruda.
Zhou Leng escorted Xu Qingjin to the dormitory building. After watching her wave through the window, he turned and ran to Xiaoru Village.
Returning once again to the Frost Giant Tree, Huang was indeed gone.
Zhou Leng first went to Mammoth Lake to find Huang, played with Xiaoba for a while, and brought Huang back under the tree.
Then, holding Huang, he slowly recounted his experiences in the dwarven world.
This time, he detailed everything thoroughly.
After finishing, Zhou Leng suddenly froze, a faint sense of crisis rising in his heart.
When chatting with Xu Qingjin, avoiding important information naturally wouldn’t breach the contract or spell prohibitions.
But he had just said everything, even if it was to a dog and a tree, it still counted as a breach, inevitably invoking a spell attack.
Zhou Leng looked around, using martial arts perception to scan his body. Everything was normal; no spell attack was triggered.
"Good thing..." Zhou Leng speculated on several possibilities in his heart. Google seaʀᴄh 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝓷𝓮𝓽
It seems, at Elder Tree’s place, saying anything wouldn’t be a problem.
Zhou Leng took out the items from the Magic Spirit Bag one by one.
Then he opened the jewelry box, revealing the Eye of the Ancient God, giving Huang a knowing look.
Huang’s eyes turned, grinned foolishly, stuck its tongue out, then extended its right front paw to paw at the Eye of the Ancient God, as if researching something.
Zhou Leng placed the obtained high-energy shells under the tree as his collection.
Huang pawed at the Eye of the Ancient God a few times, then pounced on the high-energy sea shells, playing with them with his paw.
"Don’t bite carelessly; if you damage it, I won’t have the money to buy you meat." Zhou Leng said.
Huang hastily rearranged the high-energy sea shells, retreating repeatedly.
Zhou Leng finished checking them.
High-energy shells, Eye of the Ancient God, octagonal bone fragment, demigod bone powder, beast hide books, dragon bone medicine...
Some could be used now, others would be used in the future.
Zhou Leng specifically picked up the octagonal bone fragment, studying it meticulously, but couldn’t make sense of it, so he casually set it aside.
He then cooked three servings of meat herbal cuisine and began cultivating the "Ten Reversed Beast Fist."
"Ten Reversed Beast Fist" is a training method.
The purpose of the training method is to establish a bridge of communication between the fighting style and the body, allowing the fist, palm, leg techniques, and other fighting styles to integrate with the body, becoming more powerful.
This set of training methods far surpasses all training methods of the Human Race; each Chapter not only has specific effects but also comprehensively enhances every part of the human body.
The training method itself is not a martial arts move and can’t be used in combat.
After emerging from the Ancient King’s Treasure, the "Establishing Image Chapter" progressed significantly, reaching the 24-cycle of the third style.
Taking a deep breath, his form like an elephant, cultivating the Establishing Image Chapter.
The first style completed 36 cycles.
The second style completed 36 cycles.
The third style completed 36 cycles.
Starting the fourth style, one cycle, two cycles...
After completing 17 cycles, Zhou Leng was drenched in sweat, lying on the ground, leisurely consuming various pills.
He took three Replenishing Essence Pills in a row to eliminate the feeling of fatigue from his body.
Faintly sensing his entire body, it felt entirely different from before.
Previously, after finishing "Ten Reversed Beast Fist," his body felt as if all the blood was drained, plunging into a state of extreme weakness.
But now, after cultivation, instead of weakness, it was like normal exercise, feeling fatigued, but with a warm sensation throughout the body.
The foundation of his body had unknowingly become much more robust.
Unlike before, when "Ten Reversed Beast Fist" would drain him to emptiness with one attempt.
Zhou Leng took a glance at the time and slipped into the sleeping bag.
After waking up, his whole body felt slightly swollen, a normal sensation after over-cultivating.
Taking a look at the time, it was 1 hour and 59 minutes.
Recover physical strength far faster than before.
Zhou Leng gazed at the Gate of Purgatory.
"Gate of Purgatory, first layer..."
Upon re-entering the Land of Blades, Zhou Leng felt not a hint of fear, even a little anticipation.
During the dwarven ancestors’ protection, he endured the burning heat and persisted to the end.
Ultimately, he attained the steel-like physique unique to the Dwarf Race.
If it weren’t for the tempering of the Gate of Purgatory, it would have been impossible.
The Gate of Purgatory, like a great treasure.
blades, 2000 blades, 3000 blades...
The body, the pain did not lessen.
Consciousness, the suffering unending.
The Land of Blades remained a challenge.
But Zhou Leng’s willpower greatly intensified.
More importantly, his mindset.
In the past, undergoing the trial of the Land of Blades was purely about withstanding it; each time he was utterly exhausted, his mind drained, the process exceedingly painful.
But now, after multiple trials and growth, his state of mind began to reverse.
No longer did he see the Land of Blades as a Land of Suffering.
But as a place of strengthening.
With each blade, his will, spirit, and mindset were reinforced.
Blade after blade was continually strengthening and continually growing.
When the count exceeded 4000 blades, Zhou Leng’s body fell apart, turning into scattered bones on the ground.
His hair, scalp vanished, his eyes gouged, nose and lips sliced away, the entire head chopped bare.
Only a blood-colored skull remained, mingled with shredded flesh.
Weapon after weapon continued to clink against the bones.
Amazingly, Zhou Leng persisted, not falling unconscious.
The last time he managed to surpass 4000 blades was because the hidden consciousness within the Original Demon’s blood helped bear the burden.
This time, it was his own strength that propelled him beyond 4000 blades.
Zhou Leng continued to persist.
blades... 5000 blades... 5500 blades...
...6102 blades, 6103 blades, 6104 blades...
The skull tilted, and he passed out.
Beneath the Frost Giant Tree, Zhou Leng slowly opened his eyes.
"Woof?" Huang tilted its head, looking at Zhou Leng.
Every previous time emerging from the Trial Gate, his eyes would be vacant, hollow, as if his soul was adrift.
This time, as soon as Zhou Leng opened his eyes, his mind returned.
His entire body felt fiery hot, pain and pleasure coexisting.
"Getting closer and closer to ten thousand blades..."
Zhou Leng carefully contemplated this experience in the Land of Blades, compared to previous feelings, he vaguely sensed that the shift in mindset seemed extremely important.
Rising to rest for a moment, he adjusted his breath, feeling his body unharmed, no longer requiring long periods of rest as before.
"I wonder if it’s due to the Eye of the Ancient God, or the Divine Text, or perhaps both..."
Zhou Leng took out the Embracing Essence Pill and the Concentration Pill, one compressed True Qi, the other strengthened Martial Arts Will, both extremely important innate core pills.
He picked up the Embracing Essence Pill and ingested it.
This was already the third one.
True Qi expanded and compressed nine times, compression complete, the True Qi became more condensed.
Afterward, he consumed the Concentration Pill.
Martial Arts Will once again strengthened a bit.
He looked again at the ten sticks of Concentration Incense.
Used to aid cultivation, but the quantity was indeed too scarce, generally only used at the innate level.
Using it now would be somewhat wasteful, at least better suited for use during the Body Refining Stage.
Finished with cultivation, feeling ravenous, he devoured the prepared Meat Herbal Cuisine.
After eating, he glanced at the time; it was five in the morning, and he went out for a run.
After morning exercises, he walked into the dining hall of the Martial Arts Academy, which he hadn’t visited in days.
The dining hall staff, seeing the arrival of the "Martial Saint," were full of vigor.
After Zhou Leng had eaten his fill and left, they gazed at the number of meals recorded on the electronic scale, silent for a long time.
After bidding farewell to the bustling life of the dwarf world, he returned to the peaceful routine of the Martial Arts Hall life, his tense nerves relaxing.
For several consecutive days, Zhou Leng shuttled back and forth between the Martial Arts Hall and the world of fierce beasts.
Due to the significant increase in his ability to absorb pills, he consumed 100 Replenishing Essence Pills in just a few days.
Only one extra was left, reserved for contingency.
According to the conventional advancement method, he also took three Strengthening Body Pills.
On this morning, just like the last time he advanced to the Blood Transporting Period, Zhou Leng, Deng Zhijue, and Chief Instructor Huang Jingqiu headed to the Meditation Room.
Deng Zhijue stood at the door, while Huang Jingqiu and Zhou Leng entered the room, sitting face to face, cross-legged.
Zhou Leng, wearing only shorts, revealed his robust body and solid muscles.
Huang Jingqiu first instructed some key points of advancing in Body Refinement, then said, "First take out the Three Pills for advancement, three Strengthening Body Pills, one Replenishing Essence Pill, three Great Nourishing Pills, three Advanced Marching Pills, and three Blood Replenishing Pills."
Zhou Leng, following Huang Jingqiu’s instructions, took out each pill and placed them aside.
Huang Jingqiu said, "Aside from the Three Pills for advancement, the others are not necessary. However, should you have any needs after the advancement, you will need to take the other pills..."
After further explanation, Huang Jingqiu said, "Now, recite the ’Body Refining Technique’."
Zhou Leng opened his mouth and recited, "As said in Body Refinement, with qi nurtures the body, qi moves the blood, and with blood refines the body... the flesh solidifies the blood, the skull solidifies the mind, the chest solidifies the heart, the abdomen solidifies the essence..."