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After circulating his qi and regulating his breath for a moment, Wang Chen rose, ready to leave.

The instant he turned around—

A sudden change erupted!

Two balls of black light burst from the ground, one from each side, hurtling toward Wang Chen.

They were as fast as arrows!

This again?

Though it had happened suddenly, Wang Chen had killed a demonized Earth Rhinoceros Bug yesterday and had already been on guard.

He abruptly clenched his fists, mana instantly gathering in both arms.

Mighty Strength Art!

In the blink of an eye, Wang Chen's arms rapidly swelled, muscles knotting and sinews bulging as his skin took on a purplish-red hue!

"Die!"

He spun and threw his fists, his mana-infused iron fists striking the two balls of black light dead on.

Bang! Bang!

The two massive demonized Earth Rhinoceros Bugs were both sent flying.

Two bloody gashes also appeared on Wang Chen's fists.

Bright red blood streamed out.

Enduring the searing pain, Wang Chen flicked out two fingers from his clenched right fist.

His Sword Finger aimed directly at the demonized Earth Rhinoceros Bug on the right, which had been left reeling by his punch!

"Go!"

A fierce streak of Geng Metal Qi energy tore through the air and struck the demonized Earth Rhinoceros Bug, mercilessly piercing its body.

The demonized Earth Rhinoceros Bug immediately lost its balance and plunged headfirst to the ground.

This strike had condensed all of Wang Chen's mana, bringing the power of his Proficient-level Gengjin Finger into full play.

"Screech!"

Seeing that things had gone wrong, the other demonized Earth Rhinoceros Bug let out a vibrating cry and dove toward the Spirit Field.

It was clearly trying to escape underground.

Without a second thought, Wang Chen unleashed another Sword Finger with practiced ease.

Another streak of qi flashed past.

By the time the second demonized Earth Rhinoceros Bug hit the ground, it had already been split in two.

Its head and body had been severed!

Wang Chen let out a long breath of foul air, his face turning deathly pale.

He staggered, nearly falling onto the field ridge.

If the first finger strike had been deliberate, the second had been entirely instinctive.

That strike had completely drained Wang Chen's mana.

His Dantian was now as empty as a burglar-cleared house, leaving him unable to cast anything at all.

He hurriedly circulated his qi and regulated his breath, gathering another wisp of mana.

Then he opened his Storage Bag.

First, he took out Trauma Powder and applied it to the wounds on his fists.

Earth Rhinoceros Bug horns were sharp and pointed, while demonized Earth Rhinoceros Bugs were especially vicious.

Even though Wang Chen had empowered both fists with the Mighty Strength Art, he had still been injured.

Fortunately, his finger bones were unharmed.

And demonized Earth Rhinoceros Bugs were not venomous.

After treating his wounds, he took out a Spirit Rice Ball left over from noon.

He wolfed it down.

Only then did he gradually recover.

Having regained a little mana, Wang Chen wiped the sweat from his forehead.

His heart still pounded with lingering fear.

He had anticipated the possibility of a sneak attack by demonized Earth Rhinoceros Bugs, but he had not expected two of them to appear this time.

He had nearly capsized in a gutter.

I need to strengthen my physique!

Clenching his still-aching fists, Wang Chen wondered whether he should cultivate a Body Tempering Technique.

His Physique was only 4 points.

Though it was stronger than his Spiritual Root and comprehension, he still could not shake off his status as a pathetic weakling.

Wang Chen still did not know how to obtain the Heavenly Merit needed for Fate Alteration, but cultivating a Body Tempering Technique should presumably increase his Physique attribute.

As he thought, he picked up the demonized Earth Rhinoceros Bug corpses and put them into his Storage Bag.

These were all Spirit Stones!

Naturally, Wang Chen did not forget to check his Cultivation Panel.

His nerves had been stretched taut just now, and he had not noticed the notification messages in his vision.

The skill points for Gengjin Finger had increased by 2.

His Human Virtue had increased by 2 as well!

Wang Chen immediately beamed with joy.

At this rate—

He would soon be able to raise Gengjin Finger to the Minor Accomplishment stage.

By then, forget demonized Earth Rhinoceros Bugs—even against Demonic Beasts, he would have the strength to fight.

Awesome!

Dong~

Just then, a deep and distant bell chime reached Wang Chen's ears.

It was the Hour of the Rooster.

This bell came from Yunyang City, rung by the Dingyang Bell within the city's Star Observation Pavilion.

It was said that the Dingyang Bell was a third-tier Magic Treasure refined by a Golden Core True Person. It guarded the central hub of the Yunyang City Protective Array and automatically sounded once every two hours, its chime carrying for a hundred li in every direction.

Anyone who heard the Dingyang Bell would immediately know the current time.

The Dingyang Bell could also use its chimes to convey simple messages to Yunyang Sect cultivators.

Warnings, summons, celebrations, mourning...

Yet the Magic Treasure's greatest function was to intimidate and drive away Evil Spirits!

That was why its chime sounded twelve times every day.

Rather than finding it noisy, people only felt reassured and at peace.

With the fading glow of Sunset beneath his feet, Wang Chen returned home.

Today's gains had been enormous. He had earned more than a dozen Spirit Stones alone. With his purse fuller than ever before, Wang Chen happily picked out a large bowl of insect meat and fried it in a pan of oil.

Time for a different flavor today.

The scent of frying meat soon drew over the White Fur Mouse and Brocade Mouse couple.

Though they had not brought Spirit Stones to mooch a meal this time, Wang Chen still cheerfully made them two Insect Meat Rice Balls.

Of course, they were made with ordinary insect meat.

Those who paid Spirit Stones were the real masters. Without Spirit Stones, they could forget VIP treatment.

He would enjoy the meat of the two demonized Earth Rhinoceros Bugs himself this time!

Worthy of being Elite Monsters, demonized Earth Rhinoceros Bugs had flesh that was plumper and springier than that of ordinary Earth Rhinoceros Bugs.

They also contained far more abundant spiritual qi.

Wang Chen ate to his heart's content.

It was only during his usual post-meal cultivation that he discovered damage in the meridians within his body.

Whenever he circulated his qi, they faintly ached.

This was the aftereffect of repeatedly activating Gengjin Finger!

Geng Metal Qi energy was extremely damaging to the body.

That was why old spirit plant farmers like Old Sun would rather spend Spirit Stones to hire Wang Chen to clear out Earth Rhinoceros Bugs.

They had no desire to do it themselves.

Otherwise, if something went wrong with their meridians, the cost of buying Pills for treatment would be far more than a dozen Lower Spirit Stones.

Wang Chen's Gengjin Finger had already broken through to the Proficient level.

Yet his cultivation remained stuck at the third layer of Qi Condensation, and he had not cultivated any Body Tempering Technique to strengthen his body and spirit.

The meridians in his body clearly could not fully withstand the high-intensity eruptions of Geng Metal Qi energy!

These injuries—

Had clearly been caused by dealing with the two demonized Earth Rhinoceros Bugs.

Fortunately, Wang Chen was still young, and his body was in its growing years.

The Five Elements Technique he cultivated was balanced and harmonious. It could calm the restlessness of mana and also had a faint healing effect.

Together with the nourishment of the spiritual qi in the demonized Earth Rhinoceros Bug meat—

The damage to his meridians was quickly repaired.

But Wang Chen felt that finding a body-tempering cultivation method that cultivated both within and without had become an urgent priority!

He would go to Yunyang City tomorrow to take a look.

Though Wang Chen's plan was excellent—

Before dawn had fully broken the next morning, Old Sun came knocking again.

"Doggy! Doggy! Doggy~"

"Damn! Damn! Damn!"

Wang Chen hurriedly threw on his clothes, got up, and opened the door.

He found Old Sun wearing an excited expression. "Doggy, Old Lu's family has also been hit by an insect infestation."

"I've already settled things with him. He wants you to hurry over and get rid of the bugs."

Wang Chen was stunned. "Go now?"

He had not brushed his teeth or washed his face, and he had planned to head into the city in the morning to buy a cultivation method.

"I've already taken their deposit!"

Old Sun stamped his foot. "His family has forty-five mu of Spirit Fields. There must be more Earth Rhinoceros Bugs than at my place. It's a huge job!"

Wang Chen said, "Uh, then I'll go after breakfast."

"I've prepared Spirit Rice Balls and Qi Replenishing Pills for you already!"

For the sake of his twenty percent cut, Old Sun was clearly going all out. "Once Old Lu's family is cleared out, I'll go find Little Wang's family next door. If we don't pick up Spirit Stones lying on the ground, heaven will strike us with lightning!"

Thus, before he even had time to brush his teeth, Wang Chen was dragged away by Old Sun.