Wind Spirit Crane

The current battle for clearance hasn't ended yet.

Once the clearance battle is completely over and Yanhuang Academy's spots are filled, after a few days of rest, the ranking battle will officially commence.

Li Tianming still has a small window of time for a final push, so after returning from Mu Feng Hall, he plans to focus on his cultivation.

The academy's accommodations are arranged by the Senior Masters, and one only needs to collect a key.

To Li Tianming's surprise, the person in charge of arranging and distributing the keys was his "old classmate," Lin Qingyu.

"Where's Fang Zhao?" Li Tianming asked.

"He's still dealing with some matters on the Yanhuang Battlefield, so I'm here helping Senior Master Mu Wan with a small task," Lin Qingyu replied.

"Give me a quiet spot," Li Tianming requested.

"Okay." Lin Qingyu handed him a key, one that was definitely in a very remote location.

"Goodbye, Qingyu." After receiving the key, Li Tianming bid her farewell.

Honestly, Lin Qingyu was quite decent; at least she didn't kick him while he was down like Fang Zhao.

"Tianming." As he was leaving, she called out.

"Something wrong?" Li Tianming turned back to ask.

"When Fang Zhao left earlier, he was very angry because of what you said. He mentioned he's going to teach you a lesson in a few days."

"If he comes, just don't go out, or you can report it to a Senior Master first," Lin Qingyu advised.

"What's his current realm?" Li Tianming wasn't surprised by Fang Zhao's intentions.

Some people always had a sense of superiority, thinking that just because they had cultivated for three extra years, they could do anything.

"Spirit Origin Realm, second layer, about to break through to the third," Lin Qingyu said.

"Three years, and he only went from Beast Vein Ninth Layer to Spirit Origin Realm second layer? That trash. Tell him to come find me directly," Li Tianming scoffed.

Three years ago, he had stood up for Fang Zhao. Now, after three years, just because of a few words of disagreement that affected his "senior brother" superiority complex, Fang Zhao threatened to beat him up.

Li Tianming could only chuckle at such people.

"Why are you asking for trouble..." Lin Qingyu shook her head.

"How do you know I'm asking for trouble?"

"Fang Zhao's talent isn't much in the academy, but he's not fifteen or sixteen anymore," she reminded him.

Li Tianming smiled and then turned away.

Behind him, quite a few new disciples were watching, but as Li Tianming approached, they quickly scattered as if he had the plague.

Ever since he returned to the academy, besides Senior Master Mu Wan, it seemed no one was willing to get close to him.

"Is this guy an idiot?"

"Senior Brother Fang Zhao is going to teach him a lesson, and he still dares to talk back."

"I can't quite understand why Senior Master Mu Wan would recruit such a notorious scoundrel. If I had known, I wouldn't have chosen Mu Wan Class."

"It's really frustrating to be in the same class as him. This kind of person should have died three years ago."

"Lin Xiaoting was too merciful. If it were me, I would have executed him directly, and no one would have said anything."

"Forget it, let's say less. I feel like Senior Master Mu Wan quite likes him."

"Alright..."

Such conversations held no novelty for Li Tianming; his ears were practically worn out from hearing them.

He was simple and practical. The place Lin Qingyu found for him was indeed remote, a place that hadn't been occupied for years.

It wasn't even cleaned, with weeds everywhere. Li Tianming couldn't be bothered to clear it. Who cared if it stank? He burned it all down with a single flame and then began to cultivate!

He had a heavy cultivation task now. Four Battle Arts were just newly learned, and he needed to absorb Beast Essence using Fire Jade to rapidly improve his realm.

The ranking battle would start soon, so he had to race against time.

The Shadowless Fire Step, Nine Thunderous Lashes, and Netherflame Ghost Claw had all proven effective in the clearance battle, indicating that these Battle Arts were indeed suitable for him.

But he knew himself that with his current level, he would definitely fall short compared to Chen Yao, Lin Xiaoxiao, and the others if he wanted to enter the Heavenly Mansion.

Fortunately, he could still make a final push before the clearance battle.

This was an incredibly crucial battle for him. If he didn't enter the Heavenly Mansion this time, he would have to wait for other assessment opportunities, which would affect the time for his mother's treatment.

Even with Pure Spirit Grass, Wei Jing might not last much longer.

From then on, Li Tianming seized his time. Whether it was day or night, he saw no one, immersing himself entirely in cultivation.

Little Yellow Chicken could freely feast on the yellow Heavenly Pattern Fire Jade, which made it ecstatic.

Every day, it crunched the Fire Jade like sunflower seeds, one bite after another. The powerful and domineering flame energy erupted, causing it to continuously emit fire.

But it didn't mind. Sometimes, when it couldn't handle it anymore, it would transfer the heat to Li Tianming, making him burn with fire as well.

Those with conviction in their hearts cultivate twice as effectively.

Coupled with his top-tier talent and sufficient Fire Jade supply, his and Little Yellow Chicken's progress in all aspects was simply rapid.

After consuming three hundred Fire Jades, they finally succeeded in breaking through to the ninth level of the Beast Vein Realm!

This is the complete stage of the Beast Vein Realm, reaching this level signifies that all the Beast Veins in the body have been connected, forming a complete whole.

The first major realm of cultivation has been completed!

Next is the Spirit Origin Realm. Cultivating the Spirit Origin Realm requires first condensing a Spiritual Source.

Li Tianming has experience in achieving the Spirit Origin Realm.

However, he is not in a hurry for now. After reaching the complete stage of the Beast Vein Realm, Li Tianming and the others' Eternal Purgatory Beast Essence has become incredibly potent and ferocious.

He needs to consolidate his current realm first.

At the same time, the four Battle Arts still need to be honed.

Regarding the Spirit Origin Realm, Li Tianming has the experience, and Little Yellow Chicken has the cultivation method.

Li Tianming heard from him that after reaching the ninth level of the Beast Vein Realm, the "Eternal Purgatory Scripture" carried within its bloodline has already revealed the cultivation techniques for the Spirit Origin Realm.

Next, condensing the Spiritual Source can be led by Little Yellow Chicken.

The Spirit Origin Realm is a brand new realm, and Li Tianming is already filled with anticipation.

Just as he was about to consolidate his realm, a noisy commotion suddenly came from outside.

Li Tianming knew that Fang Zhao had come to find him.

This also indicated that he had finished his business. The elimination battles should have ended, and perhaps in the next two or three days, the ranking battles would begin.

The pressure before the great battle was already approaching like a monstrous beast.

"Li Tianming, I've brought the brothers to see you," Fang Zhao's voice came from the doorway. Judging by the commotion, there were quite a few people.

Li Tianming tidied himself up and walked out.

He looked up and indeed, there were quite a few people. They were all from Senior Master Mu Wan's class before and had now been promoted to the intermediate class. There were seven or eight of them, all familiar faces.

When they first arrived at the Academy, they had all played and cultivated together.

Lin Qingyu was also in the crowd, but she looked a bit worried because she knew why Fang Zhao had come.

"Fang Zhao, Qingyu, Guanxiong, Zhao Ying, Chen Kun, and... you're all rare visitors. It's been a long time." Li Tianming said with a smile.

"Yes, if you hadn't done something shameful three years ago, you would have been promoted to the intermediate class with us now, and you wouldn't have to hang out with a bunch of kids," Fang Zhao said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Li Tianming, you have no idea. After you committed that grave mistake, our entire class couldn't hold our heads up when we went out."

"It's been three years, and everyone had finally forgotten about you, but you've come out to embarrass yourself again," Lu Guanxiong shook his head.

"We haven't seen each other for a long time, shouldn't we catch up? You all sound like you're here to condemn me," Li Tianming said with a laugh.

Besides these old classmates, many new students were also attracted and gathered around to watch.

They had gotten to know each other these past few days, but no one had visited Li Tianming.

"Li Tianming, are you backing down now? A few days ago, you provoked me and told me to come find you," Fang Zhao licked his lips and asked with a grim expression.

"That's not true. I just felt we still had some past friendship, so I was a bit reluctant to beat you," Li Tianming said.

Hearing this, they exchanged glances.

They had heard that Li Tianming was still quite arrogant after his return, and now it seemed to be true.

"There's nothing more to say. He's still this foolish. Fang Zhao, deal with him and teach him a lesson."

"Right."

"Let him see that senior disciples in the intermediate class are not comparable to the useless you of three years ago."

Under their instigation, Fang Zhao reluctantly agreed.

He pointed at Li Tianming and said, "Actually, I'm helping you by teaching you a lesson."

"From now on, when you meet other senior brothers and sisters, you'll know to treat them with respect, so you won't get beaten up even worse."

"Then I really must thank you." Li Tianming chuckled in amusement.

His indifferent attitude indeed made Fang Zhao somewhat furious.

"Wind Spirit Crane!"

Fang Zhao summoned his companion beast.

It was a snow-white celestial crane, with only a small portion of its feathers being dark.

The Wind Spirit Crane was noble and elegant, with enormous wingspans. Its proud expression was exactly the same as Fang Zhao's at this moment.

This Wind Spirit Crane was a low-grade fifth-tier companion beast, just barely meeting the standards of Yanhuang Academy. It was a flying avian-type companion beast of the wind element.

However, Fang Zhao, being in the second level of the Spirit Origin Realm, was indeed capable of unleashing its considerable power.

"Ying Huo, this Wind Spirit Crane is female. Do you want to do something?" Li Tianming said to Little Yellow Chicken on his shoulder.

"Too ugly, can't bring myself to do it," Little Yellow Chicken said disdainfully.

"This is a celestial crane, isn't it elegant enough?" Li Tianming doubted its aesthetic judgment.

"After experiencing Senior Master Mu Wan's gentleness, I've lost interest in both chickens and birds," Little Yellow Chicken chuckled.

"Disgusting."

As Li Tianming spoke, he had already taken out the Thunderfire Chain in his right hand.

No matter what, Fang Zhao was at the second level of the Spirit Origin Realm and was the same age as him, making him a truly worthy opponent.

If Li Tianming hadn't lost the Golden Feather and hadn't obtained the Saint Beast Battle Soul, he would also be a student in the intermediate class now, and likely a bit stronger than Fang Zhao.

This battle would be the perfect opportunity to verify if he had caught up to his past life's trajectory!

Opposite him, Fang Zhao had a sinister grin on his face. In his hand, he held a similarly ranked third-tier beast weapon—the Swift Wind Sword.

It was a long, slender sword, extremely sharp. He began to move, his feet seeming to carry him with a gust of divine wind. Li Tianming remembered that his movement technique was also particularly outstanding.

Such an opponent was indeed stronger than Chen Ding.

His speed was also much harder to deal with than Chen Ding's, and his Wind Spirit Crane also possessed Spirit Origin Divine Abilities.

However, Li Tianming was determined to beat him up!