Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation, Entering the Mountains to Seek the Wolf Demon

[Consumed 570 Exorcism Points to accelerate cultivation of the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art, gaining 570 days of cultivation.]

As Zhong Bai used up all his Exorcism Points, the parts of the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art's Qi Condensation section that he hadn't fully grasped suddenly became clear, as if he'd been enlightened. In an instant, Zhong Bai understood everything.

At the same time, a terrifying suction force spread out from his dantian, extending into the surrounding world.

The spiritual energy within a ten-mile radius began to gather towards Zhong Bai.

The spiritual energy entered his body, refining into pure True Essence at an extraordinary speed and flowing into his dantian. The Thunder Seal flickered, solidifying at an incredibly fast pace.

Zhong Bai was already at the peak of the third layer of Qi Condensation, ready to break through to the fourth layer at any moment. Now, with a large amount of True Essence pouring into his dantian, he effortlessly broke through the barrier to the fourth layer of Qi Condensation.

The terrifying True Essence continuously gathered and poured into his dantian, and Zhong Bai's aura surged without stop.

Mid-fourth layer of Qi Condensation, late-fourth layer of Qi Condensation…

It wasn't until Zhong Bai reached the peak of the fourth layer of Qi Condensation that the spiritual energy from the heavens and earth stopped flowing in.

[570 days of Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art cultivation completed!]

As the Exorcism Points on the Exorcism Panel zeroed out, Zhong Bai's entire body trembled with excitement.

"This is amazing! No wonder protagonists in novels love using cheats for cultivation. A few hours of cultivation speed is equivalent to one or two years for others.

It's truly astonishing, terrifyingly powerful!"

Zhong Bai couldn't help but exclaim. The effect of Exorcism Points was truly heaven-defying. Although Zhong Bai rapidly reached the peak of the fourth layer of Qi Condensation, he felt as if he had progressed step by step. There was no issue of rapid advancement leading to an inability to adapt to his new power or an unstable foundation.

"Peak of the fourth layer of Qi Condensation, that should be enough to kill that Wolf Demon!"

His eyes flashed, and Zhong Bai's memories began to rewind. Five years ago, Zhong Bai had only escaped by hiding in the cellar.

He had clearly seen that Wolf Demon at the time. According to demon cultivation, once demonic power is born, it becomes a Minor Demon.

Upon reaching the Demon Soldier realm, they are comparable to cultivators in the fourth layer of Qi Condensation or above, and can even awaken innate Divine Abilities from their bloodline.

At the Demon General level, they can transform into human form, comparable to a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

As for a Demon King, they are on par with a Golden Core True Monarch.

The Wolf Demon Zhong Bai saw back then, based on his current experience, had likely just stepped into the demon realm.

Now, five years later, it might have entered the Demon Soldier realm, though it's more likely still at the Minor Demon stage. After all, the cultivation speed of most demons is slower than that of cultivators.

This was also why Zhong Bai dared to seek revenge on that Wolf Demon now.

In just five short years, unless that Wolf Demon had extraordinary talent or had killed countless people, it would be impossible for it to reach the Demon Soldier realm.

Even if it had fortunately entered the Demon Soldier realm, Zhong Bai believed that with the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art's restraint on demons and evil spirits, he could still blast it to death.

This was a classic case of being bold because of one's skill.

The night gradually receded. As dawn illuminated the land, Zhong Bai finished his cultivation. Looking towards the old village chief's house and sensing the faint signs of life, Zhong Bai didn't hesitate. He used the Thunder Escape Technique and headed west.

West Mountain.

This was a vast mountain that Zhong Family Village backed onto. Although the Zhong Family Village ancestors had always called it West Mountain, only a part of the continuous mountain range near Zhong Family Village actually belonged to West Mountain. The entire range was called the Bottle Mountain Range.

It was named Bottle Mountain because its highest peak resembled a vase. However, Zhong Family Village was dozens of miles from Bottle Mountain, and Bottle Mountain was infested with poisonous insects. Therefore, the villagers of Zhong Family Village usually cut wood and hunted on West Mountain.

Entering the mountain forest.

The small mountain paths that the Zhong Family Village ancestors had traversed were now overgrown with thorns and impassable after five years of neglect.

Zhong Bai wasn't worried about this. He took out a bronze sword from the Cosmic Ring on his ring finger.

As he cleared a path, he looked at the compass in the palm of his left hand.

This was also a magical artifact stored in the Cosmic Ring, a Demon-Seeking Compass. Like the Ghost-Seeking Compass, it was a treasure used to locate the hiding places of evil spirits and demons.

As the needle spun continuously, the Demon-Seeking Compass quickly pointed in one direction: the shady side of West Mountain, its deepest part. Beyond the shady side lay Bottle Mountain.

Normally, no villagers would venture to the shady side, making it a natural hiding place for the Wolf Demon.

"The demonic aura isn't very pronounced, which means its strength is quite ordinary."

With just a glance at the Demon-Seeking Compass, Zhong Bai could almost determine the Wolf Demon's strength. The demonic energy fluctuations were infinitely close to the intensity of a Demon Soldier.

Seeing this, Zhong Bai completely relaxed. Since it hadn't broken through to the Demon Soldier realm, Zhong Bai could kill it as easily as slaughtering a dog.

He quickened his pace, and soon an hour passed.

Just as Zhong Bai reached the mountaintop, about to enter the shady side, he frowned, observing the direction the leaves rustled in the breeze.

"It's a mountain breeze. If I enter the valley now, my aura will easily be detected by this Wolf Demon…"

Taking a deep breath, Zhong Bai had to be cautious. After all, he only had one chance. If the Wolf Demon sniffed him out beforehand and escaped, who knew when Zhong Bai would be able to catch it.

Thinking this, he calmed his mind and regulated his breathing, concealing his aura. Zhong Bai even rubbed the juice of nearby ginger leaves onto his body to cover his scent as a living person.

Only after such careful preparations did Zhong Bai quietly sneak forward…

Inside a stone cave on the shady side of West Mountain.

A black giant wolf, two meters tall at the shoulder, was currently resting inside the cave.

This was the very Wolf Demon that had attacked Zhong Family Village five years ago!

The slumbering Wolf Demon suddenly opened its eyes, a mix of greed and pain reflected in their crimson depths.

It had reached the limit of a Minor Demon. Over the years, the massive number of villagers it had devoured meant that the demonic energy within its body was enough to support its advancement to the Demon Soldier realm.

That was why, for some time now, it hadn't left the back cave, single-mindedly focused on evolving and breaking through to become a Demon Soldier!

However... Zhong Bai's arrival meant this Wolf Demon was destined for its end.

After following the Demon-Seeking Compass for about half an hour, Zhong Bai looked at the dark, gloomy cave before him. Even from a mere hundred meters away, Zhong Bai could clearly sense the familiar lingering demonic energy!

"Here!"

The anger and killing intent he had suppressed for five years no longer held back in his eyes. Zhong Bai's blood energy surged skyward, and the muscles and bones throughout his body cracked like thunder.

In his dantian, True Essence frantically passed through the Thunder Seal, transforming into purple lightning that surged forth.

The crackling lightning illuminated the cave ahead.

With a whoosh, Zhong Bai executed the Thunder Escape Technique, transforming into a bolt of lightning that shot into the cave.

Inside the cave, the Wolf Demon, which had been engrossed in its breakthrough, suddenly felt its fur stand on end. That inexplicable sense of danger made it straighten its body and let out a low growl towards the front.

Finally, a purple light surged forward. With just a glance, Zhong Bai, without a word, sent a brilliant bolt of lightning flying towards the Wolf Demon's brow.

With a roar, the Wolf Demon raised its paw and instinctively swiped through the air.

In an instant, a mournful howl echoed through the cave