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A charred, human-shaped mass lay on the platform. If not for the rise and fall of his chest, one would have thought he was already dead.

Enduring the pain wracking his body, Fang Xuan grabbed the Nine Dragons Stone beside him. A mysterious force flowed from it into his body, rapidly repairing his injuries.

Crack, crack, crack...

The charred layer flaked away, revealing newly grown skin. It was smooth and soft, like the finest silk, yet a touch would reveal that beneath its softness lay steel. Even blades and axes might not be able to break through it.

Half an hour later, Fang Xuan rose to his feet completely naked. His skin was as white as snow; even women would feel jealous at the sight.

Fang Xuan touched his bald head, speechless for a moment.

"Looks like I'll have to wear a hat for a while."

He turned and glanced at the abyss. Amid the rolling lava, he could vaguely make out the Fire Phoenix's figure. His Black Ice Sword could slice through iron like mud, but it probably would not last long in the magma.

"What a pity. The blood of that firebird beast is an immense tonic. If I could consume it all, my cultivation would surely advance greatly. But even the Tenth Level of Body Refinement is still merely a mortal body. Lava is not my territory.

Forget it. I've gained enough already. It's time to head back."

Fang Xuan had gained enormously in this world. His cultivation had crossed three levels in succession. When he entered, he had only been at the Suppleness Realm, but now he had passed through Divine Power and reached the Internal Fortification Realm.

He had even killed Ren Qianxing's avatar, greatly increasing his foundation.

This foundation did not merely include his muscles, bones, and talent. It also included wisdom and comprehension, laying a solid foundation for his future cultivation.

There was also the Nine Dragons Stone. It was a rare treasure for healing. The mysterious force within it could repair injuries. As long as his wounds were not fatal, he could recover quickly in the future.

As for martial arts manuals, weapons, and the like, there was no need to care about them. This was only a martial arts Small World. How could its treasures compare to the magical artifacts of the Eternal Life world? Only strength and cultivation were fundamental.

The Mystic Divine Realm was what he sought.

With a thought, Fang Xuan vanished.

About half an hour later, Jian Xiong led his men into Dragon Locking Mountain once more. Looking at the destruction caused by the earlier battle, he found no trace of Fang Xuan.

Jian Xiong frowned slightly. "Could that man have already been devoured by the Fire Phoenix? If so, he deserved it."

Dragon Abyss Province, Fang Family.

A ray of light suddenly appeared in midair, followed by Fang Xuan's naked figure materializing in his room.

Nothing around him had changed. Everything was still familiar, yet Fang Xuan sensed his own condition and realized that he was already at the seventh level of the Body Tempering Realm, the Internal Fortification Realm.

No one in the entire Fang Family had reached the Internal Fortification Realm at his age. Even Big Sister Fang Qingxue had only reached the Inner Breath Realm.

However, there was still one matter to consider: how should he reveal his sudden increase in strength?

Even if a hundred years passed in the Small World, only an instant would pass in the Eternal Life world. One moment he had been at the Suppleness Realm, and the next he had directly entered the Internal Fortification Realm. Anyone would find that highly suspicious.

No matter how talented someone was, they could not be talented to such an absurd extent.

"This is my greatest secret. It is also the Golden Finger that will allow me to become immortal and live forever. I absolutely cannot let a second person learn of it."

After thinking it over, he took a set of clothes from the wardrobe and put them on. He also specially prepared a hat and wore it before heading straight for his mother Zhao Xuemei's room.

"Mother, I'm going to Black Forest to hone my martial arts. I may stay outside for a few extra days," Fang Xuan said.

Zhao Xuemei looked at Fang Xuan, who had suddenly started wearing a hat, and felt that something was off. Yet she could not tell what it was. Thinking of the dangers in Black Forest, she said worriedly, "You're going to Black Forest again? Can't you hone your martial arts in the residence?"

Fang Xuan smiled. "Mother, you don't understand. Cultivating in seclusion at home actually slows down my progress. One cannot improve by shutting oneself away, and I've already reached the Suppleness Realm. The ones who should be worried now are the beasts in Black Forest."

"How many days will you be gone?"

"At least three or four days, perhaps as long as half a month."

"So long?" Zhao Xuemei said unhappily.

"Hehe, I'm working hard to earn Mother an Imperial Mandate. Of course I have to put in more effort," Fang Xuan said ingratiatingly.

It took quite a bit of explanation before Fang Xuan finally reassured Zhao Xuemei. He then left the Fang Residence directly.

"I just remembered—why are Xuan'er's eyebrows gone?" Zhao Xuemei realized belatedly.

North of Dragon Abyss Province ran a broad river. Beyond the river lay Black Forest, thick with dense woods and teeming with wild beasts. Tigers and bears roamed within it. Even experienced hunters did not dare venture too deeply inside. Yet martial artists often entered to hone their skills, and the Fang Family disciples were no exception. Every spring and autumn, Fang Zetao also organized hunting expeditions, both for entertainment and to test the younger generation of the Fang Family.

After entering Black Forest, Fang Xuan raced toward its depths. He did not stop until he reached a waterfall.

"This will do. I'll stay here for ten days or half a month. When I return, I'll say that I accidentally consumed some rare heavenly treasure. Then I can cover up the matter of my cultivation increasing so quickly," Fang Xuan muttered as he looked at the pool formed beneath the waterfall.

He entered the forest, caught a rabbit, and returned. After eating and drinking his fill, he began practicing the Pine Crane Longevity Fist in the clearing.

He had currently reached the seventh level of the Tenth Level of Body Refinement, the Internal Fortification Realm. Beyond that came the three final realms: Divine Valor, Spirit Communication, and Divine Transformation.

Unlike the early stages, which focused on cultivating the physical body, these three realms began to develop the mind and cultivate Spirit Power.

The "valor" of Divine Valor, the "spirit" of Spirit Communication, and the "transformation" of Divine Transformation were all things that could only be understood, not explained.

Only by developing Spirit Power could one ultimately use the vast vitality and blood of the physical body to ignite life's potential and enter the Mystic Divine Realm.

Crane Claw Imprints Sand.

White Crane Spreads Wings.

White Crane in the Clouds.

Immortal Crane Shakes Feathers.

Snake Crane Conflict.

Movement and stillness intertwined, reality and illusion gave birth to one another. It was as though a true white crane danced in the clearing, while dense vitality and blood surged through his body like a river.

Wrath of the Wind God.

Wrath of the Fire God.

Wrath of the Thunder God.

Wrath of the Lightning God.

The internal energy in his dantian circulated in an eerie pattern, guiding the power of heaven and earth to form phantoms that turned into attacks.

Compared to the Pine Crane Longevity Fist, Heaven's Will Four Symbols Art at the Internal Fortification Realm possessed greater offensive power.

Of course, that did not mean the Pine Crane Longevity Fist was lacking. Each art had its specialty. Heaven's Will Four Symbols Art focused more on attack and conquest. It could draw upon the power of heaven and earth while still in the Body Tempering Realm. Even in the Eternal Life world, it was a rare cultivation art.

Moreover, every use forcibly seized a portion of the power of heaven and earth into the body, nourishing the flesh and increasing cultivation. It was comparable to consuming pills.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. His hair had not grown much, but his eyebrows had indeed grown back.

Fang Xuan touched the short stubble that pricked his hand, helplessly put on his hat, and turned to return to the Fang Residence.

Slap, slap, slap~

In the front courtyard, Fang Qingwei stood there with a proud expression. Before her knelt a servant dressed in gray, wearing a small cap.

Beside them, a maid held a horsewhip and continuously lashed the servant's back.

Smack! Smack!

The maid was remarkably strong and had clearly trained in martial arts. Every strike produced a sonic boom in the air.