Yinlei Valley

Whoosh!

Deep within the dense forest, a white figure fled in panic, constantly looking back over her shoulder. Only after escaping several miles did she finally stop.

"Damn Lu Changsheng!"

Cheng Xue gritted her teeth.

"No matter what, I have to seize that treasure cauldron!"

At the thought of that cauldron, her eyes filled with greed.

But how could she snatch the treasure cauldron from Lu Changsheng's hands?

Cheng Xue pondered for a moment, then the corners of her lips suddenly curved upward. With her beauty and looks, she only needed to use a few tricks to make countless Outer Disciples act for her.

When the time came, even without taking action herself, obtaining that treasure cauldron would be as easy as turning over her hand.

At the back mountain, inside a hidden cave.

Lu Changsheng pushed a massive boulder over to seal the entrance. He swept his gaze around the cave and revealed a satisfied expression.

Refining the Ink Sun Grass here, no one should be able to disturb him.

With that thought, he immediately sat cross-legged atop a boulder and pulled the Ink Sun Grass from his robes.

"I wonder how much refining this Ink Sun Grass will improve me?"

Lu Changsheng secretly looked forward to it.

He slowly closed his eyes and adjusted his condition. Once he had reached his peak state, he finally prepared to refine the Ink Sun Grass.

Taking a deep breath, Lu Changsheng swallowed the Ink Sun Grass without hesitation.

Boom!

To his surprise, the instant the Ink Sun Grass entered his stomach, it erupted with a scorching surge of energy. That searing yet pure energy rapidly flooded into his limbs and bones.

What pure energy!

Lu Changsheng was secretly shocked.

Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately circulated the Heaven Swallowing Creation Art.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Within his dantian, that deep black hole erupted with suction force. In an instant, the pure energy of the Ink Sun Grass was frantically devoured by the black hole.

The energy of the Ink Sun Grass possessed a blazing, pure-yang attribute. Thus, while refining it, Lu Changsheng's entire body turned red and scalding hot.

His body gave off waves of heat, as though it were being seared by flames.

Inside his body, as the Heaven Swallowing Creation Art circulated, the power of the Ink Sun Grass was continuously drawn in, flowing through his meridians like trickling streams.

However, the power contained within the Ink Sun Grass was simply too vast. Lu Changsheng spent a full three hours refining it.

Throughout those three hours, he remained motionless like a clay statue. The power within his body grew increasingly abundant, and his aura became ever more profound.

Only in the fourth hour was the power of the Ink Sun Grass completely refined.

Boom!

A powerful aura suddenly erupted from within his body, shaking the entire cave violently.

"Phew..."

Lu Changsheng exhaled a breath of turbid air and slowly opened his eyes. His red, burning skin gradually returned to normal as well.

"Third level of Core Condensation Realm!"

Feeling the full and surging power within his body, Lu Changsheng could not help revealing a delighted expression. He had not expected that refining this single Ink Sun Grass would raise him by two minor realms!

From Core Condensation Realm First Level, he had directly broken through to the third level of Core Condensation Realm!

Lu Changsheng clenched his fists, feeling as though his entire body was brimming with power.

It had to be said that the Heaven Swallowing Creation Art was truly useful. Ordinarily, refining the Ink Sun Grass would have taken him at least a day or two.

Yet with the Heaven Swallowing Creation Art, it had taken only four hours!

The Heaven Swallowing Creation Art could not only speed up his absorption of spiritual energy, but also increase the efficiency with which he refined things.

"Although I've broken through repeatedly in less than a few days, the third level of Core Condensation Realm is clearly still not enough if I want to stand out in the Outer Sect Competition."

Lu Changsheng muttered to himself.

His goal was not to become some ordinary Outer Disciple.

Only by becoming an Inner Disciple could he obtain better resources!

However, if he wanted to become an Inner Disciple, he had to participate in the Outer Sect Competition.

Only by achieving a high ranking in the Outer Sect Competition could one be promoted to an Inner Disciple of the Lingxiao Sect.

The third level of Core Condensation Realm was obviously far from enough, but Lu Changsheng was not worried, because he possessed the Creation Devouring Heaven Cauldron and the Heaven Swallowing Creation Art!

With these two treasures, breaking through would be as easy as drinking water.

"Continue gaining experience through real combat!"

Lu Changsheng swiftly rose to his feet. He intended to continue deeper into the back mountain and use demon beasts to improve his combat strength.

With that, he pushed aside the boulder blocking the hidden cave and continued deeper into the lush forest in search of demon beasts.

Over the next seven full days, Lu Changsheng engaged in fierce battles with demon beasts within the dense forest of the back mountain.

Every battle was a life-and-death trial for him!

During those seven days, he constantly sought out demon beasts to fight. Every time, he fought until he was utterly exhausted. Yet amid those fierce battles, his practical combat experience improved tremendously.

Roar!

Bang, bang, bang—

A thunderous crash rang out in the dense forest. A gigantic beast was sent flying, smashing through several towering trees in succession before heavily crashing to the ground, dead on the spot.

Not far away, Lu Changsheng still maintained the posture of throwing a punch.

"Phew..."

Lu Changsheng panted in exhaustion.

At that moment, faint wounds could be seen all over his body. Every one of them had been left behind in his battles with demon beasts.

Yet his bronze skin was packed with strength, and his entire body exuded a bloody aura.

"Heh heh..."

Lu Changsheng grinned.

After battling this Vajra Crocodile for a day and a night, he had finally killed it. After countless battles, Lu Changsheng's entire body was now filled with a dangerous air.

His temperament had changed drastically as well. He was no longer the weak and cowardly person he had once been.

His gaze was resolute, carrying a trace of ferocity, like a savage beast in the forest that could bare its hideous fangs at any moment.

Lu Changsheng did not rest. Instead, he continued searching for demon beasts to fight.

Before long, he entered the deepest region of the back mountain forest.

Rumble!

Suddenly, peals of thunderous roaring came from ahead.

"Hmm?"

Lu Changsheng raised his head and discovered in surprise that a distant area seemed rather unusual. It was a valley enclosed by several mountain peaks.

Strangely, thunderclouds covered the sky above the valley.

Dense thunderclouds continuously struck down bolts of lightning, filling several miles around with violent power.

Driven by curiosity, Lu Changsheng raced toward that valley.

"Yinlei Valley."

Before long, Lu Changsheng approached the edge of the valley. An ancient stone stele stood before him, bearing the three words, Yinlei Valley.

There was also a red marking on the stele, signifying a dangerous area that must not be entered.

There were several extremely dangerous regions in the Lingxiao Sect's back mountain. Fearing that disciples might enter those places, the sect would usually leave warning markers behind.

"Someone's coming!"

Just then, Lu Changsheng suddenly heard a faint sound approaching from afar. It seemed that someone was heading toward Yinlei Valley.

After pondering for a moment, Lu Changsheng sprang up a tree and concealed himself amid its branches and leaves...