Three Months in a Flash, Breaking Through to Nine-Star Dou Zhe

Time passed slowly. In the blink of an eye, Xiao Se had already spent three months in the Demon Beast Mountain Range.

Over those three months, Xiao Se first spent half a month cultivating the Mysterious High Rank Dou Technique, Mad Lion's Roar. After that, he sought out First-Rank magical beasts within the Demon Beast Mountain Range to challenge, honing his combat skills while gathering the medicinal ingredients he needed.

He occasionally encountered Second-Rank magical beasts. Relying on the advantages of his Dou Techniques and strategy, he was always able to handle them with ease, and had even killed several Second-Rank magical beasts despite the gap in rank.

Xiao Se still had not used the Demon Sword's power in battle, treating it as nothing more than an ordinary Long Sword.

He had come here to hone his combat skills, not to rely on external objects to crush weak opponents.

In such a bloody and cruel cultivation environment, Xiao Se not only successfully consolidated the two-star increase in strength he had gained earlier, but also broke through another star in the middle of his second month of cultivation, reaching the strength of an Eight-Star Dou Zhe.

Likewise, he had not neglected alchemy. With the soul tempering of the Returning Origin Soul Art, refining Second-Rank Pills had now become second nature to him. Even with Tier 3 Pills, he could occasionally succeed once or twice out of ten attempts.

He believed that once he officially broke through to Dou Shi, refining Tier 3 Pills would no longer be a problem.

Besides cultivation, there were also the three System exchanges during that time worth mentioning.

Ever since exchanging for Dai Mubai's level-ten soul power, his luck seemed to have worsened. The first month's exchange had failed outright, and the second had likewise yielded a pair of shoes. Only in the third month, yesterday, had he exchanged for Guiguzi's hidden Vertical and Horizontal Sword Technique from the world of Qin's Moon. With the System's synchronization, the martial arts manual had directly transformed from martial arts into a Dou Technique.

Xiao Se gave it a rough look. Although its power was not particularly great, with even its strongest techniques, Hundred Steps Flying Sword and Across All Directions, only comparable to around Mysterious Mid Rank, its moves were exquisitely ingenious.

This was equivalent to further improving Xiao Se's close-combat ability.

At least it counted as some psychological comfort.

However, if he could use Hundred Steps Flying Sword and Across All Directions at the same time, perhaps he could achieve power surpassing that of a Mysterious High Rank Dou Technique.

"Phew..." On a cliff concealed by towering trees near the inner edge of the Demon Beast Mountain Range, Xiao Se was slowly recovering the Dou Qi he had expended.

Not long ago, in order to pick the Blood Lotus Fruit, one of the main ingredients missing for refining the Blood Lotus Pill, he had fought a Blood Ring Snake magical beast that was about to enter the Third Rank. It had to be said that this magical beast, whose basic strength was no weaker than that of a peak Dou Shi, was incredibly formidable. At the very least, Xiao Se was far from being its match.

Yet both sides wanted that Blood Lotus Fruit, which was about to ripen.

The former wanted to use it to break through to the Third Rank, while the latter wanted to use the Blood Lotus Fruit to refine a Blood Lotus Pill and devour a Heavenly Flame.

Neither side was willing to give up easily.

Faced with a peak Second-Rank magical beast whose speed and strength far surpassed his own, Xiao Se fought in the most stifling manner. With the snake's keen speed, the Crimson Flame Sword's attacks simply could not hit it.

If not for the Mysterious High Rank movement technique he had cultivated to mastery, along with his sharp soul perception, Xiao Se likely would not have lasted even three exchanges.

Yet precisely because of this, Xiao Se adopted a roundabout strategy. He continuously hurled Beast Flames to enrage it, then led it all the way into a nearby valley, luring it into a deep pit trap he had prepared beforehand. He unleashed the Crimson Flame Sword. Breaking Point, aiming at its most vulnerable mouth, severely wounding and killing it.

"Brother, how are your injuries?" Long Kui's concerned voice suddenly rang out in his heart.

Xiao Se replied with a smile in his heart, "Don't worry. Before the battle, I took a Meridian Protecting Pill and a Bone Growing Pill. Although I indirectly endured several of the Blood Ring Snake's attacks, my Meridians were not seriously damaged. The injuries on my body are only superficial wounds. After recuperating for one or two hours, I'll be completely recovered."

The Meridian Protecting Pill and Bone Growing Pill were both Second-Rank Pills. The former protected the body's channels from damage, while the latter possessed healing effects even stronger than those of an Injury Pill.

Hearing that Xiao Se was all right, Long Kui finally let out the breath she had been holding. Then she asked somewhat puzzledly, "Brother, it was so dangerous just now. Why didn't you use the Demon Sword's power? If you had, killing the Blood Ring Snake should have been easy."

Xiao Se smiled. "The Demon Sword may be powerful, but I have not yet received enough tempering. If I blindly rely on external objects while neglecting myself, it will not last. As long as I can deal with the situation, I should use it as little as possible. This is also one of the purposes of this trial."

Long Kui suddenly understood. "Then hurry and recover, Brother. I'll stand guard for you."

Xiao Se said, "Mm. While you're at it, help me keep watch over that Blood Lotus tree below. The only Blood Lotus Fruit on it has not ripened yet, so I did not pick it. But I poured some growth-promoting spirit medicine over it. It should ripen in a few hours."

That so-called growth-promoting spirit liquid was naturally from the Palm Heaven Bottle. Back when he was at the Xiao Family Back Mountain, Xiao Se had already stored a full jar of green liquid. He then diluted it and placed it separately into Jade Bottles, allowing him to use it without others discovering the Palm Heaven Bottle's secret.

The medicinal ingredients needed for the pills he currently used in cultivation were all refined after being stimulated to their limit by the green liquid condensed within the Palm Heaven Bottle.

Of course, under most circumstances, Xiao Se would naturally transplant medicinal ingredients to the place where he cultivated. Only in rare cases like this, where they could not be transplanted and were especially precious, would he remain to guard them.

Time passed quickly during cultivation.

Two hours passed in the blink of an eye, and before he knew it, it was already afternoon.

On the cliff, Xiao Se's tightly shut eyes suddenly opened. He slowly exhaled and said in delight, "I'm about to break through."

He immediately took out a bottle of Nurturing Spirit Liquid and swallowed it. After a brief period of stillness, faint streams of energy suddenly surged from around Xiao Se's body, then wildly poured into him.

As the energy continued to flow in, a faint bluish-white glow radiated from Xiao Se's body. His skin, already nourished by soul power, immediately became as warm and lustrous as jade.

A moment later, Xiao Se's eyes abruptly opened. His pitch-black pupils released a sharp glint as tangible as substance.

Feeling the tremendous increase in Dou Qi within his body, a brilliant smile rose on Xiao Se's delicate face. "I finally broke through. It seems that battle with the Blood Ring Snake gave me the opportunity I needed."

Eight-Star Dou Zhe and Nine-Star Dou Zhe appeared to be separated by only one star, but the increase in speed and strength brought by the difference in realm could not be mentioned in the same breath.

Relying on the several Mysterious Rank Dou Techniques he possessed, along with the Crimson Flame Sword. Breaking Point, a trump card comparable to an Earth Low Rank Dou Technique, Xiao Se was confident that at least throughout all of Green Mountain Town, absolutely no one could threaten him.

"Brother, congratulations on your breakthrough." Long Kui's clear laughter suddenly rang out from within the Demon Sword.

"Mm. It's time to pick the Blood Lotus Fruit." Xiao Se nodded slightly.

Just as he was about to descend and pick the Blood Lotus Fruit, several faint voices slowly drifted over from the distance below the cliff.