Azure Emperor Divine Vine

Lu Chen walked along the road towards the Demonic Beast Forest. As he traveled, the trees grew denser, and some wild beasts began to appear. These were clearly no match for Lu Chen, and he dealt with them one by one.

However, as Lu Chen ventured deeper, the beasts grew stronger and began to attack him proactively. Lu Chen used these encounters to practice the Nine Transformations of the Golden Serpent.

Previously, in the Secret Realm, Lu Chen had practiced against Wooden Stakes. But the stakes didn't move, and he was merely imitating. After practicing against beasts a few times recently, his understanding of Star Serpent Hidden in Clouds had moved beyond just evasion.

Lu Chen attempted to use Star Serpent Hidden in Clouds twice simultaneously when a beast attacked. He dodged backward, causing the beast to miss, then lunged forward and struck with a palm. In one swift movement, before the beast could react, he killed it, saving considerable effort.

Lu Chen also discovered different applications for the technique: evasion, assault, and concealing his presence. He had even practiced Silver Serpent Emerging from its Lair to the introductory level.

As evening approached, Lu Chen killed the wild boar in front of him. He then used his utility knife to cut open the boar's skin, cleaned two pieces of meat from its belly, skewered them on branches, and began roasting them over a fire.

Feng Tiancheng flew out of the Twin Fish Plate and sat beside Lu Chen. He had been watching Lu Chen repeatedly practice the Nine Transformations of the Golden Serpent for several days and was pleased with Lu Chen's diligence and comprehension.

Looking at the stone tablet marking the entrance to the Demonic Beast Forest, Feng Tiancheng spoke to Lu Chen, "Little Lu, your movement technique is already well-practiced. The beasts are basically useless against you now. You need to face more ferocious Demonic Beasts. Your next step is to prepare to enter the outer perimeter of the Demonic Beast Forest."

Feng Tiancheng pointed to a stone tablet not far away. "Beyond this stone tablet is the true outer perimeter of the Demonic Beast Forest. Everything inside is a genuine Demonic Beast. They have begun to cultivate and developed sentience. A single mistake could mean death for you. Although your movement technique has improved well, the Six Yang Palms that Split the Heavens consumes too much energy. You are still lacking an offensive method."

Lu Chen handed Feng Tiancheng some roasted meat and said while eating, "Grandpa Feng, can you teach me the sword energy you used before? That move was quite cool."

Feng Tiancheng looked at the Spiritual Power imprint on Lu Chen's abdomen and said, "Sword energy is merely a way to utilize Spiritual Energy. You can only use it after reaching the Breath Regulation Realm and can release the Spiritual Energy from your Celestial Pool and Qi Sea outside your body. However, I can teach you how to use Spiritual Power now."

Lu Chen's interest was immediately piqued upon hearing the word "Spiritual Power." "Grandpa Feng, what is Spiritual Power? Is it powerful? I want to learn."

Seeing Lu Chen's excitement, he continued, "In ancient times, when cultivators reached a new realm, they would generate a Spiritual Power through secret techniques. Back then, Spiritual Powers were very common. But now, the world's inheritances are severely lost, and generating a Spiritual Power has become extremely difficult. However, when you entered the Qi Gathering Realm, I used a secret technique to generate a Spiritual Power for you. You can check your abdomen."

Lu Chen quickly put down the roasted meat, lifted his clothes, and looked at his abdomen. He saw something resembling a black Yin Yang Plate. Lu Chen had always thought it was something generated upon entering the Qi Gathering Realm and wondered what its use was. If he could learn to use Spiritual Power, it would give him another means of combat.

Feng Tiancheng had Lu Chen sit down and taught him the method of circulating meridians to use Spiritual Power, explaining, "Every Spiritual Power generated has a different effect. You can try it."

As he spoke, Feng Tiancheng began to circulate his Spiritual Energy and release his Spiritual Power. A tentacle, emitting a green glow, extended from Feng Tiancheng's abdomen. The tentacle split into two, then four, gradually increasing in number and surrounding Feng Tiancheng.

"Watch carefully, this is called the Azure Emperor Divine Vine." Feng Tiancheng pointed with both hands, and all the tentacles directly attacked a distant boulder, shattering it. The tentacles then separated and attacked the smaller broken pieces of rock, shattering them further.

Lu Chen watched, dumbfounded. He ran to Feng Tiancheng's side and pestered him to teach him.

Lu Chen sat down, circulated his Spiritual Energy according to Feng Tiancheng's instructions, and then injected Spiritual Energy into the Spiritual Power in his abdomen. As an endless stream of Spiritual Energy was injected, ten tentacles instantly extended from it, attacking the surroundings uncontrollably. Lu Chen quickly stopped the flow of Spiritual Energy.

In a brief moment, everything within a ten-meter radius was cleared. Furthermore, anything attacked by the tentacles seemed to lose its vitality and withered instantly.

Lu Chen looked at his surroundings with wide eyes, unable to believe he had done this. Although that moment consumed a tremendous amount of Spiritual Energy, the power it brought was also immense.

Feng Tiancheng looked at the surroundings. His first Spiritual Power was also tentacles. He already knew that Lu Chen's Spiritual Power was tentacles, a unique ability of the Azure Emperor Bloodline. However, these tentacles had only been capable of attack and lacked the function of absorbing life force.

He suddenly recalled that time in Qingfang Village when the spiritual energy from the cultivator leader's attack had disappeared upon contact with the tentacles. Based on past patterns, the tentacles' function seemed to have mutated again upon contact with Lu Chen, gaining some unique abilities.

Feng Tiancheng couldn't help but become interested in Lu Chen's future. Everything that came into contact with Lu Chen mutated one after another. This was definitely not a coincidence. He suspected Lu Chen's future held a new path.

Lu Chen looked at his Spiritual Power, then at Feng Tiancheng's. They were clearly the same, yet Feng Tiancheng's Spiritual Power was like a part of his body, incredibly docile, while Lu Chen's was uncontrollable.

Feng Tiancheng understood Lu Chen's confusion and said, "Spiritual Power isn't just about injecting Spiritual Energy; it also requires heartfelt attention. The Azure Emperor Divine Vine even has the potential to develop sentience. Only by learning to control it will the Azure Emperor Divine Vine become a help to you; otherwise, it will only bring disaster. And to control the Azure Emperor Divine Vine, you must learn to control your Spiritual Energy to the finest detail."

"This is also what any martial skill or cultivation technique requires. For the same martial skill, the more refined and precise the control of Spiritual Energy, the less Spiritual Energy will be consumed when using it. Therefore, your next goal is to head to the true Demonic Beast Forest, battle with Demonic Beasts, and learn to control your Spiritual Energy with increasing refinement, as well as master the Six Yang Palms that Split the Heavens and the Azure Emperor Divine Vine."

Lu Chen nodded heavily at Feng Tiancheng. The increase in his martial prowess over the past few days gave him confidence in rescuing his grandfather. He quickly finished the wild boar meat and prepared to enter the Demonic Beast Forest.

As soon as Lu Chen stepped into the Demonic Beast Forest, he immediately felt that it was different from the outside world. It was much quieter here. Outside, he could still hear the roars of tigers, but here, there was not a sound. It was eerily quiet, filled with oppression.

Feng Tiancheng's voice came through, "Demonic Beasts are called Demonic Beasts because they have developed sentience and possess territorial awareness. In a region, there is usually an extremely powerful Demonic Beast that reigns supreme. Only Demonic Beasts weaker than it exist within its territory, and the more powerful the Demonic Beast, the larger its territory."

Feng Tiancheng continued, "Demonic Beasts, like humans, have cultivation levels. Humans cultivate Spiritual Energy, while Demonic Beasts cultivate their inner cores. However, the basic cultivation process is similar. But this only applies to ordinary Demonic Beasts. Some Demonic Beasts with inherited bloodlines cannot be judged by these common standards. I will explain that to you later when you encounter them. What you need to do now is start fighting."

Lu Chen responded with a sound, acknowledging Feng Tiancheng's words.

Lu Chen walked forward cautiously, but he didn't encounter a single Demonic Beast. However, remembering Feng Tiancheng's words, Lu Chen became even more cautious.

Just then, a rumbling sound came from the hillside ahead. Lu Chen used Star Serpent Hidden in Clouds to conceal his presence and cautiously crept forward. He saw a massive rhinoceros tearing into and devouring the carcass of a wild boar.

Lu Chen looked at the rhinoceros, nearly two meters tall, and became excited. This was the first Demonic Beast he had ever seen.

The rhinoceros was covered in armor-like skin, its eyes were blood-red, and on its head, a large and a small horn were arranged together, flashing with a sharp light as they continuously pried open the wild boar's hide.

Inside the Twin Fish Plate, Feng Tiancheng spoke, "From the looks of it, this is a sixth-level Qi Gathering Realm Demonic Beast, an Ironclad Rhinoceros. Ironclad Rhinoceroses are known for their defense. Their horns are extremely hard and are usually used to ram enemies."

Feng Tiancheng looked at the Ironclad Rhinoceros and continued, "Everything about a Demonic Beast is a treasure. Take this Ironclad Rhinoceros as an example. Its horns can be made into weapons, its hide can be used for armor, and its flesh, tendons, and bones can be used as medicinal herbs for alchemy. More importantly, once a creature becomes a Demonic Beast, it cultivates a Demonic Core within its body. The Demonic Core has even greater uses. Weapons cores, elixirs, formations – all require Demonic Cores."

Lu Chen looked at the brutal Ironclad Rhinoceros and asked cautiously, "The Ironclad Rhinoceros is so large, does it have any weaknesses?"

Feng Tiancheng told Lu Chen, "Although the Ironclad Rhinoceros has immense defense and extremely high attack power, its reaction speed is very slow, and it turns very slowly. This Ironclad Rhinoceros is perfect for your current situation. It has high defense but low agility, making it suitable as your first hunt. Also, its rear is not covered by rhinoceros hide, making it the weakest point defensively. You can attack there."

Lu Chen listened to Feng Tiancheng's analysis, and it sounded simple. However, he had no experience fighting Demonic Beasts. He stared at the Ironclad Rhinoceros's rear, thinking that this rhinoceros could probably crush him with a single butt.

Just as Lu Chen was pondering how to deal with the Ironclad Rhinoceros, a black bird suddenly flew overhead and chirped twice. Lu Chen shooed the black bird away and shouted, "Damn it, you wretched bird!" He then turned and ran towards a safe area.

Lu Chen's shout instantly attracted the Ironclad Rhinoceros's attention. The rhinoceros turned its head, stared at Lu Chen, its eyes turned ferocious, and it pawed the ground before charging directly at Lu Chen.