Dense Forest Trial

Early the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Shen Hao shouldered his flying sword and, fully prepared, strode deep into the dense forest behind Qingyun Peak. Morning Light spilled over him, outlining his tall, straight figure—his steps firm, his gaze sharp.

Compared to the dense forest on the outer sect's back mountain, the forest behind the inner sect was far more perilous. The demon beasts there were not only stronger but also more cunning and vicious. The beasts in the outer sect were mostly low-tier demon beasts at the First Layer of Qi Condensation to the Third Layer, while deep within the inner sect's back mountain forest lurked many mid-tier demon beasts at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining and above, and even high-tier beasts at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer. Even ordinary inner sect disciples dared not venture too deep. Shen Hao's goal this time was to find a demon beast at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining for a practical battle, to test the results of his recent cultivation.

He moved cautiously through the forest, his feet treading the Flowing Cloud Steps, his figure light and silent, making no sound at all. His eyes swept the surroundings warily, sensing the fluctuations of spiritual energy around him, careful not to alert any powerful demon beasts.

After penetrating several li into the forest, Shen Hao finally spotted his target in an open valley—a pitch-black Ironback Bear. This Ironback Bear stood three zhang tall, like a small mountain looming in the center of the valley. Its body was clad in hard iron armor that gleamed with a cold luster, and its bear paws were the size of millstones, covered in sharp claws. Its cultivation was exactly at the Early Qi Refining Fourth Layer, matching Shen Hao's—a perfect opponent for real combat.

The Ironback Bear also sensed Shen Hao's presence. It jerked its head up, its bell-like eyes fixed on him, and let out a deafening roar. The roar exploded like thunder, shaking leaves from the surrounding trees. A fierce, brutal aura surged toward him, making the very air feel stagnant.

Shen Hao's expression remained calm. He tightened his grip on the flying sword and met the Ironback Bear's gaze with steady eyes. He didn't strike first. Instead, he stepped into the Flowing Cloud Steps, weaving through the valley to observe the bear's weaknesses. The Ironback Bear's iron armor was extremely tough—ordinary attacks would struggle to break through—but its eyes and belly were vulnerable, where the skin was softer and easier to injure.

Seeing Shen Hao darting around, unwilling to face it head-on, the Ironback Bear grew furious. It lunged at him, its massive paw sweeping through the air with a gust of wind, aiming to crush his chest with a force that could shatter a small hill.

Shen Hao shifted his footing, his body sliding like drifting clouds a few chi away, narrowly dodging the bear's strike. A dull thud rang out as the Ironback Bear's paw slammed into the ground, splitting the earth into several deep crevices and sending gravel flying. At the same time, Shen Hao twisted his wrist, and the flying sword shot out like a venomous snake, aiming straight for the bear's left eye with lightning speed.

The Ironback Bear reacted swiftly, jerking its head aside. The flying sword grazed its cheek, leaving a shallow bloody gash. The scent of blood drove the bear into a frenzy.

"Roar!" The Ironback Bear bellowed in pain, its attacks growing even more ferocious. It swung its paws wildly at Shen Hao, and in an instant, the valley was filled with howling winds and flying debris, as if doomsday had arrived.

Shen Hao handled it with ease. He activated the third level of the Flowing Cloud Steps, Flowing Cloud Shadow Transformation, making his figure elusive and leaving afterimages in his wake, making it impossible to pinpoint his real location. Though the Ironback Bear's attacks were fierce, they were clumsy, missing again and again, leaving only deep craters in the ground. Shen Hao kept harassing the bear with his flying sword, striking at its weak points, searching for an opening to land a fatal blow.

After dozens of exchanges, the Ironback Bear's movements gradually slowed, its breathing grew ragged, and sweat beaded on its forehead—clearly running out of steam. Shen Hao, however, remained steady in his breath, agile in his footwork, showing no signs of fatigue.

A glint of sharp light flashed in Shen Hao's eyes. Seizing the moment when the bear's old strength had been spent and new strength had yet to gather, he suddenly accelerated, turning into a blur as he circled behind the Ironback Bear. He channeled all his spiritual energy into the flying sword, and the tip erupted with a deep blue spiritual light, gleaming with a cold sheen. Then, he thrust it fiercely into the bear's belly—the softest part of its body.

Pfft!

A soft sound rang out as the flying sword pierced cleanly into the Ironback Bear's abdomen. Blood gushed out instantly, staining Shen Hao's robes. The bear let out a miserable howl, swayed, and crashed to the ground. It twitched a few times and then went still.

Shen Hao withdrew his sword and stood upright, catching his breath. A tired but satisfied smile crossed his face. The battle with the Ironback Bear, though time-consuming, had yielded great gains. He had not only familiarized himself with the practical application of the third level of the Flowing Cloud Steps but also gained a deeper understanding of how a Fourth Layer Qi Refining demon beast fought, accumulating valuable combat experience.

He walked over to the Ironback Bear's corpse, pulled out a dagger, cut open its belly, and retrieved a pitch-black inner core. The inner core was the size of a fist, completely black, with faint traces of Earth Spiritual Energy swirling on its surface, radiating a dense spiritual fluctuation. This inner core was just right for cultivating the second layer of the Spirit Devouring Art, allowing him to devour the Earth Spiritual Energy within.