Hu Shu and the Mysterious Rogue Cultivator stood on high ground, looking down at the Human Race as they diligently cultivated and forged magical treasures. Hu Shu frowned slightly. "Senior, although the Human Race has made progress, forces like the Chan Sect remain a constant threat. Do you have any good strategies?" The Mysterious Rogue Cultivator's gaze was profound. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Our most urgent task is to raise the Human Race's strength as quickly as possible. At the same time, we must prepare our defenses..." The two discussed matters in low voices, their silhouettes looking especially resolute beneath the moonlight.
The next morning, gentle sunlight fell over Shouyang Mountain, draping this Human Race settlement in a veil of gold. Unable to contain their excitement, the people of the Human Race began cultivating the Lingxiao Body Tempering Technique taught by the Mysterious Rogue Cultivator. Spiritual energy surged across Shouyang Mountain like rising clouds and mist, with all manner of strange lights flickering within it.
The Mysterious Rogue Cultivator moved among the crowd, patiently instructing each person. His voice was calm yet powerful. "Pay attention to the circulation of your breath. Guide the spiritual energy slowly through your meridians. Do not be hasty." Standing nearby, Hu Shu watched everyone cultivate with such focus, his heart filled with gratification. He knew this was the hope of the Human Race's rise.
A young man of the Human Race, his forehead covered in sweat, was working hard to cultivate according to the Mysterious Rogue Cultivator's guidance. Suddenly, the spiritual energy around him became chaotic, and his face turned deathly pale. Seeing this, the Mysterious Rogue Cultivator immediately stepped forward, his hands moving swiftly as streams of gentle spiritual power entered the young man's body and stabilized his breath. "Cultivation must never be rushed. You must proceed step by step," the Mysterious Rogue Cultivator said earnestly. The young man nodded gratefully, adjusted himself, and threw himself back into cultivation.
As time passed, quite a few members of the Human Race gradually grasped the essentials of the Lingxiao Body Tempering Technique. One middle-aged man suddenly underwent a change in bearing. His once somewhat frail body was now brimming with strength, and he successfully broke through to Late Qi Condensation. Soon afterward, several others broke through in succession, and cries of delighted surprise rang out across Shouyang Mountain.
Watching this scene, Hu Shu felt his own blood begin to stir. He decided to try cultivating as well and see whether he could gain anything. Finding a quiet place, he sat cross-legged and circulated his spiritual power according to the Lingxiao Body Tempering Technique. At first, everything went fairly smoothly, but when he tried to guide the spiritual energy toward a higher realm, he encountered an obstacle.
Hu Shu squeezed his eyes shut, veins bulging on his forehead as he fought the obstruction with all his strength. Just as he began to feel unable to keep going, the Invincible Domain System suddenly gave off a ripple. His heart stirred, and he tried borrowing the system's power. In an instant, a powerful yet gentle force flooded into his body, helping him break through the obstacle.
Hu Shu discovered with delight that he had not only broken through to Early Foundation Establishment, but had also gained a new understanding of the Invincible Domain System. He sensed that the system seemed closely tied to the development of the Human Race. As the Human Race grew stronger, it could also nourish the system in return, further strengthening the Invincible Domain.
While they cultivated their techniques, the Human Race also continued forging magical treasures at a feverish pace. The Mysterious Rogue Cultivator guided everyone in choosing suitable materials and explained the key points of artifact refinement. However, forging magical treasures was no easy task, and all sorts of problems arose along the way.
While smelting materials, a woman of the Human Race lost control of the heat, and the materials instantly turned into a pile of useless slag. She lowered her head in dejection, her eyes full of disappointment. The Mysterious Rogue Cultivator walked over and gently patted her shoulder. "Don't be discouraged. Forging magical treasures requires many attempts. Learn from your experience, and you'll succeed next time."
After many failures, someone finally succeeded in forging the first low-grade magical treasure—a dagger that gave off a faint glow. The moment the dagger took shape, cheers erupted from all around. Though it was only a low-grade magical treasure, it held extraordinary meaning for the Human Race. It symbolized that they had taken an important step forward in the forging of magical treasures.
Hu Shu and the Mysterious Rogue Cultivator looked at the Human Race members who had successfully forged magical treasures, their hearts full of joy. Yet they also knew that the road to strengthening the Human Race remained long. At that moment, worry rose in Hu Shu's heart. Now that the Human Race had grown stronger, would it attract the Chan Sect's attention and bring even fiercer attacks? After all, the Chan Sect had always regarded the Human Race as a threat and sought to suppress its development.
Hu Shu looked at the Mysterious Rogue Cultivator, a trace of concern in his eyes. "Senior, although the Human Race has become stronger, the gap between us and the Chan Sect is still enormous. And if we continue increasing our strength like this, might it draw the Chan Sect's attention and bring even fiercer attacks from them?" The Mysterious Rogue Cultivator frowned slightly and fell into thought. After a moment, he slowly said, "We must prepare for the worst. Next, we need to accelerate the Human Race's growth while setting up proper defensive measures." The two once again discussed matters in low voices, planning how to respond.
On Shouyang Mountain, the Human Race continued cultivating diligently and forging magical treasures. Yet a hidden crisis was quietly descending...
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