Nine-Star Battle Master

Jiang Donghua lightly touched the Mysterious Water Profound Crystal Fruit with his fingertips. It felt icy, smooth, and slick, as though he were holding a solid mass of cold spring water.

A dark blue glow flowed across the fruit's skin. Up close, it gave off a crisp fragrance, like cedar mixed with glacier water. Just one breath of it made the Battle Qi in his meridians tremble faintly.

"Worthy of being a water-element treasure!"

He licked his lips and forcibly suppressed the urge to swallow it on the spot.

Now was not the time to break through.

Out here in the wilderness, if he attracted other Demonic Beasts or cultivators, the loss would outweigh the gain.

Besides, only a Da Dou Shi could consume this. He had no idea what chain reaction it might trigger if he ate it.

The most likely outcome was that he would explode and die!

It seemed he could only sell it for money.

He swiftly pulled a white jade box from his robes. Moisture-resistant cloud patterns were carved onto its surface, while its interior was lined with absorbent silk.

This was a container specifically made for storing spiritual herbs, capable of preserving the Spiritual Qi of the Mysterious Water Profound Crystal Fruit to the greatest extent possible.

"Click."

The instant the lid closed, the remaining moisture beside the pond spontaneously condensed into tiny ice crystals, rustling down onto the jade box.

Jiang Donghua weighed it in his hand with satisfaction before carefully tucking it back into his inner pocket.

Once he reached a safe place, this thing could be exchanged for at least four or five low-grade Storage Rings!

Thinking about how he would no longer need to carry a bulging pack or stuff piles of bottles and jars into his waistband, the corners of his mouth could not help but rise.

A Storage Ring!

That was the standard equipment of the truly wealthy.

But there was another windfall to collect first.

Jiang Donghua crouched down, spun his sword in his palm, and let a layer of Fire-attribute Battle Qi spread across the blade. He skillfully split open the Blackwater Mysterious Snake's skull, then lightly picked through its brain matter with the sword tip.

"Ding!"

A deep blue crystal the size of a dragon eye rolled out, its surface covered in natural patterns resembling snake scales. A Tier 2 water-element Demonic Core!

"Just as expected, it had one!"

He whistled and proceeded to cut open the Swallowing Snake Crocodile's skull in the same manner.

This beast's skull was as hard as iron ore. Sparks flew when the blade scraped against it, but when the sword tip pried open its cranial cavity, another, slightly larger indigo Demonic Core glimmered faintly inside.

The two Tier 2 Demonic Cores collided in his palm, producing a crisp jade-like chime.

Jiang Donghua narrowed his eyes and estimated their value.

The Blackwater Mysterious Snake's Demonic Core could sell for two or three thousand gold coins. The Swallowing Snake Crocodile's would be worth at least twice as much because of its poison resistance.

Together with the materials from the First-tier Demonic Beasts he had hunted earlier.

Three days later, deep within the dense forest.

Jiang Donghua sat cross-legged atop a bluestone, Battle Qi flowing around him like flames. The scorching aura distorted the surrounding air.

He slowly opened his eyes. A flicker of crimson seemed to flash through the depths of his pupils before fading away.

"Eight-Star Battle Master!"

He clenched his fist, feeling the surging Battle Qi within him, and a faint smile rose on his lips.

At last, he had taken another step forward!

"It seems life-and-death battles really are the fastest way to cultivate."

Over the past three days, he had not deliberately entered seclusion. Instead, he had continued hunting Demonic Beasts in the forest.

First-tier Demonic Beasts fell beneath his sword one after another. Every battle made his Battle Qi more condensed and his movement technique swifter.

"Cloud-Chasing Steps."

It seemed to have improved further through actual combat. At full burst, he could now even glide briefly through the air, as though walking upon clouds!

"Soon."

He looked toward the distance, his gaze deep.

Nine-Star Battle Master was within reach!

The Battle Master realm was just a step away!

"In a little over two months, my half-year seclusion period will be over."

He murmured to himself, filled with emotion.

Time really passed quickly!

Half a year ago, he had merely been a rookie who had just stepped into the Dou Zhe realm.

But now, he had reached the strength of an Eight-Star Battle Master, only one final step away from becoming a Battle Master!

"Since that's the case~"

He rose to his feet, battle intent burning in his eyes.

"Then I'll kill a few more Demonic Beasts and push my way to Nine-Star!"

Breaking through to Battle Master was right before his eyes!

He checked his AFK System again.

[Host: Jiang Donghua]

[Realm: Eight-Star Battle Master (0/8000)]

[Main Cultivation Method: Sky-Burning Incantation (Mysterious-grade Mid-tier)]

[Idle Gain]

Clone 1: 5 points/hour

Clone 2: 5 points/hour

[Current Total Gain: 10 points/hour]

Jiang Donghua put away the system panel, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes.

"Thirty-three days? Too slow!"

He licked his lips, swept his gaze across the surrounding forest, and curved his mouth into a cold smile.

"If idling isn't fast enough, then I'll kill!"

"Roar!!"

An Ironback Grey Wolf suddenly lunged out from the bushes, its sharp claws and fangs gleaming coldly as it went straight for Jiang Donghua's throat!

Yet in Jiang Donghua's eyes, its movements seemed to be playing in slow motion.

"Too slow."

His figure flickered. Using Cloud-Chasing Steps, he shifted half a foot to the side like a ghost and easily avoided the wolf's claws.

At the same time, crimson Battle Qi ignited around the sword in his right hand as he slashed!

"Slash!"

The blade precisely cut into the wolf's throat. Scalding blood sprayed out, and before the Ironback Grey Wolf could even howl, it crashed heavily to the ground. After twitching a few times, it fell completely silent.

Jiang Donghua skillfully split open the wolf's skull and removed a Demonic Core that glowed with a faint azure light.

"A First-tier wind-element Demonic Core. Barely useful."

He casually tossed the Demonic Core into the leather pouch at his waist and continued onward.

Over the following days, Jiang Donghua completely transformed into a Demonic Beast harvester!

Black-scaled Giant Python?

One slash, beheaded!

Red-eyed Demonic Fox?

Fire-attribute Battle Qi burned straight through its heart!

Ironclad Rhinoceros?

Cloud-Chasing Steps took him behind it, and his sword precisely pierced the gap in its joints. One strike killed it!

Nearly every First-tier Demonic Beast around the outer edge of the forest had been slaughtered by him. Even some weaker Tier 2 Demonic Beasts could not escape his blade.

"Roar—!"

A massive Green-scaled Giant Lizard charged out of the swamp, releasing the ferocious might of a Tier 2 Demonic Beast. Trees around it were knocked askew by its charge.

Jiang Donghua narrowed his eyes. Not only did he not retreat, but a hint of excitement appeared on his face.

"Finally, one that looks decent!"

He drew a deep breath as the Battle Qi in his body circulated wildly. The flames on his sword instantly surged!

"Blazing Palm!"

"Boom!"

A scorching sword light swept out. Before the Fire-attribute Battle Qi, the Green-scaled Giant Lizard's scales were like paper and were instantly ripped apart!

The giant lizard let out a miserable scream. Its enormous body crashed to the ground, blood dyeing the swamp red.

Jiang Donghua stepped forward, split open its head with one sword strike, and took out a Demonic Core glowing dark green.

"A Tier 2 Wood-attribute Demonic Core. Not bad!"

Eighteen days later.

Jiang Donghua sat cross-legged inside a cave as the Battle Qi in his body suddenly boiled over!

He opened his eyes, and flames seemed to dance within his pupils!

"Nine-Star Battle Master!"

"Only one final step remains before Battle Master!"

He stood up and clenched his fist, sensing the surging power within his body. A proud smile spread across his lips.

"This forest is no longer enough for me to kill in."

"Looks like it's time to go somewhere more dangerous."

[System Notification]

[Host: Jiang Donghua]

[Realm: Nine-Star Battle Master (0/9000)]

[Idle Gain: 10 points/hour]

"Battle Master realm, here I come!"

Jia Nan Academy, Mission Hall.

Several students dressed in academy uniforms gathered together, talking in low voices.

"Have you heard? The Demonic Beasts in the southern mountain range are almost extinct!"

"Exactly! I went gathering herbs last month, but I didn't even see the shadow of a First-tier Demonic Beast!"

"Tsk, tsk. Look at the wounds on those Demonic Beast corpses. Every one of them was killed by a single sword strike, and the wounds are charred black. They were clearly scorched by Fire-attribute Battle Qi!"

"Could it be one of those Senior Brothers from the Outer Court?"

"Impossible. Why would those Outer Court Senior Brothers go hunting low-tier Demonic Beasts in the outer mountain range?"

"Then who could it be? Don't tell me it was a new student?"

Powerful Fire-attribute Battle Masters or Da Dou Shi were almost all well-known figures. No one could imagine who possessed such strength, much less who had the leisure to do something like this.

They looked at one another, and in the end, could only shake their heads.

Deep within the mountain range, inside a hidden cave.

Jiang Donghua sat cross-legged. After a long while, he rose to his feet, stretched his body, and smiled.

"Time to go out and have some fun!"

The next day, at the edge of the mountain range.

A three-student team was advancing cautiously.

"Strange. Why can't we see even a single Demonic Beast?"

"Could they really have all been killed by that mysterious expert?"

"Shh! Keep it down. What if that person is still nearby?"

As they whispered among themselves, a rustling sound suddenly came from the bushes ahead.

The three immediately became alert, Battle Qi circulating as they prepared to fight at any moment.

But the one who emerged from the bushes was a young man clad in black martial attire.

His face was cold and stern, his eyes sharp, and a sword hung at his waist.

"Are you students of Jia Nan Academy?"

The three froze. One of the bolder students stepped forward and asked warily.

"Who are you? Are you also an academy student?"

Jiang Donghua smiled faintly instead of answering, asking in return.

"Have you encountered any powerful Demonic Beasts in these mountains?"

"Powerful Demonic Beasts?"

The three exchanged glances. One of them gave a bitter smile.

"Forget powerful Demonic Beasts. These days, even First-tier Demonic Beasts are hard to find!"

"Oh?"

Jiang Donghua raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise.

"Then do you know who did it?"

"How would we know?"

Another student said helplessly.

"But judging from the wounds on those Demonic Beast corpses, it should have been an expert with Fire-attribute Battle Qi, and at least at the Battle Master level!"

"Battle Master?"

A trace of amusement flashed in Jiang Donghua's eyes, and then he smiled.

"Then you'd better be careful. That expert might be nearby."

"And be careful of the other Demonic Beasts too. The ones that survived are the elite among elites."

"Otherwise, they wouldn't be merely First-tier in strength."

With that, Jiang Donghua's figure flashed, and he instantly vanished from where he stood.

The three stared in shock, only coming back to their senses after a long while.

"How was that person so fast?"

"Could he be...?"

"Impossible, right? He looks even younger than us!"