Rapid Improvement, Intermediate Body Tempering Technique

Deep within the city ruins, near the center of the wreckage.

Li Ziyu's muscles trembled all over, both hands gripping the long blade tightly, his gaze locked dead ahead.

About fifty or sixty meters in front of him, a tiger-like beast stood coldly staring him down.

The beast's hide was golden, smooth as satin.

Under the sunlight, it gave Li Ziyu the feeling of wind sweeping through a golden wheat field.

But what caught his attention most was that this beast, larger than a polar bear, had two scythe-like blades on either side of its mouth, each two meters long, like mammoth tusks.

"Peak Level 1 beast, Scythe-Blade Tiger!"

Li Ziyu's muscles trembled, his eyes fixed on the Scythe-Blade Tiger before him.

But not from fear—from excitement!

"This... how much is this thing worth?!"

The Scythe-Blade Tiger looked at Li Ziyu with disdain.

This human had been trembling ever since he saw it, probably scared out of his wits by its presence.

Ever since the beasts descended on Blue Star, humans were no longer the rulers of the planet. In the eyes of powerful beasts, humans were just crunchy snacks.

Without a second thought, the Scythe-Blade Tiger kicked off the ground with all four limbs, charging at Li Ziyu at a terrifying speed, roaring as it lunged!

Li Ziyu could even clearly see the human flesh and blood stuck between the Scythe-Blade Tiger's teeth.

Instead of retreating, Li Ziyu advanced, showing no fear of the beast's oppressive aura.

When the Scythe-Blade Tiger closed to three meters, he surged all his blood and qi, channeling it into his hands and then into the long blade.

"Gale Slash!"

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Just as the Scythe-Blade Tiger was thrilled about getting another meal—

A wet thud. Its neck tightened, its tiger eyes went dark, and it lost consciousness.

The massive tiger body, driven by inertia, plowed forward for over ten meters, crashing through several walls before finally grinding to a halt.

"With my current strength, Level 1 beasts are no longer a threat to me."

"Even a peak Level 1 Scythe-Blade Tiger—I can kill it with three Gale Slashes!"

"Strong! From the blood and qi test to now, it's only been three days, and I've already grown this much. The system is really reliable!"

Name: Li Ziyu

Realm: Advanced Level 1 (+)

Combat Skills: Gale Blade Technique (+), Basic Mighty Ox Body Tempering Method (+), Intermediate Blade Technique (+), Basic Movement Technique (+)

System: Martial God System

Function: Can absorb all things to enhance blood and qi. Other functions await the host's own discovery.

"I can level up!"

After hunting these beasts, the plus signs finally appeared on the system panel again.

But this time, Li Ziyu looked at the cluster of plus signs on the panel and felt a bit torn.

"Realm, Body Tempering Method, and Gale Slash can all be upgraded."

"Tch, each one would be a huge boost to my strength. Kinda conflicted!"

Li Ziyu's eyes flickered with hesitation.

If he upgraded his realm, he'd have to save up more blood and qi to upgrade the Body Tempering Method and Gale Slash.

But between the Body Tempering Method and Gale Slash—one comprehensively strengthens his physique, the other boosts his attack power—both would help him immensely.

After thinking a bit longer, Li Ziyu's eyes suddenly lit up.

He smacked his forehead.

"Shit! I'm such an idiot. The system only gives more blood and qi for killing beasts at the same level or higher than me."

"If I raise my realm, won't I have to go find even higher-level beasts to hunt?"

"The higher the beast's level, the stronger it is. If I have the blood and qi but not the combat power to match, wouldn't hunting high-level beasts be painfully inefficient?"

"The right move is to max out my combat skills before each realm breakthrough, then upgrade my realm. That's the optimal choice!"

"That way, I'm invincible at the same level, or even able to fight above it. Then killing beasts to raise blood and qi becomes way easier!"

"System, add points to Mighty Ox Body Tempering Method!"

With that thought, Li Ziyu didn't hesitate and spoke directly in his mind.

As his thought settled—

Li Ziyu instantly felt a powerful electric current surge through his limbs and bones, wildly racing throughout his body.

His entire person was like he had been electrocuted, every muscle beginning to tremble uncontrollably.

All his muscles felt as if they were being torn apart. This sensation lasted a full half hour, and when it ended, Li Ziyu was drenched as if pulled from water.

But what covered his body was not water—it was layer upon layer of thick sludge.

Filth wrapped around Li Ziyu's entire body, obscuring his features.

Yet his eyes shone with a startling brightness.

Within those eyes was an irrepressible joy and excitement.

Name: Li Ziyu.

Realm: Level 1 Advanced Martial Artist.

Combat Skills: Intermediate Mighty Ox Body Tempering Method, Basic Gale Blade Technique, Intermediate Blade Technique, Basic Movement Technique.

System: Martial God System.

Function: Can absorb all things to enhance blood and qi. Other functions await the host's own discovery.

"My decision was right! The Intermediate Body Tempering Method is at least twice as strong as the Basic one!"

"My current speed, strength, and endurance completely crush the me before the upgrade!"

Li Ziyu looked at his own hands, his expression excited.

Then he turned his palm into a fist and smashed it fiercely against a one-meter-tall granite boulder in front of him.

With a thunderous boom.

The boulder, which had stood there for who knows how long, its surface etched with the marks of wind and frost, seemingly indestructible—

Under Li Ziyu's punch, it was shattered into pieces!

Li Ziyu then drew the long blade from his back and tested it with a Gale Slash.

Finally, he sheathed the blade with satisfaction.

Through his experiments, He could confirm that if he encountered a peak Level 1 Fierce Arm Blade Tiger again, he was confident he wouldn't need three slashes—he could kill it with just one!

Just as Li Ziyu was about to test further, the sound of footsteps rang out not far from him.

Li Ziyu's gaze sharpened. Instinctively, he gripped his long blade with both hands and coldly shouted in the direction of the footsteps:

"Who's there! Come out!"