Improvement

"I'd like to know how you plan to make me face this tribulation."

Gu Jinlai looked at the increasingly crimson light of Karma around him. "If I go out for a stroll, will Demonic Beasts just throw themselves at me?"

He let out a scoff, shifting his focus from Karma to the ball of light surrounding the small figure of his consciousness.

Great Sun Nine Refinements Visualization Method: Second Refinement, Minor Accomplishment.

Great Sun Demonic God Body Refining Method: Minor Accomplishment.

Myriad Phenomena Sword Qi: Novice.

Formless Sword Qi: Major Accomplishment.

Unrestricted Movement: Major Accomplishment.

These were all the sword techniques and cultivation methods he had mastered.

Other techniques like the Nine Heavens Demon Slaying Sword and the Sighing Dragon Transformation Art, though he had practiced them, hadn't reached the novice stage yet, so they weren't displayed.

"Six streams of Pure Light. One stream is for recalling the Osmium-Iridium alloy, and the remaining five…"

Gu Jinlai considered the thirty Gu Family disciples who would soon arrive.

Since he intended for them to follow the Demonic Body Cultivator path, he couldn't neglect his own Great Sun Nine Refinements Visualization Method and Great Sun Demonic God Body Refining Method.

With that thought, he immediately channeled two streams of Pure Light into the Great Sun Nine Refinements Visualization Method.

Deeper insights surged, lasting for a full twenty seconds.

When the Pure Light dissipated…

Great Sun Nine Refinements Visualization Method: Second Refinement, Minor Accomplishment → Third Refinement, Perfection.

This refinement not only increased his cultivation efficiency but also allowed him to fully grasp his first Soul Secret Art.

Great Sun Eternal Radiance Technique.

By detonating the power of the brilliant Great Sun, it formed an extremely radiant spiritual light that illuminated all directions, burning away Demon Spirits.

"It's a shame Soul Secret Arts aren't very useful in direct combat," Gu Jinlai thought.

Next, he turned his attention to the Great Sun Demonic God Body Refining Method.

With a thought, he poured two more streams of Pure Light into it.

The difficulty of reaching Major Accomplishment in the Great Sun Demonic God Body Refining Method was significantly higher than Minor Accomplishment.

Gu Jinlai had actually already used one stream of Pure Light on this body refining method to stimulate the Myriad Phenomena Sword Qi.

Even though its effect was only half-realized, the insights gained were still substantial.

Under these circumstances, two streams of Pure Light were not enough to bring the Great Sun Demonic God Body Refining Method to Major Accomplishment. It wasn't until he poured in a third stream that it finally broke through.

Great Sun Demonic God Body Refining Method: Minor Accomplishment → Major Accomplishment.

"As expected of a method on the same level as the Great Sun Nine Refinements Visualization Method. Its cultivation difficulty is not much inferior to the Great Sun Nine Refinements Visualization Method, which is said to become increasingly difficult the further you progress," Gu Jinlai remarked.

Fortunately, the powerful technique brought about astonishing changes.

The Great Sun Demonic God Body Refining Method at Major Accomplishment had spawned a…

Divine Ability.

Yes!

Not a Secret Art, not a finishing move, not a forbidden technique!

It was a Divine Ability.

"Great Sun True Demon Body!"

He quietly comprehended the profound mysteries of this Divine Ability derived from the Major Accomplishment of the Great Sun Demonic God Body Refining Method.

Half an hour later, he suddenly said, "Su Nanxing, don't let anyone approach my courtyard. Don't be alarmed by any commotion inside the room."

"As you command, Master."

Su Nanxing replied.

As Gu Jinlai stimulated the spiritual energy within his body, a blazing, radiant phantom of the Great Sun manifested behind him.

The phantom intertwined with the external light, acting upon himself, causing his Blood Essence, True Qi, as well as his spirit and spirituality, to boil simultaneously.

At this moment, he felt his True Qi, physical body, spirit, and spirituality merge into one, transforming him into something…

Indescribable.

In this profound state, his True Qi and physical body, amplified by his spirit and spirituality, seemed to break through some kind of constraint and rapidly strengthened.

Strengthened!

Strengthened in the literal sense!

Gu Jinlai clearly felt the surrounding tables, chairs, coffee table, and bookshelves rapidly shrinking…

At the same time, the roof beams were rapidly pulled closer at a speed visible to the naked eye.

In an instant, he had actually grown from a normal man of 1.86 meters to a giant of 2.66 meters.

2.66 meters!

If the house hadn't been tall enough, Gu Jinlai, whose physique had just exploded, would have burst the house open.

"This..."

Gu Jinlai looked at the bulging muscles on his arms, chest, and thighs, and an unprecedented power surged into his heart.

This kind of power...

It was like a bomb!

Every movement he made could easily detonate this bomb, unleashing thunderous power.

Not only that, but in the Great Sun True Demon Body state, he felt a strange resonance with the outside world.

It seemed he could draw some special energy from the outside to supplement himself.

This energy...

It was the sun.

He was absorbing solar energy.

No!

Solar energy was just a catalyst. He used solar energy to stimulate himself, causing himself...

To undergo some miraculous change, thus obtaining this body that could transform into a demonic god.

"To suddenly stretch someone from under 1.9 meters to 2.6 meters, increasing the gaps between cells? Increasing cell volume? Expanding atomic nuclei? Good heavens, what is the principle behind this?"

Is there any science or reason to this?

This isn't biology!

Gu Jinlai's thoughts raced, but he couldn't figure it out.

This made him, a doubter of truth, very uncomfortable.

Unable to find an answer, he had to cast these thoughts aside.

When even transmigration could happen and cultivation could be realized, then his growth from 1.86 meters to 2.66 meters was also...

Normal.

Right?

"My strength..."

Gu Jinlai reached out, opened his five fingers, and then clenched them tightly.

"Bang!"

A hurricane exploded!

It was as if a low-intensity air blast swept through the hall.

"I haven't seen Great Demonic Beasts, so I don't know how strong their physiques are, but now... I'm definitely stronger than High-ranking Demonic Beasts!"

The physique of a top High-ranking Demonic Beast.

The true qi cultivation of the Core Condensation realm.

Coupled with a heavy sword and heavy armor...

"It shouldn't be a problem to hammer a Spirit Refining realm cultivator or two."

Gu Jinlai muttered to himself.

However, to ensure nothing went wrong, he needed to arrange for the 4,000-jin heavy armor and heavy sword as soon as possible.

"No, after activating the Great Sun True Demon Body, I'm 2.66 meters tall. The armor can be made even larger and thicker, and the same goes for the sword. I can completely aim for 10,000 jin."

Gu Jinlai said.

For the same volume, osmium-iridium alloy is three times heavier than steel.

A 10,000-jin armor and sword would not be difficult.

Gu Jinlai felt the surging explosive power.

Three minutes later, he felt fatigue.

Five minutes later, every cell was sending out signals of weakness.

When it continued for six minutes, Gu Jinlai felt his body was unable to bear the strain, on the verge of collapse, and he stopped this divine ability.

"It still adheres to some principles of energy conservation."

He felt his weakness, pushed open the door, and went out into the yard.

When he stood under the sun, he clearly felt a special energy from the "sunlight" pouring into his body, soothing his muscle fatigue and replenishing his internal energy consumption.

If this trend continues...

It would take three to five hours to recover.

"So, the physical body absorbs solar energy and stores it, releasing it when using divine abilities? An enhanced version of photosynthesis? Have I turned into a plant?"

Gu Jinlai sat there, quietly sensing the changes within himself.

He planned to try a few more times after recovering.

Practice makes perfect.

"There's one more ray of Pure Light left."

While waiting for his recovery, Gu Jinlai's mind drifted back to the remaining Pure Light.

"Using a single ray of Pure Light just to recall Osmium-Iridium alloy is too wasteful."

Soon, he thought of the Heavenly Grass Pavilion, and the recent battle with the Meteor Guard.

Especially the battle at the Heavenly Grass Pavilion.

Spirit Refining.

At this moment, even without armor, he dared to go head-to-head thanks to the newly acquired Great Sun True Demon Body.

But before those Spirit Refining powerhouses appeared, what was the biggest problem he faced!?

Being outnumbered!

Dozens of Core Condensation, Gang Condensation, and Qi Refining cultivators from the Heavenly Grass Pavilion swarmed him. Even though he could kill a Core Condensation cultivator in a few moves in a one-on-one fight, he was still almost overwhelmed by their sheer numbers.

It wasn't just him; Spirit Refining and Spirit Transformation cultivators faced the same predicament.

Once trapped in a human wave from which they couldn't break free in a short time, any titan or true person would only meet their end.

In this world, individual strength had not yet completely outpaced collective power.

The Meteor Guard had records stating that six years ago, a Spirit Refining Star Envoy skilled in movement techniques, along with a thousand elites, engaged a Spirit Transformation cultivator. The Star Envoy's role was to tie him down and prevent him from breaking through, while the thousand elites continuously wore down his true qi. In the end, they managed to exhaust the Spirit Transformation cultivator to death.

"Except for those standing at the pinnacle of the cultivation world, who can ride swords and travel through the heavens as Nascent Soul True Monarchs, anyone can be annihilated by a swarm tactic."

In fact, if someone were to steal or destroy a Nascent Soul True Monarch's Flying Sword in advance, their fate wouldn't be much better than that of a Spirit Transformation Grand True Person.

"A strong self is a deterrent, and possessing a vast army is also a deterrent."

Gu Jinlai thought of his greatest adversary, Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao, backed by the Lin Family, controlled the city of Lin Feng and had trained two thousand elites and four thousand regular troops.

These were private armies entirely belonging to him and the Lin Family.

If Lin Xiao were to attack with six thousand troops, what would he use to resist?

Human stamina has its limits.

It would take a long time to kill even six thousand pigs, let alone six thousand people?

"Terrifying."

If he were truly surrounded by six thousand soldiers, even his sword would get bent...

And then, like everyone else.

He would die.

Die from exhaustion.

Gu Jinlai genuinely felt the pressure.

"I must find a way to solve this."

Under the pressure of the crisis, his mind raced.

Elites in ancient Earth were equivalent to cavalry in various countries.

Cavalry charges were invincible.

What ended the era of cavalry on Earth?

"Machine guns!"

Gu Jinlai exclaimed.

Maxim heavy machine guns with a firing rate of several hundred rounds per minute.

Dozens of heavy machine guns could defeat two thousand elites.

If they occupied advantageous terrain and defended city fortifications, even a dozen, or even a few, would suffice.

"Unfortunately, I don't know how to build these machine guns."

Gu Jinlai shook his head.

He regretted not studying harder back then.

If he had studied more, paid attention in class, and known how to make smokeless gunpowder, bullets, and machine guns, he wouldn't be...

"Wait."

At this moment, he seemed to suddenly recall something: "I really don't know how to build a Maxim heavy machine gun, but when our country's first Type 055 destroyer came out, I seem to have given a lecture on the Type 1130 CIWS?"