Refining Fire, True Sun Swordplay!

A peak low-grade Fierce Beast, the Blazing Flame Tiger was equivalent to a human martial artist at the tenth level of the Qi Gathering Realm.

"Roar! Roar! Roar!"

The tiger's roars rang out without end. Xia Wuji remained calm, with not a trace of fear on his face.

The Jinghong Sword in his hand gleamed with dazzling radiance.

The next moment.

The Blazing Flame Tiger suddenly pounced, its massive body carrying raging flames, like a blazing sun—mighty and extraordinary.

The edge of Xia Wuji's sword swept up in an instant.

Sword light surged forth, tearing apart the flames swirling around the Blazing Flame Tiger. As the blade passed, the tiger's abdomen was sliced open.

Scalding blood immediately sprayed through the air.

The Blazing Flame Tiger crashed to the ground. After twitching a few times, it went completely still. With practiced movements, Xia Wuji removed its Beast Core.

The Beast Core was scorching hot, containing dense fire-attribute energy.

To refine Beast Fire, one had to begin with Beast Cores. This single core was clearly not enough, but that did not matter. This region was the habitat of the Blazing Flame Tiger pack, and there were plenty more Blazing Flame Tigers.

Sword Pavilion.

"Reporting to Madam, we have confirmed that Xia Wuji has fled into the Monster Suppression Mountain Range!"

Li Qing, commander of the Sword Feather Guard, knelt on one knee before Madam Liu.

A cold gleam flashed through Madam Liu's eyes. "That little bastard is quite bold. He actually dared to hide in a place like that. Isn't he afraid the Fierce Beasts will eat him until not even bone scraps remain?"

"Mother." Beside Madam Liu, a young girl who resembled her by seventy percent spoke.

This girl was Liu Wuhui.

Like Madam Liu, she had narrow eyes that carried a vicious, mean-spirited ruthlessness.

"Although I have absolute confidence in my brother, and he will certainly suppress Xia Wuji with ease during the ancestral sacrifice ceremony, we still must take action to prevent any accidents."

"Just in time, I recently refined a high-grade Soul-Bewitching Precious Pill. If we can capture Xia Wuji and force him to swallow it, we can ask him how to open the jade box. Then we can obtain the most important Azure Star Token first!"

Madam Liu nodded. "Wuhui, you truly make Mother proud. You can even refine a high-grade Soul-Bewitching Precious Pill. We'll do as you say!"

Then, Xia Wuhui took out a pill and handed it to Li Qing, the Sword Feather Guard commander kneeling on the ground. "After making him take the Soul-Confusing Pill and learning how to open the jade box, kill Xia Wuji directly. There's no need to keep him alive."

"After all, Mother was the one who sold the Crimson Blood Sword. The blame has now been pinned on him, so we cannot let him return and expose the truth!"

Li Qing accepted the Soul-Confusing Pill, then looked toward Madam Liu.

Madam Liu nodded. "Do as Wuhui says. Once the matter is done, you will naturally be well rewarded. When the time comes, I will make you the Chief Commander of the Sword Feather Guard!"

"Madam, Young Miss, please rest assured. I, Li Qing, will certainly handle this matter well and will not betray the trust Madam and Young Miss have placed in me!" With that, Li Qing immediately rose and left.

Monster Suppression Mountain Range.

The corpses of Blazing Flame Tigers lay scattered in every direction.

Xia Wuji took all the Beast Cores and found a concealed cave.

Xia Wuji sat cross-legged, his hands rapidly forming seals.

What he used was a secret fire-controlling art known as the Sky Burning Art.

The hand seals of the Sky Burning Art continuously drew out the Fire Origin from the Beast Cores. The flame in his hands steadily grew, and the light and heat it emitted made the entire cave seem like a furnace.

The next moment, Xia Wuji directly absorbed that cluster of flame into his Dantian.

"Boom!"

Within his Dantian, it was as if a volcano had erupted in an instant, with scorching, searing energy rampaging wildly.

Yet under Xia Wuji's control, that energy immediately flowed out from his Dantian, surging into his limbs, bones, internal organs, and eight extraordinary meridians.

After one full circulation, Xia Wuji had gained preliminary control over the flames. As he continued circulating the fire through his body, changes gradually appeared.

Strands of impurities seeped from the fine pores across his body's surface.

His frame gradually became somewhat leaner, yet it also appeared more powerfully built.

Tempering with flames, Marrow Cleansing, strengthening the physique!

Moreover, the Sword Seed condensed in Xia Wuji's Dantian was also tempered by the flames, becoming more solid and sturdy, its edge even sharper.

"With flames now, if I gather some more medicinal herbs, I can try refining pills!" Xia Wuji muttered to himself, then set off to continue deeper into the Monster Suppression Mountain Range.

One day later.

As Xia Wuji ventured ever deeper into the Monster Suppression Mountain Range, he found a Crimson Marrow Berry.

With the Spirit Medicine he already possessed, plus this Crimson Marrow Berry, he could refine a Grand Yuan Pill, a top-grade precious pill.

However, beside the Spirit Medicine was a mid-grade Fierce Beast!

"Boom!"

A massive explosion erupted, and rolling shockwaves snapped tree after tree apart!

"Whoosh!"

The whistle of a sharp blade cutting through the air rang out. Xia Wuji gripped the Jinghong Sword and stepped upon the surging storm winds as he attacked a black bear Fierce Beast as large as a house.

The demonic power of this Black Beard Bear had yet to solidify. It had clearly only recently broken through to the mid-grade Fierce Beast level, making it equivalent to a human martial artist at the first level of the True Essence Realm.

The beast was berserk. Its two thick arms swung viciously, while every strand of black fur on its body stood erect like steel needles.

The power possessed by Qi Gathering Realm martial artists could barely break through the Black Beard Bear's defenses. Yet if a Qi Gathering Realm martial artist took even one blow from it, their flesh would become a puddle of mush.

Just as the Black Beard Bear's arm was about to strike Xia Wuji, the longsword in Xia Wuji's hand erupted with blinding light.

Within the brilliant sword light, razor-sharp radiance bloomed!

And the sword became directly covered in a layer of flames!

First form of the True Sun Swordplay, Sun Above.

This was a peak Yellow-rank sword technique.

Ordinarily, with Xia Wuji's current cultivation, he was unsuited to using such a high-grade sword technique.

But having just refined Beast Fire, he could borrow the flames' enhancement to execute the True Sun Swordplay.

Xia Wuji's sword edge seemed to transform into a resplendent sun. The burning firelight instantly set all the fur on the Black Beard Bear's arm ablaze!

Firelight intertwined with sword light, sharpness fused with blazing heat!

The Black Beard Bear's arm was severed by Xia Wuji's sword!

Bear blood spurted wildly!

The Black Beard Bear let out a thunderous roar of agony!

Yet Xia Wuji had already used the Shadowless Wind Step to circle behind the Black Beard Bear. He leaped into the air, and his sword swept sideways.

That strike directly severed the Black Beard Bear's enormous head!

Immediately afterward, the Black Beard Bear's huge body crashed to the ground. It twitched a few times, then breathed its last.

"This Beast Core, bear gallbladder, and bear paws are all good things." Xia Wuji held his sword, about to cut away the useful parts, when a flash of dangerous awareness suddenly arose in his heart!

In an instant, he shifted sideways several zhang.

"Whoosh!"

A sharp arrow shot through the spot where he had just stood.

"Not bad. With mere Qi Gathering Realm cultivation, you actually managed to evade my arrow." A cold laugh rang out.

Xia Wuji looked toward the source of the voice, and a middle-aged man with a pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks came into view.

"About the third level of the True Essence Realm." Xia Wuji gave him a glance. With his keen perception and precise grasp of strength, he made an accurate assessment of the man's cultivation!

In this world where martial strength reigned supreme, it was hardly strange to encounter bandits and robbers while traveling.

Especially in the Monster Suppression Mountain Range—most who dared enter this place were bold and vicious individuals.

The pointed-mouthed, monkey-faced man carried a large bow in his hand. He casually tossed the bow aside, then glanced at the Black Beard Bear's corpse on the ground.

"It's no simple feat for someone at the Qi Gathering Realm to hunt this thing. Kid, you should have quite a few treasures on you, shouldn't you?"

"Hand over every treasure on you, nice and obediently!"

"If you cooperate honestly, you can suffer a little less. Once I take your things, I'll give you a quick death!"

"Otherwise, my blade will slice your flesh off piece by piece, until you can neither live nor die!"

As he spoke, the man drew a curved saber from his waist. Its edge flashed with cold light—it was a mid-grade treasure weapon.

People like him most enjoyed running into rich young masters like these.

Weak in strength, loaded with treasures—one job, and it was a bountiful harvest!

Xia Wuji's expression remained indifferent. "If you want my things, then let's see whether you have the ability to take them."