Jiang Liu cultivated for two hours before he could completely refine the Earth Attribute energy within the Earth Yellow Essence. Seeing that the energy wasn't enough to advance to the eighth rank, he took out the two Exotic Beast cores he had just obtained and continued to absorb and refine them.
Before he could fully refine the two Exotic Beast cores, a rumbling sound came from his dantian, and an uncontrollable pressure of primordial energy emanated from Jiang Liu's body.
Suddenly, Exotic Beast began to stir around the area where they were meditating along the Jiang Liu. The roars of beasts and the cries of birds were incessant. The noise gradually subsided as the pressure of the energy subsided.
Jiang Liu snapped out of his daze and opened the Data Panel.
Name: Jiang Liu
Realm: Martial Artist (Rank 8/)
Alchemy (Minor Success 20/500)
Medical Skills (Beginner 405/500)
Inner Power Technique: Soul Technique (Heaven Grade, Peak Rank, Beginner Level 916/920)
Cultivation Technique: Annihilation by Thought (Heaven Grade, Peak Rank 16/800)
Eight Steps of Trampling (Earth Grade, Low Rank Beginner Level 246/2200)
Frost Nether Palm (Earth Grade, Low Rank Beginner Level 431/1100)
Tiger Subduing Fist (Mystic High-Grade, Minor Mastery 912/1600) (Trait: Tiger's Fury)
Demon Quelling Blade (Mystic High-Grade, Minor Completion 68/1600)
Flash Blade (Mystic Grade, Low Rank Dacheng 407/3000)
Phew! Finally, he reached the eighth rank. After completely refining the remaining primordial energy in the two beast cores, Jiang Liu continued to meditate and cultivate, consolidating his newly acquired eighth-rank nascent primordial energy.
As midnight approached, Jiang Liu awoke from his meditation and assumed the posture for Soul Refining.
Without a moment's notice, a powerful spiritual pressure emanated from Jiang Liu, enveloping the surrounding trees and spreading outwards.
Instantly, the Exotic Beast in the forest couldn't sleep anymore. They all crawled out of their dens and desperately tried to escape, because this was the Lesser Beast King's mental pressure. If they were not careful and displeased the Lesser Beast King, they would have a hard time dying, let alone living.
Jiang Liu ignored the commotion around him and continued Soul Refining Technique. He felt much more comfortable this time, as the previous stagnation was gone. However, after reaching a certain limit, the cultivation slowed down again.
Jiang Liu felt his spiritual power growing at a snail's pace, until it finally stopped growing altogether. He knew that the time allotted for cultivating the Soul Technique had passed.
Jiang Liu opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing past, particularly conspicuous in the darkness, like a glowing sphere, exceptionally dazzling. Jiang Liu glanced at the panel: Soul Technique (Heaven Grade, Peak Rank, Minor Success 16/1380).
Alas! The Soul Technique requires even more proficiency now, and the proficiency gained from each practice session is even less. It seems I can't rely solely on practice; I still need to find something like the Jade Bamboo Shoots to increase my spiritual power.
Now that the Soul Technique is partially mastered, combined with Annihilation by Thought, wouldn't it be even more convenient to kill enemies? Let's find an Exotic Beast to test our skills.
My consciousness expanded, and I found that it could cover a range of 300 meters. Upon closer inspection, what the heck? There wasn't a single Exotic Beast? Where were those Exotic Beasts? I hadn't touched them before! There was a nest of rats not far from me, and now they were all gone.
Jiang Liu had no idea that, after being devastated by his two breakthroughs, all the Exotic Beast dared not stay near him.
Jiang Liu had no choice but to abandon his plan to test the sword, leaped onto the hut he had built earlier, and continued meditating and cultivating.
The next morning, Jiang Liu awoke from his meditation. Jiang Liu decided to return to the city and not venture further into the mountains. After all, he had been in the mountains for too long and needed to relax. Now that he had reached the eighth rank, he could at least protect himself, if not kill a ninth-rank cultivator.
After washing up, I started taking stock of my belongings: two Ninth Rank Greatsword, one ninth-grade sword, one fifth-grade beast core, and some remaining treasures including Frigid Yin Fruit, Celestial Star Grass, and Jade Bamboo Shoots. I'm a bit broke! Should I get some beast cores to sell?
Jiang Liu continued along the forest, walking for at least a mile or two, but he didn't encounter a single Exotic Beast. It was strange; he couldn't even kill a mid-grade Exotic Beast today.
Never mind that for now, I'll just move forward, use the Wind Walk, and take a step forward, leaving only a shadow in my wake, and I'm already dozens of meters away.
Before long, they left the small forest, entered the grass, randomly determined their direction, and headed back the way they came.
Suddenly, a commotion came from ahead. Soon after, a man and a woman were seen being chased, followed by a large group of people who shouted filthy language as they pursued them, "Hey little wench, don't run so fast! Stop and have some fun with us!"
The couple in front ignored them completely, focusing only on their journey. Perhaps seeing that this was a forest, they ran straight towards the Jiang Liu.
Jiang Liu stood still and watched them. The couple quickly crossed Jiang Liu and continued walking forward. As they left, they kindly reminded Jiang Liu to run, saying that the people behind him were not good people.
The group that was chasing him quickly passed by Jiang Liu. One of them, who had an arrogant look on his face, saw Jiang Liu standing there with his hands behind his back, looking calm and collected. He was immediately displeased and slashed at Jiang Liu with his sword.
Jiang Liu frowned and unleashed his Annihilation by Thought. His companion, seeing him inexplicably fall to the ground, immediately stopped and reached out to help him up, only to find that he was lifeless.
Immediately, he shouted to the person in the lead, "Boss, the Bao Gang and it's dead!"
The leader in front stopped immediately upon hearing this, turned around, and asked, "What happened? How could he suddenly die?"
"I don't know either. He just happened to be passing by here when the Bao Gang and he suddenly died. Oh, by the way, he just slashed that guy!" He pointed at Jiang Liu after saying that.
Upon hearing this, the "boss" looked up at Jiang Liu and said, "Friend, did you kill my men?"
"Yes! I killed him!" Jiang Liu nodded decisively.
"What? Damn it! Boss, we can't let him get away with this! We have to avenge the Bao Gang!"
"Yeah! Boss, Xiang Bao Gang is such a good guy. Every time he has money, he treats us to drinks and entertainment."
Immediately, the group started discussing amongst themselves, unanimously agreeing that they should kill Jiang Liu to avenge the Bao Gang.
Without further ado, the "boss" drew his knife and slashed at Jiang Liu.
Jiang Liu took stock of the situation. Although the strength of those present was not particularly impressive, they were still capable of testing the true power of the Annihilation by Thought's group attack.
Seeing the "boss" wielding his knife, he didn't even try to dodge. In Annihilation by Thought, creating a mental storm that enveloped everyone present.
1. Jiang Liu even counted down the seconds, but before he could even reach 2, he collapsed to the ground. Hmm! The power was decent. Keep up the good work and strive to master it soon.
"With this bunch of trash, there's no way they could have anything good!" Jiang Liu didn't even bother to touch the corpse, and simply walked away, taking several dozen meters at a time.
Not long after Jiang Liu left, the couple who had been fleeing earlier reappeared here and knelt down in the direction Jiang Liu had left.
Then, they began to search every single corpse, exclaiming repeatedly that they had found something good.