Ferocious Person

After using the Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique and being injured by Tian Ling'er, Zhong Shan sat for nearly two hours before recovering somewhat. It was not until the next day that the aftereffects of the Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique completely disappeared.

After preparing the Mountain Cat, he found another Inner Core inside its body. Adding it to the one from the Silver Wolf last time, he now had two Inner Cores. However, Zhong Shan still had no idea what these Inner Cores were useful for, so he carefully stored them away to deal with later.

He dried the Mountain Cat's meat and made some cured meat. It tasted exceptionally delicious. As for the hide, he could only turn it into trousers. There were only a few changes of clothes here, and Zhong Shan did not dare wear them too often, because they would be burned up every time he entered the kiln. Thus, he used the beast hide to make several pairs of shorts. Fortunately, the hide was extremely tough, so it would not burn up in the kiln.

Life continued. He cultivated the saber arts, the Great Yang Divine Skill, the Red Phoenix Heavenly Scripture, and the Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique simultaneously.

However, two months later, Zhong Shan sensed that something was wrong. The first stage of the Great Yang Divine Skill was advancing toward the second stage, but once he reached this juncture, he could not advance no matter what. Inside the kiln, Zhong Shan was no longer afraid of the flames. Even after greatly increasing the amount of firewood, he still felt it was not enough. He needed flames with even greater heat energy.

At a cave entrance not far from Flame Mountain Peak in the Kaiyang Sect, Tian Ling'er was waiting outside. Looking at the huge stone blocking the entrance, she clutched the Red Silk in her hand. Several times, she wanted to blast the stone apart, fury showing on her face, but she still gritted her teeth and held herself back.

"Rumble~~~"

The cave finally opened.

"Xiao Nanzi, come out quickly!" Tian Ling'er immediately shouted inside.

"Uh, Junior Sister—no, Senior Sister, why have you come here?" Nan Batian's surprised voice suddenly came from within.

Then Nan Batian quickly walked out, looking at Tian Ling'er before him in astonishment.

"I've been waiting for you for two months. Why have you only come now? Did you break through?" Tian Ling'er asked.

"Yes, the Innate Eighth Stage. I've reached the Innate Eighth Stage too, and I'm about to catch up with you. Hahaha, by then, you'll be my junior sister again." Nan Batian laughed.

"Hmph, catch up with me? Keep dreaming. I'm about to reach the Innate Ninth Stage. Among the third-generation disciples of the entire Lingyun Sect, I'm number one in comprehension and number one in Root Bone." Tian Ling'er immediately declared with confidence.

Seeing Tian Ling'er's confident appearance, Nan Batian could only shake his head helplessly.

"Senior Sister, why have you come to me today?" Nan Batian asked.

"Why? Of course I want to ask you for a favor." Tian Ling'er's tone suddenly softened.

"A favor? You want to ask me for a favor?" Nan Batian's eyes widened as if he could not believe it.

"Of course. Will you help me or not?" Tian Ling'er immediately glared at him, her tone changing.

"I'll help, of course I'll help. You're the young lady of the Kaiyang Sect. Who would dare refuse you?" Nan Batian said bitterly.

Zhong Shan walked out of the kiln with a frown, a trace of helplessness flashing through his eyes. No, it really won't work. This kiln definitely won't do. Unless it is completely sealed, the internal temperature won't rise enough. But if it's sealed, no oxygen can get in. Without oxygen, the fire inside the kiln can't burn.

He gently pushed open the kiln door and slowly walked out of the great kiln with a troubled expression.

"Zhong Shan." The instant Zhong Shan emerged from the kiln, he heard a shout from in front of his small courtyard.

Zhong Shan looked over and saw Nan Batian dressed in black. He was holding a Great Guan Dao and standing not far away. A circle about a meter in diameter had been drawn beneath his feet, and he was staring at Zhong Shan with his eyes wide.

"Ninth Senior Brother?" Zhong Shan asked with a frown.

"Attack me with all your strength. I'll use only twenty percent of my power. Force me out of this circle, and you win." Nan Batian suddenly spoke with confidence.

Zhong Shan frowned upon hearing this, not knowing what Nan Batian meant. However, it was clear that Nan Batian harbored no ill will. Zhong Shan also wanted to see how much his recent cultivation had improved, so he immediately shouted, "Good."

With that, Zhong Shan picked up the great saber resting beside the kiln, gave it a light swing, and charged toward Nan Batian.

When he reached Nan Batian, Zhong Shan leaped into the air and raised the great saber vertically.

Heaven Splitting Strike!

He brought the saber down toward Nan Batian.

Nan Batian's eyes narrowed. He also raised his Great Guan Dao and met Zhong Shan's saber head-on.

"Boom~~~"

The sabers collided. Zhong Shan's body retreated slightly, while Nan Batian remained rooted to the spot. Zhong Shan did not stop; he swept his great saber across once more.

Slaughter Them All!

"Good~~~~~~~~~"

With a great shout, Nan Batian once again raised his Great Guan Dao to meet Zhong Shan's saber.

"Boom~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"

Zhong Shan was sent flying. He stabilized himself in midair and then looked toward Nan Batian again. As expected, Nan Batian was truly powerful. Twenty percent of his power? Was he really using only twenty percent?

Seeing that Nan Batian's feet were still inside the circle, Zhong Shan suddenly became competitive.

Steadying himself, he continued slashing toward Nan Batian.

Zhong Shan's sabers grew faster with every strike and fiercer with every blow. From outside the circle, he hacked viciously at Nan Batian. Inside it, Nan Batian wielded his Great Guan Dao in a seamless storm, swiftly blocking Zhong Shan's attacks. As Zhong Shan's saber swings grew stronger and stronger, Nan Batian's brows gradually drew tightly together.

In a corner not far away, Tian Ling'er stood with her brows slightly furrowed. She bit her lip and clenched her little fists, struggling to keep herself calm.

"Boom~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"

An hour later, Zhong Shan was drenched in sweat. But Nan Batian was too strong. Was twenty percent of his power truly enough to leave him helpless?

Looking at Nan Batian before him, Zhong Shan became even more ferocious. Today, I can't force Nan Batian out even when he's using only twenty percent of his power. How will I face the Sky Splitting Crown Prince in the future?

His resolve firm, Zhong Shan's eyes filled with determination, and he charged toward Nan Batian once more.

Nan Batian looked at Zhong Shan in surprise. From the power Zhong Shan displayed, Nan Batian could tell that Zhong Shan was only at the Innate First Stage. Yet the force behind his saber, that unstoppable momentum, seemed even more powerful than his own. Fortunately, Zhong Shan's actual strength was still far behind his. Looking at him, Nan Batian could think of only one word to describe him: a vicious man. He was truly a vicious man. Among those of the same level, Zhong Shan was absolutely a peerless vicious man.

Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique!

Heaven Splitting Strike!

The muscles on Zhong Shan's body suddenly bulged. He abruptly activated the Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique and brought down a fierce Heaven Splitting Strike toward Nan Batian.

"Boom~~~~~~~~~"

Nan Batian staggered. What was going on? How had Zhong Shan's strength suddenly surged?

"Boom~~~~~~~~~"

Taking advantage of the momentum, Zhong Shan showed no mercy. His ferocity emerged once again as he madly slashed toward Nan Batian.

"Ah~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"

After the time it took for one incense stick to burn, Zhong Shan delivered one final Heaven Splitting Strike and finally forced Nan Batian one step outside the circle.

"Whoosh~~~~~ whoosh~~~~~ whoosh~~~~ whoosh~~~~"

Nan Batian stepped out of the circle. Zhong Shan kept gasping for breath, clearly bringing the battle to an end. His hand trembled slightly around the great saber. Nan Batian's strength was too powerful, but he had finally forced him out of the circle.

Nan Batian was equally astonished after leaving the circle. I used only twenty percent of my power. Is this really the Innate First Stage? He's far too vicious.

"Thank you, Ninth Senior Brother," Zhong Shan immediately said.

Zhong Shan felt that he had gained a great deal from this battle. This time, Nan Batian seemed to have come specifically to serve as his sparring partner. Thus, he still had to thank him.

"No need. Zhong Shan, you're truly vicious." That was all Nan Batian said. Yet those words revealed everything in his heart.

Not far away, Tian Ling'er was also astonished to see that Zhong Shan had finally forced Nan Batian out of the circle. Originally, they had agreed that Nan Batian would deliberately lose and step out, but now it seemed that Zhong Shan had forced him out entirely through his own strength. Hadn't Father said that Zhong Shan's Root Bone was too poor and that he was unsuitable for cultivation?

"Hehe, Senior Brother is impressive too," Zhong Shan said with a smile.

"Don't call me Senior Brother. After all, the seniority rankings among fellow disciples in the Kaiyang Sect are constantly changing. Just call me Nan Batian, or Batian is fine too." Nan Batian laughed heartily.

"All right. May I ask what brought you here today?" Zhong Shan asked solemnly.

Clearly, Nan Batian could not have come for no reason just to serve as his sparring partner. Even an ordinary child who had just begun to develop intelligence could tell that things were not so simple.

"Speaking of it, I was forced into this," Nan Batian suddenly said with a shake of his head and a laugh.

"Forced?" Zhong Shan asked in puzzlement.

"Yes. I've come to apologize to you on someone's behalf," Nan Batian said.

"Apologize?" Zhong Shan asked in confusion.

"The sect master's daughter, Tian Ling'er, crushed one of your little wood carvings some time ago, didn't she? She felt guilty but was too embarrassed to come, so she asked me to apologize in her place." Nan Batian explained.

After Nan Batian finished speaking, Tian Ling'er clenched her little fists once again in the distance and watched Zhong Shan carefully.

"Tian Ling'er? Hehe, I never blamed her. If anything, I owe her an apology." Zhong Shan shook his head. After all, he had deceived her first back then.

"Is that so? In that case, that's wonderful. Tian Ling'er has just arrived. Tell her yourself." Nan Batian said.

Upon hearing this, Zhong Shan glanced around and understood. Tian Ling'er must be nearby.

Sure enough, Tian Ling'er once again rode the Red Silk down from the sky.

"Zhong Shan, I'm truly sorry for breaking your wood carving that day." Tian Ling'er apologized.

Looking at Tian Ling'er, who was young enough to be his granddaughter, with her pitiful expression and porcelain-doll appearance, Zhong Shan could not summon any anger even if he had possessed it. Besides, he had never blamed her in the first place.

"It's nothing. I was also in the wrong that day. Sit here for a while. I'll go get something, and consider it compensation for that day." Zhong Shan said. With that, Zhong Shan entered his small courtyard.

Soon, Zhong Shan took something out in his hand and brought it before Tian Ling'er.

"Here, take this. Consider it compensation for deceiving and offending you before." Zhong Shan said.

The object in Zhong Shan's hand was also a small wood carving, but it was carved in Tian Ling'er's likeness.

Tian Ling'er fell in love with it at first sight and immediately accepted it.

"You carved this?" Nan Batian asked.

"No. I carved it with this great saber when I was bored while practicing the saber arts." Zhong Shan said.

Nan Batian looked at the delicate little wood carving, then at the great saber in Zhong Shan's hand. After looking back and forth, he could only say, "You're vicious. Truly vicious."

Tian Ling'er, however, happily rubbed the little figure of herself over and over.

P.S. I'm trying to climb the rankings, so please vote and add this to your collection.