Wind Chasing Boots

"By the way, what cultivation technique do you practice?" Nan Batian asked at once.

"The Great Yang Divine Skill," Zhong Shan said.

Although he had already guessed it, Nan Batian still found it unbelievable. Could the Great Yang Divine Skill really be that powerful? In the end, he could only conclude that Zhong Shan was a ruthless man.

"I have Tian Ling'er to thank for that," Zhong Shan said. After all, he truly had Tian Ling'er's information to thank for being able to choose this technique back then.

"No need to be so polite. For the sake of this wooden carving, let's forget about our past unpleasantness. From now on, if anyone in Kaiyang Sect gives you trouble, just use my name," Tian Ling'er said proudly at once.

Now that she was familiar with Zhong Shan, Tian Ling'er's tone immediately became much more relaxed.

Looking at Tian Ling'er, Zhong Shan smiled faintly and did not argue. However, he did not agree with her in his heart. A grown man reduced to using a woman's name as a shield? That would be far too pathetic.

"By the way, I heard Father say that your constitution is very poor. How is it that you cultivate so quickly?" Tian Ling'er asked.

"Er." Zhong Shan looked at Tian Ling'er, feeling a wave of gloom in his heart.

"That's right. You cultivate pretty quickly. You're not at the very top, but you're not at the bottom either," Nan Batian said.

Zhong Shan then pointed out his enormous kiln for them to see. Afterward, he explained all of his cultivation methods.

Hearing about Zhong Shan's ingenious idea of building a kiln to practice cultivation, Tian Ling'er's eyes lit up. Her face filled with wonder, as though she wanted to try it herself.

"However, I'm currently working hard to break through the second stage. The second stage is difficult to break through, and this kiln seems to be reaching its limit," Zhong Shan said.

"The Great Yang Divine Skill is originally an Innate technique provided by Flame Mountain Peak. It requires cultivation in an extremely hot place to progress faster. Although the kiln is good, its temperature is certainly insufficient. But you don't need to worry. From now on, you can simply go near Flame Mountain Peak to cultivate," Nan Batian said.

"Flame Mountain Peak?" Zhong Shan looked into the distance, toward the place where the sky was filled with red clouds.

"That's right. I cultivate in a Mountain Cave over there. Flame Mountain Peak is actually a gigantic volcano. There's powerful geothermal heat inside it. Practicing the Great Yang Divine Skill there will bring twice the result with half the effort," Nan Batian said.

"A volcano? What about Snow Bamboo Peak?" Zhong Shan pointed toward another distant mountain. Snow was still slowly falling in some places on that peak.

"You can think of it as an iceberg. Within Kaiyang Sect, Flame Mountain Peak and Snow Bamboo Peak are one extremely hot and one extremely cold. They're two of our sect's great spectacles," Nan Batian said with a laugh.

"That won't do. I'm near Kaiyang Peak, while Flame Mountain Peak is very far from here. There may be countless demon beasts along the way, so I can't go there often," Zhong Shan said with a frown.

"Oh, wait here. I'll be right back," Tian Ling'er said at once.

After saying that, Tian Ling'er stepped onto Red Silk and flew toward Kaiyang Peak.

Before long, Tian Ling'er flew back down. This time, however, she had a pair of white boots in her hands.

"My father had these Wind Chasing Boots made for me back then. Once you put them on and infuse them with true qi, you'll be so fast that even those demon beasts won't be able to catch you," Tian Ling'er said at once.

"Indeed. The many demon beasts within Kaiyang Sect are actually raised by the sect to let new disciples temper themselves. Generally speaking, once you reach the sixth stage of the Innate realm, you won't fear any of the demon beasts inside anymore. You can't defeat them now, but with these Wind Chasing Boots, they won't be able to catch you. You'll be able to cross the various peaks quickly and reach that place," Nan Batian said.

"Mm, thank you," Zhong Shan said solemnly.

"You gave me this little wooden carving, so I gave you these Wind Chasing Boots. We can consider ourselves even," Tian Ling'er said with a smile.

Zhong Shan nodded without saying more. There was no need to say more; understanding it in his heart was enough. The little wooden carving was far from comparable to these Wind Chasing Boots. When I have the opportunity, I'll make it up to her.

"By the way, Zhong Shan, I heard Father say that you're not young anymore?" Tian Ling'er said at once.

"Eighty," Zhong Shan answered honestly.

"Eighty? Then aren't you older than Xiao Nanzi and me? You have to cultivate harder. Otherwise, if you die of old age before reaching the Golden Core Stage, that would be terrible," Tian Ling'er said in astonishment.

"Die of old age?" Zhong Shan looked at Tian Ling'er with a frown.

"Of course. People in the Innate Stage only have a lifespan of two hundred years. Once they reach the Golden Core Stage, it doubles to four hundred years. After advancing another level to the Nascent Soul Stage, they have eight hundred years. Every major advancement doubles one's lifespan. You're already eighty, yet you're only at the first stage of the Innate realm. You have only one hundred and twenty years left, so you must work hard," Tian Ling'er said at once.

"Mm." Zhong Shan nodded.

Immortality? I'm still far, far from it.

"How did you only reach the Innate Stage after cultivating for eighty years? Oh, I remember now. Father said that the spiritual energy outside is insufficient, so cultivation is slower," Tian Ling'er said after thinking for a moment.

Looking at Tian Ling'er, Zhong Shan shook his head and gave a bitter laugh. Although Tian Ling'er cultivated very quickly, her thoughts were still far too simple.

"By the way!" A trace of anxiety suddenly flashed through Tian Ling'er's eyes.

"What is it?" Nan Batian asked with a frown.

"Senior Brother is coming back today." Tian Ling'er immediately became somewhat anxious and worried.

"Senior Brother? The Senior Brother of the third-generation disciples?" Zhong Shan asked with a frown.

"No, the Senior Brother of the second generation. Ling Er worships him very much," Nan Batian said with a laugh.

"Hmph, Xiao Nanzi, don't talk nonsense. I'm leaving." Tian Ling'er glared at him, then flew away in great haste.

"The Senior Brother of the second generation?" Zhong Shan asked in confusion.

"Mm. He's the sect master's first disciple. Although Ling Er and I are third-generation disciples, Ling Er's father is the sect master, so she calls him something rather confusingly," Nan Batian said.

"Mm." Zhong Shan nodded.

"All right, I won't say more. This time, it isn't only the first disciple of the second generation coming back. Many others are returning as well, so it'll definitely be lively. I won't keep you company either. Cultivate well," Nan Batian said.

"All right." Zhong Shan nodded.

After Nan Batian left, Zhong Shan immediately sat cross-legged. After all, he still needed to recover after practicing the Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique.

The next day, Zhong Shan had completely recovered, and his body had become much stronger as well.

Looking at the Wind Chasing Boots in his hands, Zhong Shan gently slipped them onto his feet. The boots seemed to adjust automatically according to the size of his feet. They truly were excellent magic treasures. He infused them with true qi, slightly raised his foot, and instantly shot more than ten meters away. Looking at that step in astonishment, Zhong Shan discovered that his speed was more than five times faster than before.

With these, Zhong Shan no longer feared those demon beasts.

Zhong Shan also knew one other thing. Saber techniques did not merely require practice; they also required constant fighting. Therefore, whenever he saw a demon beast he could fight, he would fight with all his might. If he could not overcome it, he would immediately use the Wind Chasing Boots to flee back.

However, saber techniques belonged to external cultivation, while he cultivated the Great Yang Divine Skill internally. He still had to continue at once.

Carrying his saber, Zhong Shan fixed his eyes on Flame Mountain Peak in the distance and ran out with the Wind Chasing Boots.

At that moment, Zhong Shan was extremely fast. With only a light tap against the grass and trees beneath his feet, his body glided a great distance away.

By evening, Zhong Shan reached a forest. Once there, he discovered how unusual Kaiyang Sect's environment was. The area around his small courtyard was pleasant and temperate, but this place was scorching hot, as though it were the middle of summer. The farther inward he went, the hotter it became.

Indeed, the area near here was the best place for cultivation.

After eating some dry rations, Zhong Shan prepared to continue onward. Just then, another Mountain Cat appeared not far behind him.

Looking at the Mountain Cat before him, Zhong Shan smiled inwardly. Since that's the case, I'll try again.

He drew the great saber from his back and charged toward the Mountain Cat as it leaped over.

"Boom~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"...

Half an hour later, Zhong Shan was covered in blood. After he unleashed the Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique, the Mountain Cat finally collapsed at his feet.

He looked into the distance, then back at the road behind him.

After thinking it over, Zhong Shan made his decision. He took out the Mountain Cat's Inner Core and continued toward Flame Mountain Peak. Although the aftereffects of the Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique erupted half an hour later, Zhong Shan endured them with his powerful will. Moreover, with the Wind Chasing Boots, as long as he did not deliberately provoke the demon beasts, they could not catch him.

At daybreak, Zhong Shan passed through a secluded valley. The valley was extremely quiet and hidden. There was also a pond in the valley.

Looking at the cat blood on his body, Zhong Shan shook his head and ran to the edge of the pond. Only when he got close did he realize that this was no pond. It was clearly a hot spring—a volcanic hot spring.

Seeing this, Zhong Shan's heart leaped with joy. He quickly stripped off his clothes, jumped into the hot spring, and began washing himself clean.

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