Innate Fourth Stage

"Blood Bodhi?" Tian Ling'er suddenly cried out in surprise.

Thirteen fruits, growing on a vine, looked like strawberries. The fruits emitted a red light, as if highlighting their delicious and tempting appearance.

Heaven and Earth had spiritual fruits, and Zhong Shan had known this for a long time. The Kaiyang Sect, within his Flame Fruit Cave Heaven, also had a powerful spiritual fruit, and it was definitely much stronger than this one.

"Blood Bodhi?" Zhong Shan asked, frowning.

"Zhong Shan, Zhong Shan, put me down! This is Blood Bodhi. As long as I eat the Blood Bodhi, my injuries will heal immediately. Moreover, it contains a large amount of fire-element energy. Perhaps, perhaps I can break through to the Innate Tenth Stage," Tian Ling'er cried out excitedly, looking at the thirteen Blood Bodhi.

Hearing what Tian Ling'er said, Zhong Shan's eyes lit up. Blood Bodhi?

He gently released his grip and slowly lowered Tian Ling'er from his back.

As her feet touched the ground, Tian Ling'er's previously excited mood, for some unknown reason, suddenly felt empty. A sense of loss, coming from nowhere, flooded her heart.

She frowned, then quickly shook her head. What's wrong?

"Blood Bodhi, can it be eaten raw?" Zhong Shan asked Tian Ling'er, looking at the red fruits.

"Of course. You can eat it too, but you are currently at the Innate Third Stage. Eating it might be very painful, but the rewards will definitely be great. Also, you can only eat one at most," Tian Ling'er immediately said.

"Pain?" Zhong Shan looked at Tian Ling'er strangely.

"It's just that the energy is too great for you. It will be very painful when it impacts your body. My father said that although Blood Bodhi is not considered a very good spiritual fruit, its formation is very peculiar. It grows in volcanic craters, but not all volcanic craters have it. It seems there are many reasons, and I'm not sure about them. There are thirteen here. According to what my father said back then, I only need to eat eight to reach the Innate Tenth Stage, and it can also heal injuries. That's great," Tian Ling'er immediately said.

"Are there any side effects? Will it hinder future cultivation?" Zhong Shan asked solemnly.

"Uh, it won't for you and me," Tian Ling'er said after thinking for a moment.

"Why?" Zhong Shan frowned. Why did she emphasize herself and him? Could others not eat it?

"Because this Blood Bodhi belongs to a Yang-attribute spiritual fruit. You cultivate the Great Yang Divine Skill, so there's naturally no problem. I also cultivate the Lihuo Divine Skill, so there's no problem either," Tian Ling'er immediately said.

"Okay, I'll guard you. You try eating it," Zhong Shan said.

"No," Tian Ling'er suddenly cried out.

"Huh?" Zhong Shan frowned.

Looking at Zhong Shan, a hint of determination flashed in Tian Ling'er's eyes. "You eat first this time. I'll guard you."

After carefully looking at the serious Tian Ling'er, Zhong Shan smiled faintly and said, "Okay."

Gently, as Tian Ling'er instructed, Zhong Shan reached out and picked a Blood Bodhi.

The temperature of the Blood Bodhi was similar to boiling water, very high, but with his severe injuries at the Innate Third Stage, he naturally wasn't afraid of it. He held it in his hand and pulled hard.

Snap

The Blood Bodhi was picked.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle

A series of sizzling sounds followed. The vine that was originally connected to the Blood Bodhi instantly dried up and withered. The yellowing vine quickly shriveled and fell off.

"Once the Blood Bodhi is picked, this vine is useless," Tian Ling'er said from the side.

Nodding, Zhong Shan leaned against the wall, sat down cross-legged, looked at the Blood Bodhi in his hand, and resolutely opened his mouth. A Blood Bodhi quickly fell into his mouth.

Taking a bite, the Blood Bodhi was swallowed into his belly.

Upon entering his stomach, the Blood Bodhi suddenly transformed into a powerful surge of heat, as if roasting Zhong Shan's entire body from within.

Pain, it was truly painful. Before, the pain was from the outside in, but this time, it was from the inside out. In an instant, Zhong Shan's body was filled with fiery energy. Just one, only one Blood Bodhi, and Zhong Shan's body was like a furnace, his entire skin turning a fiery red.

Sweat poured down his face, but Zhong Shan knew this was a rare opportunity. The Great Yang Divine Skill circulated frantically within him, his True Qi following the cultivation pathways, circulating round and round.

Zhong Shan knew he had been careless just now. He shouldn't have listened to Tian Ling'er; that little scatterbrain didn't even know the situation herself. This, the energy within this Blood Bodhi was too immense. So immense that if it were any other Innate Third Stage person, they would immediately be roasted to death by the fiery energy.

If he hadn't constantly practiced the Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique, making his internal organs incredibly tough, he would have surely exploded on the spot right now. Even so, Zhong Shan felt as if his entire body was about to burst.

Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique!

Zhong Shan once again circulated the Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique, pushing with all his might within one hour. Otherwise, if the energy went out of control, he would be finished, exploded by the Blood Bodhi's energy.

Tian Ling'er saw the veins popping on Zhong Shan's body and his muscles suddenly swelling, and her heart was also filled with surprise. Tian Ling'er didn't know what was happening, she just felt that Zhong Shan was suffering greatly. She grabbed a towel, wanting to wipe the sweat from Zhong Shan's head, but she was afraid of disturbing Zhong Shan and didn't dare to wipe it.

Zhong Shan was breaking through with all his might, his True Qi circulating repeatedly, constantly refining and gathering. Zhong Shan was risking his life at this moment, because he knew that if he couldn't refine the Blood Bodhi's energy within an hour, it would be his death.

Persevere, persevere. Finally, with just the time it takes for one stick of incense left before an hour was up, he broke through.

Innate Fourth Stage, he had reached the Innate Fourth Stage.

Reaching the Innate Fourth Stage, Zhong Shan's heart relaxed, but he still continued to consolidate for a while, constantly solidifying the Innate Fourth Stage realm.

After the time it takes for one stick of incense, Zhong Shan felt pain all over his body. The aftereffects of the Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique had returned! However, everything was fine now. Innate Fourth Stage. Although the amount of True Qi was only thirty percent of that of the Innate Fourth Stage, Zhong Shan wasn't worried. He would be fully recovered in another day or two.

He gently opened his eyes.

"Zhong Shan, how was it? Was the energy immense?" Tian Ling'er immediately asked with surprise and joy.

Looking at Tian Ling'er, the words Zhong Shan wanted to say could only turn into a sigh of melancholy. Yes, it was immense, so immense that he almost didn't make it.

"Yes, Innate Fourth Stage. It's your turn now, but you should still eat them one by one, because I feel that this Blood Bodhi has too much energy," Zhong Shan nodded and said.

"Innate Fourth Stage?" Tian Ling'er's eyes lit up, filled with surprise and joy. It was as if she was the one who had just broken through.

"Wait for me," Tian Ling'er immediately said.

Quickly, Tian Ling'er plucked eight Blood Bodhi fruits. The eight vines also withered rapidly, making sizzling sounds.

Tian Ling'er followed Zhong Shan's instructions, putting them into her mouth one by one, slowly.

However, what made Zhong Shan sigh with emotion was that by the eighth fruit, Tian Ling'er actually said, "It's still not enough, Zhong Shan, give me one more."

With a strong sense of emotion, Zhong Shan gave Tian Ling'er the Blood Bodhi he had plucked, and it was even two of them, before Tian Ling'er closed her eyes and began to break through.

Ten, ten Blood Bodhi fruits?

Looking at Tian Ling'er, then looking at himself, the difference between True Qi and True Essence was truly vast. Moreover, he heard that Tian Ling'er had already reached the Innate Ninth Stage more than half a year ago!

Zhong Shan sat by the side patiently waiting, watching as a faint red glow appeared on Tian Ling'er's skin. The red glow against her smooth, fair skin gave her an even more radiant feeling.

Zhong Shan didn't explore the deeper parts of the cave. Now was not the time to explore. He patiently waited for Tian Ling'er.

Tian Ling'er took much longer to break through.

One day and one night, a full day and night, before Tian Ling'er opened her eyes.

Opening her eyes, Tian Ling'er's eyes turned into crescent moons.

"Zhong Shan, Innate Tenth Stage, you're at the Innate Tenth Stage!" Tian Ling'er immediately jumped up, excitedly grabbing Zhong Shan's sleeve while bouncing around.

Seeing Tian Ling'er bouncing, Zhong Shan smiled slightly, because he saw that the injuries on Tian Ling'er's legs were completely healed. They had actually healed completely during her breakthrough, fully recovered.

"Good, good," Zhong Shan could only nod and smile, being shaken by Tian Ling'er.

"Zhong Shan, let's go inside and take a look. There might be good things inside this cave," Tian Ling'er looked at Zhong Shan with sparkling eyes.

"Wait one more day," Zhong Shan said.

"Wait one more day?" Tian Ling'er looked at Zhong Shan strangely.

"Yes, rest for a day before going in. Besides, are you going in like this? Find a place to change your clothes," Zhong Shan said to Tian Ling'er.

Looking at herself, she was indeed in a sorry state, and for some reason, Tian Ling'er suddenly seemed to care very much about Zhong Shan's opinion.

"Really? Then you go out, no peeking, I'll change my clothes," Tian Ling'er immediately called out.

Looking at Tian Ling'er, Zhong Shan shook his head and smiled, then gently walked out. Wait one more day? It wasn't just for Tian Ling'er's appearance, but also because the aftereffects of his Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique hadn't ended yet. He should wait a bit longer.

Not long after, Tian Ling'er, dressed in a fiery red outfit, stood prettily before Zhong Shan.

PS: Recommended by Sanjiang, there will be another chapter at midnight.