Surging Strength

After quite a while.

At last, Qin Hao and the others arrived above Mangshan Village.

Looking down at the village below, Qin Hao sighed.

"We're finally here."

He had just personally gone through a great battle, yet the village below remained as quiet and peaceful as ever.

"We're here? Then sit tight! We're preparing to land!"

Following Zhong Li Dao's instructions, the Red Feathered Eagle began to descend slowly.

The Red Feathered Eagle slowly beat its enormous wings, each flap stirring up gusts of wild wind.

Before long, Qin Hao and the others landed on the ground.

"Let's stop here."

"Alright!"

The Red Feathered Eagle landed not far from Mangshan Village. As for why they did not enter the village, Qin Hao was afraid that a third tier demonic beast would frighten the villagers.

"Then we'll be leaving first, Qin Hao."

"Oh! Right, Qin Hao, you'd better come to the Imperial Capital before the end of next month."

"Huh? Is something happening then?"

Qin Hao asked doubtfully.

"At the end of next month is the Heavenly Dragon Guard's annual grand competition. With your strength, you can achieve excellent results. Don't waste this opportunity."

"Alright, I'll remember!"

"Mm! We'll be waiting for you in the Imperial Capital."

With that, he tossed an item toward Qin Hao.

"Here! There's a Hundred Spirits Bird inside this. Use it to send us a message when the time comes, and we'll come pick you up."

Qin Hao caught the box containing the Hundred Spirits Bird.

"Got it, Captain!"

"After some time, I'll head to the Imperial Capital!"

Qin Hao waved to Zhong Li Dao and the others.

"Alright! We'll be going first! Until we meet again!"

"Goodbye, Qin Hao!"

"Goodbye!"

"Farewell, Qin Hao!"

Everyone waved goodbye to Qin Hao.

With that, the Red Feathered Eagle beat its enormous wings and shot into the sky, soon vanishing from Qin Hao's sight.

"Ah, I can finally sleep. I actually did so much in one night!"

"Home, home!"

Before long, Qin Hao returned to his own courtyard.

Then Qin Hao began checking what he had gained that night.

Name: Qin Hao

Strength: Strength of two elephants 90000

Cultivation Art: Barbarian Bull Fist Max Level, Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art Level Two 0/2000)

Attribute Points: 5312

Bloodline: Divine Thunder Barbarian Dragon bloodline (1%)

His Attribute Points had risen to over five thousand!

Looking at the panel, he could still upgrade the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art once more.

He could not help sighing at how many Attribute Points were required to upgrade cultivation arts.

He had only raised the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art by one level, yet the required Attribute Points had increased tenfold.

He wondered whether it would also increase tenfold afterward.

"Congratulations, Host! Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art has been upgraded to the third level!"

A familiar sensation swept over him.

"Ah! It's still just as painful! But it's all worth it!"

Qin Hao knew that his strength would grow once again.

Qin Hao's body began turning crimson, heat steaming from all over him.

A terrifying aura radiated from his body.

His body expanded and contracted—expanded and contracted—repeating without end.

After quite a while, that heart-rending, lung-tearing pain finally began to fade.

"Ahh, it's finally over."

Qin Hao looked at his body, now much more muscular than before, and felt extremely satisfied!

Name: Qin Hao

Strength: Strength of two elephants 127000

Cultivation Art: Barbarian Bull Fist Max Level, Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art Level Three 0/20000)

Attribute Points: 3312

Bloodline: Divine Thunder Barbarian Dragon bloodline (1%)

Qin Hao looked at his panel.

His strength had increased by another thirty thousand.

"Not bad, not bad!"

Qin Hao was extremely satisfied as he looked at his panel!

Just as Qin Hao was rejoicing, a smell wafted from his body.

"Hmm? It stinks so badly."

Qin Hao looked at his body. It was covered in grime and all kinds of filth.

The impurities expelled from his cultivation, dirt, blood, and minced flesh had all mixed together, creating that smell.

"I should wash up. Otherwise, I won't be able to sleep like this."

With that, Qin Hao went to fetch water, preparing to bathe.

Ten minutes later.

"It feels much better after washing clean."

"Ahh, I'm sleepy. Time to sleep."

A wave of drowsiness struck Qin Hao, and he collapsed into bed and fell asleep.

Very soon, the next day arrived.

In the silent dawn, Qin Hao stood alone in the spacious courtyard of his home, his posture straight as a pine.

His gaze was firm, revealing boundless perseverance and determination.

The iron hammer in his hand weighed as much as a thousand catties, yet it seemed to have become part of his body, held effortlessly in his grasp.

The first ray of sunlight spilled from the sky, illuminating his resolute face. He took a deep breath, as though he wished to draw heaven and earth themselves into his chest.

Then he gripped the iron hammer tightly and swung it fiercely. In that instant, the air seemed to be torn apart, erupting with a rumble of thunder.

The iron hammer traced a perfect arc through the air, whipping up a gale that swept dust from the ground into a tiny whirlwind.

Every swing of the hammer seemed capable of smashing heaven and earth apart. Thunder rolled with every blow, shaking the heart.

The reappearance of the ghost race made Qin Hao feel a sense of crisis.

Gui Wuya from last night had merely been one among countless members of the ghost race, yet his strength had already made people click their tongues in amazement.

And he had only been an insignificant figure among the endless ghost race.

This made Qin Hao feel immense pressure, but fortunately, he now possessed the Body-Tempering System. He had the qualifications to contend with them!

His heart surged like raging tides. This is my strength, my battle, my life! I will use this immense power to shatter every obstacle.

"Since I, Qin Hao, have been reborn into this world, I will not live on in obscurity like this."

His figure appeared ever taller beneath the sunlight, every fall of the iron hammer filled with power and rhythm.

Each hammer swing was his control and release of strength, and every thunderclap was the roar and cry of his heart.

His sweat mixed with dust and streamed down his resolute face, yet he felt no fatigue. He knew this was a challenge to himself, as well as a promise to the future.

He wanted to become stronger, strong enough to protect everything. The dawn at the horizon gradually faded, replaced by dazzling sunlight.

Qin Hao's figure appeared ever taller beneath the sunlight. The iron hammer in his hand had already swung tens of thousands of times, and deep pits had been smashed into the ground, yet his movements still did not stop. Every swing was filled with power and determination.

His heart surged like the tide. I, Qin Hao, will use this strength to protect the people I care about!

Qin Hao thought of the ghost race from last night.

His strength was still far from enough! If the ghost race attacked again in the future, he would have to possess absolute strength.

Only then could he protect his Lineage and the people around him.

With the final thunderous hammer blow striking the ground, Qin Hao stopped. He raised his head to look at the sky, his face full of determination.

After a day of training, Qin Hao felt that his strength had increased by another tiny bit.

Though this tiny amount was insignificant before Qin Hao's hundred-thousand-plus strength, having something was better than having nothing. Slowly accumulating it would still bring considerable returns.