Yang Lingtian raised the Low-Grade Spirit Sword and gave the air a light slash. A streak of Sword Qi appeared in the air.
This was Sword Qi that only a Spirit Sword could produce.
Everyone was stunned. Yang Lingtian had actually forged a Spirit Artifact.
This completely shattered their understanding of Yang Lingtian.
Without a doubt, anyone capable of forging a Low-grade Spirit Artifact was absolutely a First-Rank Artifact Refiner.
"I never thought Young Master Yang wasn't a good-for-nothing, but a hidden master Artifact Refiner."
"No wonder the family head values Young Master Yang so highly. The family head probably knew long ago that Young Master Yang was an Artifact Refining prodigy."
"He really hid himself deeply."
The others began discussing it among themselves again.
The way they looked at Young Master Yang had already changed. As a First-Rank Artifact Refiner, he could definitely earn the family's attention.
At that moment, Steward Xu came running over obsequiously, the contempt on his face from earlier completely gone.
"Young Master Yang, I was blind to Mount Tai just now. I never thought you really were a First-Rank Artifact Refiner."
"This is my apology. Please don't take it to heart."
Steward Xu took out ten thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones and stuffed them into Yang Lingtian's hands.
Yang Lingtian had never intended to hold a grudge, but since the Spirit Stones had come knocking, he would be a fool to refuse them.
He accepted the Spirit Stones directly and said, "Don't worry. I won't take such a minor matter to heart."
Only then did Steward Xu let out a sigh of relief.
He wasn't afraid of Yang Lingtian's status as the Yang family's adopted son, but he absolutely didn't dare offend a First-Rank Artifact Refiner.
After walking out of the Weapon Workshop, the system's voice suddenly rang out.
[Congratulations, Host, on obtaining your first Spirit Sword and taking another step along the path of the strong. As a special reward, you have received one Enlightenment Pill.] [The strong must constantly temper themselves through battle. A temporary mission has been issued: Within three days, travel to the Monster Beast Mountain Range and kill ten late-stage first-rank monster beasts.]
Yang Lingtian was slightly taken aback, then his heart filled with delight.
"This system is great. It gives me a reward just for making a Spirit Sword."
"This Enlightenment Pill is a fourth-tier Spirit Elixir, incredibly precious. It can't be bought in a place like Tianchen City."
"With this Enlightenment Pill, mastering martial techniques will be a piece of cake!"
Yang Lingtian was quite satisfied with the system's reward. It had even issued a mission, giving him another chance to obtain rewards.
However, the Monster Beast Mountain Range was the territory of monster beasts. If he wanted to hunt first-rank monster beasts, he could only stay at the outskirts.
A late-stage first-rank monster beast was equivalent to a human cultivator at Qi Refining Level 7 to Qi Refining Level 9. Thus, generally, only someone at Qi Refining Level 9 would dare hunt late-stage first-rank monster beasts.
For Yang Lingtian, who was only at Qi Refining Level 7, this was quite a challenge.
But as a strong person, how could he fear a challenge?
Thus, Yang Lingtian decided to immediately head to the Monster Beast Mountain Range and hunt monster beasts.
Unable to wait, he didn't even say goodbye to his family before setting off directly for the Monster Beast Mountain Range.
After hurrying along for more than a day, he arrived at this perilous Monster Beast Mountain Range.
This was a mysterious and dangerous world, filling him with intense excitement and anticipation.
Using the dense forest as cover, he advanced silently, doing his best to avoid alerting the monster beasts.
According to his senses, the monster beasts possessing formidable strength were all threats to him. He couldn't afford the slightest carelessness.
Relying on his caution and agility, Yang Lingtian avoided the monster beasts that appeared relatively powerful.
Soon, he locked onto one late-stage first-rank monster beast.
After confirming his target, Yang Lingtian began his hunt.
He slowly approached the late-stage first-rank monster beast, his steps cautious and steady.
Every step landed carefully, minimizing the sound he made as much as possible.
As he gradually drew closer, Yang Lingtian sensed an intense feeling of danger.
This late-stage first-rank monster beast was no ordinary creature. It possessed tremendous strength and keen senses.
However, Yang Lingtian didn't retreat. He took a deep breath, tightened his grip on the Low-Grade Spirit Sword in his hand, and continued forward.
The late-stage first-rank monster beast was huge and sturdy, shaped like a tiger, but covered in hard scales that gleamed coldly beneath the sunlight.
Its head was enormous, with a pair of sharp fangs, and it looked extremely intimidating.
The late-stage first-rank monster beast seemed to notice Yang Lingtian.
It abruptly raised its head, its yellow tiger eyes turning toward Yang Lingtian.
At that moment, Yang Lingtian had already launched his attack. His entire body shot toward the monster beast like a rocket.
The Spirit Sword in his hand tore through the air, a dazzling sword gleam flashing past.
This was the full-force strike of someone at Qi Refining Level 7. Combined with the enhancement of the Low-Grade Spirit Sword, it carried tremendous momentum and immense power.
The monster beast seemed to have predicted it in advance. Its body shifted slightly, deftly dodging the attack.
However, Yang Lingtian's attack didn't stop. Immediately after the first strike, he unleashed a continuous barrage.
Every attack was precise and fierce, aimed at ending the battle as quickly as possible.
But this late-stage first-rank monster beast was also extremely strong. If Yang Lingtian hadn't been wielding a Low-Grade Spirit Sword, he would have been defeated by it long ago.
The battle gradually grew more intense, and even the air around them seemed to tremble.
Yang Lingtian's attacks became increasingly dense, each one carrying a powerful sword wind.
The monster beast's counterattacks also grew sharper and sharper.
Left with no choice, Yang Lingtian could only unleash the Hundred Shadow Cold Sword, which he had just learned the basics of.
Although he had only reached the beginner level, the power of each sword had still increased greatly.
He displayed the swordsmanship he had comprehended to the fullest, every swing carrying a bone-chilling coldness.
In one clash after another, their attacks rose and fell in waves, while the surrounding trees and undergrowth were ravaged by the battle.
Soon, under the barrage of attacks, the late-stage first-rank monster beast began to falter.
Sensing danger, it began to flee.
But how could Yang Lingtian let it escape? He began unleashing his strongest sword, Hundred Swords Convergence.
This strike consumed an enormous amount of Spiritual Power, so he wouldn't use it unless the moment was critical.
Its power was astonishing, as though all his strength had been poured into this final sword.
The sword gleam blazed, and even the air trembled.
The sword was like lightning streaking across the heavens, carrying unparalleled might straight into the monster beast.
The instant the tip of the sword struck the monster beast, a miserable shriek rang through the air—the beast's dying howl.
In the end, the first late-stage first-rank monster beast died horribly beneath Yang Lingtian's sword.
The battlefield was already a complete mess. The surrounding trees had all been chopped down and torn apart.
After this battle, much of the Spiritual Power in Yang Lingtian's dantian had been depleted.
His body also bore a few minor wounds, but they were no cause for concern.
Thus, he first found a place to recover. Only after returning to peak condition did he continue hunting monster beasts.
After one fierce battle after another, Yang Lingtian's practical combat experience continued to grow.
His comprehension of the sword technique Hundred Shadow Cold Sword also advanced from beginner to minor mastery. Its power grew even stronger, making it much easier for him to kill late-stage first-rank monster beasts.
He had now killed nine late-stage first-rank monster beasts. With just one more, he would complete the system's mission.
At that moment, he discovered a group of people surrounding and attacking a late-stage first-rank monster beast whose strength was comparable to Qi Refining Level 9.
It was considerably stronger than the monster beasts he had killed before.
The people's auras were all at Qi Refining Level 8 or Level 7.
Clearly, they had fallen into a disadvantageous position. Without some other means, they would certainly be unable to defeat such a monster beast.
Yang Lingtian stood in the distance watching and had no intention of intervening.
Soon, they also realized that the monster beast was far too powerful and simply couldn't be defeated.
Although various wounds had appeared on the monster beast's body, they had suffered injuries as well.
If this stalemate continued, it would do them no good.
Thus, they decided to withdraw, and the battle finally came to an end.
The monster beast didn't pursue them either. It also knew that it couldn't completely defeat the group.
Seeing that the others had retreated, Yang Lingtian made his move.
With the speed of thunder and a striking force that left no time to cover one's ears, Yang Lingtian charged toward the monster beast with the Low-Grade Spirit Sword in hand.
His Movement Technique was as fast as lightning, leaving only afterimages in the air.
The monster beast sensed the danger and looked up at Yang Lingtian, then let out an angry roar.
At the same time, it launched an attack of its own and charged toward Yang Lingtian. The two immediately clashed fiercely.
The monster beast had just fought the group and hadn't recovered, so its combat strength had yet to return to its peak.
That was why Yang Lingtian dared to attack.
Even so, Yang Lingtian still couldn't suppress the late-stage first-rank monster beast at the beginning.
Then he directly unleashed the Hundred Shadow Cold Sword, each sword several times more powerful than before.
However, the commotion from Yang Lingtian's battle with the monster beast was too great, alerting the group that had left.
The group turned back.
When they arrived, Yang Lingtian happened to be using Hundred Swords Convergence to kill the late-stage first-rank monster beast.
[Congratulations, Host, on killing ten late-stage first-rank monster beasts. As a special reward, you have obtained Beast Tongue Mastery.]
"Beast Tongue Mastery? Why does this system keep rewarding me with such strange things? What use is this for becoming stronger?"
"But looking at it another way, doesn't this mean I'll be able to communicate with monster beasts in the future? Is the system trying to set me on the path of a Beast Tamer?"
"According to the original host's memories, this world seems to have Fox Demons, rabbit girls, and the like who can take human form. Those fluffy tails are incredibly alluring..."
"If I start raising them before they take human form... Damn, this could work!"
While Yang Lingtian was still immersed in his fantasies, several pairs of eyes were already fixed on him.
"He's so strong. He's only at Qi Refining Level 7, yet he actually killed a first-rank monster beast comparable to Qi Refining Level 9."
The group couldn't help exclaiming in astonishment when they saw this.
"A Spirit Sword! It's a Low-Grade Spirit Sword. The one in his hand is a Low-Grade Spirit Sword!" one of them said excitedly.
"What? A Spirit Sword? That's a treasure! Even a Foundation Establishment expert might not have one, yet someone at the Qi Refining Stage actually possesses one."
"Looks like he's probably the heir of some great family. Otherwise, how could he possess such a precious sword?"
At that moment, greed arose in someone's heart. With a vicious glint in his eyes, he said, "Who cares whether he's the heir of some great family?"
"This is a barren wilderness. If he dies here, no one will know."
"As long as we seize that Spirit Sword and sell it, won't we become filthy rich?"
"Why would we still have to toil here killing monster beasts for those meager Spirit Stones?"
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