Eight Extremes Beast King, Heaven Burning Martial Arts!

"Heh heh heh..."

The chilling laughter echoed through the dark mountain forest, startling countless birds into flight. Xiao Yao felt as though he were an unmatched demon lord breaking free of his shackles and descending upon the mortal world.

Having just broken through, he urgently needed a fierce battle to test his skills.

Xiao Yao's figure became a streak of golden light. After several flashes above the towering ancient trees, he had already penetrated a hundred miles into the inner region of the Monster Mountain Range! Without concealing his aura in the slightest, his terrifying pressure, far beyond that of a Dou Emperor, spread wantonly outward. Wherever he passed, beasts cowered and birds fell silent!

"Grandpa Lu, what are the characteristics of the first herb, the Silver Leaf Heart-Protecting Grass?" Xiao Yao asked inwardly as he sped forward at full speed.

Grandpa Lu's spiritual sense swiftly swept across the area within several hundred miles.

"Hmph. This grass favors places of extreme yin and usually grows in valleys where moonlight essence gathers. It will certainly be guarded by a magical beast skilled in moonlight power." Grandpa Lu's aged voice resounded in his mind, carrying a hint of instruction. "From what I can see, thirty miles west of here, there is a peak Fifth Grade Silver Moon Wolf King. Near its nest, there should be such grass."

"A peak Fifth Grade? A being comparable to a Dou Wang expert..."

A cold curve lifted at the corner of Xiao Yao's mouth.

"Perfect. I'll use you to test the first battle of this reborn body!"

Before his words had faded, he turned sharply, drawing an almost imperceptible golden trail through the air as he shot directly westward!

Within a deep ravine shrouded in pale moonlight, a gigantic wolf more than nine feet long lay lazily atop a boulder. Its entire body was covered in gleaming silver fur, as though it had been cast from white silver. Its eyes were shut, yet streams of pure moonlight power were drawn down from the sky and absorbed into its body. It was the ruler of this place—a peak Fifth Grade magical beast, the Silver Moon Wolf King!

Beneath it grew a small silver-white herb. Its leaves resembled willow leaves, except for the strange black line running down their centers, and it radiated a faint chill.

"Awooo—!"

Suddenly, the Silver Moon Wolf King snapped open its icy-blue beast eyes and stared fixedly at the entrance of the ravine. A low, threatening growl rumbled from its throat.

There stood a young man in fitted black clothing, his hands clasped behind his back as he gazed calmly at the wolf, as though looking at a lamb awaiting slaughter.

"Human?!" A halting soul fluctuation emerged from the Silver Moon Wolf King's mouth. "Your aura... is strong! But this is my territory. Leave at once, or die!"

As the ruler of this region, it possessed its own pride. Although the human before it felt extraordinarily dangerous, it was confident that, within this ravine and with the advantage of terrain, even a Dou Emperor would not be able to capture it easily!

Xiao Yao merely shook his head lightly, a trace of pity appearing on his handsome face.

"Beast, you talk too much."

His voice was calm, but his foot suddenly stomped down!

"Boom!"

The ground cracked apart in an instant, while his body shot forth like a cannonball. In the blink of an eye, he crossed several hundred meters and appeared before the Silver Moon Wolf King!

There were no flashy combat techniques, no dazzling Dou Qi—only a simple punch. Plain and unadorned, yet it carried a terrifying intent capable of splitting mountains, shattering rocks, and annihilating all things!

"You're courting death!"

The Silver Moon Wolf King flew into a rage. Sharp silver Dou Qi crazily condensed over its massive wolf claw, forming a terrifying wind blade dozens of meters long. It tore through the air with a piercing sonic boom and viciously slashed toward Xiao Yao!

Yet Xiao Yao turned a blind eye to it. His seemingly slow fist struck first despite moving later. His muscles and bones rang in unison as it landed with perfect precision upon the enormous wind blade!

Eight Extremes Fist · Collapse!

This punch was no longer merely a combat technique. It was a new fist art created by Xiao Yao, driven by spiritual power and incorporating the body-tempering foundations of the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts!

"Crack—!"

The fist struck, and the blade shattered.

There was no earthshaking explosion of energy, only a crisp cracking sound that made one's heart tremble.

The terrifying wind blade, which could have easily torn apart a Dou Wang expert's protective Dou Qi, was like fragile glass. Cracks instantly spread from the point where it met the fist, and then it shattered inch by inch, dissolving into countless motes of light!

"H-How is that possible?!"

For the first time, utter horror appeared in the Silver Moon Wolf King's beast eyes!

Before it could react, Xiao Yao's figure followed like a shadow, and his second punch arrived immediately after!

Eight Extremes Fist · Crack!

This punch was swift as lightning and fierce as thunder! Golden mana condensed over his fist, striking the air so hard that it caved inward and formed a visible fist imprint!

The Silver Moon Wolf King only had time to cross its claws before itself and pour all its Dou Qi into a silver shield of light.

"Bang!"

With a muffled boom, the shield shattered! The Silver Moon Wolf King's claws, harder than refined steel, had their bones smashed apart and twisted grotesquely by that punch! An unstoppable force passed through its claws and crashed viciously into its chest!

"Pffft!"

Its enormous body was struck as though by a mountain, flying backward in a miserable arc. It smashed through several towering ancient trees along the way, vomiting mouthfuls of blood mixed with fragments of organs that stained the ground dark red!

"Y-You... who exactly are you..." The Silver Moon Wolf King struggled to rise, but nothing remained in its eyes except endless terror.

The answer was Xiao Yao's ghostlike figure appearing above its head, along with the fist descending slowly as if it contained the weight of the entire world.

Eight Extremes Fist · Settle!

Three moves!

Only three moves! A peak Fifth Grade Silver Moon Wolf King, comparable to a Dou Wang expert, was beaten to death by Xiao Yao using nothing but the pure power of his body!

Expressionless, Xiao Yao removed its Magic Core, plucked the Silver Leaf Heart-Protecting Grass, and turned to leave. He left behind only devastation, as though nothing had happened.

After the time it took to burn an incense stick, Xiao Yao appeared in another valley.

This place was filled with a dense earthy stench and the smell of blood. According to Grandpa Lu's guidance, another supplementary ingredient for refining the Human-Supplementing Immortal Pill, the Spirit-Descending Immortal Grass, grew here and was guarded by two peak Fifth Grade magical beasts, Earth King Bears.

Xiao Yao's soul power swept through the area, and his brows furrowed slightly. Deep within the valley, inside a vast cave, he saw a mountain-like pile of white bones. Most of them were human remains, and he could even see shattered mercenary badges among them.

"So that's... a bear's nature." A cold killing intent flashed through Xiao Yao's eyes. "The weak are prey to the strong. Natural selection. The laws of this world are far more naked and cruel than I imagined."

Those not of my kind are sure to harbor different hearts.

"Roar!"

Two enormous black shadows rushed out from the cave. They were the two Earth King Bears, one male and one female. Having smelled the scent of a living human, bloodthirsty light flickered in their bear eyes, which were filled with violence and greed.

This time, Xiao Yao gave them no chance whatsoever.

"Since you feed on humans, then today, your lives will pave the way for my immortal pill."

He raised his right hand. Golden mana gathered in his palm, not forming into a fist but transforming into layers of profound runes.

Immortal Technique · Sky-Burning Martial Display!

This was the first offensive immortal technique he had comprehended himself by visualizing the Samadhi True Fire within his Sea of Consciousness and combining it with the mana circulation paths of the Great Grade Heavenly Immortal Art!

In an instant, golden flames sprang into existence and formed a blazing spear before him! Xiao Yao gripped the spear and moved. Like a war god stepping out from an ancient battlefield, he unleashed a spear art brimming with murderous intent!

The spear moved like a dragon, and flames surged into the heavens!

Before the golden flames, the rock-like hides and protective Dou Qi that the defense-renowned Earth King Bears took such pride in were no stronger than paper. They were pierced and set ablaze in an instant!

They did not even have time to let out a scream before, beneath the countless spear shadows, they were burned into nothingness by those utterly tyrannical golden flames!

One move, instant kill!

Xiao Yao withdrew the immortal technique and walked calmly into the cave. Ignoring the grim white bones, he took the Spirit-Descending Immortal Grass growing at the deepest point of the cave, its strange fragrance wafting through the air.

"Grandpa Lu, I have obtained two of the herbs. What am I still missing?"

"The main ingredient. You still lack a catalyst containing immense origin energy, one that can balance the medicinal properties and make up for the final trace of imperfection in your Innate Dao Body." Grandpa Lu's voice sounded again. "Kid, do you know why the eastern region of the Monster Mountain Range is shrouded in purple miasma all year round and is scorching hot?"

Xiao Yao's mind stirred, and a name instantly surfaced in his thoughts.

"The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King!"

"Correct!" Grandpa Lu said approvingly. "That Sixth Grade lion magical beast possesses an innate accompanying wonder. Its accompanying Purple Crystal Source is the best catalyst you need! Go. Once you obtain the Purple Crystal Source, we can begin refining the pill!"

"Alright!"

A sharp light burst from Xiao Yao's eyes. Without further hesitation, his body transformed into a golden rainbow that tore through the sky, descending forcefully toward the volcanic region in the eastern Monster Mountain Range!

Lion King, now there was a truly familiar old acquaintance.