Crazy Cultivation

The cave was deep, very hidden.

This was one of the hiding spots Yan Kui had scouted and marked in advance after entering the Qingyun Sect. The entrance was concealed by natural shrubs and boulders, nearly impossible to spot from the outside. The cave was deep enough to evade ordinary Spiritual Sense detection.

But how long could this concealment last?

Yan Kui sat cross-legged in the depths of the cave, his back against the cold stone wall. He stripped off his upper garment and examined the wound on his back. The scorch mark left by the lightning strike was healing—the Crimson Extreme Golden Body Second Stage's self-recovery ability was already at work, with new muscle tissue regenerating beneath the charred black skin.

His gaze fell on the black jade slip before him—the <Heaven Shaking God-Demon Record - Third Layer Fragment>.

"Worth it," Yan Kui said in a low voice. "The risk of the second layer... absolutely worth it."

But he didn't immediately study this ancient secret technique. He knew this wasn't the time for it.

In the distance, faint traces of energy fluctuations could be sensed. The marks of Spiritual Sense probing—the Enforcement Team had already begun their operation.

The sect-wide alarm had sounded the moment he escaped the Scripture Pavilion. The entire Qingyun Sect had been roused. The Enforcement Team, Outer Disciples, and even elite Inner Disciples had been mobilized for a blanket search.

Yan Kui closed his eyes, extending his Spiritual Sense outward. He could perceive cultivators searching, tracking, and sealing off every corner of the sect.

"They'll find this place," Yan Kui said, opening his eyes with a cold glint. "It's only a matter of time."

Though this cave was hidden, it couldn't hold out long against a sect-wide manhunt. Maybe a few hours, maybe a day, maybe... the next moment, the Enforcement Team would break in.

So he had to make the most of his time.

"System," Yan Kui commanded silently in his mind. "Inventory the collected techniques."

──────

[Collected Technique List]

1. Profound Iron Body (Foundation Establishment Realm Body Refinement, Strength + Physique)

2. Indestructible Diamond Body (Foundation Establishment Realm Body Refinement, Physique + Defense)

3. Blood Fiend True Body (Foundation Establishment Realm Body Refinement, Strength + Physique)

4. Blazing Flame Body (Foundation Establishment Realm Body Refinement, Strength Specialization)

5. Wind Walk Technique (Foundation Establishment Realm Movement, Agility Specialization)

6. <Heaven Shaking God-Demon Record - Third Layer Fragment> (Ancient Body Refinement Secret Technique)

[Current Status]

Origin Power: 30.7

Strength: 12.0

Agility: 7.0

Physique: 15.0

──────

Yan Kui looked at the System Panel and made a quick judgment.

"Put Heaven Shaking God-Demon Record aside for now. Not enough Origin Power, and that technique requires more preparation." His gaze fell on the first five techniques. "First, train these five Foundation Establishment techniques to Minor Success. Boost base stats, increase combat power."

He could sense the Enforcement Team's search radius gradually shrinking. Time was running out.

"Let's begin."

[Starting cultivation: Profound Iron Body]

The system's prompt sounded in his mind. The next second, a heavy, metallic energy surged from the void into Yan Kui's body.

[Entering Beginner Stage...] (Origin Power consumed -2.0)

This energy didn't go through any buffer—it directly permeated his bones and muscles. Yan Kui could clearly feel a crisp "crack" from within his bones—the sound of bone density rapidly increasing.

[Beginner Stage success! Strength +0.5, Physique +0.3]

Muscle fibers began to restructure. His already formidable muscles became even denser, as if compressed and forged by some invisible force. A faint metallic sheen appeared on his skin.

[Continuing breakthrough...]

[Entering Minor Success Stage...] (Origin Power consumed -4.0)

Stronger energy surged in. Yan Kui's body trembled slightly, but he made no sound. This pain was nothing new to him—from a Mortal Warrior to the Crimson Extreme Golden Body, he had endured far greater agony.

[Minor Success Stage success! Strength +0.7, Physique +0.5]

"Profound Iron Body... Minor Success," Yan Kui said in a low voice, feeling the changes within. "Strength and physique both improved. My body feels heavier... but this heaviness is a symbol of power."

But he didn't stop.

[Starting cultivation: Indestructible Diamond Body]

A second wave of energy surged in. This time it was transparent, like diamond-like protective energy.

[Entering Beginner Stage...] (Origin Power consumed -2.0)

[Beginner Stage success! Physique +0.5, Defense +5%]

An invisible protective film formed on Yan Kui's skin. This wasn't true physical armor, but a reinforcement of some energy layer. It stacked with the "Ice Fire Yin Yang" defense effect of the Crimson Extreme Golden Body Second Stage, creating an even more terrifying defensive capability.

[Continuing breakthrough...]

[Minor Success in progress...] (Origin Power -4.0)

Just then, a faint energy fluctuation came from afar.

That was Spiritual Sense probing.

Yan Kui's eyes did not open, but his Spiritual Sense had already detected it—about three li from this cave, Enforcement Squad cultivators were conducting a grid search. Their Spiritual Sense spread out like a spiderweb, covering the entire area.

"Fast search." Yan Kui sneered inwardly. "But not fast enough."

He did not stop cultivating.

[Minor Success achieved! Physique +0.8, Defense +10%]

"Defensive ability strengthened again." Yan Kui felt the changes within his body. "Even Foundation Establishment Middle Stage spells will struggle to harm me now."

[Beginning cultivation: Blood Fiend True Body]

[Warning: This cultivation technique involves Blood Fiend power, may affect the mind]

A third surge of energy flooded in. This one was violent, bloody.

[Beginner in progress...] (Origin Power -2.0)

A murderous impulse surged into his mind. A flash of blood-red light flickered in Yan Kui's eyes—but it was quickly suppressed by his original ice-fire heterochromatic gaze.

His consciousness remained razor-sharp. The killing urge brought by Blood Fiend True Body was nothing to someone who had already endured countless slaughters.

[Beginner success! Strength +0.6, Physique +0.4]

[Continuing breakthrough...]

[Minor Success in progress...] (Origin Power -4.0)

From the foot of the mountain, shouts of battle suddenly rang out.

A raid in another area. The Enforcement Squad had found some hidden Outer Disciple and was encircling him. The shouts faded quickly—clearly, that disciple had been subdued.

A cold smirk curled at the corner of Yan Kui's mouth.

"Their efficiency... not bad." He murmured inwardly. "But unfortunately, they didn't find me."

[Minor Success achieved! Strength +0.9, Physique +0.6]

[Special effect: During combat, rapidly recover stamina by killing enemies]

"Blood Fiend True Body... truly sinister." Yan Kui felt the surging Blood Fiend power within him. "But this kind of killing force is exactly what I need. The path of extremity stops at nothing."

[Beginning cultivation: Blazing Flame Body]

[Detected: High compatibility with Crimson Extreme Golden Body Second Stage's flame attribute]

A fourth surge of energy poured in. Scorching flame energy churned inside his body.

[Beginner in progress...] (Origin Power -2.0)

[Beginner success! Strength +0.4, Flame Resistance +10%]

The flame energy within was further ignited. In the ice-fire interwoven texture, the flame side grew more dazzling. The dark red flame in his right eye burned hotter, its temperature seeming to multiply several times.

[Continuing breakthrough...]

[Minor Success in progress...] (Origin Power -4.0)

Another energy fluctuation.

This time, it was closer. The Enforcement Squad's search range was shrinking; they had entered this mountain area. Yan Kui could sense about a dozen auras weaving through the forest, their Spiritual Sense sweeping every corner like searchlights.

"Getting closer." Yan Kui did not open his eyes. "But still not close enough."

[Minor Success achieved! Strength +0.6, Flame Resistance +15%]

[Special effect: Attacks inflict burn damage]

"Flame Power... perfectly fused with Crimson Extreme Golden Body." Yan Kui felt the flame energy surging in his fists. "Now every punch I throw can burn my enemies."

[Beginning cultivation: Wind Walk Technique]

[Detected: Stackable with Spirit Snake Absolute Shadow (Movement Speed +50%)]

The final surge of energy flowed in. Cyan, flowing wind power.

[Beginner in progress...] (Origin Power -2.0)

His body suddenly felt light. As if gravity had halved in an instant. Cyan energy flooded into the muscles of his legs, resonating with the previously cultivated "Spirit Snake Steps."

[Beginner success! Agility +0.5]

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[Continuing breakthrough...]

[Minor Success in progress...] (Origin Power -4.0)

Just then, footsteps came from outside the cave.

Not one person, but a squad. At least eight people, moving along the slope. Their voices drifted in faintly:

"Have you finished checking this area?"

"Not yet. There are still a few caves ahead that haven't been searched."

"That Outer Disciple... must be hiding nearby. The Hall Master said he's injured and can't have run far."

"Speed it up! Elder Luo's order is to capture him alive!"

Yan Kui's eyes slowly cracked open a sliver.

[Minor Success! Agility +1.0]

[Special Effect: Wind stirs beneath your steps while moving, Speed +20%]

"They're here," he murmured inwardly. "Perfect timing... I've just finished cultivating."

[All five Foundation Establishment techniques cultivated to Minor Success!]

──────

[Current Attributes]

Strength: 12.0 → 15.0 (+3.0)

Agility: 7.0 → 8.5 (+1.5)

Physique: 15.0 → 18.0 (+3.0)

[Origin Power Consumption]

30.7 → 0.7 (-30.0)

[Technique Status]

Profound Iron Body: Minor Success

Indestructible Diamond Body: Minor Success

Blood Fiend True Body: Minor Success

Blazing Flame Body: Minor Success

Wind Walk Technique: Minor Success

[Effect Stacking]

- Ice Fire Yin Yang (Defense +50%, Spell Damage -70%)

- Extreme Path Domain (Three-meter range of ice-fire scorching)

- Spirit Snake Absolute Shadow (Movement Speed +50%, Fivefold Afterimage)

- Diamond Defense (Defense +10%)

- Blood Fiend Recovery (Rapid recovery upon killing enemies in battle)

- Blazing Flame Burn (Attacks carry flame damage)

- Wind Walk Boost (Movement Speed +20%)

[Comprehensive Assessment]

Current Combat Power: Comparable to Foundation Establishment Middle Stage peak

Defensive Capability: Can withstand Foundation Establishment Middle Stage spells head-on

Movement Speed: Difficult for Foundation Establishment Late Stage to track

──────

Yan Kui slowly rose to his feet, grateful that he'd killed several Qi Cultivation disciples chasing him during his escape earlier—otherwise, he wouldn't have completed this breakthrough.

In that instant, he felt earth-shattering changes surging through his body.

The energy of five cultivation techniques wove together within him, stacking and resonating. Though there was no grand fusion, this state of "multiple techniques running in parallel" had already skyrocketed his combat power to a terrifying degree.

He stretched his body.

His bones let out crisp "crack" sounds—the high-density bones brought by the Profound Iron Body. Every joint movement carried a heavy sense of power.

The lines of his muscles became smoother. Not mere swelling, but an increase in density. Each muscle was like steel tempered through a thousand strikes—compact and bursting with explosive force.

The ice-fire interwoven patterns on his skin grew clearer. The original deep blue and Dark Red Flames lines now had a faint metallic sheen layered over them. Under the light, these patterns seemed to flow, with vague Runes flickering within.

The ice-fire heterochromia in his eyes grew brighter. The deep blue cold light in his left eye seemed capable of freezing everything, while the Dark Red Flames in his right could burn all things. Two completely opposing forces achieved a certain balance in his gaze, radiating an extremely dangerous aura.

He tentatively took a step forward.

"Whoosh—"

His figure blurred instantly.

The Fivefold Afterimage effect of Spirit Snake Absolute Shadow, stacked with the speed boost from Wind Walk Technique, plus the massive increase in agility—the combination of these three pushed Yan Kui's movement speed to a terrifying level.

With just a slight shift, his entire body crossed several dozen meters, appearing at the other end of the cave. The five afterimages left behind at his original spot slowly faded.

"Speed... more than doubled," Yan Kui said quietly. "Even a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator would struggle to keep up with my movements now."

He clenched his fist.

"Boom—"

The air let out a sharp crack.

It wasn't a true sonic boom, but the sound of power compressing the air. Yan Kui could feel the terrifying force surging through his fist—the stacking of three cultivation techniques: Profound Iron Body, Blood Fiend True Body, and Blazing Flame Body, combined with the foundational strength of Crimson Extreme Golden Body Second Stage. The power of this punch was enough to shatter boulders.

More importantly, this punch carried a flame-burning effect. The air around his fist twisted faintly, the temperature terrifyingly high.

"Strength... 15.0." Yan Kui looked at his hands, a trace of satisfaction flickering in his eyes. "Physique 18.0, Agility 8.5."

"With five cultivation techniques stacked, even if only at minor mastery, my combat power has already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment Middle Stage."

He turned and looked toward the cave entrance.

The footsteps outside were drawing closer. The enforcement squad had already searched this area and was now checking caves one by one.

A cold smile curled at the corner of Yan Kui's mouth.

"Origin Power... only 0.7 left." He murmured in his heart. "Not enough. Far from enough."

"But it doesn't matter."

"The enforcement squad... came just in time."

"I need more Origin Power. And you... are the prey that delivered yourselves to my door."

On the hillside, eight Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivators were searching.

Leading them was a middle-aged cultivator in a cyan robe, a badge of the Enforcement Hall hanging at his waist. His Spiritual Sense spread out, covering an area hundreds of meters in radius.

"There are three more caves ahead," he said to the team behind him. "Search each one carefully. That Outer Disciple is 2.8 meters tall, with dark red skin and ice-fire heterochromatic eyes. His features are too distinct—there's no way he can hide."

"Captain, is that Outer Disciple... really that strong?" a young disciple asked. "I heard he can withstand Foundation Establishment Late Stage spells head-on..."

"The gate Elder said so himself," the captain replied gravely. "That's why the Hall Master sent all eight of us together. If we encounter him, don't fight alone. Trap him with a formation first, then attack as a group."

"Understood!"

The eight continued forward.

Soon, they arrived at the first cave.

The captain's Spiritual Sense probed inside, sweeping through. "Empty."

The second cave.

"Also empty."

The third cave.

Just as the captain's Spiritual Sense entered—

A terrifying aura erupted from within the cave.

It was an extremely dangerous, murderous presence. As if some ferocious beast had just awakened, staring at them from the depths of the cave.

The captain's expression changed instantly.

"Found him!" he shouted. "He's in this cave! Everyone, prepare for battle!"

The eight Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivators immediately formed a battle formation. Magic Tools gripped in their hands, spiritual power surging, ready to strike at any moment.

At the cave entrance, a dark red figure slowly emerged.

2.8 meters tall. His skin bore an eerie texture of interwoven ice and fire, layered with a metallic sheen. His left eye was deep blue like frozen ice, his right eye dark red like blazing flames. The gaze from those eyes radiated extreme danger and cold-blooded killing intent.

It was Yan Kui.

He stood at the entrance, his gaze sweeping over the eight cultivators before him.

Then, he smiled.

It was a cold, murderous smile.

"Eight," Yan Kui said quietly. "Just right... enough for me to recover my Origin Power."

The enforcement captain's heart jolted violently.

In that instant, he suddenly understood one thing—

This Outer Disciple had never been fleeing.

He had been waiting.

Waiting for prey to deliver themselves to his door.