A Decision to Pledge Allegiance

Taking a different approach, Old Man Snow Mountain began thinking about how he could join King Lanling's Mansion.

"King Lanling is fighting Tiger Shark King Su Yuandong. He's currently directing his army at the border. It seems difficult to earn his favor through my own efforts alone!"

But if I could lead a large number of Martial Artists over to pledge allegiance, I'd surely be taken seriously. After all, in war, what you need is either top-tier powerhouses or a large number of cannon fodder!

Once he understood that, a wry look came over Old Man Snow Mountain's face.

He realized that the subordinates he'd gathered might have another use after all.

But the number of Martial Artists under his command still wasn't enough. He'd have to take over the other major factions in Nine Lions City, too!

With that thought, Old Man Snow Mountain didn't hesitate. He personally went out and slaughtered the leaders of every major faction in Nine Lions City, taking nearly the entire city in one fell swoop.

His subordinates finally numbered over ten thousand!

With the men gathered, the rest was simple. Under Old Man Snow Mountain's threats and inducements, the remaining Innate Martial Artists all pledged allegiance to him. They forced the Martial Artists under them to obey his orders and formed an army to reinforce King Lanling!

Before long, a vast army of Martial Artists set out for the border where Lanzhou and Qingzhou were at war.

At Black Wind Stockade, Shen Fan, who had been in seclusion for a month, suddenly opened his eyes. A terrifying aura burst forth from him.

The True Qi throughout his body no longer surged. Instead, it had all entered Shen Fan's Dantian, transforming into True Essence of a higher quality!

Compared to True Qi, True Essence was superior in every way.

In terms of quality, True Essence was like metal, while True Qi was like cotton. When the two clashed, True Qi would be crushed at the first touch.

Using True Essence would greatly amplify the power of Martial Arts, giving him at least ten times the combat strength of an Innate Martial Artist!

Shen Fan opened the Attribute Panel, feeling a little excited:

Host: Shen Fan

Talent: 38 (Rarely seen in a century)

Physique: Ice Spirit Body

Lifespan: 620

Martial Arts: Azure Dragon Transformation (Minor Accomplishment), Beast King Art (Great Accomplishment), Black Tiger Fiend (Great Accomplishment), Spirit Ape Transformation (Great Accomplishment), Cold Shadow Art (Great Accomplishment), Savage Bull Fist (Great Accomplishment), True Combined Strength (Great Accomplishment), Three Yuan Art (Great Accomplishment), Ape Strike Technique (Great Accomplishment), Thousand Mechanisms Hand (Great Accomplishment), Iron Shirt (Great Accomplishment), Startling Swan Art (Great Accomplishment), Great River True Scripture (Great Accomplishment), Sea Wave Fist (Great Accomplishment), Evergreen Cultivation Method (Novice)...

Realm: True Condensation, First Layer

After the Azure Dragon Transformation reached Minor Accomplishment, his realm had also advanced to True Condensation. His lifespan had surged by more than a century, and his talent had increased by four points.

Shen Fan felt he was getting closer and closer to the next level of talent.

Since he had cultivated four Xiantian Martial Arts—Cold Shadow Art, Spirit Ape Transformation, Black Tiger Fiend, and Beast King Art—his foundation at the Xiantian level was already deep. Although he had only just broken through to True Condensation, he was confident he could contend with Martial Artists in the middle and late stages of the realm!

Upon reaching True Condensation, the True Qi in a Martial Artist's body transformed into True Essence. True Essence was the most powerful energy the human body could produce on its own.

This realm marked the limits of mortals.

Beyond it lay the realm of Transcendence and sainthood.

As his cultivation entered True Condensation, Shen Fan gradually learned that the next Martial Arts realm was called the Samadhi Realm. It was an extremely important realm for Martial Artists.

It was also the foundation for Martial Artists to transcend the mundane.

Martial Artists accumulated True Essence in the True Condensation Realm. Once the True Essence in their Dantian was full, they could use their spiritual sense to draw upon the power of heaven and earth and ignite the Samadhi True Fire!

Of course, this Samadhi True Fire wasn't the immortal flame of legend. It was a mysterious flame born from the hidden treasures within the human body.

Once ignited, it could open the body's hidden treasures and unleash the potential buried deep within. This realm was the key to a Martial Artist's transcendence!

True Condensation was merely the foundation for the Samadhi Realm.

If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.

But True Condensation was, after all, the limit of mortals. Even across all of Lanzhou, Martial Artists at this level counted as minor powerhouses.

The strongest fighters of the renowned Qingcheng Sect were only at the True Condensation Realm.

That showed just how formidable Shen Fan's strength had become!

Shen Fan's foundation was deep. Though he had only just entered True Condensation, the True Essence he had condensed was more than ten times that of an ordinary Martial Artist. But the Dantian he had opened was also dozens of times larger than an ordinary Martial Artist's, so every time he advanced a level, he gained even more.

That was his advantage on the path to greater heights.

And with his Golden Finger, his progress wouldn't slow more and more as he advanced. On the contrary, it would only get faster.

This time, his talent had only increased by four points, but his cultivation speed had nearly doubled!

That meant he'd need less time to break through again.

From what Shen Fan could sense, each breakthrough within True Condensation would take him about a week. In roughly two months, he'd accumulate enough True Essence to fill his Dantian!

No one would believe such speed if he told them.

But it was true.

And only after reaching True Condensation did Shen Fan gradually begin to sense that his Ice Spirit Body seemed to have other uses.

All he knew was that when he cultivated, he could draw more energy from the outside world. That naturally made his True Essence refinement much faster!

Other Martial Artists at True Condensation couldn't cultivate quickly without replenishing themselves with Natural Treasures. But thanks to his Spirit Body, Shen Fan didn't need such external supplements.

Still, it would be great if he had them.

Shen Fan had a feeling he had only unlocked a small part of his Ice Spirit Body. He hadn't yet discovered what made it truly formidable.

But he would need to reach a higher realm first.

He kept the matter in mind.

Meanwhile, after a long journey with more than ten thousand Martial Artists, Old Man Snow Mountain finally got his wish and met King Lanling.

Naturally, that was because the ten thousand Martial Artists he had brought had greatly reinforced King Lanling's forces. Only then had King Lanling decided to meet with this Innate Martial Artist.

"Speak. What reward do you want?" King Lanling had a jade-like face, sharply defined brows, and bright eyes. He didn't look like a prince who had long held a lofty position. Instead, he looked more like a refined young gentleman.

Anyone who saw King Lanling like this would probably think the same.

But that was merely a disguise worn by King Lanling, Su Ming.

As a publicly known powerhouse of the Samadhi Realm, Su Ming had ignited the Metal Divine Treasury. The fact that he showed no sharpness meant he had already developed the Metal Divine Treasury to its utmost extent—and that made him all the more terrifying!

Old Man Snow Mountain was a notorious fiend in Nine Lions City, but before King Lanling, he seemed much more subdued.

"This humble one wouldn't dare ask for much. I only hope to serve Your Highness and do my utmost for you!"

"But I know my strength is lacking. I hope Your Highness won't disdain me for being incapable!"

Though he hadn't made a specific request, King Lanling understood what Old Man Snow Mountain wanted as soon as he heard him.

"Very well. In recognition of your loyalty, I'll grant you the position of third-rank retainer. I'll also reward you with a Barren Wood Art that can help you break through to True Condensation!"

King Lanling said it casually.

But Old Man Snow Mountain was overjoyed. He hurriedly knelt and offered his thanks.

Having obtained the True Condensation Martial Art he'd dreamed of, Old Man Snow Mountain felt as though he were dreaming.

He'd struggled for decades, yet he was worth less than ten thousand cannon fodder. One had to admit, choosing the right path mattered more than hard work!

At that very moment, Old Man Snow Mountain seemed to understand a great many things!