Heavenly Hammer, Earthly Furnace; Body Tempering Complete, Looks and Bearing Both Elevated-New Book, Please Support

He opened the first immortal aperture.

Ye Ping felt an extraordinarily wondrous sensation wash over his entire body.

Surging spiritual energy poured into his body like a mighty river.

The immortal aperture was like a spring, absorbing that spiritual energy.

What Ye Ping did not know was that, relying on himself, he had forged a cultivation path unlike any other.

Ordinary cultivators needed to refine spiritual energy after Qi Induction into Body. Because everyone's spiritual roots differed—or rather, every strand of spiritual energy differed—spiritual energy had to be refined.

That was the meaning of the Qi Refining Realm.

Yet when Ye Ping refined qi, he did not refine that chaotic spiritual energy. He simply "induced qi," allowing heaven and earth's spiritual energy to choose for itself. Those willing to enter his body came on their own; those unwilling did not need to come.

He had skipped the "qi refining" step entirely.

In other words, Ye Ping clearly had not even reached the Qi Refining Realm, yet he possessed an ability that only the Nascent Soul Realm could grasp: automatic cultivation.

And not only could he cultivate automatically, but for some unknown reason, his speed of absorbing spiritual energy was astonishingly exaggerated.

Perhaps it was because of the immortal apertures, or perhaps it was an issue with his constitution.

The spiritual energy Ye Ping absorbed in merely one hour might surpass Su Changyu's years of seated meditation and qi refinement.

Yet Ye Ping tried to open his second immortal aperture.

Every immortal aperture he opened would double his cultivation speed. His goal was not great—he would first open ten apertures, then cultivate.

But while dreams were beautiful, reality was cruel beyond measure.

Even after Ye Ping absorbed spiritual energy for three days and three nights straight, he could only barely open the second immortal aperture.

Trying to open ten immortal apertures was exceedingly difficult.

Fortunately, Ye Ping was cultivating in the Qingyun Mountain Range. The sect's disciples were not particularly high-level cultivators to begin with, so none of them noticed that the spiritual energy had suddenly grown much thinner. They merely subconsciously assumed they had been in poor condition lately.

Had it been a sacred land or a great academy, if Ye Ping cultivated like this, the others would likely have discovered something amiss long ago.

After opening his second immortal aperture, Ye Ping did not stubbornly insist on opening ten apertures.

Instead, he began cultivating the Primordial God-Demon Body Refining Art.

Within the Qingyun Back Cliff.

Ye Ping set about cultivating the Primordial God-Demon Body Refining Art.

He sat cross-legged and meditated upon the phantom of the Primordial Godfiend.

Ye Ping felt somewhat nervous.

After all, the Primordial God-Demon Body Refining Art was terrifying. He needed to draw upon the power of heaven and earth, turn it into a divine hammer, and pound himself. That alone would have been enough, yet he also had to use the earth as a furnace to temper his fleshly body.

But no matter how difficult it was, Ye Ping would not choose to give up.

He took a deep breath.

He began cultivating the Primordial God-Demon Body Refining Art.

Using qi to invoke the god.

Rumble!

A clap of thunder rang out between heaven and earth.

The power of the heavens condensed like a divine hammer and crashed down upon Ye Ping's fleshly body.

Within the Back Cliff.

Ye Ping's body suffered a terrifying blow. Starting from his brow, it cracked inch by inch. Yet shockingly, not a drop of blood flowed out. Instead, strands of black impurities seeped out like pitch-black syrup, giving off a foul stench.

It was an extreme pain, so painful that he lost all sensation.

Ye Ping only felt his entire body shudder before he could no longer feel anything.

At that moment, the two immortal apertures within his body spewed boundless spiritual energy, healing Ye Ping's fleshly body in an instant.

Threads of golden radiance spread out, covering Ye Ping's body and mending those dreadful wounds at incredible speed.

The next moment, Ye Ping came back to his senses.

Without another word, he once again used qi to invoke the god.

With the earth as a furnace, the temperature around him instantly soared. The black impurities were refined completely clean in an instant, turning into wisps of black smoke before finally vanishing.

Yet during the refining process, Ye Ping experienced an indescribably agonizing torment.

It was as though he had been thrown into a blazing furnace. Fortunately, the immortal apertures released surging spiritual energy, pouring over his fleshly body like an icy spring in summer. Otherwise, Ye Ping truly would not have been able to endure it.

The entire refining process lasted a full hour.

Ye Ping completed the first round of body tempering.

It was only one round, but Ye Ping's fleshly body had undergone a completely different transformation from before.

His skin had become finer and fairer, his appearance had been elevated, and most importantly, his bearing had undergone an indescribable improvement.

And this was only the first round.

Yet Ye Ping did not notice any of this.

After one round of body tempering, Ye Ping's only feeling was fullness.

A fullness of strength.

He felt that he could now kill a wild bull with one punch.

Unfortunately, the Qingyun Dao Sect had no wild bulls.

"Is this strength?"

Within the Back Cliff, Ye Ping opened his eyes and felt the power spreading throughout his body.

He dearly wanted to test just how strong he had become.

Unfortunately, there was nothing for him to test himself against.

Should I find Brother Luochen and test it out?

This thought surfaced in Ye Ping's mind.

But Ye Ping quickly shook his head and temporarily dismissed the idea. Brother Luochen was a Peerless Expert, after all. His little bit of strength might be utterly insignificant in Brother Luochen's eyes. Going over to test it might instead seem like he was showing off.

It was far too abrupt.

With that thought, Ye Ping immediately began his second round of body tempering.

Though the process was somewhat uncomfortable, the sensation of gaining strength made Ye Ping unable to resist becoming addicted to it.

Meanwhile.

Cloud Mist Mountain Range.

Two figures walked through the mountain range, both of them exceedingly cautious and not daring to make the slightest sound.

"Changyu, do you even know the way? Your master truly cannot take this anymore."

Within the mountain forest, Grand Hua Daoist asked anxiously.

They had already wandered through the forest for three full days.

Yet they simply could not find a way out.

How could Grand Hua Daoist not feel miserable?

It was hardly any better than being chased by demon beasts. Every moment, he was on tenterhooks, afraid that he might accidentally encounter a demon beast.

"It's this path. I remember correctly."

Su Changyu was not certain either, but he furrowed his brows as he looked around.

They had been trapped in the mountain range for three days already.

Though Grand Hua Daoist's injuries had stabilized, they still needed to hurry into the city and find someone to treat him. Otherwise, the injuries might leave lasting damage.

Thus, both of them were somewhat anxious.

Just as the two walked through the forest.

A group of figures suddenly appeared directly ahead of them.

"People."

Su Changyu called out.

In an instant, Grand Hua Daoist forcibly pulled himself together, enduring his discomfort as he put on an indifferent expression.

Su Changyu was even more straightforward, his face immediately returning to its aloof look.

Sometimes, encountering people in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range was even more terrifying than encountering demon beasts.

After all, birds died for food, and men died for wealth. Most cultivators who dared enter the Cloud Mist Mountain Range had their heads tied to their belts, all for two words.

Making money.

If they saw someone injured, there was no guarantee they would not harbor evil intentions.

Therefore, the two did their best to pretend that nothing was wrong. They even had to disguise themselves as experts to make the other party wary.

Before long.

The footsteps drew closer and closer.

The figures became clearer and clearer.

The two grew increasingly nervous.

They knew that this was precisely when they could not run.

Once they ran, the trouble would only grow greater.

At last, the group appeared before Su Changyu and Grand Hua Daoist.

Every one of them was imposing and spirited. Two elders led the group, both emanating powerful auras.

Their clothing was also remarkably uniform.

The words "Four Thunder" were embroidered upon them.

For a moment, both sides stared at one another.

Silence.