The First Time He Had Been So Frustrated

The Stone of Enlightenment Fragment in Luo Heng's palm emitted a faint glow, and the profound patterns on its surface seemed to come alive.

Within his Niwan Palace, the Myriad Law Seal sensed the aura of the Stone of Enlightenment and began spinning faster, emitting golden halos.

"System, bring up my Personal Panel," Luo Heng said.

[Host: Luo Heng]

[Age: Sixteen]

[Cultivation: Late Earthen Yuan Stage]

[Techniques: Great Devouring Art (Beginner Chapter · 38%), Qi Guiding Art (Second Grade)]

[Martial Arts: Soaring Dragon Steps (Self-Created · Third Grade, Mastery), Mountain-Shaking Palm (First Grade, Perfected), Gale Sword (Second Grade, Perfected), Flowing Cloud and Soaring Goose Steps (Ninth Grade, Second Realm 'Soaring Goose' Proficient), Tiangang Thunderclap Fist (Ninth Grade, fifth form 'Thunder Moves the Nine Heavens' Beginner)]

[Spiritual Power: Two-Seal Symbol Master (Myriad Law Seal)]

[Spiritual Secret Art: Myriad Techniques Spirit Needle (Refined Grade, Minor Mastery, Can Condense Nine Needles)]

[Origin Divine Skill: Great Devouring Art]

[Storage Space: Yang Yuan Pills ×23, Yang Yuan Stones ×1023, Body Tempering Pills ×15, Qi Nourishing Pills ×18, Qingxuan Sword (Mortal Grade Top Quality), Stone of Enlightenment Fragment ×1, Second-Grade Talisman Paper ×18, Concentration Incense ×5, Fire Cloud Ganoderma ×1, Cold Sword Grass ×1, Black Iron Demon Leopard Demon Spirit (Fragment) ×1, Lei Clan Guards' Spatial Pouches ×5 (Unsorted)...]

Luo Heng's expression did not change as he looked at his status panel.

Over the past few days, his cultivation had reached the peak of the Late Earthen Yuan Stage. He was only a single step away from the Heaven Yuan Realm.

The Flowing Cloud and Soaring Goose Steps had reached the second realm, "Soaring Goose," at the proficient level. His movement speed far surpassed those of the same realm.

The Tiangang Thunderclap Fist had even been cultivated to its fifth form, "Thunder Moves the Nine Heavens."

There was even less need to mention his Spiritual Power. He was a Two-Seal Symbol Master, and the Myriad Techniques Spirit Needle had reached Minor Mastery, allowing him to condense nine needles at once.

But none of that was enough.

Against a behemoth like the Blood Wolf Gang, against Yue Shan at the Great Perfection of the Core Formation Realm, his current strength was still far from sufficient.

"I can't rely too heavily on the system's daily sign-ins. The system is only an aid. True powerhouses rely on their own comprehension and hard work." Luo Heng began to ponder.

Back when he had no system, he had created the Third-Grade movement technique, Soaring Dragon Steps, while still in the Body Tempering Realm. What had carried him then was his extraordinary comprehension.

And now, with the Myriad Law Seal's abilities of Analysis and Deduction, along with the Stone of Enlightenment Fragment's assistance, his comprehension had already reached an utterly terrifying level.

"Just wait. If I don't wipe out your Blood Wolf Gang, then my surname isn't Luo!" Luo Heng muttered. This was the first time he had held a grudge. Before this, he had always settled things on the spot.

After that, Luo Heng placed the Stone of Enlightenment Fragment against his brow and immersed his consciousness within it.

Buzz...

In an instant, he felt as though he had been placed beneath a vast starry sky.

Countless stars glittered, and every one of them represented a martial art, a cultivation technique, or a talisman rune...

The Myriad Law Seal operated at full force. Its power of Analysis surged out like a tide, crazily absorbing and analyzing the profound truths contained within those stars.

At the same time, Luo Heng began to deduce everything he had learned within his mind.

Time flew by in cultivation, and Luo Heng forgot all about food and sleep.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Aside from performing his daily sign-ins, Luo Heng spent all three days cultivating. Although the Earthen Yuan Stage did not yet allow one to go without food, skipping meals for several days was no issue at all.

The Symbol Master Association's disciples often passed by and could sense the increasingly terrifying fluctuations of aura coming from the Bamboo House.

Master Yan came by once. After standing outside the Bamboo House and sensing the aura for a while, shock flashed through his eyes. Then he shook his head with a soft laugh and said nothing, merely instructing everyone not to disturb him.

Zi Yue would stand quietly in the distance for a while every day, her cool eyes filled with complicated emotions. It seemed Yue Feng had dealt her quite a blow. Hopefully, she would be all right.

On the fourth day, at dawn.

Inside the Bamboo House.

Luo Heng slowly opened his eyes. At that instant, a streak of golden light flashed through them.

At that same instant, the entire Bamboo House seemed to brighten.

"It worked."

Luo Heng murmured softly, a satisfied curve rising at the corner of his lips.

Over the past three days, he had gone without sleep or rest. With the Stone of Enlightenment Fragment and the Myriad Law Seal, he had deduced everything he knew to an entirely new height.

[Flowing Cloud and Soaring Goose Steps · Third Realm "Flowing Cloud and Soaring Goose": The pinnacle of movement arts. With a thought, become flowing clouds; with a thought, become a soaring goose. Can achieve an effect nearly like teleportation over short distances, but consumes immense amounts of Primal Energy and Spiritual Power.]

[Tiangang Thunderclap Fist · Sixth Form "Tiangang Thunder Prison": Transform the fist into a prison and draw upon the power of lightning from the nine heavens, forming a small lightning domain to trap and kill enemies within it. The might of this form rivals a mastered Eighth-Grade martial art.]

[The Myriad Techniques Spirit Needle had also reached Major Mastery. He could now condense eighteen spirit needles, with power comparable to a Qi Stage spiritual secret art.]

More importantly, the bottleneck at the peak of his Late Earthen Yuan Stage had loosened during these three days of extreme Deduction and comprehension.

All he needed was an opportunity and Yang Essence Qi to break through to the Heaven Yuan Realm!

Luo Heng rose to his feet and stretched his body, producing a series of popping sounds.

Primal Energy surged through his body like the Yangtze River, rumbling softly.

"Now, it's time to visit the Symbol Master Tower again."

He pushed open the bamboo door and walked out. After three days, he finally saw the sun again.

Luo Heng's aura had become even more restrained, yet even more unfathomable.

Outside the Bamboo House, several Symbol Master Association disciples who happened to be passing by froze when they saw Luo Heng.

"Senior Brother Luo has come out of seclusion?"

"It feels... like he's completely different from three days ago."

"What a profound aura. I can't see through him at all..."

It was no surprise that some called Luo Heng Senior Brother. After all, the capable came first. If you were stronger than someone else, they would naturally be willing to call you Senior Brother.

Luo Heng gave them a slight nod before walking straight toward the Symbol Master Tower.

There were still quite a few disciples cultivating or exchanging insights before the Symbol Master Tower.

When they saw Luo Heng approaching, everyone's attention focused on him.

"Senior Brother Luo!"

"Greetings, Senior Brother Luo!"

Many disciples saluted respectfully, their eyes filled with awe.

The miracle at the Symbol Master Tower three days ago had already made Luo Heng famous throughout the Symbol Master Association.

Luo Heng nodded in return to each of them without slowing down, quickly arriving before the tower gate.

The tower gate opened automatically. Luo Heng did not hesitate as he stepped into the Symbol Master Tower, where the familiar spiritual pressure rushed toward him.

But this time, the pressure Luo Heng felt was far less intense than it had been the first time.

He did not stop and headed directly upward.

First floor, second floor, third floor...

He was not moving quickly, but every step was steady, as though the tower's spiritual pressure was nothing more than a breeze brushing his face.

Fourth floor, Fifth Floor...

"Damn, such a freak was actually right beside me!"

"Holy shit, he went straight up to the Fifth Floor like that?! He's so fast!"

"How many days has it been? His adaptability is way too terrifying!"

The disciples outside the tower discussed it fervently, and the news spread quickly.

Master Yan, Zi Yue, Han Chong, and the others gathered before the tower once more.

"This kid..." Master Yan stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes full of anticipation.

Zi Yue's eyes remained fixed on the light point on the Fifth Floor as she secretly thought, How far can you go this time?

Inside the tower, Fifth Floor.

Luo Heng sensed the spiritual pressure here and nodded slightly.

"Much easier than last time."

He did not linger and continued upward. This place was no longer enough to hold him for long.

Sixth Floor.

When the light point on the Sixth Floor lit up, a wave of low gasps rose outside the tower.

"The Sixth Floor! So fast!"

"How long has it even been? Not even the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, right?"

"A monster..."

Luo Heng paused briefly on the Sixth Floor, taking a moment to adapt to the pressure here.

The pressure here was indeed several times stronger than on the Fifth Floor, but it was still within the range he could endure.

His gaze fell upon the stairs leading to the Seventh Floor.

Last time, he had been defeated here and forced back by Spiritual Thunder.

But this time...

A sharp light flashed through Luo Heng's eyes as he stepped onto the stairs.

"He's going to challenge the Seventh Floor!" someone outside the tower cried out.

Everyone's hearts leaped into their throats. The Seventh Floor was a realm even Zi Yue had never set foot in. It was where the threshold for a Three-Mark Rune Master lay!

Master Yan's expression was solemn, but he was also filled with hope that this kid could break through.

On the stairs, Luo Heng's steps remained remarkably steady.

However, the higher he went, the stronger the spiritual pressure became. When he neared the entrance to the Seventh Floor, that violent, viscous pressure descended upon him once more.

But this time, Luo Heng had come prepared.

Within his Niwan Palace, the Myriad Law Seal shone brilliantly in golden light, transforming into an invisible barrier that blocked out most of the pressure.

The Great Devouring Art quietly circulated, continuously devouring and refining the pressure that seeped through, replenishing his expenditure.

One step, two steps, three steps...

At last, Luo Heng entered the Seventh Floor's range!

Boom!

A spiritual pressure as violent as a raging sea crashed down upon him!

It was more than several times stronger than the pressure on the Sixth Floor!

The air was as thick as glue, and every breath became incomparably difficult.

Fine bolts of golden lightning also formed in the void, striking toward Luo Heng!

This was lightning that attacked the spiritual origin directly!

Last time, Luo Heng had been driven back by this lightning.

But this time, there was not the slightest trace of fear in his eyes.

"Myriad Techniques Spirit Needle: Ward!"

With a thought, eighteen pale golden spirit needles flew from his Niwan Palace and spun around him, forming an impenetrable Needle Array.

The golden lightning struck the Needle Array with sizzling sounds, but the array continuously wore it down and broke it apart.

At the same time, the Great Devouring Art within Luo Heng's body circulated at full force. The black vortex spun wildly, continuously devouring and refining the spiritual pressure and lightning power that seeped in.

These violent forces instead became nourishment for tempering his Spiritual Power!

"It really works." A trace of delight flashed through Luo Heng's eyes.

The Myriad Law Seal's power of Analysis allowed him to see through the operating patterns of the Seventh Floor's spiritual pressure and lightning, while the Great Devouring Art's devouring properties allowed him to turn these attacking forces to his own use.

He sat down cross-legged and began cultivating amid the Seventh Floor's terrifying environment.

Second by second, time passed.

Outside the tower, the light point on the Seventh Floor remained steadily lit and no longer fell.

"He... he succeeded?!" someone said in a trembling voice.

"Senior Brother Luo has managed to remain on the Seventh Floor!"

"My heavens... he actually did it!"

Master Yan let out a long breath, his aged face filled with gratification and excitement.

"The Seventh Floor... This kid is truly monstrous!"

For the first time, shock appeared on Zi Yue's cool, beautiful face.

She understood all too well how terrifying the Seventh Floor was. It was a forbidden zone that even she had only been able to look upon from afar.

Yet Luo Heng had not only made it up there, but could even remain inside and cultivate...

This level of strength had already completely surpassed her!