Deep down.
Teng Qingshan still felt a stronger connection to his experiences in the first two worlds.
In the first world, Teng Qingshan had Little Cat, whom he loved with all his heart, as well as his younger brother, Qinghe.
In the second world, Teng Qingshan had spent five hundred years there, advancing step by step from an ordinary boy in a mountain village to a Supreme Powerhouse. He had also met the pure and beautiful Zhuge Qing, who seemed like a fairy descended to earth. But fate had been cruel: Zhuge Qing had died in his arms, becoming a regret that would haunt Teng Qingshan forever.
"Fortunately, there's always a way forward. In this life, I'll cultivate even harder and reach the great realm of reversing time and bringing the dead back to life as soon as possible!"
Teng Qingshan opened his eyes and gazed at the distant sky, silently making up his mind.
But this world was vast beyond measure. How could reaching such a realm be easy?
Besides, Teng Qingshan wasn't sure that becoming a Universe Master would let him bring Little Cat and Zhuge Qing back to life.
After all, the images transmitted by the Little Cauldron had been few, and the information they recorded was vague.
He could only be sure that it was possible to resurrect the dead in this universe.
But the Nine Provinces Continent was another world...
Perhaps even the realm of a Universe Master wouldn't be enough to bring Little Cat and Zhuge Qing back.
Still, he had seen hope of bringing them back to life—and there were realms beyond that of a Universe Master.
So there was hope!
Looking out at Yi'an District beneath the blazing sun, Teng Qingshan silently clenched his fists.
In his previous life, becoming a Supreme Powerhouse had meant enduring countless battles and bloodshed.
In this life, he wanted to become a powerhouse far beyond the realm of a Supreme Powerhouse.
He could only imagine how much brutal fighting and conflict that would take.
But Teng Qingshan wasn't afraid!
Deep down, he was the kind of person who leaned toward madness.
Madly cultivate!
Madly fight!
He turned his gaze away.
Teng Qingshan continued cultivating.
Using the Samsara Guidance Technique he had just created, he began refining the Genetic Origin Energy.
He settled into the Five Hearts Toward Heaven Method posture and activated the Samsara Guidance Technique.
Whoosh~~~
Teng Qingshan felt the Cosmic Energy between heaven and earth begin surging toward him.
The speed was astonishing, and so was the sheer volume of energy.
Even Teng Qingshan was stunned!
"This... This is at least a hundred times more energy than before!"
The pavilion halfway up South Mountain had become the heart of an energy vortex!
Cosmic Energy from the surrounding area rushed toward it with a roar.
And Teng Qingshan had become the vortex's core!
"If before it was a trickling stream, now it's a mighty river!"
The Cosmic Energy poured in with almost violent force. Even Teng Qingshan was taken aback by the sheer amount.
"Besides, while my cells are absorbing and converting energy, they're also burning through it at a high rate. They can absorb much more, too. With this Samsara Guidance Technique, I can build up energy much, much faster."
Even with that enormous flow of Cosmic Energy pouring into him, Teng Qingshan's powerful consciousness handled it with ease. He only needed to devote a portion of his attention to guiding it.
Time passed.
An hour went by.
Then two.
The surging Cosmic Energy continued to stream toward Teng Qingshan.
At last, after two and a half hours, the vortex of energy around him slowly dispersed.
"Phew."
"That was an invigorating cultivation session!"
Even the usually unflappable Teng Qingshan was shaken by the Samsara Guidance Technique's powerful effect.
"Cultivating like this for a day is every bit as effective as spending dozens of days with the Five Hearts Toward Heaven Method alone! Now I can raise my physical strength as much as I want."
Thanks to his strong will and consciousness, Teng Qingshan adapted quickly to the sudden increase in his physical strength and brought it completely under control.
After all, in his previous life, once he broke through to become a Supreme Powerhouse, his raw physical strength had reached an incredible level. He could shatter space with ease.
His physical strength was still a long way from that level, so he had no trouble controlling it.
Once his cells were completely saturated, Teng Qingshan rose and walked over to the nearby cliff face.
He looked at a boulder as tall as a person and planted his spear beside it.
Then he took a deep breath and shot out his right fist like lightning.
Boom!
His punch broke the sound barrier in an instant, causing a sonic boom.
Before the boom had faded, the sound of the boulder cracking followed.
Under Teng Qingshan's Crushing Fist at such close range, the hard bluestone was as brittle as tofu.
After two and a half hours of intense strengthening, his raw punching power had reached 6,500 kilograms!
A single cultivation session had added 500 kilograms.
That was an astonishing improvement.
After all, a huge leap in physical strength only happened the first time one cultivated Genetic Origin Energy.
After that, progress could only come through slow, steady effort.
The Tiger Form Divine Technique also worked best the first time. Its effects diminished with continued use.
After all, Genetic Origin Energy and Internal Force were quite different.
Still, gaining 1,000 kilograms of punching power from his first time practicing the Tiger Form Divine Technique was a decent result. Even if its effects weakened later, regular practice would still bring substantial gains.
Looking at the rubble scattered across the ground, Teng Qingshan felt nothing.
6,500 kilograms—just over 10,000 jin of force—was nothing special in this world. Even on the Nine Provinces Continent, it would only just qualify as the strength of a first-rate Martial Artist.
It was nowhere near enough to make him a powerhouse.
Even with four times the force from his body, his full strength would only reach 20,000 or 30,000 kilograms. That still wouldn't make him a powerhouse.
Teng Qingshan knew he still had a long way to go.
He checked the sky. It was already close to dusk.
After reviewing and summarizing what he had gained that day, Teng Qingshan headed down the mountain toward the city.
He raced through the woods like a nimble ape and reached the foot of the mountain in just a few leaps.
As he reached a busier area, Teng Qingshan slowed down, walking along the road like an ordinary young man.
It was dusk.
Many people were out for a stroll.
The others didn't think much of the handsome young man carrying a long, narrow backpack.
This was a big city.
People did much stranger things.
Teng Qingshan's outfit was a little unusual, but still within the bounds of normal.
Ignoring the curious glances from passersby, Teng Qingshan enjoyed the scenery at dusk and walked home in high spirits.
But as he walked, something began to feel wrong.
A top assassin's instincts never faded.
As he neared Anran Homestay, Teng Qingshan keenly sensed someone watching him from the shadows.
"Bzzz~"
Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket.
Teng Qingshan took it out and checked.
Hong had sent him a message: "Master, the Heavenly Kingdom Organization has sent two top assassins ranked in the top twenty of the underground world to Yangzhou. They're investigating reports of the Map Fragment and looking into the deaths of White Bear and Monkey."
"Both assassins have cultivated Ancient Yoga to the Unity of Heaven and Man realm. One is Balmik, nicknamed the Death God, and the other is Elihu, nicknamed the War God. They're both famous in the underground world, and neither has ever failed a mission. They're a difficult pair to deal with, Master, so please be careful."
"Got it."
He replied with a quick message and slipped the phone back into his pocket.
Teng Qingshan continued walking down the street as if nothing had happened.
Before you continue