The Tragedy of the Wave-Surfing Flying Fish, and with Liu Yiyi...

Wang Mengde retracted the Palm Thunder Technique into his body and stretched his wrist.

Then, he clenched his fist and casually threw a punch at the air in front of him.

This punch looked light and airy, without using any spiritual power; it was purely the strength of the physical body.

But where the fist passed, a muffled explosion resounded in the air.

Bang!

It sounded like someone slammed their hand on a table, or like a large drum being struck by a heavy hammer.

The force of the punch was so strong that it flipped the prayer cushions in the quiet room over, and even the dust in the corners of the walls was shaken up.

Wang Mengde looked down at his fist, a slight smile playing on his lips.

In the past two years, in addition to cultivating spiritual power and drawing Talisman, he has been practicing the Thunder Tempering Body Formula by bombarding himself with Palm Thunder Technique every day without fail. In addition, he has been consuming large amounts of Demon Fish flesh and blood and high-grade Spirit Rice, and drinking Tendon-Strengthening Meridian-Opening Soup every day.

The improvement in Physical Body Cultivation is even more significant than that in Spirit Power Cultivation.

His Physical Body Cultivation increases by three or four points every day.

After more than nine hundred days and nights of accumulation, his Physical Body Cultivation has been raised to the Sixth-Level Body Tempering.

A comprehensive transformation in physical fitness.

He loosened his fist, his five fingers nimbly spreading out, then clenched it tightly again.

The knuckles made a crisp clicking sound, each finger like a spring cast from fine steel, full of power yet able to be released and released at will.

He looked down at his palms. His skin looked no different from before, still a light tan, with distinct knuckles and thin calluses on his palms.

But only he himself knew what astonishing changes were hidden beneath that seemingly ordinary skin.

Its skin was so tough it looked like it was covered with a fine, soft armor.

He once tried slashing his arm with all his might using an ordinary dagger, and the blade left only a shallow white mark, without even breaking the skin.

The explosive power of the muscles is now vastly different from what it used to be.

He raised his right arm, bent his elbow and clenched his fist. The muscles on his arm bulged slightly, with smooth and tight lines, like a tightly twisted steel cable.

He could clearly sense the power contained in every muscle fiber. It was not just brute force, but a power that had been tempered and nurtured by spiritual energy, full of resilience and elasticity.

It's like the finest tempered steel, incredibly hard yet not easily broken.

The changes in the skeleton are the most profound.

He stood up, feet shoulder-width apart, and stomped his foot hard.

Thump!

A dull thud echoed from the floor of the quiet room, causing the entire room to tremble.

The protective Light Barrier in the room was flashing wildly.

He could feel the immense pressure on the bones in his feet, a feeling as light as stepping on cotton. These bones had become so hard that even he was somewhat surprised.

He has been using the Thunder Tempering Body Formula to strike his arm with Palm Thunder Technique while practicing it.

The lightning bolt, powerful enough to blast an ordinary cultivator to charred remains, struck his forearm, causing only a sharp pain, but leaving his bones completely unharmed.

After the lightning subsided, only a faint red mark remained on my forearm, which faded away shortly afterward.

As for speed.

Wang Mengde took a deep breath and suddenly moved.

The quiet room was small, only a few feet in diameter, but he moved swiftly and agilely within this confined space, as fast as a black lightning bolt.

His footsteps were so light they were almost silent; each landing was like a dragonfly skimming the water, touching it and then immediately withdrawing.

But his speed was astonishing; he could go from one end of the quiet room to the other in the blink of an eye.

He tried to sprint at full speed.

He suddenly lunged forward, creating a gust of wind that sent the Talisman Paper on the table flying everywhere.

This speed is not much slower than that of Seventh-Level Qi Refinement cultivator flying on a sword.

In short-range maneuvering and dodging, this speed is enough for him to dodge most Law Technique attacks.

Endurance goes without saying.

He once tried to run ten laps around Rosy Cloud Island at top speed using only his physical strength, without using any Law Technique.

Rosy Cloud Island is not large; a complete circuit is more than 20 li (approximately 10 kilometers).

After he finished running, he was only slightly out of breath and his heart was beating a little faster than usual; he didn't feel exhausted at all.

Two years ago, after completing this lap, he would have needed at least half a day to rest.

The power of physical cultivation lies not in how much force a single punch can generate, but in this all-round, comprehensive improvement.

Strength, speed, endurance, reaction time, and defense—everything is increasing in tandem, and everything is constantly pushing its limits.

A pure body cultivator is a mobile fortress.

Fists are weapons, arms are shields, and legs are chariots.

No Flying Sword, no robes, no external objects are needed, because one's own body is the most powerful magical Law Artifact.

Wang Mengde stopped, calmed his breathing, and sat down cross-legged on the futon again.

He looked down at his palm, slowly clenched his fist, and then slowly loosened it.

Power flowed through his fingertips, like a tamed dragon, quietly lying dormant within his flesh and blood, waiting for the moment to be unsheathed.

"It is said that a cultivator at the Sixth-Level Body Tempering can kill an ordinary cultivator at the Seventh-Level Qi Refinement with just their physical strength." Wang Mengde's eyes were burning.

Wang Mengde closed his eyes and concentrated, focusing his mind on observing himself.

[Subject: Wang Mengde]

[Destiny: Heaven Rewards Diligence (Success is inevitable)]

[Qi Refinement Cultivation: Qi Refining Level 7 (0/6400)]

[Physical Body Cultivation: Body Tempering Level 6 (102/3200)]

[Cultivation Method: Luan-Phoenix Harmony Formula Level 7 (0/6400); True Myriad Beast Taming Formula Level 2 (28/10000); Thunder Tempering Body Formula Level 6 (102/3200)]

[Law Technique: Spirit Eye Technique (Transcendent Mastery) 1860/6400; Fishing Technique (Peak Mastery) 455/3200; Entwining Silk Technique (Peak Mastery) 850/3200; Water Arrow Technique (Peak Mastery) 450/3200; Water Escape Technique (Peak Mastery) 680/3200;]

Palm Thunder Technique (Transcendent Mastery) 130/6400; Voice Transmission Technique (Major Accomplishment) 350/400; Sword-Controlling Technique (Major Accomplishment) 21/400

[Talisman Drawing Methods: Fireball Talisman (Major Accomplishment) 58/400; Frost Talisman (Major Accomplishment) 5/400; Rejuvenation Talisman (Major Accomplishment)]

14/400; Wind Escape Talisman (Major Accomplishment) 25/400; Breath-Concealing Talisman (Major Accomplishment) 163/400; Spirit Shield Talisman (Initiation) 2/100]

Wang Mengde's gaze swept across the panel line by line, his eyes gleaming.

Two and a half years of arduous training have resulted in a comprehensive transformation.

In addition to improvements in Spirit Power Cultivation, Physical Body Cultivation, and Palm Thunder Technique, other Law Technique have also been refined.

A year ago, he purchased the Sword-Controlling Technique and has already Major Accomplishment it.

What pleased him most was the progress in Talisman drawing techniques.

The six Talisman drawing methods that Zhao Hongying got for him ranged from the first-level beginner to the second-level advanced.

In two and a half years, he mastered the five Talisman — Fireball Talisman, Frost Talisman, Rejuvenation Talisman, Wind Escape Talisman, and Breath-Concealing Talisman —one by one, progressing from Initiation to Major Accomplishment level.

He now has a 40% success rate in drawing these Talisman.

He has even Initiation the basics of the second-tier advanced Spirit Shield Talisman.

"Talisman Initiation" means he can draw it, but the success rate is extremely low.

If you can get one out of fifty drawings to be successful, that's already good; sometimes you might not even get one out of a hundred.

The Spirit Stone earned from drawing talismans are far less than the materials consumed.

Fortunately, Wang Mengde could earn Spirit Stone by drawing other Talisman.

However, Wang Mengde's Talisman are mostly the most common Talisman on the market. Since there are many Talisman on the market, he can't earn much Spirit Stone.

However, these Talisman were originally used by Wang Mengde to improve his talisman-drawing skills and level up.

I never expected to make money from these Talisman.

Once his talisman-drawing skills improve again, he will spend Spirit Stone to acquire a popular, third-tier beginner Talisman- drawing method from the market.

Let's make a fortune more Spirit Stone.

Just then...

Tap, tap, tap.

Three soft sounds came from outside the courtyard.

It wasn't a knocking sound, but rather someone gently tapping on the protective Light Barrier.

Wang Mengde opened his eyes, calmed his breathing, and stood up.

He pushed open the door to the meditation room, and through the transparent protective Light Barrier, he saw a young man in a blue robe standing outside the courtyard gate, looking respectful and waiting obediently.

The newcomer appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a handsome face and a slender build. A white Flying Sword hung at his waist. This was Sun Hao, the deputy captain of the Seventh Squad of the Island Patrol Guards.

Wang Mengde waved his hand, and the protective Light Barrier silently cracked open.

Sun Hao strode into the courtyard, approached Wang Mengde, and respectfully bowed. "Captain."

Two and a half years ago, Yang Daqiang, Guo Liqiang, Guo Lihui and others went to the Ten-Thousand Grotto Demon Lair and never returned.

The Island Patrol Office was severely understaffed, so Director Yang Qiming promoted Wang Mengde to be the captain of the Seventh Squad, filling Yang Daqiang's vacancy.

Wang Mengde didn't want to take on this task. He was currently focused on cultivation and drawing talismans, and had no time to deal with the trivial matters of patrolling the island.

However, Yang Qiming said that the captain has the authority to apply to purchase one Seven-Pattern Spirit-Nurturing Pill per year, and can also delegate trivial matters to the vice-captain and subordinates, and even have subordinates run errands for him.

Wang Mengde thought about it for a moment and then agreed.

This team leader position is quite easy.

He handed over all the team's affairs to the vice-captain Sun Hao, and spent most of his time at home cultivating, drawing talismans, and training his body, occasionally sneaking off to Azure Cliff Island to cultivate.

Everyone in the team knows the captain's temper, and they never dare to bother him unless there's a reason.

"What do you want?" Wang Mengde asked. "Didn't I tell you that you're in charge of everything in the team? Only come to me with important matters?"

Sun Hao raised his head, about to speak, when he suddenly sensed the powerful spiritual energy emanating from Wang Mengde. He couldn't help but nod slightly to Wang Mengde and respond gently, "Hmm."

A pause.

That aura was more than twice as strong as when we last met; it was as steady as a mountain, as profound and imposing as a peak—a sign of the Seventh-Level Qi Refinement.

"Captain, you—you broke through?" Sun Hao's voice was filled with disbelief, and he quickly clasped his hands in congratulations. "Congratulations on breaking through to the Seventh-Level Qi Refinement, Captain!"

He looked at Wang Mengde with envy in his eyes, his heart filled with complex emotions.

The captain, a Five-Element Pseudo-Spirit Root, actually broke through the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement and Seventh-Level Qi Refinement of Qi Refining.

With the captain's financial resources, as long as he overcomes this hurdle, raising his cultivation level to the Peak Qi Refinement shouldn't be too much of a problem in the future.

Wang Mengde smiled faintly, "Just a fluke. Let's get down to business."

Sun Hao composed himself and said seriously, "Captain, a fish cultivator has discovered Seventh-Level Lesser Demon Wave-Chasing Flying Fish in the waters west of Rosy Cloud Island."

"The Wave-Chasing Flying Fish at the Seventh-Level Lesser Demon?" Wang Mengde's eyes lit up slightly.

He had heard of this kind of Demon Fish.

The Wave-Chasing Flying Fish is one of the fastest Demon Fish in the Endless Sea. Adults can reach the Seventh-Level Lesser Demon. They are silvery-white all over, with fins like wings, and can fly close to the waves on the water's surface. Their speed is so fast that even a cultivator at the Peak Qi Refinement might not be able to catch up with them.

This Demon Fish is extremely valuable. Its bones are excellent materials for crafting flying magical Law Artifact, its blood can be used in medicine, and its flesh contains an astonishing amount of spiritual energy, making it one of the top-tier ingredients among lesser demons.

Capturing it will earn you a large sum of Spirit Stone.

He's desperately short of Spirit Stone right now.

Practicing the Thunder Tempering Body Formula daily consumes an unusually large amount of energy.

They eat Demon Fish from the Fourth-Level Little Demon Realm and high-grade Spirit Rice. They eat four catties of Fourth-Level Little Demon Fish and three catties of high-grade Spirit Rice a day. Just the food alone costs more than fifty Spirit Stone a day.

A dose of Tendon-Strengthening Meridian-Opening Soup every three days adds up to a considerable expense.

Every day, I also need to use Spirit Stone to cultivate the Phoenix Harmony Resonance Art. All the expenses add up to nearly ninety Spirit Stone a day.

This is just for daily expenses.

He had previously purchased over a dozen Seven-Pattern Spirit-Nurturing Pill, and spent over two thousand Spirit Stone on the Sword-Controlling Technique and a low-grade Flying Sword. In addition, he had accumulated various materials, Talisman Paper, and spirit ink over the past two and a half years, leaving him with virtually no wealth.

If he hadn't taken the opportunity to catch Demon Fish in the sea every time he went out to look for Qingyue, he would have long since squandered his fortune.

"The director sent me to find you," Sun Hao continued. "This Wave -Wave-Chasing Flying Fish has already eaten several fish cultivators. The director said he wants you, Captain Liu Yiyi, Captain Tie Li..."

Yan Chang led his team out to sea to make the arrest, and they regrouped at the Island Patrol Office headquarters fifteen minutes later.

Wang Mengde nodded and uttered two words decisively. "Let's go."

The two left the courtyard one after the other and walked briskly along the bluestone avenue in the center of Rosy Cloud Island.

Along the way, they encountered many cultivators, including Rogue Cultivator, Island Patrol Guards, and unfamiliar faces who had come from other places to seek refuge.

When acquaintances saw Wang Mengde, they nodded in greeting.

Rosy Cloud Island is not large; it takes only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to walk from the Loft No. 37 to the island Island Patrol Office in the center of the island.

The Island Patrol Office is located on a small hill at the highest point of Rosy Cloud Island. It is a three-story bluestone building with flying eaves and brackets, and is magnificent in appearance.

Two stone pillars stand in front of the gate, carved with lifelike dragons, their heads held high and their claws reaching into the clouds. It is said that they were carved by a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Evergreen Sect, both to protect the island and to demonstrate the majesty of the Evergreen Sect.

Wang Mengde and Sun Hao climbed the steps and entered the main hall of the Island Patrol Office.

A considerable number of people had already gathered in the hall.

Standing by the window was a tall man with a square face, thick eyebrows, and big eyes. His black outfit accentuated his broad shoulders and thick waist, and he exuded a fierce and brave aura.

This is Yan Chang, the captain of the fourth team. Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement of Qi Refining and is considered a prominent figure on Rosy Cloud Island.

When he saw Wang Mengde enter, he was slightly taken aback at first, but then he sensed the aura of the Seventh-Level Qi Refinement on Wang Mengde's body, and the expression on his face immediately became interesting.

"Hey, Captain Wang." Yan Chang greeted him with a smile, looking Wang Mengde up and down. "You've broken through to the Seventh-Level Qi Refinement! Congratulations, that's impressive!"

His tone carried a hint of genuine surprise, as well as a subtle, almost imperceptible sourness.

After all, he himself Four-Element Spirit Root and had been cultivating for more than ten years, yet he was still stuck at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement, while Wang Mengde, with Five-Element Spirit Root, had surpassed him.

Yan Chang's voice was quite loud, and all the other Island Patrol Guards in the hall turned to look at him.

This glance was enough to make everyone's expression change.

Seventh-Level Qi Refinement?

Wang Mengde, who possessed a Five-Element Pseudo-Spirit Root, actually broke through to the Seventh-Level Qi Refinement?

After a brief silence, the hall erupted in chaos.

"Captain Wang broke through? Congratulations!"

"Seventh-Level Qi Refinement! This is truly a joyous occasion!"

"Incredible! Captain Wang is truly amazing."

Congratulations, Captain Wang!

Seven or eight Island Patrol Guards surrounded them, offering their congratulations all at once.

Some people clasped their hands in greeting, some looked on with envy, and some had a glint in their eyes, as if they were planning to get closer to Wang Mengde in the future.

Although there is only one level difference Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement and Seventh-Level Qi Refinement of Qi Refining, the gap between them is enormous.

The Seventh-Level Qi Refinement is the Late Qi Refinement. The spiritual power is more than twice that of the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement, and the power of Law Technique is incomparable.

More importantly, overcoming this hurdle means having the possibility of reaching the Peak Qi Refinement Refining or even Foundation Establishment.

There are six or seven thousand cultivators on Rosy Cloud Island, but fewer than a hundred of them are Late Qi Refinement cultivators.

Every Late Qi Refinement is a prominent figure on the island.

Wang Mengde nodded slightly, responding calmly to the congratulations. "Thank you all, it was just a fluke."

Just then, a soft, sweet voice came from the stairwell.

"Captain Wang has broken through?"

Wang Mengde looked in the direction of the sound.

I saw a female cultivator who was extremely striking in appearance.

She had an extremely beautiful baby face, with skin as white as snow, and delicate features that made her look like she stepped out of a painting.

She looked to be no more than a teenager, even with a touch of girlish innocence, but her figure contrasted sharply with her face.

The originally loose robes were stretched taut on her body, outlining her breathtaking curves.

It was Liu Yiyi, the captain of Team Five.

Six months ago, Liu Yiyi and Tie Li became dao companion.

Wang Mengde also attended the banquet where they became dao companion and sent a rather modest gift.

It is said that after the two confirmed their dao companion, they switched to cultivating the Luan-Phoenix Harmony Formula, preparing to improve their cultivation together when Liu Yiyi broke through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement Refining.

It is said that Tie Li even swore to Liu Yiyi's father, the Foundation Establishment True Person of the Evergreen Sect, that after helping Liu Yiyi break through her cultivation realm, he would return to his original Cultivation Method and would never go around having affairs in order to quickly improve his cultivation.

Liu Yiyi sensed the fluctuations of spiritual energy emanating from Wang Mengde, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise.

She recalled the first time she met Wang Mengde eight years ago. She Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement of Qi Refining, while he was just a Second Layer of Qi Refinement of Qi Refining, unknown on Rosy Cloud Island.

In eight years, he progressed from the Second Layer of Qi Refinement Refining to the Seventh-Level Qi Refinement.

This speed is not slow even for a cultivator with Three-Element Spirit Root, and for someone with Five-Element Spirit Root, it's practically a miracle.

She knew all too well how difficult it was to break through to the Seventh-Level Qi Refinement.

She possesses Four-Element Low-Grade Spirit Root, making her aptitude among the lowest in the cultivation world.

I was stuck at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement for five whole years, trying countless times, and finally broke through two years ago with the help of the Profound-Penetrating Barrier-Breaking Pill.

Wang Mengde, a Five-Element Pseudo-Spirit Root, whose aptitude was far inferior to hers, actually broke through in just a few years.

She smiled and nodded in greeting, "Captain Wang, congratulations."

Wang Mengde's gaze fell on Liu Yiyi.

Eight years have passed, Liu Yiyi has hardly changed. She still looks the same: a baby face, big eyes, thick eyelashes like two small fans, and skin so white it's almost transparent, like a freshly peeled egg.

When she smiles, two shallow dimples appear at the corners of her mouth, and her eyes curve into crescent shapes, making her look innocent and naive, like a girl who doesn't know the ways of the world.

But her figure— Wang Mengde's gaze involuntarily drifted downwards for a moment before quickly returning to its source.

The heat within his spiritual energy surged violently in that instant, like a fire that had been suppressed for a long time, suddenly bursting up from his Dantian, burning his throat dry and causing a burning sensation in his eyes.

But that fiery passion was barely beginning to emerge before he ruthlessly suppressed it, so quickly that almost no one could detect it.

Liu Yiyi still noticed it.

She saw a fleeting glint of fervor in Wang Mengde's eyes, but paid it no mind.

She'd seen that kind of look far too many times.

From the age of sixteen, almost every male cultivator who saw her had this kind of look in their eyes—some were subtle, some were blatant, some hid behind polite smiles, and some had it written nakedly on their faces.

She's used to it.

You could even say she had long since learned to ignore it.

Tie Li saw it too.

He not only saw the burning passion in Wang Mengde's eyes, but also sensed the aura of the Seventh-Level Qi Refinement emanating from Wang Mengde.

His brow furrowed slightly, then relaxed, and he walked over with a smile.

"Captain Wang, congratulations!"

His voice was loud and clear, tinged with enthusiasm. "You, with only Five-Element Spirit Root, have actually raised your cultivation to the Seventh-Level Qi Refinement! You are truly remarkable. You have every chance to break through to the Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement, or even the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement!"

This sounds like a compliment, but upon closer inspection, it doesn't quite feel right.

He specifically pointed out the four words "Five-Element Spirit Root," as if to remind everyone present just how poor Wang Mengde's talent was.

There is a real chance that he will break through to the Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement, or even the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement, in the future.

The subtext of these words couldn't be clearer: the Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement or Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement Refining is your limit.

Foundation Establishment?

Don't even think about it.

The atmosphere in the hall subtly changed.

The eyes of the Island Patrol Guards swept back and forth between Wang Mengde and Tie Li. Some pretended not to hear, while others curled their lips slightly.

Most of the Island Patrol Guards standing here possess Four-Element Low-Grade Spirit Root.

They ranked second to last in terms of Spirit Root aptitude in the cultivation world, and were often looked down upon by cultivators with Three-Element Spirit Root or Dual-Element Spirit Root.

However, when facing Five-Element Pseudo-Spirit Root, they have a natural sense of superiority.

At least, they are stronger than those with Pseudo-Spirit Root.

Even if their cultivation level is currently inferior to Wang Mengde's.

But I always felt that I just lacked resources, and that given the fortuitous opportunity, my future achievements would not be inferior to those of Wang Mengde.

Yan Chang's gaze turned somewhat amused, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, as if he were watching a good show.

Several vice-captains and squad leaders exchanged glances and watched the spectacle unfold.

Wang Mengde's expression remained unchanged, and he smiled faintly, "Captain Tie is too kind. It was just a fluke."