Heavy Snow

During the thirty-day challenge to push his limits, Su Wuming spent the first seven days pushing his body to its absolute limit every day, only to be carried back by Lin Pangpang in the end.

Qin Ming, who trained alongside him, was in no better shape.

Before passing out each time, he would tell Su Wuming, "I'll definitely surpass you!"

It was not until the eighth day that Su Wuming barely completed his daily challenge without passing out, which counted as a small improvement.

At the same time, he was already able to circulate the Dao Guidance Method while training.

With each passing day, his progress became increasingly apparent.

This dealt Qin Ming a severe blow, but it also stirred up his competitive spirit.

On the fifteenth day, Su Wuming completed his challenge with strength to spare. His cultivation had broken through to Black Iron Seven-Star.

His strength had also reached 1,400 kilograms, an increase of a full 200 kilograms.

He had a feeling that when he advanced to Black Iron Nine-Star, he might be able to break through 2,000 kilograms rather than the expected 1,800.

Su Wuming's breakthrough shocked Qin Ming greatly.

After all, he had only rapidly raised his cultivation to Black Iron Eight-Star with Beast Crystals provided by his family, while Su Wuming clearly had none of those and relied entirely on painstaking cultivation.

But wasn't this speed a little too fast? He had initially assumed that the other man's cultivation had skyrocketed only because of his second mutation awakening.

Now, it seemed that was not all...

Qin Ming felt as if he had discovered some incredible secret.

When he looked at Su Wuming again, the disdain in his eyes was gone. He began to seriously assess him.

Perhaps Su Wuming had not defeated him through luck at all.

Su Wuming should have been happy after his breakthrough, but the System's sudden change to his mission felt like a bucket of cold water dumped over his head.

The original daily 1,000 had become 1,500!!!

System, you really are my thoughtful little cotton-padded jacket. I truly thank you.

Su Wuming meant that thanks with absolute sincerity...

The next day.

As usual, Su Wuming arrived before the wooden post.

Qin Ming happened to arrive as well.

"Su Wuming, I successfully completed my challenge yesterday. I'll catch up to you soon."

Su Wuming, who was about to strike the wooden post, froze for a moment before saying,

"Congratulations~ But mine has changed from 1,000 to 1,500 starting today. Keep it up~~"

"I..."

For a moment, Qin Ming did not know what to say. He felt like he had shut down.

Hehe~ Keep it up? How about I keep your ass up instead!!!

From that day onward, Qin Ming became taciturn. He did not say a word whenever they met, putting all his energy into surpassing Su Wuming.

The only sounds on the training ground were the two of them striking wooden posts and testing dummies.

Half a month later...

October 29th, weather: heavy snow.

Dry City was a northern city in Dragon Nation, where snow usually began falling in November.

But this year's snow had come earlier than usual, and it was even heavier! It had already continued for five days, and the snow on the roads was several dozen centimeters deep.

Weather like this had not been seen in decades, and the relevant departments had already begun investigating.

Meanwhile, the students at the school had not let this anomaly disrupt their normal cultivation, especially the two figures on the training ground.

By now, everyone in the senior classes knew about these two men's training.

There were naturally students who mocked their behavior, but each of them was harshly reprimanded by their instructors.

Today was also the last day of Su Wuming's challenge. Once he completed it, he would have enough System Coins to unlock the first gate of the Eight Gates Formation.

The sounds from the wooden post were especially muffled today, and the testing dummy beside it was no different.

The two seemed to be competing with each other, even punching at the same rhythm.

Qin Ming was also challenging the 1,500 target today.

As Qin Ming's 1,500th punch landed, an aura suddenly erupted from within his body.

The falling snow around him, along with the snow piled on the ground, was instantly forced back, briefly creating a vacuum zone.

Qin Ming's fist remained pressed against the testing dummy as he stood there in a daze.

Suddenly, the expression on Qin Ming's blank face changed sharply, turning into wild delight.

"Ha, hahaha, hahaha... I broke through to Black Iron Nine-Star! I broke through..."

Ordinarily, such a breakthrough would not be worth celebrating, but this time was different for Qin Ming.

This time, he had not relied on absorbing Beast Crystals at all. He had broken through entirely through his own hard work.

Moreover, the unstable foundation caused by absorbing Beast Crystals had been completely stabilized over the past month. He had even broken through another star, so how could he not be excited?

After his excitement subsided, he looked at Su Wuming.

"Su Wuming, do you dare fight me again?"

That was right. Qin Ming felt like he was back in the game, directly ignoring the gap between their cultivation levels.

To others, his words would only make it seem as though Qin Ming was bullying someone weaker by relying on his higher cultivation.

But Qin Ming did not see it that way, because Su Wuming was no ordinary person.

Previously, he had been Black Iron Eight-Star while Su Wuming had been Black Iron Six-Star, yet he had lost.

Now, he was Nine-Star while Su Wuming was Seven-Star. They could fight again just as they had before.

In Qin Ming's view, surpassing someone did not necessarily mean surpassing them in strength at the same cultivation level. Cultivation speed could also count as surpassing them.

After all, there was no absolute fairness in the world of spirit martial artists.

At this moment, Su Wuming had no intention of refusing Qin Ming's sudden challenge.

He suddenly raised his leg and kicked the wooden post with all his strength.

After a muffled bang, an aura no weaker than the one Qin Ming had released during his breakthrough erupted from within him.

Su Wuming had broken through to Black Iron Eight-Star!

Qin Ming was so shocked by the sight that he could not say a word.

He broke through just like that???

At that moment, Su Wuming spoke as well, replying simply, "Sure. Once I finish my challenge, we'll have a fight."

Gulp~

Qin Ming swallowed and instinctively shook his head. Then he turned and left without saying a word.

Fight, fight, fight... fight my ass...

Qin Ming had shut down once again...

Right now, he wanted some peace and quiet.

After breaking through, Su Wuming completed today's challenge ahead of schedule.

As he finished his final sit-up, the System notification sounded in his mind.

[Mission complete. Reward: System Coins +150]

Without even getting up, Su Wuming immediately spent 100 System Coins to unlock the method for opening the first gate of the Eight Gates Formation.

Then, a set of memories about opening the first gate flooded into his mind.

In those memories, the route and method for circulating energy when opening the first gate were explained in extreme detail.

At the same time, the minimum requirement for opening it was Black Iron Nine-Star. He was still one star short...

"It's been a long time since I left the city to hunt demonic beasts. Looks like it's time to go out and get some Beast Crystals to raise my cultivation."