Advancing to the Essence Solidification Realm

Although the great beast tide had arrived with overwhelming force, it had long since been detected by the Human Alliance. Many powerful experts had been dispatched from the interior to hold the line.

In addition, many powerful beast-hunting groups had voluntarily come to resist the great beast tide. Their purpose was naturally to hunt ferocious beasts.

Those ferocious beasts had once hidden in forests, swamps, and caves. Hunting a third-tier ferocious beast was difficult enough when merely finding its tracks.

A beast-hunting squad composed of five Hundred Refinements Realm martial artists generally needed several months to safely kill a third-tier ferocious beast. And if they encountered a fourth-tier demon beast in the wild, they would most likely meet a grim fate.

Human martial artists hunted ferocious beasts, while Ferocious Beastmen in the wilderness likewise hunted human martial artists. Therefore, human beast-hunting groups generally operated around forward Base Cities such as Beihe Base City, and even then, they had to be extremely careful.

Now that the great beast tide had arrived, those human beast-hunting groups no longer needed to search for ferocious beasts in the wilderness. They only needed to kill ferocious beasts weaker than themselves along the defensive lines they guarded to obtain a large amount of spoils.

Yang Lie remained at the Qian Family estate, sparring with Qian Xiner and instructing her in basic fist techniques, the Basic Foundation Stance, and basic saber techniques.

Given Qian Ming's wealth, he could naturally have hired more skilled teachers to teach Qian Xiner profound martial arts better suited to her. However, it was currently the time of the great beast tide. He was fighting on the front lines and could not spare attention for anything else, so he could only entrust Qian Xiner to Yang Lie.

Ten days later, inside the Small World.

"The Three Ring Golden Pattern Ferocious Snake Fruit has ripened! The power of a third-tier ferocious beast is truly something to look forward to!"

Yang Lie plucked the ripe third-tier Golden-Pattern Ferocious Snake Fruit and swallowed it in one bite. A warm current flowed through his body, strengthening his flesh and soul.

"My physical qualities have improved greatly again! But I need to eat nine Three Ring Golden Pattern Ferocious Snake Fruits to obtain the power of one third-tier ferocious beast. That really is something to look forward to!"

A trace of anticipation flashed through Yang Lie's eyes. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he began practicing the Dragon Snake Stance Method in the Small World. As he continued his breathing technique, the vigorous blood and qi within him gathered in his dantian, naturally condensing a thread of true qi. As that thread of true qi was born, more and more blood and qi was drawn over, flowing into the true qi and transforming into true qi.

"I've advanced to the Essence Solidification Realm!! I saved an Essence Nourishing Pill!!"

Yang Lie opened his eyes and sensed the changes within his body. The corners of his lips curled upward slightly, revealing a faint smile.

The most elite martial arts geniuses did not need to consume Essence Nourishing Pills to advance to the Essence Solidification Realm. Once they reached the moment of transformation, they could naturally produce true qi and advance to the Essence Solidification Realm.

Spirit pills like the Essence Nourishing Pill had been developed for ordinary people. As long as one had enough Essence Nourishing Pills, even a martial arts cripple could advance to the Essence Solidification Realm.

"After advancing to the Essence Solidification Realm, I can cultivate more advanced martial arts! I need to train in a movement technique so I can fully unleash my speed! I also need to cultivate a powerful Horizontal Training Martial Art to greatly improve my body's defensive ability."

"With the defense of a Horizontal Training Martial Art stacked with the defense of the third-tier ferocious beast, the Golden Pattern Ferocious Snake, and true qi defense added on top, even 12.7-millimeter heavy rifle bullets probably won't be able to pierce my body."

The standard individual combat weapon currently used by soldiers in Beihe Base City was a 12.7-millimeter-caliber heavy rifle. Of course, human technology was highly advanced, and there were also powerful technological weapons such as Gauss Rifles, powered armor, tactical nuclear bombs, mechs, and combat implants. However, Konghe Star was a remote colonial planet. The most advanced equipment was all controlled by the top aristocratic families and used to protect the several richest cities in the interior. Therefore, Yang Lie basically did not need to worry about encountering enemies wielding such powerful technological weapons.

The great beast tide continued for another five days before finally ending. The enormous army of ferocious beasts retreated, leaving behind countless corpses.

Although the Ferocious Beastmen had gained intelligence through the enlightenment of the Evil Gods' power, they had possessed that intelligence for too short a time. Although they had the power to control ferocious beasts, they did not understand the essence of warfare and had not even prepared logistics.

If the great beast tide launched by the Ferocious Beastmen could breach Beihe Base City, they could use the humans of Beihe Base City as food, resupply themselves, and continue attacking other human cities.

The Human Alliance's colonial legion on Konghe Star had also suffered greatly under this style of attack by the Ferocious Beastmen in the beginning. Later, the colonial legion began advancing steadily and stationed several Golden Core Realm martial arts masters in the outer Base Cities. Only then were they able to withstand the great beast tide's assault.

The first three days of a great beast tide were the most terrifying. As long as they could withstand the first three days and promptly collect the ferocious beast corpses from the battlefield, the ferocious beasts in the tide would first suffer a drastic drop in combat strength due to insufficient food, then begin slaughtering one another. Under normal circumstances, they could not hold out for even a month before collapsing.

The Qian Family estate.

"Dad, you're back!"

When Qian Xiner saw Qian Ming walking in through the door, she cheered and hurried forward, saying with a sweet smile.

"I'm back!"

Qian Ming looked at his wife and daughter, as well as Yang Lie approaching him. Warmth surged in his heart, and he laughed happily. He struggled outside precisely because he wanted to protect his home.

"Uncle Qian!"

Qian Ming swept his gaze over him, and a trace of surprise flashed through his eyes. "True qi protecting the body! Little Lie, you've already advanced to the Essence Solidification Realm! Not bad!! Now that you've advanced to the Essence Solidification Realm, getting into university is assured! But you must not slack off. Your next goal should be a First-Rate University. Only by graduating from a First-Rate University will you have hope of advancing to the Golden Core Realm! The resources of First-Rate Universities are completely incomparable to those of ordinary universities."

The universities of humanity in this era were completely different from those on Earth. In this era, only true elites could enter university to study and avoid military service. Those who could not enter university would be forcibly conscripted, because humanity was at war with many civilizations beyond its domain.

Most members of restaurants, beast-hunting groups, and various other commercial organizations on the streets were retired soldiers.

"Understood, Uncle Qian!"

"One month from now, the Shengyang Zhao Family will hold a beast-hunting competition outside our Beihe Base City. All high school students in the north can participate. The champion will receive a prize of five million and fifty spirit stones."

"As far as I know, a direct descendant of the Shengyang Zhao Family will come to Beihe Base City this time to oversee the event, demonstrating their importance attached to Beihe Base City. In addition, the Zhao Family also intends to select investment targets through this beast-hunting competition."

"The Shengyang Zhao Family, Tailing Yun Family, Flying Bird Wang Family, and Beilin Shangguan Family are the Four Great Families of Konghe Star. Back then, it was these Four Great Families that sent countless experts to this planet and successfully colonized Konghe Star. These Four Great Families are also the strongest families on Konghe Star. If you can obtain their investment, your chances of getting into a First-Rate University will increase somewhat."

Qian Ming gave the reminder with a solemn expression.