The next morning, as Chu Tian was still groggy from sleep, a delicate fragrance wafted into his senses. He half-opened his eyes and was startled to see a woman standing beside him, dressed in a light green ancient-style gown, gazing at him with a playful smile. Startled, Chu Tian scrambled up. “You—”
Ling Zi’s bright, water-like eyes sparkled as she looked at him. “What? Don’t recognize me anymore?”
At this moment, Ling Zi looked to Chu Tian like a celestial maiden descended from heaven, and he couldn’t help but sigh. “Clearly, you could live off your beauty, so why rely on your strength?”
“What did you say?”
Chu Tian quickly waved it off with a grin. “Nothing! It’s just that your outfit today is stunning.”
“Oh? How does it compare to Feng Luo?”
The mention of that scheming woman’s sly smile made Chu Tian sneer. “That wretched woman? How could she compare to you? It’s like heaven and earth!”
Ling Zi smiled, satisfied. “At least you have good taste.”
“Heh, but saying you’re beautiful has made you so smug. Where’s your modesty?”
“Modesty? What’s that?”
Chu Tian wasn’t about to waste his breath explaining and instead stretched out his hand. “Come on, give me the pills.”
Ling Zi produced ten bottles. “Here are ten bottles of Spirit Recovery Pills, ten pills in each bottle, for a total of 100 pills.”
Chu Tian knew these pills were highly potent, capable of restoring the spiritual energy of a Foundation Establishment cultivator from empty to peak. However, each pill was costly, requiring tens of thousands of spirit stones.
Seeing the bottles, Chu Tian asked gravely, “Did you trade everything for these?”
“Yep, a few million spirit stones, all gone.”
Chu Tian wasn’t sure if this would be enough, but it was certainly better than slowly absorbing spirit stones. He smiled and said, “Thank you.”
After receiving the pills, Ling Zi looked at him curiously. “Everyone in the Heavenly Star Sect says your strength is at the Golden Core peak, and that’s why they don’t dare provoke you. Is that true?”
Chu Tian smiled mysteriously. “That’s a secret.”
“You—”
“All right, I need to cultivate now. You can leave.”
“Ugh, acting so smug! Fine, I’ll go. As if I care to watch you!” Ling Zi stuck out her tongue before leaving. Chu Tian, both amused and exasperated, ensured the door was securely shut and began swallowing the pills one bottle at a time.
If anyone had seen him, they would have been horrified by his actions. But Chu Tian showed no concern and, after consuming all the pills, delved into cultivating his Ninefold Frenzied Demon Art.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. When Chu Tian opened his eyes, a powerful force swirled within his dantian, emitting a faint black glow. Warm energy spread throughout his body, and he found he could now activate his divine sense.
Divine sense was akin to a god’s-eye view, allowing one to scan their surroundings. It was a skill exclusive to those at or above the Foundation Establishment stage. Chu Tian’s breakthrough signaled his advancement to this stage.
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Ding~ Congratulations, Host! Level 11 achieved. EXP: 0/10,000.
Corresponds to Foundation Establishment Early Stage.
* Beginner-level Thousand Respect Demon Armor: Level 7.
* Monster Hunting and Level-Up System activated:
* Killing same-tier opponents earns 10 EXP; severely injuring them earns 5 EXP.
* Killing an opponent one tier higher earns 100 EXP; severely injuring them earns 50 EXP.
* Killing two tiers higher earns 1,000 EXP; severely injuring them earns 500 EXP.
* Maximum EXP per individual: 10,000.
“Killing to level up? Injuring to level up?” Chu Tian inhaled sharply. This was clearly faster than traditional cultivation. However, to reach level 12 and advance to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment required 10,000 EXP. That meant killing 1,000 same-tier opponents, 100 one-tier-above opponents, 10 two-tiers-above opponents, or 1 three-tiers-above opponent.
Such an opponent would be at the peak of Foundation Establishment. Chu Tian grinned. “Let’s go raid the Heavenly Star Sect’s mines!”
As Chu Tian prepared to leave the sect, Ling Zi appeared in front of him, hands on her hips. “Oh, so you’re planning to sneak off without me?”
Chu Tian had almost forgotten about her. Laughing, he said, “Miss Ling, you’ve misunderstood. Seeing how beautiful and delicate you are, it wouldn’t be right to involve you in something as shady as stealing!”
“I’ve been doing this for years. What’s the big deal? Besides, do you have my digging skills?”
Chu Tian didn’t want her to get in the way, so he bolted. “If you can catch me, then come along!”
With a whoosh, Chu Tian sped off, marveling at his newfound agility. “The Ninefold Frenzied Demon Art’s Foundation Establishment dantian is incredible—it’s boosted my power twentyfold!”
Relishing his breakthrough, Chu Tian arrived at the mine. The area was bustling with people, mostly at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Chu Tian guessed that the Golden Core experts were deeper inside the mine. He needed to lure them out to defeat them individually. Standing atop a cliff, he shouted, “Heavenly Star Sect! Your grandpa is here! Come out and face me!”
The Foundation Establishment cultivators fled toward the mine in fear at the sight of Chu Tian. Spotting one at the peak of Foundation Establishment, Chu Tian yelled, “Don’t run! Let me kill you!”
The cultivator, terrified, dashed into the mine as if fleeing from a monster. Chu Tian sighed in disappointment. “Just missed him!”
Moments later, a group of Golden Core experts emerged from the mine, forming a line ready for battle. Among them was Jin Cheng, who roared, “Chu Tian! Our young mistress has decreed that you must be killed on sight!”
“Kill me? By you lot? Just don’t let me stomp you into the mud!”
Infuriated, the group’s killing intent surged. Chu Tian taunted, “Yes, that’s it! Come at me if you dare! If not, bow down and let your grandpa step on you!”
Though Jin Cheng feared Chu Tian, the sect had issued orders: anyone who killed him would be richly rewarded, while failure meant severe punishment. Left with no choice, Jin Cheng shouted, “Attack! Kill him!”
Chu Tian dashed into the mine with a whoosh. Thinking Chu Tian was running in fear, Jin Cheng was elated and ordered, “Chase him! Kill him!”
The group swarmed into the labyrinthine mine. Chu Tian, familiar with its layout thanks to a map, navigated it effortlessly. Any Foundation Establishment cultivators blocking his path were quickly slain, sending his EXP and anger value soaring.
Suddenly, a notification rang out.
Ding~ Congratulations! EXP full. Level up?
“Already full?” Chu Tian exclaimed excitedly. “Level up!”
Ding~ Level 12 achieved. EXP: 0/100,000.
Corresponds to Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage.
* Beginner-level Thousand Respect Demon Armor: Level 8.
* New EXP requirements:
* Same-tier kills: 10 EXP; severe injuries: 5 EXP.
* One-tier-above kills: 100 EXP; severe injuries: 50 EXP.
* Two-tiers-above kills: 1,000 EXP; severe injuries: 500 EXP.
* Maximum EXP per individual: 10,000.
“100,000 EXP? To level up now, I’d have to kill 1,000 mid-stage opponents, 100 late-stage ones, or 10 at the peak of Foundation Establishment!”
Frustrated by the escalating difficulty, Chu Tian noticed he had reached the spirit stone vault. Elated, he exclaimed, “What luck! Might as well take it all!”
He swiftly looted the vault, but footsteps soon echoed outside. Jin Cheng’s voice roared, “Chu Tian, you scoundrel! You’re cornered now!”
After finishing, Chu Tian taunted, “Jin Cheng, you shrew! Come in if you’ve got guts! But remember, only two of you can fit through the door at a time. Whoever comes in first dies first!”
His threat had the Golden Core experts hesitating. The sight of corpses along the way only deepened their fear, as they couldn’t gauge Chu Tian’s strength. Furious, Jin Cheng shouted at his men, “What are you afraid of? You two, go first!”
The weaker Golden Core cultivators reluctantly stepped forward, while Jin Cheng prepared to strike once Chu Tian attacked them.