Shen Haoran followed behind Elder Yan. The two of them arrived before a waterfall that poured down from a cliff face. Below it was a massive lake.

The waterfall cascading from the cliff crashed into the lake, sending up a vast spray of mist. Its deafening roar echoed through the mountain forest.

"Elder Yan, why do you always pick places like this for Cultivation?" Shen Haoran asked, confused.

"Because it will help your Cultivation," Elder Yan replied faintly.

"Follow me!" With that, Elder Yan floated toward a large, exposed boulder in the center of the lake. Shen Haoran leaped and followed him onto it.

After Shen Haoran landed beside Elder Yan, the elder asked softly, "Do you know the key to the Nine Dragon Stomp?"

"I do not," Shen Haoran replied.

Hearing this, Elder Yan pointed at the waterfall before them. "Look at this waterfall. It rushes downward, moving ever forward, with nothing capable of stopping its advance! The Nine Dragon Stomp is the same. What it requires is that unstoppable, forward-charging momentum. When the Nine Dragons sunder the heavens, who can possibly stand in their way!"

"Next, I will demonstrate it for you once. Watch closely!" After speaking, Elder Yan’s body floated up. A terrifying aura erupted from within him, causing the lake water below to ripple.

Shen Haoran stared at Elder Yan without blinking, afraid he would miss a single detail.

The next moment, Elder Yan’s aura reached its Peak. He was seen lifting his right foot and gently stepping forward. As he took that step, a might that seemed to contain the power of heaven and earth descended. Shen Haoran felt as if ten thousand mountains were crashing down on him. His legs trembled, and he was about to collapse to his knees.

’Elder Yan’s stomp wasn’t even aimed at me; its aftershock alone possessed such formidable power! I can’t imagine what kind of pressure someone would face if they were the true target of that stomp!’

However, Shen Haoran stomped forward forcefully, managing to stabilize his body. The terrifying pressure bore down on him, causing the bones in his body to emit constant CREAKING sounds!

"BOOM...!" When Elder Yan’s foot landed completely, a massive explosion erupted from the lake. Countless columns of water shot into the sky, and the entire cliff began to shake.

"SPLASH..."

A moment later, the mist of water dissipated and fell. The sound of flowing water returned. Shen Haoran looked around, and when he saw the surrounding scenery, he was shocked speechless.

At this moment, the water in the lake was constantly flowing outward. Elder Yan’s stomp had caused the surrounding terrain to sink by several meters, making the lake now seem like a raised plateau!

Not only that, but in a wide radius around them, the towering ancient trees that once stood there were now all toppled. The Spirit Beasts hiding among them had all been scared away by the terrifying aura. Elder Yan’s single stomp had cleared everything in the vicinity! ’Such power... it’s terrifying!’

Shen Haoran took a sharp, cold breath, forcibly suppressing the shock in his heart.

Elder Yan floated down from the air. Looking at the stunned Shen Haoran, he said, "This is the power of the first step of the Nine Dragon Stomp. I’ve only learned a mere fraction of what Xiaojiu can do. And if it’s boosted by the Nine Heavens Shocking Cloud Step, the power would be even greater!"

’That was just a mere fraction?!’ Shen Haoran was speechless. ’If such terrifying power is just a fraction, then if the Nine Heavens Venerable himself were to perform it, wouldn’t the land be barren for dozens of miles around?’

"From here, you must comprehend it on your own. Remember, what’s important is the momentum—that unstoppable, forward-charging momentum!" After speaking, Elder Yan imparted the Cultivation Technique for the Nine Dragon Stomp to Shen Haoran and then stood to the side, watching him practice.

Shen Haoran closed his eyes and began to digest the Nine Dragon Stomp’s Cultivation Technique. After a long moment, he opened his eyes, gathered his aura, and stomped forward forcefully!

"WHOOSH..." However, Shen Haoran’s stomp merely kicked up a light breeze. It didn’t even stir the lake’s water.

Looking at the perfectly still surface of the lake, Shen Haoran gave an embarrassed laugh.

"Continue," Elder Yan said, his face expressionless.

Hearing this, Shen Haoran closed his eyes again, gathering his aura to prepare for another stomp. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

And so, before the massive lake, a young man continuously gathered his momentum and stomped; gathered, and stomped. He repeated this action over and over, like a machine.

Time passed slowly. A few days later, Shen Haoran was still in deep contemplation with his eyes closed. The momentum from Elder Yan’s stomp echoed in his mind. Gradually, a faint, barely perceptible pressure began to form within his body.

’This is it!’ "Nine Dragon Stomp!" Suddenly, as if he had grasped something, Shen Haoran’s tightly shut eyes snapped open. He lifted his right foot and, carrying a terrifying aura, stomped forward!

"BOOM!"

With that one stomp, the lake water instantly began to churn. A curtain of water abruptly exploded in front of him, sending countless droplets splashing everywhere!

’I finally did it. The power is worlds apart from Elder Yan’s, but it’s a good start!’ Seeing the mist of water kicked up before him, Shen Haoran revealed a slight smile.

Shen Haoran rubbed his sore shoulders. For the past few days, he hadn’t dared to rest, forgetting to eat or sleep as he focused on his Cultivation. Thankfully, his hard work had paid off. ’Now I can finally take a break!’

However, just as Shen Haoran was about to go ashore to meditate, a black shadow suddenly shot out from the exploding curtain of water. Before he could even react, he was sent flying!

"BANG..." The black shadow was incredibly fast and its impact was immense. It carried Shen Haoran with it, crashing through several towering ancient trees before finally coming to a stop.

"Huh? How come that didn’t hurt?" a sleazy voice sounded.

"No shit! You’re fucking crushing me!" Shen Haoran roared from underneath. Lying on top of him was a massive fatty weighing over three hundred pounds!

Hearing this, the Fatty scrambled to his feet. He looked down at Shen Haoran and apologized profusely, "Oh, sorry about that! I didn’t see you! I didn’t crush you, did I?"

Staring at the incredibly obese Fatty in front of him, Shen Haoran’s face darkened. ’Where the hell did this weirdo come from?!’

"ROAR!" Just as Shen Haoran was complaining internally, a heaven-shaking roar came from the forest, causing the leaves on the surrounding trees to tremble violently.

’That sound... that’s the aura of a Tier Five Spirit Beast!’ Shen Haoran’s expression changed drastically.

’This is the middle ring of the Red Flame Mountain Range. How could a Tier Five Spirit Beast appear here?’ Shen Haoran wondered.

"Brother, we gotta run! That thing is bad news!" After hearing the Tier Five Spirit Beast’s roar, the Fatty yelled out and took off running.

"ROAR!" With another roar, a massive figure shot out from the forest. Seeing this figure, Shen Haoran’s pupils contracted.

"A Dark Demon Tiger!" Shen Haoran cried out in alarm.

In the distance, a tiger wreathed in black energy was rushing toward Shen Haoran’s position, kicking up clouds of dust wherever it passed!

"Fuck!" Shen Haoran cursed under his breath, turned, and bolted. A Dark Demon Tiger was a top-tier existence among Tier Five Spirit Beasts. That was equivalent to a Spirit Marquis Peak expert!

Shen Haoran’s figure flickered through the dense forest, trying to shake off the Dark Demon Tiger. But he discovered that the beast seemed to be locked onto him, showing no intention of letting him go.

’What’s going on? I didn’t provoke it, did I? Has this Dark Demon Tiger gone crazy, chasing me like this?!’ Shen Haoran’s brows knitted tightly.

"It doesn’t seem to be chasing you. It’s chasing that Fatty in front of you!" Elder Yan’s voice rang out.

"The Fatty?" Hearing this, Shen Haoran looked up ahead. A portly figure was frantically waddling as it sprinted forward...