Watching Shen Haoran’s departing figure, Jun Luohua’s expression gradually grew solemn. He then let out a long sigh and murmured in a voice only he could hear, "I hope things go smoothly for them this time!"

A moment later, Shen Haoran returned to his room. He then eagerly took out the pitch-black Scroll that Jun Luohua had given him.

"Tsk, tsk. An Earth Tier High Level Martial Skill... The Third Elder is really generous!" Shen Haoran smacked his lips as he gazed at the pitch-black Scroll. This was the first time he had ever seen a Martial Skill of such a high grade. He couldn’t wait to open it and begin studying it carefully.

However, after studying it for a moment, Shen Haoran’s brow furrowed. The Soul Shattering Celestial Assault was truly worthy of its status as an Earth Tier High Level Martial Skill; cultivating it was incredibly troublesome. Not only was the cultivation process dangerous, but the required conditions were also extremely demanding.

Broken Soul required the Essence Blood of a Spirit Beast. To cultivate it to the stage of Great Success, the Spirit Beast Essence Blood used could be no lower than Tier Seven! A Tier Seven Spirit Beast was equivalent to a human Martial Artist at the Spirit Emperor Level. Even if Shen Haoran had ten times the courage, he wouldn’t dare provoke one. But using the Essence Blood of any other Spirit Beast wouldn’t allow him to bring out the ultimate power of Broken Soul. In that case, it would be better not to cultivate it at all!

As for Celestial Assault, the conditions were even more demanding. It actually required absorbing the Thunder Power from between heaven and earth! This Thunder Power was equivalent to the might of a Celestial Punishment. While it might be a bit weaker than the Heaven and Earth Spirits, it wasn’t by much. Shen Haoran still felt a lingering fear just thinking about the agony of absorbing and refining the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian last time.

Furthermore, the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian was the type of thing that destroyed one’s internal channels with terrifyingly high temperatures. As long as he could find a way to suppress that heat, there were still methods to absorb it. But Thunder Power? That was a purely destructive force. Aside from those extremely rare, mutated Thunder Attribute Martial Artists, who would dare draw Thunder Power into their body? Only someone with a death wish.

"This is hard!" Shen Haoran couldn’t help but ruffle his hair. ’Celestial Assault is out of the question for now. I’m about to enter the Desert Ancient City, and in less than a month, I definitely won’t be able to find any Thunder Power. Even if I did, now isn’t the time to absorb it. Who knows what the consequences would be if I drew that Thunder Power into my body? I’ll have to wait until after I leave the Desert Ancient City to think about it.’

’Then I can only cultivate Broken Soul!’ Shen Haoran thought to himself. ’But where am I supposed to find the Essence Blood of a Tier Seven Spirit Beast? This is another huge problem!’

Shen Haoran pondered for a long time, thinking of countless methods. ’Hunt down a Tier Seven Spirit Beast? That’s obviously not going to work. If Elder Yan were awake, there might be a chance, but on my own, I’d probably be blasted to bits before I even got close to a Tier Seven Spirit Beast. Buy it? That’s also difficult. The Essence Blood of a Tier Seven Spirit Beast is incredibly precious. Even if someone had it, nobody would sell it—unless they were a fool!’

After racking his brain, Shen Haoran still couldn’t come up with a single solution, and he grew frustrated.

’Wait, why does it have to be a Spirit Beast? The Level of Divine Beasts and Fierce Beasts completely surpasses that of Spirit Beasts. If I used the Essence Blood of a Divine Beast or a Fierce Beast, wouldn’t the effect of Broken Soul be even better?’ Suddenly, Shen Haoran’s eyes lit up as if he had thought of something.

At this thought, a sharp glint flashed in Shen Haoran’s eyes, and he quickly called out Changmao.

"Changmao, let me ask you something. Do you have any Divine Beast Essence Blood? Or Fierce Beast would work too!" Shen Haoran asked, his eyes filled with expectation as he looked at Changmao.

Hearing Shen Haoran’s words, Changmao couldn’t help but roll his eyes. "Boss, do you really think the Essence Blood of Divine Beasts and Fierce Beasts grows on trees? That you can just have it for the asking? I used to drink their Essence Blood like it was a beverage, but I’m a Spiritual Thought Body now. How could I possibly have any!"

Shen Haoran felt a bit awkward at that. It was true; if the Essence Blood of Divine Beasts and Fierce Beasts were that easy to obtain, the world would be a crazy place! But being unable to cultivate this Earth Tier High Level Martial Skill was simply agonizing. It was like forcing a foodie to stare at a grand feast before them without being allowed to eat a single bite.

Seeing Shen Haoran’s anguished expression, Changmao couldn’t help but feel puzzled. He then asked, "Boss, what do you need Divine Beast or Fierce Beast Essence Blood for?"

When Changmao asked, Shen Haoran told him about obtaining the Soul Shattering Celestial Assault. Then, not ready to give up, he added, "So, do you know where I can get some Divine Beast or Fierce Beast Essence Blood?"

In response to Shen Haoran’s question, Changmao lowered his head. After a long moment, he said in a low voice, "Boss, you really shouldn’t look for Divine or Fierce Beast Essence Blood. Like you said, the Essence Blood of a Tier Seven Spirit Beast is enough. The Essence Blood of a Divine or Fierce Beast is far too dangerous for you!"

"Boss, you know that Essence Blood is the foundation of all cultivating life forms. It contains the most fundamental Energy of a person or a Spirit Beast. That Energy is not something an ordinary person can withstand, let alone the Energy from a Divine Beast or a Fierce Beast! Besides, you said that Broken Soul requires you to use your Spiritual Thought to refine the Essence Blood. This blood contains the Spirit Beast’s most violent will, and the will of a Divine or Fierce Beast is even more terrifying. Even if you got your hands on their Essence Blood, with your current Spiritual Thought strength, you wouldn’t be able to refine it at all. Instead, you’d suffer a backlash. At best, you’d become a mindless killing machine; at worst, you’d lose your life!"

Hearing Changmao’s words, Shen Haoran’s expression grew serious. He also knew the risks and rewards involved. But after a moment, he gave a bitter laugh and said, "Do you think I don’t know the dangers? But I have no other choice. I come from a humble background with no powerful backing. In the near future, I will have to face the Murong Clan, one of the three most powerful families in the Imperial City. The Murong Clan has a hundred-year heritage; it would be a lie to say they don’t have Earth Tier High Level Martial Skills. If I want to fight them, I must cultivate this Soul Shattering Celestial Assault, and I must cultivate it to its absolute peak. Only then will I have what it takes to stand against the Murong Clan!"

"Besides, there’s still the mysterious Ji Family, and Ling Xuan is trapped there. So, brother, you have to help me!" Shen Haoran finished, turning his gaze to Changmao.

At his words, Changmao’s brows furrowed tightly. He knew how heavy the burden on Shen Haoran’s shoulders was, but this was a matter of life and death!

"I know what you’re worried about. But in this life, if you don’t risk it all, how will you ever know your own limits? Besides, I have absolute confidence in myself. Until I’ve rescued my parents, saved Ling Xuan, and reached the peak of Martial Arts, I will absolutely not die so easily!" A resolute light burst from Shen Haoran’s eyes, piercing straight into the depths of Changmao’s heart...