Chapter 232: Chapter 232: An Almost Freakish Cultivation Method

A Divine Weapon in the form of Treasure Armor could massively enhance one’s strength, even allowing one to fight across Realms without injury.

If word got out that Xu Yunfan was wearing a piece of Treasure Armor that was a Tier Eight Divine Weapon, every Martial Artist in the Great Zhou would likely go mad for it.

’A True Disciple with no one watching over him!!!’

Xu Yunfan’s eyes were shining, practically glowing with excitement.

His Thousand-Pound Mountain-Shaking Hammer Technique would peak once he reached the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm. If he didn’t find a new Cultivation Technique to switch to, it would severely hamper his cultivation progress.

And the Cultivation Techniques practiced by the True Disciples of the top sects were surely their Sects’ most supreme Divine Skills.

’If I could get my hands on one...’

’...then I wouldn’t have to worry about stepping into the Nine Realms of Qi Cultivation.’

After all, the only True Skill in the Celestial Craft Cave that could lead to the Nine Realms of Qi Cultivation was the one passed down directly by the Sect Leader.

But compared to the Martial Arts of the Six Top Sects, it was frankly embarrassing.

"Senior Brother Qi, do you know the general direction those sect disciples went?"

Hearing Xu Yunfan’s low, eerie voice, Qi Huan’s heart skipped a beat. He quickly replied, "Roughly, yes, I roughly know the direction. Ever since my body changed, I’ve been able to track the scent I leave behind."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yunfan’s grim expression instantly broke into a wide smile.

He reached out, patted Qi Huan’s shoulder, and said with a serious face, "Senior Brother Qi, we hail from the same sect. Out here, we should have each other’s backs and stick together for warmth. If we want to get out, we’ll naturally have to find those True Disciples from the major sects."

At this thought, Xu Yunfan dismissed the idea of killing Qi Huan.

Qi Huan felt a wave of relief. Though he didn’t know what Xu Yunfan was thinking, the killing intent directed at him had vanished.

Ever since his body had been demonized, he had become extremely sensitive to the emotions of others. From the moment he’d woken up, he’d felt a faint but persistent killing intent from Xu Yunfan.

As he revealed more information, that killing intent had grown stronger. If he hadn’t agreed so quickly, Xu Yunfan’s palm might have already struck him down.

"Senior Brother Qi, focus on your recovery. As soon as you’re healed, we’ll set out immediately."

For the next several days, under Qi Huan’s complicated gaze, Xu Yunfan dedicated himself to cultivation almost without rest.

Every morning, he would stand on the mountain peak, facing the rising sun, and practice the Pure Yang Qi Skill.

Around noon, after eating some Demon Flesh and Blood, he would rest for the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, then relentlessly practice his Thousand-Pound Mountain-Shaking Hammer Technique until late into the night. After that, he would sit cross-legged in Meditation. Nearly two Hours later, he would begin the cycle all over again.

After seven straight days of this, Qi Huan couldn’t help but ask, "You haven’t slept in seven days. You eat six meals of Demon Flesh and Blood daily. You meditate and train your Strength in the morning, practice your Hammer Technique at noon, and meditate late into the night. Don’t you get tired?"

"Tired?"

Xu Yunfan slowly straightened up, finishing the last sequence of his Hammer Technique. As he relaxed his stance, he glanced at the Attribute Panel in his vision.

’You have diligently cultivated the Thousand-Pound Mountain-Shaking Hammer Technique. Through the Empowerment of your body’s Essence Qi and the support of your Blood Qi, your continuous cultivation has made you increasingly proficient in its power application. Your Thousand-Pound Mountain-Shaking Hammer Technique Skill Level has increased.’

Seeing the Skill Level notification float up on his Attribute Panel, Xu Yunfan couldn’t help but smile.

Seeing the look of pure enjoyment on Xu Yunfan’s face, Qi Huan’s eye twitched.

Seven days without sleep, a cultivation regimen bordering on demonic possession... he couldn’t help but be filled with admiration.

"I’m truly impressed."

Qi Huan let out a breath. The feeling of unfairness in his heart lessened considerably.

He considered himself a diligent martial artist, but compared to Xu Yunfan, his own efforts were like working in fits and starts.

’No wonder the Sect values him so highly.’

"Not at all. I just enjoy cultivating."

"..."

There was no response to that. Faced with such a demonic level of training, he couldn’t muster any thought of trying to compete.

Seven days and nights without rest, relying solely on meditation to recover his energy and stamina. It was monstrous.

After a while, Qi Huan couldn’t hold back any longer. "Aren’t you leaving yet?"

Xu Yunfan glanced at the remaining half of the Elephant Demon’s carcass. For days, he had been eating six meals a day and absorbing the Ginseng Child’s Qi of Ginseng three times. Every two or three days, he would tear off a few strips of meat for Qi Huan to keep him alive, but there was still a lot left.

He replied, "It’s not time yet. We need to be patient."

Hearing this, Qi Huan followed Xu Yunfan’s gaze to the Elephant Demon’s flesh and blood. He understood at once that Xu Yunfan intended to finish eating the entire demon before they left.

"Aren’t you in a hurry?"

"Why would I be?"

Xu Yunfan retorted, "The Primordial Spirit Qi here is abundant, and I have the Essence Qi from Demon Flesh and Blood to replenish my energy. This place is a perfect Cultivation Holy Land. I wouldn’t want to leave even if you asked me to."

Qi Huan opened his mouth, but in the end, said nothing more.

For a martial arts fanatic like Xu Yunfan, this place was indeed the optimal solution.

Time flowed like water, and in the blink of an eye, a month had passed.

As Xu Yunfan sucked the last Elephant Demon bone clean until it was white, Qi Huan’s throat bobbed violently.

For over a month, he had watched as Xu Yunfan dismembered the three-zhang-tall Elephant Demon carcass, devouring the roasted Demon Flesh and Blood and its Essence Qi without a second thought.

At this moment, Xu Yunfan’s back was slightly hunched. The knotted muscles on his back rippled with each breath like a living creature, and a scorching aura even seeped from the gaps in his Dragon Scale Armor.

’You are cultivating the Thousand-Pound Mountain-Shaking Hammer Technique. Due to your diligent practice, your Skill Level has increased.’

He looked at his Attribute Panel. On the Skill Bar, the Skill Level for his Thousand-Pound Mountain-Shaking Hammer Technique had risen by a total of 863 points. He was now almost a fifth of the way to the 5,000 points needed for Perfection.

Xu Yunfan suddenly stood up. The clatter of his Armor Leaves startled the crows in the forest.

He casually tossed the leg bone into a deep ravine thirty paces away. The bone bounced seven times against the rock face before plummeting into the mist. Before the echo faded, he had already shot toward the southeastern mountains like an arrow loosed from a bowstring.

Qi Huan’s spirits lifted. He had, of course, fully recovered from his injuries over this time. He had considered leaving, but a few days ago, Xu Yunfan had intentionally or unintentionally displayed a burst of Strength. It was then that Qi Huan discovered, to his despair, that the man had already reached the Blood Exchange Realm. Furthermore, it seemed he was on the verge of reaching Minor Achievement in Blood Transformation.

’In terms of Martial Arts Realm, I’m only at the Outer Three Harmonies!’

"Are we going to look for Pei Yan and the others now?"

Xu Yunfan gazed at a Spiritual Energy Node over a hundred li away in the distance, a place shrouded by Demon Fiends. His eyes sparkled.

"Not yet."

Xu Yunfan glanced back at Qi Huan, having no intention of restraining him.

As things stood, if Qi Huan wanted to get out, he had no choice but to rely on him. If someone with his appearance were to show up in front of Pei Yan’s group, they would simply kill him as a Demon Fiend.

"Just follow me for now."

After tossing out that sentence, Xu Yunfan strode unhesitatingly toward the mountain ridge like a shooting star.

"Wait!"

Qi Huan’s Cyan Scales bristled. Limping, he chased after him out of the cave, only to see a circular shockwave erupt on the mountain path—the aftereffect of Xu Yunfan’s powerful step breaking the sound barrier.

On a distant mountain peak over a hundred li away, where purple qi lingered, a plume of greyish-blue Evil Qi suddenly erupted. The phantom of a nine-headed python flickered in and out of view among the clouds.

Qi Huan’s pupils contracted slightly. When he had first arrived, he had instinctively avoided that place.