Meanwhile, strengthening one’s physique would ensure that this defense would be a passive and permanent one, active even when asleep or unconscious. However, the strengthening of the physique was an extremely difficult task that required the expense of a large amount of valuable natural treasures.
Ling Han had been the previous type, and had not spent much effort on strengthening his physique in his last life.
Of course, the reason why the beast’s blood could be refined so quickly was because the Indestructible Heaven Scroll was much too powerful and shockingly efficient. Otherwise, for other kinds of cultivation techniques like Stone Skin Skill, it might require about three or four days’ time to be completely refined.
Ling Han could clearly feel that his muscles had become denser and his skin tougher. If a sharp piece of rock was drawn over his skin, the most it would do would be leaving behind a white mark.
Very soon, he should be able to achieve the physique of Dead Tree Tier.
After the night had passed, the two of them continued their journey on the mountain, seeking demonic beasts to battle.
From the second day onwards, it seemed as if their luck had taken a turn for the better as they continuously encountered demonic beasts. This did not just provide Ling Han with a very good chance for accumulating actual battle experience, but also provided him with a large supply of beasts’ blood, allowing him to continuously advance in his cultivation of Indestructible Heaven Scroll.
On the fourth day, they exited the forest and saw five people sitting in a clearing not too far ahead. The five of them looked as if they had gone through a huge battle, every one of them looking quite miserable.
These five were all youngsters, all of them less than twenty years old. Three of the group had achieved the ninth layer of Body Refining Tier while the other two were in the eighth layer. In a small place like Gray Cloud Town, based on their individual cultivation level, the five of them could definitely be praised as geniuses.
Liu Yu Tong immediately took out a veil to conceal her face. She was born too beautiful and her unworldly beauty easily caused problems–though she herself had no fear of such problems.
“Brother, which town are you from?” One of the young men asked. His tone was filled with confidence, hinting that he should be from some large, wealthy clan.
Ling Han smiled, and said, “Gray Cloud Town.”
“We’re all from Guo Rock Town,” That young man continued to say, and began to introduce his group, “I am Liu Dong, he’s Chen Peng Ju, he’s Li Hao, that guy’s Zhou Chang, and this beauty here is Zhu Xue, the noble Miss Zhu.” [1]
Ling Han nodded at the five of them, and said, “I’m Ling Han, and this here is Liu Yu Tong.”
“Ling Han, we discovered a Green Spiritual Fruit just now, yet there is a very powerful demonic beast standing guard nearby, so we have no way of getting to it. How about it, are you interested in working together with us?” Liu Dong suggested to Ling Han. The reason behind his friendly attitude was revealed by his words.
“Oh?” Ling Han’s heart stirred. A Green Spiritual Fruit would not only improve the cultivation level of a martial artist, it was also very beneficial for a martial artist preparing to break through to the Element Gathering Tier. The five people in front of him were very close to achieving the peak of the ninth layer of Body Refining Tier. Should they consume a Green Spiritual Fruit at this stage, it would be extremely helpful to their breakthrough.
Spiritual Fruits were different from alchemical pills. They were completely natural treasures, so consuming them had no side effects, unlike how it was the case with alchemical pills–if one were to continuously take alchemical pills, traces of poisonous impurities present in alchemical pills would accumulate within their body. However, there were some Spiritual Fruits that possessed effects so strong that they had to be refined into pills before they could be consumed. Otherwise, it would be the same as committing suicide.
“What level is that demonic beast?” Ling Han asked.
“Miasma Cloud Beast, ninth layer of Body Refining Tier,” Zhou Chang replied.
Ling Han suddenly understood why even these five people were powerless. As the Miasma Cloud Beast would continuously release large amounts of poisonous miasma during battle, fighters had to hold their breath. However, in a violent battle, even for a martial artist, how long would they be able to hold their breath for?
Thus, without crushing power to end the battle in a very short period of time, there would be no way to defeat a Miasma Cloud Beast.
“However, you must first receive a saber attack from me to prove that you possess sufficient strength,” Li Hao spoke and brandished the saber in his hand, his face showing a very cool expression, fully intent on showing off.
[1] ED/N: Guo = outer city wall. See why it’s not TLed completely now?
Chapter 29
Translator: _Dark_Angel_ Editor: Kurisu
“You have to be careful, he’s in the ninth layer of Body Refining Tier. Furthermore, his nickname is Saber Maniac. He never jokes around when talking about sabers,” Zhu Xue Yi cautioned, “If your cultivation level is not above the seventh layer of Body Refining Tier, then it’s better if you don’t take his attacks head on.”
Ling Han nodded with a smile, and said, “I only need to take one attack from you?”
“Just one!” Li Hao continued to say very coolly and arrogantly, looking like some kind of master swordsman.
“Very well, come on then,” Ling Han did not boast of his own abilities, nor did he display any disdain towards his opponent. He only nodded very calmly in response.
Li Hao moved and arrived in front of Ling Han. His right hand was placed on the hilt of the saber at his waist, but he made no move to draw it out yet. His left foot was in front while his right foot remained at the back. His upper body leaned slightly forwards, his expression one of complete concentration.
Ling Han was slightly surprised–this guy actually looked a little decent, and vaguely had the bearing of a swordsman.
Li Hao drew his saber abruptly, and a flash of cold light blazed and slashed swiftly towards Ling Han.
“Ding!”
A sharp sound echoed and sparks flew. Ling Han managed to draw his sword in time, scraping it against the blade of the saber. However, the long sword did not go against the saber head on. Instead, it drew all the way from the saber’s tip right to the saber’s hilt and in this way managed to dissipate the heavy weight of the saber.
The sword’s movement was extremely quick!
Li Hao’s saber attack was unexpectedly ended.
Zhu Xue Yi and the rest of her companions were all shocked. The power Ling Han displayed in this one strike was obviously only the seventh layer of Body Refining Tier, yet he managed to dissolve Li Hao’s full-power slash, exhibiting more than exceptional sword skills.
“You pass,” Li Hao nodded, a very arrogant expression on his face.
Yet Ling Han gave a flick of his long sword, and said, “You too should take an attack from me!”
“Haha, are you testing me?” Li Hao gave a big laugh. Although Ling Han managed to take a saber attack from him, this did not signify that he would be able to fight on even footing with him. These were completely two different issues.
“Something like that,” Ling Han said with a smile. “Do you dare?”
“Then bring it on!” Li Hao said confidently. When they exchanged blows previously, he had confirmed that Ling Han’s cultivation level was only in the seventh layer of Body Refining Tier. Although the two of them were both similarly in the late stage of Body Refining Tier, the difference of two layers was still very distinct.
The sword in Ling Han’s hand moved in an elaborate manner and suddenly pierced forwards, aiming directly at Li Hao’s neck.
Li Hao naturally did not fear Ling Han’s attack. He brandished his saber in a block. With a “ding”, the long sword stopped its approach right in front of his throat, missing by a hair’s breadth.
“You’ve lost,” Ling Han withdrew his sword.
“I clearly blocked your-“Li Hao was just about to speak, when he saw that Ling Han gave a flick of his sword, and a ray of white-colored cold light flashed swiftly.
“Sword Qi!” Liu Dong and his company simultaneously gasped in shock.
Li Hao could not help the darkening of his expression. He naturally knew the power of Sword Qi, so he nodded and said, “I’ve lost!” If Ling Han had released Sword Qi just now, then he currently would only be a dead body.
Liu Dong and company were shocked half to death. The fact that Ling Han had managed to parry Li Hao’s saber previously had already made them feel very impressed. But now this was actually a guy who had even formed Sword Qi… he really was inconceivable.
Li Hao’s fighting spirit rose again, and said, “Let us spar once more!” He had not yet experienced a battle with someone who could form Sword Qi. This was a rare opportunity.
“Very well!” Ling Han nodded in agreement. He had a slight intent to train Li Hao as he thought that this brat would be able to step onto the path of an actual swordsman. As he spoke, his right hand flicked, and his long sword once again flashed out.
Li Hao naturally would give it his best, and hurriedly brandished his saber in a slash. He wanted to use the weight of the saber to force Ling Han to fly out of the spar. He opted to attack instead of pure defense.
“Ding, ding, ding, ding,” the two fighters battled fiercely. Li Hao was not “instantly killed” this round. However, he suffered quite a bit as Ling Han had started to use Sword Qi, which left many wounds on Li Hao’s body.
Tens of moves later, Li Hao decisively surrendered. If they continued to battle, he might really bleed to death.
“Sword Qi is indeed powerful!” He said, both frustrated and excited. Should he be able to form Saber Qi, then the situation might be completely different.
“Do not be discouraged, you are already quite skilled,” Ling Han said aptly.
Although he had not spent much time on sword arts in his last life, how intelligent was he? Moreover, he had once achieved the summit of Heaven Tier. His one day’s training would be comparable to a year’s training of a person in Body Refining Tier… or even a few years’ training!
Just how old was Li Hao that he could actually spar with him?
Zhu Xue Yi and company were both shocked and overjoyed. Their shock was due to the fact that Li Hao was the strongest amongst them yet was still unfit to be Ling Han’s opponent. Their joy was because their chances of obtaining the Green Spiritual Fruit had increased greatly now with the help of such a master swordsman.
The group of seven set off on their way to where the Green Spiritual Fruit was located.
“So it seems that Brother Ling is the heir to the Ling Clan of Gray Cloud Town. That’s strange, we should have long heard of a genius existence like Brother Ling,” on the way to their destination, Ling Han had become the focus of the five young people’s attention, and so naturally was barraged by their questions.
This was normal–his predecessor had no idea that he had possessed an Immortal Grade Spirit Base, neither did he know the Five Elements Heaven Grade Skill. It’d be strange if he was well-known.
Ling Han only answered that he had been more subdued in the past, and thus deflected this question.
Though Zhu Xue Yi and her companions also had much interest in Liu Yu Tong, she was icily silent all the while, and Ling Han too did not seem like he was going to introduce her, thus they could only feel curious in their hearts.
Close to an hour later, they finally arrived at an extremely moist place. In front of them, there suddenly appeared a cave. They hadn’t even entered the cave yet but could already smell a disgusting stink. However, they could vaguely see a plant that was about a meter tall–its stem had no leaves, looking like a sugarcane. However, there hung several fruits from it, neither too many nor too few–exactly seven of them.
“If we go any closer, we’d be affected by the miasma poison. We must hold our breaths if we want to advance forwards.”
“That Miasma Cloud Beast is very cunning, it would definitely not leave the sphere of influence of the miasma poison.”
“We have to draw that Miasma Cloud Beast out. As long as we can obstruct it for a few breaths’ time, we’ll be able to extract the Spiritual Fruits.”
“Miss Liu and Xue Yi will be responsible for extracting the Green Spiritual Fruits. Us five men will be in charge of obstructing the Miasma Cloud Beast. Agreed?”
This was mostly directed at Ling Han.
They would both have one person on the team obtain the fruits to avoid either party snatching the fruits and fleeing.
Ling Han smiled and nodded. If they knew what Liu Yu Tong’s cultivation level was, then they probably might not offer this kind of suggestion.
“We have to draw the Miasma Cloud Beast out first. If we start the battle in the cave, then we would not be able to take advantage of our superior numbers,” Zhou Chang said.
“En!”
The five men all drew out their respective weapons, banging them against each other to create a clamor.
It took only a while before a creature which looked similar to a wild hog ran out of the cave. There were air sacs all over its body that kept on releasing a gray fog. Two long, thick fangs protruded outside its lips, looking like two short spears, exuding a strong pressure.
This was the Miasma Cloud Beast. With its power, it could be considered to be in the upper echelons of the Body Refining Tier’s demonic beasts.
The Miasma Cloud Beast appeared at the cave entrance, yet it did not attack. It only growled deeply and bared its teeth at the five humans in front of it. The air sacs all over its body continuously released a gray fog, forming a dark cloud above it.
“Let’s go!” Zhou Chang gave a loud shout and made the first move. Liu Dong, Chen Peng Ju and Li Hao followed closely behind. The four of them simultaneously brandished their respective weapons and flew towards the Miasma Cloud Beast.
However, Ling Han made no movement. Instead, he stayed behind, silently watching.
Four against one… although Li Hao and his companions had the advantage in numbers, under the continuous influence of the poisonous miasma, they could not display their full prowess and very quickly were on the losing side.
They could not help feeling very worried–hadn’t they made an agreement to join forces and attack together? Why was Ling Han just standing there by the side and watching?
“Shua!” Right at that moment, Ling Han drew his sword quickly, as if he was moving at the speed of light.
Chapter 30
Translator: _Dark_Angel_ Editor: Kurisu
This sword move was really very cleverly timed as the Miasma Cloud Beast had just defended against the combined attacks of Liu Dong and his companions and its defense had weakened, creating an opportunity for Ling Han.
“Shua!” The long sword waved, seemingly like a deity descended from the heavens.
With a “pu” sound, the sword pierced through the right eye of the Miasma Cloud Beast and deeper into its body, driving in all the way until the hilt.
“Peng!” The Miasma Cloud Beast fell heavily onto the ground. It was actually killed in one blow!
“What!”
“Mother!”
“Si!”
Liu Dong and the others, including Zhu Xue Yi who had been in hiding, inhaled sharply in shock.
That was an actual Miasma Cloud Beast, one of the strongest amongst demonic beasts in Body Refining Tier! And yet, it was killed in one blow! How could they accept something this unbelievable?
But immediately, they took to their heels. If one spoke, they would naturally inhale air. They had all inhaled a bit of miasma poison just now, thus they had to circulate their respective cultivation techniques as soon as possible to dissolve the poison. Otherwise, their internal organs could very likely corrode.
After a while, Liu Dong was the first to walk towards Ling
Han, and patting his shoulder, he said, “I thought you brat were already scared to the point that you couldn’t move, but you’re actually so strong. Your one strike could actually be so swift.”
“Haha, Brother Ling is truly powerful to actually kill the Miasma Cloud Beast in one blow!” Li Hao said. To be able to witness such a clean, decisive slash, he too felt immeasurably excited since he was a swordsman himself.
Ling Han only smiled. The lower the cultivation level, the easier it would be for one with a lower cultivation level to challenge someone with a higher cultivation level. Moreover, the Miasma Cloud Beast had had most of its attention focused on Liu Dong and the rest just now, which gave him the chance to kill it in one strike.
If it was a one-on-one battle, Ling Han would definitely not be able to fight the Miasma Cloud Beast on even grounds–unless he had taken the antidote to the miasma poison beforehand.
Alchemy Emperor of the Divine Dao c1-1294 Page 19