Chapter 006: Cultivation

  Noticing that the life force of the black-clad man had completely dissipated, Yang Tian collapsed onto the ground, his entire body drenched in sweat. Just moments ago, he had been as fierce as a young bull, but now he was utterly drained. The punch he had just executed had completely exhausted his vital energy.

  "That move just now... it's called 'Blazing Sun!'" Yang Tian murmured as he regained some strength. The technique used by the giant was far too profound for him to fully comprehend. He could only create his own version, hoping that one day he might grasp its true essence.

  Standing up, Yang Tian searched the black-clad man’s body. His lips curled into a pleased smile when he found a "Void Ring" in his palm.

  A Void Ring was a rare and valuable storage artifact. This one had a space of about five zhang (approximately 15 meters) in diameter, making it a lower-tier Void Ring. Given the black-clad man's cultivation level, obtaining such an item likely meant he had killed many people.

  Whoosh!

  A pile of items appeared on the ground as Yang Tian emptied the ring. Sorting through them, he found five thumb-sized stones and a jade bottle.

  Picking up one of the stones, he observed its blood-red hue and the intricate patterns etched along its surface. A potent energy flowed within it.

  "Blood Stones? This guy was quite wealthy," Yang Tian remarked, rubbing the stone in admiration. If the black-clad man had known his thoughts, he would have spat blood in frustration—those five Blood Stones were the payment from Chen Fatty for capturing Yang Tian.

  Blood Stones were classified into four tiers: Low, Medium, High, and Supreme. The ones Yang Tian had acquired were of the lowest grade.

  Storing three of the Blood Stones in the Void Ring, he then picked up the jade bottle and opened it. A rich, invigorating scent surged out, filling the air with an essence of vitality.

  Inside the bottle lay a blood-red pill the size of a longan fruit. Taking a deep breath, Yang Tian felt his depleted energy slightly recover. A pleased expression appeared on his face. "A Blood Pill? This guy must have been planning a breakthrough. Well, looks like it's mine now."

  In this land, pills were categorized from one to nine grades, crafted using rare spiritual ingredients with miraculous effects. Even in Bluestone Town, such pills were scarce. This Blood Pill was a mid-tier, first-grade pill.

  After assessing his loot, Yang Tian stored the Void Ring inside his Ancestral Dragon Ring before sitting cross-legged, deep in thought.

  "Chen Fatty must be after something in the Dragon Star Martial Hall. But he wouldn’t dare act alone—someone must be pulling the strings. In all of Bluestone Town, there are only a few people bold enough to target my godfather. Who could it be?"

  He narrowed his eyes, his mind racing. Over the years, Lin Yuan had treated people kindly and had made no known enemies. Unable to find an answer, Yang Tian let out a sigh and put the matter aside.

  As night fell, the roars of beasts echoed from the forest. Yang Tian was startled awake. Looking at the darkening sky, he walked toward a pile of scattered rocks.

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  After some time, he retrieved a pitch-black iron cage. The cage was riddled with fist-sized holes and had an intricate maze-like structure inside. It was forged from refined iron.

  Shaking the cage, Yang Tian grinned before carrying it toward a nearby pool of water.

  With a splash, he tossed the cage into the water and secured it to a boulder with a silver thread. If any fish swam into the cage, they would be his.

  Yang Tian sat cross-legged as the medicinal power of the Blood Pill refined his bones. His entire skeleton gleamed like jade, exuding a faint glow. The effects even seeped into his bone marrow, strengthening his organs and invigorating his heart.

  As he continued to refine the pill with the surrounding spiritual energy, its effects gradually diminished, with the remaining power flowing into his muscles and tendons. His blood felt like it was burning, and his entire body radiated heat like a furnace.

  The spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged into him, continuously tempering his flesh. With the help of the Blood Pill, his strength increased at a rapid pace.

  Within his Qi Sea, the once meager dozen drops of red energy had thickened by a third, appearing more crystalline and exuding a brilliant glow.

  For the next few days, Yang Tian devoted himself entirely to cultivating the Battle Heaven Art. Having suffered immense hardship since childhood, he understood better than anyone that strength was the key to survival. In this world, only the powerful could protect what they cherished.

  Time flew by, and five days passed in the blink of an eye. The Ancestral Dragon Ring had altered time perception, allowing Yang Tian’s energy to more than double. This was also thanks to the unique properties of the Icefish he had been consuming. He was confident that, if he faced the black-clad man again, he could defeat him with ease.

  However, he noticed something strange—his physical toughness was increasing at an alarming rate. The rapid currents above the pool, which once scraped his skin, now barely left a mark. While pleased, he also felt frustrated—his cultivation speed had slowed down considerably.

  In a field of scattered rocks, a shadow darted back and forth, kicking up clouds of dust. As Yang Tian moved, the air howled with each swing of his arms, generating small whirlwinds that sent stones flying in all directions.

  Boom! Boom!

  Throwing a punch, his bones let out a deep, thunderous sound. His body resonated like a drum, and a bright burst of energy shot forward.

  Crash!

  A boulder shattered, dust and debris scattering everywhere. At its center, a hole the size of a human arm continued to expand, cracks spreading throughout the massive rock.

  Without hesitation, Yang Tian struck again. A sharp sound rang out as another blast of energy erupted. With a thunderous explosion, the boulder—nearly a thousand catties in weight—was reduced to rubble by his two punches.

  As the dust settled, Yang Tian looked at the shattered stones and nodded in satisfaction. After some light stretching, he fell into deep thought. If he solely relied on absorbing spiritual energy, his progress would be painstakingly slow. The Battle Heaven Art required an immense amount of vital energy, and with his current foundation, he couldn't yet break through to the fourth level of the Blood Refinement Realm.

  The amount of energy needed to cultivate Battle Heaven Art was dozens of times greater than other techniques. The second stage of martial cultivation was the Warrior Realm, and according to the Battle Heaven Art, stepping into this stage required refining the Battle Heaven Copper Body. Just the thought of it gave Yang Tian a headache.

  The next day, Yang Tian crushed a Blood Stone in his palm, absorbing its remaining energy. He opened his eyes and stood up, stretching his body. The sound of bones cracking echoed through the cave.

  Flexing his slightly stiff arms, he murmured, "With this newfound strength, I should be able to venture into the Beast Mountain Range."

  Bluestone Town’s back mountain was merely ten miles away from the Beast Mountain Range—a place filled with danger and frequent beast tides. Due to repeated attacks on civilians, Cloud City had stationed soldiers at the entrance and even built a small fortress, enclosing the area with a ten-zhang-high iron wall.

  Crossing over a hill, Yang Tian finally caught sight of the towering fortress. The outer walls were forged from black iron and bore numerous claw marks and palm imprints. They were clear signs of past battles, giving the place an ancient and solemn atmosphere.