《The Eternal Supremacy》


 Chapter 1：Prologue

    Amidst the shapeless void, a state of oblivion reigned.


    Within the void, a man was restrained by ten million chains. His dark hair hung loosely in front of his chest and shielded his appearance. This man must have committed a heinous crime, thus he was locked up there for eternity as punishment.


    "An Immortal��an Immortal��is destined to become an insignificant insect!" the man muttered. His body shifted slightly and the chains wound around him rattled loudly.


    The man lifted his head slowly when he heard someone calling him. In his disorientated stupor, the man saw a little girl. Appearing as charming as a little fairy, she was innocent, adorable and wore a long, green dress.


    Although the man had no idea who she was, his intuition told him that she shared a particularly close relationship with him. Apparently, she was his kin.


    Meanwhile, there was indeed a little girl standing far away from the void. She was wearing a long, green dress as she knelt before the majestic statue of a god. She appeared to be worshipping someone.


    As she stared at the massive, towering statue, the girl fell into a trance. This figure was her grandfather and a hero. Back then, he had single-handedly saved all of mankind and used his body as a shield against all disasters.


    The girl had always been proud of having a legendary and heroic man for a grandfather.


    "Qing Qing, let''s go." A woman appeared behind her. Her dress was as white as snow and she was as exquisite as an immaculate goddess.


    "I think��I hear someone calling me," the little girl said.


    Slowly, she closed her eyes. A call that came from the depths of one''s heart found its way to her. It seemed to have come from the same void too. "Qing��Qing Qing, help me."

 Chapter 2：Seizing of the Cauldron

    Deep within the forest, the lions growled and the apes hooted.


    A figure was running fast in the depths of the quiet forest. It was a young sixteen- or seventeen-year-old with dark hair and black pupils. He appeared physically weak and was slightly fair-skinned. His looks suggested that he was a noble''s son. However, at this moment, the brocade on the young man was in tatters while he looked battered and exhausted.


    The young man who was running amok in the forest was holding a palm-sized cauldron tightly in his palm. The unusually quaint cauldron engraved with mysterious patterns seemed to be an ancient artifact even though the patterns were still clearly visible.


    "F*ck! Damn it, it''s hard to believe that Third Young Master Ji could have fallen to this point!" exclaimed Ji Mo between gasps as he rested against one of the towering trees.


    The corners of his mouth turned into a bitter smile whilst he looked at the tiny cauldron in his palm.


    By chance, he had discovered this cauldron that contained a great amount of Nine Suns True Qi. In the cultivation world, cultivators tempered their body by absorbing heaven and earth spiritual energy with the goal to forge an eternal Truth Body that would allow them to call the wind and summon the rain. Besides that, the Nine Suns True Qi was exceptionally unique. Its quality surpassed that of heaven and earth spiritual energy, so every cultivator was desperate to acquire this particular True Qi.


    However, this tiny cauldron containing Nine Suns True Qi had courted Ji Mo''s own destruction. The man was in agony. No matter what, he should never have told that woman, Du Jia, about his obtaining the Nine Suns True Qi. Du Jia was not only Ji Mo''s childhood sweetheart, but she was also engaged to him, so he had always regarded her as one of them.


    That was why he did not expect Du Jia to send someone to murder him, her own fianc��, all because of that tiny cauldron containing the Nine Suns True Qi.


    ''Good for you, Du Jia. I really have misjudged you. You''ve planned a murderous scheme against me together with Nan Hao simply for the sake of obtaining the Nine Suns True Qi. It seems like both of you have long been engaging in an affair, just that I was kept in the dark!'' Ji Mo felt aggrieved at the unfair treatment and his fingers tightened around the cauldron.


    "Ji Mo, there''s nowhere else you can go!" Right at this moment, a piercing roar suddenly broke out in the forest and a tall figure emerged from the woods. Accompanied by this loud bellow was a huge force that blasted towards Ji Mo. It was as if the surge of force was fueled by thousands upon thousands of sprinting soldiers and galloping horses.


    "Dragon Elephant Tempering Art!" Ji Mo exclaimed while simultaneously rolling onto the ground and hiding at the side.


    Boom!


    The huge force impacted a towering tree that weighed over 500 kilograms. This ancient tree that would have required several people to fully embrace its trunk was sent scattered into the air in the form of pulverized sawdust.


    A silhouette landed in front of Ji Mo. This young man of eighteen or nineteen years old was born with a handsome face and a valiant bearing. There was also a brilliant twinkle in his eyes.


    This person was Nan Hao, a well-known figure and widely-recognized genius of Tianyuan Academy.


    Tianyuan Academy was not particularly famous among the cultivation world, but it was the only academy within a radius of 500 kilometers. The existence of these academies was to train talents and deliver new forces to the prestigious sects. In the cultivation world, only those talents from prestigious sects could be called cultivators.


    These academies were founded by the prestigious sects in order to select the naturally bright and talented into their respective sects and set foot on the path of immortal cultivation. Anyone who excelled in the academy or whose capability broke through the Acupuncture Point Unblocking Phase was qualified to enter the sects to become a cultivator.


    Nan Hao was a genius at Tianyuan Academy. At the age of eighteen, he was already an expert at the eighth-tier Acupuncture Point Unblocking Phase.


    Unblocking acupuncture points was actually a process of body tempering. By using various techniques from the Body Tempering Art, one could transform and improve their average mortal body besides further strengthening various joints in the body including the meridians and muscles.


    In order to master the body tempering process, one must first understand the path to unblocking acupuncture points.


    There were numerous acupuncture points hidden in various parts of the human body. Each of these acupuncture points possessed different effects and unblocking these points could toughen one''s mortal body to obtain extraordinary strength. During the Acupuncture Point Unblocking Phase, it was necessary to unblock all nine points in the human body in order to undergo a complete transformation.


    One could progress past the Qi Plundering Boundary once all nine of those acupuncture points were unblocked. In other words, one could further reinforce their body by plundering the world''s heaven and earth spiritual energy, all whilst laying a solid foundation for building the Truth Body in the path of immortal cultivation. One had to progress their cultivation base into the Qi Plundering Boundary to be qualified as a real cultivator.


    The Dragon Elephant Tempering Art that Nan Hao cultivated was a type of advanced Body Tempering Art. Upon his success of undergoing a complete transformation, he possessed power comparable to that of an ancient giant elephant and only a few people from Tianyuan Academy could be his match.


    When comparing both, Nan Hao and Ji Mo were like Heaven and Hell. It was not as though Ji Mo lacked natural endowment. He was only average albeit not being as useless as common trash. It might be even better if he was indeed trash since there had been countless success stories about the rise of trash recently.


    Since he was young, Ji Mo did not feel particularly interested in cultivating. On the other hand, he was enthusiastic about researching archaic texts and amusing anecdotes. He was notorious for being the useless trash of Tianyuan Academy. He did not enroll in Tianyuan Academy because of his excellent achievements. Instead, he got in through the back door thanks to his family''s prestige. Ji Mo came from a slightly renowned family. In order for him to be somewhat accomplished, his family had exhausted numerous labor and physical resources for him to train in the sect.


    However, it just so happened that Ji Mo was impartial about cultivation. Ever since his arrival at Tianyuan Academy, he was not proficient in serious matters but was completely engrossed in researching peculiar stuff. Almost no one in Tianyuan Academy was fond of Ji Mo. People avoided him whenever possible and regarded him with contempt.


    After all, in Tianyuan Academy, or perhaps in the entire cultivation world, people showed respect for strength. On the contrary, individuals like Ji Mo who did not practice cultivation assiduously but favored odd books and strange tales could never thrive.


    In recent years, perhaps it was not that bad to become trash. Who knew? Trash might enjoy a meteoric rise, fall over the cliff, bathe in the river, peep at a beautiful girl washing up, perhaps even discover a ring, or something of that sort. There was no telling when trash could be blessed with a sudden transformation to become an exceptional master.


    At this very moment, Ji Mo was experiencing doubled pressure when facing Nan Hao who was an expert in the eighth-tier Acupuncture Point Unblocking Phase. The former was only on the third-tier Acupuncture Point Unblocking Phase himself since the useless piece of trash had only unblocked three acupuncture points in his mortal body.


    During the Acupuncture Point Unblocking Phase, a person''s capability could advance by leaps and bounds with each unblocked point.


    Nan Hao had already unblocked eight acupuncture points. By unblocking one more point, he would finally accomplish the complete process of the Acupuncture Point Unblocking Phase and strike the Qi Plundering Boundary. In comparison, the good-for-nothing Ji Mo was like a sack whereas Nan Hao was like a wedding dress. One was highly honorable while the other was used to getting stepped on.


    "You''ve been running after me for 150 kilometers. Aren''t you tired?" Ji Mo questioned while gasping for air as he could not run any further.


    "Hmph! Even if you flee to the edge of the Earth, there''s no way you can run free from me. Killing you is as simple as destroying a little mouse," mocked Nan Hao. "Hand the Nine Suns True Qi over. That thing doesn''t belong to a piece of trash like you!"


    "It''s my fortune to have encountered the Nine Suns True Qi. For what reason are you trying to deprive me of it?" Ji Mo asked.


    "For what reason? Hehe." Nan Hao licked his lips and smirked malignantly. "You''ll soon see it for yourself. Judging by your capability, it''s a reckless waste of a great natural source if the Nine Suns True Qi falls into your hands. I''ll soon attain a breakthrough into the Qi Plundering Boundary and the Nine Suns True Qi will greatly benefit me. It''s what I want and that''s a solid reason for me to possess it!"


    "What if I refuse?" Ji Mo said through gritted teeth.


    "What? You refuse?" A cunning look flashed across Nan Hao''s eyes. "I, Nan Hao, never give up on things that I''ve set my heart on. Hand over the Nine Suns True Qi immediately, or I''ll crush your bones into pieces and turn you into complete trash if I ever hear you deny me again!"


    Ji Mo''s palm which was clasping around that tiny cauldron was trembling slightly. He clearly understood that he was no match for Nan Hao because the disparity in strength between the two was too great. However, Ji Mo was not one willing to be taken advantage of. Without much consideration, he turned around and took to his heels. Even at this critical moment, he decided to go all out.


    "Hmph! What a useless piece of trash! Is escaping your only trick? There''s no chance of you fleeing away from me!" Nan Hao snorted before launching his body forward like a tiger in the next second. Like a wild beast full of incredible power, he took a huge stride and appeared almost right behind Ji Mo.


    Thud!


    Nan Hao''s clenched fist solidly punched Ji Mo''s back. The latter groaned and fresh blood spurted from his mouth. Then, his body failed him and he fell onto the ground.


    Facing Nan Hao, Ji Mo did not even stand a chance to flee for his life.


    Bang!


    Nan Hao straight away landed his foot on Ji Mo''s back and said coldly, "Killing you is easier than crushing an ant. To kill a useless piece of trash like you is a disgrace to my hands!"


    With that, he bent over and pried Ji Mo''s fingers away from his palm. Right at that second, Nan Hao''s eyes twinkled with a bright brilliance as the quaint, tiny cauldron was now within his clenched fist. "That should be the Nine Suns True Qi! Hehe, once I break through the Qi Plundering Boundary and absorb this Nine Suns True Qi, my cultivation base will definitely improve enormously, placing me above everyone else."


    "Nan Hao, you arrogant prick, give it back to me!" Ji Mo bellowed through clenched teeth.


    "Give it back? Haha, you don''t deserve the Nine Suns True Qi. It belongs to me now," Nan Hao declared with a cold smile.


    "Nan Hao, I''ll forever remember this day that you''ve deceived and insulted me. One day, I want you to pay me back in the worst way possible!" Ji Mo had completely lost it. He had never been stepped on like this and deprived of what was originally his.


    "Revenge? Haha, that''s hilarious!" Nan Hao taunted. "My capability will only grow tremendously with the aid of the Nine Suns True Qi. People like you should stay in Tianyuan Academy for the rest of your life. The disparity between both of us is like comparing a catfish and a flood dragon. I''ll only get stronger whereas you''ll only get weaker. Forget about avenging yourself!"


    "You��" Ji Mo was at a loss for words. He had no chance to resist Nan Hao''s oppression.


    "Just continue living your life like a useless trash. I''ll leave Tianyuan Academy in no time to further enhance my cultivation in the Tianshan Sword Sect," Nan Hao continued speaking with a sneer on his face, "Oh, right, I forgot to mention that Du Jia, your fianc��e, is now my woman. Hehe! I can even lay my hands on your woman, not to mention other things.


    "You''ll always be a comical clown before me, so just dismiss that wild dream of yours about defeating me!" said Nan Hao in a cold tone before walking away haughtily. He regarded a lowly existence like Ji Mo as a piece of trash that was good for nothing.


    In his opinion, a person of Ji Mo''s disposition was not suitable to practice immortal cultivation. He was only suitable to be a mortal, never to embark on the journey of immortality in his entire life. Therefore, he was not a threat to Nan Hao.


    Ji Mo struggled to support himself to get up from the ground. He was washed over by a mixed feeling of remorse and anxiety, but it was all to no avail. His capability was inadequate, hence he deserved to be stepped on. In the past, having lived a life without worrying about basic necessities, he had never experienced anything like this before. However, after being defeated by Nan Hao, for the first time in his entire life, Ji Mo yearned for powerful strength.


    If his strength had matched Nan Hao''s, the latter would not have acted so arrogantly to him earlier that day.


    "The Nine Suns True Qi belongs to me. I wanted to get serious about cultivation and take advantage of this rare True Qi, but now��" Ji Mo massaged his lower back while his face was contorted in agony. That punch from Nan Hao earlier had crushed the internal organs in his body.


    Ji Mo coughed suddenly and once again, fresh blood spurted from his mouth.


    Buzz!


    Right at that instant, a sharp noise cut through the sky. Something flew in the air and finally landed in front of Ji Mo. It was the quaint, tiny cauldron that Nan Hao had snatched from him earlier.


    "T-this!" Ji Mo widened his eyes and immediately clasped his hand around the tiny cauldron.


    That must be it �� the quaint tiny cauldron containing the Nine Suns True Qi. Had it not been seized by Nan Hao? Why had it returned into his own hands? Could this item have attached itself to him? However, Ji Mo had not done anything unusual to it. At this moment, he was filled with questions.


    "How unexpected to have regained what I lost!" Ji Mo''s eyes twinkled with brilliance, but the color in his eyes drained quickly once he witnessed the unusual transformation that started taking place.


    That quaint, tiny cauldron that Ji Mo was clasping in his palm was slowly melting away before transforming into a surge of warm current. It slowly flowed into his body through the opening of his pores.


    "What''s happening?" Utterly shocked, he quickly utilized his inner sight to examine his body as he was worried that the warm current might cause him harm.


    His inner sight showed that the warm current had seeped through his skin and infused into his meridians before eventually permeating into his tanzhong. Soon, his tanzhong was flushed open and the warm current flooded in as if it was returning home. Finally, the warm current condensed into its original form of that quaint, tiny cauldron once again, positioned right at the acupuncture point in front of Ji Mo''s chest.


    "Wh-what''s happening?" Ji Mo was unable to make any sense of the matter. He never expected that tiny cauldron to permeate his body. Was it possible that it had, indeed, attached itself to him?


    ''Regardless, I should leave this place immediately. Otherwise, Nan Hao will definitely hunt me down again once he realizes that the tiny cauldron has returned to me,'' thought Ji Mo to himself. He started running towards the dense forest and soon, he disappeared into the quietness.


    ...


    On the other side of the dense forest, Nan Hao was half-kneeling on the ground, panting rapidly to catch his breath. One of his arms was dripping with fresh blood.


    Just a few moments ago, he had been puffing his chest at his own success of seizing the tiny cauldron from Ji Mo. Unexpectedly, the tiny cauldron suddenly transferred a swell of violent energy. The force exploded in his palm and destroyed his whole arm before the tiny cauldron flew away and disappeared before his very own eyes.


    "What''s happening? Is it possible that this isn''t my destiny?" he wondered begrudgingly.


    The literal translation of a Chinese idiom that means possessing the ability to exercise remarkable powers or to exert authority.An acupuncture point located at the midpoint between the two nipples.

 Chapter 3：Celestial Devil Tempering

    Two days later, Ji Mo dragged his lethargic body back to Tianyuan Academy.


    It was a strange development of events. Earlier, he had been injured by a punch from Nan Hao. However, once the ancient cauldron entered Ji Mo''s body, he realized that the wound on his back had recovered on its own as if he had consumed some sort of spiritual medicine. Ji Mo gasped at the miraculous properties of the cauldron. It seemed like he was in luck.


    ''Capability. Nan Hao was so arrogant towards me because of his capability. Obviously, I can''t go on like this. Without capability, anyone can bully me. My clan might be influential, but they can''t help me forever. I must rely on myself if I want to be a greater man.''


    After this deadly pursuit which lasted for several days, Ji Mo finally got his first taste of hopelessness and his first near-death experience. Nonetheless, it was because of this pursuit that he now understood this concept.


    "Du Jia��" A feminine silhouette appeared in his mind''s eye. Ji Mo immediately clenched his fists. "I can''t believe you betrayed me and got someone to kill me for the Nine Suns True Qi. Damn you!"


    Inhaling a deep breath, he shoved his frustrations to the back of his mind. Now, what he wanted to do was to figure out what that little cauldron was instead of brooding.


    He headed straight for his residence. He did not live in Tianyuan Academy but in a small town nearby. Specifically. He lived in a little courtyard located in a serene area.


    When he was back in his room, Ji Mo sat cross-legged on his bed and scrutinized the condition of his body. The ancient little cauldron remained still within his tanzhong and nothing extraordinary occurred. Although the cauldron harbored the Nine Suns True Qi, at the moment, Ji Mo was only at the third tier of the Acupuncture Point Unblocking Phase, so he could not use the Nine Suns True Qi at all.


    Presently, Ji Mo was cultivating the Tiger Leopard Tempering Art, which was an intermediate Body Tempering Art. It might not be as powerful as the Dragon Elephant Tempering Art that Nan Hao cultivated, but once this Body Tempering Art had been successfully cultivated, he would attain the strength of a ferocious tiger and the agility of a leopard.


    Ji Mo''s will shifted and touched the cauldron. He wanted to see whether he could remove that object from his body.


    Nevertheless, as soon as his will touched the cauldron, an unusual pulse resonated from within the ancient object. This strange pulse was like a message which penetrated his mind. As he was cast in a daze, he seemed to notice a woman.


    It was a woman in a green dress. She was lying on a jade-colored bed and her back was facing Ji Mo, thus her face could not be seen. However, judging by her curvy figure, he concluded that she must be an Immortal. A light aura of sorrow emanated from this female Immortal, causing one to feel sympathy for her.


    A voice appeared in Ji Mo''s mind. "I couldn''t fulfill my wish in the end��"


    "The path of Immortality is obscure. However, this is what happens at the end of the path. I failed and didn''t succeed in the end. I''ll use my flesh and blood to craft the Heavenly Cauldron and store the Nine Suns Immortal Qi within it. Then, it''ll be sent to the Mortal Realm. I hope someone will use it properly in the future."


    "The Nine Suns Immortal Qi!" Ji Mo exclaimed, "I can''t believe this is the Qi of Immortals and Spirits. Only the fabled Realm of Immortals and Spirits can nurture the Nine Suns Immortal Qi. I remember reading about it in an ancient book. Many years ago, a cultivator who had failed in the Ascension Stage got a peek of the Nine Suns Immortal Qi just before his death. The Qi is a pure form of Immortal Qi which came from the Realm of Immortals and Spirits. By relying on the Nine Suns Immortal Qi, the man underwent a transformation, attained a True Body, broke through the void and left the Mortal Realm."


    In spite of Ji Mo''s aversion towards cultivation, he was knowledgeable about the bizarre side of the cultivation world. He knew several versions of the story behind the Nine Suns Immortal Qi.


    Never did he expect that this tiny cauldron would harbor the Nine Suns Immortal Qi. It was something that came from the Realm of Immortals and Spirits and did not belong to the Mortal Realm.


    "The Heavenly Cauldron mustn''t be visible here. The only way is to hide it in the Mortal Realm, but mortals are unable to control the Nine Suns Immortal Qi. If one isn''t careful, it will destroy him. Therefore, I''ve sealed this Celestial Hell technique within the cauldron. Celestial Hell evolved from the Path of Hell and it can control the Nine Suns Immortal Qi. Whoever intends to cultivate Celestial Hell must first cultivate the Celestial Devil Tempering Art. Once the Celestial Devil''s Body is cultivated, he can control the Nine Suns Immortal Qi!"


    The voice and the scene disappeared. The figure of the woman in green dissolved into thin air.


    At the same time, a huge message materialized in Ji Mo''s mind. It forced itself into his head violently and nearly caused Ji Mo to falter and pass out. In a split second, he was covered in sweat and felt as if his head was about to burst.


    Fortunately, the message integrated itself into his mind very quickly. An unforgettable memory imprinted itself there and it was the miraculous technique known as Celestial Hell and the Celestial Devil Tempering Art the woman mentioned earlier.


    Ji Mo exhaled a long sigh of relief. His heart was beating with excitement.


    He had neither heard nor seen a technique that could control the Qi of Immortals and Spirits.


    The Nine Suns Immortal Qi was a True Qi of the Realm of Immortals and Spirits. No matter how impressive techniques of the Mortal Realm were, they could not control True Qi of Immortals and Spirits at all unless it was the legendary Miraculous Technique of Immortals and Spirits. Only experts from the Realm of Immortals and Spirits could do that, coupled with the cultivation of the Miraculous Technique of Immortals.


    Ji Mo could not believe that such an item would fall into his hands. If other people learned that he possessed this Miraculous Technique, he would likely be pursued relentlessly. Everybody, including experts of the cultivation world, hungered for the Miraculous Technique of Immortals and Spirits and would do anything to obtain the technique.


    "The Path of Hell suppresses everything in existence and uses one''s lifeblood to transform him into a Celestial Force of Hell and take the form of a Celestial Devil, and his flesh will craft a scorching Hell. Hell is me and I am Hell, and those who betray me shall be condemned to Hell for eternity!"


    Each word in those two sentences roared in Ji Mo''s mind until he felt dizzy. It took him more than ten minutes to regain his senses.


    It was the summary of Celestial Hell.


    "This is the Celestial Force of Hell! How mighty, how brutal! I am Hell and Hell is me. I''ve never heard of this technique before!"


    Hell was a mythical and mysterious place. Countless vicious Devils were suppressed in Hell, and even Immortals and Spirits were suppressed there. In the end, they were corrupted by the Qi of Hell and transformed into Celestial Devils who could tear through the skies.


    Celestial Devil was a terrifying name. It represented extreme might and extreme evil. They were the Devils of Hell. The appearance of a Celestial Devil would spell disaster for the world.


    Ji Mo spent the whole day digesting this information. Gradually, he understood his current situation. With his present third-tier Acupuncture Point Unblocking Phase, he would not be able to cultivate Celestial Hell and control the Nine Suns Immortal Qi. What he had to do now was to cultivate the Celestial Devil Tempering Art. Doing so would allow him to cultivate Celestial Hell and gain the immense strength of the Celestial Force of Hell.


    He was not sure which level the Celestial Devil Tempering Art belonged to, but if he could cultivate the Celestial Devil''s Body with it, so it must be an advanced technique.


    "Hmm��If I want to switch to cultivating the Celestial Devil Tempering Art, I must get rid of the Dragon Tiger Tempering Art. The cultivation summary states that the Celestial Devil Tempering Art requires one to spend a huge amount of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy. In other words, I must have sufficient spiritual medicine. What a pain! I hate taking medicine." Ji Mo rubbed his temples as he spoke.


    A stage where the cultivator has to go through many trials and challenges before ascending to a greater level.

 Chapter 4：Huo Lin’er

    Naturally, a person in the Acupuncture Point Unblocking Phase could not absorb the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy. Thus, people who were at this boundary and wanted to use the energy to boost their acupuncture points needed sufficient spiritual medicine. There were many types of spiritual medicine available and had varying grades, ranging from the first grade to the ninth grade. Among the nine grades, the first grade was the worst and the ninth was the best.


    Regardless of whether it was a person at the Acupuncture Point Unblocking Phase or an expert at the Qi Plundering Boundary, spiritual medicine was of the utmost importance.


    Moreover, it was said that there was another medicine known as the Immortal Pill which was more potent than a ninth-grade spiritual medicine. This Immortal Pill was extremely rare, and one of them could make a person undergo a huge transformation, thereby skipping a number of boundaries. Even an undefeatable expert could not resist the temptation of the Immortal Pill. It was a legendary pill of the finest quality.


    Ji Mo stood up and walked out of his room. Standing by the window, he looked at dawn''s first rays of sunlight and touched his forehead. A day and a night had passed. It took him that much time to fully digest this new information.


    Too many things had happened in the past few days. He had been pursued and nearly lost his life. Furthermore, Du Jia''s betrayal and Nan Hao''s humiliation caused Ji Mo to desire power for the first time in his life. Now, with this fortuitous encounter that made him obtain the Nine Suns Immortal Qi and Celestial Hell, he had an opportunity to become stronger.


    This time, Ji Mo had become wiser. No matter how trustworthy someone was, he or she would ultimately betray him out of personal interest. Thus, he must never let anyone know about this secret.


    ''First of all, I must successfully cultivate the Celestial Hell Tempering Art and acquire the Celestial Devil''s Body before I can control the Nine Suns Immortal Qi. Unfortunately, spiritual medicine has become a hindrance. Depending on the small supply of spiritual medicine provided by my clan won''t be enough,'' Ji Mo thought.


    Back then, he had never cared about spiritual medicines. Cultivation had always been secondary to him. However, things had now changed. Ji Mo lusted for power and was sick of getting humiliated. He wanted to improve his capabilities, and in order to do so, he must have a sufficient supply of spiritual medicine.


    As he thought about this, Ji Mo took out a jade talisman. The jade talisman was used for sending messages and was a common item in the cultivation world. Although Ji Mo was not a true cultivator yet, he knew how to use this object.


    After imprinting his message, Ji Mo sent the message in the jade talisman to his clan. He believed his mother would receive his message soon. Given Ji Mo''s current level of capability, he could only rely on his clan for extra spiritual medicine.


    Amongst his clan members, almost everyone looked down upon him except for his mother. Even Ji Mo''s father had nearly lost all confidence in him and regarded him as a good-for-nothing. After all, Ji Mo had always been incompetent. Aside from his reluctance to cultivate diligently, he also brought the clan problems.


    Only Ji Mo''s mother believed that her own son would not turn out to be an ordinary person. Therefore, he dared to tell only his mother about his need for more spiritual medicine, but he hid this from his father.


    After packing his belongings, Ji Mo headed out of his residence and walked towards Tianyuan Academy.


    He figured that Nan Hao had probably returned to Tianyuan Academy, thus he must behave as if he did not know anything lest the latter became suspicious. Before he developed his capabilities, he must not get into a fight with Nan Hao, or else, he would only lose.


    Tianyuan Academy was an external place for cultivation training by the Tianshan Sword Sect. Only high-achieving disciples of the academy were qualified to enter the Tianshan Sword Sect and become true cultivators to venture onto the path of becoming an Immortal.


    At Tianyuan Academy, everybody set their sights on entering the Tianshan Sword Sect and worked as hard as they could.


    Today, there was a lecture that was held once every fortnight. There would be inner disciples from the Tianshan Sword Sect who would explain the challenges of cultivation to the disciples of Tianyuan Academy. Usually, Ji Mo was too lazy to attend these lectures. Even if he participated in them, he would fall asleep and not listen to anything.


    It was different this time around. Ji Mo had decided he must not be a failure. In order to prove himself, he must work hard.


    In addition to that, with the possession of the Nine Suns Immortal Qi and the Miraculous Technique of Immortals and Spirits, it would be a terrible waste if he goofed around.


    By the time Ji Mo arrived at the lecture, it had already begun. He found a spot to sit down and gazed at the stage.


    A woman in red was seated up there. She was about eighteen or nineteen years of age and had a pretty face and a fair complexion. Her soft features were exquisite, granting her a seductive yet mischievous vibe. She was an inner disciple sent by the Tianshan Sword Sect and was there to train the outer disciples of Tianyuan Academy.


    At Tianyuan Academy, everybody knew that this woman in red was not one to be messed with. She was known as the Fiery Rose and delivered very harsh punishment to those who offended her. Despite her attractive looks, she was feared by many.


    Huo Lin''er was her name. She was as fiery as her name hinted.


    During the lecture, Huo Lin''er briefed the disciples of Tianyuan Academy on the problems faced during the body tempering process and the respective solutions. Everyone paid attention and no one dared to speak loudly as they were aware of Huo Lin''er''s methods.


    Previously, Ji Mo had fallen asleep during Huo Lin''er''s lecture and got caught red-handed. He had snapped back at her, and as a result, she had beaten him up severely and he was bed-ridden for a month. Ever since that incident, Ji Mo had never attended her lectures again.


    An hour later, the lecture ended.


    Ji Mo stood up and heaved a sigh of relief. Today was the first time he had listened to the lecture seriously. The problems that he did not understand and had not bothered to understand before were now solved. Apparently, Huo Lin''er was a talented person and not just someone who punished others violently.


    When the lecture ended, the rest of the crowd noticed Ji Mo. The way everyone looked at Ji Mo was different. Some regarded him with disdain while some regarded him gloatingly. In short, everybody judged Ji Mo. All of them knew that he was a good-for-nothing who only researched useless information. He had been at Tianyuan Academy for two years and was merely in the third-tier Acupuncture Point Unblocking Phase. He might not be qualified to graduate from Tianyuan Academy and become a true cultivator.


    "Hey, isn''t that Ji Mo? It''s a miracle that he''s here for the lecture."


    "Yeah, is he no longer afraid of Huo Lin''er? She really roughed him up the last time. Is he trying to be funny again?"


    "Don''t tell me he''s had a revelation and has decided to cultivate properly."


    "Nonsense. If he has decided to cultivate properly, even a sow can become an Immortal. A fraud like him could never dream of graduating from Tianyuan Academy!"


    People had various opinions of Ji Mo and began to pass remarks.


    Ji Mo stood still as if he had not heard any of the comments. His mind was busy comprehending Huo Lin''er''s words which greatly enlightened him. Normally, he never cared about attending these lectures, but he did not expect to learn so much that day.


    It looked like he should attend more of these lectures. Ji Mo''s interest in cultivation began to grow.


    At the same time, Ji Mo lifted his head and noticed Huo Lin''er walking towards him.


    Without hesitation, he started to run. He was extremely fearful of Huo Lin''er. After what she had done to him the last time, he was well aware of how cruel she could be.


    "You there, stay where you are!" Huo Lin''er yelled and approached him gracefully, but she moved swiftly like a gust of wind.


    Ji Mo caught a whiff of a pleasant scent. It smelt amazing and he could not help inhaling it deeply. Then, he let out a dry laugh. "Senior��Senior Sister Huo."


    "Huo", or �� in Chinese, means fire.

 Chapter 5：The Unpredictability of Men

    "Don''t address me as ''Senior Sister''. You aren''t qualified to do so yet," Huo Lin''er sneered and scanned Ji Mo from head to toe. She puffed up her chest and spoke, "It''s a miracle that someone like you would attend today''s lecture. When you arrived just now, I thought you were here to stir up trouble. I was prepared to show you who''s boss, but I didn''t expect you to be so quiet throughout the lecture."


    As she spoke, Huo Lin''er pouted somewhat reluctantly and her eyes glinted with mischief.


    "Hmm��You seem to be disappointed," Ji Mo said.


    "Of course, I''m disappointed. Recently, the outer disciples have become obedient and not one of them has caused any trouble. It''s been a while since I''ve used violence." Huo Lin''er smiled, revealing a tiny canine tooth. However, this smile sent a shiver down Ji Mo''s spine.


    The urge to flee emerged within him again. Huo Lin''er was like a she-devil and he had better stay away from her. Otherwise, if she caught hold of him, he would suffer at her hands again.


    "Don''t you leave yet! There''s something I want to speak to you about!" Huo Lin''er yelled when she realized that Ji Mo was about to sneak away.


    He regarded her with a pained expression. "Aunt, I didn''t offend you at all. Don''t tell me you still want to punish me even though I''ve become obedient? You can''t be that unreasonable."


    "Are you teaching me how to behave?" Huo Lin''er glared angrily at him.


    "No, no, no, I didn''t mean that." Ji Mo shook his head hastily.


    Huo Lin''er threw him a sideways glance and said, "Fine, let''s get down to business. I''ve learned a new form of higher knowledge and I don''t have someone to practice with me. I want you to be my sparring partner. After all, it''s not like you have important things to attend to every day. Instead of wasting other people''s time, I''ve decided to find someone like you."


    "Huh?" Ji Mo gasped. "How could you say that? Isn''t my own time important?"


    "Hmph, you waste your time on those useless activities. You might as well help me do something meaningful. Aren''t you willing to do so?" Huo Lin''er replied in a threatening manner.


    Ji Mo''s heart sank. He thought about how unlucky he was to become Huo Lin''er''s sparring partner. Nothing else was as bad as this. It was understandable if the others were unaware of her methods, but he had been roughed up by her before.


    No one else but Ji Mo knew how vicious this woman was.


    Assuming he did not die when he became her sparring partner�� No, he would surely die. He would be dead!!!


    "Look for me in the arena in three days in the afternoon. Don''t be late, or else��" Huo Lin''er waved a fist in front of Ji Mo, then turned around and left. Her womanly figure was akin to a fluttering butterfly.


    Nevertheless, no matter how Ji Mo looked at it, Huo Lin''er''s back was like a devil shrouded by darkening clouds.


    Ji Mo went home with his head hung low. His earlier good mood had been shattered by Huo Lin''er''s decision. He was fully aware that with his current physique, he would certainly be beaten senseless by her, or else she would not live up to her nickname of the Fiery Rose.


    Evidently, he could not waste more time. He must cultivate the Celestial Devil Tempering Art as quickly as possible to strengthen his body. If not, he would not be able to survive Huo Lin''er''s blows, let alone challenge others.


    There was nothing much Ji Mo could do at Tianyuan Academy. Furthermore, he did not have any friends as no one wanted to befriend a useless person like him. For the whole day, he bummed around on his own. Right now, he could only wait for his clan supplies. Once the supplies arrived, he could focus wholeheartedly on cultivating the Celestial Devil Tempering Art.


    When Ji Mo was about to leave, two people blocked his path.


    He knew them, and one of them was his cousin, Ji Shan. The other one was a young man about seventeen or eighteen years of age. He was fair and rather good-looking, but he gave off an air of arrogance. He regarded Ji Mo with disdain and scorn.


    "Anything I can help you with?" Ji Mo frowned.


    He knew that these two were Nan Hao''s lackeys and ran errands for the latter. Even Ji Shan, who belonged to the same clan as Ji Mo, stood on Nan Hao''s side and became his sworn brother. They looked up to Nan Hao and were held in high regard by the disciples of Tianyuan Academy.


    "Ji Mo, I haven''t seen you for the past few days. Where have you been?" Ji Shan interrogated coldly.


    "I went out for a walk. What''s up?" Ji Mo answered. He did not like Ji Shan either.


    "Went out for a walk, eh? Are you hiding something from me?" Ji Shan''s gaze hardened. "I heard you had a fortuitous encounter and I don''t know whether it''s true or not. We''re cousins. It isn''t right if you run into a fortuitous encounter and keep all the goodies to yourself. Why don''t you share it with us?"


    "Yeah, both you and Ji Shan are cousins and not strangers. It is inappropriate for you to keep all the good stuff to yourself," added the young man beside Ji Shan. He was Nangong Ye, a disciple of the clan.


    Ji Mo smiled and replied, "I didn''t run into any fortuitous encounter. Don''t believe any of that nonsense, cousin."


    "Believe nonsense? But Du Jia doesn''t seem like someone who would spout nonsense," Ji Shan responded dangerously.


    ''Du Jia��It''s her again!'' The mere mention of this woman caused Ji Mo to clench his fists unconsciously. It was all because of her that he was pursued and humiliated by Nan Hao. She was his fianc��e and they were engaged to be married, yet she had an affair with Nan Hao. Aside from that, Du Jia told Nan Hao the story of Ji Mo obtaining the little cauldron.


    Had she not done so, he would not have been pursued so relentlessly by Nan Hao and nearly lost his life.


    Ji Shan noticed Ji Mo''s silence and slowly narrowed his eyes. His eyes sparkled as he spoke, "Ji Mo, I know you aren''t interested in cultivation. Why don''t you tell us about your fortuitous encounter instead of wasting those precious resources?"


    "I didn''t run into any fortuitous encounter. Something did happen recently, but it''s over now. Is there anything else? If not, I shall get going," Ji Mo replied. He did not want to entertain these two fellows any longer and brushed past Ji Shan''s shoulder.


    "Stay there! Ji Mo, you''d better come clean with me!" Ji Shan grabbed Ji Mo''s shoulder firmly and glared at him in a diabolical manner. "I heard you''ve acquired some sort of treasure. You''d better hand it over so that we can share it among ourselves. You can''t hog it."


    "Yeah, you''d better come clean," Nangong Ye echoed.


    Ji Mo grinned but his gaze became serious. "I''ve told you, I didn''t run into any fortuitous encounter. Even if there was one, the treasure is no longer mine. You won''t get any goodies from me."


    When he finished speaking, he was about to move forward.


    "Ji Mo, don''t try to be funny with me." Ji Shan''s eyes glinted with murderous intent. "Seeing as we belong to the same clan, I won''t trouble you. Tell me everything honestly. You must understand the difference between us. Although you''re Uncle''s son, everybody knows how insignificant you are in the clan. You''re just a good-for-nothing wimp."


    "Who I am is none of your business." Ji Mo shoved Ji Shan''s hand away and departed without looking back.


    "Ji Mo, remember this. I''ll always be watching you," Ji Shan growled and his gaze sparkled with mad rage.


    Fortuitous encounters and lucky chances posed as a deadly form of temptation to cultivators. A fortuitous encounter could alter one''s fate and a stroke of luck could greatly increase one''s capability. This would result in jealousy among people, so it was only natural for Ji Shan and Nangong Ye to react that way.

 Chapter 6：Marrow Cleansing

    A lady in a purple shirt was standing behind a massive tree located not far from the two figures.


    Blessed with finely chiseled features, her eyes were charming and enchanting. Her perfect figure was exquisite and curved at all the right parts. If Ji Mo was present at that moment, he would have undoubtedly displayed his disgust towards this woman, Du Jia.


    Du Jia wiggled her fingers absent-mindedly while eavesdropping on the conversation between Ji Shan and Nangong Ye.


    ''That wretched trash just said that it wouldn''t belong to him even if there was a fortuitous encounter. Doesn''t he know that the tiny cauldron is no longer with Nan Hao? It seems like he''s also been kept in the dark. The whereabouts of that tiny cauldron containing the Nine Suns True Qi is still unknown. I have to notify Nan Hao immediately and get him to scour that place again. Maybe he''ll find some clues,'' she thought to herself.


    Then, Du Jia performed a strange technique and her silhouette disappeared behind the massive tree instantly.


    ...


    Ji Mo was heading home alone. Reflecting back on what Ji Shan had said earlier, he finally understood how unpredictable the human mind could be. Even his own cousin from the same clan was prejudiced towards him, trying to coerce him through bribery. It was for no other reason than the fact that among all the disciples of the clan, Ji Mo was the one most likely doomed with a bleak future. He had always been looked down on, even among the brothers.


    However, it appeared that after these past few days, Ji Mo had matured tremendously and learned to be more accepting.


    Ji Mo noticed a pretty young girl as soon as he entered the courtyard of his house. He knew this young girl named Cai Die as she was his mother''s trusted maidservant.


    Cai Die was cradling a simple box in her arms.


    "You''re finally home, Young Master." She walked over with the box.


    "Cai Die, do you have to carry this thing so solemnly as if it contains the ashes of bones? How depressing," he teased jokingly.


    Laughter escaped Cai Die''s mouth. "Young Master, you sure are great at jokes. This box contains ten Purple Spirit Fruits that Madam has especially entrusted me to bring over to you. She received your message early this morning and told me to bring ten Purple Spirit Fruits over for you in the fastest way possible. Even Master doesn''t know about this."


    With that, Cai Die handed that box over to Ji Mo.


    "Mother really acts quickly. I just sent the message over this morning and I already receive the package the same evening. Thanks, dear." Ji Mo accepted the wooden box and opened it. A waft of fragrance immediately caressed his face. Inside the wooden box, each of the sparkling and translucent Purple Spirit Fruits was of the size of a baby''s fist.


    The Purple Spirit Fruit was a second-grade spiritual medicine that contained an abundance of heaven and earth spiritual energy. Each month, two of the fruits would be distributed to every disciple in the clan. Although cultivation practice was not major in the Ji Clan, several cultivators emerged among them. Ji Mo''s parents, for instance, used to be disciples of the Tianshan Sword Sect. Later, they bid farewell to the sect and returned home to manage the clan. Some would call them a half-cultivated family.


    Furthermore, Ji Mo''s Elder Brother and Second Sister were pursuing cultivation in other prestigious sects. They were true cultivators.


    "Young Master, I shall take my leave if there''s nothing else that I can be of your assistance," Cai Die said.


    "Hmm, okay." Ji Mo dismissed the girl with a simple wave of his hand. He was in no mood to care about her.


    In fact, Cai Die was extremely curious to know why he had requested for ten Purple Spirit Fruits. She had practically grown up under the care of Ji Mo''s mother, hence she was familiar with Ji Mo''s personality. Her Young Master was only interested in classical texts and did not bother about cultivation. Furthermore, he had never really taken advantage of the two Purple Spirit Fruits distributed to him each month.


    Disciples of other clans regarded the Purple Spirit Fruit as a precious treasure, but it was nothing but a common fruit in her Young Master''s eyes.


    However, why did he request for so many Purple Spirit Fruits all of a sudden? Had he made up his mind to study diligently from now on? Cai Die only shook her head at the thought of this. ''Madam wouldn''t be so troubled if he had put in more effort. Perhaps he wants to trade for something else with this great gift,'' she thought to herself.


    That was already a common behavior of Ji Mo''s when he was still living in the clan. Once, he had traded the clan''s premium iron-cast sword for an ancient classic. He had been reprimanded by his father because of that incident. Ever since then, his father had completely exhausted any expectations he had for his young son. He thought that that son of his was not cultivation material since the boy only enjoyed ancient texts.


    If Ji Mo''s mother had not insisted on enrolling Ji Mo into Tianyuan Academy, perhaps he would have still been at home, engrossed in his "research."


    After dismissing Cai Die, Ji Mo sat cross-legged in the room alone.


    He had already memorized the Celestial Devil Tempering Art by heart, but in order for him to learn that particular art right now, he would have to destroy the Tiger Leopard Tempering Art which he had learned before this. That would be a painful process of intense cramping as if his bones were being dug out of his body. A common person could hardly stand the torture. Besides, a Marrow Cleansing Pill was required in order to destroy the old Body Tempering Art.


    The purpose of the Marrow Cleansing Pill was to thoroughly wash away any effects that had been caused to the mortal body by the previous Body Tempering Art. It could cleanse through every muscle, meridian, and bone in the body, and revert them to their original state. Otherwise, apart from causing bizarre results in one''s body, mixing two Body Tempering Arts would cause the mortal body to refuse to accept the changes.


    Ji Mo ransacked the house to locate a black medicinal pill. Each disciple of the Ji Clan received one of these black pills when they first started practicing a Body Tempering Art, in hopes that they could utilize it to thoroughly clean their mortal body and retrain when they discovered a better Body Tempering Art in the future.


    "Sigh, I bet this will be miserable," Ji Mo muttered as he heaved a sigh. He clenched his teeth and popped the pill into his mouth.


    As soon as the Marrow Cleansing Pill entered his mouth, he quickly swallowed it without chewing because it had a tremendously bitter taste.


    Its effect spread rapidly.


    "Arghh!"


    In an instant, an intense pain radiated throughout Ji Mo''s body, making him cry out in pain.


    The Marrow Cleansing Pill had taken effect. Ji Mo felt like every inch of his flesh was being pulled apart alive, and all his internal organs had been set on fire. The intense suffering was drilled into his bones. Next, the meridians in his body felt like they were being tugged at by an enormous force. Perspiration formed all over his body due to physical suffering.


    In addition, after the muscles and meridians underwent the purifying process, the Marrow Cleansing Pill began to clean Ji Mo''s bones. The agony permeated into the depths of his bone marrow as if it was trying to extract the essence from each of his bones.


    Ji Mo felt like he was about to pass out, but he persisted with gritted teeth.


    Although he could faint at any moment, he must continue waiting until his bones had been cleaned thoroughly. Then, he had to perform the Celestial Devil Tempering Art immediately to strengthen his mortal body. Otherwise, any sequelae that might occur would be a constant obstacle to his cultivation path.


    The agonizing torment carried on.


    Ji Mo felt that every minute dragged past like years. The short span of half an hour felt as long as ten centuries.


    It would be great if marrow cleansing could be as relaxing as a mere reboot.

 Chapter 7：Celestial Devil’s Physique

    Half an hour��


    One hour��


    Two hours��


    Finally, the agony experienced in the marrow-cleansing process began to subside. Ji Mo felt like he had been stripped bare of his energy. His body had been restored to a clean slate as if he had never cultivated any Body Tempering Art.


    However, the three acupuncture points on his chest that were flushed open were still there. The Marrow-cleansing Pill had merely cleansed his body and the boundaries he had broken through were still in place. Nonetheless, the three acupuncture points which used to be shiny had lost their usual spark. Now, they just looked like three black holes.


    The Heavenly Cauldron floated within his tanzhong and exuded an ancient aura.


    The marrow-cleansing was complete.


    Without further hesitation, Ji Mo reached out for a Purple Spirit Fruit and took a bite. The fruit''s potent medicinal properties began to nourish his flesh and bones. Each trace of the medicinal effect contained large volumes of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy that healed his organs.


    Ji Mo started to channel the Celestial Devil Tempering Art. He transformed the powerful medicinal properties of the Purple Spirit Fruit and the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy into his own innate strength, sustaining his physique and fortifying his meridians and muscles in the process. By doing so, his meridians and muscles, which had already returned to their former state, were strengthened once more and became solid and tough.


    Ji Mo took each bite of the Purple Spirit Fruit until he devoured the whole thing. Large volumes of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy had been converted into energy that invigorated his body. Under the spell of the Celestial Devil Tempering Art, Ji Mo''s body shimmered brilliantly as if every inch of his flesh was covered by countless tiny particles that shone like stars.


    "Phew!"


    Ji Mo let out a long sigh. He had eaten a Purple Spirit Fruit, and the Celestial Devil Tempering Ar had converted the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy to fortify his body. The pain he felt after the marrow-cleansing was finally gone.


    The long and agonizing marrow-cleansing process had almost cost him his life. He had been so close to dying and meeting the real Celestial Devil from Hell.


    Suddenly, Ji Mo noticed something amiss. "Huh? Strange! Why don''t I feel full?"


    When he consumed Purple Spirit Fruits last time, half a fruit could make him feel the expansion of his meridians and result in a feeling of satiation. However, after digesting and absorbing that Purple Spirit Fruit, Ji Mo felt that his body had become stronger, but he did not feel full at all. The Purple Spirit Fruit''s medicinal properties had been completely refined.


    ''Is it because the Purple Spirit Fruit''s Spiritual Energy has nourished my body after I''ve undergone the marrow-cleansing? Or is it because I''ve flushed open three acupuncture points in my body and can sustain more Spiritual Energy now?'' Ji Mo wondered.


    He took another Purple Spirit Fruit. This time, he swallowed the entire fruit without thinking. The powerful Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy burst out of the fruit and filled his meridians.


    The Celestial Devil Tempering Art was channeled. In the blink of an eye, a huge volume of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy was suppressed and refined bit by bit.


    Two hours later, he consumed another Purple Spirit Fruit. Strangely, Ji Mo realized that he still did not feel full. This time, he finally understood that it was not a strange occurrence that took place after his marrow-cleansing, but a demanding aspect of the Celestial Devil Tempering Art.


    The Celestial Devil Tempering Art allowed one to cultivate the physique of a Celestial Devil from Hell. This physique was extremely demanding. Apart from the Path of Hell, it was not easy for most types of powers to suppress a Celestial Devil.


    As Ji Mo channeled the Celestial Devil Tempering Art, his body was completely altered and he was on the way to cultivate the true physique of a Celestial Devil. This domineering aspect of the Celestial Devil''s Body far surpassed any physique created from regular Body Tempering Arts. The Celestial Devil''s Body was more resistant to damage and was tougher, so it could sustain the pressure that would be fatal to others.


    The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy found in spiritual medicines could cause pressure toward normal Body Tempering Arts, but it was nothing to the Celestial Devil''s Body. The Celestial Devil''s Body was like a bottomless pit or an insatiable beast. The incoming supply of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy was digested very quickly to become food for the body.


    "I see��" Ji Mo could not hide the excitement in his eyes. He held up his fist and sensed the improvement in his own strength. Evidently, he had entered the first tier of body tempering, and his body had undergone a significant transformation.


    Initially, his capability had been stuck at the third tier of body tempering. However, since he had consumed the Marrow-cleansing Pill, all of his meridians had been cleansed and his previous capability was no longer there. After consuming two Purple Spirit Fruits, Ji Mo tempered his body with the Celestial Devil Tempering Art once more and advanced to the first tier.


    It was his first step made using the Celestial Devil''s Body.


    He got another Purple Spirit Fruit from the wooden box and swallowed it whole. Then, he began to channel the Celestial Devil Tempering Art intensely. Now that Ji Mo had discovered how demanding the Celestial Devil''s Body was, he no longer cared whether his body would feel full or not. After all, the Celestial Devil''s Body was an insatiable beast.


    As long as he had enough spiritual medicine, Ji Mo could level up the Celestial Devil Tempering Art at one go until he successfully cultivated everything and finally attained the Celestial Devil''s physique.


    One, two, three Purple Spirit Fruits were consumed.


    Traces of red light glowed on Ji Mo''s body. The red light gave off a devilish vibe and Ji Mo sensed another breakthrough within himself. He felt mightier and more dominant. The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy in the spiritual medicine altered his body under the influence of the Celestial Devil Tempering Art, reinforcing every muscle within him. Moreover, a slick form of power was gradually beginning to take shape in his flesh and blood.


    This power was immense and carried a hint of violence.


    It was the Celestial Devil Power!


    Apart from making his body tougher, cultivating the Celestial Devil Tempering Art caused Ji Mo to develop Celestial Devil Power. When the Celestial Devil Power fused with his flesh and blood and his body moved, the Celestial Devil Power would be activated. The formation of this power in his body signified that he had reached the second tier of body tempering.


    It was already sunset on the second day. Ji Mo had used a day and a night to level up the Celestial Devil''s Body to the second tier.


    If anyone got wind of this cultivation speed, they would have been shocked senseless.


    Of course, there were two reasons that allowed Ji Mo to make such impressive progress. Firstly, it was due to the demanding nature of the Celestial Devil Tempering Art. Secondly, he had already flushed open three acupuncture points in his body and did not need to waste any more time doing the same thing. Thus, his cultivation speed increased by leaps and bounds.


    ''Hehehe, with this speed and a sufficient supply of spiritual medicine, I can finish cultivating the Celestial Devil Tempering Art in one go!'' Ji Mo thought excitedly. For the first time in his life, he discovered the great feeling of improving his strength. He was impatient and continued his consumption of the remaining Purple Spirit Fruits.


    One day, two days, three days��


    Ji Mo stayed at home the whole time. As his body was constantly evolving, he neither felt fatigued nor hungry.


    This time, he straightaway maintained his capability at the third tier of body tempering. In a few days, after undergoing the marrow-cleansing, he brought his capability back to his prior boundary. This speed was simply unattainable by others. In addition, Ji Mo could feel the looseness in the fourth acupuncture point at his chest. It was a sign that he was about to reach the fourth tier of body tempering.


    ''Don''t be too hasty.'' Smugness was written all over Ji Mo''s face. He was smug as hell.


    Looking at the remaining Purple Spirit Fruits in the box, Ji Mo gritted his teeth and decided to drive forward. He consumed and refined all of the Purple Spirit Fruits, thereby flushing the fourth acupuncture point open and achieving the fourth tier of body tempering.


    The Celestial Devil''s Body was different from a body tempered via regular Body Tempering Arts. It bore the aura of a Celestial Devil, so it could channel the Celestial Devil Power and no other body stood a chance against the Celestial Devil''s Body. Although Ji Mo was only on the third tier of body tempering, as soon as he channeled the Celestial Devil''s Body, he could utilize the Celestial Devil Power and overwhelm those with boundaries greater than his own.


    Another Purple Spirit Fruit was refined. However, Ji Mo began to frown because this time around, there were not many changes after he consumed the fruit, but the fourth acupuncture point in his body loosened further. However, his body merely changed by a little.


    Ji Mo clenched his teeth and forced himself to go on. He swallowed all of the fruits. All of a sudden, a massive, unexpected gush of Spiritual Energy filled him from within. Immediately, he channeled the Celestial Devil Tempering Art to flush open the loosened fourth acupuncture point.

 Chapter 8：Making Things Difficult On Purpose

    One gust, two gusts, three gusts, four gusts��


    More than ten gusts of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy flooded the fourth acupuncture points continuously. Because of Ji Mo''s effort, a boom resounded within his body and he vibrated. The fourth acupuncture point was finally open and Ji Mo managed to achieve the fourth tier of body tempering.


    Right now, the red glow under Ji Mo''s skin became more obvious. The Celestial Devil Power hidden within his flesh and blood had reached deep into his bones. In the Celestial Devil Tempering Art, this occurrence was known as the Celestial Devil Bone Refinement which allowed him to use the Celestial Devil Power to reinforce his bones and make them as tough as Celestial Metal.


    As long as he could channel the Celestial Devil Bone Refinement, the Celestial Devil Power within him would reach deep into his bones and find the source of all power. It would then help to nourish his body.


    After using up ten Purple Spirit Fruits, Ji Mo had not just leveled up his capability, but he also successfully flushed his fourth acupuncture point open and achieved the fourth tier of body tempering. This result pleased Ji Mo. Had his first three acupuncture points not been flushed open, Ji Mo might have only leveled up to the second tier with his current supply of Purple Spirit Fruits.


    After all, flushing an acupuncture point open required a huge volume of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy. Ji Mo managed to level up so quickly to the third tier because he had saved the Spiritual Energy used for flushing acupuncture points to strengthen his own body instead.


    Swoosh!


    Ji Mo held up a fist and felt that he had become unusually strong. This was the benefit of having a Celestial Devil''s physique. Although the Celestial Devil''s Body had not been successfully cultivated, Ji Mo could already utilize the Celestial Devil Power. At present, strangling a tiger would have proved no problem to him.


    As he walked to the courtyard and took a deep breath, Ji Mo stood before a massive boulder and clenched his fists, channeling the Celestial Devil Power deep within his flesh and blood. He released a punch and a surge of immense power exploded from the edge of his fist. This violent surge of energy was like a dangerous Celestial Devil charging out from the depths of Hell.


    Bang!


    His fist did not even touch the boulder in front of him. The mere surge of energy penetrated the two-feet-thick boulder and bore a hole as large as a bowl in its center.


    "Hiss!" Ji Mo sucked in a deep breath and stared at his own fist in disbelief.


    Undoubtedly, the Celestial Devil Power was terrifying. This boulder was no ordinary rock. It was made for practice and was reinforced by special minerals, thus it was particularly solid. Usually, Ji Mo was lazy and did not use the boulder for practice, but he was aware of how much force was needed to leave a hole on the boulder.


    During the process of body tempering, cultivators underwent a transformation in their bodies. Each time this happened, their strength would be increased by fifty kilograms. Therefore, to measure how strong they had become, cultivators would see how many kilograms they could dish out in a single punch. Of course, with advanced-level Body Tempering Arts, cultivators could gain fifty or so kilograms of strength with each transformation.


    Taking Nan Hao as an example, he cultivated the Dragon Elephant Tempering Art which was an advanced-level Body Tempering Art. His cultivation base was on the eighth tier of body tempering, yet he could dish out a blow that weighed around 1500kg. Each time he underwent a transformation, he would gain about 200kg of strength.


    On the contrary, cultivators who cultivated regular Body Tempering Arts could only gain fifty to one hundred kilograms of strength.


    Ji Mo was only on the fourth tier of body tempering, but the punch he dealt earlier bore a hole through the practice boulder. This practice boulder could sustain a force of approximately 750kg, which meant that Ji Mo''s current strength had surpassed 750kg.


    This result greatly surprised Ji Mo. He was only at the fourth tier, yet he had a strength of over 750kg. What on earth?!


    Suddenly, Ji Mo felt a tad bit smug.


    "So many days have passed, yet I didn''t even feel the passing of time during my cultivation. However��why do I feel that something hasn''t been done yet? How strange." Ji Mo took a deep breath and looked at the sky. It was almost noon.


    This time, when he altered his body in isolation, he had spent several days. During this period, he never went to Tianyuan Academy. However, someone like Ji Mo was used to laziness. In spite of his absence, no one would talk about him or blame him.


    Firstly, it was to give face to Ji Mo''s clan. Secondly, the senior management of Tianyuan Academy had given up hope on people like Ji Mo. They simply waited for the right time to expel him from the academy. Everyone could only remain at Tianyuan Academy for three years. Once the three-year limit was up and the disciple was still not recruited by the Tianshan Sword Sect, he would be expelled.


    ''I''d better head for the academy. After all, it''s a special period right now. Aside from maintaining my capability, I mustn''t let anyone notice anything amiss about me, especially not Nan Hao,'' Ji Mo thought to himself as he pushed the door open. He exited the courtyard and walked towards Tianyuan Academy.


    There were not many special lessons at Tianyuan Academy that day. Apart from certain necessary lectures, most of the time, the disciples of the academy cultivated independently or ventured outside to gain experience. Thus, apart from days when there were lectures, Tianyuan Academy was mostly quiet.


    Only a handful of disciples were left.


    Ji Mo walked towards the archive. Although the Celestial Devil Tempering Art made him more powerful, he still lacked knowledge of practical martial arts, so he wanted to look for some suitable martial arts techniques in the archive.


    Cultivators at the Acupuncture Point Unblocking Phase did not know how to use divine powers and lacked magic, so it was useless to give him a copy of ''A Guide To Divine Powers''. Therefore, a cultivator at this boundary could only rely on martial arts to defend himself and display what his body was most capable of. Martial arts might not be as mighty as divine powers, but solid martial arts skills could deal significant damage too.


    Two Tianyuan Academy disciples, a man and a woman, were standing at the entrance to the archive, chatting to kill time. The archive was an important part of Tianyuan Academy and must be guarded.


    "Hello there. Aren''t you going to take a break?" Ji Mo moved forward and greeted them with a smile.


    The two disciples stopped talking and directed their gaze upon Ji Mo. One of the disciples cast a jeering look at him. "Oh, it''s you. What are you doing here?"


    Ji Mo was familiar with these two. One of them was Dong Hao and the other was Xia Jiaojiao. Like him, both of them came from well-known clans. They had been sent to Tianyuan Academy in hopes that they would one day be recruited by the Tianshan Sword Sect and make a name for themselves. As a result, their clans'' influence would also soar.


    After all, having a cultivator in the clan would enhance the clan''s force.


    Dong Hao and Xia Jiaojiao regarded Ji Mo with disdain because they knew what kind of person he was. He was a waste of space at Tianyuan Academy after having cultivated for two years and only achieving the third tier of body tempering. No one would respect that sort of individual.


    "Hehehe, I want to enter the archive to have a look. Please excuse me." Ji Mo grinned.


    "Enter the archive? What are you going to do there?" Dong Hao gazed at him with contempt.


    "Of course, I''m going to read up on martial arts. What else would I do there?"


    "You? Read up on martial arts? What a surprise. Since when does someone like you know how to be diligent?" Xia Jiaojiao sneered.


    "Come on. I''m pleading both of you nicely. Why must you treat me like this?" Ji Mo was annoyed. As they said, certain lines were not to be crossed even when scolding someone. Why did these two fellows have to make fun of his shortcomings?


    "Ji Mo, the archive is only for high-achieving disciples. You''re not fit to enter this place yet." Dong Hao smirked.


    "I''m not fit?" Ji Mo frowned. "Do you think I''m a newcomer? I know the rules. Disciples who have been at Tianyuan Academy for two years are allowed to enter the archive. Why am I not allowed to enter?"

 Chapter 9：Choosing Martial Arts Techniques

    "Ji Mo, do you want me to explain everything to you?" Dong Hao snickered coldly. "The archive is only open to high-achieving disciples. You? Anybody at Tianyuan Academy knows that you, Third Young Master Ji, are a wimp. You''ve been here for two years, but you''re only on the third tier of body tempering. Even the senior management has nearly given up on you. Do you really think someone like you is fit to enter the archive? Stop fooling around."


    "Yeah, we''re responsible for guarding the archive. We must take care of it and make sure no one can''t enter the archive as they please," Xia Jiaojiao jeered. Her pretty face oozed arrogance and coldness. Obviously, she did not respect Ji Mo.


    "Don''t make me angry! Both of you are just trying to make things difficult for me!" Ji Mo gritted his teeth and was about to move forward to argue with Nan Hao and Xia Jiaojiao. He knew they were just trying to create difficulties for him.


    Mischief appeared in Nan Hao''s gaze. "What? Are you trying to use violence? Let me tell you, Ji Mo. Other people might be afraid of your clan, but I, Dong Hao, am not! Get lost! This isn''t a place you can enter, or else, I''ll break both of your legs! Till then, the senior management won''t vouch for you either!"


    "Leave now and go be the Young Master you''re supposed to be. You think you''re capable of cultivating and becoming an Immortal? Why don''t you take a piss and look at your own reflection?!" Xiao Jiaojiao insulted him as well.


    "Take a piss and look at my own reflection? Fine, you said it!" When Ji Mo was enraged, he was capable of anything. The instant Dong Hao and Xia Jiaojiao made that remark, he loosened his belt and was prepared to pull his pants down.


    "Ji Mo, what are you doing?!" They were taken aback.


    "You said that I should take a piss and look at my own reflection! Fine, I''ll take a piss for you!" he retorted and unbuckled his belt swiftly.


    "You��you scoundrel!" Xia Jiaojiao was a maiden after all. When she saw that Ji Mo was about to remove his pants, she blushed and turned her head to the side at once. Clenching her teeth, a look of disgust crossed her face.


    "Ji Mo, how dare you stir up trouble here?!" Dong Hao was exasperated.


    "You two are the ones stirring up trouble! I''m fit to enter the archive! How dare you stop me?!" Ji Mo argued.


    "You��Fine! Since you dare to make a scene here and taunt me, I''ll beat you up until you''re crippled!" Dong Hao glared at him angrily. He balled his fists and was about to charge at Ji Mo.


    "What are you all quarreling about?!" All of a sudden, a feminine cry was heard as a red figure approached them gracefully. It was Huo Lin''er.


    "Senior Sister Huo!" Upon seeing Huo Lin''er, Dong Hao and Xia Jiaojiao greeted her hastily.


    "You!" Huo Lin''er recognized Ji Mo and her eyes burned with fury. "Put your pants on!"


    "Uh��My pants aren''t off yet." Ji Mo pulled his pants up quickly, buckled his belt and chuckled. "I didn''t expect to see you here, Senior Sister Huo. I won''t disturb you any longer. Excuse me."


    Deep down, he was frightened. When he saw Huo Lin''er, he immediately recalled that he had agreed to become her sparring partner. However, when he had cultivated the Celestial Devil Tempering Art in isolation, he had forgotten about the concept of time and Huo Lin''er''s order had taken a backseat. No wonder he had an inkling that he had forgotten something.


    "Ji Mo, stay where you are!" Huo Lin''er walked towards him, bringing a fresh, pleasant scent with her. She stood in front of Ji Mo and grabbed hold of his neck. Huo Lin''er was half a head taller than Ji Mo, thus it was easy for her to do so. "Speak! Where have you been for the past few days? Didn''t you promise to be my sparring partner? I told you not to be late, or else!"


    "Senior Sister Huo, I��I''ve been busy recently," Ji Mo quickly explained.


    "Busy? Hmph! What else would you be busy with?" Huo Lin''er snapped. Without any effort, Ji Mo was sent flying to one side. Then, she turned around to Dong Hao and Xia Jiaojiao and asked, "What were all of you quarreling about?"


    "Nothing, just a small matter," Dong Hao replied at once. He dared not tell Huo Lin''er that he had stopped Ji Mo from entering the archive. In fact, Ji Mo was qualified to enter the archive, but Dong Hao had stopped him from doing so simply because he did not like him.


    "Hmph!" Huo Lin''er glared at Ji Mo again and said, "I''m going to look something up in the archive. Follow me and don''t even think about running away. After this, you''ll be my sparring partner!"


    "Alright!" This time, Ji Mo agreed to it swiftly. Regardless of what happened, at least, he could follow Huo Lin''er into the archive now. As long as Huo Lin''er was present, there was nothing Dong Hao and Xia Jiaojiao could say.


    Under the duo''s furious gaze, Ji Mo followed Huo Lin''er into the archive with his head held up high. Soon, he disappeared within the depths of the archive''s hall.


    "Damn it! If not for Senior Sister Huo''s presence, I would''ve taught him a lesson." Glaring at Ji Mo''s back, Dong Hao clenched his teeth and squeezed his fists tightly.


    "Hmph! That scoundrel is an embarrassment to Tianyuan Academy! He doesn''t even have the talent, but he got sent here by his clan to learn about cultivation. What a joke!" Xia Jiaojiao muttered angrily, her hatred for Ji Mo obvious.


    "Don''t worry. There''s not much time left for this fellow to be bossy. After a few months, his time at Tianyuan Academy will be up. Judging by his capability, he''ll be expelled. The Tianshan Sword Sect will never recruit a wimp like him." Dong Hao chuckled coldly.


    ��


    In the archive, Huo Lin''er glanced at Ji Mo and a look of surprise crossed her face. She asked, "Have you achieved the fourth tier of body tempering?"


    Huo Lin''er was already an inner disciple of the Tianshan Sword Sect and an expert at the Qi Plundering Boundary. Naturally, she could detect changes in people and noticed something different about him.


    "Mm-hmm." Ji Mo nodded and did not bother to answer Huo Lin''er''s question. Instead, he selected books that were useful to him from the surrounding bookshelves.


    In this archive, there were many books about martial arts and solutions about problems faced while cultivating at the Acupuncture Point Unblocking Phase stored. Apart from some miscellaneous items, there were also a number of regular titles from the Mortal Realm. However, most of these books were untouched.


    Huo Lin''er regarded him thoughtfully. Earlier, she blamed him for standing her up. Now, she believed that Ji Mo must have been using the time to prepare himself to break through to the fourth tier instead of being flaky on purpose. When she thought of this, she felt a bit better. All this while, no one dared to stand her up.


    Ji Mo continued to search for items that benefited him in the archive. Meanwhile, Huo Lin''er stood aside and looked for the things she wanted.


    "The Eight Clouds Palm. Extremely supple aura and uses delicate forces to subdue strong individuals. Hmm, doesn''t really suit me.


    "The Goshawk Strike, lightning-fast and thunderous and uses swiftness for victory. However, it''s just an intermediate-level martial arts technique. I''ll take it and have a look.


    "The Spiral Pill��Eh, no, my mistake, the Spinning Top Punch. Another fist technique that relies on swiftness for victory, but is just so-so at that."


    Ji Mo filtered the various types of martial arts techniques that were categorized according to their levels. Like the Body Tempering Arts, they were classified according to three different levels, which were beginner-level, intermediate-level, and advanced-level. The techniques that Ji Mo had selected just now were intermediate-level ones. Although they dealt decent damage, they did not really suit him.


    The Celestial Devil Tempering Art tempered a physique that was brutal and oppressive. The Celestial Devil Power was very powerful, and Ji Mo hoped to find a set of martial arts techniques that allowed him to fully utilize his innate power. By doing so, he could emerge victorious by landing a single blow and not give his opponent a chance to retaliate.


    "Total Annihilation, a blade technique that has extreme Yang and is remarkably accurate. Three strikes in a row, and each one thunderous, but dealing each attack requires one to rest for three minutes. Huh��Am I seeing things? I seem to notice something wondrous."


    "Have you chosen the books you want?" Huo Lin''er came forward with a stack of books in her arms.


    "Not yet," Ji Mo answered without lifting his head.


    "Take a piss and look at your own reflection" is a rude way to tell someone to look at themselves in the mirror in Chinese.

 Chapter 10：The Woes Of A Sparring Partner

    Huo Lin''er stared at Ji Mo intently. Having been at Tianyuan Academy for quite some time, she knew each and every one of the disciples. A person like Ji Mo was particularly attention-grabbing, not because he was a high-achiever, but because he was really weak.


    Huo Lin''er was also somewhat aware of Ji Mo''s backstory. Most of the time, he did not practice cultivation wholeheartedly. Last time, he even caused a ruckus at her lecture, thus her impression of him was not that positive.


    However, when she noticed how serious he was towards martial arts right now, she was rather surprised. Since when had this fellow become so focused and diligent?


    "Essence-Unifying Slab Splitter!" At the same time, Ji Mo''s eyes lit up with glee as he stared at a martial arts manual. "By focusing the entire body''s energy on the palm, a mighty force will be created! It can penetrate rocks and split slabs of stone! A continuous surge of force, hmm��Not bad. This suits me better. I''ll take this."


    "This is an advanced-level technique. If you want to cultivate it, you must register first," Huo Lin''er piped up while being in awe of Ji Mo''s choice. As one of the four major Sanshou in the Mortal Realm, the Essence-Unifying Slab Splitter was a fine martial arts technique.


    "Register? What a pain! Wait for me then. I''ll go register," Ji Mo replied.


    "Sigh, forget it. I''ll explain it to them on behalf of you, but you did promise to become my sparring partner and I must master this divine power. My enemy is coming soon and I mustn''t lose to that woman," Huo Lin''er muttered to herself while hatred was apparent in her bright eyes.


    "Is she your rival in love?" Ji Mo asked.


    "Rival in love? It''s no longer that simple. She''s��Huh? Why are you asking me this? Is this something a person like you should care about?!" Huo Lin''er''s eyes widened immediately and she glared at him.


    "Didn''t you say that yourself?" Ji Mo replied.


    "Enough nonsense. Follow me," she ordered and dragged him out of the archive.


    ��


    A spacious piece of land lay beyond the mountain behind Tianyuan Academy.


    This was the Tianyuan Academy arena. Unless there was a match going on, people seldom came here.


    Meanwhile, Ji Mo was wearing a thick armored suit that was crafted by special minerals and complex formation runes were carved onto its surface. Weighing more than fifty kilograms, a regular person could not move if he wore it.


    "Listen, this is an armored battlesuit crafted by my master and it''s able to absorb Dharma spells. Now that you''re wearing the armored suit, if you get hit by my frontal attacks, the suit will automatically absorb my Dharma spells. You can evade too since I''m only using it to practice my spells. The better you evade me, the greater my mastery at controlling Dharma spells is," Huo Lin''er explained as she pointed at Ji Mo''s armor.


    At the moment, she had changed into another outfit. She wore a training outfit that wrapped itself around her skin tightly, exposing her voluptuous figure. Her curvaceous glutes and long legs were accentuated by the fabric that hugged her body snugly.


    Ji Mo gaped at her from top to toe.


    ''She isn''t wearing any underwear!'' He realized something.


    Normally, cultivators preferred to change into an outfit that was clean and neat before practicing to ensure the agility of their movements. Most female cultivators did not like wearing underwear when they practiced as it hindered their movements, but Huo Lin''er''s boldness shocked Ji Mo and for one fleeting moment, he found it unacceptable.


    "Of course, although the armor will absorb my Dharma spells, it still hurts when they hit you." Huo Lin''er laughed slyly as if she failed to notice him staring at her.


    Ji Mo composed himself and loosened his limbs. The armored suit was heavy indeed. Had he not switched to cultivating the Celestial Devil Tempering Art and become stronger than before, he would have had a hard time moving about in this suit.


    "I must say, I don''t mind you using me as your sparring partner, Senior Sister Huo. But to be honest, there''s no free lunch in this world. Aren''t you going to give me something in return for helping you out?" Ji Mo asked. He knew Huo Lin''er was a Qi Plundering Boundary expert and had many types of goodies in her possession.


    Instead of bargaining, Huo Lin''er answered him directly, "Spar with me for an hour, and I''ll give you a third-grade spiritual medicine!"


    ''Third-grade spiritual medicine!'' Ji Mo exclaimed in his heart.


    No doubt, Huo Lin''er was a Qi Plundering Boundary expert. Look at how wealthy she was! She could offer third-grade spiritual medicine and give one out every hour. Third-grade spiritual medicine was incomparable to the second-grade Purple Spirit Fruits. If the former were available in Ji Mo''s clan, all of the disciples would have fought over for them.


    Evidently, Qi Plundering Boundary experts were a special breed with profound knowledge, so Ji Mo felt rather excited. Apparently, being Huo Lin''er''s sparring partner was not a bad idea.


    "Alright, since you''re so generous, Senior Sister Huo, I shall accompany you throughout the night." Ji Mo chuckled.


    "Who wants to accompany you throughout the night!?" she snapped.


    "Huh? Can''t you speak normally?" Ji Mo was taken aback.


    In fact, third-grade spiritual medicine was worthless in Huo Lin''er''s eyes. The things Qi Plundering Boundary experts faced were on a totally different level compared to those people at the Acupuncture Point Unblocking Phase faced. To the Qi Plundering Boundary experts, second- and third-grade spiritual medicine was the same as one or two bucks and was negligible.


    Naturally, Huo Lin''er only decided to reward Ji Mo after discovering that he had reached the fourth tier of body tempering. She thought that he had the potential to improve his capability. If he had not undergone anything special and he had asked for a reward, Huo Lin''er might have given him a tight slap.


    ''A reward? Go screw yourself!''


    "Enough nonsense. Are you ready?" Huo Lin''er cried out.


    Ji Mo stood with a wide stance. "Bring it on!"


    Buzz!


    As soon as she finished speaking, a ball of fire formed on Huo Lin''er''s palm. The ball of fire was fiery red and transformed into a Flaming Sword Qi that circled around her slender fingers. Each shockwave was dangerous and could cut through stone.


    "Take that!"


    As Huo Lin''er let out a cry, streams of shockwave appeared and were sent towards Ji Mo. The streams were endless and the shockwaves were fired out steadily, showing no signs of ceasing. Each wave was stronger than the previous and every one of them was ghastly and threatening.


    Bang, bang, bang, bang!


    Before Ji Mo could evade the attacks, he was hit by about ten strikes of Flaming Sword Qi. Although the vibrations of the Dharma spells from the shockwaves were absorbed by the armor, a quake caused by the powerful surge of energy sent him flying and he landed abruptly on the ground.


    If not for the armored suit, a normal cultivator at the Acupuncture Point Unblocking Phase would have been battered and overpowered by the Flaming Sword Qi. There would have been no chance of retaliation. This was the difference between a Qi Plundering Boundary expert and an Acupuncture Point Unblocking Phase cultivator. Just like the difference between an Immortal and a Mortal, there was simply no opportunity of surpassing the former.


    "Don''t be so useless. Stand up!" Huo Lin''er''s hair fluttered in the air as she moved around nimbly. Her entire figure was veiled by streams of Flaming Sword Qi as if a flaming goddess had descended to the Mortal Realm.


    Flaming Sword Qi shot out in the arena. Pursued by the shockwaves, dressed in his armored suit, Ji Mo ran around aimlessly. He desperately wanted to hide, but Huo Lin''er was simply too fast with her attacks and did not give him any room for evading. For one moment, Ji Mo could do nothing but endure the pain.


    Despite gaining so much strength after cultivating the Celestial Devil Tempering Art, he was still an amateur compared to a Qi Plundering Boundary cultivator!


    Sanshou is a form of Chinese combat that combines traditional Kung Fu with modern fighting styles like kickboxing.

 Chapter 11：Hunting Competition

    For an entire afternoon, Ji Mo endured Huo Lin''er''s brutality. Despite wearing protective armor, Ji Mo could still feel a strong impact on his whole body every single time he was hit by Huo Lin''er''s Flaming Sword Qi. His blood raced and his bones creaked loudly.


    This was the true prowess of the Celestial Devil Tempering Art. If Ji Mo had been a regular Tempering Art cultivator, he would not have had the courage to spar with Huo Lin''er for such a long time. Most probably, he would not have lasted for more than thirty minutes. Nevertheless, he persisted throughout the entire afternoon without quitting.


    ''Good lord, she''s truly a she-demon. Her strikes are absolutely vicious!'' Ji Mo groaned in his heart. Initially, he had hoped that she would go easy on him on the account that she was a whole level ahead of him. However, Huo Lin''er was completely merciless, and each strike took almost half his life.


    "I''ve really underestimated you. I thought that you''d give up after half an hour, but you''ve persisted for such a long time," Huo Lin''er said, wiggling her dainty hands. Her impression of Ji Mo improved by a few notches.


    "Now, I''ve earned two of the third-grade spiritual medicines. Do you still want to continue?" Ji Mo asked.


    "Forget it. That''s all for today. Here, catch." With a casual wave of her hand, two crimson fruits landed in his hands.


    ''Red Cabernet Fruits, third-grade spiritual medicine!'' Ji Mo was filled with excitement.


    This third-grade spiritual medicine might be negligible to someone like Huo Lin''er, but they were a precious treasure to Ji Mo. Just two of this third-grade spiritual medicine would be enough for him to cultivate the Celestial Devil Tempering Art to the next level.


    "Come back again in three days. Don''t be late. I don''t want to hear any excuses," Huo Lin''er said. She took the armor from Ji Mo and left gracefully.


    Looking at her elegant retreating figure, Ji Mo was slightly mesmerized. Ordinarily, she appeared like a she-demon, but right now, she looked inexplicably charming. Perhaps, it was an attitude problem. Yes, it was definitely an attitude problem.


    Upon arriving back home, Ji Mo did not waste any time. He immediately refined the Red Cabernet Fruits.


    The fact that merely two third-grade fruits were able to improve his strength by this much was somewhat mind-blowing. If he had relied on the Purple Spirit Fruits, he would have needed at least a dozen of them or more. However, since Red Cabernet Fruits were a grade above Purple Spirit Fruits, their effect was much more formidable.


    This time, Ji Mo was looking forward to his next sparring session with Huo Lin''er. The longer he spent sparring against her, the more benefits he would obtain from her.


    The third-grade spiritual medicine might be negligible in Huo Lin''er''s eyes, but it was the panacea for Ji Mo to improve his capabilities.


    The following days were quite peaceful. Except for attending the occasional lecture, Ji Mo spent the rest of his time on his personal cultivation. Every three days, he would spar with Huo Lin-er. After a while, he obtained substantial benefits from her and accumulated a significant amount of third-grade spiritual medicines.


    Just yesterday, Ji Mo successfully unlocked the fifth acupuncture point inside his body as a result of some of the third-grade spiritual medicine. His mortal body underwent another transformation. Both his strength and his physique were enhanced. The Celestial Devil Power made his entire body extremely tough. At this point, Ji Mo was able to exert more than a thousand kilograms of force.


    Upon breaking through the fifth-tier Body Tempering, Ji Mo was one step closer towards achieving the Celestial Devil Body.


    In fact, sparring with Huo Lin''er would now be a walk in the park.


    ...


    "The Hell Celestial Devil is rumored to be more vicious than a true Great Celestial Devil. A thousand years ago, a Hell Celestial Devil overturned hell and came to the mortal world, unleashing a bloodbath on the cultivation world. In the end, several masters of the cultivation world came together and attacked. Only then was the catastrophe quelled," Ji Mo read from an ancient book.


    Things such as Celestial Devils and hell actually existed and were even recorded in history. The only caveat was that the accuracy of these historical writings could not be determined.


    Closing the book, Ji Mo exhaled a lengthy breath. Over the years, he had collected quite an impressive number of books. Some of the books mentioned ''Celestial Devil'' and ''hell'', but their descriptions varied. Therefore, Ji Mo wondered if ''hell'' actually existed in this world.


    However, if hell did not exist, then where did the Celestial Hell technique come from? The technique manual clearly stated that it had evolved from the Path of Hell. This meant that the person who invented this technique had seen hell with his own eyes. Otherwise, it would not have been possible to create such a domineering technique.


    Replacing the book on the shelf, Ji Mo walked out. He had promised Huo Lin''er to spar with her today.


    In the arena, he wore the armor and was walking across the empty space like an iron giant. Rays of Flaming Sword Qi hurtled straight towards him. As agile as a cheetah, Ji Mo dodged out of the way of the shockwaves. Occasionally, a few stray beams of Flaming Sword Qi landed on his armor, forcing him a few steps back.


    "Wow, I''ve not seen you for just a few days, but your abilities have improved tremendously. You must be at least at fifth-tier Body Tempering now?" Looking at the ease at which Ji Mo dodged her attacks, Huo Lin''er was slightly surprised.


    Immediately, she doubled up her attacks. The Flaming Sword Qi coalesced into a qilin. Then, like a fiery beast, it charged towards Ji Mo and slammed into him.


    Bang!


    Ji Mo was sent flying into the air. Although the armor absorbed most of the impact of Huo Lin''er''s attack, the massive force still made his body sore. If not for the fact that Ji Mo had just achieved the fifth-tier Body Tempering, the last blow would have severely injured him.


    "That''s all for today." Huo Lin''er grinned. With a tiny wave of her hand, the armor on Ji Mo''s body transformed into a ray of light and disappeared into her waist.


    Ji Mo stood up with a painful wince. He mobilized his body parts and heard the snap and crackle of his bones. Although his entire body was sore, he did not suffer any internal injuries. Only his muscles were slightly worn out, due to the barrage of hits endured.


    "Speaking of that, you must have worked hard recently. You improved from the third tier all the way to the fifth tier, which is quite unlike your style." Huo Lin''er chewed the inside of her rosy cheeks and peered at Ji Mo with interest.


    "Well, it''s all thanks to you. If I didn''t cultivate my Body Tempering, I wouldn''t have been able to endure your daily abuse," he teased.


    Huo Lin''er hid a smile which made her look quite charming. "You should count your blessings. After all, I give you two third-grade spiritual medicines every single time. This is something many covet but cannot get. You''d better not be grumbling,"


    Ji Mo felt a little embarrassed by her reply. Honestly speaking, the main reason he was able to improve his abilities so quickly was thanks to her. Although he had to suffer as her sparring partner, he also obtained many benefits from her.


    Moreover, through his sparring with Huo Lin''er, Ji Mo discovered that the Celestial Devil Tempering could also be strengthened without using any spiritual medicine. Just by enduring Huo Lin''er''s spell attacks, his body was becoming stronger.


    Although he only achieved the fifth tier of Body Tempering, he could smash a rock apart just by exerting a little more force. This was a feat that even many seventh tier Body Tempering cultivators could not achieve.


    "By the way, are you joining the hunt this time?" Huo Lin''er asked.

 Chapter 12：Call Me Brother” (I)

    "By the way, are you joining the hunt this time?" Huo Lin''er asked.


    "Oh, of course, I''ll. I heard that the first prize winner will receive a seventh-grade spiritual medicine, the Golden Elixir Pill. If I get the Golden Elixir Pill, I''ll be able to cultivate my Body Tempering Art successfully," Ji Mo replied, "In a while, I''ll go and sign up. Otherwise, it''ll be too late. I heard today is the last day to sign up."


    "Why are you still here? It will be too late after noon time." Huo Lin''er frowned.


    "Noon?"


    "Yes. The Hunting Competition registration is only open until noon. Did no one tell you?" Huo Lin''er blinked at him behind her luscious lashes.


    "My goodness! I heard those rascals say it''s until the evening. In that case, Sister Huo, I''ll take my leave. Please excuse me." Ji Mo jumped to his feet. Without straightening his crumpled clothes, he sprinted away in a cloud of dust.


    Looking at his frenzied actions, Huo Lin''er smiled. Throughout the period she had spent with him, she realized that he was not as despicable as rumored. On the contrary, he was quite likable. Furthermore, Ji Mo was also not as completely unskilled as they described. He had some skills in cultivation.


    Perhaps, it was Ji Mo''s careless tongue and flippant exterior that gave people a misconception.


    At least, that was what Huo Lin''er thought.


    ...


    In the central square of Tianyuan Academy.


    At the moment, the central square was filled with more than a dozen people, all of them disciples of Tianyuan Academy.


    Currently, up to this point, most of the participants in the Hunting Competition had been decided. There was a set limit of two hundred people for the Hunting Competition, and there were only two slots left.


    It was not that Tianyuan Academy could not rally two hundred people for this competition, but simply because the Hunting Competition was organized annually. Therefore, some people had already participated in the past, especially those from higher levels. Some might feel that the Hunting Competition was not really beneficial, so they chose not to participate.


    Nevertheless, to the average disciple, the Hunting Competition had a lot of benefits in store for them.


    Amongst the bustling crowd, many had already signed up. The reason they still congregated around was in hopes that they could recruit a few allies to work together during the Hunting Competition. After all, they were not hunting ordinary beasts but demonic beasts. A powerful demonic beast was not inferior to a cultivator, and could even kill a cultivator. Hence, there was a certain amount of danger in the competition.


    "Senior Brother Ling, please write my name down," Ji Mo pushed through the crowd and spoke to a young disciple who was in charge of registration.


    "Ok." Senior Brother Ling nodded. Then, he looked up at Ji Mo and surprise flashed across his eyes. "Huh? You want to join the Hunting Competition?"


    "Typical. Why would I come here otherwise?" Ji Mo whispered, a bright glint flashing in his eyes.


    Immediately, a lot of eyes landed on Ji Mo. He was no stranger to any of them since he had spent two full years in Tianyuan Academy. While not everyone knew him personally, they had, at least, heard of him. Ji Mo was known to be a cowardly shrimp who only managed to cultivate to the third tier after two years. Even a sow was more talented than him.


    "What''s he doing here? Joining the Hunting Competition with his abilities, is he trying to die?"


    Many people harbored such thoughts.


    "Do you really want to do this?" Senior Brother Ling raised his head to look at Ji Mo to confirm yet another time.


    "Of course." Ji Mo nodded.


    A look of impatience appeared on Senior Brother Ling''s face. With a sneer, he said, "You do know how dangerous this Hunting Competition is, don''t you? It''s not like playing house. But if you insist on going, I won''t stop you. I just hope that you''ll come back alive."


    Many of the Tianyuan Academy disciples around them sighed in unison. Subsequently, everyone turned their heads to the side, worried that Ji Mo would try to engage them and join their teams.


    From their perspective, if a team member like Ji Mo joined the Hunting Competition, he would only add to their list of problems. He was completely useless, a deadweight. No one was willing to carry such a burden with them.


    "Excuse me!" At this moment, an arrogant voice boomed. From among the crowd, Ji Shan and Nangong Ye emerged. Trailing behind them was a beautiful girl with a slender figure. She was Du Jia.


    "Senior Brother Ling, Nan Gongye and I want to join the Hunting Competition. There are two more slots, right? Help us sign up," Ji Shan walked forward to tell Senior Brother Ling. Although he cast a look of feigned disinterest at Ji Mo, his eyes were filled with mockery.


    Looking at Ji Shan and Nan Gongye, Senior Brother Ling''s face instantly changed to one that contained warmth and smiles. Especially when he saw Du Jia, he became very respectful. Du Jia was one of the top disciples of Tianyuan Academy and had achieved seventh-tier body tempering. Moreover, everyone knew that this woman had gotten very close to Nan Hao lately.


    In Tianyuan Academy, Nan Hao held an important position. He was a prodigy who was most likely to be admitted into the Tianshan Sword Sect.


    Seeing Du Jia, Ji Mo unconsciously clenched his fists and his gaze darkened significantly. He held pure contempt for this woman, not just because she had betrayed the marriage contract with him and fallen into Nan Hao''s arms, but because she had leaked the news about the Heavenly Cauldron.


    Otherwise, none of all these would have happened.


    "Ji Shan, do you also want to join the Hunting Competition? Well, of course, but��" Senior Brother Ling gazed at Ji Mo unkindly. "There''s only one slot left for the two of you��"


    "It doesn''t matter. Even if that useless person went, he would just cause trouble. Just strike his name out," Ji Shan said casually.


    "Strike out? Ji Shan, whose name do you want to strike out?" Senior Brother Ling deliberately dawdled, throwing a jeering sideway glance at Ji Mo.


    Ji Shan and Nan Gongye exchanged a look, both mirroring similar expressions of derision. Ji Shan walked to Ji Mo and patted him on the shoulder. "Ji Mo, this Hunting Competition is very dangerous. With your abilities, you''ll just be a burden. Why don''t you give up your slot to endorse Nan Gongye and me?"


    "Endorse you? Then, who will endorse me?" Ji Mo waved his hand.


    Ji Shan''s gaze turned icy. He sneered, "I''m doing this for your own good. You are Eldest Uncle''s son. I don''t want you to be killed by the demonic beasts. If that happens, Eldest Uncle will surely blame me for not taking good care of you."


    "You just take care of yourself. Don''t worry about my affairs," Ji Mo replied in an equal vein.


    "You��" Ji Shan''s expression turned thunderous. He did not expect Ji Mo to talk to him like this. In the past, Ji Mo had never dared to confront him directly because Ji Shan''s skills were much better than his. If Ji Shan were to attack, even ten Ji Mos would not be able to withstand the blow.


    "I''m giving you one more chance, give up your name slot. Otherwise, even though we''re cousins, I''ll attack you." Ji Shan''s gaze was completely icy cold by now. He felt slightly humiliated because Ji Mo had dared to defy him in front of such a big crowd.


    Beside him, Nan Gonye quirked a mischievous smile as if he was watching a good show.


    Du Jia stayed silent but she also shot a disdainful look at Ji Mo. With regards to Ji Mo, she knew better than anyone that he would not dare to go head-to-head against Ji Shan. Although Ji Shan was his cousin, the difference in their abilities was too stark.


    In her eyes, Ji Mo was a weak coward who lacked ambition. He was like a used rice sack, the most useless of all waste.

 Chapter 13：Call me Brother” (II)

    "Be a sport. Reply to me," Ji Shan growled, not leaving Ji Mo a single ounce of dignity.


    "Ji Shan, we are cousins, no matter what. You''re helping an outsider bully me, and that''s too much. Today, I''m not giving this name slot up!" Faced with Ji Shan''s incessant belittling, Ji Mo felt enraged. Since Ji Shan had completely stepped all over their brotherhood, he had nothing left to say to him.


    "Oh, Ji Mo, you''ve grown some balls. You even dare to raise your voice at me?" Ji Shan responded through gritted teeth. "I know you''ve been sparring with Senior Sister Huo Lin''er recently. Do you think that just because Senior Sister Huo Lin''er is on your side, you have the authority now? With a bug like you, even if there were ten of you, I wouldn''t give a damn. I''m ashamed to have a cousin like you!"


    "I won''t give up the name slot. What do you want to do?" Ji Mo was adamant about not giving in.


    "You��Very well! Since you humiliated me today, I''ll also humiliate you!" Ji Shan was truly angered. A thick vein on his forehead throbbed, and a powerful aura seeped out of his body, similar to the aura of a wild beast.


    This was the Body Tempering Art cultivated by Ji Shan, the Wild Bull Tempering Art. This Body Tempering Art could train one''s muscles to become as tough as a wild bull, as well as cultivate the brute strength of a bull that could tear down fortresses and level boulders. It was very brutish.


    "What? You can''t out-argue me, so you''re resorting to physically attacking me? Ji Shan, your temperament is still the same." Ji Mo smirked.


    Ji Shan had sixth-tier body tempering abilities. Before this, if he were to initiate an attack, Ji Mo would have found an excuse to escape because he was no match.


    Now, however, things were different. Ji Mo''s Celestial Devil Tempering Art had been cultivated to a small success. Although he was still far from achieving the true Celestial Devil Body, based on his current abilities, his Celestial Devil Power could still exert more than a thousand kilograms of force. If they were to fight, the winner might not have been so easily determined.


    "Ji Shan, let it go. After all, both of you are cousins and causing a scene wouldn''t be great." Nan Gongye pretended to intervene. Nevertheless, everyone could see the malice in his eyes as if he could not wait for Ji Shan to attack Ji Mo.


    Senior Brother Ling''s lips also spread into a smile. Folding his arms, he stood by the side and waited for the scene to unfold.


    "Ji Mo, come off it. You aren''t his opponent. Evaluate the situation rationally," Du Jia opened her mouth to advise Ji Mo in a cold tone.


    "Shut up. I don''t want to talk to you." Upon hearing Du Jia''s voice, Ji Mo turned around and regarded her with a dark expression. His steely gaze was so murderous that even Du Jia could not help but sense goosebumps.


    Without realizing it, Ji Mo was emitting the aura of the Celestial Devil.


    "I don''t know what you''re thinking about, but facts are facts. How long are you going to act this childishly? With your abilities, you''re neither a match for Ji Shan nor are you suitable for participating in the Hunting Competition. Why don''t you give up your name slot like a good boy? Once your time limit in Tianyuan Academy is up, you can return to the clan and live a peaceful, ordinary life. That isn''t necessarily a bad thing." Du Jia gave Ji Mo a pitiful look.


    "Du Jia, don''t pretend to be a good person. Once I teach this ungrateful bloke a lesson, I''ll settle our grudge," Ji Mo replied with a sideways glance.


    "You��you wouldn''t dare!" Du Jia gnashed her teeth and snorted.


    "Teach me a lesson? Haha, this is the best joke I''ve ever heard in my life. You, teach me a lesson? I''m going to break your legs. Even if your old man shows up, he can''t do anything to me." Ji Shan was unbelievably arrogant.


    Ever since Ji Shan entered Tianyuan Academy, his talents had been recognized. He had the potential to be recruited by the Tianshan Sword Sect. As long as he was accepted as a disciple of the Tianshan Sword Sect, even Ji Mo''s father would not be able to harm him.


    "Beg for forgiveness on your knees!" Ji Shan bellowed with the vigor of a wild bull, swinging a slap toward Ji Mo. The slap was completely merciless as Ji Shan put almost all his strength into it.


    Fwoosh!


    A loud gust resounded in everyone''s ears as Ji Shan swung his palm towards the left side of Ji Mo''s face.


    Ji Mo''s narrowed his eyes. He watched Ji Shan''s palm grow bigger and bigger before his eyes. Then, just as the palm was about to hit his face, he raised his right arm and caught Ji Shan''s wrist with a snap.


    Ji Mo completely blocked the slap which contained inconceivable strength.


    "Heh!" Ji Mo grinned. Underneath his skin, there was a faint crimson glow as the Celestial Devil Power easily dissolved all of Ji Shan''s strength.


    Ji Shan''s expression changed. There was a look of surprise in his eyes.


    At first, he thought that a single slap was enough to hit Ji Mo to the ground, or perhaps even knock him out, but he did not expect Ji Mo to possibly block his attack. Furthermore, an extraordinary force came from Ji Mo''s hand. Ji Shan felt as though Ji Mo''s hands were a pair of iron pliers wrapped around his wrist. He was completely unable to shake Ji Mo''s hand away. The grip was so tight that he felt like the bones in his hands were going to be crushed.


    Seeing the triumphant look on Ji Mo''s face, Ji Shan snorted in derision. Biting his teeth, he said, "What? Don''t be happy just because you managed to block a single blow! I was simply sparing you some dignity, but you even dare to resist. In that case, I won''t hold back anymore!"


    Ji Shan was a talented disciple of their clan, so naturally, he had a litany of tactics up his sleeve. The massive power contained in his punch was not to be taken lightly.


    Ji Mo''s pupils contracted tightly. It was unknown whether the changes in his body were caused by the Celestial Devil Tempering Art, but his senses were extraordinarily sharpened. At this point, Ji Mo was surprised to find that Ji Shan''s movements were almost like slow motion. Although his punch was fierce, it was extremely slow.


    Thus, Ji Mo turned his body sideways, and Ji Shan''s fist merely glided across his chest. In Ji Mo''s eyes, all of these events unfolded at a snail''s pace.


    Afterward, in a flash, Ji Mo stretched his hand out and pressed his palm against Ji Shan''s face. He activated the Celestial Devil Power and shoved Ji Shan onto the ground with a loud splat. Ji Shan fell face-first into the ground like a dog eating its own poop.


    "That was fast!"


    This was what most people in the square thought. Perhaps, to Ji Mo, the scene unfolded as expected, but to the outsiders, his retaliation was truly remarkable. Faced against Ji Shan''s vicious punch, Ji Mo''s movements were as graceful as flowing water. His response was extremely fast and instantly knocked Ji Shan to the ground.


    In fact, it looked almost sophisticated.


    Many people were shocked, including Du Jia, Nan Gongye, and Senior Brother Ling. Everyone wore similar looks of disbelief.


    "He actually evaded Ji Shan''s attack, easily dissolved the energy contained and managed to make a counter-attack. His movements are completely fluid like an experienced warrior''s."


    "Ji Mo is well-known to be a nerd and a cowardly shrimp. Since when did his abilities improve so much?"


    "It''s just a coincidence, definitely just a coincidence. Ji Shan possesses sixth-tier body tempering. How could he lose to a cowardly shrimp? Ji Shan must''ve just been extremely careless!"


    Many people held the same opinion as though they were unable to accept the truth before their eyes.

 Chapter 14：Call Me Elder Brother (III)

    "Ji Mo! You��" Ji Shan turned his head around in disbelief. His eyes with Ji Mo''s who was looking down on him from above.


    "Ji Shan, I''ll forgive you seeing as you''re my cousin!" he snorted.


    Ji Mo turned to take his leave without waiting for a reply. He would have taught the other person an unforgettable lesson if it had been someone else, but Ji Shan was still his Second Uncle''s son and they were from the same clan after all. Therefore, Ji Mo thought there was no need to initiate any killing.


    "Ji Mo! How dare you hit back?! And you dirty bastard, you went as far as to strike me with a surprise attack!" Ji Shan struggled to rise to his feet and his face was flushed red with embarrassment. Beating defeated by a useless piece of trash under the public eye was an abominable humiliation to him.


    "How ridiculous! You initiated it, but you don''t want me to strike back?" replied Ji Mo coldly.


    "Bastard! Our fight isn''t over yet, you scum. I''ll teach a good lesson on your father''s behalf!" Ji Shan became extremely furious with embarrassment and darted towards Ji Mo. The forceful Wild Bull Power inside his body exploded and enveloped his fist as he punched Ji Mo.


    Ji Mo knitted his brows and he looked slightly dismal. He did not want to bring things to a deadlock with Ji Shan but the latter''s constant bickering was infuriating. Ji Mo could not bear it since he was a bad-tempered man.


    Bang, bang, bang, bang!


    Ji Shan''s second punch was more aggressive than the previous one. He exhausted all the Wild Bull Power in him to release about 500 kilograms of force that even the surrounding air was affected and several explosive noises were produced.


    "Ji Mo, I''ll cripple both your legs today to show you how useless you are! For you to fight back is beyond yourself!" The corner of Ji Shan''s lips curled upward into a ferocious smile as if he was sure to witness Ji Mo being tortured mercilessly on the ground.


    Numerous people in the crowd nodded in silence. Ji Shan, who had acquired the capability of a sixth-tier tempered body had already elevated his Wild Bull Power to Minor Advancement. Not only was the Wild Bull Power considered an advanced-level Body Tempering Art, but Ji Shan was also naturally bright and talented. For this reason, he would still be in an invincible position even if the opponent was at the same boundary as him, let alone the impressive-looking but useless Ji Mo.


    Right at this moment, Ji Mo also made a move. His figure staggered slightly and a silhouette launched outward straight away. Not only did Ji Mo not dodge Ji Shan''s incoming punch, but he even took the initiative to retaliate. Then, his figure rose three meters high in the air like a goshawk fluttering its wings.


    "What an idiot! His decision to leap into the air will court his death!" ridiculed several people among the audience.


    It was widely known that leaping into the air during a battle was the worst choice to make because one''s movement would be largely restricted in the air, in turn, making them an easy target for the opponent.


    "Ji Mo, it''s obvious that you''ve not got any combat experience. You''re going to die!" Ji Shan smirked coldly before performing a deadly punch. A forceful power with the strength of a wild bull sped towards Ji Mo immediately.


    In the next second, Ji Mo nosedived quickly at the speed of thunder. His curled fingers that looked similar to a hawk''s talons scratched Ji Shan aggressively in a way that resembled a goshawk hunting its prey.


    It was an intermediate-level martial art �� the Goshawk Strike!


    Bang!


    As the muffled noise quietened down, the ferocious power Ji Shan unleashed was torn apart by Ji Mo. It was easily overcome like a piece of paper being torn apart.


    Boom!


    Once again, Ji Shan was pushed down to the ground by Ji Mo. His bloody head that struck the ground heavily even shattered the marble floor.


    "You, who bite the hands that feed you, I''m going to ruin you so badly today that your poop is going to come out green!" Ji Mo was utterly enraged. All the scarred memories of being bullied by Ji Shan came flooding into his mind, triggering an impulse to avenge himself.


    Slap!


    Ji Mo slapped Ji Shan hard across the face before the latter could react. One of his feet was also stepping on the latter''s chest simultaneously while he yelled in rage, "Ji Shan, have you forgotten my identity? In addition to being your elder cousin, I''m Third Young Master Ji whose position is higher than yours in the clan. I turned a blind eye and a deaf ear when you went beyond the limits to humiliate and disrespect me all these years, but right now, you''ve really stepped on my toes!"


    "Ji Mo! You��you struck me. How dare a useless piece of trash like you strike me? I''ll never let you off the hook!" screamed Ji Mo through clenched teeth. The half of his face that Ji Mo slapped earlier had swelled up and blood was oozing out from the corners of his lips.


    "Nonsense! Call me Elder Brother and I''ll forget about everything that''s happened today, my young cousin," demanded Ji Mo indifferently.


    "Dream on! You don''t deserve that!" Ji Mo yelled back in fury.


    By then, everyone surrounding them was utterly shocked by Ji Mo''s performance, including Senior Brother Ling, Nangong Ye, and Du Jia. They never expected Ji Shan, who had acquired the capability of a sixth-tier tempered body, to be defeated. In their opinion, Ji Shan was undoubtedly the definite winner in this fight against Ji Mo.


    "What''s happening? When has his capability elevated so much that even Ji Shan is no match for him?" Du Jia''s umber-black eyebrows furrowed and her eyes were filled with concern.


    "Doesn''t this guy��only have a third-tier tempered body? With the capability of a sixth-tier tempered body, Ji Shan should be able to deal with him without a problem. How come��?" Senior Brother Ling''s face also turned unpleasant.


    Seeing that Ji Mo was about to strike again, Nangong Ye could not suppress himself anymore, so he stepped forward to hold Ji Mo''s shoulder down. "That''s enough. I''ll not ask nicely again if you dare to hit him one more time!" he reprimanded.


    "Beat it!" Ji Mo lowered his voice and explosive energy erupted from his body. That surge of strength struck Nangong Ye and threw the man into the air. He staggered backward several times against his own will before finally regaining his composure.


    "That''s impossible!" Nangong Ye stared at his palm with disbelief. His palm that he rested on Ji Mo''s shoulder earlier had clearly felt that forceful strength that erupted from the latter''s body. The terrifying strength made his arm numb.


    "Call me Elder Brother!" Ji Mo roared in a deep voice while still stepping on Ji Shan''s body.


    "Dream on! I''d rather die than calling a useless piece of trash my Elder Brother!" Ji Shan yelled. He had never ever been humiliated like this in his life.


    "Big Uncle! Um, no��Technically, your Big Uncle is my dad, so you''re Big Aunty!" Ji Mo was in a complete rage. He sat over Ji Shan''s stomach, spread his arms to the side, and started slapping Ji Shan across the face mercilessly without stopping.


    Slap, slap, slap, slap!


    The crisp sound echoed in everyone''s ear like a beautiful melody.


    "Call me Elder Brother! Do it! I should take this opportunity to teach you a lesson on your father''s behalf, and show you the importance of respecting your elders!" Ji Mo slapped the poor man again and again until Ji Shan felt like he was going to pass out.


    "Ji Mo��You��Your death will come soon! Nan Hao and I are sworn brothers. Your attack on me today will be avenged with Nan Hao breaking your head!" He spat blood out from his mouth. Facing this circumstance, he had no choice but to mention Hao Nan to save his face.


    Hao Nan was the man of the moment, the well-known genius of Tianyuan Academy. Everyone was intimidated by him.


    Ji Mo replied to the threat with a bitter smile. "Not even the Buddha could rescue you now, so call me Elder Brother!"


    Slap, slap!


    Ji Mo slapped Ji Shan across the face two more times until the latter felt his head swimming and his vision became a blur. Blood was trickling down the corner of his lips because all of his teeth had been knocked out.


    At last, more blood spurted from Ji Shan''s mouth and he fell motionless to the ground.

 Chapter 15：Du Jia Became Suspicious

    Pow! Pow!


    Ji Mo slapped Ji Shan across the face two more times until the latter felt his head swimming and his vision turn into a blur. Blood was trickling down the corner of his lips because all of his teeth had been knocked out.


    At last, more blood spurted from Ji Shan''s mouth and he fell motionless to the ground.


    "Passed out? Hah, it''s your lucky day!" Ji Mo rose to his feet and glanced around. He was smug when everyone showed their surprise and amazement at his display of power.


    However, Du Jia''s expression soon caught his eyes. She was staring at him without batting an eyelid; her eyes filled with shock, confusion, and an inexplicable mixture of feelings.


    ''Shit, I was so caught in with myself that I forgot Du Jia''s presence,'' Ji Mo thought nervously. He had behaved too hastily. Du Jia, the scheming woman, would be quick to connect the dots. The fact that he had reacquired the Heavenly Cauldron must not be made known to her. Otherwise, it would give rise to huge trouble.


    At the thought of this, Ji Mo glared coldly at Nangong Ye before strutting away.


    Numerous people at the scene made way for him submissively. In Tianyuan Academy, or more accurately, in the whole cultivation world, strength was highly honored. Everyone both respected and envied experts. The thunderous trick that Ji Mo performed earlier had deeply provoked everyone present.


    When Ji Mo''s receding silhouette finally vanished from sight, several Tianyuan Academy disciples surrounding the square began discussing the incident at great length.


    "What happened? Since when did that nerd become so powerful?"


    "He defeated Ji Shan who possesses the capability of a sixth-tier tempered body with such ease. Is it possible that this nerd has already attained seventh-tier tempering abilities? That''s absurd! How could his strength have advanced so tremendously?"


    "I heard that this dude has been acting as Senior Sister Huo Lin''er''s sparring partner. I bet he must have been getting loads of benefits from her!"


    "It''s highly possible because not only is Senior Sister Huo Lin''er an expert in the Qi Plundering Boundary, but she''s also an inner disciple of the Tianshan Sword Sect. Even the tiniest bit of her teachings can sustain us, the outer disciples, for a long time. Ji Mo, the lucky b*stard, must have benefited greatly from Senior Sister Huo Lin''er!"


    Du Jia, who was standing in the same place, listened closely to the conversation, her shapely brows knitted together. Then, without looking back, she rushed towards the direction that Ji Mo was headed in.


    ...


    Of course, Ji Mo did not hear any of these discussions. He had quickened his pace to disappear from Du Jia''s line of vision. He did not intend to reveal his strength at this early stage, but that ignorant Ji Shan did not know when to back off, hence it came to blows before the situation turned into chaos.


    ''Du Jia, Nan Hao, just wait and see. I''ll undoubtedly surpass your capability as long as I have enough time to search for sufficient spiritual medicine. By then, it doesn''t matter even if you know my secret.'' Ji Mo clenched both his fists as he cursed in his heart.


    "Ji Mo, stop right there!" A tender cry appeared from behind him as Du Jia had caught up with him. She appeared in front of him.


    "I don''t want to see you right now," he said coldly.


    "There''s something I want to tell you," announced Du Jia. She examined Ji Mo''s expression carefully when she spoke next. "I believe you''ve heard that Nan Hao and I are now paired cultivation partners. It''s my bad to have kept this from you. I seek your understanding now that I''ve made it clear to you. After all, both of us being together isn''t going to work out."


    "My understanding?" Ji Mo snorted. "That''s enough, Du Jia. You can stop with the unctuous behavior because I don''t care about what''s going on between you and Nan Hao. I told you about the Nine Suns True Qi because I trusted you, but you went around my back and betrayed me to Hao Nan. Do you have any idea what that man has done to me? I almost lost my life! Is that my compensation for breaking up with you, Du Jia?"


    A spark of light flashed across Du Jia''s eyes. "I didn''t know about that. It must''ve been a misunderstanding."


    "Alright, I don''t want to be long-winded either. Step aside. I''ll find a time to settle what has happened between the two, no, the three of us," he replied before taking his leave without turning back.


    "Ji Mo, here''s my advice: do not be hostile with Hao Nan. The two of you belong in different worlds. You''ll never surpass his strength even if you start practicing diligently now!" Du Jia cried in a satirical tone.


    "Nothing is impossible," he replied softly.


    "Hmph, I''m saying this for your own good. You need to have a clear view of things happening. Nan Hao''s now in closed-door cultivation practicing to break through to the ninth-tier tempered body. Besides, people from the Tianshan Sword Sect will soon arrive with an invitation. By then, when Hao Nan''s an inner disciple of the Tianshan Sword Sect, dealing with you will be as simple as crushing an ant."


    "Really? Are you saying that Nan Hao has refined the Nine Suns True Qi?" Ji Mo enquired intentionally.


    Du Jia''s eyes twinkled ever so slightly, but Ji Mo had noticed her minor change in expression. He had lied deliberately so that she would assume that he was still kept in the dark and that the Heavenly Cauldron was not in his hands. At times like this, the Heavenly Cauldron was his greatest secret weapon. He would never reveal this to anyone, especially not Du Jia.


    "Sooner or later, I''ll also be a part of the Tianshan Sword Sect!" Ji Mo exclaimed. Having said what he had to, he strode off.


    Du Jia was rooted to the ground as she replayed Ji Mo''s words in her mind. ''It seems like his strength was elevated not because of the tiny cauldron. If it isn''t in his hands, where has that spiritual item gone? The acquisition of the Nine Suns True Qi won''t just benefit Hao Nan but also myself. Our cultivation path will surely be smooth with the assistance of the Nine Suns True Qi. What a pity! I wonder who''s been blessed with this chance!''


    However��


    Once again, Du Jia glanced in the direction that Ji Mo went off to and sneered. ''The tremendous progression of his strength has gone way beyond my expectations. Could it be an act of revenge? Hmph, but no matter how hard this useless piece of trash tries, he''ll never step up to Hao Nan''s level because Hao Nan is indeed a genius. As long as I stay alongside Hao Nan, my cultivation path towards the Tianshan Sword Sect will also be one without many obstacles. Poor Ji Mo, you can only do your best. Sooner or later, you''ll learn that the gap between some people can never be improved by mere effort.''


    With that, Du Jia shifted slightly and vanished from plain sight.

 Chapter 16：I’m Your Old Uncle

    Ji Mo''s day was ruined. He did not go looking for Huo Lin''er or return to his residence. Instead, he walked out from Tianyuan Academy and headed towards a restaurant in town. He ordered several side dishes and a pot of wine all for himself.


    Giving Ji Shan a sound beating today allowed Ji Mo to vent his grievance. Besides that, he learned that it was useless to reason with some people, but a good beating was enough to shut them up.


    After all, in the cultivation world, only the toughest fist ruled.


    ''The Hunting Competition is ten days away and I want to elevate my strength to the next tier before heading to the hunting ground. I need to progress to the sixth-tier tempered body at the very least to be able to protect myself when confronted with powerful demonic beasts during the hunt,'' Ji Mo thought to himself.


    Ji Mo was getting more familiar with the Celestial Devil Tempering Art after having researched it for quite some time. This particular Body Tempering Art was more terrifying than other types of high-grade Body Tempering Art.


    With the Dragon Elephant Tempering Art that Nan Hao practiced, each breakthrough to the next tier would yield him over 200 kilograms of strength. At the eighth-tier, he could release over 1,500 kilograms of strength. Even if he managed to break through to the ninth-tier tempered body during this time, he could only release 2,000 kilograms of strength at maximum, and that was only if he performed it with a compatible martial art.


    On the other hand, Ji Mo, whose cultivation base was only on the fifth-tier tempered body, had already acquired over 1,200 kilograms of strength. In other words, each mortal body transformation that resulted from performing the Celestial Devil Tempering Art would yield him 250 kilograms of strength, which was 50 kilograms more than Nan Hao. If their capabilities were at the same boundary, Ji Mo would possess enough strength to oppress Hao Nan.


    ''Spiritual medicine is still of the utmost priority. Ever since the breakthrough to the fifth-tier tempered body, the third-grade spiritual medicine Huo Lin''er gave me could no longer satisfy my body. Although this Celestial Devil Tempered Body is domineering, the amount of spiritual medicine it exhausts is terribly petrifying!'' thought Ji Mo in frustration.


    In recent years, he had accumulated quite a good amount of wealth, but it was not even sufficient to purchase spiritual medicine. Besides, to purchase spiritual medicine, he would first have to trade the money for the Qi Gathering Pill.


    The Qi Gathering Pill was a common medicinal pill in the cultivation world. It was necessary for assisting cultivators during their cultivation path. Over time, Qi Gathering Pills turned into the commonly used currency in the cultivation world. If Ji Mo wanted to purchase spiritual medicine, he must first convert his money into the equivalent amount of Qi Gathering Pills before he could make his purchase in the chamber of commerce in the cultivation world.


    If the money he acquired from over the years was converted into Qi Gathering Pills, he would not have much left at all.


    Just when Ji Mo was tangled in his thoughts, a wobbly figure appeared in front of him. The figure turned out to be a slovenly old man holding a broken bamboo pole and numerous other things in his arms. He approached Ji Mo with a lewd smile on his face.


    "Um��who are you?" Ji Mo asked.


    "Go to hell!" replied the old man.


    "You go to hell! How can you swear in public?! But it''s a good one indeed." Caught by surprise, Ji Mo did not know how to react. Instinctively, he splashed the cup of wine onto the person''s face.


    "Go to hell!" repeated the old man.


    "You go to hell! I''ll be really angry if you keep going on like this." Ji Mo rose to his feet in one swift move.


    The old man laughed a couple of times. He looked right into Ji Mo''s eyes when he spoke next, "Young man, do you not remember who I am? Take a look at this." With that, the old man placed that broken bamboo pole on the table and grinned at Ji Mo, revealing the yellowed teeth in his mouth.


    "This bamboo pole��Ah! You really are my Old Uncle!" Ji Mo''s face was washed over with delight as he finally remembered the old man. The old man had visited Ji Mo''s clan house before and assisted his father in his cultivation breakthrough. After that, the old man had stayed in their clan house for some time. Ji Mo''s father used to address the old man as his brother, hence, technically, this old man was indeed Ji Mo''s Old Uncle.


    In addition to that, the old man used to tell Ji Mo about fantastic stories and strange tales that happened in the cultivation world. Ji Mo had always regarded him as a mysterious old man. The old man was once neatly clothed, but now, with a face full of dirt, he looked like a complete mess. That was why Ji Mo could not recognize him straight away.


    "Old Uncle, what happened to you? Please have a seat. I''ll fill a cup for you right away." Immediately, Ji Mo helped the old man to a stool and served him some wine.


    Ji Mo had no clue what the old man''s name was because of the latter''s mysterious background. He only remembered that back in the clan house, his father had once addressed him as Old Man Qingzhu.


    Old Man Qingzhu was smiling while getting into his seat. He was not polite either as he finished the cup of wine in one go and proceeded to devour the chicken thigh. "I thought I saw you from across the street, and who would have guessed that it''s indeed you?"


    "Haha! What''ve you been up to, Old Uncle?" Ji Mo enquired gently.


    "Um�� You sound like you''re relentlessly cursing me. Why don''t you just call me by my respected name?" said Old Man Qingzhu while he rolled his eyes. Then, he fiddled with the bundle of things in his arms and explained, "I''ve been traveling lately and I discovered some good stuff while passing by here, hence now I''m doing some small business."


    "Small business? What sort of things?" enquired Ji Mo curiously.


    The corner of Old Man Qingzhu''s lips turned upward into a peculiar smile. He glanced around to make sure no one was watching before revealing a jade disc in his arms. "Have a look for yourself. Project your consciousness into the jade disc and unexpected things will happen��"


    Ji Mo took the jade disc with intense curiosity. He was familiar with this jade disc named the Water Moon Jade disc. This type of jade disc was considered a treasure to cultivators. It could be utilized to record moving pictures and sound. The way to watch these images was to project your consciousness into it. Ji Mo followed the instructions Old Man Qingzhu gave him and projected his consciousness into it.


    In the next instant, Ji Mo noticed the moving scene on the jade disc. A lady in revealing clothes appeared vividly in the picture. She fluttered her eyelashes seductively and flirted with him. As she continued to titillate, pieces of clothing slowly fell from her body until she was finally stark-naked. Her silky-white skin appeared almost translucent. The two dark red circles on her chest and that mysterious black triangle were remarkably inviting.


    "Um��" When Ji Mo finally regained his consciousness, he was blushing a little.


    "First time? Your cheeks are unbelievably red," said the old man in disdain, "Did you enjoy it?"


    "Yes."


    "Do you want it?"


    "Yes."


    "300 Qi Gathering Pills for a disc," Old Man Qingzhu replied.


    "F*ck me! That''s too pricey. The concept of 300 Qi Gathering Pills is unimaginable." Ji Mo almost spilled the wine from his mouth and was so close to biting his tongue.


    In ancient times, the Chinese term "Old Master" or "Old Grandfather" is used by servants or lower-class people to honor the higher-class ones. However, today, the term is often used by northern Chinese as a swear word that means "go to hell" or "to hell with you".The Chinese term used here "qingzhu" literally means green bamboo, hence the bamboo pole.

 Chapter 17：Selling the Erotica

    Old Man Qingzhu chuckled. "Don''t underestimate these things because I''ve spent a lot of effort acquiring these treasures. There are many different genres including humans with humans, humans with beasts, self-pleasuring, sexual intercourse, threesomes, orgies��I''m offering a normal disc at the price of 300 Qi Gathering Pills whereas the ones between humans and beasts are priced at 500 Qi Gathering Pills each."


    "Senior Qingzhu, you''ll make a fortune through this source of income!" Ji Mo''s eyes sparkled.


    "What''s the matter, young lad? Are you interested?" questioned Old Man Qingzhu. "Your Old Uncle, I, am about to venture into Boyue Town which is situated 150 kilometers away. That''s the only market town within the radius of 500 kilometers where cultivators can engage in trading activities, hence I''m sure I can sell these treasures at a profit. Do you want to tag along and help me out? I can share the high returns with you afterward."


    "Um��Senior Qingzhu, you''re asking me��to sell these erotic discs?" Ji Mo was slightly embarrassed.


    "Not only the discs but also this as well as this��" As if he was performing some magic trick, Old Man Qingzhu revealed numerous books out of nowhere. The front covers of all these books revealed explicit contents of naked life-like women.


    "Oh my goodness, Old Uncle, where and how did you acquire all these treasures?" Once again, Ji Mo''s eyes were gleaming with high spirits.


    Old Man Qingzhu chuckled. "Go on. Accept this old man''s offer. I promise I''ll give you your due."


    Ji Mo was unable to make up his mind. He needed Qi Gathering Pills urgently to purchase spiritual medicine, and coincidentally, Old Man Qingzhu had offered him a pretty sweet deal. According to Old Man Qingzhu, he would be promised a desirable profit once he sold off all these treasures. Honestly, Ji Mo was slightly convinced.


    Nonetheless, it was not particularly an honorable business. He was a disciple of a prestigious clan after all. It would ruin his reputation if the news of him engaging in this dirty deal of selling erotica was made public.


    However, after much consideration, Ji Mo accepted the offer because he was in urgent need of Qi Gathering Pills to purchase spiritual medicine. As long as it was profitable, he could not care less if it was an honorable business or not.


    Then, Ji Mo and Old Man Qingzhu tidied up quickly, left the restaurant, and headed off in the direction of Boyue Town which was situated 150 kilometers away. It was basically a cultivators'' market town because almost everyone that came in and out of Boyue Town was a cultivator or even an expert of the Qi Plundering Boundary. In other words, trying to earn Qi Gathering Pills there would not be a problem.


    Old Man Qingzhu revealed a frivolous expression. His history was mysterious and questionable. Even Ji Mo had no idea what his actual capability was apart from the fact that he had helped Ji Mo''s father break through the Qi Plundering Boundary. That being said, this old man must possess a few tricks up his sleeve and was likely an expert of the Qi Plundering Boundary. The only thing that confused Ji Mo was why a distinguished expert of the Qi Plundering Boundary was engaging in such dirty business.


    Old Man Qingzhu was holding the broken bamboo pole in one hand and a wine calabash in the other. He kept filling himself up with wine while singing some sort of popular unwritten tune, "Wine is nothing, Dao is also nothing. The drunken path to immortality is nothing; everything is but a dream. What''s the purpose of my life? Immortality is nothing, cultivation is nothing, despise the immortals who can do nothing��"


    ''What sort of nonsense is this?'' Ji Mo was speechless. ''Unless the person has too much free time, what''s the point of cultivating if immortality and cultivation are nothing?''


    It was a quiet journey. Both of them hurried there but still did not manage to arrive at Boyue Town before night fell, hence they had no choice but to stay a night. They only arrived at their destination the next day.


    Old Man Qingzhu shoved all the "treasures" to Ji Mo before heading to Boyue Town by himself. "I''ve run out of wine. I''ll go to search for more wine and you must finish selling all these goods by the time I return. Otherwise, you won''t receive a single Qi Gathering Pill."


    "Hey, Old Uncle, that''s not fair." Ji Mo was at a loss of words at the old man''s behavior. The latter was embarrassed, so he left Ji Mo alone to deal with the hard labor!


    Ji Mo sighed as he packed the "treasures" away before heading off to Boyue Town quietly.


    Boyue Town was unexceptionally bustling with life. Numerous cultivators roamed around the town, including rogue cultivators and several disciples from some slightly well-known local sects. In the cultivation world, not every cultivator flocked to the prestigious clans. There were also several small-scale religious sects. For instance, the Nine Fire Sect and the Neptune Sect were examples of popular local sects.


    In terms of power and influence, these two sects were not comparable to a regular cultivation sect such as the Tianshan Sword Sect, but there were numerous experts in the Qi Plundering Boundary among them.


    Ji Mo hid in an inconspicuous corner as he watched people come and go. He was trying to choose a target.


    A common cultivator would not possess an abundance of Qi Gathering Pills naturally. That was why he needed to try his best to pick people with position. For example, although disciples from the slightly powerful sects could not be called wealthy, they would have more money than rogue cultivators.


    Soon, Ji Mo decided on his first target, a boorish young man. Ji Mo silently crept up to him and asked in a low voice, "Brother, do you want to buy some discs?"


    The boorish young man was caught in surprise but he quickly nodded. "Let''s speak in private."


    ''Damn, it was way easier than I expected!'' Ji Mo was also shocked. He did not expect to land his first customer with such ease.


    Once they arrived in an empty lane, the boorish young man looked around carefully before enquiring, "I''ve got a rather particular taste, so the common stuff isn''t enough to satisfy me." A sparkle twinkled in the man''s eyes as he stared at the "treasures" that Ji Mo was hiding in his arms.


    Ji Mo coughed drily and impersonated Old Man Qingzhu''s tone as he spoke, "Your Honor, you can get anything you want here. I have some discs portraying humans with humans, humans with beasts, humans with props, self-pleasuring, sexual intercourse, threesomes, and orgies. If these aren''t to Your Honor''s liking, I also have an illustrated edition of The Plum in the Prosperity Vase."


    The young man looked at Ji Mo in surprise, and the initial bewilderment was soon replaced by a smutty smile. "Little Brother, you seem like a frail scholar, but you have wide knowledge in this expertise. It''s true that we can''t judge a book by its cover, you wolf��"


    ''To hell with you!'' Ji Mo cursed in his heart.


    "Alright, now let''s talk about money. I''ll purchase a few if I''m satisfied with the price," said the young man.


    "I''m offering humans with humans at the price of 300 Qi Gathering Pills, whereas the ones between humans and beasts are priced at 500 Qi Gathering Pills. Books and illustrations are 200 Qi Gathering Pills each," replied Ji Mo.


    "What the heck! That''s so expensive!"


    "Brother, I only sell limited editions that you can''t purchase from anywhere else. Many of them star female disciples from prestigious sects. I have everything that you can imagine, and also the ones that you wouldn''t even think of," Ji Mo imitated Old Man Qingzhu''s tone again.


    Judging by the boorish young man''s outfit, he must be a disciple from one of the slightly popular sects. He hesitated for a few moments before caving in eventually. Through gritted teeth, he handed over a pill note worth 1,000 Qi Gathering Pills to Ji Mo and left with two pieces of discs about humans and beasts.


    This pill note could be exchanged for Qi Gathering Pills in any of the trading centers. Although the Qi Gathering Pill was the currency in the cultivation world, not everyone would carry a large amount of the pills with them at all times. Hence, they would convert the Qi Gathering Pills into pill notes.


    Ji Mo could not resist jumping in joy when he received the pill note. Even though he was from a cultivation clan, he had never held so many Qi Gathering Pills in his hands before. He was hooked on the feeling. Not only did the returns come back speedily, but he also did not need to spend any capital because he had acquired those "treasures" from Old Man Qingzhu.


    In just one morning, Ji Mo managed to sell off almost half of his goods and gained over 10,000 Qi Gathering Pills. He only had a few discs left to sell before he could call it a day.


    He had never experienced this pleasure of gaining so many Qi Gathering Pills in one day.


    The book is a pornographic version of the novel entitled ''The Plum in the Golden Vase''.

 Chapter 18：Lan Qingcheng

    These Qi Gathering Pills should be enough for him to purchase sufficient spiritual medicine to break through his sixth-tier tempered body. Although Qi Gathering Pills contained a large amount of spiritual energy that could assist cultivators in their cultivation process, they were still inferior when compared to spiritual medicine. Depending solely on them to cultivate would be a long accumulation process.


    Ji Mo had selected his next target. It was a young man in a blue shirt who seemed rather soft and immature.


    Ji Mo approached his target immediately, "Brother, do you want a disc?"


    He had learned the sales tactic by then, which was to smile lewdly when posing the question. If the target was one of the "wolves", they would recognize the hidden meaning behind his smile instantly.


    "What kind of disc?" The innocent young man was utterly confused because he had no clue what Ji Mo was talking about.


    Ji Mo grinned mischievously and pulled the young man aside in a practiced manner. He revealed a jade disc and instructed the young man to project his consciousness onto it. The young man followed his orders, and soon, his face was flushed with embarrassment.


    "First time?" asked Ji Mo.


    "Yes," the young man replied with a slight nod.


    "Do you want it?" enquired Ji Mo again.


    "These are all I''ve got left, so I''ll give you a discounted price: 800 Qi Gathering Pills for a disc and two copies of ''The Plum in Prosperity Vase'' as gifts," replied Ji Mo while grinning from ear to ear although he was trying to scam the poor man. Ji Mo doubled the price albeit telling the young man that he had given him a discount because he could tell that this innocent-looking man was a rookie from an affluent family, hence he was not going to let his target go without ripping him off.


    "That''s really expensive," exclaimed the innocent young man, "but��but I don''t have sufficient Qi Gathering Pills with me right now. I''ll have to get it from my brother who''s just around the corner."


    "Your brother? Sure, we''ll share these with your brother as well and see if he''s interested. We''re all of the same kind, so really, it doesn''t matter who I sell these to."


    "Okay, follow me. I''ll bring you to my brother who''s got a great number of pill notes for Qi Gathering Pills." The ignorant young man seemed really fond of the treasures that Ji Mo possessed and he quickly dragged Ji Mo towards the hustling main street.


    The main area was bustling with activities, but soon, the young man brought Ji Mo to meet a young lady dressed in purple.


    The lady was as fair as a flower and as beautiful as the moon. She had silky-smooth, fair skin and her red phoenix eyes were slightly seductive. Her lovely figure was curvy in all the right places, especially the huge breasts in front of her chest. One breast must have weighed about four kilograms and they definitely attracted loads of attention from the passersby.


    "Elder Brother, give me some Qi Gathering Pills," the young man demanded from the lady.


    Suspicious, she looked at the young man and then shifted her gaze to Ji Mo while she asked, "What do you want to purchase?"


    "Discs," replied the young man honestly.


    "Um��Brother, I''ve changed my mind. Goodbye." Ji Mo was aware of the unfavorable situation and wanted to sneak away. He never expected the young man''s "brother" to be a woman, what more a beautiful one. Ji Mo was new to this line of business and was still ashamed of it, hence he would never sell these goods to a woman.


    "Hey, don''t leave. I really like those things, so please sell them to me." The young man grabbed Ji Mo''s by his arm, reluctant to let him go.


    ''I''ll sell you f*ck all!''


    Right at that moment, Ji Mo really wanted to swear in public, but he resisted and reprimanded the young man in a low voice. "You told me you were going to look for your brother, but he turns out to be a woman! Did you bring me to your brother or to your sister?"


    "Why are you shouting at me?" said the young man, "This person is my sister, but I''ve been calling her my brother since young because she always behaves like a boy."


    "I don''t care what kind of ethics are practiced back at your home, but I don''t want to do business with you anymore. Let go of me." Ji Mo swung his arm and wanted to take to his heels.


    "Hey, you, stop right there." The young lady was now interested and gracefully approached Ji Mo. A scented breeze brushed against his face when she came near. "What''s the matter? Show me the goods. We can purchase them in a larger quantity if I''m also intrigued."


    "Um��You might be intrigued, but they''re not suitable for you. Business is closed." Once again, Ji Mo tried to flee.


    "Stop right there. I, Lan Qingcheng, have never ever been rejected by a dealer." The young lady that called herself Lan Qingcheng moved slightly and appeared in front of Ji Mo almost immediately. A surge of powerful life force flickered from her body intermittently.


    ''What an amazing force! This young lady has acquired the capability of a seventh- or eighth-tier tempered body at the very least!'' Within seconds, Ji Mo identified that Lan Qingcheng''s cultivation base was superior to his. He almost immediately realized that he was in trouble. ''Oh God, what have I done to deserve this misfortune?''


    Lan Qingcheng had enough of Ji Mo''s silent treatment, so she extended her arm quickly like a seasoned thief and removed one of the jade discs from his arms. She raised her eyebrows in suspicion as if she realized something. Then, her consciousness was instantly projected into the jade disc.


    All of a sudden, Ji Mo noticed Lan Qingcheng''s face blushing and murderous intent was revealed in her enchanting eyes.


    "I''ll give you that disc as a gift. I have to deal with something else, so I''ll need to take my leave now!" Ji Mo yelled and dashed into the crowd without turning back.


    "You rat! How dare you sell these items? Come back here right now!" Lan Qingcheng shouted through clenched teeth as she threw the jade disc to the ground. However, she realized Ji Mo had already disappeared when she was trying to locate him in the crowd. Immediately, she glared at the young man in rage and reprimanded, "Lan Ruofeng, how could you befriend that kind of person? I''ll definitely tell Father to punish you severely. Don''t you dare pick it up. Throw it away now!"


    "But it''s free of charge!" replied the young man in grievance.


    ��


    Ji Mo was dashing at full speed and only slowed down when he decided that Lan Qingcheng and the young man had not trailed after him. "Hell, the deal was such a loss! I encountered a simple-minded child and his tough sister. I''ll never get out of this huge trouble."


    Carrying 10,000 worth of Qi Gathering Pills in pill notes in his pocket, Ji Mo tried looking for Old Man Qingzhu in the crowd. However, it seemed as if Old Man Qingzhu had vanished into thin air and no one had heard from him. The situation provided Ji Mo an impulse to abscond with the profits because he would have to share the profit of 10,000 Qi Gathering Pills with Old Man Qingzhu if he found the latter. The wealth gained was the fruition of his labor alone although the capital had been provided by Old Man Qingzhu.


    "Tianbao Pavilion."


    Ji Mo came to a store from which three dazzling characters crafted in gold were hung. Tianbao Pavilion was known to everyone as a place that provided a large number of spiritual medicines and spiritual talismans. Although he had never visited it and was not familiar with the pricing of their spiritual medicines, Ji Mo had heard of this place before.


    Anyhow, he took long strides and entered the store. The inner decoration of Tianbao Pavilion was rather impressive. Once inside, a faint scent that could refresh one''s mind filled the atmosphere.


    The first thing that entered Ji Mo''s eyes was the spiritual talismans that were displayed on the counter. Spiritual talismans were also called magical talismans in the cultivation world. Similar to magical treasures, they were props that could increase the cultivator''s combat power. There were over ten thousand different kinds of spiritual talismans. For instance, a low-grade spiritual talisman could release spell power whereas a high-grade spiritual talisman could even change magically into a talisman spirit of matchless combat power.


    In the cultivation world, numerous spiritual talisman clans focused on the refining of spiritual talismans. A powerful spiritual talisman could release an intense strength that was stronger than a magical treasure. The only drawback was that each spiritual talisman could only be used ten times, at the most, before losing its power and turning into a piece of useless paper.


    Ji Mo did not research much about talismans, hence he straight away moved over to the counter that displayed spiritual medicines.


    "Second-grade spiritual medicine for 300 Qi Gathering Pills!


    "Third-grade spiritual medicine for 600 Qi Gathering Pills!


    "Fourth-grade spiritual medicine for 2,000 Qi Gathering Pills!"


    "Oh my goodness, this is daylight robbery! The difference is immense!" Ji Mo broke into a cold sweat when he discovered the price of these spiritual medicines displayed on the counter. A fourth-grade spiritual medicine was being sold at the dear price of 2,000 Qi Gathering Pills! It seemed like even with the pill notes he had acquired in his pockets, he could not purchase much.

 Chapter 19：Got Robbed On the Way

    "What would you like?" Right at this moment, a languid young man approached Ji Mo and studied him from head to toe.


    "Just browsing through some spiritual medicines," replied Ji Mo.


    "Alright then, take your time, and look for me at the front counter when you''re ready. Regulars of Tianbao Pavilion will know that we don''t do credit or discounts here," the young man informed nonchalantly before walking away. The display counters here were specially handled, hence the owner was not afraid of theft.


    Ji Mo was deliberating about his current situation. He would need at least five fourth-grade spiritual medicines if he wanted to break through to the sixth-tier tempered body. Although the amount of heaven and earth spiritual energy in a fourth-grade spiritual medicine was way greater than that in a third-grade spiritual medicine, Ji Mo understood his constitution well. The Celestial Devil Tempered Body was like a grinder that could inhale any amount of spiritual medicine that was thrown its way.


    Five of those fourth-grade spiritual medicines might not even be enough.


    In the end, Ji Mo succumbed to temptation. With much determination, he gritted his teeth and spent all 10,000 Qi Gathering Pills to purchase five fourth-grade spiritual medicines. These medicines should be enough for his Celestial Devil physique to undergo another transformation.


    Although he had promised Old Man Qingzhu that they would share the profit equally, he needed an abundance of spiritual medicines urgently to replenish his body. At worst, he could repay the old man by buying the latter some gifts in the future. Ji Mo hoped that Old Man Qingzhu would be generous enough to forgive him.


    All five of those fourth-grade spiritual medicines were rare Purple Ginsengs that contained powerful spiritual energy. They were packed inside an exquisite box and presented to Ji Mo. The man exited Tianbao Pavilion while carrying the box in his arms. However, he failed to notice that in a corner not far away from Tianbao Pavilion, a sleazy-looking man quietly poked his head out, then quickly retreated.


    "Fifth Brother, Fifth Brother, we have a target. A young lad just purchased five Purple Ginsengs, the fourth-grade spiritual medicine, and is now heading towards the town entrance," the sleazy teenager rushed to a middle-aged man and announced the news between gasps for air.


    "What''s his background?" That middle-aged man had gloomy eyes, an eagle-beaked nose, and thin lips that made people feel lifeless by just looking at him.


    "Probably just a non-intimidating rogue cultivator," replied the teenager.


    "Great!" the middle-aged man sneered, "Five fourth-grade spiritual medicines are enough for me to pound through the Qi Plundering Boundary, hence we mustn''t fail. It''s been a while since we''ve had a big case like this. Are you sure that person is by himself?"


    "He''s alone, I promise," replied the teenager with a nod of confirmation.


    "Hmm, this young lad must be a highly respectable disciple if he dares to come purchasing spiritual medicine by himself. It''s best if we get help from Brother Cang Yan. He''s an expert in the Qi Plundering Boundary, so he should be able to handle that young lad," announced that middle-aged man. Then, he left hustling and bustling with the rest of the gang.


    ��


    Ji Mo finally found Old Man Qingzhu at the entrance of the town. The old man was sitting on the roadside casually while sipping wine. His actions and dirty appearance resembled a beggar. Numerous cultivators that walked past avoided him, their eyes filled with disgust.


    "Old Uncle, you''ve drunk enough," Ji Mo advised.


    "How''s business?" asked Old Man Qingzhu without lifting his head.


    "Um, we sold out," replied Ji Mo with a nod. He was deliberating in his mind to come up with an explanation if Old Man Qingzhu were to demand one. What if the old man wanted him to hand over the Qi Gathering Pills?


    Ji Mo was astonished because of how well the conversation had gone. However, a few seconds later, he quickly understood the meaning behind Old Man Qingzhu''s words. Without saying much, he smiled guiltily and quickened his pace to catch up with the old man.


    By then, it was almost evening. Ji Mo and Old Man Qingzhu headed towards the same direction side by side.


    Just when both of them were about five kilometers away from the small town, Ji Mo suddenly came to a halt. His brows were knitted as he noticed several life forces that had been on their trail ever since they left the small town. This meant danger. Both of them had probably been made targets of some misfortunes.


    Since Ji Mo had stopped walking, Old Man Qingzhu chuckled and sat down on a rock on the side of the path. "Solve the problem first. We can carry on later," he said with a grin.


    "Okay." Ji Mo nodded in agreement. By now, he noticed that not only were the life forces approaching from behind, but some of them were also on the path ahead too. Two of the stronger life forces were slowly drawing closer.


    Ji Mo''s Celestial Devil physique was extremely sensitive to external life forces. Even if those people concealed themselves well, they could not escape his senses.


    ''Who could it be? Is it the young lady in purple that I met in the street today? Hell no! All I did was sell a couple of erotic discs. Why can''t she just let it go?'' thought Ji Mo in annoyance.


    Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!


    Just when Ji Mo was tangled in his thoughts, about seven or eight people jumped out from the side of the path to block all the exits around him. The leader was a middle-aged man in black. He revealed a conceited smile as he sized Ji Mo up and down.


    "Ha, I shouldn''t have called for so much aid. It''s only a young lad and a dying old beggar." The middle-aged man, who had a sledgehammer on one of his shoulders, revealed a contemptuous smile. "Little boy, I heard that you''ve stolen our treasures from Tianbao Pavilion. Hand them over right now and I''ll let you off this time."


    "I stole from you?" Ji Mo was confused.


    "That''s right!" a sleazy-looking teenager yelled at this moment, "It was a total of five fourth-grade spiritual medicines. We initially purchased them, but you stole them using your dirty tricks. Leave the spiritual medicines behind and get out of here. Otherwise, I''ll make you crawl home on your knees."


    Ji Mo was not dumb, so he realized what these people were doing instantly. They were amateur blackmailers that committed fraud on purpose to demand compensation later.


    "Do you understand the common language? Leave behind the spiritual medicines and scram!" the middle-aged man, who served as the leader, bellowed in a deep voice while a powerful strength erupted from his body simultaneously. His dynamic aura was pressuring and his voice sounded like a tiger''s roar.


    Ji Mo raised his eyebrows and the middle-aged man''s strength immediately appeared in front of his eyes. The latter should be a seventh-tier tempered body cultivator. His capability was impressive and was only a tier inferior to Nan Hao''s. However, the Body Tempering Art practiced by this middle-aged man was probably not on an advanced level.


    Merely by judging the strength erupted from the middle-aged man''s body, Ji Mo figured that the man could only release 1,000 kilograms of power at most. That amount of power at the seventh-tier tempered body explained that the middle-aged man was only cultivating an intermediate-level Body Tempering Art.


    Ji Mo concealed his life force and took a quiet step forward. "Do you have any proof to the claim that these spiritual medicines belong to you?"


    "Proof? Ha, they belong to us as long as we claim so. Do you want proof? I''ll knock all your teeth out soon and we''ll see if you still dare to open your mouth to demand proof." The middle-aged man was swollen with arrogance because, in his eyes, Ji Mo was only a frail and feeble boy.


    "My teeth are made of iron and copper, so it might not be a simple task to knock them all out," replied Ji Mo with a smirk. He turned around to look at Old Man Qingzhu, but it seemed like the old man did not want to show his moves.

 Chapter 20：Impossibly Strong Physique

    "Hmph, this young one hasn''t even grown a pair yet but is trying to show off. Lao''er, teach him a lesson but don''t kill him just yet because I want to torture him slowly," ordered the middle-aged leader. With a contemptuous smile on his face, he looked at Ji Mo playfully like a cat toying with a rat that had fallen into its lap.


    "Rest assured, Fifth Brother." The sleazy teenager called Lao''er approached Ji Mo slowly. The teenager was about twenty years old and was a whole head taller than Ji Mo.


    The teenager''s vitality increased gradually with each step he took. His energy was like the soaring sea when he finally arrived in front of Ji Mo. The sound of waves swishing and swooshing could almost be heard coming from his body.


    Within an instant, Ji Mo discovered that this person possessed the strength of a fifth-tier tempered body just like himself.


    The Celestial Devil Tempered Body Ji Mo cultivated was an extremely abstruse art. The cultivator''s life force was well-concealed under normal circumstances so that other people could not find out the depths of their strength. However, once Ji Mo induced the Celestial Devil Power, he would transform into a savage Celestial Devil whose life force would be released ceaselessly.


    The teenager revealed a toothy grin. "Young lad, don''t grumble later that I didn''t give you a chance. All will be forgiven if you leave behind the spiritual medicines and kowtow to me ten times. Otherwise��"


    Bang!


    Before the sleazy-looking teenager could finish his sentence, Ji Mo had already made a move with the speed of lightning. He slapped the teenager in a swift manner without any extravagance movements.


    The teenager fell to the ground before he could even groan. Blood oozed from the corner of his mouth and half of his face swelled up.


    Of course, Ji Mo had not utilized his full strength with that slap. Otherwise, half of the teenager''s face would have been smashed into pieces.


    Despite that, a single slap was enough to cause immense shock.


    The crowd that was not far away, including the middle-aged man, was stupefied. The first impression they had of Ji Mo was that he was an extremely thin, quiet and scholarly man, not a tempered body expert. They initially thought the sleazy teenager who had the capability of a fifth-tier tempered body would be sufficient to oppress the young lad, but Ji Mo had unexpectedly made the first move.


    Anxiously, the middle-aged man howled at that teenager, "Lao''er, enough with all the nonsense, cripple him now!"


    "You��Bastard, how dare you strike me? You''re going to get yourself killed!" The teenager struggled to stand up because of the fiery pain that was swelling on his face. Once he rose to his feet, Ji Mo struck again. The teenager did not stand a chance to avoid that forceful slap that came at the speed of lightning.


    Bang!


    Along with that crisp, loud noise, the teenager fell to the ground again. This time, he could not muster any strength to rise to his feet. Ji Mo had utilized more strength this time to completely crush the bones in his face. With his face badly mangled, the teenager was jerking with quick spasms on the ground.


    "You''re bold enough to rob me, huh? Lie on your stomach now!" Ji Mo ordered in a deep voice. A faint red light was shimmering underneath his skin as the Celestial Devil Power circulated in his flesh and blood. Every inch of muscle on his body was flowing with unbelievable strength.


    This time around, even the leader sharpened his vigilance and realized that they had encountered a true expert. The wealthy, pampered kid in front of him seemed extremely frail but turned out to be an unreasonable opponent. The sleazy-looking teenager who had acquired the fifth-tier tempered body strength was knocked down quickly without any chance to counter.


    Ji Mo clenched his fists and stepped over the fallen body of the teenager. Then, he walked towards the middle-aged leader.


    ''It''s out of my expectations that this young lad has some tricks up his sleeves. Okay! This old man will handle you himself. Let''s see how well your feeble build can deal with my hammer!'' The middle-aged man took several long swinging strides and power erupted from his body. The massive hammer in his hand that weighed 500 kilograms was intimidating.


    "Robbing me comes with a price!" shouted Ji Mo as he drew his lips back. The Celestial Devil Power hidden underneath his skin was cultivated, waiting to erupt at any second.


    "Fifth Brother, this young lad is terribly arrogant. Crush his bones to shut him up!"


    "That''s right. Second Brother underestimated his opponent and was taken advantage of by this young lad. Look at how smug he is. Does he really think he can win by surprise attacks and sheer luck? I should stop this nonsense and take him down right away by myself!"


    "All the best, Fifth Brother. Teach him a lesson!"


    Several other persons who stood behind the middle-aged man erupted in a clamor. All of them glared at Ji Mo in detest as if they were unsatisfied unless they got to eat him alive.


    "Hehehe, let''s play with this old man!" The middle-aged man stared right into Ji Mo''s eyes with obvious murderous intent. He fiddled with the massive hammer in his hand before throwing it at Ji Mo''s direction without mercy.


    Due to the high pressure, an explosion was heard when this iron hammer that weighed 500 kilograms moved across the air. Added together, the tremendously heavy weapon and the middle-aged man''s powerful strength weighed over 1,000 kilograms.


    "Ha!" Big Bandit Lee yelled as he stomped both feet on the ground. The Celestial Devil Power in Ji Mo''s blood and flesh was stirred up. As he punched the massive hammer that was falling from the sky, the Celestial Devil Power gathered in his fist exploded instantly.


    His effort to retaliate against a massive hammer weighing 500 kilograms with a mere fist was deemed na?ve and hilarious in the others'' eyes. Even the corners of that middle-aged man''s lips were curled up into a ridiculing sneer.


    ''You''re like a young bird. Do you think your fist is tougher than iron? My iron hammer that weighs 600 kilograms will surely crush your frail body. Hmph, what an ignorant fool!'' thought the bandit to himself.


    However, in the next second, the middle-aged man''s expression changed because he felt the immense strength that erupted from Ji Mo''s fist.


    The Celestial Devil Power was revealed and hellish iridescent rays appeared faintly from Ji Mo''s tiny fist. That immense power was as though a Hell Celestial Devil had finally broken free from prison with a surging strength that seemed able to destroy everything.


    Bang!


    An intense, loud noise was heard when Ji Mo''s fist collided with the massive hammer forcefully.


    The middle-aged man felt an immense strength surging from the massive hammer. It numbed his whole arm and even the Qi and the blood in his body were triggered, causing him to stagger several steps backward.


    ''What terrifying strength! Which tier of cultivation base has this young lad attained? The eighth tier? Or the ninth? How else could he possess so much strength?'' The middle-aged man was dumbfounded. The punch that came from Ji Mo earlier almost flung that massive hammer out of his hand. The amount of power that erupted from that tiny fist was unimaginable.


    Not far away, Old Man Qingzhu who was drinking on the ground narrowed his eyes slightly and the corners of his lips turned into a smile. Then, he promptly turned his attention elsewhere as if not interested to witness Ji Mo''s fight.


    Ji Mo swung his arm and approached the middle-aged man leisurely. "So, is your hammer or my fist tougher?" he asked with a grin.


    "Stupid boy, it turns out you''ve concealed your strength well, but here comes another blow! Heavy Mountain Strike!" the middle-aged man yelled in a deep voice as he swung his arm to relieve the numbness. Then, he held the massive hammer with both arms and struck it towards Ji Mo once again.

 Chapter 21：A Heaven-Defying Eye Technique (I)

    This time around, the strength that erupted from the middle-aged man was stronger than before. His massive hammer seemed to have turned into a small mountain, forcing an intense power onto the crown of Ji Mo''s head. It was obvious that this middle-aged man utilized martial arts.


    "Heh!" Ji Mo grinned from ear to ear. Using both his arms, he created a mysterious arc in the air to defeat this overwhelming pressure.


    Bang, bang, bang!


    The muscles on his arms that vibrated rhythmically produced loud noises. The Celestial Devil Power beneath every inch of his muscle was awakened and circulated toward his palms to brighten the iridescent rays.


    ''Essence-Unifying Slab Splitter!'' shouted Ji Mo in his mind while both his palms slammed into the massive hammer fiercely.


    Boom!


    A thunderous noise was heard coming from Ji Mo''s palms. The forceful Celestial Devil Power that he performed along with the advanced-level martial arts Essence-Unifying Slab Splitter instantly magnified Ji Mo''s original strength by several folds before it collided with the massive hammer.


    Crack!


    A crack was formed on the hammer. Then, the hammer that weighed 2,000 kilograms immediately flew out of the man''s hands.


    Bang!


    It landed not far from where Old Man Qingzhu was.


    The middle-aged man was frustrated. His whole arm had gone completely numb and he could not stop staggering backward. Each step he took left a deep footprint in the ground.


    The middle-aged man had no chance of blocking the thousands of kilograms worth of Celestial Devil Power ejected by Ji Mo. The Qi and blood within the former''s body were messed up and fresh blood suddenly spurted from his mouth.


    "You bastard, you son of a b*tch, are trying to kill this old man?! Take it easy!" Old Man Qingzhu was stomping his feet in a rage because the massive hammer that had flown off earlier landed right next to him.


    "No��Impossible! Absolutely impossible! You seem all weak and feeble, but where does all that strength come from?!" The color was drained from the middle-aged man''s face as he stared at Ji Mo beyond belief.


    The other men who came with the middle-aged man were also flabbergasted as they gaped at Ji Mo as if he was a monster. They knew about the middle-aged man''s capabilities better than anyone else. His seventh-tier tempered body combined with the massive hammer allowed him to release at least 1,250 kilograms worth of strength, not to mention the martial arts technique named the Heavy Mountain Strike.


    Nonetheless, with all these capabilities, not only was the middle-aged man defeated, but he also lost to an inconspicuous young man that looked like a frail scholar.


    "You!" The middle-aged man widened his eyes.


    In the twinkling of an eye, Ji Mo appeared right in front of him. Without saying a word, Ji Mo slapped him in the face forcefully and accurately.


    The middle-aged man spat blood from his mouth and his body flew out involuntarily. The abrasion resulted in a long trail on the ground as he skidded further away.


    The middle-aged man was twice the size of Ji Mo. Despite the difference, he was launched out by more than ten meters with just a mere slap in the face. That scene seemed a little difficult to imagine.


    However, Ji Mo did not seem like he wanted to stop fighting. His eyes twinkled with ferocious brilliance and the iridescent rays that appeared underneath his skin were intermittently visible. All of a sudden, between his brows, he exuded a faint life force of a Hell Celestial Devil. He darted to the front of that middle-aged man and stepped on the latter''s wrist.


    Crack!


    The sound of bones cracking was so loud and clear that it made one''s scalp feel numb.


    "Ah!" the man bellowed miserably and his facial features twisted in agony.


    "I, the Young Master, despise scammers. Perhaps you all wouldn''t have to experience these brutal punishments if you had just robbed me brazenly." Maybe because he cultivated the Celestial Devil Tempered Body, Ji Mo''s personality was turning towards that of a Hell Celestial Devil. He carried himself fiercely and violently without giving much thought to the consequences.


    "You��You''re dead, little bastard! Brother Cang Yan has already received my message and is on his way. He''s an expert in Qi Plundering Boundary and he can fight ten of you at once. Death will follow you even if you flee to the end of the world!" cursed the middle-aged man.


    Crack!


    Once again, Ji Mo stepped on the man''s other arm and squashed his bones. "What I know is that you''ll die right in front of my eyes!" he announced with a grin.


    With that, Ji Mo continued to trample on the middle-aged man again and again. Each step was fueled by the powerful Celestial Devil Power. Cracks were constantly heard coming from the man''s body as most of his bones were broken into pieces to the extent that he did not look human anymore.


    Ear-piercing, hysterical cries echoed along the small path and were transmitted into the forest.


    Not far away from where they were, the men that came with that middle-aged man were panic-stricken. Their lips quivered uncontrollably, but no noise was made. In their eyes, Ji Mo had indeed transformed into a savage devil.


    "He''s ruthless! If he keeps going on like that, I''m afraid Fifth Brother will lose his life by getting beaten alive. We must help Fifth Brother."


    "How? We''ve all seen this young lad''s tricks. If the Fifth Brother, who is at the seventh tier, was beaten to the bones, what else can we do?"


    "What''s this young lad''s background? He''s a savage. We usually injure or cripple a person severely, but this man aims to kill. He''s more wicked than any one of us."


    The men turned pale in fear as they discussed among themselves, but no one dared to step forward to the rescue.


    Bang, bang, bang, bang!


    The vicious Ji Mo intentionally stepped on the middle-aged man repeatedly to crush every bone in his body completely. The Celestial Devil''s temperament had changed his personality. He was not as weak and useless as he was before. Instead, he carried his task smoothly and cleanly and acted in a decisively violent manner. He was no different from the Celestial Devil.


    Bang, bang, bang!


    Right at this moment, three streaks of Flaming Blade Qi appeared from the sky. They came from nowhere, but they seemed to have locked Ji Mo down as their target. The three streaks of Flaming Blade Qi chased after him closely as if intending to murder him right there and then.


    ''Divine power!'' exclaimed Ji Mo in his mind. He had seen Huo Lin''er display her skills, hence he knew about spell fluctuations. The Flaming Blade Qi must be a divine power because their spell fluctuations were vigorous.


    Besides, as far as Ji Mo knew, only an expert in the Qi Plundering Boundary could perform divine power and spells.


    "D*mn! Experts in Qi Plundering Boundary do exist!" Ji Mo''s brows furrowed as he staggered backward.


    However, those three streaks of Flaming Blade Qi kept trailing after him, and it seemed like they would not cease unless Ji Mo was killed. The vigorous Flaming Blade Qi burned in the air and the scorching hot air engulfed Ji Mo instantaneously.


    Ji Mo moved his arms in the air in a set of deliberate motions. He was prepared to perform the advanced-level martial art, the Essence-Unifying Slab Splitter, to fight off those three streaks of Flaming Blade Qi. However, a broken bamboo pole appeared behind Ji Mo out of the blue. The broken bamboo pole created phantoms as it moved across the air, and then it struck three times in the air.


    Bang, bang, bang!


    Suddenly, the Flaming Blade Qi collapsed at once and filled the sky with sparks.


    "Old Uncle!" Ji Mo turned around in delight. It was Old Man Qingzhu who had come to his assistance.


    Old Man Qingzhu smiled and replied, "A Cultivator of Qi Plundering Boundary is here, so let me handle it. Besides, I''ve got a gift for you, young fella."


    "A gift?" Ji Mo questioned in surprise.

 Chapter 22：A Heaven-Defying Eye Technique (II)

    As both of them spoke, a sword-light flew swiftly across the sky. A young man in his early twenties dressed in fluttering clothes that were divinely white descended with his feet on the sword-light. Although his features were ordinary, he exuded a celestial aura.


    The ones who mastered the Qi Plundering Boundary were true cultivators while all those beneath them were mere mortals. It was only at that boundary that one could be rid of mortal restraints and step onto the path of immortality.


    "Mortal, your strength is commendable indeed," said the young man who was stepping on the sword-light with obvious murderous intent in his eyes. He glanced at the middle-aged man lying on the ground who had been beaten to a pulp and blurted out, "Useless scum."


    "Brother Cang Yan, you''re finally here. Kill this little thief! He''s terribly arrogant!" immediately shouted the few people who had gathered nearby. The sight of the young man was like a divine encounter and all of them were on their knees.


    "Break all of your own limbs and I shall spare your lives," Cang Yan responded coldly as he gazed down at Ji Mo as if he was an ant.


    "Hahaha��" At that moment, Old Man Qingzhu chuckled and used his broken bamboo pole to point at Cang Yan and gently uttered a single word, "Retreat!"


    The broken bamboo pole lightly touched the air, but neither was True Qi visible nor did mana surge. However, Cang Yan, who was stepping on the sword-light, felt a sudden discomfort in his chest as though he had been hit by an enormous force. He could not maneuver the sword-light and felt straight from mid-air.


    Bang!


    Cang Yan fell to the ground embarrassingly. Pulling a disgraced expression, he lost the vigor he had.


    The sword-light under his feet quickly vanished and turned into a sword talisman which drifted to the ground.


    The sword talisman was a type of spiritual talisman, but its grade was not that high and the flying sword aura was sealed in it. The flying sword was a magical treasure of the cultivators and could demonstrate thousands of magical powers. It could be mobilized for a thousand kilometers to decapitate a person. However, it was not easy for an ordinary cultivator to obtain a magical treasure, especially an advanced-level magical treasure like the flying sword.


    Therefore, people spent some Qi Gathering Pills to buy that kind of sword talisman. Even though the power of the sword talisman was not comparable to the flying sword, it possessed the aura of the flying sword within and could turn into a flying sword to attack enemies.


    "Brother Cang Yan."


    The expression on the faces of the onlookers changed. Just a moment ago, Cang Yan was seen as an immortal with victory in his hands. How did the old beggar-like man point a bamboo pole and make him fall embarrassingly to the ground? What was that?


    "I''d never have thought that there''d be another master here. It seems like you know Qi Plundering Boundary too." Cang Yan stood up with a struggle, rubbing his chest where there was a burning pain.


    At that instant, Cang Yan saw Old Man Qingzhu''s gaze become serious.


    Ji Mo retreated further. He knew that he was no match for a Qi Plundering Boundary master. Old Man Qingzhu was mysteriously unpredictable. Although Ji Mo was old friends with him, he was clueless about Old Man Qingzhu''s capabilities. Just a while ago, when Old Man Qingzhu easily shot Cang Yan down from the air, it was evident that he had extraordinary skills.


    "Old man, come on. I''m betting my principles that you will win!" Ji Mo shouted.


    "Then, I''m not winning��" Old Man Qingzhu spat back and took a mouthful of wine.


    At that instant, Cang Yan got his hands on the sword talisman again, and with the transfer of his True Qi, a golden sword-light appeared within his palm. "I don''t care who you are. If you dare be a busybody, then death is the only option!"


    Immediately, the golden sword-light flew into the air and transformed into Golden Dragon Sword Qi above Cang Yan''s head.


    "The Golden Dragon Flying Sword''s sword energy is sealed within this sword talisman. Unfortunately, it''s been used too many times, so the sword energy is very weak," said Old Man Qingzhu. Thereafter, he turned to Ji Mo. "Kid, look closely. I''m giving you an opportunity: the Broken God''s Eye!


    With a grunt at that instant, his pupils turned white and shot two beams of bizarre neon lights out.


    "Kill!"


    At that moment, Cang Yan had turned the Golden Dragon Sword Qi that was transformed from the sword talisman into an offering. The golden sword energy became a roaring golden dragon and writhed towards the direction of Old Man Qingzhu.


    "Divine power!" Ji Mo watched enthusiastically. That was a move that only a Qi Plundering Boundary master could exhibit!


    At that moment, a bizarre voice appeared in Ji Mo''s mind. It was Old Man Qingzhu''s voice.


    ''Broken God''s Eye is my creation. It''s neither divine nor is it a martial art. Instead, it''s a visual technique. This visual technique can break through all illusions and see through fantasies or formations. If practiced all the way until the major advanced level, you can even see through the secrets of heaven and earth. From the mountains to the rivers, any rare treasure will not be able to hide from the Broken God''s Eye!


    ''Of course, these aren''t the main functions of the Broken God''s Eye. There''s a greater power of the Broken God''s Eye, which is to simulate the divine power of another party. Any divine power that''s recorded by the Broken God''s Eye will be replicated for your own use.


    At this point, Old Man Qingzhu directly faced the Golden Dragon Sword Qi created by Cang Yan and lifted the broken bamboo pole in his hand once again, lightly pointing it like before. Instantly, the Golden Dragon Sword Qi dissolved without a trace.


    "How can this happen?!" Cang Yan was shocked and turned his gaze to Old Man Qingzhu seriously.


    "Hahaha��" Old Man Qingzhu had a smile on his face while the broken bamboo pole in his hand looked ordinary as though it would break at any moment. Despite appearing as a broken bamboo pole, it seemed to contain endless divine power!


    Cang Yan felt humiliated in the face of an inconspicuous old beggar and his eyes glinted with murderous intent. Immediately, his hands waved around in the air, forming ripples of Flaming Dao Qi that flew straight towards Old Man Qingzhu.


    Although the Flaming Dao Qi was similar to Huo Lin''er''s Flaming Sword Qi, it was not as intricate as the latter. Huo Lin''er''s Flaming Sword Qi was like a gigantic wave that crashed one after the other in an endless cycle, causing one to be defenseless. In comparison, the divine power from Cang Yan''s Flaming Dao Qi was much more inferior.


    Bang, bang, bang, bang!


    Old Man Qingzhu whipped the broken bamboo pole easily like before, releasing a piercing whistle.


    There was neither a surge of mana nor flow of True Qi, but the Flaming Dao Qi dissipated in the air and turned into embers that were not deadly at all.


    "You��" Cang Yan turned pale. Even though he was a Qi Plundering Boundary master, he felt helpless going against the mysteriously unpredictable Old Man Qingzhu.


    In that instant, numerous ripples of Flaming Dao Qi flew out of Old Man Qingzhu''s palm, rumbling in a deadly manner towards Cang Yan. The hundreds of Flaming Dao Qi ripples were far greater than the divine power that Cang Tan formed just a while ago.


    "Impossible!" Cang Yan exclaimed instinctively. After all, the divine power of the Flaming Dao Qi was his family inheritance and no outsider would know about it. However, he was witnessing Old Man Qingzhu pull off the Flaming Dao Qi flawlessly. How could he accept that?

 Chapter 23：Extortion Backfired

    At that moment, Cang Yan finally realized that he had hit a wall. The seemingly ordinary old beggar had unrevealed powers and highly unpredictable moves, thus Cang Yan was definitely not a match for him.


    "Senior, please spare my life. I''ve learned my lesson," Cang Yan shouted loudly and took a few steps back.


    "Stop," Old Man Qingzhu commanded softly. Suddenly, the hundreds of Flaming Blade Qi ripples stopped mid-air and ceased to move forward. With a light tap of the broken bamboo pole, all of the Flaming Blade Qi dissipated into thin air.


    Cang Yan looked disgraced and he stared at Old Man Qingzhu with a terrified gaze. He whispered, "Senior, I was naive and I''ve learned my lesson. Please forgive me." Then, he bowed respectfully to Old Man Qingzhu followed by a salute.


    The onlookers nearby were dumbfounded and dared not make a sound. Even Cang Yan, who was a Qi Plundering Boundary master, could not rival Old Man Qingzhu, let alone them.


    Old Man Qingzhu smiled as he took another mouthful of wine and said with a smile, "Kid, since I have a good temper, I''ll forgive you, but��I''m not the one you robbed today. I''m sure you understand what you have to do." Then, he glanced towards Ji Mo.


    Cang Yan immediately knew what Old Man Qingzhu meant. He walked up to Ji Mo without a hint of contempt, but he was not respectful either. Although Old Man Qingzhu''s intention was obvious, as a Qi Plundering Boundary master, Cang Yan still felt a little humiliated apologizing to a nobody.


    "Brother, I''m sorry for having offended you just now. As long as the mountains are green and the water flows, we shall meet again." He stubbornly saluted Ji Mo before spinning around to quickly leave.


    "Stop right there. Do you want to leave right after bullying others?" Ji Mo stopped him in his tracks as he lowered his gaze with a cynical smirk on his face.


    "What do you want?" Cang Yan frowned.


    "Your companions tried to rob me and you attacked me without finding out what happened. As a Qi Plundering Boundary cultivator bullying me, who''s in the body tempering phase, you are such a rascal! Are you going to just leave without compensating for the mental damage that you have caused?" Ji Mo said, knowing that Cang Yan would not do anything to him because Old Man Qingzhu was around.


    He took the chance to make a bold move. After all, a Qi Plundering Boundary master must have more riches than Ji Mo himself.


    "How much do you want?" Cang Yan asked straightforwardly.


    "A million Qi Gathering Pills!" Ji Mo spelled out an astronomical figure.


    "What!? A million!?" Cang Yan suddenly turned pale as he fiercely spluttered, "Y-you''re crazy!"


    A million Qi Gathering Pills was a substantial amount even for a Qi Plundering Boundary master. Since Cang Yan robbed and looted houses, he was only a rogue cultivator. Despite having those paltry earnings, he was not that well to do and a million pieces of Qi Gathering Pills was just too great of a pressure.


    How was it possible to obtain them?


    Ji Mo''s request for the million Qi Gathering Pills was just too exorbitant.


    "Yeah, I''m crazy. So, are you giving a million Qi Gathering Pills or not?" Ji Mo threatened.


    His words did not just surprise Cang Yan. Even the onlookers felt it was too much. Nevertheless, Ji Mo did not care. Before this, they thought that he was an easy target, so they came to extort him. To deal with people like them, one had to use an eye for an eye, and treat them the way they treated others.


    "I can''t give you a million Qi Gathering Pills," said Cang Yan who looked awful.


    "Alright, since you don''t have a million, then you should at least have something for me," Ji Mo said while stretching out his palm.


    Cang Yan frowned. He stared at Ji Mo scornfully but seemed slightly frightened at the sight of Old Man Qingzhu who was drinking by the roadside. The old man did not seem to care and appeared to support Ji Mo.


    At that moment, Cang Yan gritted his teeth and said, "I have 30,000 ready-made Qi Gathering Pills here and a 20,000 pill note. You can take it if you want." He threw a pouch at Ji Mo.


    That type of pouch was called a treasure pouch. It was for cultivators to keep their belongings and it came in small and large sizes. However, the one that Cang Yan had was probably a low-level pouch that only had a few cubic meters of space.


    Ji Mo took the treasure pouch to peer inside. There were really 30,000 Qi Gathering Pills and a 20,000 pill note which he happily kept. He was worried about not having enough money to buy spiritual medicine. Although these Qi Gathering Pills were not substantial, they were enough for him to use for a while.


    Cang Yan snorted coldly, full of hatred toward Ji Mo, but there was nothing he could do. He activated a sword talisman, stepped on the sword-light, and left without a trace.


    Ji Mo did not pay attention to them since they were insignificant and nothing could be gained from them. Therefore, they were free to leave. Meanwhile, Ji Mo was overjoyed as he played with the treasure pouch in this hand. He could not believe that earning money could be that easy. It seemed like robbing was a notable option.


    Nevertheless, thoughts remained as thoughts. Ji Mo knew that if not for Old Man Qingzhu, he would have been hung. After all, the divine power that a Qi Plundering Boundary master possessed was not something that he could have contended.


    "Thank you, old man. Why don''t we split these Qi Gathering Pills?" Ji Mo suggested to Old Man Qingzhu. He felt a little embarrassed when Old Man Qingzhu did not take the Qi Gathering Pills he had earned previously from the business. Furthermore, the Qi Gathering Pills he gained from Cang Yan was not a scanty amount, so he was embarrassed to have them all to himself.


    "You can keep them first." Old Man Qingzhu stood up, holding the broken bamboo pole as he grinned. "Kid, you do know that you just saw the Broken God''s Eye, don''t you?"


    "The Broken God''s Eye��" At the mention of this visual technique, Ji Mo nodded immediately. The Broken God''s Eye demonstrated by Old Man Qingzhu that he witnessed could imitate other divine powers. Ji Mo had never heard or seen anything of its kind before. If this visual technique could be grasped, he would have no concern about not being able to learn advanced divine power.


    As long as the Broken God''s Eye was used to observe the divine power others displayed, then it could be reenacted. This method could be described as heaven-defying.


    Apart from that, the Broken God''s Eye had another function, which was to expose all lies and locate all the rare treasures hidden in the mountains and seas. By cultivating it to the highest level, one could learn all the secrets between heaven and earth and know the future. This godly eye would make one invincible!


    Old Man Qingzhu smiled, then pointed at Ji Mo''s left eye. At once, Ji Mo felt a sharp pain as if a needle had penetrated his eyeball. He could not help but let out a grunt while tears flowed.


    "I have transferred a fraction of the Broken God''s Eye directly into your eye. Discover it on your own. I''ll take my leave now and we shall meet again if there''s an opportunity in the future." Old Man Qingzhu chuckled before he turned around and walked towards the road ahead facing the sunset as his shadow gradually disappeared.


    A strange song emerged from the sunset: "My wineskin is empty, and so is the road. The vast immortal road is drunkenly empty as I stir from a significant dream. What is the use of heaven and earth giving birth to me? Empty immortal techniques, thousands of empty techniques, what hatred unto immortals for being useless��"


    Ji Mo felt unbearable pain in his left eye. His tears flowed and he was unable to keep his eyes open. He could only hear Old Man Qingzhu''s voice fading in the distance before eventually disappearing.


    After a long while, he felt the pain in his left eye improve, so he opened his eyes, but Old Man Qingzhu was nowhere to be seen.

 Chapter 24：Sixth-tier Tempered Body

    Ji Mo only felt agony in his left eye. As his tears flowed, he was unable to keep his eyes open. He could only hear Old Man Qingzhu''s voice fading in the distance before eventually disappearing.


    After a long while, Ji Mo felt that the pain in his left eye improved, so he opened his eyes but Old Man Qingzhu was nowhere to be seen.


    "The old man''s whereabouts are unpredictable. Now you see him, now you don''t. Still, his prowess is indeed amazing. The fact that he executed the Broken God''s Eye proves that he''s extraordinary," Ji Mo murmured.


    Now, he would have to reassess Old Man Qingzhu''s identity. Initially, Ji Mo only knew that Old Man Qingzhu was powerful, at least, as a Qi Plundering Boundary master. However, it looked like the old man was not that simple. The fact that he discovered a visual technique like the Broken God''s Eye was beyond terrifying.


    "I never thought that I''d get such an opportunity, but why would the old man help me?" Ji Mo walked back alone, pondering about the identity of Old Man Qingzhu. However, the more he thought, the more Old Man Qingzhu''s face diminished from his mind.


    It was a strange phenomenon. It was as though something was forcefully weakening his memory and causing him to question the existence of this old man.


    At last, only a tune remained in Ji Mo''s mind. It was the strange song that Old Man Qingzhu had sung while leaving.


    "Empty immortal techniques, thousands of empty techniques...What do they mean?" Ji Mo was puzzled.


    He reached home a day later. His impression of Old Man Qingzhu grew weaker and weaker until, at last, the only thing that lingered in his memory was the strange song, a broken bamboo pole, two yellow plates, and a copy of The Plum in the Prosperity Vase that had not been sold that day.


    After giving much thought to it but failing to come up with a conclusion, Ji Mo stopped studying the situation and took out all of the spiritual medicine that he had bought at the small town the day before. By relying on those spiritual medicines, he was fully confident that his strength could increase to the sixth-tier tempered body. Therefore, his chances in the Hunting Competition would greatly increase.


    After that, Ji Mo left his house and went to Tianyuan Academy. He found Huo Lin''er and told her that he could not practice with her during his closed-door cultivation period. After Huo Lin''er understood the situation, she agreed without giving Ji Mo a hard time. Moreover, she had basically mastered the divine power.


    Once everything was sorted out, Ji Mo was assured that he could start his closed-door cultivation to increase his strength.


    In a quiet room, a ray of sunlight scattered over Ji Mo''s body.


    As he sat cross-legged in the room, a crackling sound came from his body as if something had blown his flesh into half. That was the Celestial Devil Power working through his body. At that instant, bright red dots emerged under the surface of his skin. These bright red dots were the energy source of the Celestial Devil Power. They merged with his flesh and blood, casting a red glow on Ji Mo''s skin.


    The room was filled with a violent and aggressive aura. That was the aura of the Hell Celestial Devil.


    Although Ji Mo had yet to master the Celestial Devil Tempering Art, his body started to morph into a Celestial Devil Body, and so did his aura. It was comparable to the Celestial Devil which unknowingly brought tremendous pressure to a human being.


    Boom!


    The rumble of thunder resonated from Ji Mo''s flesh and blood. These few days, he had been refining the spiritual medicine during his closed-door cultivation. He already refined half of the five fourth-grade spiritual medicine pellets, resulting in his physique becoming incredibly powerful and getting closer to the Celestial Devil''s. Furthermore, the sixth acupuncture point on Ji Mo''s chest had already begun to loosen up and was about to break open.


    "Celestial Devil Precipitation!"


    Ji Mo sat cross-legged with his eyes closed and both fists clenched tightly while the veins on his arms popped like earthworms moving beneath his flesh. Celestial Devil Power was not only transforming his flesh and blood, and tendons and bones, but also baptizing his bone marrows.


    The Celestial Devil Precipitation was a more domineering method than the Celestial Devil Bone Refinement. The latter could transform bones and even the marrow into the energy source of the Celestial Devil Power which would, in turn, energize the Celestial Devil Power endlessly. On the contrary, the Celestial Devil Precipitation could cause the bones and flesh to be more powerful, allowing Celestial Devil Power to flow through the entire body so that every inch of the skin would take on the characteristics of the Hell Celestial Devil.


    Ji Mo opened his eyes which contained a faint, dark glow. He turned to look at the remaining spiritual medicine in the wooden box and swallowed everything at once. He wanted to use the vast spiritual energy in the spiritual medicine to trigger the sixth acupuncture point for a sixth-tier tempered body breakthrough.


    As the moon set and the sun rose, three days passed in the blink of an eye.


    On the fourth day, cosmic lights appeared in Ji Mo''s room. The cosmic light contained a tremendous aura of destruction and that aura alone could practically destroy the whole house.


    Immediately after that, the wooden door burst open and a figure bolted out at extreme speed, leaving shadows behind as it sped to the yard in an instant. Ji Mo stood there straight like a spear.


    Ji Mo''s head of black hair ruffled and there was a faint red glow on the surface of his skin. He clenched his fists tightly and a crackling sound came from his bones. His body was endlessly filled with Celestial Devil Power.


    His eyes glimmered with excitement because he had finally succeeded after spending a full seven days. He had finally refined all of the spiritual medicine and succeeded in accomplishing the sixth-tier tempered body!


    Ji Mo could feel that his strength had increased greatly. In the past, he could exert a force of 1,250 kilograms, but after breaking through the sixth-tier tempered body, he could now exert a force of 1,500 kilograms.


    As he looked at the solid practice boulder in the yard, he believed that with a creak of his finger, he could crush the practice boulder that already had a big crater gaping in it because the Celestial Devil Power was that powerful. Ji Mo was excited to feel the rapid progress in his strength.


    He never thought that increasing his strength could be such a beautiful thing.


    ''Nan Hao is cultivating the Dragon Elephant Tempering Art and each breakthrough sees an increase of 200 kilograms in power. Even if he''s an eight-tier tempered body, he can only exert 1,600 kilograms of power. But after I cultivate the Celestial Devil Tempered Body, just by upgrading to the sixth-tier tempered body, I can catch up with Nan Hao. Hehe, I believe that within a few days, I can totally overtake Nan Hao!'' Ji Mo clenched his fists tightly and grew more and more excited at the thought of that.


    ''Du Jia, sooner or later, you will realize that you''ve made the wrong decision. Then, you will know the price of betraying me,'' he swore secretly in his heart.

 Chapter 25：Undergarment Incident

    It was less than ten days to the Hunting Competition, and Ji Mo did not leave his house during this period. Although he now had a sixth-tier tempered body breakthrough, in comparison, he had something more important to do, which was to cultivate the Broken God''s Eye!


    At first, when Old Man Qingzhu left, the Qi movement from the fraction of the Broken God''s Eye that entered his left eye could help Ji Mo master the Broken God''s Eye. This was a type of heaven-defying visual technique. Once he cultivated this technique, then his future cultivation path would be much smoother sailing.


    ''It can reenact the divine power of others and detect treasures hidden in the mountains and the seas. It can even expose heaven''s secrets. Hehe��This is truly a treasure! If outsiders discover this heaven-defying technique, it will definitely cause a ruckus,'' Ji Mo secretly thought.


    He had learned to be smarter now. No outsider or even the people closest to him should know his secrets because, in the face of benefits, betrayal could happen no matter how kind that person was.


    Du Jia was a good example.


    As the days went by, besides going out for meals, Ji Mo basically spent all of his time to cultivate the Broken God''s Eye. Due to the Qi movement that Old Man Qingzhu inserted into his left eye, Ji Mo quickly understood how to use the Broken God''s Eye. However, it was a pity that his cultivation base was too shallow, so no matter how much effort he exerted, the Broken God''s Eye did not work on him.


    "Why can''t I use it? Could it be the lack of progress from my cultivation base?" Ji Mo felt a slight headache. Although he knew in his heart that this heaven-defying visual technique was not easy to master, after hundreds of attempts, it somewhat affected his confidence.


    "The first level of the Broken God''s Eye can perform some simple martial arts. On the second level, it can display simple divine power and the third level can capture rare treasure in the mountains. If the more advanced levels are attained, some of the powerful divine power can be performed effortlessly, but at this moment, I can''t even perform simple martial arts��" He smiled bitterly.


    After this period of hard work, although he did not cultivate the Broken God''s Eye successfully, at least, Ji Mo merged his left eye with the Qi movement from the fraction of the Broken God''s Eye that Old Man Qingzhu deposited in his left eye. It was only a matter of time for the Broken God''s Eye to be cultivated.


    ''Well, it''s almost time now. Tomorrow will be the hunt. I''d better go to the academy to check out the situation,'' Ji Mo thought as he walked out the yard and headed towards Tianyuan Academy.


    He had not been to the academy for a while. These days, he had been busy with his closed-door cultivation, the sixth-tier tempered body breakthrough, and merging his left eye with the Qi movement from the fraction of the Broken God''s Eye. The latter especially took up lots of time. However, Big Bandit Lee lacked preparation for the Hunting Competition.


    ''I''ll look for Huo Lin''er first. I''ve never joined the Hunting Competition before or seen the so-called demonic beast. Huo Lin''er is a Qi Plundering Boundary master, so she must have done some research about the demonic beast,.'' Ji Mo thought. He reached Tianyuan Academy, and without dawdling for too long, he headed towards Huo Lin''er''s residence.


    Along the way, Ji Mo saw many disciples from Tianyuan Academy. For the past two days, Tianyuan Academy had become much livelier. Since the Hunting Competition was about to start, many disciples practiced outside while those who had missions came back in anticipation of this important day.


    While Ji Mo walked towards the academy, some disciples who passed by gave him a weird look.


    "He should be Ji Mo, that famous wimp from our academy! I heard that he beat Ji Shan."


    "Ji Shan, Nan Hao''s brother, that Ji Shan? Aren''t those two cousins? And I heard that Ji Shan has the strength of a sixth-tier tempered body. Ji Mo has only been with the academy for two years and his strength isn''t more than a third-tier tempered body''s. As useless as he can be, how can he beat Ji Shan?"


    "Honestly, many people witnessed it that day. Ji Mo sat on Ji Shan and beat him to pulp. That big mouth was just spinning tales."


    "Tsk tsk...is that true? It looks like this wimp isn''t that weak after all. Could he have been hiding his strength all these years? In fact, his cultivation may not be on third-tier."


    "Anyway, Nan Hao doesn''t favor Ji Mo. I guess Nan Hao will think of a way to deal with him. After all, Ji Shan is Nan Hao''s brother, so he won''t sit by and watch Ji Shan being beaten up."


    "Maybe, but recently, Nan Hao has been in closed-door cultivation. I heard that an elder from the Tianshan Sword Sect took a liking to Nan Hao''s qualities, so he sent him some spiritual medicine. Since then, Nan Hao has been in closed-door cultivation to break through the Qi Plundering Boundary."


    ��


    Ji Mo heard their conversation from afar, but it was not that clear and he did not pay much attention as he walked towards where Huo Lin''er stayed.


    Huo Lin''er stayed at Tianyuan Academy to specifically train the outer disciples. In addition to that, she was treated well by Tianyuan Academy. The place where she stayed was highly valued and luxuriously decorated.


    "Senior Sister Huo, are you there?" Ji Mo gently knocked on the door, but there seemed to be no movement from inside. He could not help but frown and continued to knock on the door. "Senior Sister Huo, are you there? Senior Sister Huo, open the door. Don''t hide in there silently. I know you''re at home. Open the door, open the door, open the door��"


    "Is she really not in?" After calling her for a long time and not detecting any movement within, Ji Mo''s brows were furrowed even tighter.


    When he looked up at her place and saw that the window on the second floor was open, he recalled that that was Huo Lin''er''s bedroom. Could she be asleep? She should not be. Having knocked on the door for such a long time, it was impossible for a Qi Plundering Boundary master''s spiritual sense to be so slow.


    At the thought of that, Ji Mo looked around and saw no one, so he immediately jumped to the second floor and entered through the window.


    Huo Lin''er''s bedroom was luxuriously decorated with green and pink curtains and her mild scent hanging in the air, which made it really pleasant.


    Ji Mo looked around, but Huo Lin''er was still nowhere to be seen. At that moment, the sound of water sloshing came from the bathroom next door. There was also shrill singing coming from the bathroom.


    He blushed at once. He presumed that she should be taking a shower. No wonder she did not open the door despite him knocking on it for so long. As he continued to wonder, he envisioned a hot and curvaceous body. His core could not help but heat up and mini Mo became restless.


    At that instant, Ji Mo noticed a pile of clothes that Huo Lin''er had probably left on a table nearby, so he walked over to it. In that pile of clothes was a fiery red dudou that was especially obvious and intricate. He picked the dudou up and caught a whiff of the mild scent which was highly pleasing.


    The fragrance was exactly the same as the one that came from Huo Lin''er''s body. Ji Mo felt a little dazed and lost his grip on the dudou, so it fell to the floor.


    Immediately, he bent down to pick it up.


    Squeak!


    Suddenly, the bathroom door opened. Huo Lin''er walked out wrapped only in a towel while her head of wet hair was strewn across her sweet-scented shoulders and crystal clear skin which still had water droplets on them. She had a slight blush on her beautiful face with exquisite facial features, and her voluptuous body was spilling out of the towel which was very revealing.


    "Ji Mo, how did u come in ?" Huo Lin''er was shocked at the sight of Ji Mo. Moreover, upon seeing him holding her undergarment, her beautiful face instantly turned red. "Why are y-you holding my underwear!?"

 Chapter 26：Origins of the Demon Tribe

    Suddenly, the bathroom door opened. Huo Lin''er walked out wrapped only in a towel while her head of wet hair was strewn across her sweet-scented shoulders and crystal clear skin which still had water droplets on them. She had a slight blush on her beautiful face with exquisite facial features, and her voluptuous body was spilling out of the towel which was very revealing.


    "Ji Mo, how did u come in ?" Huo Lin''er was shocked at the sight of Ji Mo. Moreover, upon seeing him holding her undergarment, her beautiful face instantly turned red. "Why are y-you holding my underwear!?"


    "Ah? I...you...he," Ji Mo stuttered, "It...it fell on the floor, so I''m picking it up for you��"


    "It was nicely placed on the table. If you didn''t touch it, how could it have fallen?" Huo Lin''er''s beautiful eyes had a lively twinkle. She pursed her lips and an eloquent smile appeared.


    ''Er...that smile could mean many things��'' Ji Mo''s forehead crinkled as he thought to himself.


    "Ah!"


    All of a sudden, Huo Lin''er realized that she was wrapped in just a bath towel and was actually standing there, talking and laughing with Ji Mo. Her already pink complexion turned extra beet-red as she spun around right away and ran back into the bathroom, locking the door with a clink.


    "Er��" Ji Mo stood there awkwardly.


    That could have meant a few things. It seemed like Huo Lin''er had misunderstood him and he was in great trouble. He took a look at the fiery red dudou in his hand and inhaled its mild fragrance. Although he was a normal man, he would not commit such an indecent act of stealing undergarments.


    After stacking the dudou neatly from where he had taken it, Ji Mo sat and waited quietly at the table. A rustling came from the bathroom. Presumably, it was Huo Lin''er putting on her clothes.


    At the thought of Huo Lin''er''s fiery personality and cruel ways, Ji Mo suddenly broke into a cold sweat and planned to flee.


    Bang!


    The bathroom door flung open once again, but this time with a harder force and Huo Lin''er walked out. She wore a crimson red dress with a ribbon around her waist, swaying her slender waist like a willow branch. Both her long, porcelain legs were interlaced, and this charming lady left a trail of fragrance as she stood in front of Ji Mo.


    Ji Mo looked up to see her perfect face only a foot away. She had charming features, kind eyes, and luscious red lips along with a queer smile at the corner of her mouth.


    He felt his palms sweating. Huo Lin''er''s smile was definitely not a good sign. Perhaps, it was a prelude to her rage. He knew her all too well.


    "Senior Sister Huo, I''m going to have a breakdown if you continue to smile like that." Ji Mo gulped and snickered.


    Huo Lin''er narrowed her eyes, still as charming as ever, and her red lips parted slightly. "Okay, please explain."


    "I have nothing to explain!"


    Huo Lin''er sat down gracefully and took a glance at the undergarment on the table while she blushed. Then, she put away all the clothes. She continued to look at Ji Mo, revealing a glare. "Sigh, although I wanted to lash out at you earlier, after thinking carefully, it''s normal to have such mentality for boys your age. You''re at that age where you''re full of curiosity about the mysterious female body. Just don''t do it again. It won''t be good if someone hears about it."


    That being said, Huo Lin''er cast a pitiful and resenting expression at Ji Mo.


    "Hey, don''t act as if you''re that old. What do you mean boys my age, huh? You''re not that much older than me, alright?" Ji Mo argued.


    "Never mind. I won''t pursue it this time, but don''t do it anymore." Huo Lin''er sighed with a frown.


    "What do you mean you''re not pursuing it? Can you not act as if you know everything? It really was an accident just now. It''s not what you think it is." Ji Mo was on the verge of crying. He thought that Huo Lin''er would be angry, but who would have guessed that she would say those things. What game was she trying to play?


    Moreover, those words were a serious blow to a young person''s self-esteem. If Huo Lin''er furiously lashed out, he would have felt better. However, the glance that she shot him made him feel as though he had committed a sinful and evil act.


    The atmosphere in the room settled as Ji Mo and Huo Lin''er did not say a word and appeared to be quiet and awkward.


    After a long while, Huo Lin''er said first, "Little Ji Mo, are you having a siscon?"


    "I would con your sister! Can you please have some dignity?" Ji Mo gritted his teeth and had a secret thought. He could not help but admire Huo Lin''er''s brain. She could actually think of the word "siscon", but why did she have to say "sis"?


    Huo Lin''er rolled her alluring eyes at him and said, "Oh yeah, you''re here to discuss something serious with me, aren''t you? Or are you here just to ��"


    "Of course, I have something serious to talk to you about," Ji Mo said quickly, "Tomorrow is the day of the Hunting Competition. I''d like to hear what you have to say about the demonic beasts. Although I''ve read about them from books, I have never encountered them before. Are they directly related to the demonic tribe as the cultivation world says?"


    Huo Lin''er looked up upon hearing Ji Mo''s question and replied, "Of course, the demonic beast and the demonic tribe have a direct relationship. Generally, once the demonic beast has cultivated to a certain level, then they will be a member of the demonic tribe. There are also many species of demonic beasts. Some are transformed from wild beasts, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth and obtaining self-awareness. Those are the most common ones. The second type is demonic beasts that have a unique bloodline and heritage, which are more powerful than the first type. Furthermore, they are gifted. The third type is the rare ancient species that can''t be found in ordinary deep mountains and forests. The ancient species is very rare, and they usually live in giant lakes or ancient ruins."


    After a pause, she continued, "The demonic beast''s cultivation is divided into many boundaries similar to the human cultivators. In general, the beasts that develop Neidan are considered demonic beasts. They are more spiritual than beastly, and can even demonstrate inbred divine power. Once the Neidan is formed, demonic beasts can even turn into human form."


    Ji Mo nodded since he had read that in a book. Under the heavens, cultivation was not only for humans but for all living creatures and races. Among these races, only the human body was most suitable for cultivation. Therefore, it did not matter if it was a beast or other living creature, but in the process of cultivation, it would transform into the human form to half the effort.


    "Then, what''s the beastmaster species?" Ji Mo asked.


    "The demon tribe of the beastmaster species has a special bloodline. Due to the limitations of its bloodline, they''ll choose the beastmaster path by not transforming into the human form. They cultivate in the form of beasts. Although the progress of the cultivation is slower, they can unleash the power of their bloodline."


    "Oh." Ji Mo nodded. After that, he asked Huo Lin''er a few more questions. She did not hide anything and answered him directly. As the questions and answers flitted back and forth, two hours passed before they even knew it.


    "Alright, I understand most of it. Senior Sister Huo, if there''s nothing else, then I''ll leave to prepare for tomorrow''s Hunting Competition," Ji Mo said while standing up.


    Huo Lin''er smiled and said, "Okay, I was about to go out, so let''s leave together." She then walked aside to pack some things.


    Ji Mo was speechless. Just a moment ago, they had an awkward moment which made him slightly afraid to face her sexy body and beautiful face. However, when he sought a chance to slip away, Huo Lin''er initiated an invitation that caught him off-guard.


    Huo Lin''er packed adequately before walking out of her house with Ji Mo and headed towards Tianyuan Academy.

 Chapter 27：Inner Messenger

    Huo Lin''er''s reputation at the academy was far greater than Ji Mo''s. Not only was she beautiful, but she was also the inner disciple of the Tianshan Sword Sect and a Qi Plundering Boundary master. Girls like her naturally attracted a lot of attention, but Huo Lin''er was usually a little hot-tempered. Therefore, many men did not have the courage to approach her even if they had the intention to. It was also the reason why Huo Lin''er was nicknamed the Fiery Rose.


    At that moment, Ji Mo and Huo Lin''er walked and chatted happily together, drawing attention from other people who shot him weird stares.


    "Ji Mo seems to be very close with Huo Lin''er recently. When did their relationship become so intimate?"


    "I heard that Ji Mo is Senior Sister Huo''s sparring partner. He must''ve benefited from her judging from the speedy progress of his cultivation base."


    "Hmph, what a shame to rely on a woman to upgrade his strength!"


    Whispers went around, and at the same time, many male disciples stared at Ji Mo with admiration and envy.


    "Why don''t we walk separately? Judging by how they''re looking at me, I''m worried that I might be eaten alive," Ji Mo said dejectedly.


    Huo Lin''er smiled charmingly. "What? Are you afraid? Some people don''t even have the chance to savor the flesh of a swan."


    ''Err��are you the swan? You''re just a turkey at most!'' Ji Mo secretly laughed as he mocked her in his heart. It was not because of how Huo Lin''er looked but rather her red-hot temper. Who would dare to provoke her?


    "Huo Lin''er, haven''t seen you in a long while."


    At that point, a voice came from afar. Despite coming from a distance, every word was crisp and clear. It was the sultry voice of a woman that could weaken anyone''s knees.


    Hearing that voice, Huo Lin''er came to a halt and frowned unconsciously.


    Ji Mo looked behind and saw a few people walk in. They were led by a man and a woman who were dressed in the Tianshan Sword Sect clothes and carried ancient swords on their backs, brimming with vigor. The man was very handsome with eyes as bright as the stars, and he had an air of arrogance which he did not bother to disguise.


    The woman was beautiful and enchanting just like Huo Lin''er. However, her figure was even shapelier as she had generous hips and a tiny waist. As she strode forward, her skirt swung about her smooth, porcelain legs which dazzled everyone.


    Followed closely behind them were a few outer disciples from Tianyuan Academy. Among them were Nangong Ye, Dong Hao who guarded the archive, and Xia Jiaojiao. The trio seemed respectful and had a smile on their faces as they gazed at the couple in front. After all, the latter were the inner disciples of the Tianshan Sword Sect and it was normal to butter up to them.


    "Lu Susu! She really is here!" Huo Lin''er glared at the beautiful woman.


    ''Is that her love rival?'' Ji Mo thought.


    When Huo Lin''er had asked Ji Mo to be her sparring partner to cultivate the Flaming Sword Qi, it probably was to deal with her love rival. Moreover, with the appearance of Lu Susu and the way Huo Lin''er glared at her, Ji Mo instinctively guessed that he was right.


    However, what he was curious about was why these two Tianshan Sword Sect inner disciples came to Tianyuan Academy.


    "Huo Lin''er, I see that you''re living life freely outside." Lu Susu walked up to them. As otherworldly as her beauty was, anyone could see the hostility in her eyes.


    Behind her stood the young man whose arrogant eyes cast a glance at Huo Lin''er without even looking at Ji Mo as though he was not there.


    They were the inner disciples of the Tianshan Sword Sect after all, so they could not be bothered about people like Ji Mo.


    However, behind those two people, Nangong Ye stared at Ji Mo dangerously. Xia Jiaojiao and Dong Hao also barely glanced at him before turning away as though he was insignificant.


    "Your concern is unnecessary," Huo Lin''er replied indifferently to Lu Susu''s sarcasm.


    Lu Susu smiled and briefly glanced at Ji Mo. She laughed and said with a sneer, "Why? I heard that you''re keeping a toyboy. Is this the kid? Haha...Junior Sister Huo Lin''er, your taste is really getting worse, or should I say that you have a unique fetish?"


    "You��" Huo Lin''er gritted her teeth and her eyebrows twitched slightly as she was dumbfounded by Lu Susu''s sarcasm.


    ''Hey, have I even offended her?'' Ji Mo felt slightly uneasy. He was aware of the feud between Huo Lin''er and Lu Susu, but he was only a spectator who joined in the excitement. He did not expect to be ridiculed by Lu Susu.


    Huo Lin''er stared furiously at Lu Susu with her beautiful, round eyes and retorted, "Aren''t you the same?"


    She looked at the young man behind her rival and laughed, "Leng Jianyun, when did you get together with Senior Sister Lu? It''s really out of my expectation that an arrogant person like Senior Sister Lu would have such a terrible eye."


    That sentence immediately made the young man, whose name was Leng Jianyun, feel awkward.


    Lu Susu chuckled. "That''s better than being as ravenous as you. No matter how bad Jianyun is, he''s still stronger than any outer disciple that you can find. You have such a unique taste."


    The two girls were going against each other while exchanging threatening glares. Sparks collided in the air.


    Nevertheless, Ji Mo, who stood aside, felt slightly uncomfortable. The two women''s mockery from the beginning had become a competition between each other''s new beaus. What did that even mean? Although he and Huo Lin''er were close, they had not reached that stage yet.


    Curiously, he looked at Leng Jianyun and their eyes met. Ji Mo clearly caught the man''s condescending glance and was slightly scornful. Since Leng Jianyun was the inner disciple of the Tianshan Sword Sect, he paid Ji Mo no mind.


    At that moment, Dong Hao asked pointlessly, "Ji Mo, I heard you''re joining the Hunting Games, aren''t you?"


    "Mm-hmm." Ji Mo simply nodded.


    "Hehe, I didn''t expect that someone like you could join the hunt. I heard that you snatched the spot from someone else," Dong Hao replied with narrowed eyes.


    "Is there anything wrong with relying on my own abilities?" Ji Mo smirked.


    "Although you''re putting effort into your cultivation, let me remind you that you''ll be facing vicious demonic beasts in the Hunting Games. It''s not a game, so don''t go out and fail to come back," Dong Hao said coldly.


    "You don''t have to worry about that." Ji Mo held a grudge against Dong Hao and he could not care less about his mockery.


    "So, you are Ji Mo?" Leng Jianyun looked at Ji Mo again, but the contempt in his eyes turned viciously threatening while sending chills down one''s spine., "I''ve heard Nan Hao''s cultivation partner mention you. Apparently, you beat his sworn brother up. Nan Hao was still angry about it before he went for his closed-door cultivation. You''re lucky he didn''t come looking for you."


    Ji Mo remained silent. Exchanging stares with Leng Jianyun did not scare him at all.


    Leng Jianyun taunted, "Nan Hao will soon be the inner disciple of the Tianshan Sword Sect. The gap between both of your abilities will be like heaven and earth. I''ll give you a piece of advice: don''t offend those who shouldn''t be offended. Be clear about who you are. How can a shallow-water shrimp go against a deep-sea dragon?"


    Whoever heard those words knew it was meant to mock him. Although Leng Jianyun bore no grudge against Ji Mo, when Lu Susu and Huo Lin''er compared both of them, he felt annoyed. However, he did not want to argue with Huo Lin''er, so he projected his hatred toward Ji Mo.


    "Senior Brother Leng speaks the truth." Nangong Ye nodded and laughed at Ji Mo. "Some people aren''t aware of their own strengths, thinking that they are superior by relying on improper methods for an upgrade in strength. In fact, they''re just clowns. What a deluded laughing stock to even think of making Big Brother Nan Hao an enemy!"


    "Haha, not bad. It looks like someone is only trying to impress," said Xia Jiaojiao who had been silent all the while.


    Ji Mo frowned slightly at their sarcasm. The Celestial Devil Power that was restrained in his body was slightly provoked, but he regained his composure quickly. Lu Susu and Leng Jianyun were Qi Plundering Boundary masters, so he would not be able to defeat them. Attacking them under these circumstances would not benefit him at all.


    He could only tolerate them and be patient now. When the Hunting Games began, he would be able to take his revenge.

 Chapter 28：Meeting Lan Qingcheng Again

    "Ji Mo, just listen to us. It''s the truth. Although your ability is better now, the Hunting Competition isn''t to be messed around with. If you participate, you''re going to slow everyone down and affect the entire team''s strength. I advise you to go back to your tribe and be a young master." Dong Hao snickered.


    Leng Jianyun did not turn his head as he was not willing to give Ji Mo another look, but he also chuckled.


    Lu Susu and Huo Lin''er had not spoken the entire time. Both of them had different thoughts about what they heard.


    Lu Susu glanced at Ji Mo once again but he continued to ignore her. Then, she said to Dong Hao and the others, "Alright, the few of you should put on a good show. You don''t need to care about these insignificant people. With your qualities, you''ll definitely make it into Tianshan Sword Sect as inner disciples. Just ignore the clowns."


    "Haha, Senior Sister Lu is right." Nangong Ye, Dong Hao, and Xia Jiaojiao nodded with a chuckle and looked at Ji Mo disparagingly.


    "Let''s go." Lu Susu waved her hand and looked at Huo Lin''er again before turning around to leave in style.


    Leng Jianyun, Nangong Ye, Dong Hao, and Xia Jiaojiao followed behind and threw somber glances at Ji Mo with a sense of threat before they left.


    Once they were out of sight, Huo Lin''er snorted coldly and turned around to look at Ji Mo. Just a moment ago, she was slightly worried that he would not be able to contain his anger and fight with Dong Hao and the others. If Ji Mo attacked them in the presence of Lu Susu and Leng Jianyun, he would not benefit from it and might be humiliated instead.


    However, Huo Lin''er saw that he looked calm and collected. To her surprise, his black pupils were as distant as the night sky. No one could tell when it started, but she felt that Ji Mo''s insight and aura had changed, and she could hardly understand it.


    "Little Ji Mo, sorry for putting you in that situation," Huo Lin''er apologized.


    Ji Mo shook his head and did not seem to be bothered. "There''s no need to be calculative with them. Furthermore, I wouldn''t have acted here, would I?" Upon saying that, he smiled and turned around. There was a murderous gleam in his eyes with a dark glow as a special kind of aura from the Celestial Devil that was about to erupt.


    Huo Lin''er clearly felt the murderous instinct in Ji Mo''s eyes. Despite being a Qi Plundering Boundary master, she shuddered. She viewed him differently and even had a delusion that the person standing in front of her was neither a simple outer disciple nor a 16- to 17-year-old teenager but a murderous battle-hardened demon.


    It was difficult to imagine that Ji Mo, who looked like a weakling, would have an aura like this.


    ''Was that a hallucination?'' Huo Lin''er thought curiously. She looked at Ji Mo again, but she felt that he had returned to normal.


    "Oh yeah, they were talking about Nan Hao''s closed-door cultivation to break through the Qi Plundering Boundary. Has he broken through the ninth-tier tempered body? I remember he was still at the eighth-tier tempered body boundary the last time we met," Ji Mo frowned and asked Huo Lin''er.


    She replied, "I only got this news a few days ago. Apparently, an elder from the Tianshan Sword Sect took a liking to him. This elder has committed to guide him and take him as his true disciple. He even sent some spiritual medicine to help Nan Hao break through the Qi Plundering Boundary. As long as Nan Hao successfully reaches the Qi Plundering Boundary, he won''t need an evaluation to be inducted into the sect and will even become a true disciple."


    Huo Lin''er''s words made him knit his eyebrows harder. He knew the difference between the inner disciples and the true disciples. Inner disciples were only Tianshan Sword Sect ordinary disciples while true disciples held a higher position compared to inner disciples. The majority of these people were disciples of the sect''s priests or elders, and their position was much higher than the inner disciples. They also enjoyed much better treatment than the latter.


    To discover that Nan Hao could actually skip the inner disciple level and directly become a true disciple, that was not good news for Ji Mo.


    Ji Mo licked his lips and sneered in his heart, ''Nan Hao''s qualities are truly not simple. He''s based in Tianyuan Academy but is able to get the attention of an elder from the Tianshan Sword Sect and got chosen to be a true disciple. No wonder Du Jia has so much confidence in him, but no one can tell who will be ahead in the future.''


    ��


    Huo Lin''er and Ji Mo parted ways once they reached the entrance of Tianyuan Academy. Huo Lin''er stepped on a sword-light and left, attracting admiration from the many outer disciples outside the entrance of the academy who longed that they would become a Qi Plundering Boundary master one day and maneuver the sword as she had.


    "Heh." Ji Mo laughed and turned around to leave. As he turned, he caught a glimpse of an alluring figure walking towards him.


    It was a girl who wore a long aqua blue dress. She was attractive with fair skin and an exquisite figure which drew some attention. She walked straight up to him with hatred in her eyes.


    "Eh, this girl looks familiar." Ji Mo was slightly stunned. When he came about, she was already in front of him.


    "Long time no see." Looking at Ji Mo, the girl smiled deceptively.


    "You are��?" Ji Mo felt that she looked familiar, but could not recall where he had met her.


    "Have you forgotten about me so quickly?" The girl smiled sultrily, but her gorgeous eyes contained a cunning flash. She raised her hand and pointed at Ji Mo''s chest. "Okay, I''ll remind you. More than ten days ago at Boyue Town, you sold me something. Do you recall?"


    "Err��" The cogs of Ji Mo''s mind spun. A familiar picture filled his mind, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Finally, he remembered who the person standing in front of him was. She was the girl he had met in Boyue Town.


    Lan Qingcheng!


    When Ji Mo was selling XX, it seemed like he had some association with the girl, but he had quickly forgotten about her. After all, it was not a particularly important incident. If Lan Qingcheng was not this pretty, Ji Mo would not have any impression of her at all.


    "Err...Miss, what a coincidence!"Ji Mo tittered. He had a plan to escape but was curious as to why Lan Qingcheng would show up there. Was she also a Tianyuan Academy disciple? Why had he not seen her before?


    Lan Qingcheng looked at Ji Mo from head to toe. Her eyes twinkled, and with a slight purse on her lips, she said, "This is really surprising. You''re actually a Tianyuan Academy disciple. So am I. It''s just that I don''t usually show up at the academy because my family is also a cultivation tribe. That''s why I usually stay at home to cultivate and seldom leave the house unless the academy has an important event."


    Hearing that, Ji Mo nodded nonchalantly. He was not that surprised because there were thousands of outer disciples at Tianyuan Academy, so he could not have known everyone.

 Chapter 29：Gambling Date (I)

    "Err...Miss, did you specifically come looking for me just to say all that?" Ji Mo scratched his head and asked.


    Without hiding anything, Lan Qingcheng snorted and said, "Who specifically came looking for you? I''m just curious to see you. I didn''t think that you''d also be a Tianyuan Academy disciple. If I knew that we were under the same academy that day, I might''ve helped your business." That being said, Lan Qingcheng let out a cynical smile.


    "Err...Don''t bring up the past, alright?" Ji Mo''s forehead was full of cold sweat.


    "Oh yeah, I thought I saw Huo Lin''er just now. Are you very close to her?" Lan Qingcheng asked. Huo Lin''er had a great reputation at Tianyuan Academy. Everyone knew who she was, and those who were seldom at the academy like Lan Qingcheng had heard of her.


    "More or less. Oh, did you specifically come back to the academy this time for tomorrow''s Hunting Competition?" Ji Mo quickly changed the topic.


    "Yes, I signed up too," she said with a nod. Then, she suggested to him, "Oh right, since I don''t really know anyone at the academy, let''s form a team tomorrow. What''s your cultivation base like? Which tier of tempered body are you at?"


    "Sixth-tier tempered body," said Ji Mo truthfully.


    "Oh, you''re just on the sixth-tier tempered body." Lan Qingcheng looked dejected. She did not come to the academy very often, hence she was not clear about the academy and its people. She also had never heard about Ji Mo or anything related to him.


    If she knew that Ji Mo was the wimp that everyone was talking about in the academy, Lan Qingcheng might not have said those words.


    "Oh, forget it. Sixth-tier is better than fighting alone." Lan Qingcheng looked at Ji Mo and concluded, "We shall be in a team for tomorrow''s Hunting Competition. Don''t worry. I''ll take care of you. Otherwise, with your sixth-tier tempered body, you may be eaten by the demonic beast."


    "A team��" Ji Mo looked puzzled. He did not know why she invited him despite only having met him once. With Lan Qingcheng''s appearance and qualities, if she asked, many experts would have flocked over even if she was not familiar with anyone at the academy. There was no need to waste time on him.


    "It''s decided then. By the way, what''s your name?" Lan Qingcheng asked.


    "Ji Mo."


    "I''m Lan Qingcheng. See you tomorrow." She smiled and waved at Ji Mo, then turned around and headed towards the academy.


    Until Lan Qingcheng disappeared from his sight, Ji Mo stood dumbfounded in the same spot. What did that even mean? In his confusion, he had formed a team with someone without finding out the situation. As he looked at the direction where Lan Qingcheng left, Ji Mo giggled and left quietly.


    The Hunting Competition was usually held once a year. The venue would be chosen on Mount Luofu which was 150 kilometers away from Tianyuan Academy. Mount Luofu stretched for thousands of kilometers and there was an ancient forest within it. Many powerful demonic beasts were bred there and there were also some small-scale demon tribe activities. Tianyuan Academy always selected it as the venue for the Hunting Competition.


    The demonic beasts in Mount Luofu varied in strength. Some weaker demonic beasts had abilities that were comparable to the human race''s third-tier tempered body. These demonic beasts had not formed their Neidan. The more powerful demonic beasts had formed their Neidan and some of their talents were developed, enabling them to exhibit some divine power. However, their ability was not that advanced, so they were only comparable to the human race''s eighth-tier tempered body.


    Those demonic beasts that had morphed into the human form possessed the same abilities as a Qi Plundering Boundary master. With tremendous divine power, they were known as the demonic tribe. When encountering these creatures, the outer disciples of Tianyuan Academy could only detour around them.


    Therefore, the Hunting Competition had a certain degree of danger. In every Hunting Competition, Tianyuan Academy would lose a portion of their disciples. Nevertheless, this was a reliable platform to cultivate the disciples from a practical angle. Without real experience, one could never be an inner disciple of the Tianshan Sword Sect.


    The next day, Ji Mo went back to the academy and gathered with some outer disciples who were joining the hunt. A large group of people left Tianyuan Academy and headed towards Mount Luofu which was 150 kilometers away which was not considered too far. By nightfall, they reached the foot of Mount Luofu. They set up camp and started a fire to prepare for the night before scaling the mountain the following day.


    A group of boisterous people gathered around, drinking and having fun around the campfire. Everyone knew that there would possibly be casualties after entering Mount Luofu. Survival depended on one''s skills. Two people could be drinking together today but could end up dead in Mount Luofu a few days later and end up as demonic beast food.


    The men gathered to drink, and once they drank too much, they started bragging to one another. That was a given with every one of them.


    Meanwhile, the girls had heart-to-heart conversations.


    Ji Mo did not join the group of people. He did not have many friends at the academy, so nobody looked for him and he could only stand afar, watching Mount Luofu in front of him quietly.


    "Hi, Ji Mo. I was looking for you." A crisp voice came from behind and Lan Qingcheng stood there with her hand stretched out as she patted Ji Mo''s shoulder.


    Ji Mo turned around and saw that she had changed into her training suit which completely brought out her exquisite figure. She had an ample bosom and a perky bottom firmly cinched by a tiny waist. She had little boots on her feet and her squeaky clean appearance garnered many men''s hot-blooded gazes.


    "Huh? Why are you here alone and not with the others to drink and chat?" Lan Qingcheng asked curiously.


    "I...I don''t have any friends, so I''m alone," Ji Mo simply replied.


    "No friends? That''s strange. How did you survive at the academy all these years?" she said amusedly.


    At this point, there were many people staring at Lan Qingcheng and Ji Mo. Her nubile body grabbed lots of attention.


    "Who is this girl? Why have I not seen her before?"


    "That''s Lan Qingcheng, a Lan disciple. Although she''s a disciple at the academy, she doesn''t come to the academy very often, so we don''t have any impression of her. I''ve only seen her once 6 months ago."


    "She''s the disciple from a prestigious family, but why is she so close to Ji Mo? It looks like they''re in the same team."


    "This chap''s fate with women is good. At the academy, he has a good relationship with Senior Sister Huo, and when he leaves the academy, he''s with another pretty girl. Man, why don''t I have such luck?"


    There were many admiring looks cast at Ji Mo, but there were also jealous glances as though he was an enemy.


    "Ji Mo, I didn''t know that you have good fates with women. Even Lady Lan is willing to be on the same team as you." At that moment, an unfriendly voice was heard. Dong Hao, Nangong Ye, Xia Jiaojiao, and a few other disciples sat together nearby, looking at Lan Qingcheng and Ji Mo.


    "Hmph, this group of children again!" Ji Mo scowled and a murderous instinct arose.

 Chapter 30：Gambling Date (II)

    "Lady Lan Qingcheng, I advise you to stay away from this chap. Don''t let him drag you down. In the entire Tianyuan Academy, everyone knows that this young master is the most incompetent in the Ji family. It may be dangerous for you and him to be in a team," said Xia Jiaojiao sarcastically.


    "Yeah, people like him are only a burden. Lady Lan, you should come and join us. Don''t let him impede you," Nangong Ye said.


    Lan Qingcheng looked at this group of people curiously, then she turned to look at Ji Mo and immediately understood what was happening. It looked like they were his enemies. However, she did not care much and refused to join them.


    Lan Qingcheng''s refusal irritated Dong Hao and the others. Dong Hao stood up and walked to the front of her. "Lady Lan, you don''t usually come to the academy, thus, of course, you wouldn''t know about the academy''s incidents and people. I''m very clear about Ji Mo''s ability. Being in the same team as him will only slow you down. We have many people in our group and each of us is stronger than him. Why would you suffer with him?"


    "That''s right." Nangong Ye and Xia Jiaojiao walked up and nodded.


    Xia Jiaojiao looked at Ji Mo disdainfully and said, "Ji Mo, I didn''t think you''d be a person who only knows how to hide behind a woman. First, it was Senior Sister Huo. Now, it''s Lady Lan. People like you are as timid as a mouse. Why do you even want to join the Hunting Competition? Just go home."


    In the face of being ridiculed by them, Ji Mo''s gaze started to turn cold, and he sneered, "Really? It looks like I''ll have to compete with all of you."


    Upon hearing that, Dong Hao was stunned, then he chuckled. "Compete? Do you even deserve to compete?"


    Ji Mo smiled and licked his lips before replying, "It''s just all talk now. Everything will be clear when we enter Mount Luofu tomorrow. My ability isn''t what you think it is. Once we enter Mount Luofu, we''ll let destiny decide our fate. All of you who aren''t afraid to die can come along."


    This was a challenge and a protest at the same time.


    Ji Mo did not raise his voice when he said that, but everyone heard him clearly. They stared at him strangely. Despite Dong Hao and the others being considered outstanding at the academy, Ji Mo dared to challenge them as though he had really devoured a bear''s heart and a leopard''s bile.


    Instantly, numerous strange gazes fell on Ji Mo, even Dong Hao, Nangong Ye, and Xia Jiaojiao looked surprised. They did not think that Ji Mo would have dared to say something like that.


    "Ji Mo, you''d better think carefully. Don''t think that you''ll become great by increasing your strength with the spiritual medicine that Senior Sister Huo gave you. You may have defeated Ji Shan, but you''re still not qualified to go against us," Dong Hao replied with a cold gaze.


    "Then, it''s up to you," Ji Mo said, "I have already said my piece. It''s up to you if you''re going to come. I''ll be waiting within Mount Luofu. You''ll never know what I''m capable of. Whether my strength is that of a mule or a horse, you''ll find out later."


    "Ji Mo, your words are too careless. Who do you think you are?! How dare you challenge us?!" a young man who was standing beside Dong Hao shouted in a deep voice. He was another outstanding disciple from the academy, Chen Ran, and he had the strength of a seventh-tier tempered body.


    Both parties were against each other. Dong Hao, Nangong Ye, Xia Jiaojiao, and Chen Ran glared viciously. Although Ji Mo was facing them alone, he was fearless. He touted and provoked them, taking everyone by surprise and they thought he had gone crazy.


    Each of them had true strength, and they were among the best in the academy. Going against any one of them would be difficult, let alone all of them.


    Lan Qingcheng gaped at Ji Mo in shock. She could see that those people were not weak, and even she did not dare say something like that. Ji Mo merely had the cultivation base of a sixth-tier tempered body, but he was throwing challenges at the academy''s distinguished disciples and not making much sense.


    "Haha, Ji Mo, the fact that you''re saying that surprises me!" At this instant, a peal of faint laughter came from nearby and Du Jia walked over with a few young people.


    "It''s Du Jia, and Tianyuan Academy''s three little warlords!"


    Suddenly, there was some commotion as even Dong Hao and his friends showed the newcomers respect.


    Du Jia was an influential figure in Tianyuan Academy. She was not only beautiful and had amazing qualities, but she was also Nan Hao''s paired cultivation partner. With Nan Hao''s reputation, nobody dared look down on her.


    The three young people beside Du Jia, namely Ning Xia, Fang Qinghe, Zuo Yaofei, were nicknamed the three little warlords. Although their ability could not compare to Nan Hao''s, they were seniors, and all of them had an eighth-tier tempered body cultivation base. They cultivated advanced-level tempered body techniques and each of them could exert a force of 1,500 kilograms. No one dared to provoke the three of them.


    With a smirk on her face, Du Jia glanced at Ji Mo. "Dong Hao, since he already said it, how could you turn down his offer? All of you are Nan Hao''s followers. You can''t lose at this point. He has initiated the challenge, so just accept it. Are you afraid of him?"


    "Alright, Senior Sister Du Jia is right. It''s not a bad thing to teach some people a lesson." Upon hearing Du Jia''s words, Dong Hao took a deep breath and nodded. Then, he glanced at Ji Mo with slight disdain.


    "I''ll be waiting for you all," Ji Mo sneered as well. He looked around, stopping briefly at the sight of Du Jia before turning around and leaving.


    Lan Qingcheng looked from left to right. After realizing it was not a good situation to be in, she left with Ji Mo.


    Dong Hao snickered as he looked at Du Jia with respect and said, "Senior Sister Du, don''t worry. I won''t let this brat leave Mount Luofu alive."


    "Yes, any of us is more than enough to deal with people like him. We don''t need to send more people." Chen Ran smirked scornfully.


    Du Jia looked at Ji Mo as he left without saying a word. After a moment of silence, she concluded, "Just teach him a small lesson. Let him know that not everyone can walk down the path of immortal cultivation."


    "Got it!" Dong Hao and the others nodded.


    ��


    Ji Mo stood in the silent night as though he had merged with the darkness. Lan Qingcheng walked up to him quietly and stood behind him.


    "It''s still not too late to regret now. You won''t be able to deal with them," she said after a moment of silence.


    Ji Mo turned around to look at the girl in front. "I''m sorry for getting you into this. If you''re not willing to go with me, you can leave now. I won''t blame you."


    His eyes twinkled like stars in the dark.


    His words had no other intentions and he was sincere. After all, Ji Mo had only met Lan Qingcheng for the first time and it was a coincidence that they were in the same group. It was not necessary to endanger someone else''s daughter.


    "It''s not that I''m afraid. You only have the strength of a sixth-tier tempered body. How can you go against so many of them? Furthermore, each of them is on the seventh to the eighth tier and they cultivate advanced-level tempered body techniques. You''re like an egg attacking a rock," Lan Qingcheng patiently advised him against it.


    "This egg...won''t be knocked over by them." Ji Mo chortled before disappearing into the darkness.


    As she peered into the darkness in front of her, Lan Qingcheng frowned and pursed her red lips to mutter, "This chap is really overestimating himself."

 Chapter 31：Wait, It Hasn’t Stuck

    The following day at dawn, the Hunting Competition officially began. 200 people from Tianyuan Academy were split into small hunting teams and they charged towards the endless mountains in front. Large groups of people roared as they threw themselves into the forest in front.


    Ji Mo and Lan Qingcheng stood together, looking at the continuous flow of people marching towards the forest. Among them were Dong Hao, Nangong Ye, and the others. Before they left, Dong Hao looked at Ji Mo scornfully and slid his index finger across his throat with murderous intent emerging in his eyes. Then, he turned around and went into the forest.


    "Let''s go," Ji Mo said as he took a leap forward. His foot stomped on the ground, propelling him like a missile. He chose a narrow road and went into the forest.


    Lan Qingcheng quickly followed suit with light footsteps and immediately flew over ten meters in front, following him closely.


    The ancient forest was canopied by the aged trees intertwined with vines. Occasionally, the roars of tigers and the screeches from apes coming from the depths of the forest could be heard.


    The instant he was inside the forest, Ji Mo instantly sensed the change in the surrounding atmosphere. There was a violent aura floating in the air. This was due to the place being occupied by demonic beasts all year round. The surrounding ambiance became different where the demonic beasts appeared.


    Ji Mo went further and further, leading the way, and the distance between him and the other Tianyuan Academy disciples grew.


    Lan Qingcheng followed behind Ji Mo and smiled. She seemed to be able to see through Ji Mo''s thoughts. The reason he chose this secluded path was perhaps to avoid Dong Hao and his allies. Thinking of that, Lan Qingcheng smirked. ''This guy isn''t that reckless. He knows that this is a secluded road. By doing this, he can avoid Dong Hao and the others. As long as they don''t meet, there won''t be a commotion.''


    Although Lan Qingcheng thought that way, she did not look down on Ji Mo. After all, Dong Hao and the others had great strength, so anybody would have made this decision.


    In fact, she was really mistaken about Ji Mo. He chose to stay away from the crowd not because he was afraid to meet them but because he did not want many people to know about his strengths. After Nan Hao tried to hunt him down previously, Ji Mo understood the truth, which was never to let an outsider be aware of his strength. Being discreet was also a survival skill.


    "Hey, Ji Mo, I''d better walk in front. You only have the strength of a sixth-tier tempered body. It''ll be dangerous if we encounter a powerful demonic beast," Lan Qingcheng kindly reminded him.


    "Oh? That''s thoughtful," he replied with a smile.


    Lan Qingcheng laughed. "Of course, didn''t I say I want to take care of you? My cultivation base is on the seventh tier, which is higher than yours. How could I let you lead the way?" After saying that, she drifted to his front and took the lead.


    Mount Luofu was indeed enormous, stretching endlessly with ancient forests everywhere.


    Ji Mo and Lan Qingcheng were deep in the jungle where they came across many wild beasts, but there was not even a sign of a demonic beast. They were slightly disappointed.


    A whole day passed by very quickly. Both of them did not acquire anything on that day. Lan Qingcheng and Ji Mo found a huge tree with plenty of leaves where both of them hid and rested while waiting for the next day to come.


    However, in the middle of the night, they were awakened by an irregular muffled sound. This was the sound from the beasts, but it was different from the ordinary wild beast. The roars sounded like dull, rolling thunders. Ji Mo and Lan Qingcheng''s eyes met at once as they knew that they were finally encountering a demonic beast.


    Brush, brush!


    Two of them jumped down from the large tree branch and lay in ambush in the shrub beside them, searching for the muffled sound.


    Not long after that, Ji Mo and Lan Qingcheng discovered where the sound was coming from. Behind a giant tree, two giant purple wolves were slumped on the ground. The two giant wolves were bigger than the common wild wolf. Their fur was shiny and their eyes had a spiritual glow. They were demonic beasts.


    "They''re mating!" Ji Mo''s eyes had a rare flash of glimmer.


    "This is the right time to attack," Lan Qingcheng said, ready to charge.


    Ji Mo quickly pulled her back and said, "Wait. Let me watch for a little while."


    "What''s there to watch? That''s two animals mating, not humans," she murmured with a burst of contempt in her eyes as she flung his hand away.


    Feeling slightly bashful, he whispered, "Even if we want to attack, not now. Wait for a while. Wait until the animals collapse before we move in."


    "What do you mean?" Lan Qingcheng could not help being surprised.


    "Er...you do really want me to explain in detail, hmm? I mean...we wait until these animals get stuck together before we attack. Then, they won''t have the strength to retaliate." Ji Mo giggled as a plan hatched in his mind.


    "You��" Lan Qingcheng blushed at once. Although Ji Mo was describing the physiology of the two giant wolves, his words still made her a little shy. Then, she rolled her eyes at him and laughed. "Don''t worry, little brother. I''ve promised to take care of you, so I''ll execute these two animals. They don''t look that strong. Just sit and watch."


    Before Ji Mo could reply, Lan Qingcheng had already darted out. Like a fantasy bubble, she seemed to exhibit some fancy footwork, leaving a trail of shadows midway and appearing beside the two wolves. Two powerful balls of energy erupted in her left and right hands respectively and landed on Lan Qingcheng''s palm, turning into two black marks.


    It looked like a type of martial art that was not low-level at all. Lan Qingcheng''s wealthy family was a cultivation tribe, hence the cultivation of the tempered body art and martial arts were more powerful than that of the ordinary folks.


    Bang!


    Both the black marks were discharged decisively by Lan Qingcheng and the black marks heavily hit the body of the giant wolf.


    The two giant wolves were in the midst of enjoying their coitus and did not expect an attack. Before they could realize what happened, Lan Qingcheng''s palms flung the burly giant wolves out and they landed heavily on the ground with a dull bang.


    "It really didn''t stick!." A dismayed Ji Mo sighed in the bushes.


    After Lan Qingcheng''s successful attack, she quickly retreated 10 meters away. At the same time, her palms emitted powerful energy and two black hand seals were formed on them.

 Chapter 32：Thunder Strike

    Howl! Howl!


    The two giant wolves were enraged after Lan Qingcheng''s sudden attack. The female wolf let out a long howl and stood up. Baring its teeth, it dashed towards Lan Qingcheng. As it crouched forward, black Qi filled its pupils that were overflowing with a demonic and murderous aura.


    Nearby, the male wolf stood up and snarled at Lan Qingcheng. The part where Lan Qingcheng hit it only bled a little and she had not caused any serious injury.


    "How''s that possible? My Qiankun Seal is an advanced-level martial art skill, but it''s not even hurt." Lan Qingcheng was shocked. The physique of the demonic beasts was bigger and stronger than humans. However, Lan Qingcheng had the strength of a seventh-tier tempered body. Combined with an advanced-level martial art skill, that blow alone should have crushed the giant wolf.


    Roar!


    It was at that moment that the two giant wolves tore out, their mouths wide open and ready to chomp down on Lan Qingcheng. Black demonic Qi spilled out of their jaws.


    Suddenly, Lan Qingcheng and these two demonic wolves unleashed a fierce battle. The two demonic wolves were more powerful than she could ever have imagined. Their bones were as hard as steel. Even if she attacked them with advanced-level martial arts skills, it just was not enough to injure them severely. For a moment, the forest was filled with tremendous demonic Qi.


    Facing the vengeance from the two demonic wolves, Lan Qingcheng darted around, demonstrating her enigmatic footwork. She moved unpredictably, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.


    Ji Mo hid in the bushes, observing the battle between Lan Qingcheng and the two demonic wolves. He frowned. The instincts of wolves were to kill, and Lan Qingcheng had interrupted their good time, so of course, they would exact revenge.


    Gradually, after facing attacks from the two demonic wolves, she could barely handle the fight. Although the two demonic wolves were gigantic, their movements were surprisingly agile. Finally, Lan Qingcheng could not find the opportunity to attack and was forced to retreat.


    Ji Mo sighed in the dark. He had overestimated Lan Qingcheng. The lady had no real battle experience at all and thought that she could be victorious just by relying on her strong cultivation base. However, the power of the two demonic wolves exceeded her judgment. If Ji Mo had not helped her, her life would have been in danger.


    "I really can''t do anything with her." Ji Mo sighed while the Celestial Devil Power churned in his body. Immense power rumbled in his flesh and blood, ready to erupt at any moment.


    Roar!


    The burly demonic wolf pounced and its claws swiped the front of Lan Qingcheng''s chest. Fortunately, her reaction was nimble and she swiftly performed her mysterious footwork to retreat. Otherwise, that swipe would have clawed away half of her breast.


    Drenched in sweat, Lan Qingcheng stumbled back panting. Her eyes were filled with reluctance and agitation. Initially, she wanted to show her abilities off to Ji Mo, but the two demonic wolves'' power exceeded her expectations. Instead, she was being embarrassed.


    She turned around to look at where Ji Mo was hiding only to find out that he was missing. Lan Qingcheng felt disappointed at once and gritted her teeth. ''That chap ran away? Horrible! I didn''t think he''d be the kind of person to back out. Before this, he was still boasting about challenging Dong Hao and others, but he turned out to be useless, abandoning me at this hour!''


    Roar!


    While Lan Qingcheng was in a daze, the huge demonic wolf rushed towards her with its jaws wide open, aiming for her snow-white neck as it was ready to tear her apart. Lan Qingcheng''s heart froze and she could even smell the horrible breath of the demonic wolf. She closed her eyes in despair. ''Am I really going to die just like that? How useless! I''ll actually die at the paws of these animals and will never see my parents again��''


    "Move aside!"


    As Lan Qingcheng was in her greatest despair, she heard a miraculous voice. She opened her eyes immediately and saw a figure descend from mid-air. The figure was scrawny but emitted a powerful aura. The young boy''s black hair and eyes were as bright as the stars.


    Ji Mo descended from mid-air without saying another word. The Celestial Devil Power pervaded his legs and he violently stomped on the body of the beefy demonic wolf. Along with a bang, the demonic wolf was crushed beneath his feet and the sound of its bones cracking could be heard.


    Howl!


    The cries of the wild wolf echoed throughout the forest. It sounded terribly miserable like a ghost and it sent chills down one''s spine.


    After that, Ji Mo lifted his leg once more while the mighty Celestial Devil Power flowed towards them with its infinite power, and he viciously kicked the other brawny demonic wolf.


    Bang!


    The demonic wolf flew out through the air like a ball after he kicked it. It slammed into an ancient tree, and then it let out a shriek.


    Lan Qingcheng was dumbfounded. While she gaped at the young man who was half a head shorter than her, she could not imagine how that diminutive little body could contain so much powerful energy that could have sent a demonic wolf the size of a calf flying in the air. The enormous demonic wolf and Ji Mo''s slight build were simply incomparable. The comparison made it even more obvious that Ji Mo''s kick was extremely powerful.


    "Are you okay?" Ji Mo turned around and flashed a gentle smile at her.


    At the sight of the tender and gentle smile, Lan Qingcheng was shocked at first. Being the young girl that she was, she felt outraged because she thought Ji Mo had abandoned her and escaped, leaving her in despair and hopelessness. However, when Lan Qingcheng was at her most helpless, Ji Mo had miraculously appeared and rescued her like a strike of lightning.


    In an instant, Lan Qingcheng felt a rush of multiple grievances, causing her to tear up and she shouted at Ji Mo, "You b*stard, you obviously knew that I couldn''t beat those two animals. Why didn''t you step in earlier? Why did you just let me feel so terrified? I thought you ran away��"


    After all, she was still a young 16- to 17-year-old girl who was still naive. Having just cheated death, Lan Qingcheng poured out a flood of tears.


    "Hey, why are you crying? You didn''t want me to attack in the first place," Ji Mo said with a face full of complaints.


    Roar!


    At that moment, the female wolf raced forward. It had witnessed Ji Mo''s kick send the male wolf flying, so there was fear in its eyes. This demonic beast had developed some spiritual intelligence and it knew that Ji Mo was powerful, so it did not attack him head-on. When it saw Ji Mo''s back facing it, the female wolf attacked ferociously, snapping at him.


    "Watch out! Behind you!" the sobbing Lan Qingcheng warned immediately.


    Ji Mo''s eyes had a dark glow and he turned around to face the demonic wolf which was just centimeters away. The demonic wolf''s jaws opened and he could even see the clear outline of its sharp fangs as though they were blades and swords, as well as smell the horrible breath that it emitted.


    ''Essence-Unifying Slab Splitter!'' Ji Mo shouted in his heart. Tremendous power formed on his palms. Then, he lifted both palms and pressed them viciously towards the head of the demonic wolf. Massive Celestial Devil Power erupted from his palms, and the demonic wolf''s head was crushed like a watermelon.


    Pop!


    Blood mixed with the demonic wolf''s pale white brains splattered everywhere. The demonic wolf''s entire head was crushed to a pulp by a single strike of Ji Mo''s palms. Its body slumped to the ground and never moved again.


    At that point, from the shattered head of the demon wolf, a shiny black bead bounced out and rolled down at Ji Mo''s feet.

 Chapter 33：A Lotus Root (I)

    Ji Mo picked up the black bead, and when he made contact with it, he instantly felt the powerful life force and spiritual energy it contained. He understood at once that it was the demon wolf''s demonic core. It was no wonder that the beast was so powerful to the extent that even Lan Qingcheng could not handle it. As it turned out, the demonic beast had already formed by the demonic core, so it was on par with a seventh-tier tempered body cultivator.


    Then, he walked to the front of the other demon wolf whose bones had all been crushed by his powerful kick. The male wolf lay panting on the ground and could not stand up.


    As Ji Mo sneered, he clenched his fists tightly. With the activation of the Celestial Devil Power, he thrust his fist at the male wolf''s skull mercilessly, cracking its skull open and retrieving another demonic core from the bloody flesh.


    Nearby, Lan Qingcheng saw everything. Her beautiful face became pale at the sight of Ji Mo''s violent actions. After all, she was a girl and was not used to such a bloody scene, hence she looked away.


    Lan Qingcheng looked at Ji Mo''s slim figure from the corner of her eyes. It was hard to imagine that such massive power was hidden within this scrawny body. From the slight nudge in her heart, she had to renew her outlook of Ji Mo. The seemingly delicate young boy was more than what he appeared to be.


    Perhaps, he was really qualified to challenge Dong Hao and his fellow exceptional students from Tianyuan Academy.


    Ji Mo held and played with the two demonic cores, feeling the life force and spiritual energy that they emitted as they brought his memory back to the demonic beast-related books that he had read before.


    The Neidan of the demonic beasts were extremely important for cultivators. Some cultivators hunted and killed the demonic beasts on purpose to extract their demonic core which was then refined to medicinal pills to aid the cultivators to upgrade their cultivation base. The demonic core of a single powerful demonic beast might even contain more spiritual energy and could be more expensive than some rare and precious Celestial medicines.


    Ji Mo squinted and recalled that swallowing demonic cores had been recorded in the Celestial Devil Tempering Arts. Once the demonic core was consumed, it would be refined by the Celestial Devil Power. Then, the essence, spiritual energy, and demonic Qi from the demonic core would undergo a conversion to become a native source of energy to nourish the body. Compared to some spiritual medicines, the effects of a single demonic core could be extremely potent.


    At the thought of that, excitement glimmered in Ji Mo''s eyes. He squeezed the demonic core, and after a short hesitation, he popped it into this mouth. Then, he chewed and swallowed it.


    When Lan Qingcheng walked over, she saw that scene. Her beautiful face was filled with shock, and in a hoarse voice that seemed to trail off, she said, "You''re crazy to swallow a raw demonic core! Spit it out at once! Otherwise, the demonic Qi within the demonic core will harm your body."


    "I''ve swallowed it," Ji Mo said.


    "You��" Lan Qingcheng turned pale and she panicked slightly. "Are you sure? Don''t you know the dangers of swallowing a raw demonic core? Although the essence from the demonic core helps with the cultivation, refining the demonic core into essence requires the tempering of an alchemy master. Swallowed just like that, it will likely damage your meridians and you could lose your cultivation base. After all, there''s an incompatibility between the demonic Qi from the demonic core and cultivators."


    Facing Lan Qingcheng''s dread, Ji Mo kept quiet.


    At that point, he could clearly feel that the demonic core had turned into a powerful aura that flooded his meridians. The aura contained massive amounts of life essence, spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and traces of black demonic Qi. However, the Celestial Devil Power in Ji Mo''s body came into effect very quickly.


    Under the effect of the Celestial Devil Power, the aura from the demonic core was quickly suppressed. Traces of life essence and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth were forcibly extracted, nourishing Ji Mo''s internal organs and every muscle in his body. Even the demonic Qi within the demonic core was transformed into his internal power, and every last bit of it was refined.


    The effect of the demonic core was no weaker than a portion of spiritual medicine.


    ''The Celestial Devil Power is truly domineering! It can even turn the demonic Qi within the demonic core into a native source of energy. It looks like I don''t have to spend money buying spiritual medicine. I''ll just have to kill demonic beasts for their demonic cores to save some money,'' Ji Mo thought excitedly.


    When Lan Qingcheng saw that Ji Mo was not talking, she became nervous. "Hey, Ji Mo, are you okay? Did you...swallow another one? Damn it!"


    Before Lan Qingcheng could finish her sentence, Ji Mo popped the second demonic core into this mouth. His throat twitched and he swallowed it with a gulp. He laughed and turned around to look at Lan Qingcheng to assure, "Don''t worry. Nothing''s going to happen. I practice a secret art that specializes in refining demonic cores, so nothing will happen even if I swallow a raw demonic core."


    "Really?" she asked suspiciously.


    As the disciple of a huge clan, she had never heard about this kind of secret art. The demonic Qi within the demonic core and the true Qi within a cultivator''s body were totally different. Therefore, before one could extract the spiritual energy within the demonic core, a pill-refining technique was required to remove the demonic Qi. It was a highly complicated process. Therefore, ordinary cultivators would not know how to use this complicated technique to refine a demonic core, and only an advanced-level demonic beast or a demonic tribe would find the attempt worthy.


    "Let''s go and kill other demonic beasts," Ji Mo suggested as he led the way.


    Lan Qingcheng''s beautiful eyes contained a splash of splendor as she could not help reassessing Ji Mo. The apparently scrawny and weak boy seemed like he had something to hide, but fortunately, Lan Qingcheng was not the suspicious type. Consequently, she did not overthink and actually felt glad that she had found a reliable teammate.


    One day, two days, three days��


    Three days went by. During these three days, the understanding between Ji Mo and Lan Qingcheng grew. They killed many demonic beasts such as a three-headed snake, a two-headed rhinoceros, a green-headed lion, and a winged albino tiger. They easily defeated the demonic beasts.


    Of course, they also came across some powerful ones. Among those was a golden monkey that Lan Qingcheng accidentally provoked. It was a type of primate demonic beast that had a perverse nature and was so powerful that it could easily rival a Qi Plundering Boundary master. Even Ji Mo could not fight it, so both of them could only run away and only managed to shake the perverted monkey off after tens of kilometers.


    "Wait here. I''ll go and get some water. Don''t wander around," Ji Mo instructed Lan Qingcheng.


    There was a touch of obedience on Lan Qingcheng''s beautiful expression as she nodded. As the days she spent with Ji Mo grew longer and longer, she realized that his ability was far beyond what he was assessed. Although it seemed like he only had the level of a sixth-tier tempered body, his true ability was above hers. Furthermore, Ji Mo was the one who slaughtered most of the demonic beasts.


    "Please be back soon," Lan Qingcheng said while she gazed at his back. These days, she seemed to have developed a dependence on him.


    "Mm-hmm." Ji Mo did not turn to look at her as he walked away wielding a longsword that he had requested from Lan Qingcheng.

 Chapter 34：A Lotus Root (II)

    Ji Mo overlooked one of the most important issues during the hunt this time, which was not arming himself with a weapon. However, given his 1,500 kilograms of force and his domineering Celestial Devil Power, ordinary demonic beasts could not get close to him. Even with his bare hands, Ji Mo could protect himself.


    After walking for quite a distance without taking any breaks, Ji Mo finally came to a small lake. The lake was not very big, so the other end could be seen in a glance. The water was sparkling clearly.


    Ji Mo took out the vessel and squatted by the lakeside to collect some water. All of sudden, he seemed to sense something. He felt that there was a floating light throbbing in his left eye. The presence of this floating light made him feel as though his left eye was able to see many things clearly. Although it was very vague, it felt intriguing.


    "That''s the effect of the Broken God''s Eye! Can there be a spiritual medicine here?" His heart pounded wildly. He had fully refined the Qi movement from the fraction of the Broken God''s Eye which Old Man Qingzhu had transferred into his left eye some time ago, merging it with his left eye. However, Ji Mo did not really grasp the Broken God''s Eye, hence he had been working very hard to cultivate this visual technique.


    Unfortunately, there was not the slightest result.


    However, at this moment, the floating light in Ji Mo''s left eye flickered, and the Broken God''s Eye reacted. He immediately thought of the effect of the Broken God''s Eye. Besides being able to copy the martial arts and divine power others exhibited, the Broken God''s Eye could also see through everything and find spiritual items hidden in mountains and rivers.


    Given Ji Mo''s preliminary cultivation of the Broken God''s Eye, looking for strange treasure aside, he could not even copy the divine power of others. Still, if he encountered rare treasures, it would be an opportunity to instigate a reaction out of the Broken God''s Eye. At that point, that very sensation appeared.


    ''Broken God''s Eye!'' Ji Mo shouted in his heart. His left eye turned white at once, and the floating light flickering in his eyeball became more and more obvious, but he still could not see clearly.


    In order for the Broken God''s Eye to find spiritual items, it was necessary to cultivate it to the second tier. Therefore, Ji Mo could only perceive things vaguely for now.


    ''There''s a spiritual medicine in this lake, and I''m pretty sure I''m spot-on!'' Ji Mo''s heart was burning with excitement. He looked around and made sure that there was no one. Then, he jumped into the lake with a large splash.


    The lake was about ten meters deep and was not very big. Otherwise, if the spiritual medicine was buried deep underground, given Ji Mo''s attainment of the Broken God''s Eye, he would not have discovered the existence of the spiritual medicine.


    In a single breath, Ji Mo dove to a depth of more than ten meters. Underwater, he used the Broken God''s Eye once again. The pupil of his left eye turned white as a floating light sparkled in it. In the end, he came to a pile of rocks. Within a crack in the pile of rocks, Ji Mo saw a shiny portion of golden lotus root.


    The lotus root was only partially exposed and it was flashing in gold. It was very extraordinary at a glance, and Ji Mo could clearly feel the exuberant spiritual energy that it emitted.


    ''Sure enough, there''s spiritual medicine. Furthermore, it''s at least a fourth-tier spiritual medicine, but the spiritual energy it contains is more abundant than ordinary fourth-tier spiritual medicine. Is it about to evolve into the fifth tier?''


    Ji Mo was delighted. He knew that some spiritual medicines had growth value. For some spiritual medicines, if left unpicked after years of growth, may even grow into immortal grass.


    He reached out and grabbed the lotus root, trying to pull it out of the crack carefully. However, he soon discovered that it seemed to be deeply rooted. Ji Mo gradually tugged even harder, but he feared that the lotus root would be damaged, so he did not know if he should use more or less strength.


    "Hey!" Ji Mo grinned and came up with a better way. Using the weight of his entire body, he struck the huge stone with a punch. Even though he could not exert his maximum strength in the water, the stone was still crushed with a single blow, and he successfully obtained the lotus root.


    The shiny golden lotus root measured half a meter long, and it was crystal clear. It seemed like there was a halo rippling within the lotus root. Holding it in his hands, Ji Mo could not seem to express the joy in his heart. He was really blessed because he did not expect to encounter spiritual medicine in such a deserted place.


    Suddenly, Ji Mo felt something near the water.


    When he turned back suddenly to look, he saw a huge jiaoyu wading through the water towards him. This jiaoyu was as large as a bull. Its body was covered in black scales and it had a pair of horns on its head. Although it was a fish, there were four small claws that were not very long protruding from its belly.


    A jiaoyu was a demon that was half-beast and half-fish. Although its bloodline was not very powerful, it was still a mutant.


    At that moment, the jiaoyu stared at Ji Mo and the golden lotus root in his hands with its red eyes. A dash of almost-human hatred was clearly visible in its eyes. The jiaoyu''s nostrils emitted two streams of white gas and a string of water droplets formed in the water.


    "Err..." Ji Mo was slightly surprised. He had long heard that most of the spiritual medicines growing outside the mountains were guarded by demonic beasts. Some spiritual medicines were discovered by the demonic beasts before they were formed. These demonic beasts would guard it to wait for the spiritual medicine to mature.


    Now, he had come across such a case.


    Roar!


    The jiaoyu roared with its jaws wide open. Although it was in the water, its angry bellow was like a lion''s. Two white streams of air gushed out of the jiaoyu''s nostrils again as it flicked its huge tail violently in the water. Then, it rushed straight up to Ji Mo like a torpedo with its huge mouth ready to snap at him.


    "Oh my god!" Without overthinking, Ji Mo immediately headed for the surface.


    The jiaoyu was not weak. Its aura was stronger than the two purple giant wolves that Ji Mo had encountered before. Just its aura alone was enough to compare to some tempered body masters. At that point, Ji Mo knew he could not do anything to the jiaoyu while in the water, but if it came to the shore, then the tables could be turned.


    Ji Mo waded through the water by exerting all of his strength in order to get out of the water as fast as he could, but the jiaoyu was chasing him closely from behind, and it let out a deafening roar like a lion again.


    The ten seconds or so that he took to get out felt like an eternity. Ji Mo finally got out of the water, but while he was still in the water, the Celestial Devil Power burst out of him, pulling his body out of the water. He seemed like a Jiaolong coming out of the sea as he somersaulted in the air and landed firmly on the ground.


    Boom!


    Water splashed all over as the jiaoyu also rushed out. The four small paws under its belly squirmed and evolved into muscles, becoming extremely thick and powerful. It landed steadily on the ground. The jiaoyu had a peculiar bloodline since it was half-beast and half-fish. It actually belonged to the amphibian class, so Ji Mo was not surprised at all.


    Clang!


    Ji Mo pulled out the long sword that he had previously stabbed into the ground on the shore. A cold flash appeared on the long sword, fuelled by the Celestial Devil Power, and a violent burst of energy enveloped its shaft. The long sword buzzed lightly and a sword Qi faintly emerged.


    "Do you want it?" Ji Mo shook the golden lotus root in his hand, then shoved it into his arms. At the same time, he hooked his finger towards the jiaoyu opposite him.


    The jiaoyu roared so deafeningly that it could have shaken the branches in the forest. Then, with its huge body, it quickly rushed up to him. Despite its huge body, it could still travel at an unbelievable speed. The scales on its body that were closely overlapped were exceptionally hard, forming a kind of armor over it.


    Ji Mo held the long sword in his hand tightly, standing calmly in his spot as he watched the wild jiaoyu rush to him without a trace of panic. Recently, he had been fighting demonic beasts every day, so his actual combat experience had become richer. He knew that panicking at this moment would only cause a mess. He stood still as he held the sword as if to say, "Your sword is my sword, and my sword is your sword."

 Chapter 35：Weak Genius (I)

    Roar!


    The jiaoyu rushed to the front of Ji Mo''s body as its violent breath surged. It opened its jaws wide at his head, trying to swallow him alive.


    At the same time, Ji Mo made a slight misstep. Relying on the power from the charging jiaoyu, he turned his body violently and thrust the long sword in his hand. The long sword was enveloped in the Celestial Devil Power''s ruthless aura that was so sharp and wild that even the hard scales on the body of the jiaoyu could not defend it. The long sword penetrated its scales.


    Pop!


    Half of the sword was plunged into the jiaoyu''s body. Because it had rushed out at the same time with all its might, it simply had no time to slow down, and with the help of that inertia, the long sword made a huge hole in the jiaoyu.


    Roar!


    The cries of the jiaoyu resounded through the forest, and blood spewed out. It had asked for the injury. Had it not rushed out with such intensity, its injury might not have been so severe.


    Ji Mo narrowed his eyes as a dark glow appeared in them, and then he stomped viciously on the ground. Immediately, his body flew like an arrow as he leaped onto the jiaoyu''s back. Gripping the sword in both hands, he injected his ferocious energy into the long sword again and stabbed brutally.


    Clang!


    Sparks flew.


    However, this time, the long sword did not penetrate the jiaoyu''s scaly armor. Instead, it broke in two with a crisp sound.


    Ji Mo could not help but frown. Despite the long sword being made from the finest material, it was still constructed of steel. Even if it was good steel, it could not withstand the long-term sanctification of Ji Mo''s Celestial Devil Power. Ordinary weapons could never sustain the domineering Celestial Devil Power.


    "Useless piece of iron!" Ji Mo scowled and threw the broken sword aside.


    Roar! Roar! Roar!


    While the jiaoyu struggled violently as it seemed to feel Ji Mo standing on its back, it wanted to throw him off. Its huge body fought aggressively with its tremendous power. Ji Mo gritted his teeth, then he aggressively stomped his feet on its back. Both feet were like awls that directly pierced its scales.


    Pop! Pop!


    His feet penetrated its back, and blood spewed out of its back.


    "Oww-oooo!"


    This time, the jiaoyu almost released a swine-like howl and shook its body even harder, but Ji Mo was like a nail firmly stuck on its back.


    "Honestly, stay down!" Ji Mo shouted. The powerful energy around his fist slammed into the head of the jiaoyu. His strength of more than 1,500 kilograms was concentrated in his small fist, making his punch strong enough to split a rock.


    Boom!


    It took the punch and its huge head suddenly swayed as it was apparently blinded by the blow.


    Afterward, Ji Mo did not wait for the jiaoyu to regain its stance, and his fists rained on its head continuously, emitting constant dull bangs.


    Each of Ji Mo''s punches contained the power of terror. The continuous punches contained more than 1,500 kilograms of force. Even if the jiaoyu was strong, it would not be able to bear the mighty punches. Gradually, blood flowed out of its nostrils, mouth, and eyes. Its skull was full of cracks that Ji Mo''s fists created.


    Finally, under Ji Mo''s final mighty punch, the jiaoyu''s skull was shattered with a gaping hole. As its enormous body crashed to the ground, a cloud of dust flew up. When Ji Mo''s fist was withdrawn from its skull, he held a glossy black bead that was the size of a longan.


    It was the jiaoyu''s demonic core.


    ''Hey, this demonic core is stronger than those of the demonic beasts that I''ve hunted before.'' Ji Mo smirked slightly, then he threw the demonic core directly into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed it.


    Upon swallowing the demonic core, it immediately turned into a surging demon Qi and penetrated Ji Mo''s body. However, the Celestial Devil Power soon suppressed the violent demonic Qi in his flesh and blood. Then, the Celestial Devil Power transformed it into spiritual energy that was compressed into his body and nourished his muscles.


    Ji Mo grinned and pulled out the golden lotus root in his arms again. He gloated to himself. ''This is already a maturing fifth-tier spiritual medicine, and it contains plenty of heaven and earth spiritual energy. The whole time I''ve been swallowing demonic cores that are then turned into spiritual energy and stored in my body. If I refine this spiritual medicine, I believe I can break through the seventh-tier tempered body!''


    It was less than a month since Ji Mo''s last breakthrough, and during this period, he had swallowed a large number of demonic cores and refined the spiritual energy within them. He felt that he was about to have a breakthrough again. If anyone else found out about the speed of his cultivation, he would be labeled a demon.


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!


    While Ji Mo was deep in thought, several shadows came out of the forest next to him. All of them were young men and women from Tianyuan Academy, and each of them had a prominent aura. They were handsome men and beautiful women. They were none other than Ji Mo''s "old friends": Dong Hao, Nangong Ye, Chen Ran, and Xia Jiaojiao.


    Besides these four people, there was also a young girl that was full of charm and her beauty no lesser than Xia Jiaojiao''s. She was following Chen Ran in an intimate manner.


    "Those who should come will always come." Ji Mo smiled and turned his head to look at these people as a dark glow flickered in his eyes.


    "It''s really not easy finding you." Dong Hao and the others stepped forward, gazing into Ji Mo''s eyes while being full of ridicule like a cat mocking a mouse. "Ji Mo, words have consequences. Do you remember what you said before entering Mount Luofu? "


    "Of course, I do, but it''s okay if you don''t," Ji Mo replied blandly.


    "Hey, hey, hey, how could I forget? Didn''t you say you were going to challenge us? Now that we are here, what are you going to do?" With a burning gaze, Dong Hao sneered at Ji Mo, "This time, there''s no one to save you. You have to pay for what you said."


    At that moment, the girl behind Chen Ran exclaimed as she greedily eyed the golden lotus root in Ji Mo''s hands, "He''s holding a spiritual medicine. Oh God, what strong spiritual energy. Could this be a fifth-tier spiritual medicine?!"


    Her shout instantly made Dong Hao, Nangong Ye, Chen Ran, and Xia Jiaojiao simultaneously aware of the golden lotus root in Ji Mo''s hands. Everyone''s eyes twinkled with excitement and they looked greedily at the portion of the golden lotus root in Ji Mo''s hands.


    Fifth-tier spiritual medicine was very valuable. It was highly sought after even for people like Dong Hao who was an exceptional student in Tianyuan Academy. When it came to this kind of precious spiritual medicine, few people could have self-restraint, let alone Dong Hao and the others.


    "Haha, we are so fortunate to have even encountered a fifth-grade spiritual medicine!" Chen Ran grinned excitedly and licked his lips, his eyes full of delight.


    "Brother Chen Ran! I want a portion of this spiritual medicine too," the girl who was behind Chen Ran said tenderly as she tugged his arm.

 Chapter 36：Weak Genius (II)

    By the side, Xia Jiaojiao''s jealousy reared its ugly head, and she grabbed onto Chen Ran''s other arm to whine, "Big Brother Chen, you can''t side Ling''er. I want it too..." She leaned her entire body on him, almost falling into his arms.


    On the other side, the young girl named Ling''er also threw herself at Chen Ran, exuding an aura to rival Xia Jiaojiao as if it was a competition.


    Sandwiched between the affection of the two girls, Chen Ran felt proud. A smile flitted across his handsome face as he said, "Well, well, well, we all discovered this spiritual medicine together, so everyone has a share in it. Dong Hao, Nangong Ye, you don''t have any comments, do you?"


    As though the spiritual medicine belonged to them, they completely ignored Ji Mo.


    "Of course." Dong Hao nodded with a smile. Then, he turned to Ji Mo, his eyes focused on the spiritual medicine in Ji Mo''s hands. "Speaking of which, you''re really lucky to find a fifth-tier spiritual medicine in a place like this, but so what? You can''t have what isn''t yours."


    "Do you mean this?" Ji Mo shook the golden lotus root in his hand. Then, he chuckled while cradling it. "The spiritual medicine is now in my hands, so it''ll have my last name on it. What makes you think you can change its ownership?"


    Ji Mo glanced at all of them. Each of them was not weak in any way as they were the best in Tianyuan Academy and could be described as a team of geniuses. Anyone else who saw a group of people like them gathering together would not just obediently surrender the spiritual medicine but would also flatter them.


    However, Ji Mo would never do such a thing.


    "What makes us think we can? You''ll find out soon," Chen Ran taunted, the arrogance in his expression apparent. He marched forward with the powerful energy in his body erupting in between strides. When the power was released from his body, it materialized into the head of a Jiaolong in front of him, and the muffled roar of a dragon came from within his body.


    Jiaolong Tempering Art!


    This was an advanced-level body tempering art, which was not below Nan Hao''s Dragon-Elephant Tempering Art, though each had its own strengths. When one had completed the cultivation of the Jiaolong Tempering Art, one would have the full display of a dragon''s power. Although overturning mountains and filling the oceans would still be impossible, one would be able to create and destroy rolling waves. A single punch could even make crashing waves retreat.


    Chen Ran''s cultivation base was on the seventh-tier tempered body, so he could fully unleash the effects of the Jiaolong Tempering Art. If he completed the cultivation, he would possess the power of a Jiaolong.


    "Elder Brother Chen Ran, come on! Beat that scrawny sprout into the ground!" The girl whose name was Ling''er waved her little fists to cheer for Chen Ran.


    Xia Jiaojiao turned to Dong Hao and said, "Are you going to let Elder Brother Chen Ran deal with Ji Mo by himself? Aren''t you going to help?"


    Dong Hao smiled lightly and said, "Relax. Chen Ran is the strongest among his peers in the academy. Besides, he''s talented and intelligent. He''s also recognized as a genius, not to mention the fact that he cultivates Jiaolong Tempering Art. Let''s just enjoy the show."


    Chen Ran walked forward breezily while facing Ji Mo with a smile full of cynicism. "Don''t give me so much trouble. Just pass the spiritual medicine to me, then kowtow to apologize for your mistakes. As for the arrogance you showed outside Mount Luofu, I won''t blame you."


    Ji Mo narrowed his eyes at Chen Ran who was a publicly recognized genius in Tianyuan Academy. Indeed, Chen Ran had the aura of a genius. He was arrogant, frivolous, and conceited. Ji Mo only replied to him with a single word, "Fool!"


    Hiss!


    Chen Ran inhaled deeply as the murderous intent in his eyes surfaced. "Do you know who you are speaking to? I have a thousand ways to make you suffer a terrible death!"


    Not far away, Ling''er smirked. "Little brother, you''d better hand over the spiritual medicine. Otherwise, Elder Brother Chen Ran is going to lose his temper and that won''t be good��"


    Hearing that, Chen Ran smiled at Ji Mo. "Did you hear that? Making me angry isn''t good��"


    Whoosh!


    However, before Chen Ran could even finish speaking, Ji Mo''s figure suddenly flickered as he rushed at the latter at a shocking speed and arrived before him in the blink of an eye. Without saying anything, he activated the Celestial Devil Power and drove his fist towards Chen Ran''s chest.


    "Hmm��"


    Chen Ran could not respond in time. By the time he realized it, he saw Ji Mo''s fist coming at him with a powerful ball of energy surrounding it. The power seemed to be full of rage like the Celestial Devil charging out of hell. Under the attack of this aura, Chen Ran discovered he could not move at all as it had suppressed him.


    Bang!


    The heavy blow abruptly struck his chest and immediately sent his whole body flying backward in the air like a deflated ball.


    At that point, Ji Mo attacked even faster. He stepped in front to brutally grab Chen Ran''s bare feet. Filled with Celestial Devil Power, there was a faint red hellish glow under Ji Mo''s skin. He picked Chen Ran''s body up fiercely, then smashed it onto the ground with a loud, dull noise. Then, he lifted him up to smash him down again repeatedly.


    Bang, bang, bang, bang!


    Huge pits were formed in the ground as dust flew everywhere. Ji Mo was like a crazed demon. He lifted Chen Ran up like the latter was a little chick and kept smashing him to the ground like he was using a meteor hammer. The scene was extremely shocking. Chen Ran, who had been so arrogant just a moment ago, was helplessly shrieking in Ji Mo''s grip.


    Bang!


    Ji Mo''s final blow sent Chen Ran hard to the ground, creating a human-shaped crater. Chen Ran was already covered in blood, and his head was pulverized. Barely able to stand up, he panted hard.


    Fortunately, Chen Ran''s cultivation of the Jiaolong Tempering Art aided his body to become stronger and tougher. Otherwise, with the way Ji Mo was attacking him, who could have withstood it? Even the powerful Chen Ran could not stand up anymore.


    Ji Mo walked up to step on Chen Ran''s chest and laugh. "Are you angry now? Why are you still so weak?"


    Not far away, Dong Hao, Nangong Ye, and the others were dumbfounded. Everything had happened so quickly. Earlier, the haughty Chen Ran''s aura had completely suppressed Ji Mo, but in a matter of seconds, he was quickly defeated and had certainly lost. Dong Hao and the others were simply unable to accept this reality.


    Chen Ran was a genius. A genius! How could he have lost?


    "Elder Brother Chen Ran, how could ..." Ling''er was pale as she shook all over. Chen Ran could be defeated, what more so easily. This was something she could not imagine.


    Xia Jiaojiao''s face was also full of horror and disbelief. She shared the same frame of mind as Ling''er.


    "Impossible! Chen Ran has been defeated. Did Ji Mo really become that strong?" Nangong Ye was even more terrified. He had seen Ji Mo in action twice, and both times, Ji Mo surprised him. This was definitely not a coincidence.


    At that point, Chen Ran, who was sprawled on the ground, spat out a mouthful of blood. No one knew if he was hurt or provoked by Ji Mo''s mockery.


    The dark glow in Ji Mo''s eyes flickered as his Celestial Devil Power was in full view. He said, "I admit that you are indeed a genius because you have a thousand ways to make me die a torturous death, and I only have one way of crippling you, so...I''m not as good as you!"


    "You...What do you want to do?" Chen Ran looked horrified. At such a close distance, he could fully feel the immense Celestial Devil Power aura radiating from Ji Mo''s body.


    Crack!


    Ji Mo stepped on Chen Ran''s knee and added his entire bodyweight until Chen Ran''s entire leg was deformed as he broke the bones and crushed them into pieces.

 Chapter 37：Closed-Door Cultivation Breakthrough

    "Argh!" Chen Ran''s cries rang in everyone''s ears. His features crumpled as the immense pain twisted his initially handsome face to become hideous.


    "Ji Mo, stop!" The expression on the faces of Dong Hao and the others changed, and they rushed forward.


    However, Ji Mo had no intention of ceasing the attack. He lifted his leg again. This time, he viciously stepped between Chen Ran''s legs with a really heavy blow, causing the agonized man to let out a far more woeful scream before he passed out. Ji Mo trampled his family jewels into a pulp, so he was unable to use them for the rest of his life.


    Dong Hao, Nangong Ye, Xia Jiaojiao, and Ling''er, who were about to dash forward, all stood petrified on their spot. Ji Mo''s ruthless ways shocked them to their core. Even if they were the best in Tianyuan Academy, they were still young boys and girls who were 16 to 17 years old after all, and they had never seen someone acting so viciously.


    The Celestial Devil Tempering Art had seriously changed Ji Mo''s aura. Usually, his reserve aura was warm and even goofy sometimes, but once the Celestial Devil''s aura was released, he immediately turned into a merciless Celestial Devil.


    "You...Ji Mo, do you know what you have done?! How dare you do this to Chen Ran?! I''ll report all these to the academy. You''d better watch out," Dong Hao said, gritting his teeth.


    "Do you think you''d have the chance to do so?" Ji Mo chuckled.


    "W-what do you mean?"


    Whoosh!


    The next moment, as Ji Mo''s figure moved to the front of Dong Hao, the Celestial Devil Power condensed on his palms, slapping down hard.


    Pop!


    Dong Hao did not even had the chance to retaliate because his entire skull caved into his chest cavity as a result of Ji Mo''s smack, and he dropped dead to the ground.


    "Argh!" Xia Jiaojiao and Ling''er screamed at the top of their lungs. The two girls collapsed to the ground, shuddering uncontrollably. The gory scene would remain their eternal nightmare.


    Nangong Ye was still standing except for the fact that his pants were warm and wet. He was as pale as a ghost and his lips moved incoherently as he was unable to speak.


    "You have to die even if you don''t speak," Ji Mo said blandly.


    "Wait! I''ll s-speak...Don''t kill me��" Nangong Ye mumbled.


    Puff!


    Immediately after that, Ji Mo pointed his finger between Nangong Ye''s eyebrows, and a powerful energy penetrated Nangong Ye''s brain, killing him. "You''ll still die talking nonsense."


    Nangong Ye''s body also collapsed to the ground. His face still had an expression of reluctance, probably distressed by the thought that he should not have messed with someone like Ji Mo. If he had not formed an ally with Ji Shan at the beginning, there would not have been so many incidents like this. He would not have also fallen into Ji Mo''s hands. Otherwise, with that talent that Nangong Ye had, he definitely had the qualifications to be an inner disciple of the Tianshan Sword Sect.


    His life would have been��


    Ji Mo''s cold gaze turned to Xia Jiaojiao and Ling''er again. The two girls had already lost all color on their faces with tears rushing down their cheeks.


    "Junior brother, d-don''t kill us. We know what we''ve done wrong now." Xia Jiaojiao was in great distress. The Ji Mo she was facing now and the wimpy young master she knew back then were totally two different people.


    Ji Mo laughed coldly. "Although I don''t mind killing women, there are some women that I won''t kill." Having said that, Ji Mo immediately extended his arms and picked Xia Jiaojiao and Ling''er up. Then, he sped into the forest and disappeared in the blink of an eye.


    Not long after that, Ji Mo carried the two girls through the dense forest and found a brutal demonic beast. Once the demonic beasts saw him and the two girls, its eyes instantly flashed with brutality. It opened its mouth as saliva dripped from it, rushing towards them.


    Ji Mo smirked. He tapped on some points on Xia Jiaojiao''s and Ling''er''s body to seal off a few of their major acupuncture points, causing the energy in their bodies to stop functioning. The two girls understood his plans at once, and immediately their blood ran cold. Ling''er even cried out loud, begging him for mercy.


    However, how could Ji Mo give them a chance? His ruthlessness was not because of anything else but because Xia Jiaojiao and Ling''er had witnessed him killing Dong Hao and Chen Ran, so he could not let them live. Otherwise, if this incident reached the academy''s senior management, it would be very troublesome because he had killed the best in Tianyuan Academy.


    Roar!


    At that moment, Ji Mo hurled Xia Jiaojiao and Ling''er, whose powers had been sealed by him, toward the demonic beast and ran away without even looking back. After he ran more than a few hundred meters away, only then did he hear the demonic beast''s frenzied roar of excitement that shook the forest.


    Ji Mo smiled slightly and the dark glow in his eyes faded. The hellish red glow under his skin also vanished, making him revert once again to his gentle and weak appearance that looked harmless to humans and animals alike. No one would have been able to tell that this person was the brutal Ji Mo just a moment ago.


    After more than 10 minutes, Ji Mo went back to the lakeside. He had to dispose of Dong Hao and the others'' bodies. Otherwise, it would be unimaginable if somebody found them. When Ji Mo reappeared at the lakeside, he was stunned by what he saw. The traces of the fight were still there and so were the bloodstains, but the bodies of Dong Hao and the others were nowhere to be seen. Even the badly injured Chen Ran was missing.


    ''It''s impossible. Could someone have moved their bodies away? Or were they taken away by demonic beasts? Hopefully, it''s the latter. I didn''t kill Chen Ran. If he makes it back to Tianyuan Academy alive, then I''ll be in trouble,'' thought Ji Mo as he turned around to look for Lan Qingcheng.


    When he reached the place where he was separated from Lan Qingcheng, he realized that she was missing, and only a piece of jade was left behind.


    Ji Mo picked up the jade and let his consciousness penetrate it. He heard Lan Qingcheng''s voice saying in his mind, ''Little Brother Ji Mo, my clan sent news to request for my return. Therefore, I won''t be able to accompany you to the Hunting Competition. Due to the urgency, I didn''t have the chance to say goodbye. Don''t miss me��"


    "I''m not missing you! She makes it sound as if we''re lovers," Ji Mo said with a snicker as he kept the jade and quickly left.


    Since Lan Qingchen had left, he would have to rely on himself for the rest of the Hunting Competition.


    However, Ji Mo had a more important task in hand, which was to find a quiet place for his closed-door cultivation to break through the seventh-tier tempered body. Since there was still time before the end of the Hunting Competition and he had consumed a huge amount of demonic cores, the Celestial Devil Power turned the demonic Qi in the demonic cores into spiritual energy to nourish the body. Furthermore, Ji Mo''s body had stashed away massive amounts of spiritual energy and he also found a maturing fifth-tier spiritual medicine.


    With these as a guarantee, a seventh-tier tempered body breakthrough would just be child''s play.

 Chapter 38：Lin’er Attacks

    In Mount Luofu, demonic beasts ran wild in the mountains and forests.


    Within a small valley, a huge rock blocked a cave. There had not been a single rustle of movement in the cave for three to four days, but on the fifth day, continuous whistles came from within the cave mixed with the roars of a Celestial Devil. It seemed that this cave that was blocked by rocks was the entrance to hell, and an unparalleled Celestial Devil would soon burst out from within.


    Day six and day seven went by.


    Seven days had passed. Finally, on the seventh day, the rocks that blocked the entrance to the cave erupted and a figure came flying out before landing on the ground hard with his face in the dirt.


    "F*ck! Pooh!" As Ji Mo struggled to get up from the ground, he spat out the dirt in his mouth. "Damn it, I overshot with that power..."


    In just seven days, Ji Mo was reincarnated again. With the help from the power of the demon cores he accumulated and the golden lotus root, he successfully broke through the seventh-tier tempered body. As a result, the Celestial Devil Power grew even more powerful, and beneath his flesh, it practically materialized. The moment the Celestial Devil Power was activated, strange sigils were formed on the surface of Ji Mo''s skin. These sigils belonged to the runes of the Celestial Devil and they contained the truth of hell.


    If Ji Mo combined it with the advanced martial arts skill, the Essence-Unifying Slab Splitter, he absolutely would have no problem exerting a force of more than 2,000 kilograms in a single breath. This power he possessed was much stronger than Nan Hao when he had been on the eight-tier. It was on a whole different level.


    A ninth-tier tempered body cultivator would probably not be a match for Ji Mo now, but he was still slightly less powerful than a Qi Plundering Boundary master. After all, Qi Plundering Boundary cultivators were true cultivators whereby True Qi had formed in their bodies and they could perform divine power. Even if Ji Mo had tremendous strength, it would not matter.


    Of course, with his current abilities, he would not have trouble escaping from a Qi Plundering Boundary master.


    In the quiet forest, a stunning tiger came out of a bush. The tiger was as huge as an elephant, its limbs thick with power as it moved very swiftly. However, this gorgeous tiger was covered in bloodstains, and it seemed terrified. It frequently turned back to steal glances before running off again.


    "Goshawk Strike!"


    All of a sudden, a shout came from within the forest. On top of a giant tree, a shadow bolted downwards with arms wide open like a hunting goshawk. Ji Mo contracted his fingers like a goshawk''s claw and aimed for the head of the gorgeous tiger.


    Pfft!


    Blood spattered and Ji Mo sliced the tiger''s head off cleanly. Its huge body continued to lumber forward until it lay dead with a thud on the ground, motionless.


    Then, Ji Mo walked up and stepped on the corpse of the tiger with a leg. Then he sliced the tiger''s belly open with his blade-like palm and pulled out a pellet of black demonic core. The position of the demonic cores was particularly dependent on the species of the demonic beast.


    Ji Mo had obtained this information from the ancient books, hence it was not difficult for him to retrieve the demonic cores.


    "Number fifty." Ji Mo smirked and swallowed the demonic core immediately. With the Celestial Devil Power refining the spiritual energy located in the demonic core, swallowing the demonic cores was like eating candy. If anyone else saw this, they would have a shock of their lives.


    After that, Ji Mo pulled out the most precious thing from the tiger''s corpse and threw it into his waist pocket as proof of how many demonic beasts he had hunted. When the Hunting Competition was over, Tianyuan Academy would evaluate the numbers of demonic beasts that one had hunted based on these items, and the participants would be ranked accordingly.


    "Okay, next station!" Ji Mo strode to leave.


    At that moment, a sword flash flew through the pitch-black night sky. Ji Mo turned to look and saw a girl in red within the flash. She was stepping on the Flaming Sword light as she fell from the sky. The girl in red was none other than Huo Lin''er.


    However, Huo Lin''er was pale and she had a slight grimace on her face. There were even faint bloodstains on the corner of her red lips. She fell mid-air while shifting the Flaming Sword light, and when she saw Ji Mo, her entire body fell uncontrollably, crashing onto him.


    Her soft, fragrant body fell into his arms, and Ji Mo hugged her subconsciously. Huo Lin''er squashed him on the ground. When she fell, coincidentally, her buttocks landed on Ji Mo first. Her entire buttocks sat on his face while her upper body was sprawled across his lower body. The situation was simply...terribly awkward.


    "Senior Sister Huo Lin''er, this..." Ji Mo was lying on the ground. He was strong, and although he was squashed by Huo Lin''er who just fell from the sky, he was not injured.


    Nevertheless, he was very curious about why she would suddenly appear and fall from the sky.


    "Take your hand away!" She glared at Ji Mo angrily with a faint blood smear at the corner of her mouth.


    "You get up first," Ji Mo pleaded.


    Only then did Huo Lin''er realize how embarrassing the situation was. Immediately, a red blush spread across her face as she rolled over from Ji Mo''s body, then sat on the ground, panting while wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth.


    "Oh...Senior Sister Huo Lin''er, what''re you doing here?" Ji Mo stared at her with a surprised expression on his face. He had never seen her this injured before.


    "Don''t ask me. I blame the b*tch. I didn''t expect her to ambush me," Huo Lin''er said resentfully. Her tiny mouth pouted, which made her very cute and seem slightly playful, but he could still see the loathing deep in her eyes.


    "Who? Was it Lu Susu?" Ji Mo asked.


    "Who else can it be besides her?! The reason why Lu Susu came back to Tianyuan Academy this time was to target me. She even invited me to duel outside Mount Luofu during the academy''s Hunting Competition. Unfortunately, I fell into her trap and the b*tch''s ambush succeeded. My entire cultivation base is sealed off, and now the True Qi in my body is slowly freezing. I can''t even control my sword now." Huo Lin''er gritted her teeth and he could sense her deep hatred of Lu Susu.


    "Lu Susu wants to kill you?" Ji Mo was shocked.


    Although he knew that Huo Lin''er and Lu Susu bore a grudge against each other, he never thought that their resentment would be so intense that it would make them want to kill each other. Therefore, he was afraid it could not be as simple as a love rivalry.


    "Hmph, if I didn''t escape quickly enough and hid in Mount Luofu, I''m afraid that I''ll die by her sword." Huo Lin''er''s tiny face was grave and full of seriousness while a tinge fear could be seen in her expression.


    Ji Mo coughed and looked at Huo Lin''er. "Senior Sister, can you tell me what kind of grudge do you and Lu Susu have? Why does she want to kill you?"


    "Can I say it''s because I''m prettier than her?" Huo Lin''er rubbed her chest and frowned slightly.


    "Wouldn''t all the women in the world have to come and kill you then?" Ji Mo joked.


    "Sweet talker!" Huo Lin''er rolled her eyes at Ji Mo. Then, with a faint dash of resentment in her beautiful eyes, she admitted, "Actually...it was because of a man."


    "Did you steal her man?" Ji Mo wondered.


    "No."


    "Did she steal your man then?" Ji Mo continued asking.


    "No."


    "Then, what the hell are you all fighting for?"

 Chapter 39

    Huo Lin''er stared at the sky in a daze, then she sighed and said, "Actually, I couldn''t tell who the perpetrator was. We were both obsessed with the same man. He was the pride of the Tianshan Sword Sect and almost all of the female disciples under the same sect had a crush on him. After that...we got together and then he made a promise that we''d be cultivation partners. Unfortunately, he was too talented and I couldn''t catch up with the progress of his cultivation base. He was quickly noticed by the senior management of the sect to be groomed as a true disciple, then our distance grew until we became strangers��"


    While Huo Lin''er seemed to think about her sad past, tears welled up in her beautiful eyes.


    "What happened after that?" Ji Mo asked, now taking on the role of a listener.


    "After that, Lu Susu used her ways to be close to him and finally conquered his heart. I wasn''t that sad at that time. After all, I knew that the gap between us was too great, so it was impossible." Huo Lin''er smiled bitterly. "When Lu Susu found out about me and that person''s past, she started to dislike me and made life hard for me. She also acted intimately with that person whenever I was around. In fact, I came to Tianyuan Academy to teach the outer disciples to avoid them, but not long after that, I heard that that guy dumped Lu Susu��"


    ''Oh my god, he left two beautiful girls consecutively! He''s my idol,'' thought Ji Mo in astonishment. Given the beauty of Huo Lin''er and Lu Susu, they could conquer any man, but that person had abandoned them one after another. He had to be admired as he was indeed a man''s idol.


    However, in front of Huo Lin''er, he had to speak from her point of view, "Hmph, you don''t need this type of man. Sooner or later, I''ll go to the Tianshan Sword Sect to teach this playboy a lesson to avenge you."


    "Really?" Huo Lin''er looked up at Ji Mo.


    "Of course!" Ji Mo nodded seriously.


    "Do you know why he did it?" Huo Lin''er suddenly asked. ;


    "Err...Could he possibly prefer men over women?" Ji Mo simply guessed.


    Who would have guessed that Huo Lin''er bitterly nodded and said, "You''re right. After he was injured during a practice session outside, his sexuality changed. He became crazy about men. Maybe it was already sowed in his subconsciousness from the beginning. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have abandoned Lu Susu. Even when we were together, he refused to be intimate with me."


    "Err...really? Then, we shall talk about revenge later." Ji Mo smiled in embarrassment. He did not want to be in contact with this kind of person, not out of despise, but rather out of the fear of assimilation. ;


    Huo Lin''er suddenly stood up with a struggle and looked into the distance where a sword flash was flickering.


    "Oh no! Lu Susu has caught up. My true Qi has been frozen and I need a long time to recover. Ji Mo, you must help me." Huo Lin''er looked towards Ji Mo whom she could only rely on now.


    "Come, climb onto my back." Ji Mo decided at once. He squatted down and planned to carry Huo Lin''er away. If Lu Susu found out that Huo Lin''er was badly injured, then her death would be inevitable.


    Huo Lin''er hesitated while she looked at Ji Mo''s skinny back and blushed at the thought of the intimate actions that they shared when she had fallen to the ground earlier.


    "Quickly," Ji Mo hurriedly said as he say the sword flash got closer under the night sky.


    Huo Lin''er stopped hesitating and climbed onto Ji Mo''s back. This close contact naturally made Huo Lin''er hold onto Ji Mo''s neck. ;


    "Hold tight. I can run really fast," Ji Mo turned his head slightly, breathing in the fragrance that Huo Lin''er''s body had to offer as he said with a slight smile. ;


    Huo Lin''er smirked and whispered into his ear, "This time, I''ll need to rely on you, little man��" In between her words, her gentle tone made Ji Mo''s heart flutter.


    "This little man sometimes has great use," Ji Mo said, and without continuing his flirtatious banter, he activated the Celestial Devil Power in his legs. He stomped violently on the ground and his body dashed out at once. He was more agile than a leopard by leaps and bounds. His entire body became a shadow and they rapidly fled into the forest.


    The wind howled in his ears as Ji Mo moved about in the forest like a ghost with tremendous speed, but there was not a single soul.


    On Ji Mo''s back, Huo Lin''er clung onto Ji Mo''s neck with her arms, shocked by his speed. He had the type of speed and power that even a ninth-tier tempered body cultivator might not exhibit, what more while having another person on his back, but Ji Mo did it with ease.


    "This chap had a breakthrough again. His cultivation speed is really fast. He''s such a freak," Huo Lin''er mumbled. ;


    Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!


    Three beams of golden sword Qi shot past them from the back.


    No matter how fast and silent Ji Mo was, Lu Susu still caught up with him. After all, Lu Susu was a Qi Plundering Boundary master and could travel on a sword which gave her a better advantage over him. Qi Plundering Boundary masters also had a keen vision, so despite being in a dense forest, she could notice Ji Mo immediately. ;


    "Huo Lin''er, I''d never have imagined that you''d find this outer disciple for protection. Do you think he can protect you?" Lu Susu arrived on a sword with grandeur. She had the perfect body and two long, fair legs that added to her seductiveness. ;


    Ji Mo did not even turn to look. His figure weaved and dodged among the three aggressive sword Qi beams. Then, he picked up his speed to go even faster than before. In a heartbeat, he was a hundred meters away. Even Lu Susu was surprised by his speed. ;


    "This kid''s hidden strength is quite shocking, but whatever it is, he''s still in the tempered body phase. I have plenty of ways to kill him." Lu Susu laughed, but behind her manic laughter was intense murderous instinct.


    Boom!


    Lu Susu revealed a blood-red whip. When she cracked the whip, it let out a sonic boom. The red whip was like a spiritual snake as it extended towards Ji Mo. It was driven by Lu Susu''s True Qi and there were even dense barbs on it. ;


    If Ji Mo was hit, it would certainly split his flesh open. ;


    However, Lu Susu also seemed badly injured and there was a faint bloodstain at the corner of her lips. Traveling on the sword had also made her pale and she started to feel impatient since Ji Mo was still undefeated. ;


    ''It turns out that her injuries aren''t that light after all.'' Ji Mo smirked with a refreshed confidence of ditching her. ;


    Boom, boom, boom, boom!


    The red whip that Lu Susu swung around in the middle of the night emitted an explosive sound throughout the dense forest. Those who were oblivious to what was happening were wondering what that sound was.


    "God damn it! This woman is crazy to be chasing me for so long. Does she like me?" Ji Mo cursed as he ran for tens of kilometers, possibly even almost a hundred kilometers, but Lu Susu was still going after him. ;


    In front of him were the depths of Mount Luofu where the powerful demonic cultivators dwelled. Some of them were even more powerful than the Qi Plundering Boundary masters of a few tiers. Not to mention Ji Mo, but even if Huo Lin''er was in her heydays, she would not want to be caught in those depths. Some powerful demonic cultivators could even kill a cultivator on a similar level. ;


    "Forget about it, Little Ji Mo. Don''t go ahead anymore. It''s too dangerous. Just put me down and save yourself," Huo Lin''er said with a little reluctance.


    "Really? It''s touching for you to say that, but that''s way too cliche." Ji Mo smiled bitterly and continued to move forward.


    "There''s a cave in front. Let''s go there!" Ji Mo said. A cave appeared in front, and he crawled into it with Huo Lin''er on his back. ;


    "Fool, don''t go in! This could be a demonic beast''s nest!" Huo Lin''er''s expression changed instantly, but it was too late as Ji Mo had carried her into the cave.


    Ji Mo had no choice. With Lu Susu hot on his heels, he could only move forward.

 Chapter 40 - Giant Black Ape (II)

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    At that instant, Lu Susu saw Ji Mo go into the cave. As a knowledgeable Qi Plundering Boundary master, she was worried that it might be a demonic beast��s nest, but her hatred for Huo Lin��er took over. Lu Susu gritted her teeth and bolted forward on her sword flash.


    When Lu Susu reached the cave, she heard a loud shriek coming from within the cave, ��Coming through!�� Right after that, she saw Ji Mo dashing out from the cave like a mad man at a speed that was even greater than before.


    As Ji Mo darted towards her, Lu Susu was stunned. Before she knew it, he had already whizzed past her, and when their shoulders touched, he threw a handful of earth on her face. It was from a piece of rock from the cave which Ji Mo had crushed into powder with his palms.


    Although Lu Susu was a Qi Plundering Boundary master, under these circumstances, she could not react in time and the powder was scattered all over her face.


    Roar!


    At the same time, a ferocious roar came from the pitch-black cave. Then, a black giant ape that was taller than 2 meters ran out with immense demonic Qi. The black ape was extremely powerful. It was covered in black fur and the phallus hanging from its crotch was especially thick and long with protruding veins like an angry dragon with its head held high.


    ��It��s a Giant Black Ape!�� At the sight of the black giant ape, Lu Susu��s expression changed.


    The Giant Black Ape was a Qi Plundering Boundary demonic beast. Although it was metamorphic, the path it took was the path of the beastmaster. The bloodline of the Giant Black Ape was even purer than the golden monkey. It seemed to take on its ancestors�� characteristics and could unleash the potential its bloodline had to offer.


    ��This uninhabitable land actually has a surviving Giant Black Ape!?�� Lu Susu lost the color in her face.


    Opposite her, the Giant Black Ape ape had turned its gaze at Lu Susu. At the sight of Lu Susu��s sultry body swaying about, especially with her gorgeous looks, the Giant Black Ape roared excitedly.


    After all, Giant Black Apes evolved from golden monkeys. They shared the same traits which were their perverse nature and they had an eye for women from the human race. No one knew how long this Giant Black Ape had been staying in Mount Luofu, and it seemed like it had never seen the face of a woman, especially one as gorgeous as Lu Susu.


    As predicted, the moment the Giant Black Ape saw Lu Susu, its eyes were filled with a perverted glow as it dashed towards Lu Susu.


    Lu Susu still had the residue from the powder that Ji Mo threw at her eyes which had distorted her vision until now. However, being a Qi Plundering Boundary master, even if she lost her sight, she could accurately predict her opponent��s moves based on their aura.


    The Giant Black Ape tried to grab Lu Susu with its palms that were less hairy than the rest of its body while it roared excitedly.


    Lu Susu frowned while her features were as pale as a ghost. She had lost a great amount of True Qi when she had dueled with Huo Lin��er earlier, and the possibility of defeating the terrifying Giant Black Ape was greatly diminished. After all, its overall power could rival a third- or fourth-tier Qi Plundering Boundary master, and its divine power was still a mystery.


    Instantly, Lu Susu gently tapped her toes together and a sword flash emerged beneath her feet, but the sword flash could not elevate her as she seemed to be badly injured. With the Giant Black Ape advancing at her aggressively, Lu Susu could only move constantly as she floated around. Eventually, she had a game of hide-and-seek with the Giant Black Ape.


    By now, Ji Mo had already escaped a certain distance with Huo Lin��er on his back. Behind them, the vicious roars of the Giant Black Ape that shook the entire forest were heard. Ji Mo shrunk his neck subconsciously. ��Was that a Qi Plundering Boundary demonic beast? It has an incredibly powerful aura. Even with my Celestial Devil physique, I can feel the suppression from that aura.��


    Ji Mo clearly understood that it came from the boundary suppression and was not easily transcended. That was the reason why he had chosen to escape when he felt the aura.


    ��Looks like the Giant Black Ape and Lu Susu are fighting.�� Hearing the roars that came from the forest behind, Huo Lin��er started to regain some color in her face as her beauty returned to her features.


    ��This Giant Black Ape��s strength is like a third- or fourth-tier Qi Plundering Boundary cultivator and isn��t to be underestimated. Lu Susu lost too much True Qi during the duel with you, plus she��s injured. Do you think she��s a match for the Heisah giant ape?�� Ji Mo asked while looking toward the forest.


    ��Perhaps this woman still has tricks up her sleeves, but if Lu Susu is captured alive by the Giant Black Ape, I��m afraid that it��ll be worse than being dead.�� Huo Lin��er turned pale and said, ��Giant Black Apes are very lustful. They evolved from the golden monkeys and have far greater sexual desire than the golden monkeys. If a woman is captured alive by these monsters, she��ll die a horrible death.��


    ��Wow, then Lu Susu will have a good time,�� Ji Mo could not help whispering.


    Although it was a whisper, Huo Lin��er heard him clearly. She blushed, then shot an aggressive glance at him. ��Lu Susu is terrible, but to fall under those circumstances��sigh����


    Ji Mo��s eyes glimmered with an evil flash, revealing the aura of the Celestial Devil. ��Alright, you don��t have to feel bad. That woman came up with a thousand ways to kill you. What happened to her is the consequences of her action. If she didn��t come to kill you, she wouldn��t have met the Giant Black Ape.��


    ��Yes, that��s true, but���� Huo Lin��er still could not clear her conscience. Although she hated Lu Susu, it was too cruel for a girl to die just like that.


    More than ten minutes later, Ji Mo listened carefully at once. ��The fighting noise has stopped.��


    The roars of the Giant Black Ape had ceased and the forest returned to tranquility once again.


    ��It looks like the Giant Black Ape got what he wanted,�� Ji Mo smirked. All of a sudden, he remembered seeing the introduction of some demonic beasts in the ancient books, one of them being the introduction of the Giant Black Ape. It had the tendency to over-indulge on lust and every time after it did, its strength and power would dip to its lowest. That would be the best time to kill it as it would be at its weakest.


    Ji Mo became interested in the thought of that. If he could obtain the demonic core of the Giant Black Ape, the massive demonic Qi within the demonic core could probably help him break through his cultivation base again. After all, the Giant Black Ape was comparable to a third- to fourth-tier Qi Plundering Boundary cultivator and its demonic core was exceptionally precious.


    ��Come on. Let��s go back there,�� Ji Mo said and he bent over to carry Huo Lin��er on his back again before walking towards the forest.


    Huo Lin��er��s True Qi was sealed off, so she wanted to advise Ji Mo against it, but eventually, she chose to be silent after some hesitation and obediently lay on his back.


    After walking for a while in the forest, Ji Mo reached the cave of the Giant Black Ape. However, they were shocked by the scene. It was a mess with broken branches and withered vines that were splintered into several pieces. There were also huge craters in the ground that looked like the earth had been smashed.


    The Giant Black Ape��s enormous body was writhing on the ground. There was a bloody hole drilled into its chest, and even its heart was smashed into pieces. It lay on the ground as it wheezed. Soon, it would not survive.

 Chapter 41 - Wan Qinghe

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ��How is it possible that Lu Susu defeated the Giant Black Ape?�� Ji Mo was shocked. Lu Susu was obviously injured, and her True Qi was diminishing. It was just not possible for her to have defeated this Giant Black Ape that was in the midst of such excitement. Furthermore, its injuries were so devastating.


    ��It��s the magical talisman. Lu Susu used the magical talisman!�� exclaimed Huo Lin��er, who was on Ji Mo��s back, as she pointed to a pile of ashes on the ground. ��The ashes are from the overactivated magical talisman. If a magical talisman is overactivated, it��ll self-ignite, I think Lu Susu was at the end of her wits, so she used a powerful magical talisman. Otherwise, it��d have been impossible to cause such terrible injuries to this Giant Black Ape.��


    ��You mean Lu Susu escaped?�� Ji Mo frowned. The woman was ruthless, and letting her escape could be a mistake.


    ��She should be nearby. Lu Susu��s injuries don��t seem that light,�� Huo Lin��er said.


    Ji Mo put Huo Lin��er on the ground. He turned around and walked towards the Giant Black Ape. Its chest had a gaping hole and it was obvious that it would not live as it only had a few last breaths left. However, this would save Ji Mo a lot of effort. He smirked and brutally stomped it with his foot.


    Ji Mo injected Celestial Devil Power into that single stomp. The Giant Black Ape was already dying, so even if it was at its prime and could match a Qi Plundering Boundary master, it was unable to retaliate against his trampling.


    Splat!


    As the Giant Black Ape was torn apart by Ji Mo��s foot, bright red blood mixed with pale brain matter splattered everywhere. Huo Lin��er turned her head slightly at the sight of this gory scene as it was unbearable for her. Ji Mo recklessly flipped the corpse around and finally pulled out a black demonic core.


    That demonic core was different from ordinary ones. The pebble-sized demonic core was covered in circular patterns that were like stars circling the demonic core and it seemed divine.


    ��This pattern is said to be only possessed by demonic beasts with talents and divine power. It turns out that this Giant Black Ape is also an alien with divine powers,�� Ji Mo said in shock.


    Huo Lin��er nodded and said, ��Giant Black Apes evolved from the golden monkeys. Their bloodlines are originally unique and there are traces that it takes on characteristics of its ancestors. It��s not a surprise that these demonic beasts from the beastmaster species have divine powers.��


    ��Oh, this looks like this is a great harvest. I picked up a good bargain for no particular reason.�� Ji Mo happily kept the Qi Plundering Boundary demonic core. There was enormous demonic Qi within the demonic core which he believed would increase his ability by a fold.


    ��Ji Mo, we still have some important things to do.�� Huo Lin��er grew serious without her beauty even diminishing.


    ��Is it Lu Susu?�� Ji Mo squinted.


    ��Yes,�� Huo Lin��er gritted her teeth and said, ��Lu Susu thought of a thousand ways to kill me. If she escapes, God knows what she will do the next time. This woman is blinded by hatred and is very stubborn. If I don��t kill her, I daren��t imagine what she will do in the future.��


    Ji Mo seemed to have learned a lot from Huo Lin��er who was a Qi Plundering Boundary master and had accumulated more experience than himself. Therefore, she understood the brutality of the cultivation world better than him. There were times when some people had to be killed without hesitation. Otherwise, it would cause unwanted trouble in the future. There was no right or wrong in the cultivation world, only life and death.


    Ji Mo nodded aggressively at the thought of that.


    Tens of kilometers away on the side of a small stream, there was blood smeared on Lu Susu��s chest. Her fair skin was stained with traces of blood while her beautiful face was exceptionally pale. ��That damned animal wasted my powerful magical talisman. Also, Huo Lin��er and that chap got lucky this time. Once my injuries are nursed, I won��t let you continue living. Hmph, Huo Lin��er, you won��t even get to go back to the school!��


    After she said that, Lu Susu could not help spitting a mouthful of blood out which made her even paler.


    ��Senior Sister Lu, is that you?�� A voice was heard at that moment. Nearby, a young boy walked over. He was one of the three little warlords from Tianyuan Academy, Wan Qinghe.


    Wan Qinghe was the other pride of Tianyuan Academy besides Nan Hao. He had an eighth-tier tempered body cultivation base despite having only cultivated for slightly more than half a year. This terrifying cultivation speed found favor in the eyes of the academy��s senior management and they specially groomed Wan Qinghe.


    However, he acted with extreme arrogance and disrespect. His reputation was even more terrifying than Nan Hao��s. Everyone in Tianyuan Academy knew that Wan Qinghe was a little warlord who should not be provoked.


    At first, Wan Qinghe planned to join Du Jia and others for the Hunting Competition, but he was pretentious since his childhood, so he decided to go alone. With his power of an eighth-tier tempered body, dealing with ordinary demonic beasts was an easy feat for him. As long as it was not a Qi Plundering Boundary demonic cultivator, the other demonic beasts were no match for him.


    At one point, he saw Lu Susu badly injured by the stream. Wan Qinghe could not bear the sight of it as he knew her and he knew that she was an inner disciple of the Tianshan Sword Sect, so she could be considered his senior. Now that she was alone and injured, Wan Qinghe��s curiosity increased.


    ��It��s you, Junior Brother Wan. You came at the right time.�� When she saw Wan Qinghe, Lu Susu��s pale face squeezed out a smile complemented by her charming looks. Parts of her clothes had been torn during the earlier duel, revealing her fair skin and one could almost see the pink dudou within. That scene riveted Wan Qinghe��s gaze and he did not know what to do.


    ��What? Do you want to give me a hand?�� Looking at Wan Qinghe standing in a daze, Lu Susu grinned and lifted her hand.


    ��Okay��I��m coming.�� Wan Qinghe smiled in his heart and he thought that he was pretty fortunate with women that day, so he went to help Lu Susu up.


    Lu Susu conveniently fell into his arms and said, ��Junior Brother Wan, I��m injured now and I need a place to nurse the injuries. Are you willing to protect me?��


    ��Of course, I��m willing to, Senior Sister.�� Wan Qinghe grinned and then put his hands on Lu Susu��s tiny waist with his palms in a slightly inappropriate area.


    Lu Susu rolled her eyes at him, but there was no intention to accuse him, hence boosting Wan Qinghe��s confidence. He never thought that he would have such luck in a deserted place like this. If he could have a relationship with Lu Susu who was a Tianshan Sword Sect inner disciple, his path would be much easier when he joined the sect in the future.


    ��Senior Sister, who did this to you? Let me know and I��ll avenge you,�� Wan Qinghe spoke into Lu Susu��s ear.


    Speaking of that, intense murderous aura emerged in Lu Susu��s eyes, and she snorted angrily. ��It was a little b*tch and an outer disciple who has no idea what he��s up against. Once I recover, I��ll hunt them down. They deserve to die!��


    After a while, she finally cooled down.


    ��What the f*ck? It looks like you��re hiding here, Senior Sister Lu. You were so difficult to find.�� A voice was heard at that instant, and a figure emerged from the forest. It was Ji Mo with Huo Lin��er lying with her torso against his back and her arms around his neck.

 Chapter 42 - Hell Celestial Sword (I)

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Wan Qinghe was startled by Ji Mo and Huo Lin��er��s appearance whereas Lu Susu stared at them hatefully while grinding her teeth.


    ��Why are you here?�� Wan Qinghe looked at Ji Mo disdainfully, then turned to look at Huo Lin��er strangely. ��Senior Sister Huo, why are you here too?��


    Huo Lin��er scoffed at Wan Qinghe after Ji Mo put her down. ��Wan Qinghe, this is none of your business. Get out of the way. Lu Susu and I have a personal conflict to deal with.��


    Wan Qinghe was familiar with Huo Lin��er because she was an important figure at Tianyuan Academy, and she was also an inner disciple of the Tianshan Sword Sect. Although he was usually not afraid of her at the academy, he did not fawn over her either. After all, based on Wang Qinghe��s talent, he would become an inner disciple sooner or later, and might even surpass Huo Lin��er.


    ��Senior Sister Lu, are these the two people you mentioned?�� Wan Qinghe turned to look at Lu Susu.


    ��Yes.�� Lu Susu confirmed with a nod, then mentioned after noticing that Wan Qinghe wanted to withdraw, ��Why? Are you scared? You promised to help����


    ��Um���� Wan Qinghe felt troubled. He made light of Ji Mo but was cautious of Huo Lin��er who was a master in Qi Plundering Boundary.


    Lu Susu, who seemed to know what he was thinking, said with a charming smile, ��Don��t worry. Huo Lin��er��s True Qi has been sealed, so she��s just a normal person now. As for the wild fella, don��t tell me that you��re still afraid of him?��


    Wan Qinghe��s eyes glowed when he heard her. Since Huo Lin��er��s True Qi was sealed, he only needed to get rid of Ji Mo, which was extremely easy for him. As a little warlord at the academy, Wan Qinghe had never attached importance to someone like Ji Mo.


    His face turned unresponsive right away.


    ��Wan Qinghe, what are you going to do? I��m an inner disciple of the Tianshan Sword Sect. Are you going to attack me?�� Huo Lin��er shouted upon seeing Wan Qinghe��s eyes that were full of killing intent.


    ��Haha, Huo Lin��er, based on your current state, who do you think you can intimidate? You��re just a normal person since your True Qi has been sealed. As long as both of you are dead, nobody will find out about this.�� Lu Susu laughed, then cast a sweet look at Wan Qinghe as she encouraged, ��Junior Brother Wan, you can protect me now. I��ll definitely reward you well once I return to the sect. I��ll give you enough spiritual medicines for cultivation. Perhaps when you advance to be an inner disciple, we can be paired cultivation partners too.��


    Motivation like that was simply deadly to men, especially when it was said by a beauty like Lu Susu, as many of them would be moved.


    ��Really? You must keep your promise, Senior Sister Lu.�� As expected, Wan Qinghe was moved.


    ��Of course, I will, but you must get rid of these troubles first,�� Lu Susu replied flirtatiously and winked at him.


    Wan Qinghe laughed evilly as he glanced at Ji Mo and Huo Lin��er with sinister looks. When he paced toward them, a powerful force was slowly released from his body as though a primitive beast had been awakened.


    ��Wan Qinghe, don��t you dare!�� Huo Lin��er yelled.


    ��Okay, Senior Sister Huo, you can��t threaten him now, so let me do it,�� Ji Mo uttered plainly before placing his hand on her shoulder to pull her behind him.


    ��Ji Mo��You���� Huo Lin��er looked at his thin body with a confused look. In actual fact, she did not know much about Ji Mo��s strength, unlike Lan Qingcheng who had gone through thick and thin with him recently.


    In Huo Lin��er��s opinion, Ji Mo was considered a talented person but was still far from Wan Qinghe. After all, Wan Qinghe had the cultivation base of an eight-tier tempered body and was one of the best in Tianyuan Academy, so how could Ji Mo possibly defeat him?


    Wan Qinghe sneered at Ji Mo. ��Why? Are you going to fight me?��


    ��Am I not allowed to?�� Ji Mo grinned.


    Wang Qinghe smiled as well, but it was a scornful one. He expressed, ��Perfect, I��ll take this chance to teach you a lesson on behalf of Nan Hao. He��s not free to discipline an arrogant person like you in the academy because he��s in closed-door cultivation, so I should take up the responsibility.��


    Ji Mo smiled without saying a word. He had already begun brewing the Celestial Devil Power in his blood and flesh, so his body shivered and crackling sounds were heard, which were the effects of channeling the Celestial Devil Power.


    However, Wan Qingyun thought that Ji Mo was shivering out of fear, thus he felt even prouder, particularly because Lu Susu was present. ��You��ve been causing quite a scene lately to have attacked Nan Hao��s people. He��s my sworn brother, so if he��s not free to punish you, I��ll do it for him. I��ll let you know the immensity of Heaven and Earth soon, and make sure that you��ll never get to be full of yourself anymore!��


    ��Do you always like to talk nonsense before fighting someone?�� Ji Mo remarked while frowning.


    Wan Qinghe was almost breathless when he heard that, and his face reddened as he responded coldly, ��You��A person like you should just lie down like an obedient dog!!�� Subsequently, Wan Qinghe��s surging aura burst out, and it seemed like he really meant business.


    Huo Lin��er had a serious expression on her face. Sure enough, Wan Qinghe was not a simple man at all. Having an eight-tier tempered body, his strength was considered only second to Nan Hao in Tianyuan Academy, so could Ji Mo be victorious over a powerful opponent like him? On the other hand, Lu Susu was delighted. She felt that Wan Qinghe could easily win against the insignificant outer disciple.


    Wan Qinghe��s aura was vast and violent like the tide. His long hair rose due to the vicious power, and his eyes emitted iridescent rays as if he was a wild beast. ��Lie on the ground now, and I��ll think about being lenient when I trample on you later. I��ll only cripple you and I��ll let you live!!��


    Swoosh!


    While Wan Qinghe was busy talking, Ji Mo suddenly swayed his body, and an explosive force burst out from his leg. Ji Mo shot out like a cannonball and arrived in front of Wang Qinghe in the blink of an eye. Without any hesitation, he gathered the Celestial Devil Power from his blood and flesh at his palm before attacking his opponent.


    ��Essence-Unifying Slab Splitter!�� Ji Mo roared to himself.


    Boom!


    After that, the powerful Celestial Devil Power was unstoppable like a flood from a broken dam. The Celestial Devil��s shadow was vaguely visible on his palm and it twined around his arm while negative aurae that were violent, bloody, and brutal poured out endlessly.


    Wan Qinghe was appalled because he did not expect Ji Mo to attack like this. He actually felt like he was suffocating when the Celestial Devil Power was used, similar to a baby facing a ferocious beast.


    He quickly crossed his arms to gather all his force onto them, then transformed the force into a Tiger-headed Shield to protect himself.


    It was a defense martial art that was regarded as an advanced-level one and could withstand more than 500 kilograms of power, which was a few times mightier than an ordinary practice boulder.


    Bam!


    A heavy sound was heard when Ji Mo��s Essence-Unifying Slab Splitter that was accompanied by the Celestial Tiger Power hit the Tiger-headed Shield. The enormous power forced Wan Qinghe to fall back and his legs even drew two long fissures on the ground while his shield that was covered in cracks shattered in the end.


    Ji Mo swung his hands as he gave a toothy grin. It was a casual smile, but it got on Wan Qinghe��s nerves because he did not expect Ji Mo to force him into a retreat and even break the Tiger-headed Shield, an advanced-level martial art that he cultivated.


    It was worth noting that the shield could bear more than 500 kilograms of weight, so it could not actually be shaken by normal people.

 Chapter 43 - Hell Celestial Sword (II)

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Huo Lin��er and Lu Susu were equally shocked by Ji Mo��s attack. It was a simple and heavy punch that was not fancy at all, but it contained an unstoppable aura. The fact that Wan Qinghe, who had an eight-tier tempered body, was forced to fall more than 10 meters away proved how strong the power was.


    ��Okay! Very well! It looks like your strength isn��t that simple too. I��m becoming more interested.�� Wan Qinghe smiled hideously and then looked at Ji Mo with a grave expression.


    ��Junior Brother Wan, don��t give the wild fella any chance. Kill him!�� Lu Susu was rather anxious because Ji Mo��s strength was beyond her expectations.


    ��Alright! I��ll get rid of him very soon!�� Wan Qinghe seemed to be really infuriated. He charged at Ji Mo with thunderous steps and gathered surging powers at his fists before swinging them at him crazily.


    Ji Mo went head-on against him as well. The Celestial Devil Power that circulated in his blood and flesh caused his body to be more powerful than a demonic beast in the Qi Plundering Boundary, and he clashed hard with Wang Qinghe. They were instantly in a stalemate with their tremendous forces, and as they shifted their bodies in the dogfight, the clashes of their fists and palm forces resulted in explosive sounds in the air.


    In actual fact, Ji Mo could completely suppress Wan Qinghe based on his current level of power. Wan Qinghe cultivated an advanced-level martial art and had an eight-tier tempered body that was equivalent to more than 1,500 kilograms of power. Although Ji Mo only had a seventh-tier tempered body, the Celestial Devil Power gave him more than 2,000 kilograms of power, which allowed him to take down Wan Qinghe easily.


    Nonetheless, Ji Mo did not do that because he was using Wan Qinghe to practice. Honestly, Ji Mo did not have much combat experiences even though he killed quite a number of demonic beasts recently, the reason being he had only fought very few people. Sometimes, two people who battled not only competed in terms of cultivation bases but also practical experience.


    When cultivators in the same boundary fought, it was unquestionable that the person with more combat experience would have the upper hand.


    Boom!


    After exchanging blows for more than ten rounds, Wan Qinghe still could not take Ji Mo down, thus he began feeling slightly concerned. He performed different martial arts one after another, troubling Ji Mo at that moment.


    Wan Qinghe was trained as an important seedling at Tianyuan Academy, so he naturally learned more martial arts than Ji Mo, most of which were advanced-level martial arts. Wan Qinghe became nervous as he had attacked for a long time without success, thus he began executing all kinds of martial arts.


    His mighty power was ever-changing as it either transformed into a ferocious beast, a sharp blade and a sword, or a mountain and a river.


    Ji Mo felt a sharp pain in his left eye all of a sudden. His left eyeball turned completely white, and various mysterious runes flashed in his pupil, different from the floating light that had appeared when he found the spiritual medicine back then. This time, it was runes that flickered in his pupil.


    Next, one of the martial arts Wan Qinghe performed was recorded in Ji Mo��s left eye in a flash. It was an advanced-level martial art known as the Forceful Fist Sword Qi, whereby the forces from one��s fist would be condensed into a sword that had an extremely strong penetrating power. The martial art was not from Tianyuan Academy but was one that was handed down from Wan Qinghe��s ancestors, and he had portrayed it in great detail.


    The runes in Ji Mo��s left eye moved more intensely at that moment as they developed the Forceful Fist Sword Qi, replicated it, and recorded it technique by technique. Every detail was copied by the Broken God��s Eye, including the martial art��s routes for channeling the force.


    Ji Mo finally grasped the Broken God��s Eye��s first use which was the imitation of another person��s martial arts for his own usage.


    Wan Qinghe yelled as he transformed his fist energy into a sharp sword Qi that took the form of a sword. He then slashed it at Ji Mo��s neck as though it was really a cultivator��s flying sword.


    Ji Mo was frightened. He did not expect the Forceful Fist Sword Qi to be so powerful that he was not confident about withstanding the martial art. Just as Ji Mo hesitated, the sword Qi was already in front of him, thus his fierce eyes flashed as he released the Celestial Devil��s nature.


    ��Hah!�� Ji Mo��s roar was deafening. He assembled the threatening Celestial Devil Power on his palm once again, then attacked with the Essence-Unifying Slab Splitter, but the force was even more fearsome than before. The illusory image of a Celestial Devil was visible on his arm, and he released a number of negative aurae that were violent and booming.


    Clang!


    When the fist that contained the Celestial Devil Power clashed with the Forceful Fist Sword Qi, the sound of metal cracking was heard. Even Ji Mo felt a throbbing pain on his palm as if his skin was cut by the sword Qi. It was worth noting that his blood and flesh stored the Celestial Devil Power, thus his body was so powerful that normal blades and swords could not hurt him.


    Nevertheless, the sword Qi was also completely disintegrated by Ji Mo��s Forceful Fist Sword Qi, and it broke into fragments.


    ��Ugh���� Wan Qinghe groaned and staggered backward, all the while looking at Ji Mo in disbelief.


    He would never ever believe that Ji Mo had the power to resist him. The fellow was a nobody in the academy who only read useless books, yet had the power to suppress Wan Qinghe. He could not accept it because he was a favored student as well as a little warlord in the academy.


    Huo Lin��er was also very surprised, and she widened her mouth before mumbling, ��Has he been hiding his strength all this while? Based on the cultivations that he has been doing lately, he can��t be this powerful no matter how hardworking he is, but Wan Qinghe, the academy��s little warlord, can��t even contain him. Seriously��He��s a cunning man, and it looks like I was worried for nothing,�� she protested coquettishly, but her eyes were radiant.


    ��Wan Qinghe, stop dilly-dallying and kill him now. Kill him, and I��ll be yours.�� Lu Susu was panicking. Seeing as Ji Mo overpowered Wan Qinghe, she was afraid that the worst ending would come true.


    Similar to Huo Lin��er, Lu Susu was also heavily injured, so she could not make use of her original cultivation base. If Wan Qinghe failed, she would surely be doomed too.


    ��I don��t believe this. I don��t believe this! How can a good-for-nothing beat me?!�� Wan Qinghe seemed to have gone mad. He gathered his power in his fist again for the Forceful Fist Sword Qi, but he attacked even fiercer and swifter than before as he decided to make it or break it.


    At the same time, Ji Mo was elated. His left eye had derived the Forceful Fist Sword Qi completely, and he had grasped the martial art��s gist fully such that it was stuck in his head forever.


    ��Forceful Fist Sword Qi!�� Wan Qinghe shouted while blasting a hit with his fist. The energy from it formed a substance-like iron sword that was more than 2 meters long.


    ��Forceful Fist Sword Qi!��


    Ji Mo punched simultaneously, but his Celestial Devil Power evolved his force into a Hell Celestial Sword that had countless runes imprinted on it. The runes looked like they were from Hell as they carried a terrifying prestige and vicious aurae, making the sword look like a Celestial Metal from Hell.


    Additionally, the Hell Celestial Sword was roughly 5 meters long, which was double the size of the Forceful Fist Sword Qi Wan Qinghe combined.

 Chapter 44 - Killing A Beauty Ruthlessly Under Strong Emotions

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ��Impossible!�� Wan Qinghe roared instinctively, but something that shocked him even more happened next.


    The Hell Celestial Sword slashed the Forceful Fist Sword Qi that Wan Qinghe gathered as if it was just slicing paper, then approached him with an irresistible force as it transformed into a real magical flying sword. He found it impossible to oppose the power due to the aura of the Hell Celestial Sword, and he felt like he was in hell.


    Chop!


    The Hell Celestial Store cut through Wan Qinghe��s neck, causing a spurt of blood to gush out, and his bloody head flew into a small river. A plop was heard before it sank to the bottom, and the stream was dyed red right away.


    Plop!


    Wan Qinghe��s headless corpse fell into the pool of blood. The sight of the little warlord from Tianyuan Academy dying in extreme shock was terribly ghastly.


    ��How��how can it be?�� Lu Susu had an awful expression on her face. She never expected Ji Mo, who had always given one the impression of weakness, to be such a deadly threat. Initially, she thought that she could rely on Wan Qinghe, but it turned out that he got off on the wrong foot, and his head was even chopped off.


    ��An outer disciple is actually��actually threatening my life. This���� It was evident that Lu Susu could not accept the truth that she had been knocked out badly, and that the person who struck her was Huo Lin��er��s little brother.


    Perhaps Lu Susu had only regarded Ji Mo as Huo Lin��er��s little brother.


    When Ji Mo went closer to Wan Qinghe��s corpse to kick it, there was no response since he was completely dead.


    ��Stop it. Do you think that he��s a leech that can still move even when his head has been chopped off?�� Huo Lin��er went over to scold him.


    ��I want to see if he has anything worthy,�� Ji Mo responded.


    Huo Lin��er rolled her eyes at him without bothering him. She walked toward Lu Susu but was quickly followed by Ji Mo who was worried that she would be attacked since her True Qi was sealed.


    ��Lu Susu, what do you have to say?�� Huo Lin��er shouted at her and cast a cold look at her enemy.


    ��Huo Lin��er, you��you��re really something. I can��t believe that you��ve trained such a powerful outer disciple. I��ve lost to you,�� Lu Susu replied, seeming like she was not resigned to the outcome.


    When Huo Lin��er looked at Ji Mo meaningfully, she realized that Lu Susu misunderstood that she had mentored Ji Mo, but she really did not do anything for him and had only provided him with some spiritual medicine. Nonetheless, Huo Lin��er was not a fool, thus she knew that it was not the spiritual medicine that helped Ji Mo to become stronger.


    Nonetheless, Huo Lin��er did not explain. She turned to say to Ji Mo, ��Ji Mo, help me����


    ��Why me?�� Ji Mo was frustrated.


    Huo Lin��er lowered her head as if the answer was too painful to be disclosed, but she finally replied to Ji Mo through a voice transmission that only he could understand, ��Lu Susu was actually��a close friend of mine, but she became sinister and immoral. We used to be close after all, so if I were to kill her��I just can��t do it.��


    ��Close friend?�� Startled, Ji Mo��s head ached as he wondered, ��Why are there so many cases of close friends turning against each other nowadays? Can this be more ridiculous than it already is?��


    Ji Mo sighed before approaching Lu Susu and shook his head upon seeing her beautiful face. Honestly, it was quite a challenge for him to kill a charming lady like her.


    On the other hand, Huo Lin��er walked away quietly as she could not bear to watch it.


    Lu Susu smiled at Ji Mo seductively when she noticed him staring at her blankly. Her eyes looked cunning as she spoke gently, ��Little brother, are you really willing to kill me? How about you let me go? I��ll return the favor by promising that I��ll never go against Huo Lin��er anymore, and I can even give myself to you.�� She looked at Ji Mo flirtatiously.


    ��How absurd can this get?�� Ji Mo expressed.


    Lu Susu was in a daze. She knew that the teen was not as easy to deal with as Wan Qinghe, so she quickly stated, ��What do you think? I��ll obey you, and I��ll promise you anything as long as you don��t kill me.��


    ��Really?�� Ji Mo��s eyes glowed.


    Lu Susu smiled brightly. Seeing Huo Lin��er getting further away from them, she did her best to seduce him by revealing her fair thighs and looking at him with puppy eyes. ��Of course, it��s real. As long as you say it, I��ll give you anything you want, including my body��But before that, you must promise to be on my side, so you must kill Huo Lin��er, and I��ll satisfy you!��


    Pfft!


    Before Lu Susu could finish, Ji Mo looked at her fiercely and released the Celestial Devil Power. When he punched his fist out, the Forceful Fist Sword Qi condensed into a wisp of sword Qi that slashed her neck, causing blood to gush out. Consequently, Lu Susu looked at him in disbelief before collapsing to the ground.


    She did not see this coming since she was just having a good conversation with Ji Mo earlier.


    The fierce look in Ji Mo��s eyes went away, and the Celestial Devil��s disposition disappeared. Ji Mo became an ordinary teen again, but he looked at Lu Susu��s corpse coldly as he sneered, ��A thief can��t change his or her nature. If you hadn��t mentioned the last sentence, I might��ve really been reluctant to kill you.��


    After that, he retrieved the treasure pouch that was tied around Lu Susu��s waist, then he got rid of Lu Susu and Wan Qinghe��s corpses before catching up to Huo Lin��er without turning back.


    ��Did you really��do it?�� Huo Lin��er asked softly when he returned.


    ��Why? Do you miss her?�� Ji Mo could not help but chuckle. After all, Huo Lin��er was a girl, and even though she was used to the cruelty and injustice in the cultivation world, Lu Susu used to be a close friend of hers. As much as they hated each other, it was normal for Huo Lin��er to feel sorrowful when one of them had to die.


    Ji Mo wondered how Huo Lin��er would feel if he told her that Lu Susu had still been thinking of ways to kill her before she died, but he figured that Huo Lin��er would have probably expected it anyway.


    ��I just didn��t think that you��d actually managed to kill a lady who was as pretty as a flower,�� Huo Lin��er teased since he did not say a word.


    ��It��s something that can be done by just turning a blind eye and gritting one��s teeth. That being said, she really enticed me before she died, and a normal man couldn��t have resisted the temptation. In fact, I almost gave in and surrendered myself to her.�� Ji Mo scratched his head.


    ��Hehehe���� Huo Lin��er covered her mouth while ringing out with laughter. Her twinkling eyes and smile made her look extra attractive under the sunlight as though a fairy in flames had descended from heaven, hence Ji Mo stared at her blankly.


    ��What are you looking at?�� Upon seeing him staring at her foolishly, she quickly laughed and rolled her eyes at him.


    ��Oh right, this is the treasure pouch that Lu Susu carried at her waist. Take a look if there��s an antidote for the seal that was placed on you,�� Ji Mo suggested as he handed the pouch to her.


    Huo Lin��er searched the treasure pouch for a long time, and her eyes finally sparkled. ��There really is one! I was poisoned by Lu Susu��s poison powder, so my True Qi was sealed. The antidote is in this pouch, and in a night, I��ll be able to get rid of the poison to recover my cultivation base.��


    ��Okay, let��s find a place for you to detoxify and see what you can do after that,�� Ji Mo responded.

 Chapter 45 - A Blessing Or A Curse

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    At night when it was quiet, Mount Luofu was enveloped by darkness. Apart from growls from wild beasts and roars from demonic beasts, nothing else could be heard in the wild forest.


    Fortunately, Ji Mo and Huo Lin��er found a waterfall that had a cave behind it, where they found the remains of a colossal snake that had died for an unknown period of time. It seemed to be a demonic beast, and its body was more than 10 meters long, but only its skeleton was left behind, covered in dust.


    Huo Lin��er sat with her legs crossed on the ground. Then, she retrieved a white jade bottle that had the word ��antidote�� written on it.


    ��F*ck!�� Ji Mo uttered right away. He wondered, ��If it��s an antidote, then it��s an antidote. Did she have to state it so clearly?��


    Huo Lin��er took a green pill from the jade bottle, then nodded after smelling it. After consuming it, she sat quietly while waiting for the medicine to take effect. Normally, a cultivator could dissolve medicinal pills quickly by using True Qi, but she could only wait for the effect of the medicine to be released since her True Qi was sealed.


    Exhaling deeply, Ji Mo took out a black item, which was the demonic core of a Giant Black Ape, a demonic beast at the Qi Plundering Boundary. It contained a substantial amount of demonic Qi so that if transformed into spiritual energy could allow him to be reborn.


    Nevertheless, Ji Mo was concerned because it was the demonic core of a demonic beast at the Qi Plundering Boundary, hence the demonic Qi that it contained was beyond his imagination. If he could not suppress it using the Celestial Devil Power, and the demonic Qi went crazy inside his body, the consequences would be dire.


    On second thought, he was slightly relieved because there were Hell��s aura and power, which could overpower anything, stored in the Celestial Devil Power. Even though he only had weak Hell power inside his body, it was probably enough for him to subdue the demonic Qi of a demonic beast at the Qi Plundering Boundary. Besides, Huo Lin��er had consumed the antidote and would recover her cultivation base in no time.


    If anything bad happened, the Qi Plundering Boundary master could help him.


    Ji Mo felt more at ease when he thought about that. He turned to look at Huo Lin��er, who happened to be staring at him too, but she quickly looked away with an amorous look in her eyes.


    ��Senior Sister Huo, I��ll refine this demonic core now. If I can��t suppress the core��s power later, I hope that you��ll help me,�� Ji Mo said without any hesitation.


    ��What? Refine the demonic core? How do you plan to refine it? It��s the core of a demonic beast at the Qi Plundering Boundary.�� Huo Lin��er immediately gaped in shock upon hearing Ji Mo.


    ��Of course, I swallowed it,�� he answered.


    Huo Lin��er replied to him with three words, ��You��re courting death!!��


    Subsequently, before he could explain any further, she told him everything that Lan Qingcheng mentioned, and she disapproved of his action no matter what.


    ��Don��t worry. I have a secret technique that allows me to refine the demonic core in my body. Trust me.��


    Huo Lin��er did not manage to persuade him in the end, but she could not have stopped him anyway because he had already consumed the demonic core and crunched it with his teeth. The demonic core was as tough as a rock, but Ji Mo concentrated all his power in his teeth, so he could bite even a diamond.


    Once Ji Mo took the demonic core, it turned into surging demonic Qi in his body, and the huge volume was nothing like anything he had ever seen. Whether it was the quality or the quantity, it was not on the same level as the other demonic beast cores that he had refined before. The surging demonic Qi gushed out like a flood from a burst dam, causing Ji Mo to groan.


    Followed by that, he quickly activated the Celestial Devil Power in his blood and flesh. Then, the rushing demonic Qi slowed down and was no longer unrestrained as though it was being obstructed.


    ��It really worked! The Celestial Devil Power is truly overbearing.�� Delighted, Ji Mo manipulated the Celestial Devil Power even faster to contain the demonic Qi that filled the Eight Extraordinary Meridians in his body, which was then transferred into spiritual energy that nourished his body. Spreading to every muscle and every bone in his body, the spiritual energy helped to strengthen his physique.


    Nonetheless, the demonic core stored too much demonic Qi, hence it was rather difficult for Ji Mo to fully suppress it with his Celestial Devil Power. His face reddened and his neck thickened after just half an hour, and he was already drenched in sweat. Fortunately, he had cultivated the Celestial Devil Tempering Art to achieve the Celestial Devil Bone Refinement.


    The Celestial Devil Power spread deep into his bones, forming an endless power source, thus Ji Mo was not worried that the power would be exhausted any time soon.


    ��Ji Mo, how are you?�� Huo Lin��er had been standing guard next to Ji Mo worriedly because she had never heard of or seen someone like him who would consume a demonic core so boldly, and she felt that he was simply seeking death.


    ��I��m fine. The refinement of the demonic core is a much smoother process than I thought,�� Ji Mo replied with a bright smile, so Huo Lin��er was relieved.


    Despite that, she was extremely surprised, and she looked at Ji Mo strangely as if she was looking at a monster. ��Can you really consume a demonic core to refine it? What��s this secret technique that sounds so marvelous?��


    ��Hehe, since it��s a secret technique, it��s not commonly known.�� Ji Mo smiled mysteriously, then he shut his eyes again to refine the demonic Qi using the Celestial Devil Power with all his might, and transformed it into spiritual energy to nourish himself.


    ��You really are a little monster.�� Huo Lin��er sighed and shook her head at Ji Mo.


    Time was ticking away as Ji Mo refined the demonic Qi inside his body bit by bit. Eventually, the Celestial Devil Power almost became his instinct to the point that he did not need to activate it on purpose. The power would just rush wherever there was demonic Qi to disintegrate and refine it.


    This saved Ji Mo a lot of trouble.


    However, he soon found a strange occurrence. As he refined more demonic Qi, images appeared in his mind subconsciously, which were harmonious images1. Ji Mo was suddenly having **2 at that moment, and he needed an outlet. He began recalling Lu Susu��s sensual body, as well as her moves when she had tried to seduce him previously.


    The thoughts triggered him to have even more **, and he could not control himself as if he had taken an illegal drug.


    ��No way! When I refined the Giant Black Ape��s demonic Qi, did I refine the brute��s *****1 too? This is terrible.�� Ji Mo gritted his teeth to endure it. His face reddened and the veins on his forehead stood out as he suffered.


    Ji Mo confirmed that he had refined the Giant Black Ape��s ** in his body, and the idea was making him lose control like he had taken a forbidden drug, thus he was dying to vent it on someone else. The worst part was that Huo Lin��er was just beside him, and given the circumstances, he could totally imagine what would happen next.


    ��Ji Mo, what��s wrong with you?�� Huo Lin��er could not help but ask when she noticed him in misery. He was blushing, and beads of sweat were rolling down his face.


    When Ji Mo smelled her alluring body scent, he found it harder to restrain himself, and the thought only became stronger.


    ��Don��t come near me!�� Ji Mo roared at her like a wild beast.


    Huo Lin��er was taken aback by his bellow, and she felt like she was wronged. ��What is it? I��m just worried about you. What exactly happened to you? Are you having trouble controlling the demonic core��s power? I can help you.��

 Chapter 46 - Special Service

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Huo Lin��er had already recovered some True Qi by then, and was about to channel a portion of it into Ji Mo��s body, but he gripped her fair wrist by force. His power was unusually strong such that Huo Lin��er, who had the cultivation base of the Qi Plundering Boundary, felt like her wrist was going to be crushed.


    ��Let go of me��It hurts!�� she cried out softly.


    Ji Mo quickly let her go and panted heavily. With a red face, he stared at Huo Lin��er��s curves passionately, and the ** factor in his body felt like it was going to make him lose control.


    ��I��I seem to have refined the G-giant Black Ape��s ***** too���� he stammered.


    ��Ah!�� Huo Lin��er��s expression changed because she knew very well what he meant.


    ��Leave now and get away from this place as far as you can. Don��t let me catch you.�� Ji Mo gasped painfully.


    ��What will happen if you catch��catch me?��


    ��Nonsense. If I catch you, we��re both going to have a good time,�� Ji Mo answered.


    ��You���� Huo Lin��er was not a clueless young lady at all, so she understood what he meant. While she felt rather ashamed, she did not think that it would be appropriate for her to escape. ��What do you plan to do?��


    ��I��ll depend on this!�� Ji Mo reached his left hand out.


    ��Are you a left-hander?�� Huo Lin��er was startled.


    Ji Mo was really anxious. ��F*ck��Is this the time to discuss this now? Senior Sister, don��t act like an idiot now, alright? You won��t be able to leave anymore if you don��t leave now, so if anything really happens, don��t behave absurdly by screaming and crying to ask for your innocence to be restored to you.��


    ��You��Do you think that I want to care about you? Forget about it!�� Pissed off, Huo Lin��er scoffed and ran out of the cave.


    ��Roar!��


    Ji Mo hit his tolerance limit at that moment, and he howled like a wild beast as he lost his mind. He leaped toward Huo Lin��er to hug her tightly from behind by wrapping his arms around her slim waist, then he threw her back into the cave.


    Fortunately, Huo Lin��er had recovered some of her True Qi, so despite feeling shocked, she twisted her body as hard as she could. Next, she released True Qi through her palms and hit the ground to stabilize herself while she staggered backward.


    ��Roar!��


    When Ji Mo realized what happened, it was obvious through his sight that he had a strong *****. He had already lost his mind, so his body was dominated by ***** as though he was a Giant Black Ape that had been revived. Ji Mo bellowed, then pounced on Huo Lin��er again while activating the Celestial Devil Power almost instinctively.


    Huo Lin��er had not recovered a lot of True Qi and she was not willing to go against Ji Mo seriously, thus he instantly pounced on her.


    ��Ji Mo, calm down! It��s me, your senior sister!�� Huo Lin��er shouted in hopes of bringing Ji Mo back to his senses.


    Sure enough, her yell was effective. Ji Mo paused for a moment on top of her body, and a bit of clarity was seen in his eyes that were already taken over by his barbarity. Nevertheless, it only lasted for a short while.


    ��Ji Mo, I��m Huo Lin��er, your senior sister, and you can��t do this to me. Be nice and listen to me���� Huo Lin��er coaxed him as gently as she could.


    ��Roar!��


    Soon enough, the beast in Ji Mo��s eyes was unleashed again. He pinned her down, and a rip was heard when he tore her shirt apart with all his might, revealing a red dudou that remained on her body. With that, her fair skin and half of her breasts were exposed.


    Huo Lin��er tried to struggle by pushing and kicking to get away from Ji Mo, but he was so powerful that her efforts were to no avail. Followed by more ripping sounds, her clothes were removed one by one, and she was almost fully naked in front of him.


    The brutality that was apparent in Ji Mo��s eyes grew stronger, and he had gone so mad that he trampled on the snow-white body below him mercilessly.


    ��Ji Mo, I��m sorry���� Huo Lin��er had a complicated expression for a brief moment before emitting red lights from her eyes. Afterward, her fiery True Qi was let loose. It was such a forceful impact that he flew and crashed into the wall behind him despite his power.


    Huo Lin��er��s True Qi was almost fully recovered, so she quickly stood up with the intention to leave the cave.


    On the other hand, Ji Mo was growling and rolling on the ground painfully. If he had no outlet for the beast inside him, he might actually be tortured to death.


    Huo Lin��er gritted her teeth because Ji Mo��s heart-rending roar moved her tender heart deeply, so she withdrew the first step that she made. She then turned to look at Ji Mo hesitantly while biting her lip.


    ��Roar!��


    Ji Mo tore his clothes instead as the brutish nature in him was in full play, and he had inherited almost all of the Giant Black Ape��s perverse thoughts. The black ape��s ***** would be set free during a full moon, so it would find any creature such as a wild beast, to satisfy itself by venting its *****, or it would die from being tortured by its desire.


    At last, Huo Lin��er gritted her teeth and opened her palm from which a purple chain flew out. The shiny chain was not made from just any material. It was her magical treasure, the Purple Heart Heavenly Chain. The chain quickly extended to bind Ji Mo, so there was no way he could break free from the magical treasure no matter how powerful he was.


    Feeling relieved, Huo Lin��er approached Ji Mo, then caressed his head with her delicate hand while saying softly, ��Young man, you saved my life today. Perhaps this is karma, so let me help you this time. As long as you behave well, I guarantee that you won��t suffer in pain anymore����


    Subsequently, she reached her hand out to Ji Mo��s lower body resolutely.


    ��Oh����


    Ji Mo immediately stopped growling and let out a weird sound instead. He enjoyed the feeling of Huo Lin��er grabbing his shaft gently, thus he calmed down and was no longer mad.


    Upon noticing that the method was effective, Huo Lin��er blushed, then gritted her teeth before speeding up.


    With that, Ji Mo fell dead silent and lay on the ground without moving while enjoying Huo Lin��er��s service. The cave became strangely quiet, and only Ji Mo��s heavy breathing was heard as he lay still on the ground while moaning fervently.


    Huo Lin��er��s embarrassment only made her look lovely. She turned her head as much as she could so as not to look at Ji Mo.


    After an unknown period of time, her hand became extremely sore. Ji Mo finally let out a deep moan and fell asleep after a short shudder as if his body was completely worn out.


    After all, he had gone mad for quite some time.

 Chapter 47 - Who Is He? (I)

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    After Ji Mo fell asleep, the Celestial Devil Power was still refining the remaining demonic Qi inside his body endlessly. The demonic Qi was truly enormous to the point that the Celestial Devil Power actually led it toward the eighth acupuncture point at his chest while he was sound asleep. This was because his body could not withstand the power anymore since he was already at his limit, thus he needed a breakthrough point, which was his eighth acupuncture point.


    Only by breaking through the eighth acupuncture point would Ji Mo��s cultivation base advance, and he could refine more demonic Qi as nourishment for his flesh.


    When Huo Lin��er stood up and noticed that Ji Mo��s lower body was damp, the crimson on her face was even more obvious. She caressed his forehead with her delicate hand again and wiped his sweat off as she said softly, ��I hope that you won��t remember anything when you wake up and that we��ll be like how we used to be. I��m sorry��I couldn��t do it better����


    Afterward, she sat with her legs crossed beside him. She had not fully recovered her True Qi, and she needed to acquire her original cultivation base as soon as possible.


    Ji Mo woke up after an unknown period of time, and the memories rushed into his head like a tide the moment he opened his eyes. Nevertheless, he only remembered what happened before he lost his mind, so he forgot everything after that. Ji Mo soon felt that his body was full of power, and the Celestial Devil Power was restless when he activated it.


    ��An eight-tier tempered body! How did I��When did I break through?�� Utterly shocked, he immediately checked his body without bothering about anything else. There was no mistake as he had really broken through to an eight-tier tempered body in his dream, causing the Celestial Devil Power to be as fearsome as a bolt of thunder.


    He knew that it was definitely due to the Giant Black Ape��s demonic core because the demonic Qi that it contained had been completely transformed into spiritual energy by the Celestial Devil Power as nourishment for his body. In fact, the power instinctively advanced to his eighth acupuncture point. The demonic core of the demonic beast in Qi Plundering Boundary was simply comparable with any spiritual medicine and was more effective than the White Pearl Spiritual Medicine.


    Not long after breaking through to the seventh-tier tempered body, Ji Mo had advanced to the eighth-tier tempered body, and the sudden improvement in his power made him feel like it was all a dream.


    Next, he sensed something extra in his mind.


    It was a message that had never appeared before, and it wandered in Ji Mo��s mind for a short while before he remembered it like it was already a part of his memory.


    ��Three-Tonne Power!��


    The simple words made Ji Mo feel spirited.


    This was the Giant Black Ape��s talent and divine power. Back when Ji Mo had acquired the black ape��s demonic core, he noticed that its core had patterns on it which indicated that the beast possessed talent and divine power. After all, it was a demonic beast with an ancestral bloodline, so it inherited its ancestor��s divine power.


    Despite that, neither did Ji Mo expect to take over the Giant Black Ape��s talent and divine power when he refined its demonic core, nor did he think that they would be so peculiar.


    What was the concept of 3 tonnes? 1 tonne was equivalent to 1,000 kilograms and 2,000 catties, which meant that 3 tonnes were equivalent to 6,000 catties of power. The fact that one could produce 6,000 catties of power, which was the same as 3 tonnes of power, was definitely nature-defying. A master of the Qi Plundering Boundary would have to be wary about the Three-Tonne Power because 3 tonnes were far beyond a human body��s limit.


    Regardless of what Body Tempering Art one adopted, it was impossible to temper 3 tonnes of power.


    Needless to say, the residual effect of the Three-Tonne Power was significant. Each time the power was unleashed, it would last for an especially short period of time, causing one��s body to be exhausted up to a few days because the power would exceed one��s limit. If one��s body was powerful enough, one could certainly execute the Three-Tonne Power a few times, but the negative effect would naturally be increased by a few times as well, and that would be unbearable for ordinary people.


    Nonetheless, that was not what excited Ji Mo. He found it unbelievable that not only could the Three-Tonne Power magnify one��s power instantly, but it could also expand a cultivator��s True Qi. In simple terms, it was a secret technique used to amplify a person��s potential but at the expense of his or her physical power.


    If a cultivator of the Qi Plundering Boundary used the secret technique, one could definitely increase one��s True Qi by one or even two multipliers. Following the increment in strength, the multiplier would increase so much so that one could unleash four, five, or even ten times of magical power.


    As one would expect, the higher the limit brought into play was, the more significant the negative effect was. One��s physical energy would be consumed in the beginning, followed by one��s life.


    ��Is this the Giant Black Ape��s talent and divine power? It��s actually a secret art that��s so tyrannical in nature. Since the black ape inherits its ancestor��s legacy, it��s hard to imagine what kind of being its ancestor was to have studied the secret art that��s simply nature-defying. Lu Susu was very lucky to have killed the Giant Black Ape with a magical talisman. Perhaps the black ape underestimated her, or she would��ve died for sure if it used three times of its original power,�� Ji Mo thought to himself.


    At the same time, he was secretly glad that he was fated to obtain the secret art.


    His only concern was that a bigger price would have to be paid during the later stage of the secret art to the extent that it would require him to burn his life source. As such, he would never use it unless it was out of absolute necessity.


    ��Phew!��


    Ji Mo exhaled deeply and sat up once he was done digesting the information. He noticed that he was still inside the cave, but Huo Lin��er was nowhere to be found. There was a jade talisman in his hand, so he figured that she had left it there for him.


    ��Did she leave without saying goodbye just like Lan Qingcheng did?��


    When Ji Mo channeled his consciousness into the jade talisman anxiously, Huo Lin��er��s voice was instantly heard. ��Little man, don��t run about when you��re awake. I��ve gone out to hunt for some wild animals because you��ve been unconscious for about six days, and you��ll starve to death soon if you don��t eat. Be good����


    ��F*ck. She sounds like she��s soothing a child,�� Ji Mo mumbled, but he quickly noticed that Huo Lin��er had spoken to him in a different tone. He wondered, ��Did something really happen that night?��


    Ji Mo broke out in a cold sweat upon thinking of the possibility.


    He took a look at his clothes and realized that they were still on, but there was a huge patch on his pants that had dried up. Hence, he quickly checked his pants inside out, and based on his experience, he concluded why it was wet. ��It looks like nothing actually happened that day, or else, I wouldn��t have wet my pants from the inside��


    ��I probably settled it myself. Oh god, how many lives did I waste?�� Ji Mo lamented to himself.


    He began having ** again.


    Swoosh!


    A flame appeared outside the cave as Huo Lin��er entered. She carried two hares in her hand and was enveloped in a fire shroud that was gathered from her True Qi which allowed her to go through the waterfall easily without getting wet.


    ��You��re awake.�� She was delighted when she saw Ji Mo sitting up. She blushed a little, and a complicated expression was visible in her eyes momentarily.


    ��I thought you left. That night��Nothing happened, right?�� Ji Mo asked after standing up slowly.


    Upon hearing him, Huo Lin��er��s body trembled uncontrollably, but she quickly looked up naturally with a sweet smile on her face. ��Something did happen.��


    ��What?! Did something happen? Then, we��re���� Ji Mo was astonished.

 Chapter 48 - Who Is He? (II)

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Huo Lin��er��s laughter was as clear as a bell when she chuckled. She glared at Ji Mo as she rebuked, ��What were you thinking? You really went crazy that day, but I managed to avoid you in time. Otherwise, I would��ve suffered a miserable fate because of you, little man. For some reason, you passed out after that and you��ve been unconscious for about six days.��


    ��Is that so?�� Upon hearing her, Ji Mo was subconsciously disappointed, but it was only a fleeting thought that did not linger in his head.


    Huo Lin��er did not mention anything else. She began handling the two quarries by removing their skin to clean them, then roasted them with flames that were condensed from her True Qi. Although she could abstain from eating since she was a cultivator of the Qi Plundering Boundary, Ji Mo had not cast off his worldly body since he was still at the Body Tempering Boundary, hence he needed to consume various grains. Additionally, Ji Mo had been unconscious for around six days without having any liquids, so it was inevitable for his body to be weak.


    The hare was golden yellow once it was roasted, and even though there was no seasoning, Ji Mo enjoyed it so much that his mouth became oily. He was starving.


    Huo Lin��er giggled while supporting her cheeks with her hands as she watched Ji Mo wolfing his food down. She lifted her delicate chin a little and had a gentle expression on her face as if she was filled with happiness. In fact, Huo Lin��er looked like a wife who had waited for her working husband to return home to try the delicious dishes that she prepared. Indeed, it was a heartwarming scene.


    Boom!


    A thunderous sound was suddenly heard outside the cave as there was a downpour. The initially clear night sky became gloomy due to the dark clouds that spread over the sky, and crashes of thunder were accompanied by flashes of lightning. It seemed like the rain was a heavenly tribunal.


    ��It��s raining outside and the thunder��s very intense,�� Huo Lin��er said.


    ��Are you afraid of thunder?�� Ji Mo looked up at her curiously.


    ��Why? If I say that I��m afraid, are you going to protect me, little man?�� Huo Lin��er giggled and teased him.


    Ji Mo was instantly embarrassed, but Huo Lin��er continued giggling happily because he looked cute when he was shy.


    At the spur of the moment, he frowned. The hare meat in his hands fell to the ground, and he looked pale and in pain.


    ��Why? Did I make you angry?�� Huo Lin��er panicked when she noticed the change in Ji Mo��s expression.


    ��I feel un-unwell��I don��t know why, but it hurts as if something��s going to be gone forever.�� Ji Mo furrowed his eyebrows while pressing where his heart was, and he lowered his head with a frightful expression on his face. When he heard the thunder outside the cave, he suddenly felt as though his loved one or a friend was going to die. Ji Mo wanted to yell very badly due to the spontaneous sorrow that he felt.


    ��Is it a residual effect of the demonic core��s refinement?�� Huo Lin��er asked worriedly.


    ��No��I don��t know why��I just feel like I��m going to lose something,�� he responded sadly.


    ��


    The sky was clouded over at the moment, and there was torrential rain. Countless lightning streaked across the sky, and they seemed like they were going to strike the mountain to destroy it.


    Up in the Nine Heavens amidst the rainstorm, a figure traveled through the violent thunder quickly.


    The figure emitted a scorching golden light while treading on air, then transformed into a divine light that journeyed through the lightning without being hurt by the lightning at all.


    Slosh!


    As the heavy rain poured, the divine light figure stopped mid-air. Soon, when the light faded away, the figure was revealed as a gray-haired monkey. The monkey wore a ruined black armor and was holding a large iron rod in its hand. When it stood among the roll of thunders from heaven with the iron rod, the golden light that was stored in its eyes penetrated the void to reach the universe far away.


    ��Kill!��


    The gray-haired monkey had an oppressive momentum as it roared at the sky. Its small body seemed to contain an earth-shattering aura as though it was a huge devil that was calling out to the immortals in heaven with all its might, and its roar was able to shatter mountains and rivers.


    Slosh!


    Numerous chains stretched out from the dark clouds, and they seemed to have intelligence as they twined around the gray-haired monkey.


    ��This is hateful and irritating! Nine cycles of reincarnation, nine cycles of reincarnation! Why do you always have to come between when I��m so close to finding the answer? You sealed my memories and stole my powers. I hate you! I hate you!!!�� the monkey yelled at the vault of heaven while holding the big iron rod.


    Facing the threatening lightning and the thousands of black chains that bound it, it shouted indignantly.


    Slosh!


    The black chains continued to extend from deep inside the void to wind around the gray-haired monkey. The monkey then screamed as it launched its large iron rod into the void to shatter the void, but it disappeared after that. Next, the monkey faced the rolling thunders in the Nine Heavens alone by releasing a forceful killing intent.


    ��Kill! Thirty times of combat power! Open!�� the gray-haired monkey called at the top of its voice. With an unparalleled fighting will, its aura that could break heaven and earth soared into the sky. With a single punch, it broke all the black chains in the sky, then zoomed toward the unknown beings in the Nine Heavens.


    Boom!


    A deafening explosion was heard at the deepest part of the void in the Nine Heavens, followed by the occurrence of divine light. It seemed like something had exploded.


    After that, a stone that radiated multicolored divine light fell and shot out far away��


    ��I��m sorry, my old friend. I failed again in this life����


    A voice that was mournful, miserable, and helpless was heard coming from the multicolored divine stone before it vanished from the sky. After that, the dark clouds went away and the lightning disappeared as if nothing had ever happened.


    In the dark cave in Mount Luofu, Ji Mo was drenched in sweat while panting heavily, and his veins bulged from his arms. He seemed to see horrifying images when he shut his eyes. After shouting out loud, Ji Mo opened his eyes, but they were black and full of killing intent as he released the Celestial Devil Power instinctively.


    The sudden change shocked Huo Lin��er who had been guarding beside him, thus she moved back subconsciously to stay away from him.


    Huo Lin��er avoided him as much as she could when she asked, ��Ji Mo, what��s wrong? Did you have another nightmare?�� The Celestial Devil��s nature that Ji Mo released earlier gave her enormous pressure even though she was a master of the Qi Plundering Boundary.


    Ji Mo looked at his palms after sitting up slowly. He had a nightmare just now whereby he dreamed that he was facing immortals alone with an awe-inspiring fighting will. However, a white-clothed lady, who held a multicolored Celestial Sword, stabbed Ji Mo��s chest, and he saw the immortals sneering at him. He then felt his body turning cold slowly as though some power was devouring him, yet the immortals were still laughing out loud like they were celebrating.


    A boundless hatred grew inside of Ji Mo right away, but he had no idea what exactly was it that he hated.

 Chapter 49 - Three Tonnes Of Invincible Might

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ��Are you okay?�� Huo Lin��er approached Ji Mo to ask after she noticed that he had calmed down.


    ��I��m fine. I just had a nightmare,�� Ji Mo replied. Since last night, he had a feeling that something was amiss due to a certain sorrow within him, and he became so exhausted that he decided to sleep, but he ended up witnessing those scenes in his dream.


    ��Seriously, you��re an adult now, yet you��re acting like a child. I can��t believe that you were scared because of a nightmare,�� Huo Lin��er pouted her lips and rebuked him.


    Ji Mo took a deep breath to get rid of the restlessness, then turned to say to her half-jokingly, ��Senior Sister Huo, I dreamt that you turned into a big dinosaur and kept asking for my body, so I woke up in fear.��


    ��Are you asking for a beating? Why is your head full of such nonsensical thoughts?�� Huo Lin��er immediately lifted her hand as if she was going to hit Ji Mo, but he scurried out of the cave right away. He released a powerful force to split the waterfall outside to escape.


    Huo Lin��er went after him at once, and they looked like a couple that was frolicking around while teasing each other, creating a warm and harmonious scene.


    Under the dazzling sunlight, the sloshing of water that filled the air was like a peaceful symphony.


    Ji Mo said as he stood under the waterfall, ��The Hunting Competition is going to end in a few days, and I��ve wasted some time due to the past few days, so I must work harder so that the others won��t surpass me.��


    ��Mm-hmm, too many things have happened lately,�� Huo Lin��er responded meaningfully before she sighed. She turned to smile at Ji Mo sweetly, which made her look like a charming flower that bloomed under the sun. ��Okay, little man, the rest will be up to you. I have to return to the sect.��


    ��Alright, take care,�� Ji Mo said with a nod.


    Huo Lin��er pursed her lips before informing him, ��Once I return this time, I might not have time to visit Tianyuan Academy anymore. After all, my work as a teacher at the academy is almost coming to an end, so��so you must come to find me. I��ll be waiting for you at the Tianshan Sword Sect.��


    ��Sure, I definitely will.�� Ji Mo nodded again, but he had nothing else to say. He felt like the relationship he shared with Huo Lin��er had changed. It had become somewhat ambiguous, but it was not like they became more intimate. All in all, it was just enigmatic, and Ji Mo saw something in her eyes.


    ��I��m leaving. Behave well, little man.��


    Huo Lin��er smiled lovingly again, then turned to produce a flaming sword-light beneath her feet. The sword-light carried her body up into the sky where she spun mid-air before zooming far away.


    Whoosh!


    A flare was seen as Huo Lin��er left in the form of a shooting star.


    ��That night��Did something really happen between us? I keep feeling like she��s acting strangely.�� Ji Mo shook his head when he looked at the direction where Huo Lin��er left, then he entered the forest and disappeared.


    ��


    The end of the Hunting Competition was less than seven days away since the allotted time was a month. However, Ji Mo had wasted too much time dealing with Huo Lin��er��s matter previously, and he also took a few days to advance from a seventh-tier tempered body to an eighth-tier tempered body, thus he must utilize his time to hunt more demonic beasts. Otherwise, his result would fall behind.


    In the luxuriant forest, the towering ancient trees hid the sky and covered the sun.


    In a serene ravine, there were dead bodies strewn all over, but instead of human corpses, they were carcasses of wolf demonic beasts. This was a wolf den where demonic wolves gathered. The scattered carcasses of the demonic beasts were the size of calves, and they had all been killed by one blow.


    They either had broken skulls, twisted necks, or their bodies were torn in the middle. It was a bloody scene that was extremely tragic to look at.


    There were actually over a hundred demonic wolf carcasses.


    Grrrr!


    Deep inside the ravine, a giant wolf that was sturdier than the other demonic wolves lay with its back on the ground in humiliation before standing up while trembling. The demonic wolf had purple fur, as well as a horn on its forehead, which had the lingering glow of electricity.


    Cough!


    Ji Mo walked out from the ravine in embarrassment, covered in blood. Some of the blood was his while some belonged to the demonic wolves. He paced while wiping the blood off his face. ��I really didn��t expect the demonic wolf to be at the brink of entering the Qi Plundering Boundary. Luckily, I noticed it beforehand and stopped it from advancing, or else, it��d have been a tough match if it broke through.��


    In the meantime, Ji Mo was also gathering Celestial Devil Power in his fist. A Celestial Devil��s shadow was entwined around his arm, and a clank was vaguely heard coming from his arm as if a Celestial Sword was being pulled out of a scabbard.


    Grrr!


    The demonic wolf roared, then kicked its hind legs to charge at Ji Mo like a purple whirlwind. Simultaneously, the horn on the wolf��s head emitted thunderbolts that produced zapping sounds. Wherever the purple whirlwind passed, the layer of soil tore and the ground split, resulting in chaos.


    This was the demonic wolf��s talent and divine power. Although the wolf was a step away from the Qi Plundering Boundary, its talent and divine power had already taken form, thus it could release such thunderous might.


    ��Three-Tonne Power!�� Ji Mo yelled to himself as he blasted the Celestial Devil Power that was gathered at his fist while activating the Three-Tonne Power, the secret art that he inherited from the Giant Black Ape. Accompanied by a loud clank, the Celestial Devil Power transformed into a Hell Celestial Sword, and Ji Mo executed the Forceful Fist Sword Qi while bringing the Three-Tonne Power into play.


    Roar, roar, roar!


    The Hell Celestial Sword that was formed was roughly 6 meters long, and it was covered in Hell Runes. Additionally, a strange Celestial Devil��s illusion was seen winding around the sword and it was surging forward at the demonic wolf.


    Ji Mo was forced to exert all his force upon facing the demonic beast that was about to advance to the Qi Plundering Boundary, so his attack could not be easily fended off, not even by a cultivator who was already at that boundary.


    Clang!


    When the Hell Celestial Sword buzzed and the Celestial Devil��s shadow that surrounded it roared, it cut the demonic wolf��s talent and divine power easily with one slash, resulting in a fountain of blood. The sword that slashed through the wolf��s body then hit a giant rock in the ravine, and the surging force shattered the rock until nothing was left.


    Psst!


    A ripping sound was heard the moment the Hell Celestial Sword cut the demonic wolf��s body, causing its huge body to be split into two. Not only was its blood gushing out like crazy, but its internal organs also spilled out. The two parts of its body fell into a pool of blood. The wolf could not get any more lifeless than that.


    Exhaling deeply, Ji Mo realized that his arm was shivering a little because the secret art, the Three-Tonne Power, had consumed his physical energy. Based on his current body, he could only use it twice, after when he would feel worn out even if he had the powerful nature of a Celestial Devil.


    The Three-Tonne Power was effective toward his power, as well as a real cultivator��s True Qi. Nonetheless, one had to consume physical power, essence, and one��s life during the early, middle, and later stages respectively as the price. With that, one could unleash one��s full potential instantly to exert magical power that was seven, eight, or even ten times and more.

 Chapter 50 - The Hunt Ends

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Ji Mo approached the demonic wolf to retrieve its core, which was covered in mysterious runes as well. Demonic cores with runes like that indicated that the demonic beast definitely had talent and divine power. Nevertheless, Ji Mo did not consume the core this time because the number of demonic beasts killed would be recorded for the Hunting Competition, and demonic cores would be the best proof of his kills.


    Besides that, the cores could be used to exchange a substantial amount of spiritual medicine at the academy.


    Ji Mo had consumed the demonic cores that he obtained from killing demonic beasts previously, but he was forced to save some to gain points for the Hunting Competition. After all, the winner of the competition would acquire a seventh-grade spiritual medicine, which was worth far more than a demonic core of a demonic beast on the Qi Plundering Boundary.


    After cleaning up the mess, Ji Mo left the ravine with a bright smile.


    The demonic beasts in the ravine had been completely wiped out. Ji Mo wondered what the others would think if they knew that he killed all the wolves in a den, as well as a wolf king that was about to enter Qi Plundering Boundary. It was likely that the academy��s senior management would be too shocked to say anything.


    As the days passed, it was finally the last day of the Hunting Competition.


    The few senior management staff from Tianyuan Academy gathered outside Mount Luofu to await the returning disciples after the hunt ended. Each year, there would be disciples who died from the Hunting Competition, which was a normal scene because the weak were prey to the strong in the cultivation world. If one could not survive the attacks from low-level demonic beasts, one would eventually die on the cultivation path anyway.


    Therefore, those from senior management staff from Tianyuan Academy were already very used to life and death.


    ��It��s almost time. They should be returning,�� an elder mentioned. He had white hair, a powerful aura, and was a master in the Qi Plundering Boundary. In fact, he was a master in ninth-tier Qi Plundering Boundary. The elder had no hope of advancing to the next boundary due to his old age, hence he was asked to manage Tianyuan Academy.


    Behind the elder, who was at the ninth-tier Qi Plundering Boundary, stood a middle-aged man and a pretty woman. Both of them were masters in the Qi Plundering Boundary as well, and at the academy, they were inner disciples who were assigned to the academy management.


    Despite that, they were different from the white-haired elder because their cultivation base was not that high. Nonetheless, they were young enough with plenty of time to spare, and they were only transferred to Tianyuan Academy temporarily, so they could return to the sect soon.


    ��Elder Xu, take a guess. How many out of the two hundred disciples will survive?�� the pretty woman asked.


    ��More than half,�� answered Elder Xu, who was the elder on the ninth-tier Qi Plundering Boundary.


    Another middle-aged man scoffed. ��I think it��s going to be half and half. The b*stards are mostly disciples from well-known families, and they usually live in peace and comfort, so they rarely work hard to cultivate. This batch of outer disciples is the worst I��ve ever seen.��


    The pretty woman��s eyes glowed. ��That��s true, but there are some with good qualities and strength. For instance, there��s Chen Ran from the Chen family, Wan Qinghe, Du Jia, Dong Hao, Nangong Ye, Xia Jiaojiao, and the others. They��re qualified to be inner disciples.��


    Upon hearing him, the middle-aged man sneered. ��Junior Sister Ling, I��m afraid that you don��t know about this yet. We found Dong Hao and Nangong Ye��s corpses in the forest not long ago, so they��re both dead. Moreover, even Chen Ran is half-dead as he was crippled. Xia Jiaojiao was with him, but she��s nowhere to be found now.��


    ��What?! They��re all outstanding disciples, but they��re actually dead?!�� The pretty woman, whose surname was Ling, was utterly shocked. She found it strange, but she also felt sorry for them at the same time.


    ��Based on their injuries, it doesn��t seem like they were injured by a demonic beast, and since Chen Ran was crippled, I��m guessing that someone else did it,�� said the middle-aged man.


    ��Oh Lord, were those the work of another outer disciple? How could that person be so ruthless toward other disciples from the same sect? We must find out who did it!�� The pretty woman had a cold look in her eyes.


    ��Alright, this will be inspected later. They��re back,�� Elder Xu said plainly while glancing at them.


    After that, three figures came out of the forest. They were all disciples from the academy. Each of them was covered in wounds, and one��s arm was even crippled. That disciple��s arm was covered in blood, which was hanging powerlessly while he was being helped out of the forest by his companions.


    The three teens walked out with bloody footsteps, but each of them looked resolute, and even the teen whose arm was crippled was composed. After steeling themselves in blood during the hunt that lasted for a month, the teens had transformed such that they matured and were stauncher than before.


    ��We are disciples Wang Sheng, Tian Long, and Tian Hu. We have completed the hunting training!�� The three teens approached the few seniors in the academy with determined expressions and they stood still even though they were covered in blood.


    ��Mm, not bad. You��ve certainly matured a lot.�� Elder Lao nodded as he was satisfied.


    ��Pass me your treasure pouch and I��ll check your result,�� the middle-aged man said coldly, then he received treasure pouches from the three teens. The pouches had been given to them before the Hunting Competition started, and they were specially for them to store their captures.


    The middle-aged man began counting the demonic cores in the treasure pouches which indicated the number of demonic beasts that they killed.


    ��Wang Sheng, 20 low-level demonic cores, 10 middle-level demonic cores, and 5 high-level demonic cores. Mm-hmm, this isn��t bad.�� He nodded calmly.


    The demonic cores were retrieved from demonic beasts, and beasts that had not broken through to the Qi Plundering Boundary were separated into low-, middle-, and high-levels. Low-level demonic beasts were the most common ones, but they were not very powerful as they were only a bit stronger than wild beasts. Middle-level demonic beasts were those that possessed spiritual intelligence, hence they were strong, and were more than ten times stronger than ordinary wild beasts. Finally, high-level demonic beasts were the ones second to demonic beasts on the Qi Plundering Boundary, and they were comparable with cultivators with an eighth or ninth-tier tempered body in terms of speed and power.


    ��Tian Long, 15 low-level demonic cores, 10 middle-level demonic cores, and 7high-level demonic cores.


    ��Tian Hu, 20 low-level demonic cores, 7 middle-level demonic cores, and 4 high-level demonic cores.��


    The middle-aged man checked their results one by one while the pretty woman, whose surname was Ling, was in charge of tabulating.


    ��Very well. You may stand aside.�� Elder Xu nodded at the three teens, but honestly, their results were average, so the elder did not react specifically.


    Swoosh!


    All of a sudden, there was a sword-light when a teen descended by maneuvering a sword-light. He was Leng Jianyun, an inner disciple from the Tianshan Sword Sect.


    ��Junior Brother Leng, you��re late.�� The pretty woman smiled at Leng Jianyun. Then, he continued tabulating the records of the outer disciples.


    ��How was it? Didn��t you find her yet?�� On the other hand, the middle-aged man turned to frown at Leng Jianyun.


    Leng Jianyun had a ghastly expression on his face as he nodded at the middle-aged man. ��I didn��t see Susu at all during the last few days. She mentioned that she was going to handle something, and it has been almost half a month, but I haven��t heard from her since. I��m really worried.��


    ��What��s there to be afraid of? When cultivators enter a deep forest, we might even stay for a few years if we encounter a lucky chance, yet you��re missing Susu when you haven��t seen her for only half a month,�� Ling teased, then she cast a flirtatious look at Leng Jianyun.


    ��But Susu didn��t leave me a message when she left���� Leng Jianyun could not help but sigh. He had no idea that Lu Susu had already been killed by Ji Mo, and that her corpse was already destroyed.


    ��Mm, it��s okay. We��ll look for her after the hunt ends,�� the middle-aged man comforted.


    ��That��s the only way.�� Leng Jianyun nodded.

 Chapter 51 - Amazing Harvest

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    After that, quite a number of outer disciples exited Mount Luofu one after another. Each of the young disciples was injured, some of them more seriously injured than the others, but all of them underwent changes in their temperament compared to their young and inexperienced self before entering the mountain.


    A month of training that involved blood and killing was enough to make them grow.


    ��How many have returned?�� Elder Xu asked.


    ��110. I��ve tabulated the results,�� answered Ling.


    Right after she said that, another three figures exited the forest. The impressive people were Du Jia, as well as Ning Xia and Zuo Taofei, who were known as little warlords at Tianyuan Academy.


    ��We��re back.�� Du Jia still had a graceful bearing and had no trace of blood on her at all, which was extraordinary. There was a sense of aestheticism in her elegance. Her fair skin was spotless, and she looked so composed as if a month of training had not changed her at all.


    Ning Xia and Zuo Yaofei were unperturbed and arrogant as usual. They sneered when they noticed the other disciples who were terribly wounded.


    ��Du Jia, 100 low-level demonic cores, 80 middle-level demonic cores, and 20 high-level demonic cores! Hiss��This is quite an excellent result.�� The middle-aged man had admiration for Du Jia after checking her treasure pouch because her result was the best so far.


    Afterward, he proceeded to check Ning Xia and Du Yaofei��s results.


    ��Ning Xia, 108 low-level demonic cores, 75 middle-level demonic cores, and 27 high-level cores!


    ��Zuo Yaofei, 100 demonic cores, 69 middle-level demonic cores, and 22 high-level cores!��


    Upon hearing the middle-aged man reporting Du Jia, Ning Xia, and Zuo Yaofei��s results, the other disciples gasped and looked at them respectfully. Their results proved that they were the cream of the crop, and the other disciples knew that they were not a match for them.


    In fact, even Elder Xu, Ling, Leng Jianyun, and the middle-aged man thought highly of them. The three disciples were worthy of becoming inner disciples due to their quality and strength, and they had a bright future in the inner sect as they were talented.


    Du Jia, Ning Xia, and Zuo Yaofei stood aside. The two young men lifted their chins proudly when the others looked at them respectfully and enviously, whereas Du Jia stood quietly while looking at the forest.


    ��He��s not out yet. Did he die inside? It��s such a pity. I wanted to see the fruit of your hard work.�� Du Jia had a scornful look in her eyes.


    As time ticked away, another two hours had passed, but there was no movement from the forest.


    This time, Ning Xia was anxious. ��Wan Qinghe��s not out yet. Did he die? Based on his strength, ordinary demonic beasts can��t hurt him at all.��


    Zuo Yaofei curled his lip. ��Tsk, you can never be sure. Wan Qinghe��s a conceited person, so he might��ve provoked a demonic beast on the Qi Plundering Boundary but ended up being killed.��


    Ning Xia smirked. Although they were quite close to Wan Qinghe, it was only superficial for the three of them to compete with each other openly and covertly to be on the top so often. Besides, if one of them was dead, the competition between them would reduce once they were in the Tianshan Sword Sect.


    Therefore, the two of them were not too surprised that Wan Qinghe was possibly dead.


    ��Oh right, I heard that Dong Hao and Nangong Ye were killed, and Chen Ran was crippled. What do you think about this?�� Ning Xia suddenly asked.


    ��So what?�� Zuo Yaofei was unbothered.


    On the other hand, Du Zi��s eyes twitched as though she thought about something, and she seemed shocked.


    Ning Xia chuckled. ��Do you remember that Dong Hao and Ji Mi made a bet a month ago before we entered Mount Luofu?��


    Zuo Yaofei recalled something with the help of Ning Xia��s reminder, and he was stunned. ��Are you saying that Ji Mo killed Dong Hao? Are you kidding me? I know Dong Hao and the others very well, and they��re not weak at all. Chen Ran��s exceptionally talented that he��s even trained as an important seedling, so if they join hands, you and I might not be able to touch them at all, let alone Ji Mo.


    ��But they really died, and instead of being hurt by a demonic beast, it seems like they were killed by someone, which is evident since Chen Ran was crippled. Moreover, Xia Jiaojiao and Ling��er are nowhere to be found, so it��s likely that they came to a bad end too,�� Ning Xia expressed with a frown on his face.


    ��That doesn��t prove that it was Ji Mo��s doing. I��ve heard of that fella before, and he only has a third-tier tempered body after being in the academy for two years. Even though his strength improved a little lately with Huo Lin��er��s help, it��s impossible for him to have killed Dong Hao and the others by himself.�� Zuo Yaofei could not believe what he heard.


    Ning Xia eventually became unconvinced too. ��That��s true��Dong Hao and the others probably died from an accident. Ji Mo��s not out yet anyway, so it��s probable that he died too.��


    While they conversed, Du Jia stood aside without saying a word. She furrowed her eyebrows as if she was in deep thought.


    ��Look! Someone��s out,�� someone shouted all of a sudden.


    Everyone looked toward the forest at the same time. After waiting for a few hours, they thought that nobody else survived, thus they were shocked when someone walked out of the forest.


    Elder Xu, Leng Jianyun, Ling, and the middle-aged man stared at the figure at the same time.


    Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!


    As the figure approached them, everyone finally saw that it was a teen who appeared to be bathed in blood. The young man was extremely thin, but he was carrying two huge creatures that were the size of elephants which also had tough scales. On top of that, the two creatures amounted to more than 1,000 kilograms, yet the teen was carrying them.


    Since the teen was carrying heavy items, each step he took caused a deafening sound. He looked very relaxed even with the huge burdens on his body such that only his footsteps became heavier.


    ��It��s really him! He didn��t die!�� Du Jia was the first who recognized the thin figure, and she exclaimed subconsciously.


    ��It��s Ji Mo! He really came out!��


    ��Oh my god, what is he carrying? Are those the carcasses of demonic beasts? The beasts are huge! They must be high-level demonic beasts!��


    ��He��s so powerful! The carcasses probably weigh more than 1,000 kilograms in total. Did he really carry them out like that?��


    ��Is that the good-for-nothing young master from the Ji family? Why is he so strong? I heard that his cultivation base is very low and that he doesn��t even have a fifth-tier tempered body. Why is he so strong?!��


    Quite a number of people in Tianyuan Academy knew of Ji Mo, hence they were appalled when they saw him carrying two hefty creatures while being covered in blood.


    Even Elder Xu, Ling, and the middle-aged man fixed their gaze on the gaunt young man.


    Under the watch of everyone else, the teen made his way to the crowd, then threw the two huge creatures on the flow.


    Bam, bam!


    The weighty creatures caused a deep hole on the ground.


    ��These are�� A Lihuo rhino and a green-scaled leopard! These are two demonic beasts that are going to advance to the Qi Plundering Boundary!��


    Some disciples exclaimed when they saw the carcasses on the floor. After roaming around Mount Luofu for a month, they knew by heart how the demonic beasts were scattered in the mountain. A number of them had actually encountered the two powerful beasts during their hunt, but because the beasts were a step away from the Qi Plundering Boundary, the disciples decided to avoid them.


    As such, they were in awe when they saw the demonic beasts�� carcasses in front of them.


    ��Disciple Ji Mo reporting for my return.�� Ji Mo inhaled a little as he looked at Elder Xue calmly. He had curbed his aura, so the others could not tell how much power was actually stored in his veiled power.

 Chapter 52 - Suspected

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ��Were��were these two demonic beasts killed by you?�� asked the middle-aged man while looking strangely at Ji Mo. It was difficult for him to believe that a mere tempered body phase disciple could kill two demonic beasts that were advancing into the Qi Plundering Boundary.


    Even if these demonic beasts had not stepped into the Qi Plundering Boundary, it was just a step away, and they were demonic beasts with inborn divine power. It was no simple task to kill one, not to mention two, at once.


    Facing the interrogation from the middle-aged man, Ji Mo smiled and nodded without hiding anything as there was nothing to cover up. Then, he said, ��Hmm, I killed them, but it took me some effort. Also, while the two corpses can��t fit into the treasure pouch, I know that the bodies of the Flaming Li Rhino and green-scaled leopard have some parts that can be ingredients for refining precious medicine and weaponry, so I dragged both of them out here. Can I redeem my reward with this?��


    ��Err��yes.��


    Ji Mo explained it all with simple words and a brief description.


    However, these simple sentences shocked everyone who was there although they had already guessed that Ji Mo had probably slaughtered these two soon-to-be Qi Plundering Boundary demonic beasts. However, hearing these words coming out from Ji Mo��s lips still stirred a commotion.


    There was a sudden uproar as all of the outer disciples of Tianyuan Academy seemed startled.


    ��Hmph, what a joke! What a big fat joke! Are you saying that you killed these two demonic beasts? What evidence do you have?�� demanded Zuo Yaofei, who laughed loudly all of a sudden, as he cast a mocking glance at Ji Mo.


    He was the pride of Tianyuan Academy and the academy��s little warlord, but at that point, he felt that Ji Mo was threatening his popularity, hence he was upset.


    ��I have their demonic cores!�� Ji Mo announced.


    ��Can their demonic cores prove that you killed them?�� Zuo Yaofei giggled.��In my opinion, you bumped into these two powerful demonic beasts while they were fighting and they were gravely injured as a result. Then, you picked up what was left and dragged their corpses away, didn��t you?��


    Once he uttered those words, many people seemed to understand the problem. What Zuo Yaofei said made sense. After all, nobody was willing to believe that under the usual circumstances, Ji Mo could have single-handedly killed two such powerful demonic beasts. There was definitely some coincidence that must have caused this misunderstanding.


    ��Hmph, it��s obvious that you got this by luck, but you claim that you killed them. Shame on you.�� When Zuo Yaofei saw that Ji Mo was silent, he thought that Ji Mo had conceded, so he suddenly became even more sarcastic.


    Even the other disciples sneered and thought that Ji Mo��s actions were dishonorable.


    ��Alright, let��s be quiet. I��ll tally his results.�� The middle-aged man snorted at Zuo Yaofei to silence him. The middle-aged man was a Qi Plundering Boundary master and the inner disciple of the Tianshan Sword Sect whom Zuo Yaofei did not dare to offend.


    Under the watch of a group of people, the middle-aged man took the treasure pouch from Ji Mo and went into it spiritually to do a search. Suddenly, terror filled his face and he stared at Ji Mo intensely to seek confirmation, ��These��were all your own doing?��


    ��Hmm, yes.�� Ji Mo nodded.


    Instantly, everyone around was hooked by what the middle-aged man said, and they were curious to know what he saw that terrified him. Even Xu Lao, Leng Jianyun, and the beautiful young woman with the surname of Ling watched them cautiously.


    Nearby, Zuo Yaofei��s eyelid twitched aggressively as if he felt something bad about to happen.


    Under the audience��s expectant gazes, the middle-aged man started to read out Ji Mo��s results, ��Ji Mo��s results are as follows: zero low-level demonic core����


    Once that was said, there was silence as everyone was dumbfounded. Was zero even a result? Following that, waves of laughter erupted and they shot glances full of contempt and ridicule at Ji Mo. However, before the laughter faded away, the words the middle-aged man said after that rendered everyone speechless. ��500 intermediate-level demonic cores! 200 advanced-level demonic cores! Among them includes��a Flaming Li Rhino��s high-quality demonic core and a green-scaled leopard��s high-quality demonic core, and���� The middle-aged man paused to stare at Ji Mo in shock again, then he said, ��There��s one more Qi Plundering Boundary Purple Moon wolf��s demonic core.��


    ��Wow!��


    When the results were announced, an uproar broke out in the audience. Everyone looked at Ji Mo as if he was a monster and countless discussions filled the open space.


    ��Zero low-level demonic cores, but 500 intermediate-level demonic cores, which means he killed 500 intermediate-level demonic beasts? Furthermore, 200 advanced-level demonic cores��Oh my god, this guy has killed so many demonic beasts.��


    ��Impossible! I must��ve heard wrongly. I Ji Mo a monster? In only a month, he has killed so many demonic beasts? That��s impossible unless these demonic beasts were all kittens which stood there for him to kill at will.��


    ��Forget the Flaming Li Rhino and the green-scaled leopard, but I think I heard the old man say that there��s also a Qi Plundering Boundary demonic beast��s demonic core. Did he kill a Qi Plundering Boundary demonic beast? That��s impossible unless the floodgates of heaven opened unto him!��


    Rumors were flying everywhere and there was not a single person who was not shocked, especially when they heard there was a demonic core from a Qi Plundering Boundary demonic beast. Everyone could not maintain their composure, including Du Jia, Zuo Yaofei, and Ning Xia who also gaped at Ji Mo in shock. Who would have believed that a tempered body phase cultivator could slaughter a Qi Plundering Boundary demonic beast?


    Leng Jianyun��s eyelid also twitched violently as he looked suspiciously at Ji Mo.


    ��Huh? That��s strange! There are 200 black demonic wolf��s demonic cores. Did you kill 200 black demonic wolves? Those are intermediate- to advanced-level demonic beasts,�� the middle-aged man said while he took out a black demonic core as though he was able to tell which animal it belonged to.


    Ji Mo nodded proudly. ��Yes, I slaughtered a wolf pack. The Purple Moon wolf was the leader of the black demonic wolves. When it was breaking through to Qi Plundering Boundary, I interrupted it and killed it although the Purple Moon wolf wasn��t a Qi Plundering Boundary demonic beast. Although its demonic core has evolved, its body wasn��t transformed by the demonic core yet, so it can��t be regarded as a Qi Plundering Boundary demonic beast.��


    As Ji Mo issued an official explanation, the audience suddenly realized that it was possible. After all, he was just a tempered body phase cultivator and it would be a fantasy to kill a Qi Plundering Boundary demonic beast.


    However, Ji Mo��s results were way beyond the masses, far exceeding that of Zuo Yaofei, Ning Xia, and Du Jia.


    ��How could this happen? We��re actually being suppressed by him! This is really getting on my nerves!�� Ning Xia gritted her teeth and said while coldly glancing at Ji Mo.


    Frowning, Du Jia was irritated too, but there was nothing that she could say.


    ��Hmph, something��s not right. I suspect that he��s cheating!�� Zuo Yaofei accused blatantly. How could an arrogant person like him let Ji Mo surpass him willingly? It was an insult to his very existence.


    Although Zuo Yaofei��s voice was soft, many people heard him. Leng Jianyun glimpsed at him and said, ��Zuo Yaofei, just be straightforward with whatever you want to say. It��s okay. I��ll decide for you.�� After saying that, he threw an encouraging glance at Zuo Yaofei.

 Chapter 53 - Put All Your Eggs In One Basket

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    With Leng Jianyun to back him up, Zuo Yaofei was secretly delighted. He walked up and pointed at Ji Mo to say, ��I suspect he��s cheating. How could an ordinary tempered body phase cultivator kill so many demonic beasts in such a short period of time and even slaughter a Purple Moon wolf? This is just impossible!��


    ��Zuo Yaofei, do you have any evidence that Ji Mo cheated?�� The middle-aged man did not really agree with Zuo Yaofei��s point of view. Zuo Yaofei had always been arrogant at the academy, so he was not very fond of him.


    ��Of course, I have evidence!�� Zuo Yaofei��s words really surprised everyone. Even Elder Xu and the beautiful young woman surnamed Ling looked at him to produce the evidence.


    Ji Mo frowned because he knew that Zuo Yaofei was deliberately causing trouble.


    There was a wicked smile at the corner of Zuo Yaofei��s lips. He pointed his finger at Ji Mo and said, ��I know your dirty tactics. You can��t hide them from me. Although what I��m about to say may offend a Senior Sister, I still have to say it. Actually, Ji Mo got assistance from Huo Lin��er throughout the Hunting Competition. I suspect these demonic beasts were killed by Senior Sister Huo and not you. You can deceive others but not me! I saw you with Senior Sister Huo Lin��er in Mount Luofu.��


    After the accusation, many people immediately whispered among themselves. Inevitably, humans would always follow where the crowd went. They would not care who was right or wrong and would only choose to believe what they saw. They would rather believe in their own rationale than consider what the truth was, and that was the human heart.


    Instantly, many people believed what Zuo Yaofei said because it made sense. After all, no one was willing to believe that Ji Mo had such a great ability from him to be able to kill so many demonic beasts. Now that Zuo Yaofei had created the rumor that Huo Lin��er helped Ji Mo, it all made sense.


    ��Hmph. Ji Mo, am I right?�� Zuo Yaofei sneered at Ji Mo.


    ��What do you mean you��re right? Did you even see it with your own eyes?�� Ji Mo chuckled.


    ��Do you still want to hide until now? You��re just a shameless rat using despicable means to win. What are you proud of? Don��t you think I don��t know what you��re capable of? With your lousy kungfu, how could you have killed so many demonic beasts? This is the biggest joke I��ve ever heard.�� Zuo Yaofei became increasingly furious as he went on.


    These words caused many people to develop suspicion and they looked at Ji Mo differently. The ever-changing human heart was a true statement.


    ��Zuo Yaofei, you��re only voicing your speculation. How can you prove it?�� The middle-aged man seemed to have a bad impression of Zuo Yaofei as he thwarted him several times.


    Leng Jianyun sneered, ��Zuo Yaofei, what else can you prove? Bring it all up. It��s okay. I��ll back you up. If someone is trying to cheat, I won��t let him go!�� After saying that, Leng Jianyun intentionally stared at Ji Mo with scorn in his eyes.


    Leng Jianyun never had a good impression of Ji Mo because Ji Mo was Huo Lin��er��s guy. Besides that, Leng Jianyun and Lu Susu��s had an ambiguous relationship. Therefore, he would never side with Ji Mo.


    Elder Xu stood aside silently but watched with interest and had a faint smile at the corner of his lips.


    With Leng Jianyun��s support, Zuo Yaofei naturally had no worries. He walked towards Ji Mo and stood in front of him. He was a head taller than Ji Mo, and as he looked down at Ji Mo, he said, ��It��s easy to prove the truth. I can exchange a few moves with Ji Mo to see if he has the ability to kill that many demonic beasts!��


    ��Oh? That��s a brilliant idea����


    Upon saying that, Leng Jianyun was the first to agree. He looked at Ji Mo with ridicule and said, ��Ji Mo, you said that you killed all these demonic beasts. Then, let us see your ability. Let��s see if you really have what it takes.��


    Many people nodded in agreement. The beautiful young lady surnamed Ling also nodded. Elder Xu smiled smugly and seemed to agree with that point.


    Immediately, many disciples started to cheer as everyone enjoyed watching a duel. When they saw that the little warlord Zuo Yaofei was going to attack, those who loved to watch the fun did not want to miss the chance to do so, and they started to cheer like it did not matter who was right or wrong.


    ��Ji Mo, do you dare to take up my challenge? Within three moves, I��ll show everyone the shameless methods you used!�� boasted the popular Zuo Yaofei who was full of arrogance.


    Ji Mo simply touched his nose and could not help but reveal a smile. He knew that Zuo Yaofei was intentionally forcing him to attack and reveal his strength. Ji Mo��s eyes glanced at Du Jia subtly. The reason he was hiding his strength was to keep it from Du Jia as he did not want her to notify Nan Hao.


    However, Zuo Yaofei was forcing him to do so at that moment in front of everyone. If Ji Mo did not do something to suppress the crowd, he might be disqualified from the Hunting Competition, and if that happened, his reputation would be ruined.


    Then, Ji Mo smiled bitterly and said, ��Zuo Yaofei, do you really want to fight?


    ��Are you scared?�� Zuo Yaofei sneered, clenching his fists and creating a popping noise. ��If you don��t want to suffer, then you��d better be honest about your despicable thoughts, and I��ll spare you of your wrath.��


    Sighing helplessly, Ji Mo licked his lips and said, ��Alright, since you insist, let��s spar.��


    ��It��s not just simple sparring.�� Zuo Yaofei had a malevolent grin as he moved closer to Ji Mo slowly and whispered into his ear, ��Do you think you can easily steal the limelight away from me? What a joke! I��ll beat you until you kneel and beg for mercy.��


    ��Err��you may have overplayed your hand. Are you sure?�� Ji Mo��s expression changed slightly.


    ��Do you think I can��t afford the play?�� Zuo Yaofei retorted sarcastically.


    ��I don��t know. Let��s see. Who knows? You may lose to me.�� Ji Mo smiled kindly.


    ��I may lose to you?�� Zuo Yaofei straightened his back. Suddenly, tremendous energy erupted from his body. The energy materialized and roared like a thousand troops on galloping horses while the ground beneath him instantly cracked open.


    ��This energy��has materialized. Zuo Yaofei has broken through to the ninth-tier tempered body!�� At that moment, a voice was heard from the surrounding crowd. Everyone looked at Zuo Yaofei in astonishment. Before he entered Mount Luofu, Zuo Yaofei had still been an eighth-tier tempered body. No one thought that in just a month, he would have broken through to the ninth-tier tempered body.


    Once he got through this hurdle, then Zuo Yaofei would successfully step into the Qi Plundering Boundary, turning the power in his body into True Qi and becoming a true cultivator.


    ��Zuo Yaofei is only 18 years old but is already on the ninth-tier tempered body. Given his talent, breaking through to the Qi Plundering Boundary before he turns 19 shouldn��t be a problem��


    ��Yes, but if the inner sect focuses on him, like how Nan Hao was given spiritual medicine, Zuo Yaofei��s upgrade to the Qi Plundering Boundary will be even faster. Even if he enters the inner sect, he will be regarded as a key seedling to cultivate.��


    ��That talent is really terrifying. In Tianyuan Academy, besides Nan Hao, I��m afraid that only Zuo Yaofei and Du Jia have such talent.��


    All kinds of gasps of shock and surprise were heard throughout the crowd. After Zuo Yaofei demonstrated his ninth-tier tempered body strength, a group of people overwhelmingly cheered Zuo Yaofei on. The ninth-tier tempered body was only one final step away from the Qi Plundering Boundary. A master like this could be superior to almost all the outer disciples of the academy.


    ��So, Zuo Yaofei actually has such talent. It must be reported to the sect for special training.�� The beautiful young lady surnamed Ling revealed a splendor in her eyes as she looked at with Zuo Yaofei in awe.


    Smiling wryly, Elder Xu also nodded with narrowed eyes. The old man did not speak much, but his body language showed that he was full of expectations for Zuo Yaofei.


    ��Haha, what amazing talent and no lesser than Nan Hao��s,�� said Leng Jianyun with a grin. At the same time, he looked at Ji Mo with pity. Based on Zuo Yaofei��s ninth-tier tempered body strength, it would be ludicrous if Ji Mo won.

 Chapter 54 - Playing With The Heartbeat

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Nearby, Du Jia and Ning Xia were still surprised. They were in the same practice group with Zuo Yaofei and did not actually realize when Zuo Yaofei had broken through the ninth-tier tempered body. Du Jia looked at Zuo Yaofei with her sparkling eyes. Zuo Yaofei was only 18 years old and had already broken through the ninth-tier tempered body. His talent was really no lesser than Nan Hao��s.


    ��Haha!�� Zuo Yaofei looked at Ji Mo while laughing continuously, ��Ji Mo, you still have time to kowtow and admit your fault. Otherwise, when I break your bones, it��ll be too late even if you willingly kneel.��


    His words were arrogant, but at that point, nobody talked about it since Zuo Yaofei was indeed qualified.


    ��I hope everything will turn out as you say.�� Ji Mo laughed.


    At the same time, the sound of rolling thunder echoed from Ji Mo��s body, and the powerful Celestial Devil Power was unleashed, exploding in every direction. The powerful energy, which was like a blast from a volcano eruption, split the ground beneath Ji Mo open. The mighty Celestial Devil Power rolled out with explosive power and coalesced into an entity, enveloping his body.


    Ji Mo had now transformed into the Celestial Devil. The unique aura of the Hell Celestial Devil that his body emitted was violent, murderous, and cold. The hellish red flow that emerged under his skin was crystal clear.


    ��This power is as tremendous!�� somebody exclaimed in shock.


    Before more people were surprised by Ji Mo��s power, he already attacked. The Celestial Devil Power in his body erupted in every direction with tremendous speed and appeared in front of Zuo Yaofei. Ji Mo did not use any martial arts but just executed some simple leaps and punches.


    Powerful energy burst out of Ji Mo��s fists just like a Celestial Devil that had broken through the chains of hell with a roar.


    Zuo Yaofei��s expression changed at once. He never thought that Ji Mo could exert such mighty force. He immediately crossed his arms to form a shield, then aggressively charged forward and clashed with Ji Mo��s fists.


    Bang!


    The two powerful forces impacted at that moment, and under the audience��s watchful gaze, Zuo Yaofei grunted as he retreated after being hit by the force that Ji Mo��s fists exerted. He staggered and almost fell backward while his entire arm was numb at that point.


    ��How did��that power?�� After the numbness faded, a tremendous pain caused Zuo Yaofei to feel like his arm was broken. The agony was unbearable.


    At that moment, Ji Mo attacked again without demonstrating any martial arts like before. His right leg was like a whip, kicking Zuo Yaofei��s shoulder viciously. His entire body��s Celestial Devil Power was concentrated in his right leg and it contained more than 2,000 kilograms of force.


    Crush!


    Boom!


    Zuo Yaofei did not block it in time, let alone demonstrate his martial arts. Ji Mo��s iron leg struck him and the crack of bone could be heard from his shoulder. Right after being kicked like a sandbag, Zuo Yaofei flew out. He rolled on the ground numerous times for a long distance.


    Ji Mo followed closely and jumped into the air although his movements were not flashy. He stomped on Zuo Yaofei who was still rolling on the ground. The position where his foot landed cracked with a bone-crushing sound.


    ��Argh!��


    Zuo Yaofei��s piercing screams rang in the ears of the audience like he was a pig being slaughtered.


    There was no doubt that it was a total defeat that no one expected. In just a few short breaths, the mighty Zuo Yaofei, who was a ninth-tier tempered body master, did not even have the chance to retaliate. He was toppled to the ground and trampled by Ji Mo��s thunderous attacks.


    ��N-no way. He was defeated just like that?��


    ��This��isn��t possible! Zuo Yaofei is a ninth-tier body tempered master. How could he be defeated so easily?��


    Those kung fu moves produced a result that was no one expected. The powerful and majestic Zuo Yaofei was defeated. He was pinned beneath Ji Mo��s foot within two moves in less than one round. Everything happened at lightning speed, thus everybody did not really grasp what was happening.


    At that point, Ji Mo was crushing Zuo Yaofei��s chest with his feet. Zuo Yaofei was screaming miserably and he could feel his ribs being broken by his opponent��s feet. His shoulder was broken by the kick, and even the bone in his arm that received Ji Mo��s punch showed signs of a fracture.


    What kind of power was this? In the face of this power, even the strength of his ninth-tier tempered body had no resistance and was suppressed instantly.


    ��Do you think you can make me kneel? Have you looked in the mirror yet?�� Ji Mo��s eyes had a dark glow as they exuded the aura of the Celestial Devil that was both violent and precise.


    The audience was dumbfounded. Ji Mo lifted his foot again and stomped on Zuo Yaofei again and again. Each stomp contained tremendous power that shattered Zuo Yaofei��s bones. At last, Ji Mo rolled his sleeves up and charged at him to dish out an elaborated beating.


    Zuo Yaofei screamed in agony continuously. He was beaten all over as he rolled around the ground. His face and body were covered in bruises while his mouth was bleeding with a few teeth already knocked out. Without a doubt, this was brutal torture, and the person being tortured was the famous little warlord of Tianyuan Academy, a ninth-tier tempered body master.


    At that instant, everyone froze and their jaws dropped. There was pin-drop silence.


    Elder Xu, the pretty woman whose surname was Ling, Leng Jianyun, and the middle-aged man were shocked. Nobody would have expected this outcome which had almost turned into a farce. Despite Zuo Yaofei having exhibited astonishing talent and rapid advancement in strength, he was still beaten.


    ��Ji Mo, that��s too much. Stop at once!�� Ning Xia could no longer bear to watch. Although he and Zuo Yaofei were open rivals and had veiled conflict, when he saw Ji Mo torturing Zuo Yaofei, he had to intercept.


    A massive power erupted as Ning Xia rushed over. Without saying a word, he performed a set of martial arts. Powerful energy transformed into a stone tablet and was viciously driven towards Ji Mo.


    ��Giant Tablet Sea Suppressor!�� Nin Xia shouted.


    ��To hell with you!�� Ji Mo immediately spun around to unleash a kick. His brutal kick contained his entire body��s Celestial Devil Power, and it landed on Ning Xia��s chest.


    Boom!


    Before Ning Xia could even execute his martial arts, Ji Mo��s kick sent him flying away by more than ten meters. Then, he knelt on the ground and held his chest in agony. He was twitching and could not even stand up. Soon, he spat a mouthful of blood out.


    Tss!


    This time, everyone was no longer stunned but they drew a deep breath. Ning Xia could not even block a single move and was sent flying away. What was going on? To witness two little warlords from Tianyuan Academy being subdued by the same person in one go was almost unimaginable for them.


    Du Jia stood in the same spot looking at Ji Mo in shock and a thought arose in her heart. ��How could this happen? When did he gain this strength? Even if Huo Lin��er assisted him, it��s impossible that a third-tier tempered body wimp could increase so much in strength. Even Zuo Yaofei and Ning Xia are no match for him. Did he have some other strange encounter?��


    ��Elder Xu, what do we do? Do we need to stop them?�� The pretty woman whose surname was Ling looked at Elder Xu, not knowing what to do. How was the situation going to end?


    However, Elder Xu just frowned and it seemed like he did not hear what she said. No one knew what he was thinking about.


    ��Ji Mo, you anarchist, stop it!�� Leng Jianyun shouted at the top of his lungs. Ji Mo��s performance was beyond his expectations. He initially thought that Zuo Yaofei would be able to suppress him, but it backfired.


    Ji Mo turned a deaf ear to Leng Jianyun��s shouts. He continued to charge at Zuo Yaofei with furious punches and kicks. The punches landed on Zuo Yaofei��s body with bangs and his screams were heard in between those punches. He was rolling on the ground in circles embarrassingly like a dead dog.

 Chapter 55 - No Need For Patience

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ��Insolent fool! Didn��t you hear what I said? Stop it at once!�� Leng Jianyun strode forward and stretched his hand out at Ji Mo. There was a swirl of True Qi materializing in the middle of his palm, and the Qi Plundering Boundary master discharged the enormous pressure towards Ji Mo instantly.


    The Qi Plundering Boundary master, Leng Jianyun, had taken action. Without caring about his identity as an inner disciple, he attacked an outer disciple. It was a malicious move. The palm that he thrust forward could kill an advanced-level demonic beast. Ordinary tempered body phase cultivators would never be able to bear the brunt of it.


    Ji Mo glanced coldly at him. Noticing Leng Jianyun��s vicious palm strike, he clenched his fists as the Celestial Devil Power overtook him, and then he violently punched Leng Jianyun��s palm while he mumbled in his heart, ��Three-Tonne Power!��


    Boom!


    A thunderous roar erupted between Ji Mo and Leng Jianyun with a powerful blast. This time, Ji Mo could only steady himself after retreating for more than ten steps. After all, his opponent was a Qi Plundering Boundary master.


    Leng Jianyun��s situation was not ideal either. He actually retreated by 6 to 7 steps and his palm was slightly shaking with a tinge of numbness.


    Nobody expected Ji Mo to dare retaliate against a Qi Plundering Boundary master like Leng Jianyun. Furthermore, the fight was a tie and even Leng Jianyun was forced to retreat. The outcome greatly exceeded everybody��s expectations.


    The gap between their levels was like the distance between heaven and earth. Comparing the tempered body phase and the Qi Plundering Boundary was like highlighting the difference between immortals and mortals because no matter how powerful one��s strength was, it could not resist True Qi. True Qi was the instrument to perform divine power, and a ray of True Qi could resist the force of a thousand kilograms.


    However, Ji Mo��s secret Three-Tonne Power technique could exert a force of 1.2 tonnes of force. This 1.2 tonnes of force could threaten a Qi Plundering Boundary master. Although the power was still weaker than a cultivator��s True Qi, it could not withstand such a powerful force. How was it like when the power of 3 tonnes fused into a point of explosion?


    ��This��Ji Mo repelled the Qi Plundering Boundary master, Senior Brother Leng Jianyun. He��s a monster!��


    ��Causing a Qi Plundering Boundary master to retreat and end in a tie requires a great deal of strength. Even if he used martial arts, he might not have been able to do it.��


    ��Has Ji Mo been hiding his strength all these years? Otherwise, how did his strength increase so much in such a short period? If he didn��t hide his cultivation base, then he must��ve had a strange encounter not long ago.��


    Elder Xu, the pretty woman whose surname was Ling, and the middle-aged man had the same expressions. Shock could be seen in their eyes, and even the serene Elder Xu��s expression changed.


    ��This kid is really rebellious. He dares to fight back against Leng Jianyun, who is a master of the Qi Plundering Boundary. I��m impressed,�� said the middle-aged man with a laugh.


    ��I would say he��s extremely brazen, or should I say he relies on it. Repelling a Qi Plundering Boundary cultivator with a tempered body phase cultivation base��this is a first for me,�� said the pretty woman whose surname was Ling. Then, she looked at Elder Xu and asked, ��Elder Xu, what do you think?��


    ��Report him to the sect. He��s a seedling. Don��t ruin it,�� Elder Xu replied tersely.


    At that moment, Leng Jianyun was horrified. As a Qi Plundering Boundary master and an inner disciple, Ji Mo had forced him to retreat. This was a great humiliation for him, especially since it was in front of everyone. Clearly, it was a massive blow to his ego.


    Leng Jianyun was blue in the face. Killing intent emerged in his eyes as a surge of True Qi coalesced on his palm, ready to strike at Ji Mo again.


    Ji Mo��s pupils constricted. Although he forced Leng Jianyun back with a punch just now, Ji Mo knew that his overall strength was not comparable to the Qi Plundering Boundary��s Leng Jianyun. Even if it was ��Three-Tonne Power��, it was merely strength that could not compete with the True Qi.


    ��Leng Jianyun, stop!�� Elder Xu commanded, ��As an inner disciple, aren��t you ashamed of bullying an outer disciple?


    ��Elder Xu���� Leng Jianyun blushed. He would have given anything to crush Ji Mo��s bones, but Leng Jianyun did not dare to disobey Elder Xu who was an eighth-tier Qi Plundering Boundary master. Whether it was because of ability or position in the inner sect, Elder Xu far surpassed him.


    ��This ends here. Ji Mo has proven his strength. It��s evident that he didn��t cheat in the Hunting Competition. He deserves to be number one,�� Elder Xu explained slowly.


    Since even Elder Xu said so, what more could Leng Jianyun say?


    ��Hmph!�� Instantly, Leng Jianyun snorted and he stared dangerously at Ji Mo once more. Then, a sword-light appeared under his feet, and he flew into the sky on it.


    He did not want to stay put because even if he did, he could not do anything. Now that Ji Mo was under the protection of Elder Xu, he could not make a move. After Ji Mo��s jaw-dropping performance, Leng Jianyun hated him thoroughly.


    When Leng Jianyun left, he directed his voice into Ji Mo��s ears, ��Don��t think that this incident is over. As long as you step foot into the inner sect, you��ll wish you were dead!��


    Ji Mo smirked and looked at the direction where Leng Jianyun had taken off. ��Once I break through to the Qi Plundering Boundary and finish cultivating the Hell Celestial Power, we shall see who��ll wish he was dead!��


    Not far away, Du Jia witnessed everything. From beginning to end, she did not say a word as she was deeply shocked by Ji Mo��s performance. Zuo Yaofei and Ning Xia, two of these geniuses were easily defeated by him, even Leng Jianyun who was a Qi Plundering Boundary master could not subdue him.


    Du Jia had no idea what happened to Ji Mo that made him transform so much and improved so rapidly.


    At that moment, Ji Mo��s gaze turned towards Du Jia. Within his black pupils was a hellish red glow that shocked her soul and made her shudder.


    The Hunting Competition had ended and Ji Mo took first place with his excellent results. After that, everyone started their journey back to Tianyuan Academy.


    On the way, many people looked at Ji Mo differently. Many people even felt that they were dreaming. Ji Mo, the loser of Tianyuan Academy, had shown great prowess. He tortured Zuo Yaofei, sent Ning Xia flying with a kick, and even brazenly went against the Qi Plundering Boundary master, Leng Jianyun, who he fought to a draw.


    In the eyes of these people, Ji Mo was like a ferocious little beast that no one could rival. His aura was compelling. Due to his appearance, Tianyuan Academy��s list of outstanding individuals may have to be rewritten.


    Back at Tianyuan Academy, everyone went their separate ways, but Ji Mo did not leave. He went to a quiet place alone to carefully think about the recent incidents. His strength was not a secret anymore when it was exposed to outsiders, but Ji Mo was not worried. Although his cultivation had not broken through to the Qi Plundering Boundary and he had not completed the cultivation of the Hell Celestial Power, even with his current level of strength, Du Jia and Nan Hao could not deal with him.


    How was the character for ��endure�� written in Chinese? It was the character for ��knife�� suppressing the ��heart�� character. In the face of a powerful opponent, one could endure the challenges, but if one still continued to endure strife after having the ability to retaliate, that would be a weakness.


    Ji Mo did not fear Nan Hao now, and he did not have to put up with him any more!


    Young people should have the courage and dare to challenge everything. Previously, Ji Mo did not have that strength, but now he did, so he had nothing to fear.

 Chapter 56 - Ji Lin’er

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ��Ji Mo, come with me!�� shouted the pretty woman, whose surname was Ling. She had been in charge of calculating the results previously.


    Her name was Ling Yanfei. She was an inner disciple who was on the fifth tier of the Qi Plundering Boundary, and her strength far exceeded that of Leng Jianyun��s. In fact, in the eyes of Qi Plundering Boundary cultivators, outer disciples like Ji Mo would be treated lukewarmly or even sneered at. However, at that moment, Ling Yanfei started to look at Ji Mo in a different manner.


    After witnessing Ji Mo��s skills, if he were to join the inner sect, his future would be promising as long as he did not cause any major trouble that angered the crowd. Cultivating in the inner sect would be smooth-sailing and he might even surpass her. Therefore, there was a slight difference in the way Ling Yanfei looked at Ji Mo compared to the other outer disciples.


    Ji Mo followed behind Ling Yanfei, and after 7 to 8 turns, they finally reached a room. In that room, Elder Xu was waiting for him with something in his hand. It was a purple jade box.


    Ji Mo��s attention was focused on the purple jade box. If he guessed correctly, this purple jade box contained the prize of the Hunting Competition, the seventh-grade spiritual medicine��the Golden Elixir Pill!


    ��Ji Mo, step forward,�� said Elder Xu after he took a look at Ji Mo and smiled.


    ��Aye,�� Ji Mo acknowledged as he walked up and stood in front of the elder.


    Sure enough, Elder Xu handed the purple jade box to him and said, ��This is the first prize of the Hunting Competition, the seventh-grade spiritual medicine called the Golden Elixir Pill. There��s also a treasure pouch in it with some Qi Gathering Pills which is the reward for the slaughtered demonic beasts. The alchemy elder cultivated this Golden Elixir Pill by sacrifice. It can propel a person with an eighth-tier tempered body to the ninth-tier. A really good quality Golden Elixir Pill can even bring you to barely achieve the Qi Plundering Boundary.��


    As he described the spiritual medicine, Elder Xu passed the purple jade box containing the Golden Elixir Pill to Ji Mo.


    Ji Mo��s eyes contained a flash of delight as he accepted it. Then, he kept the Golden Elixir Pill without batting an eyelid. With the Golden Elixir Pill, an ordinary person could break through two tiers. However, the Celestial Devil Tempering Art that Ji Mo cultivated consumed a lot of spiritual medicine. Although the pill was a seventh-grade spiritual medicine, with Ji Mo��s eighth-tier tempered body cultivation base, an upgrade to each tier required a massive amount of consumables.


    The Golden Elixir Pill could only enable Ji Mo to be reincarnated once at best, but to rely on it to break through to the Qi Plundering Boundary was simply impossible.


    Seeing that Ji Mo had accepted the Golden Elixir Pill, Elder Xu said with a smile, ��In the inner sect, the alchemy elder has a high position. His willingness to refine a Golden Elixir Pill as the prize for Tianyuan Academy��s Hunting Competition shows that the inner sect takes the cultivation of the outer disciples seriously. In the inner sect, besides the alchemy elder, there��s also the technique-relay elder, the divine power elder, and three disciplinary elders. Every elder has divine strength. Under the three disciplinary elders, there are another seven elders, and the disciples under them are called true disciples. The highest authority in the Tianshan Sword Sect is the sect leader. There are currently five disciples under the sect leader, also known as the Five Tianshan Saints. When you enter the inner sect, you will gradually understand.��


    Ji Mo nodded and continued listening to Elder Xu��s introduction of the inner sect without interrupting. He knew that Elder Xu was giving him a headstart on the knowledge about the Tianshan Sword Sect, which meant that he already regarded Ji Mo as an inner disciple. Based on Ji Mo��s ability, joining the inner sect in the future was a given.


    After that, Elder Xu was silent. Ji Mo thanked him for sharing the knowledge.


    ��Elder Xu, I��d like to go back to my hometown for a while,�� Ji Mo said.


    ��Oh? missing home?�� Xu Lao chuckled.


    Ji Mo smiled. ��I��ve not been home for a very long time. Now that I��ve obtained the Golden Elixir Pill, and once I break through the Qi Plundering Boundary, I��m afraid there��ll be no chance for me to visit my family. So, before entering the inner sect, I wish to visit my parents.��


    ��Hmm��sure thing.�� Elder Xu nodded and pulled out a black token. ��This token is proof of entering the inner sect. After you��ve gone back and broken through the Qi Plundering Boundary, just bring this token directly to the Tianshan Sword Sect to be admitted as an inner disciple.��


    ��Thank you.�� Ji Mo received and kept the token. He saluted Elder Xu and Ling Yanfei. After that, he turned around and left the room.


    Only after Ji Mo left did Ling Yanfei��s expression shift. She looked at Elder Xu and said, ��Elder Xu, why didn��t you ask him about Dong Hao? Previously, I heard that Dong Hao and Ji Mo had a bet before they entered Mount Luofu. The death of Dong Hao and the others, as well as the injuries Chen Ran sustained, must��ve been Ji Mo��s doing.��


    ��Of course, I know.�� Elder Xu smirked enigmatically.


    ��Then, why didn��t you interrogate him?�� Ling Yanfei could not understand it.


    Elder Xu laughed. ��You��re confused. The young man��s strength far exceeds that of Dong Hao and Nangong Ye��s. After he enters the inner sect in the future, and as long as he doesn��t cause any trouble, he will overtake us. With his qualities, even if the sect knows about the incident, they won��t do anything to him. Instead, they will focus on his training. If we interrogate him, he��ll hold a grudge against us. Won��t we be his target when he gains power in the inner sect?��


    ��Hmm��that��s true.�� Ling Yanfei nodded.


    ��Sigh, we��re those who were given up by the inner sect, especially me. I��m old and can��t have any more breakthroughs. I��m stuck. When it comes to these qualified and strong disciples, we mustn��t go against them,�� Elder Xu lamented sentimentally.


    ��Hmm, got it,�� Ling Yanfei said with a sigh.


    ��


    Ji Mo walked out of Tianyuan Academy and went straight to his quarters to pack. He then left the place he had been calling home for two years.


    After that, he went back to his clan. If there were no setbacks, at his current level of strength, once he reached his clan, they would focus on nurturing him. He would be given massive amounts of spiritual medicine for his cultivation. Together with the seventh-grade spiritual medicine, the Golden Elixir Pill, breaking through to the Qi Plundering Boundary would not be a challenge. As for Tianyuan Academy, he may not be able to return to it anymore.


    Instead, he would go to Tianshan Sword Sect to be an inner disciple.


    After sorting everything out on the second day, Ji Mo prepared to leave.


    ��Nan Hao, wait for me at the inner sect. I��ll get even with you. As for Du Jia��I wonder which of us will enter the inner sect first.�� Ji Mo turned around to look at Tianyuan Academy and a smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth. He got up and covered more than 10 meters in a single leap. Then, he took another leap and traveled more than 100 meters away until his figure disappeared into the distance.


    Ji Mo��s clan was not that far away from Tianyuan Academy. Otherwise, in the beginning, when he had sent a message to his clan in the morning, he would not have received the supplies that his mother had sent in the same evening. If he traveled at his fastest, he would basically arrive in half a day.


    A written message could be simple and should be conveyed when necessary.


    By noon, Ji Mo had already reached his clan��s city, Moon River City. Although it was not a large city and could not be compared to the ancient cities of the cultivation world, in the mortal world, it was considered a robust city. This was because there were two major families in Moon River City, and they were both cultivation clans.


    One of them was Ji Mo��s Ji family, and the other one was Du Jia��s Du family.


    There were many people from the mortal world living in Moon River City, and the Ji family ran a mortal world��s business. Although they were connected to the cultivation world, they could not compare to the true cultivators like the Tianshan Sword Sect. However, they would not give way to smaller religious sects.


    Standing in front of the familiar entrance, Ji Mo drew in a deep breath. He had not returned for two years since he was sent to Tianyuan Academy to study, so he had not visited his mother.


    After adjusting his clothes, Ji Mo walked up to the door. Almost at the same time, a ray of light descended from the sky and illuminated the entrance of the Ji family��s residence. As the ray of light faded, there stood a beautiful young woman. She was 28 years old with a lovely face and she had a divine aura. Her black hair was tied into a ponytail and was full of vitality.


    She had arrived by maneuvering the ray of light. Fortunately, no one was around. Otherwise, she would have caused a ruckus and she would be labeled as a goddess that had descended on Earth.


    ��Second Sister?�� Ji Mo was stunned.


    The young woman��s name was Ji Lin��er, and she was Ji Mo��s second sister.

 Chapter 57 - Don’t Show Off To Me (I)

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Just like Ji Mo, Ji Lin��er was sent away to further her studies at the age of 16, but she did not go to Tianyuan Academy. Instead, she went to another cultivation place, Tiandi Sword Cave, where she was scouted due to her qualities and was brought into the sect for cultivation.


    ��Second Sister is also back and she even arrived on a ray of light! Her cultivation base must have reached the Qi Plundering Boundary!�� Ji Mo exclaimed in his heart. After not having met for a few years, Ji Lin��er was now a true cultivator.


    While Ji Mo was deep in thought, Ji Lin��er was already walking towards the residence and she walked past him without looking at him.


    ��Wow, Second Sister, did you really not see me?�� Ji Mo��s expression changed as he shouted.


    Ji Lin��er stopped in her tracks and turned around to look at Ji Mo with her beautiful, huge and twinkly eyes. She was stunned at first and then she quickly said, ��Little Mo, it��s you! Oh my god! You��ve changed so much in just a few years. I didn��t recognize you just now.��


    ��You really didn��t see me,�� he said while rolling his eyes.


    ��Hehe���� Ji Lin��er walked up and stood in front of Ji Mo, standing at half a head taller than him as she laughed. ��You��ve changed a lot, but there��s no difference in your height. You��re still so short��hehe����


    ��You��ll die if you don��t mock me, huh? As a girl who��s more than 1.8 meters tall, which guy wouldn��t be pressured if they stood beside you?�� Ji Mo retorted with a pout.


    Ji Lin��er was still smiling. She was excited to see Ji Mo as they had not seen each other for many years. They seemed to have forgotten everything as they chatted at the entrance.


    ��Mom sent a letter saying that you went to Tianyuan Academy. How��s it now?�� Ji Lin��er asked, concerned about her younger brother.


    ��It��s just been like that. I��ve been fooling around,�� he replied with a chuckle.


    Ji Lin��er sighed and said, ��I advised Mom in the beginning and told her that you didn��t like anything related to the cultivation world so that they wouldn��t force you. But Mom and Dad didn��t listen. If they had let you learn the ropes of our family business, I guess you would��ve taken over by now. Big Brother and I are both studying at cultivation schools so that we are able to take care of the clan. Why would they want to bother you?��


    ��Haha, oh, life, you can��t hide from it,�� Ji Mo teased. ��Alright, let��s go in. Does Mom know you��re back?��


    ��Hmm, I��ve notified her about it,�� she said as both of them walked into the lavish residence.


    In front of the Ji family mansion, there were two male servants. When they saw the approaching duo, they were stunned. One of them went up to stop them. However, when this male servant saw Ji Lin��er, he was immediately attracted by her beauty, but he quickly recollected himself. ��You are�� Second Miss, you��re back! Madam purposely told me to wait for you. She said that you��d be coming back from the sect, but I never thought you��d be so fast.��


    ��Yes, after not meeting for a few years, you��ve become more and more beautiful, Second Miss,�� the other male servant said, his gaze was entirely drawn to Ji Lin��er.


    ��Hey, can��t you all see me?�� Ji Mo demanded. Earlier, Ji Lin��er had ignored him, and now, even his family servants were ignoring him. Could they be serious?


    However, they could not be blamed. Ji Lin��er was radiantly glowing like a goddess. Standing next to such a person would naturally overshadow one��s limelight. Therefore, Ji Lin��er stole all the attention.


    ��Third Young Master, you��re back too! That��s great. I��ll report this to Master and Madam. Madam will be so happy to see both of you.�� After saying that, the male servant went into the mansion hurriedly. The two male servants had been with the Ji family for a long time, thus they were no strangers to Ji Mo and Ji Lin��er.


    Smiling, Ji Lin��er walked into the mansion with Ji Mo.


    The Ji family was considered very wealthy in Moon River City, and they were also a family of cultivators. Therefore, their mansion was very extravagant. Nevertheless, Ji Mo was used to the scenery, so he did not stop and he strolled into the inner courtyard with Ji Lin��er. Before reaching the inner courtyard, he heard some footsteps in the distance and a group of people entered his sight.


    They were led by a woman. Although she had passed her middle age, one could tell from her elegant facial features that she had been a great beauty when she was younger. This woman was Ji Mo and Ji Lin��er��s mother, Shen Shuyi. Shen Shuyi had also been a cultivator of the Tianshan Sword Sect in the beginning, but later on, she left the cultivation world to accompany Ji Mo��s father to run the family business here.


    Right then, it seemed as though Shen Shuyi��s feet did not touch the ground as she glided forward. Behind her were two maids who struggled to catch up and the two male servants.


    Shen Shuyi saw Ji Mo and Ji Lin��er at a glance and tears flowed out of her eyes. Her son and daughter had not been home for many years, especially Ji Lin��er who had not returned for 4 years. Any parent in the world who saw their children return home would be as excited as Shen Shuyi.


    ��Lin��er, Little Mo, you are back!�� Shen Shuyi said in excitement as she went forward to embrace and scrutinize her children.


    ��Ah, finally, I��m not ignored!�� Ji Mo smiled bitterly as he held his mother and said, ��Mom, how have you been all these years? Look at how thin��hey, no, it looks like you��ve put on weight.��


    ��Stinky boy, you��re always playing the fool.�� Shen Shuyi gave her son��s forehead a hard knock, but the love in her eyes could not be hidden.


    ��Mom, you��re always favoring Little Mo. You don��t seem that excitement now that I��ve come home. You always take care of your son first,�� Ji Lin��er complained with a pout while standing aside, and she glanced at Ji Mo with a slight dissatisfaction.


    Shen Shuyi smiled and held Ji Lin��er��s hand, then she laughed. ��Hmm��my baby girl is all grown up and beautiful. What a surprise! Alright, quickly go in. Your father is still waiting inside. If he sees how his children are so grown up now, he��d be surprised too.��


    ��Mmm, okay.�� Ji Mo and Ji Lin��er nodded.


    At that moment, Shen Shuyi held Ji Mo back and said, ��Little Mo, when you go in, please mind your words. You know what your father��s temper is like, and your second uncle is here too.��


    Once his second uncle was mentioned, Ji Mo��s eyes turned icy instantly. His second uncle��s name was Ji Liangdong and he was Ji Shan��s father. Since Ji Mo was young, Second Uncle Ji Liangdong looked down on him. His two sons, Ji Shan and Ji Shan��s older brother, Ji Chun, were influenced by their father and they treated him the same way. They would ridicule him whenever they saw him. The way Ji Shan treated him previously was a good example.


    A cold flash crossed Ji Lin��er��s eyes. It was obvious that she did not have a good impression of Ji Liangdong.


    Following behind Shen Shuyi, Ji Mo clenched his fists tightly. Since young, he had not been treated very well in his clan. The reason was that his cultivation performance was bad and the clansmen thought that he was not cultivation material. They even doubted Ji Mo��s talent. In the end, even his own father lost hope in him.


    This time, if Ji Mo told them that he would be an inner disciple of the Tianshan Sword Sect, he did not know what they would think of him.


    Secretly, he started to look forward to it.


    In the Ji family��s main hall, Ji Mo and Ji Lin��er followed behind their mother and walked in. Once they walked in, Ji Mo saw many people gathered there, and naturally, his father was the leader among them.


    Father Ji was almost middle-aged and he was dressed in a beautiful robe. Although he was not considered tall, he radiated a different aura. He had alertness in his eyes which were tenacious. Since Ji Mo��s father was also a cultivator under Old Man Qingzhu��s tutelage a few years ago, he had successfully achieved the fifth-tier Qi Plundering Boundary.

 Chapter 58 - Don’t Show Off To Me (II)

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Behind Father Ji stood a middle-aged man who bore a slight semblance to him. It was Ji Liangdong, Ji Mo��s second uncle. Standing beside Ji Liangdong was a young man who was around 1.8 meters tall with a valiant demeanor, and slightly resembled Ji Shan. He had a slight coldness in his eyes.


    His name was Ji Chun and he was Ji Shan��s older brother. He was born in the same year as Ji Mo, but in a later month which made him Ji Mo��s younger cousin brother. Unlike Ji Shan, Ji Chun was not sent to Tianyuan Academy for studying. Instead, he cultivated within the clan and his cultivation base was not weak. He was a level higher than Ji Shan and was around the seventh-tier of the Body Tempering Arts.


    Besides that, there were many others in the hall although they were all unimportant relatives who previously would not have shown up together at the Ji residence. However, all of them were present that day for a reason, but it was definitely not to welcome Ji Mo because they did not know about his return.


    The only explanation was that Ji Lin��er had previously sent a message about her return. With Ji Lin��er��s identity as the inner disciple of Tiandi Sword Cave, the relatives of the clan would naturally want to visit her. After all, being a cultivator was deemed to be a level above others, and in the eyes of an ordinary person, they were immortals who no one would dare to disrespect.


    Once Ji Lin��er walked in the door, all their gazes were cast on her in unison. She was like the daughter that everybody loved and was proud of, radiating light all the time as though she was a dazzling star.


    In comparison, standing beside Ji Lin��er, no one bothered about Ji Mo. At that moment, he kept his aura withdrawn and was no different than an ordinary person. That naturally did not attract any attention. Moreover, Ji Lin��er was standing beside him, so the difference was just too vast.


    ��F*ck! Coming home this time was a mistake. I didn��t get the correct timing. How am I always being ignored, they really don��t see me?�� Ji Mo thought disgruntledly.


    ��Lin��er, you��re home,�� Father Ji greeted Ji Lin��er with a warm smile in his eyes.


    ��Hmm, Father, I��ve really missed you after not seeing you for so many years. Today��s return was because I got 2 months of leave specially approved.�� Ji Lin��er smiled.


    ��2 months? Well, that��s good. Then, stay at home and accompany your mother,�� Father Ji replied with a warm smile.


    Until then only did Father Ji��s eyes turn to Ji Mo, and there was a slight change in his expression. He said, ��Little Mo, you��re home too. Why didn��t you notify the family earlier?��


    In between his words, Father Ji looked at Ji Mo, but his glance was totally different from the way he looked at Ji Lin��er. When it came to Ji Mo, his eyes contained an obvious flicker of pity and annoyance or even a kind of displeasure. Although he disguised it very well, Ji Mo could tell from his expression.


    JI Mo��s heart was moved. Beneath his father��s gaze, he could more or less read them. He knew that his father did not like him, so he said, ��I missed home, so I came back.�� After saying that, he turned and looked elsewhere.


    Mother Ji, Shen Shuyi, sighed and bowed her head in deep thought.


    Until that moment, many people focused their gaze on Ji Mo. His relatives looked at Ji Mo differently from the respectable looks that Ji Lin��er received. Everyone��s eyes held a trace of indifference. In the Ji family, Ji Mo��s father was the leader and held the most influence. Among his three children, his eldest son, Ji Liao, and Ji Lin��er were high-level cultivators and disciples of decent sects.


    Only Ji Mo did not have talent in cultivating. At least, in their opinion, he was unwilling to cultivate because he was not cut out for it. Compared to his genius siblings, it was normal for Ji Mo to be a wallflower since he was young.


    Facing their cold gazes, Ji Mo only smiled and did not speak as though he had a good temperament.


    However, at that instant, he realized that his second uncle Ji Liangdong and Ji Chun looked at him coldly, especially the latter whose gaze was dark and terrifying.


    Ji Mo chuckled in his heart and guessed that the incident whereby he had beaten Ji Shan up had already been reported to his clan. Otherwise, Second Uncle and Ji Chun would not be looking at him that way.


    Father Ji shifted his gaze away from Ji Mo and looked towards Ji Lin��er, then he said, ��Lin��er, show me your cultivation base now.��


    ��Sure!�� Ji Lin��er quickly agreed. She seemed to understand Father Ji��s meaning. She immediately let out a shout and violent purple True Qi erupted from her curvaceous body. The massive True Qi was more powerful than usual, causing the atmosphere in the entire main hall to be soaked in solemnity.


    Ji Lin��er��s clothes fluttered as her head of black hair ruffled. The purple True Qi filled her outer body and turned into sword shadows. Beneath Ji Lin��er��s feet were a mass of purple True Qi supporting her body as she ascended and suspended in mid-air.


    ��Seventh-tier Qi Plundering Boundary!�� Father Ji��s eyes revealed a shock.


    Tss!


    Right after that, the hiss of someone drawing a cold breath could be heard.


    Even Mother Ji, Shen Shuyi, was also surprised and she looked at her daughter dumbfoundedly. Ji Lin��er��s cultivation base had broken through to the seventh tier of the Qi Plundering Boundary. On the cultivation path of attainment, she had already surpassed Father Ji and everyone else in the Ji family.


    More importantly, Ji Lin��er was only 18 years old. Even based on nominal age1 calculation, she was only 19 years old.


    Daughter of heavenly pride!


    Describing Ji Lin��er with those four words were not an exaggeration.


    ��Good, my good daughter, you can disperse your energy.�� Father Ji laughed out loud and looked around proudly. The triumphant look in his eyes was unabashed.


    With a daughter like that, if he were dreaming, he would wake up laughing.


    Ji Mo was shocked as well. He never thought that his own sister would already be a seventh-tier Qi Plundering Boundary master. Her talent was indeed terrifying and was way beyond his. Looking at Father Ji��s expression again made Ji Mo sigh. Father Ji would never look at him in that same way.


    Ji Lin��er dispersed her energy and stood aside as everyone��s gaze was focused on the daughter of heavenly pride. The relatives that were present looked at Ji Lin��er, full of intention to suck up to her while they could not care less about Ji Mo.


    ��Little Mo, what about you?�� Finally, Father Ji��s eyes turned to Ji Mo and it seemed like he wanted to test his son��s cultivation base.


    Ji Mo smiled faintly and said, ��I��ll disappoint you. I��m not like Second Sister.��


    After saying that, Ji Mo looked up. Both father and son were gazing at each other with no way of closing the gap between them. Meeting Father Ji��s indifferent gaze, Ji Mo��s eyes turned cold and he did not smile.


    ��Since you know that, why don��t you work harder!?�� Father Ji��s voice became stern as he did not seem pleased with Ji Mo��s attitude.


    ��Alright, alright. Can��t the both of you talk nicely for once?�� Shen Shuyi quickly advised because she was afraid that Ji Mo would quarrel with his father and the relatives would turn the whole ordeal into a joke.


    At that point, Ji Chun, who was standing nearby, revealed a smidge of chill at the corner of his mouth. ��Ji Mo, did you come home this time because you were expelled by Tianyuan Academy?��


    ��Nope,�� Ji Mo replied nonchalantly.


    Ji Chun��s eyelid twitched and he smiled with ill intentions. ��A few days ago, someone from the Du family sent a marriage withdrawal letter to cancel the marriage between you and Du Jia. You and Du Jia had a marriage agreement since young, and the Du family��s withdrawal from the marriage has brought shame to our clan. Ji Mo, what have you done in Tianyuan Academy that made Du Jia withdraw from the marriage?��

 Chapter 59 - Don’t Show Off To Me (III)

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Once Ji Chun said that, the ambiance in the main hall turned to embarrassment.


    The surrounding relatives looked at Ji Mo. There was scorn in everyone��s eyes. A marriage withdrawal was not something to be proud of.


    Father Ji and Mother Ji appeared embarrassed too.


    ��Does that even need to be said? It must have been that Du Jia girl who looked down on our Third Young Master,�� Ji Liangdong sneered slightly. The father and son echoed each other, seeming to have the intention to embarrass Ji Mo.


    Ji Chun whooped harder with laughter. ��I also heard that Du Jia is being specially trained in Tianyuan Academy, and it��s a matter of time before she enters the inner sect of the Tianshan Sword Sect to become an inner disciple. Our Third Young Master has been cultivating hard, and after 2 years, he��s only a third-tier tempered body. How could Du Jia ever fall in love with you?��


    ��Yes, I think it��s alright for the marriage to the withdrawn. It��s our family member who��s disappointing, so we��d better not waste other people��s time, right?�� Ji Liangdong chuckled.


    At that moment, both father and son looked at Ji Mo with a chill as if they bore a grudge against him.


    Ji Lin��er moved her lips and looked fiercely at Ji Chun as though she was not pleased with their actions.


    As for the surrounding relatives, they were only there to watch.


    Facing the ridicule from his second uncle and Ji Chun, a wave of anger surged within Ji Mo and he clenched his fists. He knew that Ji Liangdong and Ji Chun targeted him because they were upset that he had injured Ji Shan in the fight. Therefore, they were humiliating him in front of everyone.


    Father Ji noticed everything and he looked at Ji Mo to interrogate, ��Little Mo, a few days ago, we received news from the academy that you beat Ji Shan up. Is that true?��


    ��Mm-hmm, yes!�� Ji Mo did not deny it.


    ��You dare to admit it!�� Ji Chun��s expression became solemn. ��As a fellow clan member, you swindled and sneaked up on your younger cousin brother to ambush him. What are your intentions!?��


    It was true that Ji Chun was good at giving Ji Shan a righteous stance. After all, Ji Shan was his younger brother, so he would not let Ji Mo admit in front of everyone that he had defeated Ji Shan, but he purposely used the words ��swindled and sneaked up��. Furthermore, Ji Chun did not believe that Ji Shan would have lost to Ji Mo under fair circumstances.


    That was impossible since Ji Shan was on the sixth-tier tempered body and he knew about Ji Mo��s situation. After cultivating in Tianyuan Academy for 2 years, he only had the strength of a third-tier tempered body. With that strength, how could he have defeated Ji Shan? Therefore, Ji Chun and Ji Liangdong unanimously thought that Ji Mo had used despicable methods.


    ��Please explain what��s that all about,�� Father Ji was calm as he said faintly.


    In fact, he was also curious too as he knew that Ji Mo was easily intimidated since he was young. When he heard the news that Ji Mo had beaten Ji Shan up, he was shocked and thought he heard it wrongly. He believed that given Ji Mo��s timid character, he would not dare to pick a fight with Ji Shan.


    Mother Ji, Shen Shuyi and Ji Lin��er were full of surprise as they turned to look at Ji Mo who drew a deep breath and said, ��Well, since you all want to know, then I��ll tell you��Actually, I feel that I��ve done the right thing. Ji Shan is my younger cousin brother. By right, I wouldn��t have attacked him, but Ji Shan was ganging up on me with others at the academy, and even humiliating me. We are from the same clan, but he betrayed and helped outsiders to go against his own kin. Don��t you think��this kind of behavior should be taught a lesson!?��


    Although these words were not humble, Ji Mo had all his reasons, and that embarrassed Ji Liangdong and Ji Chun.


    Father Ji and Mother Ji, Shen Shuyi, were calmer now, but they were still curious how Ji Mo defeated Ji Shan with his abilities or the therelackof.


    ��Even if it��s like that, you shouldn��t use despicable methods to badly beat Ji Shan up. The men in the Ji family are gentlemen and will never use despicable methods against their kin,�� Ji Chun snorted as he looked at Ji Mo coldly.


    ��Despicable methods? Haha, Ji Shan and I dueled fair and square. Many people witnessed it that day, so how could that have been despicable?�� Ji Mo laughed.


    ��You��you��re lying!�� Ji Chun shouted, ��Ji Mo, do you think I don��t know what you��re capable of? How could you have defeated my brother? If you didn��t use despicable methods, how could you have defeated him? You��d better be honest about the whole incident and tell everyone about your heinous act and let Eldest Uncle judge.��


    Upon saying that, Ji Chun turned to look at Father Ji with rage in his eyes as if he was wronged.


    ��That��s right, Ji Mo. Be honest about it!�� Ji Liangdong also shouted with the intention of using his position to pressure Ji Mo.


    Father Ji and Mother Ji, and even Ji Lin��er, were looking at Ji Mo silently.


    Under everyone��s interrogative gazes, Ji Mo��s eyes became colder. He laughed and said, ��Ji Shan��s skills are only subpar. Why would I need to ambush him?��


    ��You��This chap still refuses to explain himself!�� Ji Chun��s facial expression was icy, revealing a sharp gaze.


    ��Chap? What did you call me? ��This chap��?�� Ji Mo turned and looked at Ji Chun aggressively with a dark glow in his eyes.


    ��So what?�� Ji Chun lifted his chin and looked at him with ridicule.


    ��Ji Chun, I dare you to say it again!�� Ji Lin��er became agitated. A ray of light flickered in her eyes and True Qi started to emanate from her body.


    Instantly, Ji Chun looked terrified while facing Ji Lin��er. He would never be a match for her.


    ��Second Sister, don��t interrupt. I��ll handle this myself.�� Ji Mo blocked Ji Lin��er with his hand, and under the watchful eyes of the entire family, he walked toward Ji Chun slowly.


    This shocked everyone. Even Father Ji and Mother Ji were surprised, but they did not stop him as if they were looking forward to something that was about to happen.


    ��What? Do you want to attack me too? With your puny methods?�� Ji Chun was on the verge of falling out with Ji Mo. As Ji Mo got closer, he was full of sneers. Then, powerful energy erupted from his body. This energy did not materialize, but it carried enormous oppression that could be felt.


    ��Hmph!��


    Ji Mo snorted, and at the same time, the Celestial Devil Power hidden beneath his flesh and blood erupted, letting out a deafening boom. Rolling thunder could be heard from his body as the massive Celestial Devil Power dispersed outward, immediately suppressing the energy that Ji Chun emitted.


    Roar!


    A bellow came from Ji Mo��s chest. It was like a devilish celestial being, as though an ancient demon was awakening.

 Chapter 60 - Surprise

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    A savage, domineering force erupted from Ji Mo��s thin body. The pressure made Ji Chun turn pale in an instant as if he was carrying a heavy mountain. His body shook and he almost knelt on the ground.


    ��This��this aura!�� Ji Chun exclaimed and looked at Ji Mo in disbelief.


    ��Ninth-tier tempered body! No, even a ninth-tier tempered body doesn��t hold such tremendous power Little Mo can��t have broken through to the boundary of Body Tempering Achievement, can he? This enormity of this power is terrifying, since when did Little Mo have this kind of strength!?�� At that moment, even Father Ji was shocked as he stared at his son with flickers of splendor in his eyes.


    ��Little Mo��is at which boundary?�� Shen Shuyi gaped at Ji Mo in surprise and confusion.


    She was surprised that Ji Mo had such tremendous power in his body, and the confusion lay in the fact that his power was terrifyingly massive. It was even more significant than that of a person with a ninth-tier tempered body. In fact, it could not even be measured.


    ��Haha, Little Brother has really grown a lot in these 2 years!�� said Ji Lin��er with a smile in her eyes and excitement blooming in her cheeks.


    In comparison, Ji Liangdong was as pale as a ghost and his lips were trembling.


    Boom!


    The sound of thunder rolled within Ji Mo��s body as if a Celestial Devil would jump out of his body at any time. Ji Chun could not take the suppressing force, so he staggered backward.


    Ji Mo snickered as he took a step forward. This single step completely cracked the marble beneath his foot and turned into a pile of powder. He took three steps forward with tremendous power in each step, crushing the stone slab. The Celestial Devil Power was suppressing Ji Chun.


    ��Hmm���� Ji Chun grunted, and a faint trace of blood could be seen at the corner of his mouth.


    Even before making a move, he was internally injured by the pressure that Ji Mo��s body emitted, which was enough to prove how powerful the force was.


    ��You��this chap!�� Ji Chun looked up in dissatisfaction and glared at Ji Mo angrily.


    Slap!


    However, before he could finish, Ji Mo swung a palm at him which landed heavily on his face. Ji Chun spun around three times, and a few of his teeth fell out with a pop.


    ��I��ve said the same thing to Ji Shan before and I��ll say it to you again. I��m your older cousin brother, and if you��re going to talk to me, you need to call me ��older brother��. Is that clear!?�� Ji Mo roared.


    ��You����


    Slap!


    Ji Mo smacked him again. This time, Ji Chun fell straight to the ground with that slap. Both his cheeks were swollen and a few of his teeth fell out with a pop again.


    ��Every rule mustn��t be broken. In the Ji family, you must respect your brothers. I��ll teach you that lesson now.�� Ji Mo grinned. In front of the entire family and his second uncle Ji Liangdong, he stomped on Ji Chun savagely.


    Bang, bang, bang, bang!


    Cries echoed throughout the main hall as Ji Mo stomped on Ji Chung. He rolled and his hair was a mess.


    Ji Mo was exactly like a crazy little tiger. Whenever he bared his teeth, the provocative wold cub would only be tortured brutally by him without a chance to retaliate. Once he attacked, he would not stop so easily. Of course, Ji Mo also showed mercy. If he had truly stomped on him with all of his strength, Ji Chun��s physique would not have been able to bear it.


    It was a clamorous scene in the main hall. Ji Chun was beaten until he was rolling and wailing on the ground. No one thought that the usually good-tempered and timid Third Young Master��s strikes could be so aggressive.


    The expression of his surrounding relatives changed.


    ��Ji Mo, enough! Do you want to kill him?�� Ji Liangdong could not watch anymore. How could he accept the fact that Ji Mo was teaching his son a lesson in front of him? That felt as though he was the one being slapped.


    Tsss!


    Ji Lin��er moved and stood in front of Ji Liangdong to block him and laughed. ��Second Uncle, what are you trying to do? Little Mo is right. The Ji family has rules, and that is to respect your brothers. Little Mo is Ji Chun��s older cousin brother, but Ji Chun has been continuously provoking and ridiculing him. This goes against the rules of the clan, so let Little Mo teach him what the rules of the Ji family are.��


    ��You���� Ji Liangdong��s face was extremely red. Although he knew that she was intentional, he could not say anything.


    Although Ji Liangdong was Ji Lin��er��s second uncle, Ji Lin��er was a Qi Plundering Boundary cultivator and the inner disciple of Tiandi Sword Cave, so he would not dare to offend Ji Lin��er.


    In desperation, Ji Liangdong could only look to Father Ji for help as he pleaded, ��Big Brother, Chun knows that he��s wrong. If he continues to be beaten like this, he��ll die. I��ll teach him the family rules after this and he won��t make any mistakes anymore. Big Brother, please tell Third Young Master to stop.��


    At that point, even Ji Liangdong addressed Ji Mo differently.


    Father Ji soon recollected himself from his shock. Looking at his son, he could not believe that his weakest son had become so powerful and unyielding.


    Finally, Father Ji spoke, ��Little Mo, please stop. Don��t hit him anymore.�� He was the leader of the family and would not actually let Ji Mo escalate matters.


    Upon hearing his father��s words, Ji Mo stopped. In front of so many people, he would still listen to his father. However, he still kicked Ji Chun viciously and shouted, ��Ji Chun, call me Elder Brother!��


    ��Elder Brother, Elder Brother Mo, I know my mistakes. Don��t hit me��d-don��t hit me anymore,�� Ji Chun collapsed and twitched on the ground as he mumbled.


    ��I can��t hear you. Speak louder,�� Ji Mo demanded.


    ��Elder Brother Mo, I know I��m wrong. Don��t hit me anymore,�� Ji Chun buried his head and croaked so loudly that even Ji Mo, who was standing near him, found it piercing.


    ��Are you crazy for shouting so loud?�� Ji Mo kicked him again before walking away.


    Ji Liangdong ran over quickly and helped his son up. Ji Chun��s footsteps were unstable and he could not stand on his own. Although Ji Mo showed him mercy, the lesson was a harsh one.


    Father Ji looked intensely at his son with flickering eyes and said, ��Little Mo, what cultivation base are you at now?��


    This time around, his tone was even more serious.


    Mother Ji, Shen Shuyi, also looked at her son with gravity


    Ji Mo said, ��Actually, Father, I��m breaking through to the Qi Plundering Boundary. I came home this time because soon, I��ll be entering the inner sect of Tianshan Sword Sect. By then, I won��t get to come back for 4 to 5 years. So, I came back this time to say goodbye to all of you.��


    ��You��re allowed to enter the inner sect?�� Father Ji and Mother Ji revealed delight on their faces.