C25 Who Do You Think You Are?(1)

With the Hidden Heaven Bag, Woo Zhengyang found his tasks much more manageable. The Blue Mist Sword didn't need to be used for a while and could simply be stored inside the bag.

As he infused his energy into it, a subtle connection formed between Woo Zhengyang and the Hidden Heaven Bag. An invisible yet perceptible space appeared before him.

This space was about three feet square, the most common size for a Hidden Heaven Bag. For Woo Zhengyang, it was an incredible asset. Inside, he discovered Yun Shaoqing's collection.

Unfortunately, Yun Shaoqing's items were mostly miscellaneous. Aside from some silver coins and unworn clothes, even the healing pills for internal and external injuries were of little use to Woo Zhengyang, given his strong regenerative abilities.

After clearing out the unnecessary items and placing the Blue Mist Sword inside, Woo Zhengyang set out on his next plan, heading towards the area where second-level Demonic Beasts roamed.

The endless mountain ranges and the vast expanse of fiery red trees made the Falling Leaves Mountains seem boundless. Anyone unfamiliar with the way out could wander for days and nights without escaping this crimson world.

Armed with a map of the Falling Leaves Mountains, which he had picked up while passing through Falling Leaves Town, Woo Zhengyang followed a ridge for half a day. Finally, he reached the starting point of the area where second-level Demonic Beasts appeared.

The clear division among the areas is a mystery to everyone, much like how humans use strength to determine status. All the demonic beasts have their own understanding, each sticking to their own territory, rarely crossing into others.

An intriguing phenomenon is that the highest region of the Falling Leaf Mountains is only frequented by third-level demonic beasts. Although these beasts can't cultivate, they can absorb energy to refine their demon cores, which should allow them to advance. Yet, over the years, no fourth-level beast territory has emerged. Occasionally, a fourth-level beast appears, but they're either defeated by passing warriors or vanish without a trace, leaving their fate unknown.

For Woo Zhengyang, fourth-level beasts are still a distant challenge. They require a nine-star martial disciple, someone on the brink of breaking into the Martial Master Stage, with exceptional combat skills to handle them. Although Zhengyang advanced from a one-star to a five-star martial disciple in just a few days, thanks to a mysterious vortex that transformed him, future progress will depend on his diligent training. Even with his unique physique allowing faster cultivation than most, gaining the additional strength of over 300 pounds won't happen overnight.

A cultivator's body is like a vessel. Whether it's the meridians of a Qi cultivator or the flesh and blood of a body cultivator, it's initially a blank slate. As long as there's enough vital energy in the environment, it can be absorbed.

Once this vessel is filled with true energy, further advancement isn't just about the abundance of vital energy. It also heavily depends on one's cultivation techniques, comprehension, and the body's capacity to endure.

Woo Zhengyang is confident in his comprehension skills, which aren't too shabby, and his endurance, which is beyond ordinary. However, he can't guarantee that his future cultivation speed will maintain this pace, especially since he has the time-consuming Sword Sacrificing Spell to master.

With the path of body cultivation unclear, Woo Zhengyang can't afford to abandon Qi cultivation. It must remain his primary focus. Moreover, the mysterious nature of the Sword Sacrificing Spell makes him believe that enduring some hardships now will lead to unexpected rewards later on.

...

Time flies, and Woo Zhengyang has been battling in the area where second-level demonic beasts roam for two days. These beasts are formidable in both combat power and defense, and they can wield the power of their demon cores. Their techniques are varied. Although Woo Zhengyang is a five-star Martial Disciple, he lacks martial skills, which makes things challenging.

In these two days, Woo Zhengyang has been injured countless times. It's only thanks to his body's remarkable recovery abilities that he's been able to persevere time and again.

Effort always pays off. Under the intense pressure of battle, Woo Zhengyang's previously stagnant strength surged once more, finally breaking through to 1,320 pounds, reaching the level of a Six-star Martial Disciple. In just a few days, he advanced from awakening his Origin Genuine Qi to becoming a Six-star Martial Disciple—a feat that would be hard for anyone to believe. Even Woo Zhengyang himself occasionally felt it was surreal.

The only downside is that such rapid progress won't happen again anytime soon. The path of cultivation is paved with time and battles; it can't be rushed. Woo Zhengyang clearly sensed that the benefits brought by the mysterious black vortex had been pushed to their current limit. Reaching 1,540 pounds of strength would not be possible in the short term, even if he continued to fight tirelessly. It would likely take another month.

With his mission accomplished and plenty of rewards in hand, Woo Zhengyang returned to Maple Leaf Town, retrieved his trusty steed, and set off back to the Profound Heaven Sect.

Outside the outer hall, a travel-worn Woo Zhengyang walked forward, drawing surprised glances from those around him.

"He's actually back!"

"Who is that?"

"You don't recognize the last-ranked outer disciple? The guy who took on a mission and left the mountain just three days after joining!"