Chapter 371: Come, Hit Me

“Snap, snap!” His body jolted, his muscles creating sonic booms. In a few steps, he reached the special stone pillar used to test the strength of savage beasts and threw a punch.

A light flashed. A line of text slowly appeared: “5000!”

In the Master realm, strength exceeds 1,000 ding. A normal early-stage Master has about 1,000 ding, a mid-stage Master 2,000 ding, and so on, with a peak-stage Master possessing around 4,000 ding of strength.

When Zhang Xuan was a Half-Master, he already wielded a mighty force of 1,500 ding. Now, having reached the peak, his strength had surged, reaching around 5,000 ding.

This level of power was already comparable to that of a typical Half-Saint.

“What a pity, the number of spirit stones is still too small. Otherwise, it would definitely be more than five thousand...”

Though excited, he wasn't satisfied.

The five spirit stones he received from Mo Tianxue, combined with the one from Prince Fei Xuan, were all used up in half a day, turning into powder.

As expected, the higher one's cultivation, the greater the consumption of spirit stones.

Previously, just one spirit stone allowed him to advance from early-stage Master to mid-stage. Now, even with six, he only barely reached the peak.

At this rate of consumption, attempting to break through to the Saint realm would likely require at least ten, if not dozens, of spirit stones.

“From now on, I need to find a way to earn spirit stones...”

He rubbed his temples.

Although the Heaven's Path Divine Art allowed for rapid cultivation, its demand for spiritual energy was astonishing. Especially as one's cultivation level increased, the *Zhenqi* became purer, leading to even greater consumption.

If a Master-level practitioner required dozens, wouldn't a Saint-level practitioner need hundreds to progress further?

A first-tier kingdom like Tianwu only had reserves of fewer than ten. Where could he possibly find so many spirit stones?

He had thought that with tens of millions of gold coins in his storage ring, he was wealthy. Now, it seemed he was broke again.

Gold coins were nothing but fleeting clouds... Spirit stones were paramount!

“Between adjusting my state and cultivating, a day has passed...”

He looked up at the window; it was already noon the next day. He couldn't help but feel speechless.

Curing the national guardian beast of its poison had consumed a significant amount of his *Zhenqi* and strength. Just recovering his stamina and adjusting his condition took considerable time. Adding the breakthrough, he hadn't realized it was already noon on the second day.

“Time to help the Golden-tailed Lion break through!”

He stretched, ate some food that Mo Tianxue had sent over, and then pushed the door open and walked out.

With his cultivation reaching peak-Master, his Heaven's Path *Zhenqi* was even purer and denser, making him capable of helping the large beast break through.

“President Liu!”

Just as he stepped out of the room, he saw Mo Tianxue and Mo Yu standing nearby.

They had apparently been waiting there for some time.

The potential breakthrough of the Golden-tailed Lion was fundamental to the Tianwu Kingdom. Even Mo Tianxue, as composed as he was, couldn't defy common sentiment. He and Mo Yu had arrived to wait at dawn.

Understanding their eagerness, Zhang Xuan wasn't surprised. He responded, "Take me to the Golden-tailed Lion!"

“President Liu, I've already spoken with the Golden-tailed Lion, and it agrees to your method for its advancement!” Mo Yu said with a smile.

“My method?” Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

Did Mo Yu know that his *Zhenqi* could purify savage beasts' bloodlines?

That's impossible!

Last time, he helped the Azure Eagle Beast break through by leveraging the bloodline of the Cloud Lightning Ancient Sparrow. He helped the Iron-toothed Roaring Sky Beast advance using the pills she had refined...

Logically, she shouldn't know...

Then... what was the meaning behind her words?

His expression turned serious as he was about to ask for clarification, when he saw the girl point forward.

“The Golden-tailed Lion is ready!”

Following her finger, Zhang Xuan's eyelids twitched, and he nearly fainted.

He saw the enormous, majestic Golden-tailed Lion, currently bound like a zongzi (glutinous rice dumpling) with countless iron chains, lying sprawled on the ground, looking at him with a resentful expression.

What in the world was going on?

Zhang Xuan's face was filled with confusion. He couldn't help but look over and ask, "This is..."

What does binding this fellow like a zongzi have to do with my method?

Not only was he bewildered, but Mo Tianxue, standing beside him, was equally bewildered and exasperated.

Early that morning, his precious daughter had sought him out, claiming that for the Golden-tailed Lion to break through, it had to be bound.

He had discussed it for a long time before finally convincing the lion to willingly be bound.

And like this... it could break through to the Saint realm?

He had never heard of such a thing...

“Your cultivation is only at the early stage of the Tongxuan realm. To safely employ your beating beast-taming method, we had to restrain its movements...”

Mo Yu spoke with a serious expression.

“...” Zhang Xuan's face was full of peculiar expressions.

When he helped the Azure Eagle Beast break through, he had used a 'beating beast-taming method'. Perhaps she thought that this was his ultimate technique for helping savage beasts advance...

And since the disguised President Liu was only at the early stage of the Tongxuan realm, he certainly wouldn't be a match for the Golden-tailed Lion, which was why they had bound it beforehand...

*Cough, cough!*

It had given him quite a scare; so that was what she meant...

While it seemed unconventional, it conveniently allowed him to conceal his disguised identity and hide the effect of his Heaven's Path *Zhenqi* purifying bloodlines, killing two birds with one stone.

“Mm, excellent. Then I'll begin...”

He nodded in satisfaction and strode towards the Golden-tailed Lion, which was still bound like a zongzi not far away.

Mo Tianxue quickly focused his attention.

His daughter had spoken so confidently, yet he was still completely confused, unable to grasp what this so-called 'beating beast-taming method' truly entailed.

The Golden-tailed Lion, lying on the ground with a resentful expression, was utterly clueless. Seeing Zhang Xuan approach, gratitude shone in its eyes.

If not for this physician, it would probably have died from the poison, and no one would have known.

Although its rear was still a bit sore, with the potent poison gone, the rest of its body felt significantly lighter. With the savage beast's powerful recovery ability, it should fully recover in just a few days.

Just as it gratefully wanted to show affection, it saw its benefactor approach and, without a word, kick it.

“Roar????”

The Golden-tailed Lion looked utterly bewildered.

Didn't you say you were going to help me advance? Why are you kicking me?

*Thump, thump, thump!*

Before it could react, the person in front of it kicked again, furiously.

Each kick landed on yesterday's wounds, making it wince and howl in agony.

“Is this... your so-called 'beating beast-taming method'?”

Mo Tianxue's mouth twitched.

As the King, he was well-traveled and knowledgeable. He had personally witnessed beast tamers helping savage beasts improve their strength. However, he had lived this long and never heard of anyone claiming that mercilessly beating a savage beast could help it advance.

“Don't worry, President Liu will definitely succeed!”

Mo Yu was brimming with confidence.

The scene of the Azure Eagle Beast breaking through after a beating was still vivid in her memory.

This Golden-tailed Lion shouldn't be much of a problem either.

“But...”

Despite his daughter's confident assertions, Mo Tianxue still found it hard to believe.

“Look, the Golden-tailed Lion seems to be realizing something...”

Knowing he would have difficulty understanding such an "advanced" method, Mo Yu pointed.

Mo Tianxue looked.

He saw the savage beast, which moments ago had been writhing in pain, now with shining eyes, revealing intense excitement.

Beaten to the point of spitting blood, its body trembling from pain, yet its eyes were full of excitement...

Mo Tianxue felt all his previous understanding completely collapse. He was on the verge of fainting.

Under Zhang Xuan's relentless beating, the Golden-tailed Lion was initially in excruciating pain. A moment later, it sensed something amiss.

With each kick, a stream of *Zhenqi* would be transmitted, purifying its bloodline and causing its strength to continuously surge.

At this point, even the dullest creature would realize that the other party was helping it break through. It stopped resisting and desperately absorbed the *Zhenqi* entering its body, making its bloodline power grow stronger and stronger.

*Boom!*

After absorbing an unknown number of *Zhenqi* streams, its internal bloodline was purified to its limit. Amidst a violent rumble, a powerful force erupted from its body!

It had reached the Saint realm!

“Roar...”

With a long roar, the Golden-tailed Lion suddenly stood up, its massive body shaking.

*Clang, clang!*

The iron chains binding it immediately broke free and clattered to the ground.

“It... truly broke through?”

Mo Tianxue stood dumbfounded.

Even witnessing it with his own eyes, his mind struggled to process it.

Breaking through to the Saint realm was difficult enough for humans, let alone savage beasts with fixed bloodlines... To break through just by being savagely beaten to the point of spitting blood...

This was utterly ridiculous!

“Could it be... that while President Liu appeared to be beating it, he was actually breaking through the internal restrictions within its body, helping it to enhance its power?”

An idea popped into his mind.

He had once read in ancient texts that some powerful master teachers would help people advance their cultivation by giving them a fierce beating, breaking through blockages within their bodies to allow *Zhenqi* to flow smoothly, thereby greatly increasing their cultivation.

The person before him had beaten the Golden-tailed Lion until it was spitting blood and nearly dead, yet it had successfully broken through. Perhaps it was based on the same principle.

“If he can help savage beasts break through this way, can he also help humans break through?”

Mo Tianxue's eyes lit up as an idea struck him, and his gaze turned fervent.

“Alright!”

Seeing the Golden-tailed Lion's breakthrough, Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction.

It seemed his peak-Master *Zhenqi* could indeed help Half-Saints break through.

He would try it with the Iron-toothed Roaring Sky Beast later. If that fellow could reach the Saint realm, he wouldn't have to worry about rampant activity in the Tianwu Kingdom anymore.

He clapped his hands, ignoring the lion's gratitude. Just as he was about to say something, he saw Mo Tianxue approach him.

“Thank you, President Liu, for helping the lion break through. I am immensely grateful...”

Mo Tianxue bowed deeply, his sincerity evident.

“It's nothing!” Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He had already promised, and besides, having received five spirit stones from them, this small favor was nothing.

Seeing his casual demeanor, Mo Tianxue was even more certain of his speculation. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "I have another presumptuous request... I hope to receive President Liu's assistance!"

“Oh?”

“I have been stuck at the peak of the Master realm for many years, unable to make any progress. President Liu... could you also help me break through my shackles? I don't need to reach the Saint realm; Half-Saint would be fine...”

Mo Tianxue looked at him with an expectant face, his breathing quickening.

“Help you break through?” Zhang Xuan was momentarily stunned.

“Yes, don't worry, I know what to do...” Mo Tianxue nodded.

Seeing his confident expression, Zhang Xuan found it odd. Could it be that this guy knew he needed spirit stones and was holding back some reserves, not telling the truth earlier?

Before he could finish that thought, he saw Mo Tianxue casually pick up the iron chains from the ground, firmly bind himself, and then lie down. "I'm ready! Come, beat me..."

“...” Zhang Xuan.