Chapter 128: Tempering Oneself

He wasn't being arrogant; he simply needed sufficient pressure to unleash his potential. Ideally, he would sustain more injuries, as this was the only way to truly temper his physique, while also collecting some spiritual herbs.

Of course, choosing the right target was also very important.

Creatures that flew or swam were not his primary choices. He preferred a second-tier demonic beast that ran on the ground, had weak perception, a strong body, and low intelligence, meeting all four of these requirements.

With the Night Concealment Charm and Invisibility Spell, two perfected stealth techniques, it was easy to evade the perception of Foundation Establishment demonic beasts.

In a sense, he was actually very safe.

Using the Rift Cliff Cavern as his base, Wang Yu ventured out daily to search. The Black Mountain Demon Land was home to numerous unclaimed first-tier spiritual herbs.

The search range gradually expanded from one li to five li, then ten li, and his harvest grew.

Half a month later, he finally found a suitable target.

It was an earth-yellow bovine demonic beast, encased in rock armor. Its earth attribute was very pronounced; its muscles were as hard as stone, and it possessed no long-range attack capabilities.

Perfect!

This "Earth Rock Ox" lived in a patch of withered yellow grassland; the surrounding area was its territory, and few other demonic beasts dared to intrude.

Moreover, the edge of the grassland was a vertical cliff face where a large quantity of "Earth Spirit Dendrobium" grew. This was a relatively rare second-tier spiritual herb that could be used to refine elixirs for strengthening the physique.

A large section of the Earth Spirit Dendrobium had been eaten, but much remained, enough for Wang Yu to make a fortune.

“Snow Jade Fox, go.”

Gently patting the spirit beast pouch at his waist, the soft, tiny fox opened its pink eyes wide and let out an uncertain "Yoo~".

Its adorable face was filled with confusion.

It was as if it was saying: "Wait, me against a second-tier Earth Rock Ox?"

Fox-type spirit beasts were always intelligent. Wang Yu nodded and prompted, “Use your newly awakened bloodline secret technique.”

With this, the Snow Jade Fox understood.

Its second awakened bloodline secret technique was called Allure, which was also an innate talent of the fox clan. Regardless of its elemental variation, the root of its bloodline remained the same.

With elegant steps, its short legs carried it to the edge of the grassland, its snowy white tail swaying as the little creature swaggered over and winked at the Earth Rock Ox coiled in the distance. The next moment, the ox exploded with vigor.

White smoke visibly puffed from the ox’s nostrils, and whether it was an illusion or not, its yellowish-brown hide seemed to take on a faint pinkish hue as it charged blindly forward.

Wang Yu glanced at the Snow Jade Fox in surprise.

“This little one has a powerful spiritual sense talent.”

He immediately put it back into the spirit beast pouch. His clothes had already been shed, leaving him bare-chested. His left hand was pale green, his fingernails glossy black, and there was a noticeable discoloration at the shoulder joint compared to the rest of his body.

Due to the Corpse Demon Secret Art, even though Wang Yu’s skin was already quite fair, the difference in his left arm was still noticeable.

In this battle, he could not rely on the power of the Divine Strength Corpse Arm.

Activating the Flood Dragon Force, Wang Yu twisted his waist, and seven blue veins spread outwards from his central spine, appearing as ferocious and fierce as a flood dragon entering the sea.

The shadowy phantom of a flood dragon flashed behind him before disappearing.

Facing the charging Earth Rock Ox, Wang Yu lowered his center of gravity, connecting his palms with its horns, attempting to use leverage to lift the ox demon.

However, reality was quite different from what he imagined.

The power of his Seven Dragon Tendons was simply not on the same level as the ox demon's. It felt like holding onto the Immovable Sea-Pacifying Needle, utterly impossible to budge.

Skill was no match for brute force!

As a result, Wang Yu was sent flying backward, crashing through several ancient trees and coughing up blood repeatedly. Before he could recover, the Earth Rock Ox charged at him again.

Wang Yu’s expression changed. He slammed a palm onto a broken tree stump, and using the recoil, he shifted several meters sideways, just as the ox charged headfirst, shattering the stump into splinters.

A powerful ox hoof stomped down from the side. Wang Yu gritted his teeth and met it with his fist, only to hear a crack. The four fingers at the front of his clenched fist twisted abnormally, and the bones in his forearm were dislocated.

“Is there really such a huge difference when I don’t use the Divine Strength Corpse Arm, relying only on my physical body…?”

Left with no choice, Wang Yu swiftly retreated, immediately activating the Night Concealment Charm and Invisibility Spell to quickly distance himself from the battlefield.

The Earth Rock Ox, having lost its target, furiously crashed into nearby ancient trees before finally raising its head and returning to the cliff base, like a victorious general.

Rift Cliff Cavern.

Wang Yu was soaking in the hot spring, recuperating from his injuries. Three days had passed since he physically clashed with the Foundation Establishment ox demon, and after getting a good beating, surprisingly...

The accumulated power of the Dragon Blood Secret Medicine within him had been fully stimulated. Coupled with the top-grade healing elixirs he possessed, he had fully recovered.

“Hoo—”

Leaping out of the hot spring and stretching his body, Wang Yu turned and entered the stone chamber, where he vigorously disciplined Wang Wu with his Golden Blade Whip, venting his frustration.

Feeling refreshed both physically and mentally, he once again set out to vex the Earth Rock Ox.

This time, he wasn't out for more than an hour.

Wang Yu, bruised and swollen, had his upper body covered in ox hoof prints. His entire body was severely swollen, and many of his bones were broken.

He lost this second battle too, even more miserably than the last.

Similarly, his gains were also greater.

With the full activation of the medicinal power, along with further medicinal baths, cultivation, and the daily body tempering cultivation feedback from the fourth placement slot, his progress in physical cultivation was rapid.

This time, he rested for seven days until his injuries healed completely.

Beating Wang Wu → Fighting → Losing → Healing → Beating Wang Wu!

Maintaining this continuous cycle, Wang Yu felt that every day was incredibly fulfilling. He believed Wang Wu also had a very fulfilling time, paying for the evil deeds of his past.

During his recuperation, Wang Yu occasionally went out to collect spiritual herbs.

Now, carrying a portable alchemy furnace and aided by the power of Cold Flame, he could refine elixirs anytime, anywhere, replenishing his supplies.

He mainly replenished top-grade healing elixirs. There was no other way; not only did he need them, but there was also someone in the stone chamber who needed them. He didn't mind the cost of these spiritual items, seeking only clarity and refreshment.

With a clear state of mind, his understanding of cultivation greatly benefited.

Both cultivation paths progressed simultaneously.

In just three months, Wang Yu advanced his Flood Dragon Force by another level, breaking through to the eighth layer, reaching the "Eight Dragons Invigorating Tendons" realm.

Thus.

Time passed quickly, like a white colt galloping past a crack, or water flowing through fingertips, inadvertently turning three pages in his life.

Three years vanished in a flash, and time entered the fourth year of Wang Yu’s inner disciple life.

Earth Rock Ox territory.

The pair of adversaries, who had been locked in combat for several years, once again engaged in a fierce struggle. Even though the ox demon's intelligence was not outstanding, it was enough for it to remember this unkillable human.

“Moo!!!”

Seeing his old enemy, the ox's eyes instantly reddened. There was no need for the Snow Jade Fox to use its allure; upon seeing Wang Yu from afar, it immediately executed a fierce Ox Charge, plowing deep furrows into the grassland.

The ox, imbued with berserk strength, charged headfirst.

Wang Yu took a deep breath, planted his stance firmly into the ground, braced with his palms, and strained until his face was red.

“Lift—!”

This time, the situation was somewhat different. With his recent remarkable progress in strength, even if Buzhou Mountain were placed before him, Wang Yu would spit into his palms before attempting to move it.