The sun set, the moon rose, a cycle without end.
Unbeknownst.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
On a massive rock.
A tall figure sat cross-legged.
His features were handsome and resolute.
His brows were like blades, radiating sharpness. His entire aura was icy cold, exuding a sense of 'keep your distance'.
It was Luo Mu.
At a certain moment.
Luo Mu slowly opened his eyes.
It was difficult to describe the look in his eyes.
It seemed devoid of all emotion.
Only when he closed and opened them again, did they gradually regain their normal appearance.
"This sword technique seems to affect one's mind slightly."
"But it's understandable. Spending too long in a state of killing, who wouldn't be affected?"
As he spoke, Luo Mu looked around.
He saw piles of corpses.
He had slaughtered a... beast nest.
"Thankfully, my sword technique is finally perfected!"
Luo Mu jumped off the boulder, a smile blooming on his face.
He raised his right hand at the same time.
On the back of his hand, there was a deep, black, sword-shaped mark.
Grey mist seemed to swirl within it.
That was - the Absolute Life Sword Qi!
Over the past half month, he had lost count of how many beasts he had slain. Only today, after slaughtering an entire beast nest, had he truly perfected it.
"No wonder they say the Absolute Life Sword Technique is extremely difficult. I had a lucky break, but without it, how many beasts would I have had to kill, how long would I have had to train?"
Luo Mu shook his head.
"However, the power and difficulty are directly proportional. Though I'm only at the Ninth Level of the Body Tempering Realm, with the Absolute Life Sword Technique, I should be able to contend with a True Aperture Realm martial artist!"
Martial arts cultivation is divided into nine realms.
Body Tempering, True Aperture, Spirit Sea, Xuan Dan, Earth Splitting, Heaven Opening, Divine Ability, Nirvana, and Supreme.
Body Tempering focuses on tempering the flesh, strengthening the five internal organs.
While the True Aperture Realm.
Involves opening up the nine grand apertures hidden deep within the human body.
Each grand aperture contains rich primordial blood.
Also known as: innate blood.
Once a grand aperture is opened, the primordial blood will integrate into the entire body, comprehensively strengthening physical abilities.
Strength, defense, speed, etc.
It's incomparable to the improvements in the Body Tempering Realm.
And when all nine grand apertures are opened and fused into one, the martial artist will undergo another qualitative change.
Nine Apertures United, breaking the shackles, from then on, they can absorb the Yuan Qi of the heavens and earth for cultivation.
This is also the key to entering the Spirit Sea Realm.
"Next, I need to find a way to break through to the True Aperture Realm!"
Over the past half month, besides practicing the sword, he hadn't neglected his cultivation either.
He was already at the peak of the Ninth Level of the Body Tempering Realm.
He was only a half-step away from the True Aperture Realm.
But this half-step was quite difficult.
Because breakthrough to a major realm requires either a long period of accumulation.
Or the use of potent medicinal pills, forcibly breaking through.
Weak water cannot break through a dam.
For Luo Mu, he could only choose the latter.
He didn't have that much time to accumulate.
And the pills used to break through were often incredibly precious.
Before.
He definitely couldn't afford them.
But now.
Luo Mu glanced at the package not far away.
It was packed full of precious materials obtained from killing beasts.
It should be enough to exchange for one.
"Return journey!"
Luo Mu grabbed the package, and with a contented heart, headed towards the Outer Palace.
However, at that moment.
He suddenly felt a change in his expression, looking towards the east.
After cultivating the Absolute Life Sword Technique, he became highly sensitive to killing intent.
In that direction.
He felt an intense killing intent, not like that of a beast, but more like that of a human.
——
"I never thought that the Academy would have... a member of the Demon Dao!"
Cheng Qing Man pressed her hand to her bleeding waist, a look of anger appearing on her beautiful face.
She had just returned from training in the depths of the back mountain.
As she passed through this place, she happened to encounter a disciple of the Inner Palace, lying on the ground, dying. He seemed to be very seriously injured.
Without thinking much.
She approached him, ready to treat him.
But the next second, this Inner Palace disciple suddenly attacked.
Thankfully, she reacted quickly.
She dodged the fatal blow.
But her waist was also severely pierced. If she didn't receive treatment quickly, her life would be in danger.
"As expected of a famous genius of the Inner Palace, even in this situation, you were able to dodge my fatal blow, even retaliating with a palm strike."
The Inner Palace disciple's mouth bled.
He touched his chest, his steps unsteady.
Cheng Qing Man was at the Sixth Level of the True Aperture Realm.
While he was only at the First Level.
After receiving a palm strike, he naturally suffered serious injuries as well.
But compared to Cheng Qing Man, he was definitely in slightly better condition.
"You dare to reveal your identity in the Academy, do you think you can still escape?"
Cheng Qing Man said coldly.
"I had no choice, who made the higher-ups press me so hard, if I didn't kill an Inner Palace genius, how could I report back?"
The Inner Palace disciple pressed his hand to his chest a few times.
His complexion recovered slightly.
"Arrogant, do you think you've won?"
Cheng Qing Man assumed a stance.
Their injuries were not much different, she was still a Sixth Level, why would she lose?
But the next second.
Cheng Qing Man's face changed drastically.
She suddenly felt weak all over, powerless.
She noticed that dark lines were starting to appear densely on her waist.
"You actually used poison!"
Cheng Qing Man swayed, falling to her knees on one knee, cold sweat beading on her face.
"Your words are quite funny. I, a mighty Demon Dao martial artist, how could I possibly not know poison?"
Seeing Cheng Qing Man in this state, the Inner Palace disciple's face instantly relaxed.
"Damn it!"
Cheng Qing Man quickly took out a detoxifying pill and swallowed it.
But the effect was insufficient.
Clearly, the poison in her body was no ordinary poison.
Her detoxifying pill could only temporarily hold it back, preventing it from spreading too quickly.
"Alright, I'll use your head as a stepping stone for my advancement!"
A cruel look appeared in the Inner Palace disciple's eyes.
He picked up the long sword beside him, ready to sever Cheng Qing Man's head.
"It's over!"
A look of unwillingness appeared on Cheng Qing Man's face.
She was a genius, the apple of her father's eye, she clearly had a bright future ahead of her.
Now, due to her carelessness, she was about to die at the hands of the Demon Dao!
Crack!
At that moment.
The sound of crushed branches suddenly rang out.
"Who's there?"
The Inner Palace disciple's face suddenly changed, looking towards the direction from which the sound came.