Chương 45: Breaking Through in Blood

"He has five spirit roots constitution, yet he cultivates faster than those with three!"

"Twenty-four years old, and already at the eighth level of the Qi Refining Realm."

"Unmatched among his peers. He single handedly killed four late stage Qi Refining cultivators, one of them at the peak of the realm!" Tian Family Main Hall, Mount Longquan Tian Jianmin, head of the Tian family, stared at the intelligence report in his hands, his expression dark. As family head, his own cultivation had already reached the Perfection stage of Qi Refining Realm. The Tian family had two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators who served as the family's Supreme Elders.

Only those at the ninth level of Qi Refining Realm could serve as family elders. Truth be told, Tian Jianmin was against clashing with the Zhang family. But this was the forceful demand of one of the Supreme Elders. He had no choice. Though he was the clan leader, the two Foundation Establishment cultivators held absolute authority within the Tian family. After all, the entire family relied on them for protection.

"That's right," the Great Elder said. At ninety nine years old, his voice carried the weight of decades.

"Zhang Huaijin's advancement speed is terrifying." He continued, "Rumors say that the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator who took away that Wind Spirit Root genius from the Zhang family greatly appreciates Zhang Huaijin. He must have seen his potential. They say he even left behind some opportunities for the boy." The other Tian family elders exchanged worried glances. Zhang Huaijin's combat record was simply too dazzling.

"The most important thing," the Second Elder added, "is that the Zhang family currently holds three Tier 2, Upper Grade Spirit Talismans. There's no way for us to avenge Fang Yuo." At his words, envy flickered across the faces of every Tian elder present. Three Tier 2, Upper Grade Spirit Talismans. Each strike was powerful enough to match the full force attack of a late stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.

The Tian family's two Foundation Establishment cultivators were only at the fourth and second levels respectively. Even if they wanted to assault the Green Bamboo Mountain, they would have to think twice. After all, the Tian family had started this conflict. A Foundation Establishment Realm family bullying a Qi Refining Realm family was extremely undignified. They weren't even in the same league. As a result, the Tian family's reputation in Langya County had taken a serious hit.

"He was just a rogue cultivator," Tian Jianmin said, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

"Let him go. Fang Yuo was nothing more than a dog that we kept around. We can find another one anytime." He sighed heavily.

"Now we just have to see if Zhang Lixian can break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm." If Zhang Lixian did advance to Foundation Establishment Realm, Tian Jianmin would change the family's course of action, even if it went against the Supreme Elder's wishes. Why would they want to make an enemy of a Foundation Establishment cultivator? Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

Right now, the Tian family needed to build up its foundation, not fight pointless battles. They had already become a laughingstock in the eyes of the Yan and Gao families. The three were allies on the surface, but also competitors. Resources were limited, after all. Everything depended on strength.

"Theirs news!" A Tian family elder burst into the main hall.

"Zhang Huaijin was chased by a Foundation Establishment Realm Green Ape and has disappeared!" Tian Jianmin nodded slowly.

"Good. If he falls, even better." He believed that, looking at Zhang Huaijin's record, it wasn't just the Tian family. The Yan and Gao families wouldn't want Zhang Huaijin to grow up either. After the battle in the Purple Dusk Mountain Range, Zhang Huaijin had become quite famous. The major powers and rogue cultivators of Langya County all knew that name now. He was the man who killed Fang Yuo. A prodigy like that… he was better off dead.

—— Purple Dusk Mountain Range, near Green Ape Peak Zhang Huaijin, dressed in white, gasped for breath. The Foundation Establishment Realm Green Ape clung stubbornly to his trail, its eyes burning with killing intent. Zhang Huaijin's guess had been correct. Among the dozen or so Green Apes he had killed outside the valley earlier, one had been the ape's own offspring. Of course the Foundation Establishment spirit beast wanted revenge. Zhang Huaijin felt his luck had hit rock bottom. He scanned his surroundings.

The Zhang family members had probably already left the Purple Dusk Mountain Range by now. Since he couldn't shake the Foundation Establishment Green Ape, he decided to fight back. Boom! Zhang Huaijin spun around, sword in hand. A sword light flashed as he slashed horizontally. Bang! Mockery flickered in the Green Ape's eyes. Its massive fist crashed down with terrifying force, unleashing the full power of the Foundation Establishment level. The sword light shattered instantly.

The ape moved with incredible speed, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat. Rumble! The Green Ape's fists thundered forward, carrying devastating power that seemed to explode the very air around them. Fist light howled, enveloping Zhang Huaijin's body. Zhang Huaijin activated his Profound Sky Net, a dense web of black lines swept forward like countless razor-sharp blades, trying to shred everything in their path. Rip! The Green Ape's power tore right through it.

The net's light dimmed, and it flew back to Zhang Huaijin's side.

"Darkfire Storm!" The temperature around Zhang Huaijin skyrocketed. Endless flames coalesced into several fiery dragons that intertwined together, forming a storm of fire that raged outward and engulfed the Green Ape's body. A Green glow emerged around the Green Ape like a protective shield, blocking the fire's power. Zhang Huaijin's sword slashed horizontally. A blazing sword light screamed through the air and struck the Green Ape's head. Clang! The collision rang out like metal striking metal. Sparks flew.

Ripples spread across the cyan light shield. The Green Ape grunted coldly and struck out again with both its fists. Overwhelming, earth shaking force crashed down like an avalanche. The oppressive aura of a Foundation Establishment spirit beast radiated outward, shaking Zhang Huaijin's resolve. The ape's fist engulfed him completely. This Green Ape was no weakling, its aura blazed at the second level of Foundation Establishment Realm. Pfft! Zhang Huaijin's sword trembled violently.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as his body staggered backward. The ape's power had injured him. But then… crack! That very punch caused the barriers to his next cultivation level to shake violently. The spiritual energy in his meridians raged like a vast, wild dragon, crashing through the bottleneck. His aura suddenly exploded upward. Zhang Huaijin had broken through mid battle, advancing to the ninth level of the Qi Refining Realm. His power surged, growing much stronger.

The blood qi in his body spun into motion.

"Vajra Palm!" (Diamond palm will be Vajra Palm from now on) A massive golden palm print, three metres wide, materialized in the air, radiating sharp metal energy. The Vajra Palm was a common technique among most ape species, capable of piercing metal and splitting stone. The enormous golden palm moved with incredible speed, appearing behind the Ape. Now Zhang Huaijin unleashed his full power as a Body Cultivator. He seemed to transform into a raging golden ape himself. His blood qi surged like a signal fire.

He moved with the swagger of a dragon and the pace of a tiger, veins bulging in his arms as he threw a devastating punch. With his Qi Cultivation and Body Cultivation powers combined, he seemed to be unleashing strength far beyond the Qi Refining Realm. Rumble! At this moment, Zhang Huaijin was like a humanoid monster, using his sheer physical might. He charged at the Foundation Establishment Green Ape, engaging in an explosive, head on clash.