Days bled into weeks, then months, each one a relentless cycle of cultivation and survival for Eric. The ancient text from Elder Jian, surprisingly, dovetailed perfectly with the Scales of Purity. The external refinement techniques it taught, focusing on drawing in ambient Qi to strengthen bones and flesh, created a believable facade for his rapid physical and internal growth. Meanwhile, the Dragon Spirit tirelessly guided him through the true essence of the Azure Dragon Scripture.
He spent hours each day in secluded parts of the Spirit Hunting Grounds, mastering the Claws of Might. The technique, at first, was clumsy, a crude condensation of Qi around his fists. But with the Dragon Spirit's patient guidance—"Focus, Eric. Imagine the dragon's talon. Sharpness. Precision. Not brute force, but concentrated power."—his movements became fluid, deadly. His spiritual energy, infused with draconic essence, was incredibly dense, allowing him to deliver blows that far surpassed his visible cultivation stage. He could now fell a Spiked Boar with a single, well-placed strike.
The Breath of the Azure was more challenging. It required a delicate balance of Qi manipulation, channeling the internal energy into a focused, outward burst. The first attempts resulted in nothing more than a puff of air, or a wild, uncontrolled surge that left him drained. "Think of the vastness of the ocean, Eric. The inexorable power of a storm. It is not about raw output, but controlled release, a precise expulsion of inner energy." Gradually, he learned to condense his Qi, forming a visible, ethereal blue mist that could carve through thick brush or repel lesser Qi Beasts.
His public image remained that of a diligent, albeit lucky, cultivator. He still joined the general training sessions, feigning effort for techniques he had long surpassed, offering simple, plausible explanations for his improved agility or slightly tougher skin. "Just pushing harder, Elder," he'd say, a modest smile on his face, whenever Elder Jian's discerning gaze lingered.
One crisp morning, deeper than usual into the Spirit Hunting Grounds, Eric was tracking a particularly elusive Whisperclaw Panther, known for its valuable fur. His spiritual sense, sharpened by constant practice, pulsed outward, painting a detailed map of the surrounding environment. He felt the rustle of leaves, the distant thrum of a hidden waterfall, and the distinct, powerful Qi signature of the panther.
"Hold, Eric," the Dragon Spirit suddenly interjected, its tone urgent. "There is another presence. Much stronger. Heading this way."
Eric froze, his spiritual sense immediately pinpointing the new threat. It was massive, its Qi signature like a blazing inferno compared to the Whisperclaw Panther's flickering candle. A cold dread seeped into his bones. This wasn't a common Qi Beast.
"A Bloodfang Gorilla," the Dragon Spirit identified, a rare hint of solemnity in its voice. "A C-rank monster. Its spiritual energy is at the peak of Foundation Establishment, nearing Core Formation. Your current physical cultivation is equivalent to early Foundation Establishment, perhaps mid-level with the Scales of Purity fully active. This will be your greatest test yet."
A C-rank monster. Panic threatened to overwhelm him. He'd only heard legends of such creatures. They were usually dealt with by multiple cultivators, often those in the higher stages of Foundation Establishment or even Core Formation. Fleeing was the logical choice.
"Can I... can I beat it?" Eric thought, his voice tight with apprehension.
"It will be exceedingly difficult," the Dragon Spirit admitted. "It possesses immense physical strength and rudimentary Qi techniques. But you possess the purity of draconic Qi, Eric, and the precision of the Azure Dragon Scripture. This is not a battle of brute force, but of skill and insight. And it guards a nest, from the feel of it. There could be valuable spiritual materials."
The mention of valuable materials, beyond just a beast core, was a potent motivator. He thought of his mother, Lena, and the struggle he wanted to lift them from. This wasn't just about survival; it was about truly changing their lives.
"I'll fight it," Eric decided, his fear replaced by a steely resolve.
The Bloodfang Gorilla emerged from the dense foliage, a hulking behemoth of muscle and coarse, blood-red fur. Its eyes glowed with fierce intelligence, and it let out a thunderous roar, pounding its chest. The ground trembled beneath its fury. Behind it, partially obscured by rocks, Eric could discern a small crevice, emanating a strong spiritual aura. A nest, just as the Dragon Spirit had said.
"Focus on its weak points. Its joints, its eyes, and the vulnerable points beneath its armpits when it attacks," the Dragon Spirit instructed, its voice now sharp, commanding. "Draw upon the Claws of Might. Infuse every strike with draconic Qi. And be ready to use the Breath of the Azure if you need to create distance."
The Gorilla charged, moving with surprising speed despite its size. Its massive fist, glowing faintly with condensed Qi, swung down with crushing force.
Eric dodged, his body a blur, the Scales of Purity making his movements incredibly agile. He felt the wind of the punch, the raw power of it. This was unlike anything he'd faced before. He countered, unleashing a Claw of Might straight at the Gorilla's knee. A sickening crack echoed through the glade as his concentrated Qi impact caused the Gorilla to stumble.
The Gorilla roared in pain and fury, its other hand sweeping in a wide arc. Eric narrowly avoided it, rolling backward. He gathered his Qi, aiming for the gorilla's exposed chest. He unleashed a short, sharp burst of Breath of the Azure, a concentrated stream of blue energy. It struck the Gorilla, sending it reeling back, singeing its fur and momentarily disorienting it.
"Good! Keep the pressure on! Do not let it recover!" the Dragon Spirit urged.
The battle raged. Eric danced around the enraged beast, a tiny, agile whirlwind against a mountain of muscle. He unleashed successive Claws of Might on its joints, its thick hide, every strike imbued with the destructive power of his refined Qi. He used the Breath of the Azure to create openings, to force the Gorilla to react, to maintain distance when its ferocity became too overwhelming. The Gorilla, despite its immense strength, was slowly but surely being worn down, its movements becoming more sluggish.
But Eric was also tiring. His spiritual energy, though vast, was being rapidly depleted by the constant use of advanced techniques. A misstep, a moment of hesitation, and the Gorilla caught him with a glancing blow. Pain exploded in his shoulder as he was sent flying, crashing against a thick tree. His vision swam.
"Eric! Focus! This is your moment of truth! Unleash your full might! Channel the essence of the Azure Dragon!" The Dragon Spirit's voice thundered in his mind, echoing with ancient power.
Driven by a surge of desperate resolve, Eric pushed himself up. He looked at the Gorilla, now limping, blood staining its fur, but still roaring defiantly. He focused every ounce of his remaining spiritual energy. He imagined the Azure Dragon, vast and powerful, coiling within his Dantian, its raw essence flowing into his limbs. He condensed his Qi, not just into his hands, but into his entire body, a resonant hum building within him.
He lunged, abandoning all defense. His movements were a blur, faster than he'd ever been. He connected with a devastating flurry of Claws of Might strikes, each one hitting a critical point on the Gorilla's body, its head, its heart, its remaining good knee. The Gorilla roared, a sound of agony this time, staggering back.
With a final, desperate surge, Eric channeled all his remaining power into a single, focused Breath of the Azure. It wasn't a wide arc, but a concentrated, piercing beam of brilliant blue energy that erupted from his palms, striking the Gorilla directly in its exposed chest. The beast convulsed, a guttural shriek tearing from its throat. It stood for a moment, swaying, then collapsed with a thundering crash, shaking the very earth.
Silence descended. Eric stood panting, his body screaming in protest, his spiritual energy utterly depleted. He swayed on his feet, but his gaze remained fixed on the fallen beast. He had won. He had defeated a C-rank monster.
"You have surpassed yourself, Eric," the Dragon Spirit said, its voice filled with pride. "A true display of draconic potential. Now, gather the spoils quickly. Other creatures may be drawn by the scent of battle."
Eric staggered to the Gorilla's massive body. He found its core, far larger and more vibrant than the Stonehide Grizzly's. Then he moved to the small crevice the Gorilla had been guarding. Inside, nestled among jagged rocks, were several shimmering plants, glowing with an inner light. Spirit-Enhancing Herbs, of a quality he'd only read about in expensive cultivation manuals. And nestled among them, a fist-sized, crystalline rock. A Pure Spirit Gem, incredibly rare, capable of accelerating cultivation drastically.
He carefully extracted the treasures, his hands trembling slightly with exhaustion and exhilaration. This was a fortune. A true fortune.
He managed to make it back to the village just as dawn broke, utterly exhausted, his body aching, but his heart singing with triumph. He carefully concealed the Spirit-Enhancing Herbs and the Pure Spirit Gem in a hidden compartment beneath his cot, only taking out the gorilla core.
Later that morning, his mother, Elara, found him in the hut, attempting to clean his bloodied, tattered clothes.
"Eric! What happened to you?" she exclaimed, her eyes widening at his weary state and torn clothing. "Did you run into trouble in the hunting grounds?"
Eric forced a tired smile. "Just a tough day, Mother. Found another large beast core, though." He presented the Bloodfang Gorilla core.
Elara gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "Another... a gorilla core! Eric, these are incredibly rare! You fought a Bloodfang Gorilla?" Her voice was laced with disbelief and fear.
"It was a difficult fight," Eric admitted, carefully omitting the true nature of his victory. "I managed to find it after it had already been gravely injured by another creature. I just... finished it off. It was a long chase, and it put up a fight even wounded." He used the same excuse as before, relying on her relief to override her suspicion. "I barely made it back."
Elara hugged him tightly, a shudder running through her. "Oh, my brave boy. You worry me so much. But this... this is truly a blessing. We'll be able to live comfortably for years!" She looked at the core, then back at him, her expression turning thoughtful. "Eric... with this much money, we could do something else."
"What do you mean, Mother?" Eric asked, feigning ignorance.
"The Cultivation School in Azure City," she said, her voice soft but firm. "They say it's the best in the region. Only the most promising young cultivators are accepted. With this core, and the money from the last one, we can afford the entrance fees and your living expenses for a few years, at least."
Eric's heart pounded. Azure City. A true cultivation city, filled with advanced techniques, powerful elders, and opportunities he could only dream of. This was it. This was the next step. A place where he could truly unleash his potential without being constantly under the watchful, albeit well-meaning, eyes of Ironclad Village.
"Azure City?" Eric said, trying to sound surprised. "But... what about you and Lena?"
"We'll be fine, son," Elara said, her gaze steady. "We have enough to live comfortably for a long time. This is your chance, Eric. Your chance to truly grow strong, to become a protector, maybe even a master cultivator. Don't waste it. This village... it can only offer you so much. You need to seek greater heights." She gently touched his cheek. "Go, Eric. Fulfill your destiny."
"This is indeed an opportune development, Eric," the Dragon Spirit confirmed within him. "Azure City will provide the resources and environment for accelerated growth. And the anonymity of a larger city will be ideal for the continued secrecy of our cultivation."
Eric nodded slowly, looking at his mother, then at the precious core in her hand. He knew he couldn't tell her about the Spirit-Enhancing Herbs or the Pure Spirit Gem. Those were for his private cultivation, his secret advantage. To attribute them to 'raw materials' would be too vague, too easily dismissed. He would simply let her believe the gorilla core was the entirety of his haul.
"Alright, Mother," Eric said, a new resolve settling in his heart. "I'll go to Azure City."