In ancient times, there was the Overlord lifting a cauldron; today, there was Wang Yu performing a shoulder throw on a bull.
The Stonehide Bull, covered in its rocky armor, felt as if it weighed tens of thousands of pounds. Using leverage and skill, Wang Yu lifted it with immense force and executed a powerful shoulder throw, slamming the beast to the ground and shattering the earth around them!
The dazed bull had only managed a few confused bellows before countless fist shadows rained down upon its soft underbelly. Each strike was powered by the strength of nine coiling dragon sinews. In less than three breaths, the bull was already coughing up blood.
The situation was strikingly similar to Wang Yu's own state three years prior, only the roles of victim and aggressor had been completely reversed.
But this was, after all, a second-tier bull demon, not so easy to kill. Instinctively activating its bloodline art, the rocky armor on the Stonehide Bull suddenly sprouted sharp protrusions. Stone lances shot out from its plating, stabbing towards Wang Yu.
Wang Yu had no choice but to leap back, protecting his head with his arms as he quickly created distance.
When he lowered his arms and regained his line of sight, the Stonehide Bull had already scrambled back to its feet. A dull yellow spiritual light shimmered across its body, and it actually began to tread on air! Countless fragments of rock, condensed from spiritual power, spun before it, forming a drill-like stone lance as it launched a second, furious charge.
Wang Yu's eyes narrowed. This was the first time his pure physical strength had pushed the Stonehide Bull to this extent. Since it had resorted to its bloodline art, the purpose of physical tempering was over.
"If you won't fight fair, then I won't hold back either."
With a thought, the Soul-Devouring Evil Armor Art enveloped him. Black, ghostly energy swirled and gathered. Wang Yu's killing intent soared to its peak. His right foot stamped lightly on the ground.
Icy spiritual power surged forth violently.
Ice Coffin Curse!
After numerous modifications, his control over this art had reached a masterful level. Instantly, heavy walls of ice erupted from the earth, barricading the bull's path.
*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!—*
Five consecutive ice walls were shattered by the high-speed rotating stone lance, but the spiritual light on the lance dimmed to a faint glimmer, its remaining power negligible.
A smirk touched Wang Yu's lips. He clashed his fists together.
Profound Yin Hand!
Pale, greyish giant hands materialized perfectly from his fingertips to his elbows, each over ten feet long, sheathing his own arms. The distance between the Stonehide Bull and Wang Yu closed to mere inches.
Suddenly, Wang Yu brought his palms together. The Profound Yin Hands clamped onto the spinning stone lance. With a forceful upward twist, the lance shattered completely.
The bull's eyes widened in shock. It opened its mouth and spat forth a golden light—a shard of irregular, rhombus-shaped metal radiating an intense, sharp aura, so keen it seemed to slice the very wind.
"You crafty old ox! You were still hiding a killing move!"
Wang Yu's left arm pulled back. The Profound Yin Hand attached to it detached and flew forward, delivering two powerful slaps that slammed the Stonehide Bull deep into the ground, pinning it firmly. Meanwhile, his retracted left arm, now channeling the immense power of the Divine Strength Corpse Arm, punched directly towards the streaking golden light.
The moment fist and light met, the golden radiance pierced through skin and flesh, pulverizing the bone within. It only came to a stop after drilling deep into the forearm of the Corpse Arm. Wang Yu felt no pain from the dead limb, but his eyes widened in astonishment.
The power of this killing move exceeded expectations. If it had struck his head, the Black Evil Armor might not have held. After all, the Divine Strength Corpse Arm possessed its own innate defense from the Metallic Corpse Energy. For the golden shard to penetrate so deeply meant this Stonehide Bull was far from weak.
"I underestimated you."
Not wasting the opportunity, after blocking the golden attack, Wang Yu pressed his assault, left and right, coordinating with the Profound Yin Hands to continuously pound the Stonehide Bull deeper into the earth. He pummeled it for several minutes, reducing its rocky armor to dust, before finally delivering the fatal blow.
Years of acquaintance, ended in a single day.
Shaking his head, he stored the corpse in his storage pouch. The early second-tier Stonehide Bull was quite valuable; just consuming its meat would greatly benefit his physical cultivation.
He then pried the source of the golden light from his left arm. It was simply an irregular, rhombus-shaped piece of metal, about the size of a fingernail. But after a careful inspection and cleansing it with spiritual power, his face broke into a smile.
"Third-tier material... Earth Spirit Gold!"
Third-tier corresponded to the Core Formation stage. This item was sufficient to be used as material for crafting a Lifebound Treasure. It was just too small, less than half a portion, making it difficult to realize its full value. Melting it into a second-tier artifact felt like a waste. It was somewhat of an awkward prize, but as an unexpected windfall, it still counted as a minor opportunity. He had no reason to be dissatisfied.
The Stonehide Bull hadn't been able to refine this spiritual material, only using it crudely.
After storing the item safely, Wang Yu used his flying sword to harvest the 'Earth-Spirit Dendrobium' from the cliff face. This herb was essentially a type of moss growing on rocks, with considerable medicinal value. By an alchemist's measure, there was roughly enough for five portions.
Laden with his harvest, he returned to soak in the hot spring.
***
**Half an hour later. Split Cliff Cavern.**
Following his routine, he treated his wounds while soaking. The damage to the Corpse Arm couldn't be healed by conventional means; it required the **Corpse Demon Secret Art** to absorb Yin and Corpse energies for slow regeneration. But these two types of energy required specific environments to generate.
Wang Yu temporarily assigned the Corpse Demon Secret Art to Placement Slot Four, planning to remove it once his injuries healed. According to his plans, he likely wouldn't assign this incomplete secret art for a prolonged period until after he broke through to Foundation Establishment.
As for the **Flood Dragon Strength** body refining technique, he had not only comprehended it to perfection but had also reached the peak of its cultivation realm.
Namely—Nine Living Dragon Sinews!
With the spine, the central 'dragon,' as the core, nine powerful, coiling sinews extended throughout his limbs and body, drastically enhancing his physical strength. This was the foundation that allowed him to wrestle with the Stonehide Bull. Overall, his physique still fell short of the bull's, but the gap wasn't vast—at most thirty percent weaker—a difference that could be bridged with skill.
The expensive dragon-lineage demon beast essence blood purchased from the Golden Prosperity Pavilion years ago was now completely exhausted, exchanged for this peak first-tier physique. The abundance of his vital energy and blood now rivaled that of demon beasts at the same level.
Barring any surprises, this should be sufficient to meet the requirements for his Foundation Establishment breakthrough.
But Wang Yu wasn't satisfied.
He still possessed the Body Refining Foundation Establishment treasure, 'Vajra Liquid.' After a few more months of honing, he could attempt to consume this treasure and achieve Body Refining Foundation Establishment, gaining the combat power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator ahead of schedule!
When that time came, the Divine Strength Corpse Arm could finally be retired. He could then seek a third-tier corpse arm for temporary use, of course, provided the Corpse Demon Secret Art was also supplemented to the second-tier level. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to suppress the death energy, and he would be the one to suffer.
The matter of breaking through in body refinement would have to wait a little longer.
The issue of a subsequent body refining technique was also troublesome. Wang Yu leaned towards using the placement slots' derivation and ascension effect to address this.
**[Placement Slot 4: Flood Dragon Strength (Deriving...)]**
* **Flood Dragon Strength (20/100): Ninety-six practices per day. Completion in sixteen years.**
Like the **Cold Blood Art**, ascending this technique required twenty years. Slot Four wouldn't be changed for a very long time.
But Slot Three could be changed.
Because the moment Wang Yu had been eagerly anticipating was finally at hand!
**[Placement Slot 3: Profound Origin Demon Embryo Secret Curse (Perfected ↑)]**
* **Profound Origin Demon Embryo Secret Curse (100/100): One hundred and eight practices per day. Completion in one hundred years.**
Improving this secret curse would require a full century. Wang Yu wouldn't consider placing it again for a very long time. The secret curse itself was already of a high grade, sufficient for his use for many years to come.
**(End of Chapter)**