Vance Crest's slap slammed Rowan Miles to the ground, the impact leaving him dizzy and disoriented. But as the bearer of the Chaotic Heavenly Body, his recovery was unparalleled.
Unlike Vance Crest's caved-in chest, Rowan's injuries were superficial. Though disheveled, he had no major wounds. When he rose, his steps were unsteady.
But seeing Vance Crest approaching slowly, Rowan's brow furrowed.
On the surface, he looked roughed up. Only he knew the truth: his energy was depleted.
After all, he'd cultivated for less than a month. Though his power reached eighty dragons' force, this was his first battle—no experience, poor control.
Much of his energy had been wasted, not unleashed effectively.
"You still want to fight?"
Though drained, Rowan stood tall on the street, facing Vance Crest with cold indifference.
Vance Crest's eyes gleamed with sharp killing intent, unmasked and fierce. He yearned to end Rowan then and there.
But Rowan's strength had stunned him.
Acquired ninth level, ninety dragons' force—ten more than Rowan. Against an ordinary foe, that gap would crush them.
Yet Rowan had traded blows for dozens of exchanges! Not only unbowed by the disparity, he'd inflicted severe wounds.
Vance Crest's chest was riddled with fractures, leaving him unable to continue.
"Rowan! I'll remember today. One day, I'll take your life!" Vance Crest glared with murderous rage, sneering.
Rowan shrugged indifferently. "I'm only Acquired sixth level, and we tied. Once I break through, you'll be no match."
Vance Crest shuddered, a cold glint exploding in his eyes.
Rowan spoke truth. At sixth level with eighty dragons' force, he'd matched ninety. At seventh? How many would he wield?
If their forces evened, could he still win?
The thought ignited malice in Vance Crest—he itched to kill Rowan now. But he sighed inwardly, holding back.
Rowan was Miles family, albeit a waste. Killing him would invite the Miles behemoth's wrath—a minor house like the Vances couldn't withstand it.
Scooping up Vance Sea, Vance Crest retreated slowly. The street crowd pointed and whispered, marveling at Rowan's prowess.
Some who knew him spread the tale far and wide.
Rowan ignored them, dragging his fatigued body back to the Fortune Inn.
"Rowan, that was incredible! You beat Vance Crest—he's Acquired ninth!" Lee Vance rushed over, slapping Rowan's shoulder hard, beaming with excitement.
Rowan winced, nearly stumbling from the fatigue, but Lee's joy warmed him.
"Right, you were a waste who couldn't cultivate—when did you get so strong? You sneak, keeping it from me—had me worried sick!" Lee bombarded him with questions, chattering like a magpie, leaving Rowan reeling.
"Rascal, what are you saying? Let him rest first," Lee Grant scolded, shooting Lee a glare.
Lee chuckled, helping Rowan inside the Fortune Inn.
"I'm exhausted—need to recover my energy."
"No problem." Lee found him a room immediately.
…
Miles Compound.
"What? Rowan's at eighty dragons' force? And only Acquired sixth level?" Liam Miles's eyes flashed with sharp killing intent upon the servant's report.
"Impossible! Acquired sixth with eighty dragons? He even beat Acquired ninth Vance Crest?" Ian Miles stormed over, growling.
Ian, at Acquired fifth, had only twenty dragons' force. How could Rowan, one level above, have sixty more?
"Young master, I saw it with my own eyes."
"Go," Liam said, eyes gleaming as he dismissed the servant, his face darkening.
"Brother, that waste couldn't cultivate—how did he get so strong? Just kill him!" Ian's eyes burned with snake-like venom, teeth gritted.
The memory of his crippled arm still fresh, his hatred for Rowan festered.
Liam sneered. "Even at Acquired ninth, he's no threat. One finger's enough to end him."
"Brother, in two months, make sure to slaughter him!" Ian spat with malice.
Liam nodded slightly. "He's as good as dead."
Fortune Inn.
With orders for no disturbances, Rowan entered the Star Codex's world to recover.
The moment he arrived, the Codex materialized before him, shaking his head repeatedly.
Under the Codex's gaze, Rowan squirmed uncomfortably. "What?"
"As a Chaotic Heavenly Body bearer, exhausting yourself against a mere Acquired ninth waste? You're a freak," the Codex said after a long sigh.
Rowan rolled his eyes, nearly choking. "Hey, I'm not you. He was three levels above me. First fight, no experience—tying him's pretty good."
The Codex's eyes filled with disdain. "Know the Chaotic Heavenly Body's greatest gift?"
Rowan shook his head—he truly didn't.
The Codex pointed at Rowan's body.
"My body?" Rowan hesitated.
The Codex nodded. "Heaven and earth host countless constitutions, but the Chaotic Heavenly Body reigns supreme. Why? It's the mightiest! No other compares. And bearers differ from ordinary cultivators."
"Most rely on treasures and divine weapons—crutches. Know the strongest treasure, the ultimate weapon?"
Rowan shook his head blankly. He'd never seen even a low-grade mystic tool.
"The flesh! Only the flesh is supreme. Why do demon cultivators shapeshift into human form? Human bodies are mysterious, brimming with potential—especially special constitutions. Cultivate your body to perfection, and no treasure withstands it. The flesh is the greatest weapon!"
As he spoke, the Codex's mind conjured a towering figure. That man's might crushed all artifacts with a single punch—heaven and earth shattered.
"Treasures are external; the body is paramount. Remember that," the Codex said, then vanished gracefully.
"The body is strongest?" Rowan sat cross-legged, mulling the words.
"The Chaotic Heavenly Body—what makes it different?" Rowan pondered. His power was too low; its advantages hadn't surfaced.
Yet even so, at Acquired sixth, he'd reached eighty dragons' force…
"I'm eager to see what surprises the Chaotic Heavenly Body holds. What heights will its completion bring?"
Next, Rowan restored his depleted energy while reviewing the battle with Vance Crest. Once recovered, he gleaned valuable lessons.
Power application, move execution, force control—it all clicked, a revelation.
"Fighting's the best way to grow," Rowan said, standing, feeling his refined strength.
No realm breakthrough, no extra dragons' force—but his power had sharpened noticeably.
"Rowan, done so soon?" Lee Vance, guarding the door, gaped at Rowan's vigorous exit.
Though half a day passed in the Star Codex, less than an hour had elapsed outside.
"How's it going?" Rowan asked gravely.
"The Vances haven't moved yet," Lee said, face darkening, a cold glint in his eyes.
"Don't worry—this is my affair now. A trifling Vance family means nothing," Rowan said with a cold laugh. Innate was within reach; he'd eradicate them alone.
"Enough fretting—let's drink," Lee laughed, dragging Rowan out.