As the final strand of spiritual power faded away, Wen Tan's sea of consciousness suddenly surged.
The hazy mist that had always remained calm now churned violently, waves of spiritual radiance rising like a tide and crashing in all directions, forming ripples of silvery light.
The shock spread throughout his soul, carrying an overwhelming pressure that seemed ready to force him to his knees. Yet deep within his bloodline, the essence of the White Tiger boiled fiercely, intertwining with the refined spiritual energy drawn from the incense burner, forcing streams of pure power into his bones and meridians.
Crack crack
The sounds echoed as if his entire skeletal structure were being reforged. A thin layer of silver light wrapped around his body, gradually shifting into a faint golden glow, like the armor of a celestial beast enveloping his soul.
Suddenly, a deep, low roar erupted from the depths of his sea of consciousness like a tiger's roar fused with a dragon's chant causing the void itself to tremble. The cultivation pressure that had been suppressed for so long instantly shattered, like ice breaking beneath the sun.
Wen Tan's aura burst forth, fierce as spreading flames, before quickly stabilizing into a solid, unwavering wave.
He slowly opened his eyes within the sea of consciousness, clearly sensing the drastic change in his realm: from the ninth layer of the Bone-Refining Realm, he had leapt directly into the early stage of the Viscera-Refining Realm, crossing an entire major boundary.
The circulation of spiritual energy within his body felt smoother and more comfortable than ever before. His soul seemed to have been tempered once again, becoming sharper yet more stable.
Wen Tan let out a long breath, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.
"I never expected… that even a fragment of a divine beast's bone could contain such terrifying power. From now on, every step must be taken with greater caution. Otherwise, I may not be able to bear the forces I myself draw upon."
He withdrew his thoughts, allowing the light within the sea of consciousness to gradually settle.
After circulating his energy to regulate his breathing for a long while, the aura within Wen Tan's body slowly stabilized, and his new realm was firmly consolidated. At this moment, his entire body seemed to harbor a hidden reserve of power his bones dense and solid, spiritual energy flowing more smoothly than before.
He rose to his feet, determination flashing in his eyes.
"Now that I've stepped into the Viscera-Refining Realm… staying in the Fire Preparation Room any longer won't lead to real growth."
With that thought, Wen Tan left the room and headed straight for the Scripture Pavilion. Inside, it was as quiet as ever, the faint scent of aged wood and books lingering in the air.
No longer searching as meticulously as before, this time he casually selected two thin manuals: Iron-Blood Fist and Withered Wood Sword Art a basic fist technique and sword technique, both common but regarded as stable and well-suited for building a foundation for those newly entering real combat.
Holding the manuals, he nodded slightly, carefully tucked them into his robes, and stepped outside. The last rays of sunlight filtered through the leaves, illuminating his figure as he strode toward the distant mountain forest.
That forest was home to mostly first-rank demonic beasts, creatures that typically possessed only a single, simple elemental attribute ideal for novice cultivators to familiarize themselves with combat. Even so, they were still ferocious beings and could not be taken lightly.
Along the path leading to the forest, a gentle mountain breeze blew, carrying the scent of wild grass and the faint calls of birds. Wen Tan clenched his fists, silently resolving:
"The next step… is to enter the mountain forest to temper myself, gather essence blood, and nourish the mysterious incense burner."
His figure gradually blended into the green hues of the mountains and forests, marking the beginning of a grueling and challenging journey of trial and experience.
The last light of day gradually faded, leaving only flickering rays slipping through the canopy. Wen Tan stood before the narrow path leading into the depths of the forest, his breathing slowly steadying. The sensation of spiritual energy flowing through his meridians bolstered his confidence, yet he still reminded himself inwardly:
"Don't be careless. Even a first-rank demonic beast can take my life if I make a single mistake."
After taking a few more steps forward, the forest's shadows immediately closed in. The scent of damp earth and tree resin rushed into his nostrils. Towering ancient trees stretched skyward, strands of green moss hanging loosely and blocking most of the light. The soft chirring of insects mingled with the distant cries of unfamiliar birds, sounding like a warning that this land belonged to creatures far from gentle.
Wen Tan drew the Iron-Blood Fist manual from his robes, skimmed through the key incantations, then carefully put it away. He tested the circulation of his spiritual energy; at once, a faint glow coated his hand, the intent of his拳 his fist flickering within his clenched knuckles.
His figure slipped between the massive tree trunks, his eyes constantly scanning the ground for signs: deep footprints, strands of fur still stuck with tree sap, and faint claw marks carved into the bark. All of it proved that demonic beasts frequented this area.
The night wind began to creep in, carrying a wild, savage breath and a faint trace of killing intent. He lowered his body, one hand resting lightly on the hilt of the butcher's knife he had once used in the Fire Preparation Room. His breathing slowed, his gaze sharpening like a thin blade.
A low growl suddenly erupted from the left, accompanied by the sharp crack of snapping branches. In the dim darkness, a pair of green eyes suddenly flared to life, staring straight at him.
Wen Tan frowned, instantly adjusting his breathing and lowering his center of gravity. The incense burner within his sea of consciousness seemed to tremble faintly as well, sending him a vague stream of intent.
The corner of his lips twitched slightly.
"A demonic beast, huh… you've come at just the right time."
His eyes gleamed with determination as he clenched his fists, preparing to face the demonic beast slowly emerging from the undergrowth.
From within the bushes, a Blazing Forest Tiger stepped out. Its body was as large as a calf, covered in dark, black-striped fur that shimmered faintly with a red hue of fire-aspected spiritual energy. Each step it took made the dry leaves beneath its paws rustle, while a thick stench of blood spilled from its heavy breaths.
Wen Tan took a deep breath, steadying his mind. The aura within his body surged rapidly, streams of spiritual energy gathering into his fists. He murmured the incantations of Iron-Blood Fist, feeling strength pour into his bones as his tendons and meridians tightened like a drawn bow, ready to be released.
The Blazing Forest Tiger suddenly let out a piercing roar and lunged forward, moving as fast as lightning. Dust exploded into the air as its form turned into a crimson afterimage, crossing several zhang in an instant.
Wen Tan did not retreat. Instead, he stepped diagonally forward, twisted his waist, and drove his right fist out like it could shatter a mountain .
Iron-Blood Fist Mountain-Cleaving Form!
Boom Bang!
Fist and claw collided, a shockwave rippling outward and sending leaves scattering in all directions. Both were forced back half a step, but Wen Tan quickly adjusted himself, his eyes blazing with excitement. His newly reforged physique allowed him to withstand the impact without the slightest tremor.
Seeing that its prey was far stronger than expected, the Blazing Forest Tiger immediately leaped aside and pounced again with a more vicious assault. Its razor-sharp claws carved dazzling arcs of light as they slashed toward Wen Tan's waist.
Wen Tan tilted his body slightly, activating the Swift Shadow Footwork he had learned earlier that morning. His figure blurred like an illusion as he slipped past the attack, then twisted and delivered a powerful kick straight into the beast's flank.
Thump thump!
The kick landed solidly, forcing the Blazing Forest Tiger to stagger back several steps. Yet it did not fall. Instead, the flames burning in its eyes flared even more violently. It opened its jaws wide, releasing a stream of pale fire.
"Fire-aspected spiritual energy!"
Wen Tan swiftly circulated his spiritual energy to protect his body, rolling aside to evade the flames. The fabric at his side was scorched black, but his flesh remained unharmed.
"My turn!"
He shouted softly as his momentum surged. Iron-Blood Fist Sinking Mountain was unleashed. His fist glowed red-hot like molten iron, carrying an overwhelming weight as it smashed straight down onto the Blazing Forest Tiger's head.
Boom!
The explosion echoed through the forest. The beast's body swayed violently, the feral light in its eyes flickering before fading away. It let out a weak, dying roar, then collapsed heavily onto the ground, dust billowing into a hazy cloud.
Wen Tan stood upright, breathing heavily, yet his eyes shone brightly. On the ground, the Blazing Forest Tiger lay completely motionless.
He stepped forward, inspected it carefully, then cut open the beast's chest and extracted a dark red demonic core, still radiating residual heat. Fire-aspected spiritual energy swirled within it like a tiny flame, reflecting light onto his face.
"A pretty good start,"
Wen Tan muttered, his gaze firm.
"I need to go deeper. Only by continuously absorbing the essence blood of stronger demonic beasts can my strength improve rapidly."
The night wind drifted past, carrying the scent of tree resin mixed with the stench of blood.
Wen Tan sat down beside the Blazing Forest Tiger's corpse, taking a deep breath to steady his heartbeat. Though the battle had been brief, it had consumed a considerable amount of spiritual energy. He pulled a small dagger from his robes one Chu Lao had given him back when he worked in the Fire Preparation Room.
A cold glint of steel flashed as he carefully began to peel away the thick hide of the demonic beast. Hot blood spilled out, its pungent stench rushing straight into his nose, but his hands did not tremble he was long accustomed to this from his days of slaughtering beasts in the Fire Preparation Room.
"This hide is extremely tough good enough to sell to armor crafters… and the bones can be forged into basic weapons as well,"
he calculated silently, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
After some time, he separated the materials:
A complete fire-striped tiger hide, neatly rolled up.
Several tendons and claws, sharp and well-suited for weapon forging.
A fire-aspected demonic core, dark red, about the size of a thumb, emitting faint heat.
When he finished, Wen Tan took out an ordinary cloth pouch and carefully placed the demonic core into a small wooden box before putting it into the bag, preventing any leakage of spiritual energy. As for the tiger meat though tough, it contained fire energy; consuming it could nourish the body. He cut off several of the best pieces, wrapped them up, and carried them with him.
Finally, he hastily buried the remaining corpse in a shallow pit. Not out of pity, but to prevent the scent of blood from attracting other demonic beasts, which could prove dangerous before he had a chance to rest.
Standing upright, he brushed the dirt from his hands, his gaze calmer and more composed than before. His first spoils of battle were not merely the demonic core or hide and bones, but also invaluable real-combat experience.
"Although my strength has increased significantly, I'm still far too inexperienced… If I were to encounter a second-rank demonic beast, I might not be able to preserve my life. Even a moment of carelessness could lead to unimaginable consequences."
He slung the cloth bag over his back, clenched his fists, and turned to continue deeper into the forest.
The sun slowly sank, the glow of dusk staining half the western sky red. The final rays of sunlight slipped through gaps in the leaves, falling onto the ground as hazy streaks of golden-orange light. The entire forest suddenly took on an unusual stillness, as if it were gradually shifting from day into night.
The chirring of insects began to rise from the bushes, interwoven with the hoarse calls of forest birds hastily returning to their nests. A passing breeze carried the damp scent of soil and grass, mixed with the pungent aroma of tree resin, making the vast mountain forest feel even more raw and untamed.
The light continued to fade, while darkness slowly surged in like black waves from all directions. Towering canopies sealed off the sky, leaving only narrow gaps where the last traces of light briefly lingered before extinguishing completely.
By the time night fully fell, darkness pressed down heavily upon the forest. Only the pale glow of a slender moon filtered through the trees, painting mottled patches of silver light on the ground. The sounds of insects grew denser, occasionally punctuated by the long, distant howls of some wild beast echoing from afar, lending the forest an even more ominous and mysterious air.
He thought silently to himself, his gaze fixed on the flickering flames.
"In this unfamiliar world, who knows how long it will take before I can find a way back to Earth…"
"But since I've already been transported here, weakness will only lead to an early death. I must become strong step by step, I will walk the path of cultivation. No matter… what price I have to pay."
The fire burned brightly in the heart of the forest night, a tiny point of light amid an endless sea of darkness. Wen Tan sat there with his back against the tree, his eyes more resolute than ever.
From far away came the long howl of some unknown beast, scattering flocks of night birds into the sky. Yet beside the warm campfire, he merely clenched his fist, the fierce light in his eyes reflecting the dancing flames.
His first night in the forest was simple yet perilous but it was also the true beginning of his journey of trial and tempering.
The fire in the forest continued to crackle, its glow illuminating Wen Tan's face, weary yet unyielding. Suddenly, cold gusts of wind swept through, leaves rustling violently, accompanied by a mocking chuckle emerging from the darkness.
"Oh? Pretty brave, aren't you, kid? Daring to enter the forest alone and even set up camp to roast meat perfect timing. We just happen to be short a few people."
Four figures slowly emerged from the woods. All of them wore the robes of the Qingyang Sect, a sect ranked higher than the Cloud Sword Sect. Their cultivation hovered around the mid-stage of the Qi Condensation Realm. Compared to Wen Tan, who had only reached the sixth level of the Bone Refining Realm, the gap between them was like heaven and earth.
The one in front was a skinny youth with sharp eyes, a longsword in his hand gleaming with cold light.
Wen Tan tightened his grip on the cooking knife still skewering the meat, his guard rising. He knew full well how outmatched he was, yet he still growled through clenched teeth:
"What do you want?"
"What do you want?"
The skinny youth curled his lips into a sneer.
"What do we want?"
"Kid, if you have anything of value spirit cores, spirit stones hand them over. If you're lucky, we might be in a good mood and spare your life, leaving you an intact corpse."
Before Wen Tan could reply, another disciple suddenly charged forward. His foot slammed into the ground, his body blurring into a shadow as he lunged. A crushing punch tore through the air, aimed straight at Wen Tan's chest.
Bang!
The violent impact sent Wen Tan stumbling backward again and again, his chest burning as if struck by a sledgehammer. Gritting his teeth, he twisted his body and swung his blade in a horizontal slash.
Cold steel flashed, slicing through the opponent's sleeve and leaving behind a thin line of blood.
The attacker raised an eyebrow, killing intent deepening.
"Oh? You've got some backbone."
In an instant, all four disciples closed in together. Sword qi,拳 shadows, and sweeping kicks rained down without pause. Wen Tan reacted quickly, pushing his Bone Refining strength to the limit, yet every collision left his arms trembling and his bones aching.
Slash slash!
A sword grazed his shoulder. Fresh blood sprayed out, dyeing his robe red. Wen Tan staggered, but still forced himself to turn and strike back, his eyes crimson like a cornered beast.
"Withered Wood Sword Art — Eleventh Grass!"
He roared inwardly.
"Damn it… if the gap in cultivation weren't this huge, I wouldn't be struggling like this!"
But reality was reality. After only a few minutes of resistance, Wen Tan's body was already covered in wounds, his breathing ragged. Finally, a heavy kick smashed into his abdomen, sending him flying into a tree trunk.
"Cough… cough… Still… can't beat them after all…"
Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth as his vision dimmed.
The leader strolled over leisurely, eyes filled with contempt.
"A piece of trash, and you still dared to resist?"
With a wave of his hand, a green strand of spirit energy appeared, instantly binding Wen Tan's body, completely sealing his movement and spirit power.
Crushed by the bindings, Wen Tan collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, yet his eyes still flickered with defiance.
He growled hoarsely:
"Damn it… I'm still far too weak. I really was careless… never thought I'd run into something like this."
The four disciples burst into laughter, their voices echoing through the night forest like wolves that had caught a feeble prey.
One disciple stepped forward and rummaged through Wen Tan's belongings. He pulled out a few worn clothes, a chipped dagger, some dried rations, and a handful of copper coins.
Curling his lip, he tossed the bag aside.
"Tch… nothing but trash! Take him away."
The leader Chen Feng narrowed his eyes and searched again thoroughly, even tearing open Wen Tan's outer robe. His expression darkened further and further. He suddenly roared, his voice like thunder, and slapped Wen Tan hard across the face, drawing more blood.
"Bastard! You think you can fool me?"
Another disciple laughed loudly.
"Haha! Turns out he's just a penniless menial! No wonder he only dares to crawl around in some low-tier place like the Cloud Sword Sect."
Yet another, Jun Zi, sneered:
"What a waste of time. I thought we'd make some profit who knew he's full of nothing but garbage."
The leader snorted coldly.
"No valuables is fine. A stray menial wandering in the forest like this will surely be useful to our senior brothers. Tie him up tight don't let him escape."
"Yes, Big Brother!"
The three responded in unison.
A strand of spirit binding wrapped around Wen Tan like a constricting python, tightening with every coil. His limbs went numb, the spirit energy in his body completely sealed, utterly unable to circulate.
Chen Feng waved his hand.
"Let's go."
They dragged Wen Tan through the dark forest. Behind them, the campfire gradually died out, leaving only ashes and faint smoke. Rage and resentment churned in his chest, yet he was powerless before such an overwhelming gap in strength.
His vision sank into darkness but deep within it, a fierce flame of anger and survival still burned wildly.
Dragged along the way, Wen Tan's body scraped against gravel and stone, bruised and bleeding. Eventually, they reached an open clearing deep in the forest, lit by blazing torches.
Before him stood more than a dozen outer disciples of the Qingyang Sect, forming a circle. Their blue robes embroidered with red cloud patterns stood out sharply under the firelight. Every face was savage, eyes gleaming with greedy light like hunting beasts.
Nearby, over forty other people were tightly bound, rags stuffed into their mouths, slumped against trees with pale, despairing faces. They trembled violently, their eyes pleading yet helpless as they looked at Wen Tan.
At the center sat a tall, thin man called Mo Yu, perched atop a boulder. His hawk-like eyes radiated a faint spiritual pressure clearly at the second level of the Qi Condensation Realm.
He spoke in a hoarse, metallic voice:
"Have you gathered enough sacrificial offerings the elder requires?"
A subordinate immediately bowed.
"Senior Brother, including the ones we just caught, there are eight more. According to the Fourth Elder's instructions, we only need a total of ninety people to refine enough Blood Pearls."
Mo Yu licked his lips, revealing sharp white teeth.
"Ha… only a few hundred more. Very soon. Tonight, we'll offer enough lives to refine the Blood Pearls and present them to the elder. Once the Blood-Eating Demonic Ape finishes absorbing them, this merit will surely elevate my standing within the sect!"
At the mention of the Blood-Eating Demonic Ape, the disciples' expressions changed.
Some whispered in fear and excitement:
"That ferocious beast… I've heard it's as tall as a small mountain, blood-red all over, feeding on human flesh to refine blood essence. If it grows with Blood Pearls, it'll become a sect-guarding beast of the Qingyang Sect!" "Terrifying… but if I could control such a beast, my strength would soar. Anyone who dares oppose me would only die, hahaha!"
Mo Yu laughed wildly and shouted:
"The Blood-Eating Demonic Ape is extremely savage, carrying traces of ancient demonic bloodlines. The elders paid an enormous price just to temporarily restrain it. Our task is to gather enough sacrifices to complete the Blood-Control Spirit Chain Formation. Tonight, all of them will become blood fodder living materials to nourish my Blood Pearls!"
Maniacal laughter echoed through the forest, chilling the air. Firelight cast long, twisted shadows of greedy, cruel faces on the ground, like demons lurking in the dark.
Among the bound captives, Wen Tan's eyes flashed with rage mixed with helplessness. Though his body was immobilized, his mind roared violently. Veins bulged at his temples.
He understood now this was not a simple abduction, but a bloody massacre. If he didn't escape soon, he would certainly become a sacrifice tonight.
Mo Yu swept his icy gaze across the clearing and barked:
"You! Divide up and suppress these sacrifices. Anyone who dares make noise break all four limbs! No mistakes tonight."
"Yes!"
Over a dozen disciples answered together, spreading out. Some lashed spirit whips against the ground with terrifying cracks, causing the captives to tremble in terror, none daring to make a sound.
Mo Yu slowly stood, forming hand seals. From his storage ring, he took out a blazing red object a Blood Pearl, as large as a fist. Its surface seemed to churn with sticky blood patterns, faintly revealing phantom beastly figures howling within, exuding a sinister aura that made one's scalp crawl.
Throwing his head back, he laughed madly:
"Tonight… your flesh and blood will nourish this Blood Pearl! Be honored to be sacrificed for us become food for the Blood-Eating Demonic Ape!"
He slammed the Blood Pearl into the ground.
Boom!
Crimson light spread outward in rings, transforming into a blood-red formation etched with ancient runes. The ground trembled as cold, sinister spirit energy surged forth.
Then
Pfft!
Red chains of light shot out from the formation's center, piercing straight into the chests of every bound captive including Wen Tan. They all convulsed violently, faces twisted in agony.
Fresh blood began to be siphoned out drop by drop, flowing along blood threads toward the Blood Pearl. The pearl's surface rippled like a greedy monster devouring life.
Screams of agony echoed through the forest.
"AAAAH! It hurts save me!"
"My blood… it's being sucked out! No… please spare us!"
Each scream only delighted the guards further. They laughed, beating the captives to keep them from moving.
Bodies rapidly withered as blood drained away. Skin turned gray, veins bulged, eyes sank deep, breaths growing faint as silk threads. Spirit and vitality were stripped bare, leaving only despair.
Wen Tan felt his blood being ripped from his body, veins burning as if aflame, his soul trembling. His vision blurred, fear and unwilling rage exploding within him.
Mo Yu stood within the formation, hand seals accelerating as he roared:
"Blood Pearl! Devour them all! Offer their essence sacrifice to the great Blood-Eating Demonic Ape!"
Under the blazing firelight and crimson glow, the scene resembled a living hell devouring countless lives.
At the brink of death, Wen Tan nearly fell into despair. His consciousness wavered, on the verge of dissolving into nothingness
But then, a sound echoed within his sea of consciousness:
"Ong… Ong… Ong…"
A deep vibration thundered within. The mysterious Incense Burner that had long remained dormant suddenly shook violently. Golden patterns on its surface blazed to life, as if activated by the mortal crisis.
This time, however, the golden light was mixed with blood-red radiance, staining half the Incense Burner in a sinister hue. Gold and crimson intertwined, releasing an aura both holy and ferocious, like dragon roars and tiger howls shaking the entire sea of consciousness.
A violent surge of power shattered invisible shackles and burst out of Wen Tan's body!
Boom Boom!
Countless blood-red rays shot forth from the Incense Burner, piercing through Wen Tan and lunging straight at the Blood Pearl at the formation's core.
The blood light twisted like giant serpents, wrapping around the Blood Pearl and tearing into it. The blood threads siphoning the captives were severed and forcibly reversed every drop of blood essence was devoured instead by the Incense Burner.
"Gah !"
Mo Yu spat out a mouthful of blood, eyes bloodshot as he screamed in horror:
"Impossible! My blood essence my cultivation is vanishing! How is this possible?! Where did it go wrong?!"
His gaze snapped to Wen Tan.
"It's you! You how can this be?! Why is the Blood Pearl devouring me instead?!
You… you dare steal my Blood Pearl?!"
Linked by spirit energy to the Blood Pearl, Mo Yu suffered instant backlash. His body convulsed, flesh seemingly gnawed away piece by piece. His Qi Condensation cultivation plummeted uncontrollably.
"No… damn it… stop! STOP!"
He screamed madly but to no avail.
The more he resisted, the faster his bloodline drained. Veins bulged across his body, blood erupting into crimson mist, swept clean by the Incense Burner. His once-rosy face turned ashen, eyes sunken with extreme terror.
Nor was he alone.
The surrounding disciples were struck as well. With control lost, all blood threads rebounded, piercing straight into their bodies. Their blood was drained in torrents, turning them into dried corpses within breaths. Horrific screams echoed as one by one they fell, eyes wide open in death.
The hunters were instantly reversed into prey.
The Blood Pearl shook violently, cracks spreading across its surface. Before it could shatter, all blood essence and spirit energy within were completely drained by the Incense Burner.
What remained was a dull gray stone that clattered to the ground utterly lifeless.
Mo Yu collapsed, his body trembling uncontrollably, eyes dim and unfocused, barely clinging to life.
Meanwhile, Wen Tan who had been on the brink of having his life force completely drained felt torrents of blood essence surge back into his sea of consciousness. After seizing everything, the Incense Burner refined it into streams of pure, condensed qi and blood, which were poured directly into his body.
His muscles swelled as vital energy roared within him, his chest pounding like a great war drum. The pallor on his face faded, replaced by a healthy flush, while his soul within the sea of consciousness shone brighter than ever before.
A powerful aura erupted from his body. His cultivation realm began to fluctuate violently, showing clear signs of an imminent breakthrough on the spot!