Roar!
In the mountain forest, a lion's roar rang out, startling countless birds.
A massive Lion Demon with golden fur all over its body confronted a human youth, its eyes swirling with violent killing intent.
The youth before it was none other than Su Chen!
It was already the fifth day since Su Chen entered the Black Wind Mountain Range.
During these five days, he had done nothing but Cultivate and fight against these Yao Beasts!
Under this high-intensity cultivation, Su Chen had successfully broken through from the seventh Nine Heavens of the Meridian Opening Realm to the ninth Nine Heavens; he was now only one step away from condensing a Primal Core.
"Come at me!"
Su Chen's eyes burned with intensity as he watched the Iron-Back Lion, which was gradually lowering its body, preparing to launch an attack.
Since advancing to the ninth level of the Meridian Opening Realm, Yao Beasts within the same realm no longer posed the slightest threat to him; every battle was settled with a single sword strike.
This way, there was no way to improve his strength.
Thus, Su Chen turned his sights toward those creatures that had already condensed a Primal Core.
He wanted to use the pressure from these creatures to help him condense his own Primal Core!
Just as he was thinking this...
Swish!
The Iron-Back Lion moved. With a stomp of its paws, it shot forward violently, its sharp claws carrying a scent of blood as they lunged toward Su Chen.
Seeing this, Su Chen reacted instantly, drawing his longsword to counter.
Bang!
In the next instant, iron claws collided with the longsword, producing a low, muffled explosion.
"Impressive!"
Su Chen's expression tightened. This Yuandan Realm Yao Beast was far stronger than those at the ninth level of the Meridian Opening Realm. Not only were its strength and speed superior, but more importantly, its power was much more condensed!
If the power of a Meridian Opening Realm Martial Artist was like wood, then the power of a Yuandan Realm Martial Artist was like steel!
There was simply no comparison between the two.
However... "I'm no ordinary ninth-level Meridian Opening Realm cultivator!"
A sharp light flashed in Su Chen's eyes.
Then, his arm surged with power, knocking the Iron-Back Lion back. He immediately swung his sword seven times in rapid succession.
Swish, swish, swish!
Seven arcs of Sword Qi flew across, severing the Iron-Back Lion's head in an instant.
Thud!
The headless Iron-Back Lion collapsed heavily to the ground, blood pooling everywhere.
If anyone else had witnessed this scene, their jaws would have likely hit the floor in shock!
For this Iron-Back Lion was comparable to a human at the first level of the Yuandan Realm, yet it had been slain by Su Chen, a mere ninth-level Meridian Opening Realm cultivator, in just seven strikes!
This was truly incredible!
Having finished, Su Chen sheathed his sword and stood still, quietly reflecting on the battle.
After a long while, he exhaled a long breath of turbid air and said with some regret, "Still just a little bit short!"
Just now, the spiritual energy within his body had gathered together, but it was just a tiny bit away from condensing into a Primal Core.
"Do I need to find a second-level Yuandan Realm Yao Beast to fight?"
Su Chen fell into deep thought.
Then he shook his head. "There are no second-level Yuandan Realm Yao Beasts in this outer region. I need to go deeper into the mountain range."
And the deeper one went, the greater the danger!
After all, he might not be facing just one second-level Yuandan Realm beast, but a whole pack of them!
With his current strength, it would be somewhat forced.
"However..."
As if remembering something, Su Chen had a thought and took out an ancient-looking scroll from his spatial ring.
The scroll was only the size of a palm, engraved with many runes. It was pale yellow overall, giving off a very ancient feel.
"But my combat power can still be improved!"
Looking at the scroll in his hand, Su Chen's eyes became very fervent.
Within this scroll was recorded a Low Grade Profound Rank Sword Art called the 'Sword Drawing Technique'!
He had obtained it five years ago after leading the Su Family Martial Artists to explore a certain Secret Realm, barely escaping with his life.
When he first got it, Su Chen was very excited. After all, in his region, the strongest Martial Skills among the various major powers were only at the High Grade Yellow Rank!
There were no Profound Rank Martial Skills at all.
But once he saw clearly that it was a Sword Art, his heart immediately went cold.
Because a Sword Art could only be cultivated by a Sword Cultivator!
Thus, this Sword Art had been gathering dust in the Treasure Pavilion for five full years; this time, he had brought it out with him.
"I didn't expect it to finally come in handy after five years!"
Su Chen couldn't help but feel a bit emotional.
Without thinking further, after extracting the Iron-Back Lion's blood essence, Su Chen found a secluded cave and began his cultivation.
At the same time.
More than ten kilometers away from Su Chen.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A group of people was engaged in a fierce battle. Violent energy flew everywhere, and when it hit the mountain rocks, it instantly blasted out one large hole after another.
If Su Chen were to see this scene, he might be shocked.
Because the aftershocks generated by these people's exchange could easily shake those first or second-level Yuandan Realm Martial Artists to death!
And right at that moment...
"Demon Dragon Palace! I will remember you!"
A cold female voice, filled with Evil Qi, rang out between heaven and earth.
Looking closely...
The speaker was a woman in a white dress, her face as cold as frost.
Holding a longsword, her slender figure exuded a sense of coldness, like a piece of Ten-thousand-year-old Profound Ice that would never melt.
Standing before her was an ugly, short old man.
Hearing her words, the old man chuckled strangely, "Hehe, Great Saintess Jiang, don't even bother struggling. The more you struggle, the faster my'Strange Lust Hehuan Powder' will take effect! And the faster you will die!"
Hearing this...
Jiang Ziyou bit her vermilion lips tightly.
For at this moment, she could already feel a wicked fire rising from her lower abdomen.
Like a prairie fire, it threatened to burn through her entire body!
"Old Demon Tan, you are despicable!"
Jiang Ziyou said, her face turning livid.
To this, Old Demon Tan was indifferent. "Hehe, without using some despicable means, how could I capture the Saintess of the Ling Tian Sect?"
In fact, they had been planning this ambush for a long time.
They had even bribed an Elder of the Ling Tian Sect, learning that Jiang Ziyou would lead the Ling Tian Sect Disciples to explore a Secret Realm in the Black Wind Mountain Range today.
So, they had set an ambush here early on, waiting for Jiang Ziyou and the others to emerge from the Secret Realm so they could catch them all in one fell swoop.
After waiting for two full hours, they finally got their chance!
They immediately launched an attack on Jiang Ziyou and the others.
Caught off guard, and with Jiang Ziyou and her group already somewhat injured from exploring the Secret Realm...
...they fell into this passive situation.
Then...
Old Demon Tan marveled, "As expected of the Ling Tian Sect's Saintess! Even in such a state, you could still kill so many experts of my Demon Dragon Palace!"
Jiang Ziyou's strength was truly becoming more terrifying by the day.
However... as if thinking of something, Old Demon Tan's gaze toward Jiang Ziyou became incredibly burning. "But as long as I can capture you, it will all be worth it!"
With that, Old Demon Tan instantly vanished from his spot.
When he reappeared, he was already right in front of Jiang Ziyou!
Boom!
He threw a punch.
Seeing this, Jiang Ziyou immediately raised her sword to strike.
However...
At this moment, she was heavily injured and the toxins in her body were spreading; how could she be a match for Old Demon Tan, who was still at his Peak?
She was instantly blasted backward.