As he watched Chen Han's departing figure, Zhao Fei couldn't help but remark,
"To think a side branch of the Chen Family could produce someone like him."
"Hmph!"
Zhao Sheng, standing to the side, scoffed with disdain. "If I hadn't been injured from my battle with the Wolf King, that kid never would have beaten me so easily. The next time I see him, I'll make him spit back out the Spirit Core he took today!"
Zhao Fei frowned.
He hesitated, wanting to speak but holding his tongue.
Glancing at the contemptuous Zhao Sheng, Zhao Fei sighed to himself. 'Sigh... Zhao Sheng is far too arrogant. Even though his strength and Chen Han's are on the same level, he's simply not his opponent. Oh well. Maybe suffering a real loss will teach him a lesson!'
...
Having obtained the Spirit Core, Chen Han quickly ventured deeper into the Cloud Heaven Forest.
Splitting the Wolf King's corpse fifty-fifty had already been a huge advantage for him.
He had also gained Zhao Fei's friendship in the process.
And while things had gotten unpleasant with Zhao Sheng, Chen Han didn't consider him a threat.
The most crucial task now was to absorb the Spirit Core and try to break through to the Martial Disciple Fourth Layer.
A Martial Artist's cultivation speed depended not only on the number of Dantians in their body but also on their access to cultivation resources.
Compared to the geniuses in the Inner Sect, Chen Han's only disadvantage was the disparity in cultivation resources.
After finding a quiet spot, Chen Han sat down and closed his eyes.
He first circulated his Ancient Divine Technique and found that the battle with the Wolf King had strengthened his qi and blood. He had reached the absolute apex of the Peak of Martial Disciple Third Layer and showed signs of an imminent breakthrough.
The Nebula Map within his body also spun rapidly.
The two Fixed Stars within it continuously absorbed the Heaven and Earth Essence Power.
'It seems real combat is indeed the best way to train. I just wonder if I'll be able to break through after absorbing this Spirit Core.'
His face full of anticipation, Chen Han immediately took out the Wolf King Spirit Core.
The cyan Wolf King Spirit Core slowly floated until it hovered before Chen Han. With each breath he took, a wisp of cyan light flowed into his nostrils.
A moment later, Chen Han suddenly felt an immense heat surge through his body, rampaging through his meridians. It felt as though it could burst out of him at any moment.
'Such powerful Essence Power!'
Chen Han didn't dare to be careless.
After all, this was a Wolf King Spirit Core from a beast whose strength was comparable to the Martial Disciple Fifth Layer. He immediately channeled the Ancient Divine Technique with all his might, absorbing the Essence Power and allowing the immense force to gradually merge with and refine his body.
In a trance, Chen Han's consciousness suddenly ascended, arriving once more within the Nebula Map inside his body.
This time, the figure of Emperor Yu was even clearer than before.
He seemed to be saying something...
Gazing at the old man standing on the primary star, Chen Han fell into deep thought.
「The next day.」
Chen Han awoke from his Meditation.
BOOM!
The moment he opened his eyes, a powerful gust of wind erupted from his body, scattering all the fallen leaves around him.
'Could this be...'
With just a slight movement, a series of popping sounds, like beans being fried, echoed from all over Chen Han's body. His muscles, his bones... every part of him was filled with boundless Power.
BANG!
He threw a single punch.
A hundred-pound boulder ten steps away instantly turned to dust.
'Reaching the Martial Disciple Fourth Layer was even easier than I imagined.'
However...
Chen Han took a deep breath, his thoughts turning to the mysterious old man who had appeared within him again during his Meditation yesterday—Emperor Yu!
He could clearly tell.
The stronger he became, the clearer the figure of Emperor Yu appeared.
Perhaps one day, when he was strong enough, Emperor Yu's true form would fully manifest.
For some reason, Chen Han's anticipation regarding Emperor Yu grew ever stronger.
Perhaps, one day, he would be able to come face-to-face with this mysterious Inheritor.
Shaking his head, Chen Han cleared these thoughts from his mind and focused his attention back on himself.
Reaching the Martial Disciple Fourth Layer.
It was only a matter of time. After a moment of joy, Chen Han calmed down. He knew that even without the Wolf King Spirit Core, he would have reached this level eventually; it just would have taken longer.
Fifteen years old.
Martial Disciple Fourth Layer.
In the side branch of the Chen Family, he might be considered a genius, but compared to the masters in the Inner Sect, the gap was far too wide.
Take Chen Yiyao, for example.
Also fifteen, she had already reached the Martial Disciple Ninth Layer, a full two Realms higher than even Chen Yuxin. A quick comparison was all it took to see the immense gap.
'With my current strength, I might rank among the top of the side branch. But compared to those guys from the Inner Sect who were born with silver spoons in their mouths, I'm still far too behind. I can't slack off in the slightest, nor can I become complacent. This level of strength is nothing special. There's still a month and a half until the Inner Sect selection. I'm not asking for much—if I can reach the Martial Disciple Fifth Layer, I might be able to secure a foothold for myself after I get in!'
At this thought, Chen Han clenched his fists.
Having come to this realization, Chen Han wasted no more time and resumed his trek through the Cloud Heaven Forest.
To grow stronger quickly, his only option was to hunt Spirit Beasts.
Soon, Chen Han found his next target.
A Bloodthirsty Demon Leopard!
This leopard was also a Spirit Beast. It excelled in speed, but its defense and attack were relatively weak. Its strength was roughly equivalent to the Martial Disciple Fourth Layer.
An ordinary Martial Artist would likely give a Bloodthirsty Demon Leopard a wide berth.
The leopard's speed was simply too great.
But Chen Han had cultivated his Vast Sea Step to the Great Achievement Realm, enabling him to match the leopard's speed, so he wasn't afraid. Furthermore, having just broken through to the Martial Disciple Fourth Layer, Chen Han was eager to test his new strength, so he chose the leopard as his target.
BOOM!
His mind made up, Chen Han no longer hesitated.
With the Ruo Shui Golden Saber in hand, he charged the Bloodthirsty Demon Leopard, the wind of his passage creating a sharp whistle.
Startled, the Bloodthirsty Demon Leopard whipped its head around to look.
But Chen Han was incredibly fast. He instantly activated his Overlord Saber Technique, and the Golden Saber streaked through the air like a bolt of lightning, viciously striking the Bloodthirsty Demon Leopard's body.
"ROAR!"
Though the blow was devastating, the blade sinking a full three inches into the leopard's body and revealing the stark white bone beneath, it was a Spirit Beast, after all. The Bloodthirsty Demon Leopard roared in pain and immediately counterattacked.
But even at its peak, its speed couldn't match Chen Han's. How could it possibly be his opponent now that it was grievously wounded?
He activated his Overlord Saber Technique again, and a swift slash pierced the Bloodthirsty Demon Leopard's neck.
The leopard died instantly.
Chen Han breathed a small sigh of relief, a flicker of joy in his eyes. He'd obtained another Spirit Core.
He immediately took out the Spirit Core and began absorbing it.
Over the next few days, Chen Han's figure could be seen flashing through the dense woods of the Cloud Heaven Forest.
He never once failed to kill a Spirit Beast he targeted.
In a mere seven or eight days, he had slain three Spirit Beasts. His own strength stabilized at the Middle Realm of the Martial Disciple Fourth Layer. If he could kill just a few more, reaching the Fifth Layer would be right around the corner.
Unfortunately, even in the Cloud Heaven Forest, Spirit Beasts were extremely rare.
The beasts also seemed to possess some intelligence. Realizing a Martial Artist was hunting their kind, they all went into hiding and no longer dared to show themselves.
Chen Han spent three more days in the dense forest but failed to encounter a single Spirit Beast.
Disappointed, he had no choice but to leave.
Just as Chen Han was stepping out of the Cloud Heaven Forest, the eyes of a raggedly-dressed beggar nearby suddenly lit up. The beggar turned and ran.
"Master Zhao, he's out."
The beggar quickly ran to a nearby tavern and spoke to a youth dressed in black martial attire.
"Good!" The youth in black sneered, killing intent flashing across his face. "Chen Han, I thought you were going to hide in the Cloud Heaven Forest for the rest of your life. This time, I'm going to make you spit out that Wolf King Spirit Core you swallowed!"
...
After leaving Cloud Heaven Forest, Chen Han was on his way back to Qingcheng Mountain when he entered a quiet, secluded stretch of road.
Just then, the sound of rushed footsteps echoed from all directions.
SWOOSH—SWOOSH—SWOOSH!
Several figures burst from the woods, accompanied by a great gust of wind.
"Who's there?"
Chen Han's steps faltered, and he came to an abrupt halt.
He saw five youths completely surrounding him.
Their leader was the youth in black—none other than Zhao Sheng, whom he had encountered in the Cloud Heaven Forest!
"We meet again," Zhao Sheng sneered. "I bet you didn't expect this..."
'I certainly didn't,' Chen Han thought with a cold snort. He'd assumed Zhao Sheng had learned his lesson and wouldn't dare cause him trouble again.
"Chen Han," Zhao Sheng said, grinding his teeth. "I'll give you two choices today. Hand over the Wolf King Spirit Core and give me three loud kowtows, and I'll let you leave in one piece. Otherwise, don't blame me for what happens next!"
Zhao Sheng was brimming with confidence.
This time, he had come prepared and had deliberately conserved his strength.
The other four all possessed the cultivation of the Martial Disciple Third Layer.
Dealing with Chen Han should be child's play.
"And the other choice?"
Chen Han's expression was calm as he stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
'If these guys had shown up a few days ago, I might have been worried. But now? They're just a dish waiting to be served!'
"Don't you get arrogant! If I hadn't been injured fighting the Wolf King last time, I'd never have let you take advantage and snatch the Wolf King Spirit Core. If you don't hand it over, the five of us will make you spit it out today!"
Zhao Sheng shouted, his face grim.
"Hmph! If we hadn't worn down most of the Wolf King's stamina, you never could have killed it on your own!" another Zhao Family disciple added, his tone resentful.
"Enough talk! Let's show him what we're made of!" yet another Zhao Family disciple shouted coldly.
With a unified shout, the five of them unleashed their killing blows at Chen Han.
"You and what army?" Chen Han sneered. Using his Vast Sea Step, he rapidly retreated, effortlessly dodging their five ferocious attacks. "It seems if I don't teach you a lesson today, you'll never learn to recognize the immensity of heaven and earth!"