Chapter 29: Ox Demon Condensing Malice

Chapter 29: Bull Demon Condensing Malice

Devour!

Keep devouring!

Aside from the "Cloud-Soaring Steps," Ling Xiao had fed all the martial arts he had learned into the "Bull Demon Art."

Then, he watched as the experience points of the "Bull Demon Art" surged rapidly.

Breakthrough to the first layer!

Breakthrough to the second layer!

Breakthrough to the third layer!

Finally, it stopped at the seventh layer!

However, at this moment, the name of the "Bull Demon Art" had undergone a subtle change, transforming from the original "Bull Demon Art" into "Bull Demon Art · Condensing Malice."

Not only had the name changed, but the description text had also changed accordingly.

"...Bull Demon Art · Condensing Malice: A fusion and breakthrough of the original Bull Demon Art. It possesses all the proficiencies of internal cultivation, movement techniques, martial skills, and secret methods. It is invincible below the sixth level of the Martial Vein, and can still dominate below the ninth level of the Martial Vein!"

"Cultivation Requirements: Peak cultivation of the third level of the Martial Vein, profound true qi, steadfast will, and a strong physique capable of enduring the entry of malice into the body."

"Cultivating this art allows for the generation of Astral Qi (Gang Qi), which requires continuous combat to temper. To further increase the realm, one must continue to devour other cultivation methods!"

"This technique can generate intense malice to be integrated into attacks. While it cannot cause substantial physical damage, it can strike fear into the opponent's heart, gaining the upper hand in terms of willpower."

Seeing this, Ling Xiao could not help but feel excited.

Setting everything else aside, the mere fact that he could generate Astral Qi was enough to drive him wild.

Not to mention, this didn't just produce Astral Qi; it could also condense malice, inflicting dual devastation upon the opponent's body and spirit.

This was ruthless.

In other words, even if his cultivation could not break through to the fourth level of the Martial Vein in the short term, relying solely on the "Bull Demon Art · Condensing Malice" would be enough to contend with a fourth-level Martial Vein warrior.

He had originally thought that devouring would only result in a level increase; he hadn't expected such a fundamental transformation.

The "Bull Demon Art" itself was an extraordinary technique. It had previously been classified as a mid-tier martial art, but in reality, it was far more powerful than any mid-tier art.

Now, after this fusion and upgrade, it was likely even more powerful than a high-tier martial art, approaching—or perhaps even reaching—the level of a top-tier martial art.

If that were the case, wouldn't the "Crimson Sun Art," "Hundred-Step Flying Sword Technique," and others he had learned also approach or even reach the level of top-tier martial arts if performed using the "Bull Demon Art · Condensing Malice"?

"Transcendent Martial Arts?"

Just as Ling Xiao was feeling excited about obtaining top-tier martial arts, he suddenly noticed new descriptive text appearing on the Map of Mountains and Rivers.

"Top-tier martial arts are the pinnacle of secular martial arts. However, above the top tier, there is the Transcendent!"

"By opening all nine martial veins, one ascends to the ninth level of the Martial Vein. Yet, after the Great Perfection of the ninth level, there remains the Transcendent Realm—the nine levels of Transcendence. That is an entirely new realm for a warrior!"

Ling Xiao naturally had no right to know such things yet, so seeing the words on the Map of Mountains and Rivers left him utterly shocked.

He had always thought that the ninth level of the Martial Vein was the peak for a warrior.

He had always thought that top-tier martial arts were the best.

But now it seemed that there was a Transcendent Realm above the ninth level of the Martial Vein.

And above top-tier martial arts, there were Transcendent Martial Arts.

The Transcendent Realm?

Transcendent Martial Arts?

Just what kind of realm and what kind of martial arts were they?

The more his strength increased, the more Ling Xiao found his horizons expanding. Previously, he had been limited to the Ling family, or at most, Sky Peak City.

The most powerful experts he could see were likely only those from the four great families.

But now, he suddenly understood that he had merely been a frog at the bottom of a well, looking up at the sky.

It seemed he had to work even harder!

...

Inside the training room, there was no distinction between day and night. Because there were no windows, night pearls were used for illumination.

Thus, Ling Xiao did not know the situation outside. He had prepared his own dry rations and told his grandfather, Hong Qi, not to disturb him.

Because he was going into seclusion.

He wanted to comprehend Astral Qi. If he did, he would be invincible below the third level of the Martial Vein.

And when encountering a fourth-level Martial Vein warrior, he would have the strength to fight; at the very least, his disadvantage would not be so great.

However, comprehending Astral Qi was by no means an easy task.

The Mountain and River Martial Soul could help him correct his cultivation methods, but it could not grant him sudden enlightenment.

Many things required sudden enlightenment.

This was why so many warriors spoke of "comprehension."

He didn't know about other places, but within Sky Peak City, there were countless warriors. Even among those at the peak of the third level of the Martial Vein, the Ling family alone had over a thousand, and when combined with the other three great families and smaller clans, the total likely exceeded ten thousand.

Among so many peak third-level Martial Vein warriors, very few could truly break through to the fourth level and comprehend the transformation of true qi into Astral Qi to condense it.

For most people, staying stuck at the peak of the third level for their entire lives without ever comprehending Astral Qi was common.

This was why geniuses like Ling Tieshou, Ling Feng, Ling Yixue, and Li Xingyun were held in such high regard despite being at the same level.

They possessed high comprehension and were young, so their chances of breaking through were naturally much higher.

Even so, the shortest time these people stayed at this stage was several months, and the longest was even several years without a breakthrough.

For Ling Xiao to want to break through in a few hours was, in a sense, a bit too dismissive of the difficulty of transforming true qi into Astral Qi.

He had a good habit: when a task could not progress, he would not stubbornly beat his head against a wall.

Instead, he would choose to approach it from a different angle.

The "Bull Demon Art" had already been promoted to "Bull Demon Art · Condensing Malice," so could the "Cloud-Soaring Steps" also be promoted?

If the "Cloud-Soaring Steps" were promoted, would it provide more possibilities for condensing Astral Qi?

Thinking of this, he did not hesitate.

He selected other mid-tier movement techniques from his repertoire to begin practicing.

Regardless, he intended to remain in seclusion until the day before the annual grand competition began. Since he couldn't condense Astral Qi, improving the "Cloud-Soaring Steps" could just as easily enhance his combat capabilities.

Passion is important for a warrior.

But composure is equally important.

An hour later, his "Cloud-Soaring Steps" broke through again, reaching the "Three-Step Heaven" level.

He attempted to condense Astral Qi and failed again, but he did experience a flicker of enlightenment.

Thus, he continued to upgrade the "Cloud-Soaring Steps."

Two hours later, the "Cloud-Soaring Steps" broke through to the "Four-Step Heaven" level.

He tried once more to condense Astral Qi, and finally ended in failure again, but during this process, he clearly noticed a strand of true qi within his body that seemed to have reached the level of Astral Qi.

It just couldn't be stabilized.

This meant his strength was still insufficient.

It also proved that upgrading the "Cloud-Soaring Steps" indeed helped in condensing Astral Qi.

Continue!

He had no intention of giving up. When his strength had been stuck at the first level of the Martial Vein, he hadn't given up then.

Now that his strength was increasing so rapidly, he was even less likely to quit.

Three hours later, the "Cloud-Soaring Steps" broke through again, reaching the "Five-Step Heaven" level.

Four hours later, the "Cloud-Soaring Steps" reached the "Six-Step Heaven" level.

At that moment, the "Cloud-Soaring Steps" displayed on the Map of Mountains and Rivers finally underwent a qualitative change.

The name changed to "Cloud-Soaring Steps · Dragon-Transforming."

Naturally, the description changed along with it.

(End of Chapter)