Chapter 6: Li Jianfeng’s Probe

The Giant Elephant Mountain Range is vast and home to ferocious war beasts. Unless driven by the need for cultivation or survival, few are willing to venture into its depths.

After returning, Wu Shu’s first thought for pushing his physical limits to achieve a breakthrough was the Giant Elephant Mountain Range. In the peripheral regions, the more formidable war beasts are generally around the fifth level of Body Refining. Even those that are exceptionally powerful rarely exceed the seventh or eighth level. As for anything beyond that—beings at the Wild Ox Body level—they simply do not exist in the outer mountains.

In Wu Shu’s view, a war beast below the Wild Ox Body level could hardly pose a lethal threat to him in a head-on confrontation. As the saying goes, if you cannot win, can you not simply run?

Night.

The moonlight was exquisite. As he walked forward, Wu Shu circulated the energy within his body. With each cycle of the Profound Technique, he could clearly feel the spiritual energy hidden in the forest being slowly drawn into him. By the end of each cycle, that energy transformed into a faint wisp of essence, becoming a part of his own body.

After several cycles, Wu Shu sighed inwardly, "Compared to my younger brother, relying solely on the spiritual energy of these outer mountains is far from enough to increase my strength. My body has been nourished by jade pith all these years, but that is merely maintenance. If I wanted to cultivate like him, using the Flesh-and-Blood Rotation Array to channel earthly energy, even with ten thousand spirit stones, I would likely only reach the seventh level of Body Refining. After all, his strength was accumulated through ten years of diligent effort; he is merely using the array now to recuperate and restore his power."

"The problems I must solve in my cultivation are twofold: First, I must push my body to its limits through life-and-death combat, then use the Profound Technique to elevate my physical functions by a major rank. Second, I must use these life-and-death battles to determine the true extent of my current combat prowess in arrays. If I recall correctly, the clan competition tests not only individual combat strength but also artifact forging. Given that our Wu clan is a family of master smiths, I am confident that none of my peers can match me when I combine arrays with artifact forging."

Just as Wu Shu was contemplating how to bolster his strength, he suddenly sensed someone tailing him, and several others not far ahead.

In Wu Shu’s eyes, there are only two types of people in the Giant Elephant Mountain Range: the ruthless, and those who are plotted against and killed.

Pretending not to notice his pursuer, Wu Shu cautiously approached the group to his southeast. Once close, he hid in the shadows to observe. There were five of them—three men and two women. They appeared to be mere youths; in Wu Shu’s view, they were just children—perhaps possessing some skill, but clearly lacking in worldly experience. Realizing he was being followed, he thought to himself, "A perfect opportunity."

Picking up a few stones from the ground, Wu Shu threw them toward the northwest without hesitation—the direction where his pursuer was hiding.

Upon hearing the noise, the five youths immediately became alert and surged toward the source of the sound. They moved with remarkable coordination, and each possessed impressive strength; even the weakest among them appeared to be at the sixth level of Body Refining.

The person hiding in the distance did not disappoint Wu Shu. As the five closed in, Wu Shu heard someone say, "Apologies, we were just passing through and disturbed you."

A false alarm?

Wu Shu had no intention of worrying about them. He took the opportunity to slip away in another direction.

He traveled for several dozen miles. The war beasts in the surrounding forest became increasingly frequent and powerful; even the weakest now had the strength of the third level of Body Refining. Sensing that the spiritual energy here was quite dense, Wu Shu found a quiet spot, sat cross-legged, and began to practice his Profound Technique.

The Profound Technique is an inner cultivation method from the Forgotten Continent, designed to use spiritual energy to expand and concentrate the amount of mysterious energy within a practitioner’s dantian, meridians, and acupoints, thereby continuously elevating their strength and realm. According to the classification of Earthly Power on the Thick Earth Continent, the Gas-Induction, Gas-Gathering, and Gas-Condensation realms are the foundational stages, known as the Three Realms of Internal Breath. Only when an internal practitioner condenses Earthly Power within themselves do they truly begin the path of internal cultivation, becoming a true expert of internal and external mastery—a practitioner of the Origin-Opening or True Origin realms.

Wu Shu was highly proficient in this technique. Under its guidance, a massive amount of spiritual energy from the surrounding mountains gathered toward him. It is no exaggeration to say that if he were to cultivate like this every night, the spiritual energy in these mountains would thin out significantly within a few months.

Unlike his experience on the Forgotten Continent, Wu Shu felt the richness of the spiritual energy and could not help but think, "The Thick Earth Continent is truly magnificent. In just two hours, the amount of mysterious energy in my dantian has increased several dozen times. If I continue this way, I will be able to condense mysterious power within a few days. Once that happens, it is only a matter of time before I reach the Origin-Opening realm."

Just as Wu Shu was reveling in the effectiveness of the Profound Technique on the Thick Earth Continent, an unkind voice interrupted him.

"Finished resting? If you have, come over here and have a chat with me. Why did you throw stones earlier to frame me?"

What was this? Lost in his cultivation, Wu Shu had not noticed anyone approaching.

Stopping his practice, he did not rush to reply, but looked calmly at the newcomer. No matter how he looked at him, he did not recognize this person. After all, his spirit had spent all these years on the Forgotten Continent.

Wu Shu replied with a mature tone, "Young man, is there some misunderstanding between us? We are complete strangers; how can you speak of being framed?"

Hearing this, the stranger looked visibly displeased. No matter how he looked at it, Wu Shu was younger than him, and his strength seemed inferior as well. How could Wu Shu speak with such the air of a seasoned veteran?

"A brat? Haven't even grown your hair out yet, and you dare talk to me like that?"

These words provoked Wu Shu’s temper. The newcomer appeared to have a violent disposition; in Wu Shu’s view, it was likely impossible to have a civil conversation with someone who didn't respect strength.

Wu Shu looked at him with disdain and said coldly, "Tch, too much nonsense. State your name. I don't slap the faces of the nameless."

The two had barely exchanged words, but their sharp, confrontational tone immediately escalated the tension.

Li Jianfeng roared, "I am Li Jianfeng! If I don't beat you into a cowering turtle today, I would be unworthy of the title of genius."

"Palm of the Blazing Mountain!"

Li Jianfeng raised his palm and struck toward Wu Shu. Wu Shu did not back down, retorting, "Well struck! Just right for a warm-up."

Channeling his internal Profound Technique, Wu Shu produced half a spirit stone in his hand and struck out with a palm of his own at full force.

Seeing Wu Shu meet his attack, Li Jianfeng shouted angrily, "You're courting death! To think a mere third-level Body Refining brat would dare to take my palm head-on."

*Bang!*

A loud explosion erupted in the otherwise quiet mountains.

After the collision, Li Jianfeng could not believe his eyes. A boy at the third level of Body Refining had not only taken his blow but had forced him back. It looked like a stalemate, but in truth, Li Jianfeng had lost by a hair.

Repeatedly staring at his trembling hand, Li Jianfeng wondered: *What is going on? Has the world changed? Am I, the proud son of heaven from the Kun Kingdom, a fake? Or is my ninth-level Body Refining cultivation a sham?*

Looking at Wu Shu again, Li Jianfeng felt a sense of respect and began to treat him as an equal. Yet, he still felt a knot of frustration in his chest—he had nearly been defeated by someone of a lower level. "Boy, you are truly incredible."

If Wu Shu said he wasn't shocked, he would be lying. Having used that half-spirit stone, he only had two left. He had intended to use the explosive power of his technique and arrays to easily repel Li Jianfeng, but the opponent was tough, and after one move, they had only managed a draw.

Wu Shu feigned composure and asked, "What? Want to keep fighting?"

In all his years, Li Jianfeng had never been questioned like this. Usually, he was the one speaking to his opponents in such a manner.

Seeing Wu Shu ready to strike again, Li Jianfeng frowned and sighed, "Little brother, with such strength, I assume you must come from a prominent family. If it weren't for the fact that the Night-Strider beast you ride looked familiar, reminding me of an old acquaintance, I would not have followed you."

A Night-Strider? Was he drawn here by the beast?

The mention that the beast looked familiar made Wu Shu highly suspicious. The Night-Strider was Zhao Fenxing’s mount, and she belonged to the Zhao family of the Eastern Earth Empire.

If this man was an old acquaintance of Zhao Fenxing, his background must be extraordinary. Could he be from the Li family, one of the Eight Great Families of the Kun Kingdom?

However, Wu Shu knew he was still weak and did not want to entangle himself further with Li Jianfeng. He played dumb, saying, "Hearing you say that, it seems this is all a misunderstanding. But what is a Night-Strider? Is it edible?"

Li Jianfeng could not believe his ears. Was Wu Shu pretending not to know what a Night-Strider was? It was a rare treasure among mounts, with few to be found in the entire Kun Kingdom.

Seeing no sign of the demeanor of a powerful expert in Wu Shu, Li Jianfeng became confused and could not help but size him up again.

Noticing Li Jianfeng’s bewilderment, Wu Shu realized the man might have ulterior motives.

At this moment, Wu Shu asked the question on his mind: "Tell me, Brother Li, you don't seem to be from our Dongsu City?"

When it came to his origins, Li Jianfeng was hesitant to speak. If he were to go around announcing, "I am Li Jianfeng, from the Li family, one of the Eight Great Families of the Kun Kingdom capital," or something similar... it simply didn't fit his style.

Did he look like a coward who relied on others or clung to power? But with the Demon race invading, Li Jianfeng desperately hoped that the person before him possessed extraordinary strength.