Chapter 120: Little Mountain Association Visits
Su Yan’s reputation in Yun Cang Town grew louder and louder.
Street vendors gossiped that on that day, Su Yan used Fierce Ape to contend with Mountain Wolf, not retreating a single step.
Someone else said that Long Qidao of Seven Blades Martial Arts School had grown old and was surpassed by the young man.
Others said that it wouldn’t be long before Su Yan would definitely break through to True Intent Realm.
Rumors swirled in the Martial World, but for ordinary people, it was all just idle chatter.
Just two days later, it was completely overshadowed by another event.
Qing He Mountain suffered a mountain bandit attack, with most of Qing He Mountain burned down, and even Vice School Master Long Wu of Seven Blades Martial Arts School, along with several True Disciples of Long Qidao, were killed.
The matter blew up big!
Discussions about Seven Blades Martial Arts School and Golden Ape Martial Arts School fell silent overnight.
Long Qidao lost his beloved son, his brother, and True Disciples in one night, left all alone—who would dare provoke him now?
Isn’t that like carrying a lantern into the toilet—courting death?
However, Long Qidao made no moves, neither holding a funeral nor seeking revenge.
Overnight, Long Qidao’s hair turned white, his eyes like those of a starving wolf, filled only with coldness and deathly stillness.
“A wolf that doesn’t howl bites the hardest.”
Upon hearing this news, Su Yan realized that Long Qidao was planning something ruthless.
After all, others might not know who started the fire at Qing He Mountain, but Long Qidao did.
It was just that now, with only his True Intent Realm, he couldn’t match Golden Ape Martial Arts School’s three True Intent Realm experts.
He was biding his time for an opportunity.
Su Yan secretly scattered Blood Bees on the rooftiles and eaves around Seven Blades Martial Arts School, rotating them regularly, keeping a tight watch on Seven Blades Martial Arts School.
Long Qidao was the nest he had newly stirred; sooner or later, he would hook some big fish.
——
In the following days, Su Yan stayed indoors, feeding Beast Essence Pills to the four Insect Tamers in Insect Realm Space every day.
Besides Beast Essence Pills, Gold-Eating Demon Insect continuously devoured sharp weapons, blades, and metal ore.
Blood Fiend Mother Worm did the same, devouring Beast Essence Pills while also consuming the Blood-Strengthening Pills that Su Yan had previously refined.
Although the four Insect Tamers couldn’t be released for training yet, fortunately Insect Realm Space was already quite large, so their activities inside weren’t cramped.
Over several consecutive days, Gold-Eating Demon Insect and Blood Fiend Mother Worm successively broke through Nascent Stage into Growth Stage, with their strength advancing further.
Even White Bone Poison Centipede and Red Armored Mad Scorpion were approaching Metamorphosis Stage.
Insect Yuan grew increasingly powerful; Su Yan absorbed Insect Yuan, combining it with Blood Essence Condensing Pill and True Essence Pill to continuously temper his body.
Within his body, bone density continuously solidified, faintly shifting from golden copper color toward a jade hue, resembling the precious jade form of glazed bones.
Su Yan had already cultivated Golden Ape Jade Body Skill to Transformation Realm; Stone Fetus skin, golden iron bones, and jade body comprehended and unified, allowing continuous strengthening of the physique when circulated.
His foundation was already extremely strong, and later he gained the Insect Bone Armor Body trait.
His physical bones further strengthened, and with Insect Yuan tempering and Insect Tamers’ enhancement, this trait’s growth potential surpassed Golden Ape Jade Body Skill and other cultivation manuals, with greater sustainability.
Now, under combined tempering, his bones underwent even greater changes.
Faintly, the bones hummed.
As if a tiger was roaring within, its voice like thunder, aura surging upward.
Su Yan focused on cultivation; the tiger-like Artistic Conception continuously rose, first condensing Blood Qi into a descending Vicious Tiger.
Then True Essence, spirit, and Qi and Blood intertwined, nearly condensing into another True Intent phantom.
But at this moment, Su Yan opened his eyes, White Ape True Intent phantom emerging, mouth opening as if swallowing sun and moon, completely absorbing the Tiger Aspect.
“Crack”
Bones resounded, a powerful strength transmitting one by one from the spine and various bones.
Su Yan’s body instantly erupted with a powerful aura, True Essence rolling like overturning ocean waves.
‘Since it’s like this, let’s include Golden Ape True Skill as well.’
A fire ignited in his heart, eyes full of confidence; he fully circulated Golden Ape True Skill, along with Tiger Body Bone Forging Technique, madly assaulting the final barrier.
About two hours later, tiger roars filled the room, the aura condensing so much that even people outside noticed.
【Body Tempering Realm: Spirit Nurturing 1/400（Great Accomplishment）】
【Golden Ape True Skill: Transformation Realm】
【Tiger Body Bone Forging Technique: Transformation Realm】
Su Yan comprehended and broke through two cultivation manuals at the same time, both advancing to Transformation Realm.
His cultivation also crossed the Minor Accomplishment threshold at this point, stepping into Great Accomplishment.
Within his body, True Essence grew thicker, gradually condensing in the Dantian, swirling like mist, faintly showing signs of liquefaction.
“True Essence liquefies, phantom turns from illusory to real; when completion arrives, that’s the day of True Intent breakthrough.”
Su Yan showed a satisfied expression; compared to other Spirit Nurturing Realm cultivators, his progress was already very fast.
However, compared to Poison Dragon Golden Body Technique and Golden Ape True Skill, Su Yan slightly frowned.
“Transformation Realm is essentially the highest efficiency limit for cultivation manuals; if they grow stronger, the enhancement rates of Golden Ape True Skill, Tiger Body Bone Forging Technique, and Golden Ape Jade Body Skill might not keep up.”
Different degrees of comprehension naturally yield different cultivation manual efficiencies.
However, no matter the comprehension level, there’s fundamentally a cultivation manual limit.
Golden Ape True Skill, Tiger Body Bone Forging Technique—these cultivation manuals can only support up to True Intent Realm cultivation; there’s no further Qi Condensation method.
Moreover, even if cultivable, after True Intent Realm’s second layer, Ruyi Stage, the rate won’t meet demands, only grinding progress slowly.
This is the limitation of cultivation manuals.
In hands like Bai Changlin’s, Great Accomplishment cultivation manual efficiency is 1; Su Yan at Transformation Realm with such bone structure reaches 1.2 or 1.3, but still can’t break the limit.
Su Yan regretted precisely this; for him, to grow stronger faster, he needed more powerful cultivation manuals.
“Poison Dragon Golden Body Technique has a higher limit, supporting me further, and it feels like there are more auxiliary cultivation manuals—perhaps explorable after entering Beast King Sect.”
“Then there’s Beast King Sect, the major sect suppressing Lingnan region; it should have even more powerful cultivation manuals.”
Su Yan reviewed his current state, gaining more anticipation for Beast King Sect.
Firstly, once in Beast King Sect, openly obtaining beast contracting and beast driving methods means his Fierce Insects can be used openly.
No one would easily suspect the origins of Fierce Insects being tied to other things.
Secondly, the cultivation manual issue—stronger manuals mean farther paths ahead.
True Intent longevity two hundred, Dan Qiao longevity five hundred, Longevity right before eyes—who can refuse such temptation?
Thus, he must go to Beast King Sect.
Several days later, Yun Cang Town gradually restored its previous calm and bustle.
Seven Blades Martial Arts School’s forces greatly diminished, proactively contracting their territory.
Golden Ape Martial Arts School held steady, not encroaching on the vacated areas or markets, instead focusing on operating Miasma Valley.
Yi Feng was sent to Miasma Valley to manage affairs, while Li Chuan stayed at Golden Ape Martial Arts School, teaching disciples martial arts.
Notably, after constant tempering, Gao Zheng received a Five Aggregates Pill and Blood Essence Condensing Pill from Su Yan, finally stepping into Spirit Nurturing Realm.
Though long surpassed by Su Yan, his breakthrough now was still a joyous event.
Li Chuan took him as disciple; though not under Bai Changlin, he was still a martial school True Disciple, status no different from Li Jinshan and Su Yan.
Taught Golden Ape True Skill and hardening auxiliary Golden Ape Jade Body Skill; Tiger Body Bone Forging Technique not yet taught—first observe if bone structure and comprehension suffice to digest these cultivation manuals.
With Gao Zheng’s help, the martial school’s internal and external affairs gradually returned to normal.
He truly filled the vacancy left by Lu Ling.
And in this half-month, unexpectedly, Bai Yun sparred with Su Yan using Tiger Body Bone Forging Technique and Fierce Ape Three Forms to hone skills, pushing Tiger Body Bone Forging Technique to Transformation Realm.
Golden Ape True Skill and Golden Ape Jade Body Skill remained at Great Accomplishment, but in comprehending Tiger Body Bone Forging Technique, she seemed to have stronger talent.
Her bones tempered like golden iron, aura like a mountain lord, stepping into her own Transformation Realm.
Thus, cultivation advanced greatly, half a step closer to Spirit Nurturing Great Accomplishment, True Essence thicker, White Ape phantom already manifesting Tiger Aspect, aura formed.
“Lin Yue’s invitation card? The third time this half-month?”
Su Yan held an invitation card requesting a small gathering, hosted by the previous Lin Yue.
Bai Yun sat opposite, faintly saying: “Assessment method changed, she naturally lost some advantage; this small gathering is naturally to pull in people and exchange news.”
“I won’t go.”
Su Yan smiled: “Past small gatherings invited me too, but not so eagerly this half-month. Disciples from Lin Family, Tianhe Gang, Tian Feng Weapon Shop inviting one after another—this frequency is alarmingly high.”
“Can’t find you in Yun Cang Town.”
Bai Yun spoke plainly, though she was no slouch either, being a cultivation grind king herself.
“Before, they only thought you were a talented True Disciple; now you’re one of Yun Cang Town’s best in talent.”
“One of?”
“Each family is pushing hard: Lin Family eldest son Lin Junhao, fourth son Lin Yuzhi, Tian Feng Weapon Shop senior disciple Fu Xuejing, Wang Family disciple Wang Xiaohu…”
Bai Yun listed them one by one; each family had one or two, about eleven or twelve people.
“All claiming Spirit Nurturing Great Accomplishment, all wanting to see your skills.”
Su Yan clashed a move with Long Qidao, but what he relied on was uncertain—whether Long Qidao didn’t use full power, or strong inner armor; all speculative.
Thus, acknowledging his strong talent is fine, but who takes the recommendation tokens from Xiang Ge and others is uncertain.
“They’re really going all out.”
Su Yan knew Bai Yun was reminding him; with his disruption, many families and forces were likely preparing family treasures to push disciples’ cultivation further.
Perhaps even using second-order resources to push into second-order.
“Senior Sister wants to go?”
The gathering naturally invited Bai Yun too; her talent was renowned among them.
Bai Yun shook her head: “Not going, but in a few days, Fu Xuejing’s exchange meeting—we can check it out.”
“Exchange meeting?”
Su Yan showed puzzlement; Bai Yun explained: “Each family has different resources, especially someone like Fu Xuejing with good forging talent—exchange resources at hand.”
In Yun Cang Town, first-order resources are still buyable on the market, but second-order ones are controlled by families, so sometimes such exchanges are needed.
Su Yan agreed: “That we can check out.”
——
Mountain wind howled, carrying bloody scent; mountain path littered with corpses.
Through the wide-open village gate, it was a scene of devastation: either kneeling on the ground, faces full of terror not daring to look up, or already corpses on the ground.
Yang Lun held Ram Horn Sword, gaze icy, looking at the man kneeling before him.
Desolate Mountains greenwood, Drinking Deer Village Leader One-Eyed Stallion Lu Zhaofeng.
“Jiao Yang Sou, you brothers broke the rules—Wang Tiangong won’t let you off!”
“Noisy.”
Yang Lun severed his arm with one sword, eyes icy: “Refusing toast only to drink forfeit; daring to intercept Grindstone Stockade’s goods—can you keep the Heart Protecting Flower?”
Grindstone Stockade’s mountain bandits rummaged the entire village; after a long time, Ding Meng strode over.
“Second Brother Yang, found two Heart Protecting Flowers; remaining medicinal herbs all boxed.”
“Good.”
Yang Lun nodded; Lu Zhaofeng’s face abruptly changed, just about to speak.
Yang Lun already severed his throat with one sword, gaze sweeping the crowd.
“Take mountain villagers back; surrendering mountain bandits won’t be killed.”
“Yes.”
Panic rippled through the crowd, but Grindstone Stockade’s people already moved, extinguishing the entire Drinking Deer Village.
Ding Meng and Yang Lun led the team back, riding Scaled Horses at the front.
In half a month, this was the second village they extinguished.
The route between Grindstone Stockade and San Die Stream fully opened, no other strongholds daring to block again.
“Second Brother Yang, now Heart Protecting Flower found, all medicinal herbs Lord asked us to collect—except second-order feral beasts—are gathered. Need to proactively seek Lord?”
In half a month, Jiao Yang Sou brothers consolidated True Intent Realm cultivation; Ding Meng, Wang Cang, Cai Peng also completed cultivation manual conversion, Beast Spirit phantoms transformed to Crimson Spotted Leopard.
The three advanced greatly, successively reaching Spirit Nurturing Great Accomplishment; thus Grindstone Stockade and San Die Stream became the largest mountain bandit force.
The stronger they grew, the more loyal they became—they knew all this came from Su Yan.
“Lord didn’t tell us to seek, so no need.”
Yang Lun said: “Continue collecting Beast Essence Pill medicinal herbs; I think what Lord needs most for cultivating Fierce Insects is these. Our skills come from Blood Fiend Mother Worm; if it keeps strengthening…”
Words unfinished, suddenly birds flushed from Grindstone Stockade direction, gong sounding—that was the stronghold’s alarm.
Both men’s faces slightly changed, instantly solemn.
Someone attacking the stronghold!
Yang Lun and Ding Meng sped up, rushing straight to Grindstone Stockade.
At this time, outside the stronghold, a team had already arrived: forty or fifty people in black tight robes, knives at waists, gazes stern.
Leading were two: a burly sallow-faced man in earth-yellow short coat, holding Tiger Head Club, eyes like Bronze Bells, aura ferocious.
Beside him, a black-clad man with empty left sleeve, cold stern face, eyes sinister icy.
“Little Mountain Association Chief Instructor Xu Sanhu, Vice Leader Lin Tianlang, visiting Grindstone Stockade!”
Voice loud like startling thunder.
“What a visit—those who don’t know might think Little Mountain Association is here to attack and seize.”
Jiao Yang Sou Yang Kun appeared on the wall, gaze icy, looking down at Little Mountain Association crowd below.
Two leader-level figures—truly ill-intentioned visitors.
