Fellow Daoist, I gladly accept this heaven-defying opportunity.

goo goo...

A rumbling sound echoed through the empty cave. Xu Mofeng's lips twitched as he looked down at his uncooperative stomach.

These past few days I've been frantically studying the knife marks on the stone wall, constantly circulating the "Tiger Subduing Body Essence Technique," which has greatly depleted my physical strength, and my internal organs have long been in rebellion.

He pulled out his bag and turned it upside down; there wasn't even a crumb left, let alone any dry rations.

"To go, or not to go?"

Xu Mofeng sat down against the stone wall, his brows furrowed.

I practiced in this cave ruin for several days before I even got the basics of swordsmanship. I didn't even see a glimmer of opportunity before I had to slip away. I really couldn't swallow this insult.

But if you try to cultivate immortality on an empty stomach, and you faint from hunger, you might end up keeping company with that senior sword master who's in seclusion.

"Let's go out and hunt some monsters to fill our stomachs first, then spend a few more days. If we still can't find any... we can always come back another time!"

Having made up his mind, he propped himself up on his knees, but out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the clear pool of water beside him.

At the bottom of the pool, dozens of small, light red fish were swimming happily, swishing their tails. Xu Mofeng's eyes lit up instantly.

"What an idiot! Why would I leave a perfectly good buffet and go out to hunt in the wild?"

He slapped his forehead, and the more he thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed.

The senior of the Moon-Slaying Golden Blade is in seclusion here; he can't possibly live on air, can he?

Who knows, this pool of live fish might be a "reserve food" that someone specially raised!

Having figured this out, Xu Mofeng didn't hesitate at all. He quickly stripped off his outer robe and plunged into the water with a "plop."

With his Qi Refining Level 7 skills, catching a few small fish was a piece of cake. In no time, he was carrying four or five lively red fish ashore.

Lighting the fire, setting up the fish, flipping them over... the movements were fluid and effortless.

Before long, the rich aroma of fish filled the cave.

The grilled red fish, glistening with oil, looked incredibly tempting. Xu Mofeng grabbed one, blew on it twice, and then popped it into his mouth.

The fish melts in your mouth, and the fresh aroma travels straight from the tip of your tongue to the top of your head.

He ate with great relish, devouring five or six fish in no time. Just as he was licking his fingers, savoring the taste, a surge of scalding heat suddenly exploded from his stomach!

crackling sounds...

The muscles and bones throughout his body made a series of crisp, cracking sounds. His limbs and bones felt as if they had been soaked in a warm current, and the soreness and swelling were swept away. His immense strength rose up along his meridians!

"Holy crap?!"

Xu Mofeng stared wide-eyed at the remaining half of the fish in his hand, almost swallowing the fish bones.

Previously, in order to temper his body, he drank tiger blood and ate tiger marrow raw, which tasted fishy and bitter, but the effect was far less than these few bites of fish.

"I understand!"

He slapped his thigh suddenly, a flash of inspiration almost bursting forth. "The opportunity I've been searching for all this time is right here in this pool! The spiritual energy of the entire cave—no, the entire mountain range—may have converged in this pool, and the live fish in it are the perfect vessels to absorb that spiritual energy!"

This is not just food; it's a cultivation-enhancing pill left by our predecessors!

Overjoyed, Xu Mofeng instantly forgot his hunger and plunged back into the pool, catching seven or eight fish.

He stared at the pool teeming with fish, a grin spreading from his lips to his ears: "Looks like this opportunity won't be complete until we've devoured every last fish in the pool. Alright, then I won't hold back!"

Now they weren't in a hurry to leave anymore and set up camp in the cave.

During the day, he would study the sword techniques of the "Golden Moon Slaying Blade" by looking at the knife marks on the stone wall. When he was hungry, he would catch fish and grill them. The blood and spiritual energy in the fish meat would continuously flow into his body, and his progress in the "Tiger Subduing Body Essence Technique" was rapid.

In two days, his strength increased by 5,000 jin, adding the strength of a tiger!

In five days, the combined strength of the two tigers has reached the barrier of the ninth level of Qi Refining!

In eight days, with the combined strength of three tigers, his muscles and bones became as hard as iron, and when he swung his sword, a strong wind howled!

……

Half a month later, a figure emerged from the clear pool, its movements as graceful as a swimming dragon, leaving behind a trail of water droplets.

Xu Mofeng was shirtless, his muscles were well-proportioned and smooth, and every inch of his muscles contained explosive power.

He landed steadily on his toes, and with a slight tremor of his shoulders, all the water droplets on his body were shaken away, leaving not a single drop sticking to him.

He casually pulled out the long, black-handled sword stuck in the crevice of the rock, bent his waist, twisted his body, and swung it in one smooth motion.

Sa!

The blade tore through the air, emitting a piercing shriek.

The rock face, as hard as iron, was sliced ​​into as easily as tofu by this single stroke; the long blade sank in all the way to the hilt!

Boom!

The pebbles tumbled down, and the cave trembled three times.

Breakthrough to the ninth level of Qi Refining!

The power of the nine tigers is a terrifying force of 45,000 jin!

Xu Mofeng slowly withdrew his long sword, looking at the deep cuts on the stone wall, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Although the Moon-Slaying Golden Blade technique is only at the entry-level Xuan rank, the power of a Xuan rank sword technique combined with a high-grade human rank body-refining technique is far more than just one plus one.

He sneered inwardly. The two Wu family Qi Refining Level 10 martial artists he had encountered before were incredibly arrogant back then because of their superior cultivation level. Now, even if they went all out, he was confident that he could cleave them into four pieces with a single strike.

"I've almost mastered the 'Tiger-Taming Body Essence Technique,' and I've almost finished eating all the fish..."

Xu Mofeng looked down at the pool. The once densely packed red fish had now been reduced to a single lone fish swimming close to the bottom, its gaze towards him seemingly filled with resentment.

"You're the only one left."

Xu Mofeng reached out and scooped it up, pointing his fingertip at the fish's head. "Don't look at me like that. Blame it on your overly nutritious appearance."

Skillfully grilled over a fire until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, one bite brings back that familiar warmth.

Just then, a mechanical voice, belatedly arriving, exploded in his mind:

[Congratulations, host, on successfully converting this opportunity. You have received the following reward: 1x Enlightenment Pill (one-day duration)]

A dull gray pill appeared out of thin air in his palm. It looked unremarkable, but Xu Mofeng's breath hitched.

Tenfold Enlightenment Pill!

Within twelve hours, comprehension increases tenfold!

"nice one!"

Without the slightest hesitation, he tilted his head back and swallowed the pill.

A cool breeze instantly rushed into his mind, and Xu Mofeng felt his mind become clear. The obscure principles of swordsmanship and the vague methods of channeling energy that he used to find difficult to understand were now as clear as if they were engraved in his mind.

He was originally of ordinary comprehension, but now his level has skyrocketed to genius level, and his thinking is astonishingly fast.

The medicine's effects last only twelve hours, and not a single minute can be wasted.

He immediately drew his sword and began practicing the Moon-Slaying Golden Sword once more.

The moves that used to be clumsy and awkward are now executed with effortless fluency, and the hidden essence of the sword intent can be seen through at a glance.

Once, twice, ten times...

Each swing of the knife brings new insights, and my knife skills improve rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Inside the cave, the blades flashed like snow, and the strong wind whipped up rocks into a frenzy. A tall figure was enveloped in the dazzling blade light, his imposing presence growing ever stronger.

In one hour, the Moon-Slaying Golden Blade went from beginner to proficient, and its swordplay gradually took shape!

In five hours, he mastered the basics of swordsmanship, his sword light cascading like a waterfall, splitting mountains and shattering rocks!

After eleven hours, his swordsmanship was perfected. With a single slash, his swordsmanship was domineering and unparalleled, and the air itself was split into layers of shockwaves!

At this moment, Xu Mofeng was already exhausted. He had not slept or drunk anything for a day and a night, and was only holding on with sheer grit.

His hands trembled slightly as he gripped the knife, his vision began to blur, but he gritted his teeth and refused to stop.

joke!

The peak state of ten times the comprehension is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Practicing it once now is equivalent to practicing it a hundred times a day!

Endure every extra moment now, and you'll save yourself ten years of arduous training later!

He shakily raised his long knife, trying to squeeze out the last bit of the medicine's potency.

When you're extremely tired, even your brain starts to feel foggy.

Just as his consciousness was about to collapse, he looked up at the dense knife marks on the cave wall, and those marks of varying depths suddenly "came to life"!

A disheveled, ragged figure appeared before them. The man's eyes were bloodshot, his hands gripping a long sword tightly. His entire body surged with overwhelming hatred and resentment. As he swung his sword, he roared out his complaints:

hatred!hatred!hatred!

I hate how unfair fate is!

A century of arduous cultivation, yet still no chance to reach the Nascent Soul stage!

All his life's work, gone to waste! In the end, he became nothing but bones, buried in a desolate mountain!

If there is an afterlife, I will once again wield the long sword... and ascend the path of martial arts once more, shattering the pinnacle!

boom!

A tremendous force suddenly exploded from Xu Mofeng's body, his meridians expanded, his blood and qi surged, and the barrier of the ninth level of Qi Refining shattered!

Qi Refining Level 10!

His eyes suddenly turned as black as ink. The resolute determination and unwillingness of the master of the Moon-Slaying Golden Blade before his death surged into his heart along with the blade marks, merging with his will.

"cut!"

With a low shout, the long sword pierced the air.

A pale black blade of light shot out from the blade and slammed into the mountain wall!

Boom—!!

The entire cave shook violently, and rocks tumbled down like rain. A section of the mountain wall in front of us was even blasted down!

Xu Mofeng stood still, still holding his sword, looking at the mess before him, his heart clear.

This strike, inheriting the unwillingness of its predecessors and embodying the will to overcome adversity, is called "The Decisive Strike"!

No matter how talented you are, facing this blade will surely lead to your death!

He was only at the Qi Refining Realm, but he was absolutely certain: this strike... could kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator!

The effects of the medicine completely wore off, and an overwhelming sense of weariness swept over me like a tidal wave.

Having mastered the Moon-Slaying Golden Blade, comprehended unparalleled sword techniques, and even broken through to the tenth level of Qi Refining... this trip to the ruins has brought him a fortune.

Xu Mofeng smiled with satisfaction, but could no longer hold on. He swayed and fell to the ground, snoring soon following him.