Traversing countless worlds from the primordial era

Chapter 28 Rejecting the Earthly Fiend Golden Body Again

Wang Song and his group had been missing for half a year, unnoticed by the others; it was quite normal for cultivators to go into seclusion for years. However, outside Huangfeng Valley, a turbulent situation was brewing, with the six major sects searching for a cultivator surnamed Lei. Lei Ming had acquired a large amount of resources in those markets and had also killed disciples from various sects who were handling dirty business, resulting in the disappearance of many powerful rogue cultivators.

Lei Ming was unaware of what was happening outside, but he and Han Li had become famous in Huangfeng Valley.

Not long ago, Han Li successfully established his foundation and registered with the sect leader. Zhong Lingdao also remembered Han Li and, upon learning that he possessed four-attribute spiritual roots, and recalling Lei Ming's foundation establishment with five-attribute spiritual roots, inadvertently spread the news. Lei Ming and Han Li immediately became role models for the outer disciples, as those with exceptional talent were few and far between in the cultivation world; the vast majority possessed three or four-attribute spiritual roots. The successful foundation establishment of Lei Ming and Han Li gave these people hope for their own breakthroughs.

After Han Li reached the Foundation Establishment stage, he was suddenly summoned by Li Huayuan. Li Huayuan had initially accepted Han Li as a nominal disciple and promised to accept him as a formal disciple after he broke through to the next level.

"I was truly astonished when I heard the news of your Foundation Establishment a few days ago." Li Huayuan was still somewhat surprised to see Han Li achieve Foundation Establishment. He had only mentioned it casually and hadn't taken it to heart.

"I succeeded by sheer luck," Han Li said.

"With four elemental spiritual roots, your fortune is truly remarkable," Li Huayuan sighed.

"Han Li's luck isn't the best. I've heard that before him, there was another disciple with five elemental spiritual roots who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage," a beautiful young woman of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight said with a charming smile beside Li Huayuan.

"A foundation-building cultivator with five elemental roots—that's truly extraordinary," Li Huayuan said, then suddenly remembered something. "What's that disciple's name?"

"I think his surname is Lei," the young woman said, frowning.

"This disciple knows," Yu Kun, another disciple of Li Huayuan, stepped forward and said, "That disciple is called Lei Ming, and he once participated in the Blood Forbidden Trial."

Li Huayuan immediately remembered and snorted coldly. Back then, Lei Ming refused to become his disciple. If Lei Ming hadn't reached the Foundation Establishment stage, it would have been fine, but now that he had, his refusal felt like a slap in the face.

"Yu Kun, call Lei Ming over as well."

Half a day later, Lei Ming followed Yu Kun into Li Huayuan's cave. Seeing Yu Kun's disheveled appearance, Li Huayuan couldn't help but ask, "What happened?"

Yu Kun said embarrassedly, "Reporting to Master, it was my first time meeting Junior Brother Lei, and there was a slight misunderstanding."

Li Huayuan was even more surprised. He knew his disciple's strength; he was considered a formidable figure among Foundation Establishment cultivators. But judging from his appearance, he had clearly suffered a loss at Lei Ming's hands. And Lei Ming had only just reached the Foundation Establishment stage.

"You're quite good," Li Huayuan said, looking at Lei Ming.

Lei Ming bowed and said, "This disciple was unaware of the gravity of the situation and must thank Senior Brother Yu for his leniency."

Li Huayuan then looked at Lei Ming and, noticing his profound aura and composed demeanor, said, "Although you possess five elemental roots, your successful Foundation Establishment is a great achievement. I see potential in you and intend to take you under my wing. What do you say?"

Li Huayuan's Daoist partner chuckled, "How can you accept a disciple like this? You didn't even prepare a gift for the meeting."

"It was my oversight," Li Huayuan said with a smile, slapping his forehead. "Consider this yellow rhinoceros bead a small gift for us."

Upon seeing this, Yu Kun couldn't help but show a look of jealousy.

"This Yellow Rhinoceros Pearl is the core of a fourth-tier demon beast. It can ward off all poisons. You should take it," said Li Huayuan's Daoist partner.

Li Huayuan and his Daoist partner both believed that Lei Ming would not refuse to become their disciple, but Lei Ming still refused.

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Uncle Li, but I have already made up my mind about the path I want to take. I'm afraid that if I were to become your disciple, I would be letting you down," Lei Ming said neither humbly nor arrogantly.

Upon hearing this, Li Huayuan's face immediately darkened, and the young woman next to him couldn't help but cover her mouth. It was the first time she had ever seen someone reject her husband.

"He actually dared to refuse Master!" Yu Kun was stunned.

"Would Master be so enraged as to attack Brother Lei?" Han Li worried.

Li Huayuan stared at Lei Ming, his aura as a Core Formation cultivator pressing down on him. Lei Ming felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him, and he involuntarily bent over. The pressure grew heavier and heavier, and Lei Ming almost couldn't hold on any longer; his legs were about to buckle, but he gritted his teeth and persevered.

"Good, good, good." Seeing that Lei Ming was determined not to kneel, Li Huayuan said "good" three times. "Since that's the case, then step down. I want to see what kind of path you can take."

Lei Ming took a deep breath and wiped the sweat from his brow.

"Then this disciple will take his leave."

Lei Ming left Li Huayuan's place, a chill running down his spine. Having felt Li Huayuan's imposing aura, he now had a better understanding of Core Formation cultivators. Lei Ming had originally thought he could challenge Core Formation cultivators with his Five Elements Divine Light, but now he abandoned that idea.

"No wonder there might not be one Core Formation cultivator out of a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators. The gap between these two realms is too great," Lei Ming thought to himself. "But I will soon surpass you, and I will repay you for everything you have today."

Lei Ming glanced back at Li Huayuan's cave dwelling, then flew away on his magical artifact.

Two days later, Han Li returned to Lei Ming's cave, but Lei Ming had already left. He had refused Li Huayuan, and with the Wang Song affair still a concern, he dared not stay in Huangfeng Valley any longer.

"Brother Han, I'll be leaving now. You can use this cave dwelling now. I urgently need the five elemental spiritual items. If you see any, please help me collect some. I haven't decided where to go yet. I'll let you know once I've settled down."

After reading it, Han Li crushed the communication talisman. He understood Lei Ming's decision. Lei Ming's refusal of Li Huayuan this time meant he had thoroughly offended him. Even if Li Huayuan didn't personally intervene, his disciples wouldn't let Lei Ming off the hook.

"Brother Lei is very strong, and he won't have any problems leaving Huangfeng Valley. I should hurry up and improve my own strength." Han Li said, and began to go into seclusion to study the cultivation technique given to him by Li Huayuan.

After leaving Huangfeng Valley, Lei Ming concealed himself as a rogue cultivator and quickly made a name for himself among the rogue cultivators of the Yue Kingdom. He no longer used the Five Elements Divine Light, but with his superb Five Elements spells and profound magical power, even cultivators in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage were no match for him.

Although independent cultivators don't have many resources, they have a wide network of information. Lei Ming quickly found out the location of a Fiend Cave.

"My Earthly Fiend Golden Body has stagnated for several years, and finally there is hope for a breakthrough!" Lei Ming was overjoyed. The cultivation of the Earthly Fiend Golden Body requires Earthly Fiend Qi. The first three levels do not require much, but to break through to the fourth level, one needs extremely pure Earthly Fiend Qi, which can only be found in the Earthly Fiend Cave.

"According to the introduction of the Earthly Fiend Golden Body, the third level of the Earthly Fiend Golden Body is equivalent to a top-tier magic weapon, the fourth level of the Earthly Fiend Golden Body surpasses a top-tier magic weapon, but is still inferior to a magic treasure. Only at the fifth level can the Earthly Fiend Golden Body truly withstand magic treasures. However, no one has reached this fifth level in the past hundred years."

Lei Ming was also collecting other body-refining techniques, but none of them were as powerful as the Earthly Fiend Golden Body. This was normal; body-refining techniques were scarce to begin with, and those that could be cultivated to the Core Formation stage were even rarer.

Lei Ming already knew that the Earthly Fiend Cave was located in Yuanwu Kingdom, so he immediately set off for it. Three days later, Lei Ming arrived atop a volcano, which was spewing thick black smoke and churning crimson lava at its center.

"The Earthly Fiend Cave is nearby." Lei Ming descended his flying boat. This flying boat of his was a top-tier flying magic artifact, extremely precious, and its flying speed was also extremely fast.

Lei Ming searched for two days and finally found the Earthly Fiend Qi. Earthly Fiend Qi is a type of spiritual energy deep underground, but it cannot be directly absorbed by cultivators. It is extremely violent, damaging a cultivator's meridians and polluting their primordial spirit. Generally, only demonic cultivators use it for cultivation. Over time, righteous cultivators have come to regard Earthly Fiend Qi as demonic energy.

The Earthly Fiend Golden Body requires the Earthly Fiend Qi to temper the body, a process that is extremely painful but effective.

Following the earthly energy, Lei Ming found the Earthly Fiend Cave. The dark entrance led directly underground, and Lei Ming felt a chill. There was no danger at the entrance, but Lei Ming had a very bad feeling about it.

Lei Ming took out a talisman and cast a mid-level defensive spell on himself before flying into the cave.

(End of this chapter)