Chapter 152: Cultivate Hard and Make Progress Every Day

Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Cultivate Hard and Make Progress Every Day

The experts on the Wind and Cloud List all had cultivation at the Peak of the Ninth Realm. In terms of Inner Strength, they were only half a step away from the Innate Realm. If they could take that step, they could convert all the True Qi in their bodies into the more powerful Innate True Essence. As for External Skills, some experts on the Wind and Cloud List were not even weaker than Innate Realm powerhouses.

"Oh? So you’re going back on your word?" Ye Xing sneered. "I wonder who it was that swore up and down before, saying that if I saved his life, he would willingly serve me."

"Er... Before..." Gao Zhisong couldn’t help but blush. His previous promise to serve Ye Xing had, of course, been nothing but an attempt to placate him. He figured that as long as Ye Xing saved him, once his injuries healed, he’d be the one calling the shots with his superior strength. He just never expected that detestable Ye Xing would actually plant a Heart-devouring Gu in him.

"My Cultivation may only be at the Martial Arts Third Realm," Ye Xing said, "but give me an opening, and I can even kill a Martial Arts Ninth Layer Martial Artist!"

Gao Zhisong’s expression froze.

"What? You don’t believe me?" Ye Xing smiled.

"Oh, I believe you. You’re a devious one. The last time I was hunting you down, if I hadn’t kept my guard up, I would’ve fallen right into your trap," Gao Zhisong said with a wry smile. "When I was chasing you for the Purple Lightning Golden Eagle, you shot at me without any warning. If I wasn’t vigilant enough and my reactions weren’t fast enough, I would have been a goner."

"And you still dare to look down on me!" Ye Xing said.

"It’s not that I’m looking down on you. I admit your Hidden Weapon is formidable, and your Purple Lightning Golden Eagle will be terrifying once it matures. As long as you don’t meet an early end, you’re guaranteed a place in the future of the Tang Country. Your external potential is immense, but... your personal cultivation is just too low. You’re already in your twenties, yet your cultivation is still only at the Martial Arts Third Realm. I’m guessing your innate talent for the Martial Dao must be poor," Gao Zhisong said, shaking his head repeatedly. "I will not pledge my life to a weakling."

"There’s some truth to what you say, but you’re wrong about one thing. I didn’t start cultivating as a child. I’ve been cultivating for less than a year!" Ye Xing said. ’It’s not even a year, it’s probably been less than six months. Three to five months at most.’

"Less than a year of cultivation to break through to the Martial Arts Third Realm? How is that possible?" Gao Zhisong exclaimed. "Are you cultivating a Celestial Tier Treasure Manual?"

Then he muttered, "A Celestial Skill Treasure Manual is amazing, but even with one of those, it would be extremely difficult!"

"You don’t need to ask any more questions. I can tell you with absolute certainty that serving me will bring you nothing but benefits. Now, think it over. What’s more important, your pride or your life?" Ye Xing’s eyes narrowed as he spoke in a cold voice. "Besides, one expert from the Wind and Cloud List has already died at my hands. You’ll just be the second."

"The second?" Gao Zhisong was stunned. "Who else has died at your hands?"

"Zhao Tianxuan," Ye Xing said flatly.

"’Gale Swordsman’ Zhao Tianxuan?" Gao Zhisong’s expression changed. Zhao Tianxuan’s moniker was ’Gale Swordsman,’ and his rank on the Wind and Cloud List was higher than his own, ’Seven-Snake Centipede Whip’.

There were a total of 108 names on the Wind and Cloud List, every one a top-tier expert among Ninth Realm Martial Artists. They were the group of powerhouses closest to the Innate Realm. Those ranked at the very top were even on par with Innate Realm experts. Gao Zhisong, the ’Seven-Snake Centipede Whip,’ was ranked 79th, placing him in the lower-middle tier. The ’Gale Swordsman,’ Zhao Tianxuan, on the other hand, was in the middle tier, a cut above Gao Zhisong in strength.

"No wonder there hasn’t been any news of Zhao Tianxuan in the martial world lately. Rumor had it he appeared in Sunset City over a month ago, and then he just vanished into thin air, without a trace. So that’s what happened..." Gao Zhisong’s gaze flickered. After a long moment of contemplation, he said in a heavy voice, "I can agree to serve you, but on one condition: you must reach the Martial Arts Seventh Realm. Only then will I serve you willingly!"

"The Martial Arts Seventh Realm?" Ye Xing’s brow furrowed. He looked at Gao Zhisong, saw the determination in his eyes and his unyielding, ready-to-die-for-his-principles expression, and could only give a resigned smile. "Fine. Until I reach the Seventh Realm, you can continue to roam the martial world. You don’t need to be at my constant beck and call. However, if I run into serious trouble, you’ll have to lend a hand a few times, won’t you?"

"Of course!" Gao Zhisong grinned. "Otherwise, if you get yourself killed, wouldn’t I die right along with you?"

The Poisonous Insect was a mysterious thing. The moment it sensed its master’s death, the Heart-devouring Gu would fly into a rage and brutally devour its host’s heart. Thus, if Ye Xing were to die someday, Gao Zhisong, Ma Feng, Hong Hai, and the others would all die with him. There was nothing to be done about it for now; he would have to wait until he could fully trust them before considering removing the Poisonous Insects. Only Ye Xing, the one who had planted the Gu, could make the Heart-devouring Gu crawl out of their hearts. If anyone else were to attempt to remove it, the Heart-devouring Gu would become more terrifying than a ticking time bomb.

"How are your injuries?" Ye Xing asked.

"These minor injuries are nothing. Your Healing Medicine is all Upper Grade; I should be fifty or sixty percent recovered by tomorrow. It’s just that Fu Yifan’s sword strike was particularly vicious. Once I’m fully healed, I’ll definitely settle the score with him." A cold glint flashed in Gao Zhisong’s eyes, but then his expression changed as if he’d just remembered something.

"What’s wrong?" Ye Xing asked.

Gao Zhisong gave a wry smile. "I just remembered that Fu Yifan has already obtained the Thunder Heart Spring Wood. In the future, I’m afraid that far from getting my revenge, I’ll have to actively avoid him."

"Fu Yifan’s Thunder Heart Spring Wood?" Ye Xing’s expression became incredibly odd, like he was trying his hardest not to laugh.

"Alright, you just focus on healing. I need to get back to my Cultivation."

With that, Ye Xing left the West Guest Room and returned to his Training Room to begin his Cultivation.

Gao Zhisong’s words had indeed spurred Ye Xing on. Already a diligent cultivator, he now became even more driven.

Inside the cave that was his Training Room,

The Purple Light Group was wreathed in a shimmering, ethereal mist, gathering the surrounding Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi. In addition to the Purple Light Group, Ye Xing also activated the Thunder Heart Spring Wood within his body.

Instantly, the already rich Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi within the cave became dense to an extreme degree.

Ye Xing sat cross-legged, practicing his Innate Skill. The Gale Leopard and the Little Purple Eagle were also off to the side, absorbing and refining the Primordial Qi to increase their Demon Power Cultivation.

Time trickled by. Roughly two to three shichen later, Ye Xing opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing within them. ’The Purple Light Group plus the Thunder Heart Spring Wood... this cultivation effect is absolutely insane!’ He felt the True Qi surging inside his body; he had taken another huge step toward the Martial Arts Fourth Realm.

Ye Xing glanced at his watch. It was already 9:00 a.m. the next day.

’I need to make a trip back to Earth. By my calculations, Director Zhang should be about done filming his movie. I have to go pick up Erhei,’ Ye Xing thought. With that, he took the Little Purple Eagle and the Gale Leopard and stepped into the Purple Light Group Teleportation Gate.