“This won’t do! I have to upgrade <Nine Transformation Golden Body Art> to the fifth transformation before the finals. Only then will my defense greatly increase and truly be impervious to sword or spear!”
After achieving the fourth transformation, Ling Xiao was not satisfied, but he was helpless. Breaking through to the fifth transformation needed at least 100,000 taels of gold.
Now, he had only 10,000 or so taels of gold. Even if he used them all, his <Nine Transformation Golden Body Art> would only slightly improve beyond the initial fourth transformation.
It was impossible to breakthrough!
However, something was still better than nothing, so he planned to use the remaining 10,000 taels of gold first.
Afterward, he would hunt demonic beasts for gold.
The stronger he became, the greater his success would be when hunting demonic beasts!
He also used the two gang qi pills from his pilfered storage ring.
After a fruitful night, Ling Xiao spat out a mouthful of morbid air. Now, faint golden gang qi surrounded his body.
This gang qi was noticeably stronger than the gang qi of ordinary Rank Fourth Martial Vein martial artists.
After the two gang qi pills were completely absorbed, he also completely consumed 10,000 taels of gold.
Although there was still a long way until his <Nine Transformation Golden Body Art> reached its fifth transformation, his gang qi had significantly increased, approaching the standard of Peak Rank Four Martial Vein.
Even without a peak internal core law, his cultivation had neared the standard of Peak Rank Four Martial Vein in such a short period of time. Other than the contribution of the gang qi pills, the greatest contributor was <Nine Transformation Golden Body Art>.
At this moment, there were four days left until the finals.
“Not enough! It’s still far from enough! With the strength of Peak Rank Four Martial Vein, I can defeat ordinary Rank Five Martial Vein martial artists, but Ling Yun isn’t ordinary. He’s a genius who also has sword intent! He’ll surely have peak martial arts!”
If he encountered Ling Yun now, comparing their martial wills, he had an equal chance of victory.
But would Ling Yu have no other hidden trumps?
Would he not have improved lately?
These were all unknown factors, so his actual chances of winning were far lower.
What’s more was that he absolutely didn’t believe that Ling Feifan, who was known as the number one genius of the Ling Clan, would be outdone by Ling Yu.
Ling Feifan was probably even more terrifying than Ling Yun!
Ling Xiao’s goal was to enter the top three, but if he could take first place, he would never settle for second.
The attention and preferential treatment received by the first place were unimaginable. It would far exceed what he currently got.
He had to get stronger!
However, whether it was making a breakthrough in his cultivation base or improving the realm of <Nine Transformation Golden Body Art>, both needed money and pills!
It was the time to visit the Crouching Dragon Mountain Range!
Now, killing a rank four demonic beast or even a peak rank four demonic beast would be relatively easy.
Moreover, he could hone his combat experience while hunting demonic beasts.
It would be a battle of life and death, not safe training at his property. Nevertheless, actual combat experience was necessary to raise his combat power.
Thinking this, he left the training room. After speaking with his grandfather Hong Qi and Little Potato, he prepared some field rations and stowed them in the Landscape Painting.
He then hid his storage ring in the house.
That thing was too conspicuous and currently unnecessary with his martial soul. Therefore, it was better to not bring it.
Heading towards the Crouching Dragon Mountain Range, Ling Xiao didn’t notice a pair of vicious eyes staring at him from the shadows.
After Ling Xiao left the Ling Clan, his stalker also left the clan’s premises.
Roughly 500 meters away from the Ling Clan, three other people joined the original person.
“This is an advance payment: 10,000 taels of gold in total as well as three gang qi pills! After the task is completed, I will give you all the remaining 40,000 taels of gold!”
This person removed a bag of gold from his storage ring and handed it to those three people.
Those three people had black scarves and were obviously members of the infamous Black Scarf Thieves who were very active in the Crouching Dragon Mountain Range.
“Hahaha, rest assured! We always eliminate disasters for money. What’s more is that brat has killed our people before. This can be counted as our revenge!”
After accepting the mission, one of the three stowed the gold and gang qi pills into his storage ring before racing after Ling Xiao.
……
After entering the Crouching Dragon Mountain Range, Ling Xiao displayed <Soaring Cloud Steps-Flood Dragon Transformation> without any reservations.
Seemingly transforming into a flood dragon, he flitted through the forest, flying through the air for long periods of time.
He had already surpassed the realm of movement techniques and could be described as flying.
Presently, his <Soaring Cloud Steps-Flood Dragon Transformation> had been cultivated to the perfection realm. Improving it a step further would either be entering sublimity or further evolving it.
However, it was impossible to evolve <Soaring Cloud Step> with advanced martial arts now; he needed peak movement techniques.
Therefore, he could only advance towards sublimity for the time being.
At home, he couldn’t use it openly, but in the Crouching Dragon Mountain Range, he didn’t have any misgivings.
His journey, in itself, was continuous training and improvement of his movement techniques.
Swish!
Swish!
In the forest, Ling Xiao’s speed was not any inferior to those small birds. However, he couldn’t reach quite the same altitude.
At present, he could fly at most 20-30 meters high.
Moreover, even when flying, he could only remain in the air for roughly 15 minutes. Afterward, he had to find a place to land and leap back into the air to fly again.
However, this feeling of freely flying was still very exciting.
At present, he was only at Rank Four Martial vein, but his <Soaring Cloud Steps> was already so powerful. If his strength reached Rank Nine Martial Vein, or <Soaring Cloud Steps> evolved further, he might truly ride the clouds and fly through the mist.
Ling Xiao anticipated the future.
Ever since he had awakened his Landscape Martial Soul, his self-confidence had grown day by day.
Although he had never given up, it had truly been painful to toil without hope.
Now, it was different. His future was bright, and all he needed was to work hard!
In less than an hour, he arrived at his destination, the periphery region of the Crouching Dragon Mountain Range. He was currently a bit deeper than he had explored in the past.
After all, he was stronger now and wanted to hunt a peak rank four demonic beast. Without venturing deeper, it would be hard to encounter one.
In the distance, demonic beasts roared, making people’s scalps tingle.
In the Heavenly Peak City, no one knew how much area this Crouching Dragon Mountain Range spanned.
The only thing certain was that the deeper one went, the higher the rank of the demonic beasts one would find.
Legend claimed that a mysterious dragon resided in the center of the Crouching Dragon Mountain Range!
Although Ling Xiao wanted to figure out the true situation, he knew himself well. With his current strength, going deeper would be courting death.
However, it was not a problem to brave the periphery regions.
He was not interested in the passing wild beasts.
He only targeted demonic beasts!
Having taken out his Breeze Sword from the Landscape Painting, he carried it on his back so that he could easily draw it at any time.
In the previous competition, he hadn’t displayed it because this thing was an excellent grade treasure sword, which could easily provoke others’ jealousy.
Fortunately, even in his final match against Ling Yihang, he hadn’t needed to use the Hundred Steps Flying Sword Technique. As a result, he had preserved this secret.
In the Crouching Dragon Mountain Range, however, keeping secrets wasn’t necessary.
This deep in the mountains, there were few traces of other cultivators having ever encroached on this land. Furthermore, his little life could be easily lost here with a moment’s carelessness, so risking a secret was worth it if it could save his life.
In addition, he had the Landscape Painting’s map, which would let him know when someone approached. Therefore, he was not too worried about his secrets being leaked.
