Chapter 433: Xiao Hei's Teachings
That tearing pain was not something an ordinary person could endure.
Zhang Ruochen's body continuously shattered, blood seeping from every inch of his skin. At this moment, his appearance was extremely ferocious and terrifying, like a blood demon sitting cross-legged there.
A full half-day passed.
The blood on his body solidified, forming a layer of reddish-brown scabs.
"Snap!"
Suddenly, the scab at his shoulder made a cracking sound, splitting open a gap.
Immediately after, the cracks gradually increased, spreading outward in all directions like a spider web.
Each crack emitted a wisp of powerful black light. Suddenly, a booming sound rang out, and the scabs covering Zhang Ruochen's body surface flew off like pieces of ceramic.
Zhang Ruochen sat cross-legged on the ground, all one hundred thousand pores on his body breathing, drawing in wisps of water-attributed spiritual energy, absorbing it into his body and converting it into true qi.
It was not that he was actively absorbing water-attributed spiritual energy; rather, the water-attributed spiritual energy was automatically flying into his body.
By refining nine jin and nine liang of Black Water Liuli Crystal, Zhang Ruochen had finally cultivated the Water Spirit Treasure Body.
Zhang Ruochen walked out of the inner space of the Time-Space Crystal and stood beneath the golden eaves. He raised his arm, and instantly, droplets of water condensed in the air.
The water droplets continuously merged, forming a small stream suspended half a zhang above the ground, flowing slowly with a "gurgling" sound.
"Strike!"
Zhang Ruochen's gaze sharpened, and he swung his arm outward.
That small stream, as if sensing Zhang Ruochen's power, immediately condensed into thirteen crystalline ice spikes, shooting out and striking a seven-zhang-tall artificial mountain.
The ice spikes pierced through like tofu, silently flying past, leaving thirteen holes in the artificial mountain.
"It is said that once you cultivate the Water Spirit Treasure Body, you only need to point a finger to freeze an entire lake into ice, or instantly melt an iceberg into a torrential flood."
Zhang Ruochen was quite satisfied with the Water Spirit Treasure Body he had cultivated.
By controlling water-attributed spiritual energy, he could fly through the air.
However, his current realm was too low, and his true qi was not yet abundant enough, so he could only fly short distances at a slow speed.
Thus, flying by controlling water-attributed spiritual energy was not as fast as activating the dragon power of the Dragon Pearl to form a pair of dragon wings and relying on them for flight.
"Refining three jin and four liang of Black Water Liuli Crystal is roughly equivalent to the results of three and a half years of my cultivation. My cultivation has indeed grown significantly. I should be considered at the middle stage of the Heavenly Extreme Realm's mid-level."
Zhang Ruochen was not in a hurry to continue refining the Golden Divine Fungus and Purple Cloud Agarwood. He walked toward the courtyard.
Staying in seclusion for cultivation was not necessarily a good thing. Going out for a walk might bring more insights.
Even from a distance, Zhang Ruochen could already hear Xiao Hei's voice.
A blazing sun hung in the sky, casting bright sunlight that filtered through the gaps in the leaves, creating strange and varied shadow patterns on the ground.
Xiao Hei sat cross-legged on a tall white stone platform, holding his head high with an arrogant expression, and said loudly, "You must understand that the cultivation of savage beasts is vastly different from that of humans. Human cultivation not only requires awakening the Divine Martial Mark but also cultivation techniques and mental methods. At the same time, one must cultivate the mind and the martial soul."
"Those who use swords cultivate the Sword Dao realm."
"Those who practice palms cultivate the Palm Dao realm."
"Those who wield blades cultivate the Blade Dao realm."
"But the cultivation of savage beasts is very simple—just one word: eat."
"The more you eat, the faster your strength increases; the better you eat, the stronger your physique becomes."
Guo Guo sat to the left below Xiao Hei, immediately bursting into laughter, revealing two snow-white rabbit teeth, and said, "I can eat the most! In one meal, I can devour a whole savage elephant. It turns out only I have mastered the secret of savage beast cultivation."
Xiao Hei glared at Guo Guo, snorted coldly, and said, "I haven't finished speaking yet. What are you laughing at?"
With a single glance from Xiao Hei, Guo Guo immediately stopped laughing, covering his mouth with both paws, not daring to continue.
Zhang Ruochen stood in the distance, watching the scene before him, and nodded with a smile.
He had to admit that Xiao Hei was quite skilled in handling things. In just a few short days, he had managed to make Guo Guo and the Demon Ape submit obediently, sitting below him to listen to his martial arts teachings.
Xiao Hei rested his paw on his chin and said, "Eating is just the most basic method of cultivation for savage beasts. A savage beast that only relies on 'eating' will forever remain just a savage beast."
"To advance to a high-level savage beast, or even to transform into a dragon or attain sainthood, one must cultivate techniques, cultivate the mind, absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, the essence of the sun and moon, and pursue the great path of the sacred, just like humans."
"Of course, if you are a direct descendant of divine beasts like divine dragons, phoenixes, qilins, or jingwei... then you wouldn't need to work hard to cultivate. You could just rely on eating to become the most powerful beings in the world. But you are not."
Xiao Hei stared at Guo Guo and the Demon Ape, sneering coldly, "Since you are not direct descendants of divine beasts, you must obediently follow this emperor's cultivation. If you listen, your future achievements will certainly not be low."
"Back in the day, even true dragons and phoenixes lined up to beg to become this emperor's disciples. This emperor was so busy back then—how could I have time to instruct them?"
Even true dragons and phoenixes had begged to become his disciples?
Guo Guo and the Demon Ape were simple-minded and naive. Hearing this, they became extremely excited, immediately kneeling on the ground, earnestly begging Xiao Hei to accept them as disciples.
Xiao Hei showed a hesitant expression but eventually reluctantly agreed.
"Originally, this emperor does not easily accept disciples... Ah, you two have gotten quite a bargain. Since you have become disciples, from now on, you must obey the master's commands. If you disobey, even if you flee to the ends of the earth, the master will surely devour you alive."
Xiao Hei stood upright, his paws behind his back, looking like a teacher, and said slowly, "Guo Guo, you have swallowed the Demon Heart. This emperor will pass on to you the supreme technique of the Devouring Demon Dragon clan, the 'Devouring Heaven Technique.' If you cultivate successfully, you might one day shed your savage beast body of the Devouring Elephant Rabbit and transform into a Devouring Demon Dragon."
With that, Xiao Hei extended a paw and pointed it at Guo Guo's brow, transmitting the cultivation method of the "Devouring Heaven Technique" to him.
As for whether cultivating the "Devouring Heaven Technique" could truly lead to transformation into a dragon, that was unknown.
Xiao Hei turned to the Demon Ape, speaking meaningfully, "Demon Ape, you have refined the Black Water Liuli Crystal and now possess the Water Spirit Treasure Body. In the future, you should refine other Five Elements spiritual treasures, striving to cultivate a Dual Spirit Treasure Body, or even a Triple Spirit Treasure Body. The master has high hopes for you."
The Demon Ape let out a low roar, immediately kowtowing to Xiao Hei in a deep bow.
"Very well. I have a secret scroll passed down through the ages from the Giant Spirit Demon Ape clan, the 'Great Demon Ten Heavens.' If you can cultivate to the seventh heaven, you will be able to cultivate the Giant Spirit Demon Ape body. Standing up, you will be like a mountain, towering at one thousand three hundred zhang. By then, you can go anywhere in heaven and earth. You will be able to overturn rivers and seas, capable of anything."
With that, Xiao Hei transmitted the technique of the "Great Demon Ten Heavens" to the Demon Ape.
Whether the "Great Demon Ten Heavens" was as powerful as he claimed was also unknown. Only after the Demon Ape cultivated it would the results be known.
For now, the Demon Ape believed it without a doubt, already regarding Xiao Hei as his enlightened master.
Xiao Hei's gaze shifted to Zhang Ruochen, and he laughed, "Zhang Ruochen, you have also cultivated the Water Spirit Treasure Body. How about becoming this emperor's disciple? This emperor can pass on a supreme divine technique to you?"