War Sovereign Soaring The Heavens

After pouring in the Seven Treasures Body Tempering Liquid into the bathing barrel, he took off his clothes and sat inside the barrel. Then, he closed his eyes and began to cultivate.     

The Nine Dragons War Sovereign Technique, the Spirit Serpent Form!     

Duan Ling Tian greedily absorbed the medicinal efficacy of the Seven Treasures Body Tempering Liquid, and he could acutely feel his body growing stronger as it underwent a metamorphosis.     

After a while, Duan Ling Tian finally opened his eyes when he was done absorbing the Seven Treasures Body Tempering Liquid. A confused expression appeared on his face before it was replaced with a frown. "What's going on? Why didn't I break through?"     

Over the past half month, every time he used the Seven Treasures Body Tempering Technique, he was able to clearly feel the changes in his body. Every time, he would feel as though he was close to a breakthrough, but until now, he still had not had a breakthrough.     

'I wonder if it has something to do with the Spirit Serpent Form's mental cultivation method?'     

Duan Ling Tian quickly racked his brain, searching through the Rebirth Martial Emperor's memories. It did not take long for him to find an answer.     

"F**k!" Duan Ling Tian cursed despite himself. As it turned out, that madman, the Rebirth Martial Emperor, had added an extra something in his self-created Nine Dragons War Sovereign Technique's Spirit Serpent Form.     

According to the theory, when the Spirit Serpent Form is cultivated to the ninth level of the Body Tempering Stage, one would gain physical strength comparable to three ancient mammoths. The strength of three ancient mammoths were 30,000 Pounds.     

Duan Ling Tian was currently at the eighth level of the Body Tempering stage and had a strength of 7,000 pounds. It was 2,000 pounds higher than the strength of an average martial artist at the eighth level of the Body Tempering Stage. If he managed to enter the ninth level of the Body Tempering Stage, he would be able to possess a strength of 30,000 pounds. It had to be noted that ordinary martial artists at the ninth level of the Body Tempering Stage only had the strength of 10,000 pounds. In other words, when he managed to break through to the ninth level of the Body Tempering Stage, he would be three times stronger than the average cultivator. He would possess the strength of the three ancient mammoths!     

An ordinary cultivator could only possess that sort of strength by relying on their physical body and when they reached the second level of the Core Formation Stage.     

"No wonder I was unable to break through all this time. It's due to the exceptional nature of the Nine Dragons War Sovereign Technique's Spirit Serpent Form. Due to the Seven Treasures Body Tempering Liquid constantly improving the Spirit Serpent Form to create a stable foundation, I'll possess the strength of three ancient mammoths once I break through to the Body Tempering Stage."     

Duan Ling Tian laughed bitterly. How long would he have to wait until the tides turned?     

…     

The next day, at dawn.     

When Duan Ling Tian emerged from his room, he discovered his mother had prepared a sumptuous breakfast. He was slightly taken aback. "Mom, what's the occasion?"     

"Ling Tian, it seems like Ke'er will be protecting you instead of the other way around. Ke'er has broken through to the ninth level of the Body Tempering Stage last night," Li Rou said teasingly as she looked at Duan Ling Tian,     

"Really?!" Duan Ling Tian was not too surprised.     

"Young Master." Ke'er slowly walked out of her room. The slim and graceful young girl seemed to look even more charming even though only a night had passed.     

"Ke'er, it seems like you'll have to protect me from now on." Duan Ling Tian smiled tenderly.     

Duan Ling Tian had expected Ke'er's breakthrough. After all, with the Seven Treasures Body Tempering Liquid, the Thunder Flame Pill, and Ke'er's natural talent, it would be strange if she did not break through. Moreover, the Frost God's Sword Technique was not abnormal like the Nine Dragons War Sovereign Technique.     

...     

After breakfast, Duan Ling Tian informed his mother that he would bring Ke'er along when he left the Li clan Estate. This time, he planned to spend a few nights in the Misty Forest with her to properly temper themselves.     

During their journey to the Misty Forest, Duan Ling Tian laughed at himself mockingly in his heart. 'If I had noticed the abnormalities of the Nine Dragons War Sovereign Technique's Spirit Serpent Form earlier, I wouldn't have agreed to battle with Li Zhong in half a month in the Clan Martial Meet.'     

Originally, he had thought he would definitely have a breakthrough before the Clan Martial Meet. At that time, he thought that after breaking through to the ninth level of the Body Tempering Stage, he would possess around 15,000 pounds of strength, comparable to the strength of one and a half ancient mammoths. Compared to Li Zhong, who was at the first level of the Core Formation Stage, he would only be weaker by a few thousand pounds. If he attacked unexpectedly while using the Sword Drawing Arts, he thought he had a good chance of defeating Li Zhong.     

Duan Ling Tian sighed when he thought about the predicament he was currently in. The ninth level of the Body Tempering Stage seemed very far away. Even if he found a way to increase his physical body's strength to that of three ancient mammoths with the help of the Seven Treasures Body Tempering Liquid, it would still at least take him half a year.     

Duan Ling Tian muttered under his breath, 'It's really true… One should not speak too soon...'     

"Young Master, what's this about speaking too soon?" Ke'er looked at him curiously.     

"No… It's nothing…." Duan Ling Tian smiled sheepishly.     

This time they entered the Misty Forest easily based on their previous experience. It was no longer as difficult.     

Duan Ling Tian and Ke'er hunted wild animals for a while before they finally arrived near the inner area of the Misty Forest when the sun was setting.     

The wild animals around this area were quite ferocious. If Ke'er did not break through to the ninth level of the Body Tempering Stage, Duan Ling Tian would not be so bold to bring her so deep into the Misty Forest.     

Spirit Serpent Movement Technique!     

Sword Drawing Arts!     

Duan Ling Tian was like a spirit serpent, and his Violet Meteorite Flexible Sword was like the tongue of a poisonous serpent. Every time he slashed his sword, it would reap the lives of the wild animals he targeted.     

Profound Rippling Steps!     

Compared to the peculiar movements of Duan Ling Tian's movement technique, Ke'er's movements were graceful.     

...     

That night, in the Misty Forest, Duan Ling Tian and Ke'er slept out in the open.     

As a former exceptional weapons specialist, sleeping in the wild was almost an everyday occurrence. However, it was different for Ke'er. She tossed and turned, feeling restless. It was until late at night that she finally fell asleep listening to Duan Ling Tian's snoring.     

In fact, Duan Ling Tian was not yet asleep. He sat on the tree branch that he was previously lying on and watched as the young girl finally fell soundly asleep. A smile could be seen blooming on his face. At this moment, he felt a simple life like this was not bad.     

…     

The next day, at dawn.     

Duan Ling Tian was jolted awake by some noises. He discovered the noises were from seven people. He determined there were five men and two women who were approaching from afar. They were young, roughly around the age of seventeen or eighteen.     

When the group of people discovered Duan Ling Tian and Ke'er, they were slightly taken aback. They did not expect that there were people younger than them who were bold enough to spend the night in Misty Forest. Moreover, they were only two of them in a group.     

At this moment, the five young men looked at Ke'er with a burning gaze.     

On the other hand, the two girls' eyes brimmed with envy when they saw Ke'er.     

When the group of seven people finally arrived near Duan Ling Tian, a tall youth asked his companions, "Should we ask them for help?"     

"Are you crazy? With two additional people, the share would be smaller. It's only a Black Python. It'll be easy for seven of us to kill it!" a short youth said with a frown on his face.     

A young girl dressed in revealing clothing with a heavily made-up face said, "That's right. If you're scared, you don't have to come along. Then, the six of us will have a bigger share."     

The tall youth fell silent.     

The seven of them passed by Duan Ling Tian and Ke'er, walking toward a different area.     

"Black Python?" Duan Ling Tian narrowed his eyes as he searched through the Rebirth Martial Emperor's memories.     

The Black Python was a fierce beast that evolved from a wild animal. Its strength is comparable to a Core Formation cultivator. Rumor had it that the nests of Black Pythons had treasures formed from Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy. There were even rare medicinal herbs, ores, and spirit fruits.     

With that knowledge in mind, Duan Ling Tian said to Ke'er, "Ke'er, let's follow them and see what happens."     

And thus, Duan Ling Tian and Ke'er followed the seven people from afar.     

Soon enough, the seven people quickly entered the deeper parts of the Misty Forest. This part of the forest was shrouded by fog all year round.     

After entering the area, the seven figures slowly became indiscernible.     

"S**t, I lost them." Duan Ling Tian frowned.     

Bang!     

At this moment, a loud noise reverberated nearby.     

Duan Ling Tian and Ke'er silently made their way to the source of the noise.     

What greeted their sight was the seven people from before fighting a huge multi-color tiger in a huge clearing.     

The colorful tiger's body was enormous. It was definitely bigger than an ordinary tiger. Moreover, its strength was comparable to a cultivator at the first level of the Core Formation stage. It was extremely ferocious.     

"Four of them are at the ninth level of the Body Tempering Stage…. No wonder they dared to hunt the Black Python."     

Duan Ling Tian's heart stirred as he saw the silhouettes of ancient mammoths above three young men and one girl.     

Finally, the seven people managed to kill the huge multi-color tiger. The price they paid for that was one of their companions, a cultivator of the ninth level of the Body Tempering Stage being injured.     

After collecting the valuable fur and other parts of the multi-color tiger, the seven of them continued forward.     

Similarly, Duan Ling Tian and Ke'er continued following them from afar.     

After some time, the seven people finally came to a halt in front of a remote cave.     

'The Black Python is inside?' Duan Ling Tian brought Ke'er with him to hide behind a tree in the distance. He watched as one of the seven people threw a stone into the cave.     

In just a blink of an eye, an enormous figure slithered out from the cave at top speed. It was an enormous python with entire pitch-black scales. The Black Python was over ten meters long. Its eyes were cold and filled with killing intent while its tongue flicked in and out at lightning speed.     

"Let's do it!"     

In just an instant, the seven people moved and flew straight toward the Black Python, attacking with all their might.     

Whoosh!     

The Black Python moved as well. It looked like a bolt of black lightning when it moved. Its tail swung and hit one of the youths, sending him flying. The youth fell to the ground and fainted immediately.     

At this moment, the tall youth shouted, "Not good. This Black Python isn't simply at the first level of the Core Formation Stage!"     

The young girl with heavy makeup looked towards the sword-wielding youth as she shouted in a delicate voice, "Wang Dong, pierce its weak spot!"     

"You guys, hold it back for a moment!" the sword-wielding youth shouted as he looked for a chance to strike.     

Alas, the speed of the Black Python was not something they could compare to.     

Shortly after, Another youth was down. His head was bitten off by the Black Python. There was a bloody carnage from this.     

Meanwhile, Duan Ling Tian who was watching from a distance did not have any change in his expression.     

However, Ke'er's eyes contained a hint of pity as she said, "Young Master, should we help them?"     

"We don't even know if they want our help. They might think we want a share of their spoils." Duan Ling Tian shook his head.     

After a moment, with the remaining five people fighting desperately, the sword-wielding youth eventually found an opportunity and pierced the weak point of the Black Python. However, it seemed to be slightly off target.     

Bang!     

The Black Python suddenly went into a frenzy.     

The remaining five people were either bitten to death or sent flying by a wave of the python's tail.     

Only when the last person was dead did the Black Python drop heavily on the ground. A hint of sorrow could be seen in its eyes.     

Whoosh! Whoosh!     

Duan Ling Tian and Ke'er dropped to the ground, reaping the fruits of the seven people's labor.     

At this moment, Duan Ling Tian noticed the Black Python had raised its head and gaze at him. Its piercing eyes seemed to contain a hint of pleading.     

"Huh?" Duan Ling Tian was baffled.     

The Black Python suddenly turned to look into the cave. It shook its head as though it was asking something from Duan Ling Tian.     

Only when Duan Ling Tian entered the cave did he understand what the Black Python wanted.     

Inside the cave, Duan Ling Tian saw three spirit fruits hanging on the branch of two peculiar trees prospectively. Most importantly, he saw two snake eggs that seemed as though they could hatch at any moment.     

Out of the three spirit fruits, two were the same whereas the other larger spirit fruit was slightly different.     

"This is… a Dark Spirit Fruit!" The memories of the Rebirth Martial Emperor flashed in Duan Ling Tian's mind.     

Duan Ling Tian's heart stirred and his face flushed red as he looked at the slightly larger red spirit fruit.