Cultivation Begins with Skill Points
Chapter 313 - 312 Taishan

Chapter 313: Chapter 312 Taishan

"Feng Lan Sword Lord... truly a remarkable talent."

Zhong Lin could only come up with this line after pondering for a long time, and it made him even more wary of this world.

He originally thought that Martial Arts cultivation was just about harvesting resources from the heavens, following the saying that nature nurtures all to feed humanity. To practice Martial Arts was to scavenge for spiritual objects of heaven and earth, refine them into elixirs, consume them, and thus break through realms.

Unexpectedly, it turned out that humans were also a kind of resource that could be utilized for one’s own advancement through some special methods.

Feng Lan Sword Lord somehow got hold of the "Blood Demon Array," which could extract essence blood from within a Martial Artist’s body—a surefire demonic act.

"I have the System Panel to aid me. As long as I’m careful and have enough resources, one day I will reach the peak of Martial Arts. Henceforth, in my cultivation journey, I must remain vigilant to prevent ruining myself in an unexpected pitfall."

The emergence of the Blood Demon Array only made Zhong Lin’s already cautious heart even more careful.

Zhong Lin forced himself to calm the turmoil within him and pointed at the treasure-stealing thief who was battling Feng Lan Sword Lord: "What’s going on with this one?"

Wan Pu shook his head, also looking puzzled.

Shi Yunyi stepped forward and explained, "Let me explain! This person’s name is Leng Wenzhong, though it’s unclear if that’s his real name. Five years ago, he became an apprentice under Elder Baixun of the Seven Stars Sect. When Feng Lan Sword... Sword Lord suddenly resurrected and activated the Blood Demon Array with the intention of refining everyone, Leng Wenzhong shed his disguise. He was the thief three years ago who stole the Mystic Sky Stick from the Sea Ape Clan."

Shi Yunyi wasn’t in a good mental state, his eyes filled with pain.

And rightfully so—he’d always respected his master, not expecting him to be so cold and ruthless, planning to refine the entire sect along with the Martial Artists of Luoxing Islands as resources for his own advancement.

Just recently, he was even thinking about standing alongside the Seven Stars Sect against the onslaught of the Fierce Sun Palace, only to realize now that he was the real fool.

Zhong Lin offered no words of comfort; Shi Yunyi had been far too sheltered, and his mental resilience was lacking.

"Elder, what should we do now?"

The battle in the sky was still ongoing, but any discerning person could see that Leng Wenzhong was at a disadvantage. Although the Mystic Sky Stick was a Mystical Artifact of immense power, the wielder lacked the strength to wield it effectively against the half-step Xuandan Feng Lan Sword Lord; it was only a matter of time before defeat.

Once that happened, everyone would perish, becoming nourishment under the Blood Demon Array of Feng Lan Sword Lord.

"What do we do? We just sit tight and wait, that’s what."

Zhong Lin’s eyes surged with battle intent, his gaze fixed firmly on Feng Lan Sword Lord suspended in mid-air.

The entire Seven Stars Sect was already shrouded by the Blood Demon Array. He had just tried and found no way to break through and escape, so the only breakthrough point lay with Feng Lan Sword Lord.

Moreover, a swift resolution was needed; otherwise, if Feng Lan Sword Lord seized the Mystic Sky Stick, there would be no chance left.

"Early-stage Yun Ling Realm cultivation, along with Nine Layers of the Dragon Elephant Golden Body... I wonder if I can withstand it?"

Zhong Lin licked his lips, his battle fervor surging.

Martial Artists, battling heaven and earth.

Even someone like Zhong Lin, who preferred to play it safe, couldn’t suppress his desire for battle after embarking on the Martial Arts journey.

Zhong Lin abruptly took a step forward.

Rumble!

A formidable aura like tangible essence swept wildly, shaking all directions.

The ground under his feet seemed to turn into a water surface, with layers of ripples surging into towering waves of earth, dozens of zhang high.

Shi Yunyi and Wan Pu, closest to him, were directly blown away, looking incredulously at Zhong Lin amidst the sky-darkening dust and debris.

It wasn’t just the two of them; every surviving Martial Artist around was wide-eyed with surprise.

"Who... who is this? Such a powerful aura?"

"Seems like it’s Zhong the Pill Master from Purple Cloud Sect."

"How is that possible? Aren’t Pill Masters said to be unskilled in combat?"

"I don’t know either, but it seems to be him."

In the midst of the battle within the void, Feng Lan Sword Lord suddenly sensed a tremendous aura approaching, his heart constricted.

"Not good."

Instinctively, he thrust out a palm, sensing a warning in his heart.

Zhong Lin’s figure appeared above Feng Lan Sword Lord with almost teleport-like speed, his five fingers clenched into a fist as he extended his arm, swinging it out directly.

Within a hundred zhang radius around him, the air exploded one by one, and the people far below at the Golden Light Hall were blown backward by the fierce wind generated by the punch.

Boom!

As Zhong Lin’s fist swung, a mountainous shadow rose with it. When the iron fist was raised to its highest, the massive mountain suddenly exploded open, and a gigantic iron fist, carrying an indomitable aura, crashed down at Feng Lan Sword Lord.

A punch and a palm collided.

Ferocious airwaves spread toward the surroundings with the two as the center, terrifying to the extreme.

Leng Wenzhong’s face changed too, raising the Mystic Sky Stick in front of his chest.

Feng Lan Sword Lord’s face, however, changed drastically. Caught off guard, he only felt an immensely strong power, as if he were struck by a mountain, hurling him hundreds of zhang away.

While still in mid-air, he coughed out blood repeatedly, his bones and tendons cracking audibly.

"Damn it, I’ll kill you."

Feng Lan Sword Lord instantly saw through Zhong Lin’s realm, fury surging in his heart.

He had been fighting evenly with Leng Wenzhong, which he could attribute to the Mystic Sky Stick. But now, being ambushed and wounded by what he considered an insignificant ant made him wonder how to face himself.

With an enraged howl, Feng Lan Sword Lord swung his body, and a torrent of power surged around him, the air roaring violently like a tide.

A flash of sword light, and a massive Sword Qi slashed toward Zhong Lin, its speed so great that evasion seemed impossible.

"Haha, good timing."

Zhong Lin laughed heartily, a golden gleam rising in his eyes.

In a split second, with no time to dodge nor intent to dodge, Zhong Lin raised his arms in an ’X’.

"Dragon Coiling Star."

Mystical runes flowed around Zhong Lin’s body, akin to dragon scales.

Bang!

Massive shockwaves dispersed evenly like ripples, and the upsurge of qi rolled the sea below like a tsunami, sweeping in all directions.

Zhong Lin felt an unimaginable force travel instantaneously from where his arms crossed to every minute part of his body,

exploding violently.

Blood splattered everywhere.

Glancing down at his arms, the "dragon scales" were shattered, revealing a large wound, even exposing splintered bone.

Zhong Lin grinned with a light smile, which swiftly grew into belly laughter.

He was earlier worried that the nine layers of the Dragon Elephant Golden Body wouldn’t be able to withstand a top expert of the half-step Xuandan Realm; now it seemed it was not that intimidating, or rather, he had underestimated the might of the perfected Dragon Elephant Golden Body.

With a thought, the muscles around his wound wriggled and were fully healed in moments.

"Again."

With a wild laugh, Zhong Lin took another step forward, closing the distance once more.

The fist technique he deployed was none other than the "Mountain Splitting Fist Technique," a technique whose power increased with proximity and is a supreme fist art for close-quarters combat.

Moreover, Zhong Lin had already comprehended Fist Intent, making each punch and kick excessively ferocious and domineering, shaking the spirit.

Zhong Lin’s figure leaped high, and behind him suddenly appeared the shadow of a mountain,

Its mass imposing, stretching skyward, and exuding an ancient, desolate aura that seemed to suppress the heavens and earth.

If any time-travelers were present, they would surely shout out loud, "Taishan."

South Heavenly Gate, Eighteen Pans, Jade Emperor Summit, Heavenly Candle Peak, Phoenix Pond...

A miniaturized shadow of "Taishan" appeared majestically.