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"Indeed, the effect is not significant. It seems I can't just give up." With a glimmer of hope, Ren Pingsheng tried once more at the depth of forty zhang, the place where he had previously cultivated, but the result was clearly not what he wanted. That flicker of hope was completely extinguished.
"One must be mad to survive; compared to life, this little hardship is nothing." Gritting his teeth, he continued down the side path he was on.
The scorching heat surged from all directions. Just taking a breath felt like being roasted in fire. Ren Pingsheng had only advanced a dozen zhang before stopping; he had reached the very bottom of the Lava Cave and could vaguely see the distant ground fire and lava.
At that moment, he dared not take another step forward. He had a strange feeling that if he did, it might cost him his life. Even if he didn't move forward, he didn't know how long he could hold on.
Now, he couldn't even sweat; it evaporated instantly. His face was flushed, and his features were twisted. He truly doubted whether he could calm himself to cultivate the Nine Turns Body Refinement Technique here.
Sitting down wherever he could, the intense heat around him was clearly not easy to overcome. After sitting for a quarter of an hour, Ren Pingsheng suddenly flashed and darted outside, then took out his water pouch and gulped down several mouthfuls of water, his eyes filled with panic.
Fortunately, he was not one to easily admit defeat. After resting, he returned to his previous position and stayed there for a whole quarter of an hour this time. He continued this relentless effort and persistence.
Now Ren Pingsheng could sit here and cultivate for an entire hour. This place truly was the best for practicing the Nine Turns Body Refinement Technique. He could even feel that his body's strength and meridian resilience were improving every moment, albeit very subtly. This became his motivation to keep going.
In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed. Ren Pingsheng's Nine Turns Body Refinement Technique had made significant progress; he had advanced three more zhang from his previous position and was now just a step away from the ground fire and lava. He could see the occasional bursting lava bubbles splashing sparks.
Ren Pingsheng looked quite awkward; his clothes were tattered with holes everywhere. The most pitiful part was that his hair and eyebrows had long since disappeared, leaving him bald; his lips were completely cracked and stained with blood. His skin also appeared an unhealthy red, resembling a ripe apple.
"I have a feeling that I should be able to break through the Nine Turns Body Refinement Technique in just two days. Tomorrow I'll see if I can advance another step and cultivate right next to the ground fire and lava." With his eyes open, devoid of hair or eyebrows, he looked very strange. If someone were caught off guard, they would surely be startled.
After checking that he was nearly at his limit, Ren Pingsheng stood up and walked back. He needed to go outside for some fresh air; if he didn't let his body cool down, he feared it might actually catch fire. Even now, he could smell a faint scent of cooked meat; it was clear that his body had truly reached its limit.
Even so, looking at his expression, there wasn't much change. After coming down here time after time, whether one called it adaptation or numbness, in short, he had persisted.
Not only his body but also his willpower had undergone repeated tempering. Now even if he were cut several times, he could remain unfazed. Of course, such things were best avoided; he was no masochist.
"Recently, the fierce beasts in this Lava Cave seem a bit strange; why are they getting restless?" Drawing his steel sword, a flash of sword light instantly dispatched a Fire Crow as Ren Pingsheng murmured in confusion.
He had already cleared out the fierce beasts along this path; logically speaking, there shouldn't be any left. These creatures still had some range of activity and generally wouldn't stray too far from their territory.
However, since yesterday during his rest period, he had encountered several fierce beasts. Initially it was unexpected, but encountering them again today—and hearing sounds suggesting there were more ahead—made him suspect something unusual was happening here.
"It seems I need to quickly break through to the second layer of the Nine Turns Body Refinement Technique and then take off far away; even if something happens then, it won't affect me." As Ren Pingsheng walked along, he pondered deeply.
A new day has arrived once again, and Ren Pingsheng sits quietly in meditation. This time, he has pushed his limits and finally made progress, reaching the edge of the ground fire and Lava.
Looking at the distorted space above the Magma Pool, his expression turned pale; the temperature up there was absolutely terrifying, far beyond the temperature that was unintentionally radiating from below. He believed that if he accidentally fell in, he would instantly turn to ashes.
Taking another step forward, the effects of the Nine Turns Body Refinement Technique became more apparent. The Surroundings formed a faint, invisible wind, and the raging Spiritual Energy lingered nearby before being absorbed and refined. The Spiritual Energy was boundless, showing no signs of diminishing, while the person sitting cross-legged seemed tireless, continuously refining.
"The effects are obvious, but the duration I can endure has decreased somewhat. It's a trade-off!" As Ren Pingsheng stood up, preparing to step outside for some fresh air, his peripheral vision caught sight of something.
"What is this? Could it be... Fire Lotus?" he murmured uncertainly.
The Fire Lotus grows in places where ground fire gathers, but it is extremely difficult to cultivate; it typically blooms once every hundred years and bears fruit after another hundred years! Moreover, once mature, it only lasts for a brief day before withering away, with its seeds returning to the Lava. If lucky, one or two seeds might survive and grow again.
"It seems I can't be mistaken. Five red petals like a lotus, growing amidst the Lava. In such an environment, there shouldn't be any other similar Elixir." Recalling the contents recorded in the Record of Observations in Xuezhou regarding rare materials, Ren Pingsheng ultimately confirmed the identity of the Fire Lotus.
"Could it be that the recent Fierce Beasts in Lava Valley are acting strangely because of this Fire Lotus? Judging by its color, it should mature in just a few days. I wonder if I will have a chance to seize it."
Having encountered such a rare treasure, Ren Pingsheng naturally wouldn't give up. If he hadn't happened upon its maturity, some people might never see it in their lifetime. Not everyone can live for two hundred years; even a Warrior Strongman only has a lifespan of about two hundred years.
His only concern was that treasures like the Fire Lotus would surely attract nearby Fierce Beasts, likely high-level ones. It seemed they must be beneath the Lava, otherwise he wouldn't have gone so long without encountering them.
"I wonder what kind of high-level Fierce Beast it is; I hope it's not too difficult to deal with." As Ren Pingsheng walked out, he contemplated the feasibility of his plan.
Even if there were some risks involved, he had to take action. The seeds of the Fire Lotus could be refined into an Elixir for breaking through to the Qi Refinement Stage. Moreover, even if consumed directly, it could cleanse and strengthen one's body. If he had had just one before, he would have already broken through to the second layer of his Nine Turns Body Refinement Technique, saving him a lot of time.
At that moment, four people suddenly appeared outside of Azure Valley. Judging by their matching attire, they were likely disciples from another sect.
"Is this really the place you mentioned?" asked a proud-looking young man dressed in green martial attire without turning back.
"Brother Zhao, this is indeed it. Let's hurry inside. I'm sure that once you obtain that item, becoming a Warrior Strongman will be a sure thing," said a sharp-nosed boy eagerly nodding and flattering him.
"Oh? How did you find out about this? Given your strength..."
"Brother Zhao, actually I didn't discover this myself. It was told to me by an uncle who is a Warrior Strongman. He informed me before he passed away because when he discovered it, it wasn't yet mature. Considering the timing, it should be recent."
"I see. If the information is true, you certainly won't be neglected later." The proud young man said excitedly. If he could obtain that item this time, he could become a Warrior Strongman within a few years—who wouldn't be thrilled?
"Then I thank you very much, Brother Zhao. Let's hurry inside. If we delay too long, we might regret it," said the sharp-nosed boy impatiently.
"Ha ha, let's go." The four of them simultaneously activated the Movement Technique and rushed deeper into the Azure Valley.
"Hang in there, just a little longer." Ren Pingsheng gritted his teeth, his face flushed and looking quite pained. He had already been here for two hours, and usually, he would have gotten up to rest by now. But today, he had no intention of getting up; he was still pushing himself.
"Ha ha, I've finally reached the second layer of the Nine Turns Body Refinement Technique. All my suffering has not been in vain." Ren Pingsheng's face was filled with excitement, completely ignoring his already cracked skin.
"Not bad. Breaking through before the Fire Lotus matures will enhance my strength significantly, which will be a great help when competing for the Fire Lotus." Feeling the sudden increase of a thousand pounds of strength from the breakthrough to the second layer, his mood improved even more. He glanced back at the Fire Lotus, which was expected to mature tomorrow, and walked out.
He planned to take a good rest today, to relax his tense mind from recent days and prepare himself for the competition for the Fire Lotus tomorrow.
Looking at the sun that still had an hour before setting, Ren Pingsheng left the Lava Cave and arrived at a small stream about four or five miles away, ready to take a nice bath. He had been through quite a lot during this time.
"Uh... can I really show myself like this?" As he lay in the water, feeling extremely comfortable, he accidentally caught sight of his current appearance and couldn't help but smile wryly.
"However, there are still twenty-one days until the Outer Sect Disciples Competition. With a warrior's strong vitality and physique, I believe I should be able to recover some by then. Even if it's not perfect, it’s better than going back looking like this. I’d be laughed at!"
"This path truly requires one to endure hardship for strength. There’s no shortcut at all. I wonder how far I can go on this road. How are the people back in the village? Uncle Wang's blacksmith shop, Father’s private school, my study partners."
Relaxed now, Ren Pingsheng suddenly felt a pang of homesickness. It had been over half a year since he left. During this time, he had focused solely on cultivation and hadn’t realized how much time had passed.
"It seems there's no turning back. Once you embark on this path, there's no way to return. Knowing that one can soar through the skies; knowing that one can live for thousands of years; knowing that one can possess endless wealth. Who could resist such temptations?"
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