Chapter 6

Just as he was thinking this, footsteps sounded from the side, and a middle-aged martial artist walked over.

He was a towering figure, with a face as dark as charcoal. Seeing Li Mo standing there, his brows couldn't help but furrow, clearly finding it inappropriate for him to be there.

However, the dark-faced martial artist didn't say much more. He raised his hand, took out two manuals from the top shelf of the last row, and turned to leave.

Li Mo hadn't expected there to be manuals there and quickly said, "Teacher, please wait. Could I take a look at these two martial techniques?"

"You...?" The dark-faced martial artist turned his head, a meaningful smile on his face. "These two manuals have not been learned by any beginner in decades. Even with the highest talent, they end up giving up halfway. After a review at the beginning of the year, it was decided to move these two manuals to the second floor. With your talent—there's no way you can learn them!"

His words were decisive, his tone full of disdain.

Li Mo insisted, "But I still want to take a look."

"Hmph! If you want to see, I'll let you broaden your horizons."

Seeing that the young man was still so stubborn despite his detailed explanation, the dark-faced martial artist was clearly displeased. He sneered and casually threw the two manuals to him.

Li Mo caught them and saw that the two books were titled "Blood-Drinking Sword" and "Lightning Step." Both had a difficulty level marked as "extremely difficult."

Flipping through the introduction, the first page clearly stated:

"Blood-Drinking Sword: The sword can drink blood, with an extraordinary aura. One strike, and all things are destroyed."

"Lightning Step: Moving like lightning, covering ten miles in an instant."

Li Mo flipped through the techniques and then said, "Teacher, I want to practice these two martial techniques."

"What?" The dark-faced martial artist was taken aback. He had expected that a young man with Li Mo's talent would be frightened by the introduction, but this kid was incredibly bold, not only wanting to practice the techniques but also wanting both of them.

"Boy, you need to know your limits. Knowing that something is impossible but still trying to do it is an extremely foolish act!" he coldly lectured.

Li Mo looked straight into his eyes and solemnly said, "I admit my talent is average, but I have a determined heart. Even if no one has learned these techniques in decades, I want to take a bold attempt!"

Seeing the determination in his eyes and the faint, intimidating aura, the dark-faced martial artist frowned slightly and then sneered, "Average talent is one thing, but a stubborn and dull mind is another. Since you won't listen to my advice, do as you please."

He coldly huffed and left, while Li Mo smiled in satisfaction.

Calculating that the time was about right, he left the True Martial Tower.

Not long after, Li Gaoyuan also came out. Li Mo glanced at the three Second Realm martial techniques he had chosen and nodded slightly. This kid had some discernment; the techniques he chose were not bad.

However, they didn't meet his standards.

"Let's go to the training ground," Li Mo suggested.

"Sure," Li Gaoyuan, who was also excited about his first day at the Martial Academy, nodded readily.

After asking for directions, the two quickly arrived at the training ground.

The place was vast, divided into different areas: sword technique area, saber technique area, archery area, and so on, each separated by high walls.

The two arrived at the sword technique area, where ironwood stakes, about the height of a person, were neatly arranged. Students held ironwood swords and practiced diligently in front of the stakes.

Although there were empty spots, they were not adjacent, so the two separated.

Li Mo took an ironwood sword and went to a corner.

With his experience as an Eighth Realm expert in his previous life, these two First Realm martial techniques were easily understood after a few glances.

He secretly activated the Dao Tian Fire Refinement Technique, raised his arm, and began the sword technique.

True Qi immediately flowed into the sword, making the ten-pound ironwood sword feel even heavier.

Li Mo suddenly swung the sword, which struck the ironwood stake with the force of a thunderbolt.

"Bang!"

The impact sent a shock through his right arm.

"Bang!"

The second strike was even more powerful as he felt the True Qi in his body automatically surge into the sword.

"Bang!"

The third strike caused the True Qi to flow uncontrollably into the sword, increasing its power several times over. The deeply rooted ironwood stake even wobbled.

Li Mo immediately stopped, waiting for the True Qi in his body to calm down before nodding. "This sword technique is indeed dangerous. No wonder no martial disciple has learned it."

The terrifying aspect of the Blood-Drinking Sword was that it would forcibly draw the martial artist's True Qi to enhance the technique, making each strike stronger than the last.

This technique was like drinking poison to quench thirst. If it went out of control, it could even backfire, causing minor injuries to the meridians or severe damage to the internal organs.

However, such a powerful and fierce sword technique was exactly what Li Mo wanted.

So, he started over.

One strike!

Two strikes!

Three strikes!

Each time he reached the third strike, his body could hardly bear the loss of True Qi, nearly losing control, so he started over again.

Again and again, strike by strike.

The sword technique, like a greedy beast, continuously devoured True Qi.

The struggle between man and technique unfolded with each strike.

Sweat drenched his body, and he was exhausted, but his will grew stronger.

If he couldn't control such a low-level martial technique, how could he break through the martial path's constraints?

He practiced day and night for several days, his fighting spirit undiminished.

As he practiced, the Dao Tian Fire Refinement Technique grew stronger, and the amount of True Qi in his body increased, gradually meeting the sword's demands.

One afternoon, he finally managed to consistently execute the third strike.

"Phew—"

Li Mo exhaled lightly, his tense nerves relaxing slightly, but he felt no excitement or joy.

This was just a First Realm martial technique with fifteen forms, and he could only execute the first three, far from reaching the initial mastery stage.

To break through the martial path's constraints and reach the Ninth Realm, the Spirit Realm, there was a long and arduous journey ahead.

The Blood-Drinking Sword was merely a foundation.

After a brief rest, he continued to practice, making continuous progress.

Four strikes in a row!

Five strikes in a row!

The Blood-Drinking Sword finally reached the initial mastery stage!

Next, Li Mo went to the lightness technique area to practice the Lightning Step.

He channeled his energy into his feet, leaping and dodging.

As a First Realm alchemist, he was initially clumsy, nearly falling a few times when landing.

This clumsiness drew laughter from the surrounding students.

Li Mo ignored them and focused on his practice.

Compared to others, he had exceptional talent and martial path insight, lacking only physical adaptation.

Over the next few days, he buried himself in intense practice.

Unfazed by fatigue or hardship, he pursued the pinnacle of the martial path.

As he practiced and gained insight, he could leap over ten feet in a single step.

But this was far from enough for him.

The Lightning Step not only pursued the limit of speed but also the limit of distance, aiming to cover ten feet in a single flash, moving like lightning.

One step, ten feet; one step, fifteen feet; one step, twenty feet; until one step, thirty feet.

After several days of practice, the Lightning Step finally reached the initial mastery stage.

In just ten days, he had mastered two martial techniques to the initial mastery stage, a speed that others could only dream of.

With the two techniques at the initial mastery stage, early in the morning, Li Mo woke Li Gaoyuan and went to the task area at the north gate of the Martial Academy.

It was just dawn, but there were already many students in front of the task boards.

Most of these students had been in the academy for a few years, in groups of three or five, with cultivation levels ranging from Rock Formation to Iron Bone. Li Mo, with his Qi Condensation Realm cultivation, stood out.

The task boards were densely packed with tasks issued by the academy. Students could take on various tasks to earn silver and honor points.

Li Mo had already planned to search for suitable tasks to hunt beasts.

Beasts, formed by absorbing the earth's spiritual energy, could live for hundreds or even thousands of years. Top-tier beasts could easily destroy cities, causing disasters that affected entire countries.

But beasts were valuable, with bones that could be made into weapons, blood that could strengthen the body, and skin that could be made into armor. Most importantly, their inner cores were treasures for martial artists to enhance their cultivation.

As his cultivation reached the mid-Qi Condensation Realm, the effectiveness of the Guiyuan Pill had decreased. Therefore, Li Mo planned to refine higher-level Yellow-grade pills, and the best Yellow-grade pills were all made with beast cores.

Li Gaoyuan pointed at various tasks, his bold nature making him excited about the prospect of hunting beasts.

Li Mo didn't immediately decide, weighing which beast to hunt based on their cultivation levels.

While they were selecting a task, a pair of young people approached.

They were both around fifteen or sixteen years old. The boy was muscular, carrying a large axe. The girl was slender and beautiful, wearing a long sword and looking slightly shy.

The boy approached and said, "Junior brothers, are you selecting a task?"

Li Mo nodded, and the boy continued, "My sister and I have found a task, but we lack a person. If the two of you are willing to join us, we can surely complete it."

His words were directed at both, but he clearly had his eye on Li Gaoyuan's mid-Rock Formation Realm cultivation.

The two siblings were also not weak, with the boy at the late Rock Formation Realm and the girl at the mid-Rock Formation Realm.

"What task?" Li Mo didn't mind the boy's approach. He hadn't yet reached the level where he could handle things alone. These two had decent strength, and forming a four-person team to hunt beasts was reasonable.

"Hunting Elite Red-Horned Fire Bulls!" the boy said solemnly.

"Elites? Li Mo, let's take this task," Li Gaoyuan said, excited at the prospect of hunting elite beasts.

Li Mo nodded, agreeing that this task was better than the others on the board.

Thus, the four formed a team, took the task, and left the city.

The county city was bustling in the early morning, with a steady stream of traffic.

As they walked, they learned that the two siblings were also from the Li family's branch.

They came from Xidu City, the boy named Li Xiaoyong and the girl named Li Jing.

Soon after leaving the city, they arrived at the Wuteng Ancient Forest north of the city.

This vast primeval forest spanned hundreds of miles, with towering mountains and intersecting ravines, creating numerous dangerous areas and home to various beasts.