Chapter 4

Seeing Tang Gu's figure slowly retreat from the "Foreign Affairs Hall," Du Pengfei, in the crowd, revealed a smug smile and spat lightly: "Waste of space!"

On the other side, "Ice Maiden" Li Youxue remained silent, only gazing at Tang Gu's retreating figure, lost in thought.

...

Stepping out of the martial academy, the glaring sunlight outside made Tang Gu raise his hand to shield his eyes, which slightly sank.

Although he did not understand why Du Pengfei was determined to oppose him, ... this enmity had already been formed.

A reduction of two stone coins out of three per month was a significant blow to Tang Gu's finances. To say he was not angry would be a lie.

However, for now, he could not leave the martial academy.

His gaze swept over the green stone stele beside him, and his eyes grew slightly heated: "Just wait for half a month, just half a month, and I will surely be able to comprehend some of the content on this green stone stele."

"At that time, even if I am still at the middle stage of Qi Sensing, I may not lack the qualifications to fight a Second Transformation Qi Dao practitioner!"

"If I can break through to the First Transformation of Qi Dao, even a late-stage Second Transformation Qi Dao practitioner can be defeated!"

No one in the entire martial academy knew that Tang Gu had a secret that no one else knew. Among the hundreds of people in the academy, no one could sense the green stone stele, but he could see a set of sword techniques from it.

This set of sword techniques was profound and powerful, and after a whole year, he had only comprehended one or two-tenths of it.

However, even with this one or two-tenths, he was confident that he could face some ordinary First Transformation Qi Dao disciples in a direct battle.

If he could comprehend three or four-tenths, even the current top-ranked disciple in the outer academy, "Iron Sword" Du Pengfei, would not be his match.

And this was only because he was at the middle stage of Qi Sensing.

If they were of the same rank, ten "Iron Sword" Du Pengfeis would not be his match.

Tang Gu sighed softly: "Now, what I lack is not sword techniques, but cultivation! If I had the same cultivation, even just the First Transformation of Qi Dao, what would a mere 'Iron Sword' Du Pengfei be to me!"

The path of cultivation has many factors for victory: timing, location, and harmony, but these are things that cannot be changed from within, so let's not talk about them.

Apart from these, each person's cultivation realm, the strength of the martial techniques they cultivate, and their grasp of the timing of battle are equally important.

Unfortunately, Tang Gu had a powerful sword technique he had comprehended from the green stone stele, but he lacked the corresponding Qi Dao cultivation, which created a chasm between him and "Iron Sword" Du Pengfei.

If a person on a large boat and a person on a wooden board collide across the sea, no matter how great the difference in skill, the result is obvious.

And this was the strength that Tang Gu most urgently needed to increase.

Everything was still due to insufficient cultivation!

"Why not go there and see if that 'Little Blood Sinew Fruit' has matured? Once it matures, if I consume it, breaking through to the peak of Qi Sensing, no, even to the First Transformation of Qi Dao, would be a natural progression."

Tang Gu's eyes flickered, and he suddenly thought.

...

Three months ago, Tang Gu unexpectedly discovered a small tree with only three silver leaves and four or five light red fruits on a small rocky island not far from this Stone Rock Town. The fragrance was overwhelming.

Later, after consulting many ancient books, he finally recognized it as the legendary First-Class Spirit Medicine, "Little Blood Sinew Fruit."

Legend has it that this fruit can refine blood, replenish qi, strengthen tendons, and fortify bones. For some truly great figures, it might not be much, but for someone like Tang Gu, who had not even reached the First Transformation of Qi Dao, it was extremely rare.

If these four or five "Little Blood Sinew Fruits" could all be consumed by Tang Gu, breaking through to the peak of Qi Sensing, or even the true First Transformation of Qi Dao, would not be difficult.

However, when he discovered this "Little Blood Sinew Fruit," it was not yet fully mature, only light red in color.

The truly mature "Little Blood Sinew Fruit" should be dark red.

After consulting some medical books, Tang Gu learned that this "Little Blood Sinew Fruit" was not yet fully mature, but judging by its color, it should not be far from its true maturity.

Therefore, to be on the safe side, Tang Gu used some dead branches to completely cover the "Little Blood Sinew Fruit" tree and left a mark at the site. He would come to check it every few days.

By today, a rough calculation showed that it was not far from the time when the "Little Blood Sinew Fruit" would be fully mature, probably just a few days away.

Thinking of this, Tang Gu no longer hesitated. Instead of following the path home, he turned and headed west out of town.

The strange foggy island where he had discovered the "Little Blood Sinew Fruit" was located in the "Fog Sea" not far to the west of Stone Rock Town.

A short while later, Tang Gu arrived at the western part of the town, where there was a large willow tree. Under the willow tree, there was a small wooden boat hidden.

Tang Gu jumped onto the boat, untied the mooring, and rowed towards the island he remembered.

In no time, the boat and its occupant disappeared into the vast fog sea, becoming indistinct.

A short while later, there was a "creak," and the boat seemed to have hit a reef and stopped. Not far ahead, a misty mountain appeared, which was the island he remembered.

Tang Gu dropped the mooring, jumped into the water, and after tying the boat to a reef, turned and headed towards the island.

In no time, he climbed onto the island.

This small island was not large, with a circumference of only a few dozen kilometers, but the paths were winding, the forests were deep, and the fog was dense. It was rarely visited, otherwise, the "Little Blood Sinew Fruit" would not have waited for Tang Gu to discover it.

Following the route he remembered, Tang Gu cut through the undergrowth and slowly moved forward. His hands were rubbed raw and bleeding from clearing the way, but he paid no attention to it.

Finally, an inconspicuous black stone appeared before him. His eyes lit up, and he quickly crawled over, comparing it to the memory deep in his mind, his face instantly brightening.

"Right, this is the place. If there are no unexpected events, it should be in a nearby canyon."

Looking around, Tang Gu followed a path he had prepared in advance and quickly moved forward. In a short while, he arrived at a huge canyon that looked like two giant beasts crouching.

Crouching on a hidden rock, Tang Gu looked down. Sure enough, not long after, he saw the mark he had made on a cliff a few months ago.

There, a strange small tree emitting a faint glow was covered by a pile of dead grass. After a period of time, the fragrance had become even stronger.

"Could it be that the 'Little Blood Sinew Fruit' is finally about to mature?"

Tang Gu's heart leaped with joy, and he was about to go down when his gaze suddenly turned cold, and he stiffened.

A copper-colored giant eagle, perhaps attracted by the fragrance of the "Little Blood Sinew Fruit" as it neared maturity, was continuously circling above it, declaring its sovereignty to the surrounding beasts.

"A First Transformation Metal-type beast, the Illusory Flame Copper Eagle!"

At a glance, Tang Gu recognized the name of this beast.

The "Illusory Flame Copper Eagle," a Metal-type beast, though only at the First Transformation, could spew a strange illusory flame equivalent to the Three Pure Fires of a Second Transformation human cultivator, making it incredibly powerful. It was also impervious to blades and spears, and even a few First Transformation Qi Dao cultivators working together would not be its match.

"How could this happen?"

In an instant, Tang Gu's heart sank to the bottom.

Excitedly coming here, he had waited for three months for the "Little Blood Sinew Fruit" to mature, hoping to break through to the First Transformation of Qi Dao, but unexpectedly, just a few days later, it had been taken over, not by a person, but by an eagle.

"Even if you are a beast, shouldn't you have some beastly morals? Even if you don't have beastly morals, shouldn't you follow the principle of first come, first served? This 'Little Blood Sinew Fruit' was clearly discovered by me first, how can I tolerate this!"

Unfortunately, no matter how angry he was, it could not change the fact that Tang Gu lacked the strength. If he had the strength of the First Transformation of Qi Dao and some special means, he might have a chance to compete with the "Illusory Flame Copper Eagle."

But now, he did not even have the strength of the First Transformation of Qi Dao. Despite his powerful sword techniques, he could not cause significant harm to the "Illusory Flame Copper Eagle."

Once a battle started, he would likely die faster.

"What should I do? After waiting for three months, am I just going to give it up, not to a person, but to a beast?"

Tang Gu naturally felt不甘, but looking up at the giant copper eagle circling overhead, a sense of powerlessness rose in his heart.

This beast was far more difficult to deal with than a peak First Transformation Qi Dao cultivator. He was only at the middle stage of Qi Sensing, and his strength was still far from enough.

As his thoughts raced, Tang Gu's gaze swept over the pile of dead grass he had covered. Suddenly, he felt strange:

"Right, if the Blood Sinew Fruit had already fully matured, the Illusory Flame Copper Eagle would have already eaten it without waiting for me. It must be that the 'Little Blood Sinew Fruit' is still a few days away from true maturity, but I don't know how long that is."

"Yes, it must be so. In that case, I may not be completely without a chance. As long as I can kill the Illusory Flame Copper Eagle before the 'Little Blood Sinew Fruit' fully matures, the fruit will still be mine."

Thinking of this, Tang Gu shook his head, took one last look at the giant eagle circling overhead, and then turned and quietly left.

Staying here would not help, so he might as well go back and think of a way to kill the Illusory Flame Copper Eagle in the last few days.

Leaving the huge canyon that looked like two crouching beasts, he circled around the black stone and followed the original path back to the boat, preparing to leave the foggy island.

At this moment, his eyes suddenly moved, looking into the distance: "What is that?"

Climbing to a high place and looking far into the distance, he saw a corpse floating over the mountains and the sea, surrounded by white clouds.

...

Fourth update, please give 1 collection and 1 recommendation.

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