Chapter 5

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As the sword was drawn, it seemed as if the heavens and earth began to move in unison, driving an infinite momentum!

The black bear's movements immediately slowed down, as if time had suddenly stopped!

However, Zhou Heng's movements did not slow down at all. He swung his sword horizontally at the black bear's head and neck. The sword tip trembled lightly, as if humming a mysterious melody, like a great Zen chant, deafening and enlightening.

It was truly amazing!

This was completely different from when he practiced!

As the sword swept through, a massive bear head was instantly raised to the sky, drawing a high curve in the air before landing on the ground and rolling several meters before stopping.

One sword, and the bear was dead!

Although this black bear was not a demonic beast, an adult bear possessed immense strength, even tigers in the mountains dared not compete with it. However, in front of Zhou Heng, it had no resistance at all, as fragile as an infant.

The Nine Heavens Sword Technique was truly powerful!

Zhou Heng felt he had imitated the first form of the Nine Heavens Sword Technique to about eighty percent, but this was just the form. It would take much more time to grasp the essence! Yet, even with just eighty percent of the form, he had killed the black bear with one sword.

Just this one sword... consumed more than thirty percent of his true essence!

Indeed, the black sword loved to consume true essence, and the sword technique was the same! However, its power was also incredibly strong!

Zhou Heng suppressed his excitement, raised his sword to cut open the black bear's body, and dug out the bear's gallbladder. Then he chopped off the bear's paws, washed them in a small stream, and made a fire to roast them.

Soon, the fragrant bear paws were ready, and Zhou Heng devoured them with great satisfaction.

Although the Zhou family ruled the Stone Town, the town was not wealthy, so the Zhou family, as a wealthy family, was not very deserving of the name. Their living conditions were certainly better than ordinary people, but not much better.

Of course, as one of the six elders of the family, Zhou Dinghai was treated very well by the family, receiving five hundred taels of silver every month. However, most of this money was spent on buying medicinal herbs to "treat" Zhou Heng.

Therefore, although Zhou Heng had the title of young master, his life had always been quite frugal. He had only tasted bear paws when he was a child, and had not tasted them since he "fell ill."

His appetite was not small, but the bear paws were even heavier. Just one paw filled his stomach, and although he was still hungry, he couldn't overeat and stuff himself!

There was still some time before midnight, so Zhou Heng lay on a clean, large rock, recalling the scene of the black bear being killed by his sword. He compared it to the first form of the Nine Heavens Sword Technique in his mind, using his fingers as a sword, and continuously practicing to enhance his understanding.

Each time he recalled and compared, he gained new insights, especially the moment when the blood splattered, which gave him an inexplicable thrill, as if his mind suddenly expanded, enveloping a world!

"The sword is a weapon of death, it must see blood!"

"So, even though I practiced for a month, the understanding I gained today from this one sword is more than all that time combined!"

"Indeed, actual combat is the most effective way to improve oneself!"

Again and again, Zhou Heng continuously refined his understanding of the first form of the Nine Heavens Sword Technique. Each new insight caused a thunderous shock in his mind, as if the heavens and earth resonated, and the great Dao responded, making him feel incredibly comfortable.

Until midnight, he stopped, and the black broken sword trembled lightly, releasing a massive amount of free energy.

"Hmm?"

Zhou Heng was slightly stunned, suddenly realizing that the energy released by the black broken sword this time was much more than before!

What was going on?

Could it be... because I have entered the Muscle Refinement Realm!

Zhou Heng speculated in his heart, but he did not forget to circulate the Fiery Sun Technique, continuously absorbing and refining the free energy, transforming it into his own true essence, and storing it in his muscle cells.

The twelve levels of Body Refinement were a process from the outside to the inside, storing true essence in the skin, muscles, bones, and blood, ultimately illuminating the entire body. When a punch was thrown, trillions of cells would simultaneously release true essence, shattering stones and splitting gold, with boundless power!

After more than half an hour, Zhou Heng absorbed all the free energy in his body.

"Compared to before, the energy released by the black sword this time has increased by half!" He showed an excited expression, "If it weren't for that crazy old man, I could conclude that as my cultivation improves, the energy released by the black sword will also increase!"

"If so, I can reach the peak of the fourth level of Body Refinement within ten days!"

Zhou Heng laughed heartily, filled with immense joy, but no one could share it.

"The black sword is of great importance, and it would be inappropriate to tell anyone. I will keep it as my secret! When Father returns, I will teach him the Nine Heavens Sword Technique!"

"However, the sword technique has become one with me, and I still can't fully grasp its form. Can I really teach it to Father?"

Putting aside his doubts, he found a wide crevice in the rocks, crawled in, and gradually calmed down, quickly falling asleep.

The next morning, after washing up by the stream, he roasted another bear paw and ate it, then continued deeper into the forest, seeking fierce wild beasts to hone his skills.

One day, two days, three days, time passed quickly, and soon the last day of October arrived.

Zhou Heng sat cross-legged in a cave, his eyes tightly closed, his handsome face showing a determined expression. The bloody battles of the past ten days had made him less shy and more steady.

He had reached the peak of the fourth level of Body Refinement and was now pushing for the fifth level!

Boom!

After a surge of true essence in his body, Zhou Heng let out a long cry and sprang up from the ground.

The fifth level of Body Refinement!

He laughed heartily, having leaped from the initial first level of Body Refinement to the fifth level in just over a month. Who would believe it, who would dare to believe it?

"Since no one in that family is happy to see me, Father will likely return during the New Year. I might as well wait until then to go back and surprise everyone at the celebration!"

"Father hasn't said it, but I know he has great expectations for me! This time, I won't let Father down!"

Zhou Heng walked out of the cave, looking down at the lush, dense forest. The mountain breeze blew, and the trees swayed. Suddenly, a great sense of heroism arose in his heart. He drew his long sword with a ringing sound and swung it, creating a series of profound and mysterious sword shadows.

"I have basically mastered the form of the first form of the Nine Heavens Sword Technique. Now, I need to grasp its essence!"

"Continue fighting!"

"I haven't encountered a demonic beast yet, indeed, such creatures are extremely rare!"

Zhou Heng leaped forward, moving swiftly through the air like an arrow, incredibly fast.

As evening approached, Zhou Heng entered a forest. Suddenly, an open space appeared ahead, only about ten meters wide, but it was very conspicuous, making Zhou Heng stop in his tracks.

Buzz, the black broken sword in his dantian trembled lightly, its tip pointing to the center of the open space.

Zhou Heng was stunned. The black broken sword usually only trembled at midnight, releasing energy, and showed no reaction to his mental contact. Why did it suddenly move now?

He focused his gaze on the open space. The blackish-yellow earth, a few scattered leaves, and a half-human-sized stone in the center, all seemed ordinary. There was nothing unusual about the stone.

Zhou Heng, who was not lacking in a spirit of adventure, took a few steps forward, approaching the stone.

A sudden, indescribable sense of danger enveloped his body, and Zhou Heng immediately stopped, his already unsheathed long sword held horizontally in front of his chest.

"Hisss!"

A low growl sounded, and a head suddenly appeared behind the stone, completely golden, with two large eyes almost taking up half of its face. The mouth that followed was filled with ferocity.

The sharp, white teeth were razor-sharp, and the two fangs were about an inch long. A long tongue flicked out, dripping with blood.

Thump, the beast leaped onto the stone, revealing a sleek, muscular body like a cheetah, covered in white and yellow fur. On its buttocks were three tails, swaying continuously.

Three-tailed Wolf Eagle!

A name suddenly popped into Zhou Heng's mind—demonic beast!

This kind of demonic beast was not to be trifled with! As an adult, it was a Muscle Refinement Realm existence, and with its strength far surpassing that of humans, it could enhance its combat power by one or two minor levels!

Why were demonic beasts so terrifying that they could not be defeated by martial artists of the same realm? Because, in addition to cultivating true essence, demonic beasts also possessed terrifying brute strength!

"Hisss—" The Three-tailed Wolf Eagle growled again, its eyes fixed on Zhou Heng, emitting a terrifyingly fierce gaze. It did not immediately attack because it was still unsure of Zhou Heng's strength.

Demonic beasts possess a certain level of intelligence!

Zhou Heng knew that if he retreated now, the Three-tailed Wolf Eagle would immediately launch a fierce attack.

A Muscle Refinement Realm demonic beast!

A fierce battle spirit rose in Zhou Heng's heart. The beasts he had hunted before were all ordinary wild beasts, fierce but weak, none of them could withstand his one sword.

Without pressure, there was no motivation. He had not yet fully mastered the form of the first form of the Nine Heavens Sword Technique, and he lacked true blood battles, the trembling on the brink of life and death!

Fight!

The long sword extended, and Zhou Heng assumed an offensive stance.

The Three-tailed Wolf Eagle, which had been observing Zhou Heng, was immediately enraged by this provocative action. It let out an angry roar, its four legs exerting force, and its muscular body shot forward like lightning, pouncing at Zhou Heng.

Zhou Heng's foot slid to the side, narrowly avoiding the Three-tailed Wolf Eagle's attack.

At this moment, the three tails on the Three-tailed Wolf Eagle's buttocks suddenly swayed in unison, and its body, which had missed its target, bizarrely bent in mid-air and pounced at Zhou Heng again!

Clang!

Zhou Heng swung his sword, striking the Three-tailed Wolf Eagle's claw, and a splash of blood flew up!

He retreated seven steps, and when he looked down, he saw a wound on his abdomen! Although he had raised his sword in time, he was still injured by the Three-tailed Wolf Eagle!

The strength of the demonic beast was indeed formidable!