Chapter 18

"Ouch!"

As Zhuang Wudao's consciousness gradually awakened, he couldn't help but groan in pain.

He had been fighting on the streets since he was young and had no shortage of beatings. The worst time, he had been stabbed eighteen times, nearly losing his life. Even then, with the most severe injuries, he still didn't care, could chat and laugh with others, and even took pride in it afterward. However, compared to the pain he was now experiencing, that time was almost negligible.

It felt as if countless heavy hammers were repeatedly pounding and crushing his body, turning his limbs, chest, and abdomen into minced meat and blood. Every muscle in his body was twitching uncontrollably, and there was no part of him that wasn't in pain. The pain was so intense, it felt like it was piercing his heart and bones, making it unbearable.

At this moment, Zhuang Wudao wished he could faint again. Without consciousness, he wouldn't have to endure such pain.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, something struck the back of his head heavily again.

Zhuang Wudao's vision went black once more. Before he lost consciousness, he cursed inwardly. What the hell was this woman up to?

The last time it was unexpected, but this time he felt it clearly. The culprit that knocked him out was the decaying sword. As expected, it was under the control and direction of the sword spirit, Yun'er.

In a daze, Zhuang Wudao's consciousness awoke several times. Each time he woke up, it felt like he was in hell. The pain of being boiled in oil and having his tongue pulled out in the eighteen levels of hell couldn't be much worse than this.

However, when Zhuang Wudao woke up for the seventh time, he found himself lying flat on his back, feeling only a slight tingling and numbness all over. Compared to before, he felt incredibly comfortable.

"Is it not painful anymore?"

Zhuang Wudao was surprised and opened his eyes. He found himself sprawled out at the bottom of the deep pit.

The surrounding Yun Shi stones had all been crushed into powder. The Qingyun Sword still floated in the air, and Yun'er was sitting cross-legged on the sword, looking up at the half-moon outside the pit with a lonely expression. For some reason, she exuded a quality that made one feel an unusual urge to pity her.

Zhuang Wudao was stunned for a long time before his muddled consciousness gradually cleared. Then he became furious: "Why did you knock me out?"

Yun'er continued to gaze at the night sky. Only when Zhuang Wudao became impatient did she lower her head and say, "The Bull Demon Yuan Bati Body is not a proper cultivation method. In three days, it can achieve what would take thirty years of hard cultivation, almost directly transforming the physical body. The process is extremely painful, even for a Golden Core cultivator. The will of the sword master is strong, far surpassing ordinary people. However, you are still a mortal and have not cultivated your divine soul. I was worried that the infusion of the elemental spirits of heaven and earth might cause damage to your divine soul, leaving hidden dangers for the future. So I took the initiative, please do not blame me."

As she spoke, Yun'er's clear gaze fell on Zhuang Wudao: "Or does the sword master think you can endure such intense pain?"

Zhuang Wudao couldn't help but recall the times he had awakened before. The torment was like being in hell, something no human could bear. Even now, recalling it made him shudder. He even felt a bit grateful and relieved when he was knocked out, but he would never admit it.

Unable to continue his outburst, Zhuang Wudao could only coldly hum: "This time I'll let it go, but there must be no next time!"

His tone was a warning, but what Zhuang Wudao truly hated was the feeling of being manipulated and helpless.

"Yun'er understands, I will follow the sword master's command!"

She floated off the Qingyun Sword with a smile: "If a similar situation arises in the future, I will definitely ask the sword master's opinion beforehand."

Zhuang Wudao was speechless, but he felt that Yun'er today seemed more lively in both expression and tone, unlike the stiff demeanor in the dream mirror. She even seemed to be joking with him.

Suddenly realizing something, Zhuang Wudao's pupils dilated: "So, my Bull Demon Yuan Bati Body is complete?"

Inside this deep pit, he had been unconscious for three days? Had he already grasped the basics and entered the first level of the Bull Demon Yuan Bati Body?

"Of course it is!" Yun'er nodded: "The sword master should feel it. Try it out and you will know!"

As she spoke, her delicate fingers pointed again. Zhuang Wudao was on guard, fearing he might be knocked out again by the Qingyun Sword. But then he saw the dark arrows and darts, suspended in the air by repulsion, suddenly being drawn towards him.

Zhuang Wudao was shocked. These were Ma Yuan's tools, many of which were coated with deadly poison. The arrows were even more dangerous, coated with a poison that could instantly kill a fierce beast. If he were hit by these, it would be disastrous.

Unfortunately, at this moment, his limbs were numb and he couldn't move. But when the arrows and darts hit him, he felt nothing, as if they were just mosquito bites. The force of each arrow was no less than that of an eighth-level Blood Cultivation Realm cultivator, yet they couldn't even leave a white mark on his skin, all being deflected back.

Zhuang Wudao finally realized that an invisible force barrier now enveloped his body. It wasn't the aura of a cultivator but more like the magnetic force from the magnetic eye.

"This is the Bull Demon Yuan Bati Body! The innate power of the ancient divine rhinoceros after opening its spiritual aperture. Based on earth energy, it is protected by a magnetic force barrier. It can withstand blades and is impervious to all attacks. I don't know which genius of the five calamities analyzed and deciphered this power, allowing human cultivators to practice it."

Yun'er's tone was admiring, with a hint of respect: "Because of the magnetic eye, the progress of this cultivation method slightly exceeded my expectations. After you have cultivated it, it will be difficult for anyone at the Bone Marrow Cultivation Realm to injure you. The earth energy is also a solid foundation for you, surpassing the Golden Bell Cover by a significant margin. I thought that after the battle of the five calamities, the heroes of the world had all withered. But it seems I was mistaken; the world still produces many talented individuals."

Zhuang Wudao struggled to stand up and tried moving his legs and arms. He found that the numbness and tingling were gradually fading, replaced by a surging energy and a hidden, explosive strength in his muscles.

His physique had also changed. Before, he had practiced the Dragon Subduing and Tiger Taming techniques, which focused on strength, with agility being slightly inferior. He had a tall, muscular build, with well-defined muscles all over his body.

But now, he seemed to have 'regressed.' Except for the six-pack abs on his waist, the rest of his body looked no different from an ordinary person, even slightly thinner than before.

However, Zhuang Wudao could clearly feel the immense and terrifying strength hidden within his body!

He casually picked up a black, poisoned throwing knife and, with just two fingers, bent and snapped the steel blade.

Zhuang Wudao was stunned again, staring at his hands. In just three days, he couldn't accurately measure how much stronger he had become.

But he could confirm that his finger strength was at least three times what it was before!

Three days ago, he had the strength of three oxen, equivalent to the strength of three wild oxen. Tripling that would mean at least the strength of nine oxen—

In addition, the sensitivity of his limbs had not been significantly affected and seemed to have even improved.

Strength and agility are usually incompatible. Shi Hu practiced the Golden Armor Black Aura, making his body as hard as stone and as strong as a tiger, but his movements were somewhat clumsy, which is why he fell into a near-death state under Zhuang Wudao's counterattack.

The 'meat mountain' Wang Wu was the same. Even after cultivating the Shadow Hand technique to compensate for his weaknesses, his movements still had irremediable flaws, giving others an opportunity to exploit.

The Bull Demon Yuan Bati Body, however, had no such flaws, almost achieving both. Any minor shortcomings could be ignored.

"Truly the pinnacle of martial arts!"

Zhuang Wudao was overjoyed and tried to channel the energy according to the techniques described in the *Bull Demon Yuan Bati Body* martial scripture.

His muscles instantly tensed, and earth spirits instantly surrounded him, quickly forming stone armor on his body.

The ancient divine rhinoceros often used earth energy to form armor. The Bull Demon Yuan Bati Body had a similar ability, though slightly less effective. This was the first layer of defense beyond the magnetic force barrier.

In addition, his skin became tough and hardened, with a layered texture. It felt almost as strong as the hides of beasts. With three layers of protection, he could indeed withstand weapons.

Zhuang Wudao was already preparing to find a set of high-quality spirit armor, which would make him truly invulnerable.

But at this moment, Yun'er's words almost completely extinguished his excitement.

"However, the sword master has only just completed this cultivation method. To use it freely will take at least several years. The elemental spirits of heaven and earth can help you achieve it quickly, but to fully control this method, like an extension of your own body, will be even more difficult for you than for others."

Zhuang Wudao was a smart person. With Yun'er's hint, he understood her meaning.

According to the techniques described in the martial scripture, after mastering the Bull Demon Yuan Bati Body, one can concentrate the magnetic force barrier and the stone armor on any part of the body to enhance defense.

However, at this moment, he couldn't control even a bit of magnetic force. Moreover, just mastering the tripled strength would take him several months.

But there are always gains and losses. Yun'er had saved him thirty years. These flaws were not significant.

His brows relaxed, and Zhuang Wudao asked hopefully: "I wonder what the elemental spirits of heaven and earth are and where they can be obtained?"

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