Chapter 45

The master of the Crimson Refinement Sect, a figure known for his ferocity throughout the entire sect world, had already reached the tenth level of Thunderclap Stage over a decade ago. Since then, no one dared to challenge him.

However, at this moment, under the rock-like, broad palm of the Crimson Refinement Sect, there lay a dark red challenge scroll.

"A mere Five Thunder Sect dares to send a challenge to me. This hasn't happened in twenty years!"

A storm of thunderclouds was brewing between the thick eyebrows of the Crimson Refinement Sect. The air in the entire grand hall became as solid as rock, motionless.

"Master, should we immediately gather the disciples and annihilate the Five Thunder Sect? We cannot let the deaths of our two Dragon Power Elders on Five Thunder Mountain go unpunished. With just one command from you, we will ensure that not a single member of the Five Thunder Sect is left alive."

A Dragon Power Elder in a white robe, embroidered with fierce flames, spoke.

"Yes, Master. If we tolerate the Five Thunder Sect's arrogance, it will greatly damage our sect's reputation," another Dragon Power Elder added.

In the entire magnificent grand hall, there were six such Dragon Power Elders.

The Sunlit Peak Sect was a major sect in the martial world, with nearly ten thousand disciples. However, there were not many Dragon Power Elders, and now only six remained.

Lin Xi had killed one-third of the Sunlit Peak Sect's elders, a blow that was unimaginable. It was no wonder that the elders of the Sunlit Peak Sect were indignant and wanted to destroy the Five Thunder Sect.

"Enough!"

The low roar of the Crimson Refinement Sect was like a thunderclap, shaking the ears of the Dragon Power Elders.

A ninth-level martial artist was already very powerful, their strength like a giant dragon. However, in front of the Crimson Refinement Sect, they seemed insignificant and weak.

If the Dragon Power Elders were like giant dragons, then the master of the Crimson Refinement Sect was a more powerful beast from the depths of hell, filled with the scent of sulfur and fire.

"Two Dragon Power Elders, with the support of the Five Thunder Sect's elders and the magical swords bestowed by me, were defeated by the same-level elders of the Five Thunder Sect and even lost the magical swords. Such failures, even if they returned alive, would not be spared by me. Do you want to avenge them now, thinking my face hasn't been disgraced enough?"

The eyes of the Crimson Refinement Sect flashed with cold light. Although the loss of the two Dragon Power Elders was regrettable, what pained him more was the loss of the magical sword.

There was only one such magical sword in the entire Sunlit Peak Sect!

"But, should we just let them go?"

One of the elders asked.

"Let them go? How can we let them go! The Five Thunder Sect has already issued a challenge. By my command, no one is to engage in conflict with the Five Thunder Sect's disciples within half a month. After half a month, I will personally take action. I will ensure that not a blade of grass or a living creature remains in the Five Thunder Sect!"

The face of the Crimson Refinement Sect was filled with a chilling coldness. With a slap of his palm, a loud boom echoed, and the entire grand hall seemed to sink slightly.

...

At the same time, no one noticed that a fast horse had set out from the Five Thunder Sect, heading towards the Beast Mountain Range.

After a simple coronation ceremony, Lin Xi officially became the leader of the Five Thunder Sect. He entrusted the internal affairs of the sect to the Grand Elder and then galloped into the Beast Mountain Range.

The master of the Sunlit Peak Sect was a legendary martial artist who had been famous for many years. For Lin Xi to catch up with him in a short time, his only chance was in the Beast Mountain Range.

With a flash, a cold light appeared in Lin Xi's hand, and a white-armed giant ape at the eighth level of the Vajra Stage was immediately cut in half. Lin Xi extended his hand and extracted a deep purple beast core from the giant ape's body.

Holding the beast core, Lin Xi closed his eyes slightly. Purple mist rose, and a surge of elemental energy from the beast core flowed into Lin Xi's body.

When the entire beast core was absorbed, the bronze-colored glow on Lin Xi's skin gradually faded.

This was a sign that a martial artist was advancing from the eighth level of the Vajra Stage to the ninth level of the Dragon Power Stage.

Lin Xi practiced the "Overlord's Dominance," directly drawing elemental energy from the world and storing it in his cells. This made his physical strength far surpass that of other martial artists at the same level. However, because of this, the strength Lin Xi needed to reach the same level was far greater than that of other martial artists.

According to the standards of the sect world, a strength of over ten thousand pounds should already be at the Dragon Power Stage. However, Lin Xi was still at the eighth level of the Vajra Stage.

The reason for this was simple. At the Dragon Power Stage, the strength is internalized, no longer showing the bronze color of the Vajra Stage.

More importantly, eighth-level martial artists focus on strengthening the defensive power of their muscles, while ninth-level Dragon Power Stage martial artists begin to strengthen their internal organs.

Because of this difference in training direction, Dragon Power Stage martial artists have a much stronger life force than Vajra Stage martial artists. Even if Lin Xi crushed a Dragon Power Stage martial artist's heart, they could still live for a while before dying.

"The eighth-level beasts are still too weak. I must go deeper."

Lin Xi felt this after absorbing the beast core.

The beast cores of eighth-level beasts were already very powerful, but for Lin Xi, they were still insufficient. To deal with a tenth-level Thunderclap Stage martial artist in a short time, Lin Xi needed to hunt more powerful beast cores.

"Go! Deeper into the mountains."

With a thought, Lin Xi darted deeper into the Beast Mountain Range.

This time, he went even deeper. The cold air was so intense that it seemed to freeze. The fog grew thicker, and a dangerous aura permeated the surroundings.

"Whoosh!"

Suddenly, the thick fog parted, and a sea of flames rushed towards him. Behind the flames was a massive beast, over fifteen feet tall, neither a lion nor a beast.

"A peak ninth-level beast!"

Lin Xi's heart tightened. This was a White Bone Fire Lion, spewing fierce flames and possessing immense strength. Even a Dragon Power Stage martial artist would find it troublesome.

Although Lin Xi's magical sword was indestructible, it needed to reach the White Bone Fire Lion to be effective.

With a series of swift movements, Lin Xi narrowly avoided the scorching flames.

The White Bone Fire Lion's flames were long-lasting, capable of melting metal and even a Dragon Power Stage martial artist could not withstand them. Seeing Lin Xi dodge, the White Bone Fire Lion swept its flames again.

Lin Xi skillfully used his agility, leaping between rocks.

The scorching flames swept over a rock as hard as steel, causing it to shatter with a loud crack, the surface turning black and emitting a burnt smell.

"What terrifying flames!"

Lin Xi's heart raced.

However, the White Bone Fire Lion's flames, though powerful, had a pause. As the beast's mouth closed to prepare for another burst of flames, Lin Xi's body shot forward like lightning, appearing beside the White Bone Fire Lion in an instant.

"Roar!"

A massive roar echoed as a powerful white bone claw descended from the sky, striking Lin Xi with the force of a thunderbolt.

Bang!

Lin Xi leaped up, performing a "Curtain of Pearls" move, flipping onto the giant claw, and then springing towards the beast's head.

With a swift, sharp arc of light, the White Bone Fire Lion's massive head rolled off, blood gushing from the severed neck.

The magical sword of a Qi Refinement Stage martial artist was indestructible, and even a powerful beast like the White Bone Fire Lion could not withstand a single strike.

Lin Xi's confidence in venturing into the Beast Mountain Range alone, without the Grand Elder's help, largely came from this magical sword.

There were two major dangers for martial artists hunting in the Beast Mountain Range.

The first was the venom of many beasts, which varied in toxicity. Without sufficient detoxifying pills, a single bite could be fatal. The second was the powerful beasts in the deeper parts of the mountain range. Even if one killed one, the energy spent would leave them vulnerable to subsequent attacks.

Therefore, even Thunderclap Stage martial artists did not dare to hunt continuously in the Beast Mountain Range.

However, these two issues were not problems for Lin Xi.

The large number of detoxifying pills he carried could handle the venom, and the "Overlord's Dominance" allowed him to absorb the elemental energy from beast cores in a short time, quickly replenishing his energy and stamina. This enabled him to "feed on the battle."

In battle, Lin Xi would only grow stronger, not weaker. This was why he could continue to venture deeper into the Beast Mountain Range.

With one strike, Lin Xi split the White Bone Fire Lion's head and quickly extracted a ninth-level beast core, glowing red like a flame. After absorbing this core, Lin Xi's strength increased by thirty-one thousand pounds.

Such strength could rival that of a seasoned ninth-level Dragon Power Stage martial artist.

"Still not enough!"

Lin Xi's eyes narrowed as he continued deeper.

A tenth-level Thunderclap Stage martial artist had a strength of over one hundred thousand pounds. The master of the Sunlit Peak Sect, who had been famous for many years, had been at the Thunderclap Stage for a long time, and his strength would be even greater.

For several days, Lin Xi roamed the Beast Mountain Range, continuously hunting beast cores.

In eight days, Lin Xi hunted two Dragon Power Pythons, four Poisonous Lion Scorpions, two White Bone Fire Lions, three adult Tiger Hounds, and one Steel-Armored Giant Spider, totaling over a dozen ninth-level beast cores.

Such a harvest was better than what the Sunlit Peak Sect could achieve in two years in the Beast Mountain Range. Of course, the main credit went to the magical sword.

The magical sword of a Qi Refinement Stage martial artist was the nemesis of all physically powerful martial artists and beasts! No matter how tough the body, it could not withstand a single strike from the magical sword.

On the tenth day.

Boom!

Lin Xi's mind shook, and his consciousness focused. He saw that all his internal organs were emitting a faint golden light, a sign that his strength had reached the ninth level of the Dragon Power Stage.

At the same time, a thin stream of energy suddenly appeared in Lin Xi's meridians.

"Internal energy!"

Lin Xi was overjoyed.

After being in this world for so long, his internal martial arts finally produced internal energy in his meridians. According to the standards of another world, this meant he had achieved mastery in internal martial arts.

In another world of martial arts, the elemental energy was thin, and internal energy was just a legend, with no one achieving it. But here, Lin Xi, with the help of the abundant elemental energy, finally condensed internal energy.

At the same time, Lin Xi also felt that his strength had finally reached the immense force of one hundred thousand pounds!