C19 Iron Armored Beast

After dealing with the Green Wind Wolf, Woo Zhengyang encountered a few more first-level demonic beasts. Their strength was fairly balanced, but to Woo Zhengyang, this balance seemed mediocre.

While using the Flesh Condensing Technique to refine his muscles, these beasts all met their end. Apart from a few bloodstains on his outer clothes, Woo Zhengyang remained unharmed and even gained two first-level demon cores.

As dusk approached, Woo Zhengyang finally spotted his target: an Iron Armored Beast. This creature, with its double-horned, tailless bull-like form, was covered in dark scales, offering defense comparable to wrought iron.

"Finally!" Woo Zhengyang exclaimed softly, charging forward with his fists ready.

The Iron Armored Beast, with its large, round eyes, noticed Woo Zhengyang. Seeing a human without weapons, relying solely on fists, it didn't hesitate and charged with its hooves pounding the ground.

"Thud..."

Woo Zhengyang's fist collided with the beast's head, producing a deep, resonant sound, and he was thrown back. His freshly healed fist split open with new wounds.

Despite Woo Zhengyang's powerful punch, the Iron Armored Beast wasn't unscathed. Its head reeled from the impact, causing a momentary daze. As it regained its senses, Woo Zhengyang had already vanished from sight.

“Thud…”

Another dull thud echoed as Woo Zhengyang's fist landed on the Iron Armored Beast's belly, leaving a blood-stained imprint on its scaled armor. With a roar, the beast turned its head to charge at Woo Zhengyang.

While he might not be a master of all combat techniques, Woo Zhengyang had plenty of experience dealing with creatures like this—strong in defense but not particularly fast. He swiftly adjusted his position in response to the beast's movements. The beast's horns were several times harder than its armor, and if one of them struck him, even his Flesh Condensing Technique wouldn't prevent a serious wound.

Meanwhile, Woo Zhengyang's fists pounded relentlessly against the beast's belly, each punch landing with the force of a drumbeat. He relied solely on brute strength, avoiding shortcuts.

This was Woo Zhengyang's strategy from the start and the reason he chose this mission. Only a creature with such formidable defense could help him refine his flesh and rapidly increase his strength.

His fists burned with pain, but after countless blows, the Iron Armored Beast let out a mournful howl and collapsed, defeated and unwilling.

Woo Zhengyang stood over the fallen Iron Armored Beast, catching his breath but unable to rest. He drew the Green Steel Sword from his back and plunged it into the beast's neck. Without its demonic power to protect it, the beast's hide was no longer as tough. It didn't take much effort for Zhengyang to open the creature's belly and retrieve a dark, gleaming Demon Core.

The beast's horns were also valuable for crafting, so Zhengyang took those as well, placing them in his pack. It was a shame he didn't have a magical storage tool; otherwise, he could have sold the beast's hide for a good price.

After tidying up, Zhengyang set off in search of his next target. Before he knew it, the day had passed, and night had fallen. Excluding the time spent traveling, Zhengyang had only managed to collect two Demon Cores from Iron Armored Beasts after a full day of fighting. He wasn't in a rush, though; the mission was secondary to him. What he sought was the thrill of battle.

In each fight, Zhengyang relied solely on his fists and feet, avoiding the use of swords. This slowed his pace in hunting demonic beasts, but his mastery of the Flesh Condensing Technique advanced rapidly. By the end of the day, Zhengyang felt his strength had increased significantly, reaching around 1,100 pounds, equivalent to the level of a Five-star Martial Disciple. Such progress was beyond the wildest dreams of most cultivators.

As night fell, the entire Fallen Leaf Mountain Range was enveloped in darkness, becoming perilously treacherous. After grabbing some pre-packed food from his bag for a simple dinner, Woo Zhengyang climbed onto a branch of a fiery red locust tree, sitting cross-legged to begin his training.

The "Flesh Condensing Technique," combined with a day's worth of battles, had significantly strengthened Woo Zhengyang's muscles and meridians. He was able to further compress and condense the sword-shaped genuine Qi. Although the concentration of vital energy in the Fallen Leaf Mountain Range couldn't compare to the stone chambers of the Profound Heaven Sect, it was better than nothing.

The night passed without a word, and as the morning birds began to chirp, Woo Zhengyang opened his eyes.

"In just one night, I managed to condense seventeen strands of sword-shaped genuine Qi. It seems the 'Sword Sacrificing Spell' and the 'Flesh Condensing Technique' really complement each other well!" Woo Zhengyang mused to himself, leaping down from the branch to start a new day of battles.

Not far from the entrance of the Fallen Leaf Mountain Range, in the town of Fallen Leaf, Yun Shaoqing and his two companions emerged from the Red Delight Inn, their faces flushed with satisfaction.

"Yun, did Little Green take good care of you last night? I could hear your prowess from the next room," Lee Sanshui flattered.

"Haha... You all seemed to enjoy yourselves so much you didn't want to leave. Don't worry, once we deal with that kid Woo Zhengyang, we'll have plenty of time. When we complete our mission, we can even try something new."

Liu Tieniu grumbled in his deep voice, "That kid really doesn't know the meaning of danger, actually coming to the Falling Leaf Mountains. Does he really have some tricks up his sleeve?"

"Tricks? More like a fool's errand!" Lee Sanshui scoffed.

Yun Shaoqing had somehow procured a folding fan, which he opened with a flourish, waving it a few times before remembering it was a chilly morning. He closed it again, saying leisurely, "You never know, the kid might have something up his sleeve. The other day, when he faced Tieniu, he showed a bit of skill, but just a bit. With the three of us here, we'll make sure he doesn't leave."

"Exactly, exactly. Once we make our mark this time, let's see if those restless folks in Six-union Valley dare to have any rebellious thoughts."

Woo Zhengyang was unaware that three shadows were trailing him as he tangled with a Greenhide Beast. The creature's slick, snake-like skin wasn't as tough as the Iron Armored Beast's, but it was no pushover. Its attacks were sharp, making it a formidable opponent with medium strength and defense.

Yesterday's grueling battle was starting to show results. Even though his strength had only increased by about 220 pounds, Woo Zhengyang's punch hardness and combat skills had improved significantly. When he first encountered a Greenhide Beast, it took him the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to finish the fight, and he even got a bit injured.

Nowadays, the beast was like a sitting duck for Woo Zhengyang, unable to fight back. After just a few punches, it was knocked to the ground, never to rise again. Its death was only a matter of time. One beast after another fell, and Woo Zhengyang fought with increasing ferocity. Even the Iron Armored Beast, which had been a tough opponent the day before, now seemed weak under his assault.

This situation didn't bring Woo Zhengyang any joy; instead, it left him feeling a bit down. The progress of his Flesh Condensing Technique had slowed again. "Should I venture deeper?" Woo Zhengyang pondered as he looked toward the heart of the Falling Leaf Mountains. Beyond this point lay the territory of more formidable beasts.

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