C14 Break the Power with Strength

With the Unicorn's massive form, the earth shook with each of its galloping strides! The force of such a charge was beyond imagination, akin to a small, mobile mountain.

Oddly enough, Laojiu didn't evade but instead launched a countercharge at the Unicorn!

"Kid, I know you're strong, but trying to match it in barbarian strength is just asking for trouble!" Patriarch Lieshan urgently cautioned Laojiu, though he somewhat grasped Laojiu's plan.

After achieving Perfect Body Refining, Laojiu's pure muscular strength could likely exceed 5,000 kilograms. With the infusion of Dragon Blood, the initiation of Celestial Dragon Guidance, and the advancement to the Three-qi Gathering Stage, his muscular strength had increased more than tenfold!

With the cultivation of Origin Energy, an ordinary Cultivator's power would grow by 50% with each level ascended. But under the extreme regimen of the Three-qi Gathering, Laojiu's power would triple with each advancement. Now, at his full might, his strength was around a million kilograms!

Should he cultivate the Three-qi Gathering to the Perfection Stage, his strength might double yet again.

Against the Two-tail Viper, his strength had felt like overkill. However, the Unicorn's vast size made it an ideal opponent for a test of strength.

Laojiu had no time to respond to Patriarch Lieshan. He accelerated the Origin Energy within him and executed the Devil Subduing Movement Technique to evade the Unicorn's horn, his right hand delivering a forceful slap to its shoulder blade!

Thud!

The collision sounded deep and heavy.

The next instant, Laojiu felt his body soar!

Indeed, he was airborne, hurtling backward!

Crash!

Laojiu landed hard on the ground, stars dancing before his eyes as he was flung at least sixty feet from the point of impact.

"Tch! This creature's strength is immense!"

Laojiu rose, spitting out the dirt from his mouth. The fall had been harsh, leaving his entire body aching.

The Unicorn, however, seemed much less affected. Enduring Laojiu's Mountain Quaking Palm, it merely stepped back a few paces without sustaining any damage. The Fierce Creature's thick hide was truly remarkable.

"Come at me again!"

Laojiu's voice boomed like thunder as he gestured provocatively at the nearby fierce creature.

The Unicorn, its blood-red eyes seething with anger, charged without hesitation upon Laojiu's challenge.

Unfazed, Laojiu charged back. As they were about to collide, he deftly sidestepped, dodging its head, then spun on his right foot, leaping into the air. His palms came crashing down on the Unicorn's substantial waist.

"Fall!" Laojiu roared.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Struck by Laojiu's barbarian strength, the Unicorn toppled over like a felled tree. Although it was stronger in a head-on clash, it couldn't match Laojiu's endurance.

The Unicorn rolled thrice upon the ground and was attempting to rise when Laojiu, swift as a shadow, pounced onto its back.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Laojiu's fists hammered down on the Unicorn like a torrential downpour. At this point, technique was irrelevant; only the sheer force of his blows mattered.

With Laojiu's current might, a foot-thick steel plate would crumple under his assault. Yet, his blows on the Unicorn's hide were like drumbeats, barely making an impact. The creature was incredibly resilient.

Not one to take such treatment lying down, the Unicorn kicked up its hind legs, its rear half rising sharply. Laojiu was jolted forward, his left hand instinctively seizing the Unicorn's horn.

Seizing the rare opportunity, Laojiu didn't hesitate. Origin Energy surged into his right hand as he unleashed his sole mastered technique, the Azure Dragon Fighting Sky, striking at its head!

The Azure Dragon Fighting Sky technique was distinct from common ones; it could bypass surface defenses and directly target internal organs. The more advanced the cultivation, the more pronounced this effect.

Laojiu's powerful blow once again floored the Unicorn. This time, its head sustained severe damage. Its massive body convulsed, and its Blood Eyes looked as though they might burst forth.

"Rise!"

Laojiu clutched the Unicorn's horn with both hands and, with a sudden burst of strength, lifted it off the ground. Then, with another surge of power, he slammed it down onto the solid earth!

Boom!

The impact resounded, shaking the very ground beneath them!

It was a scene of sheer violence!

The Unicorn, having sustained severe injuries, was devoid of its former vitality. It failed to rise twice, its eyes now devoid of their previous sparkle.

But Laojiu was relentless. He pummeled the creature until its horn, the symbol of its might, snapped off. Only then did he cease his assault.

Now, the Unicorn lay motionless, blood pouring from where its horn had been, its life force ebbing away.

"Work's done!"

Laojiu felt a twinge of triumph. After all, the Unicorn was three ranks above him.

"Kid, you made that look even easier than the Two-tail Viper earlier. Impressive! But let's not forget, the Azure Dragon Secret Technique was crucial. Without it, killing it wouldn't have been so simple," Patriarch Lieshan remarked, astonished at how Laojiu had handled the formidable beast.

Indeed, the Unicorn was a Fierce Creature on par with the Human Life Union Stage, and Laojiu had bested it using a method it knew all too well.

"Heh, the main issue is that this brute is dumb, all brawn and no brains. If it had any knowledge of using Origin Energy, I'd have been the one getting thrashed."

"There are Fierce Creatures out there that do cultivate Origin Energy. They tend to be higher-level, with great Spiritual Wisdom and likely possess unique secret techniques. Should you encounter one in the future, be extremely cautious. A moment's carelessness could be disastrous."

"Don't worry, Senior Brother. I haven't gotten ahead of myself to think I'm unbeatable."

Laojiu remained sober about his capabilities, well aware that many outsiders were far more powerful than he was.

"You're wise to recognize that. Battles like this are good training for you. But remember, it's the life-and-death struggles against true masters that will forge your strength."

Patriarch Lieshan effortlessly assumed the dual role of mentor and confidant, devoting his entire being to nurturing Laojiu.

With the demise of the massive unicorn, Laojiu was in for a treat. Having subsisted on fasting pills for months, he was on the verge of forgetting what flavor was.

The lavish barbecue left Laojiu's mouth dripping with grease; he never imagined he could eat so voraciously, devouring nearly half a leg himself!

That was hundreds of pounds of meat, at least!

"I'm stuffed! That was incredibly delicious!"

Patting his rounded belly, Laojiu couldn't fathom how he managed to consume so much, clueless as to where it all went.

"Quick, practice your cultivation technique. The unicorn's meat can provide you with a substantial amount of Origin Energy."

"Ha, you can gain Origin Energy this way?"

Laojiu was taken aback, promptly sitting down to practice Celestial Dragon Guidance.

Sure enough, the lean meat he had ingested began to transform into wisps of Origin Energy, merging into his dantian.

Half an hour later, his stomach felt as empty as before.

"Hmm, my Origin Energy seems to have increased slightly. It's a shame it's still not enough. I'll have to hunt and consume more fierce creatures in the future."

Laojiu was slightly disappointed. He had assumed that consuming the Life Union Stage Unicorn would boost his Origin Energy by a significant margin, but he had oversimplified the matter.

"Don't be overly ambitious. This way of absorbing Origin Energy isn't proper, as it's impure. Overindulgence could easily lead to an Origin Energy backlash, causing your cultivation level to regress. Otherwise, everyone would resort to this method for improvement; who would bother with the arduous journey of cultivating Origin Energy?"

"Ah? Is that so? You were the one who urged me to absorb it, aren't you setting me up?"

Laojiu was instantly disheartened. It was he who said to absorb, and also he who said not to. What then was the right approach?

"You're such a blockhead! On this planet, where Origin Energy is scarce, you obviously can't pass up any opportunity. Besides, your Origin Energy is robust enough that it won't be affected for now. Just avoid too much impurity. Once you reach a planet rich in Origin Energy, you won't need to engage in such thankless efforts anymore."

After listening to Patriarch Lieshan's explanation, Laojiu finally came to understand that the crux of the issue was still a scarcity of resources.

Once he had rested, Laojiu casually released some fierce beasts once more. The subsequent releases were relatively weak creatures. Although each had its unique traits, Laojiu handled them with ease. Even when he did sustain minor injuries, his robust healing abilities ensured a swift recovery.

At times, he contemplated unleashing the two Fierce Creatures nearing the Mortal Exuviating Stage, curious to see if he could slay such formidable beasts.

Patriarch Lieshan, however, remained cautious about Laojiu's intentions. While Laojiu was strong, he was still within the Low Rank Three. Advancing to the God Cultivating Stage would be far more comforting.

Over five days of relentless combat, Laojiu had faced over a hundred fierce beasts, encountering a myriad of bizarre creatures that were a revelation to him, the likes of which were almost never seen on Yanhuang Star.

The Fierce Creatures released in the last few days proved less cooperative. Without Patriarch Lieshan's insights into the various creatures' traits, Laojiu would have undoubtedly suffered greatly.

One particular challenge was the Violet Smoke at the early period of the Life Union Stage, which left Laojiu feeling exceptionally frustrated. Its body seemed ethereal, hardly affected by his attacks.

The most vexing aspect was its ability to float in mid-air, eluding Laojiu's strikes. Despite its elusive nature, the creature was also incredibly agile and intelligent. Laojiu's attempts to outsmart it backfired, leaving him with several deep, bone-exposing wounds.

Zi Luo Yan wielded a pair of Giant Blades that were extraordinarily sharp, proving too much even for Laojiu's formidable physique. She managed to sever three Dragon Trapping Staffs from the weapon rack, displaying overwhelming ferocity.

The battle between Laojiu and the creature lasted a full day. In a desperate move, Laojiu traded blow for blow, ultimately employing the Vast Dragon Secret Arts to vanquish his opponent. This left him with two more profound gashes on his back.

After slaying Zi Luo Yan, Laojiu slept for an entire day before regaining consciousness. His injuries, however, took nearly ten days to fully heal.

After taking a significant hit, Laojiu had learned his lesson and became far more cautious, shedding the overconfidence he had displayed at the start.

Yet, the Water Shadow Beast he longed to set free continued to elude him, casting a shadow of frustration over Laojiu's spirits.

On the bright side, the period wasn't devoid of progress. He had not only amassed a wealth of combat experience but also achieved a noticeable enhancement in his Origin Energy. Nevertheless, when compared to the rapid advancements he made initially, this progress seemed trivial.