C18 Chapter 18

"That guy finally came out," someone said. "Yeah, I want to see what he can actually do. How dare he occupy Senior Brother Zhang's training room?" another said. "Ha, I bet Senior Brother Zhang is going to teach him a harsh lesson," a third added. As Hua Hsing appeared, the Inner Sect disciples began murmuring among themselves, their faces filled with mocking smiles. At that moment, Zhang Bofeng and Jiaang Xue also turned their attention to Hua Hsing.

"Is he Hua Hsing?" Zhang Bofeng asked.

"Yes, Senior Brother. That's Hua Hsing. He's extremely ruthless. During the Outer Sect competition, he even killed a fellow disciple," Jiaang Xue whispered.

Hearing this, a trace of anger appeared on Zhang Bofeng's face as he stepped forward and blocked Hua Hsing, who was about to leave.

"Kid, you finally came out. Not hiding anymore?" Zhang Bofeng said coldly, stopping Hua Hsing with one hand.

Hua Hsing paused, then quickly understood that Zhang Bofeng was clearly looking for trouble.

"Hiding?" Hua Hsing's expression darkened with displeasure as he noticed Jiaang Xue's gloating look.

"Hua Hsing, you're just an Outer Sect disciple. Getting into the Inner Sect training tower is already impressive enough, yet you dared to occupy Senior Brother Zhang's training room. You're asking for trouble."

"So you're Hua Hsing, the top disciple of the Outer Sect? In my eyes, you're nothing," Zhang Bofeng sneered.

"This training room doesn't belong to you alone, does it?" Hua Hsing shot back.

"Kid, everyone in the Inner Sect knows this training room is mine. You dared to take it, so I'll teach you a lesson and make you understand that the Inner Sect is not the Outer Sect."

With that, Zhang Bofeng clenched his fist and threw a punch at Hua Hsing.

With a loud thud, Hua Hsing blocked the punch, but the force still drove him back several steps.

"Qi Refining Stage Level Four?"

Zhang Bofeng was indeed at Qi Refining Stage Level Four, and his strength was overwhelmingly powerful.

"Oh? You managed to block my punch. I underestimated you. But do you really think that means you can stand against me?" Zhang Bofeng scoffed.

Hua Hsing frowned slightly. He still was not a match for Zhang Bofeng and could not contend with a warrior at Qi Refining Stage Level Four.

Realizing this, Hua Hsing ignored Zhang Bofeng and headed straight for the Outer Sect. However, Zhang Bofeng was not about to let him leave so easily. Hua Hsing felt a powerful force rushing at him from behind. At that moment, Hua Hsing drew his Light Spirit Sword and executed the Golden Light Sword Arts. A flash of golden light appeared as Hua Hsing once again blocked Zhang Bofeng's attack, leaving Zhang Bofeng looking quite embarrassed. An Outer Sect disciple had managed to fend off his attacks twice in a row, and it made him lose face. "Senior Brother Zhang, that is a low-grade weapon," Jiaang Xue reminded him.

The Light Spirit Sword was Hua Hsing's reward for becoming the top disciple of the Outer Sect. Although it was only a low-grade weapon, its power increased significantly when paired with the Golden Light Sword Arts. With Hua Hsing's current combat ability, he was confident he could fight someone who had just entered Qi Refining Stage Level Four, but Zhang Bofeng was clearly far stronger. "Hmph, so what if it is a low-grade weapon? I am going to teach you a lesson today," Zhang Bofeng said.

Furious, Zhang Bofeng unleashed his ultimate technique. Wielding his long sword with a domineering style, he attacked Hua Hsing. Suddenly, a voice carrying a trace of authority rang out. "An Inner Sect disciple attacking an Outer Sect disciple is against the rules." In the next instant, Zhang Bofeng's attack stopped abruptly, and a look of displeasure appeared on his face. "That is Senior Sister Bingling," a disciple whispered. "Senior Sister Bingling," Jiaang Xue and Zhang Bofeng said as they respectfully cupped their hands in greeting.

Bingling, the foremost beauty of the Inner Sect, was known for her formidable strength. Rumor had it that she had already reached Qi Refining Stage Level Five. Within the Inner Sect, no one was willing to provoke her. She never engaged in idle conversation and devoted herself entirely to cultivation, like an ethereal fairy untouched by the mortal world. Following everyone's gaze, Hua Hsing looked over and saw a white dress outlining her graceful figure. Her angelic face carried a cold aura, yet it possessed a striking beauty that drew the eye. Hua Hsing was still wondering who she was when Bingling spoke again. "You should leave." Hua Hsing thanked her and promptly departed the Inner Sect.

As Hua Hsing turned to leave, Zhang Bofeng looked as though he wanted to say something, but the stern expression on Senior Sister Bingling's face stopped him cold. In the end, Zhang Bofeng and the others had no choice but to leave as well.

After returning from the Inner Sect training tower, Hua Hsing left the Azure Edge Sword Sect and headed for Breeze City. Already familiar with the route, he quickly arrived at the Breeze Branch and sought out the same Deacon Elder he had met before.

"Young friend, are you here to sell demon beast corpses again?" the Deacon Elder asked with a broad smile.

"I'm here to buy something," Hua Hsing replied.

"Oh? What are you looking to purchase?"

"I'd like to buy some spirit herbs and spirit pills." With that, Hua Hsing handed the prepared list to the Deacon Elder.

"We have all of these items. The total comes to 8,000 spirit stones," the Deacon Elder said.

Hua Hsing nodded and asked, "Do you have any higher-grade Space Rings available?"

Hearing this, the Deacon Elder's expression changed slightly. "Are you interested in purchasing a Space Ring?"

Space Rings were exceptionally precious, and under normal circumstances, a martial artist at the Qi Refining Stage could not afford one. If he managed to sell a Space Ring, the Deacon Elder would earn a considerable profit, especially since Hua Hsing was asking for a higher-grade one.

"Young friend, we do have Space Rings here, but they are somewhat expensive," the Deacon Elder said.

"Tell me."

"A low-grade Space Ring costs 10,000 low-grade spirit stones, and a mid-grade Space Ring costs 100,000 low-grade spirit stones. As for high-grade Space Rings, our branch does not currently have any," the Deacon Elder explained.

"100,000 low-grade spirit stones," Hua Hsing muttered to himself.

In the end, Hua Hsing bought spirit pills and herbs worth a total of 8,000 low-grade spirit stones before leaving the Breeze Branch. A mid-grade Space Ring required 100,000 low-grade spirit stones, and he did not yet have that much. He needed to hunt demon beasts to earn more spirit stones.

After returning to the Azure Edge Sword Sect, Hua Hsing devoted himself to cultivation. As time passed bit by bit, he used spirit herbs and Spirit Pills to rapidly improve his realm. In the blink of an eye, half a month had gone by, and his cultivation had reached the late stage of Qi Refining Stage Level Three, with his strength surging dramatically. Even so, Hua Hsing had no intention of stopping his training.

Another half month passed, making it a full month in total. All the herbs and Spirit Pills, worth 8,000 Low Grade Spirit Stones, were completely used up, and Hua Hsing's cultivation reached the peak of Qi Refining Stage Level Three. He was only one step away from breaking through to Qi Refining Stage Level Four, but he had reached a bottleneck. With his current strength, if he faced Zhang Bofeng again, he was confident that he could defeat him. However, as long as his cultivation had not reached Qi Refining Stage Level Four, he would be unable to enter the Inner Sect.

On this day, Hua Hsing stopped cultivating and prepared to enter the Black Wind Mountain Range once more for training, hoping to use this opportunity to break through to Qi Refining Stage Level Four.

After becoming the top disciple of the Outer Sect, Hua Hsing found that it no longer held much appeal for him. He wanted to enter the Inner Sect, for only by doing so could he obtain more resources. During this month, the Ninth Elder had visited Hua Hsing many times and was very satisfied with his cultivation progress. However, he had also told Hua Hsing to continue training diligently and strive to enter the Inner Sect.

This was Hua Hsing's second time coming to the Black Wind Mountain Range. Now familiar with the terrain, he quickly found the area where Demon Beasts at Qi Refining Stage Level Three roamed and began hunting them. On an open patch of ground, Hua Hsing was locked in fierce combat with three Demon Beasts at Qi Refining Stage Level Three. Fighting barehanded, he exchanged blows with the three beasts without pause. "If I don't use the Golden Light Sword Arts, it seems I won't be able to kill these three Demon Beasts," Hua Hsing murmured. In the next moment, he drew the Light Spirit Sword. A flash of golden light streaked out, and one of the Demon Beasts instantly collapsed, dead on the ground.

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