C15 Drakenfell Mountains

"I..." Emperor Qin opened his mouth but then awkwardly looked at Xiao Tian, completely at a loss for words and too scared to say anything. This side of Xiao Tian terrified him.

"Get up from the ground already! How long do you plan on lying there?" Xiao Tian snapped at Emperor Qin, tossing him a small bottle. "Apply this to your wounds!"

"Oh," Emperor Qin quickly grabbed the bottle, opened it, and took out a dark ointment. Despite its appearance, it had a surprisingly pleasant and unique fragrance.

After applying the ointment to his wound, a cool sensation spread through his body. To his astonishment, the wound inflicted by the Minotaur began healing at a visibly rapid pace, leaving him momentarily stunned.

"What are you standing there for? Don't you know how to use the Heaven-Equalizing Creation Spell to heal?" Xiao Tian's reprimand snapped Emperor Qin back to reality. He sheepishly scratched his head and promptly began using the Divine Level cultivation method.

A divine-level cultivation method isn't just about boosting a warrior's strength; it also includes healing capabilities. As Qin Wudi began to heal, Xiao Tian glanced at him briefly before turning his attention back to the surrounding Minotaurs. He engaged them in battle once more, practicing the Skystride One Step from the Skystride Nine Steps technique.

During the practice, whenever a Minotaur tried to attack Qin Wudi, Xiao Tian would swiftly take it down with a single punch. After about half an hour, Qin Wudi emerged from his meditative state, fully healed. His external wounds had closed, and the internal injuries from the Minotaurs' attacks were also mended.

Feeling rejuvenated, Qin Wudi leaped to his feet, thrilled and eager to let out a triumphant shout. However, as he glanced at Xiao Tian, he shivered slightly, deciding against it. Without needing any prompting from Xiao Tian, he went off to find more Minotaurs to further hone his combat skills.

One day, two days, three days... In the blink of an eye, five days passed. During this time, Qin Wudi and Xiao Tian went to the Wild Bull Desert daily to refine their fighting abilities.

Under this kind of training, Qin Wudi made significant progress. Initially, he could only handle Minotaurs below the level of ordinary warriors. However, after five days, Qin Wudi was able to stand his ground against Minotaurs at the warrior level. And not just any warrior-level Minotaurs—he could now contend with those comparable to four-star warriors.

If the other Outer Sect disciples of Doombrows knew about his progress, they would be utterly astonished. In Doombrows, reaching the warrior level grants entry into the Inner Sect. Each star level advancement for a warrior is a substantial leap in strength and is not easily achieved.

Yet, in just five days, Qin Wudi advanced from being able to contend with Minotaurs at the nine-star Initiate level to those comparable to four-star warriors. Such rapid progress is indeed startling. During these five days, Qin Wudi mastered the martial techniques taught by Xiao Tian. Although he didn't achieve the same level of insight into the art of combat as Xiao Tian, he reached a proficient level, with his martial skills reaching an intermediate stage.

While Qin Wudi was making such great strides, Xiao Tian was also honing his combat skills. He no longer needed to practice against Minotaurs at the Initiate level; he had already moved on to those at the warrior level.

Xiao Tian found himself surrounded by a group of Minotaurs, each with the strength of a warrior. Among them, six were as powerful as nine-star warriors. Such a formidable group of Minotaurs would terrify even the inner disciples of the Doombrows.

Normally, being encircled by these creatures would mean certain death. Yet, Xiao Tian remained unscathed, his hands clasped behind his back as if he were strolling through the stars. The Minotaurs' attacks were nothing more than illusions to him.

"Perish!" he commanded suddenly. As the word left his lips, he stepped forward, unleashing a terrifying shockwave that swept over the Minotaurs with the power of the earth.

"Boom!" "Crash!" The deafening explosions followed, and the Minotaurs were obliterated.

"Skystride One Step has finally reached a proficient level," Xiao Tian noted, "no longer just a means of dodging, but a true combat force."

After dispatching the Minotaurs, a sharp gleam appeared in his eyes. "Hey, Fatty," he called out to Qin Wudi, who was deeply engaged in battle.

Over the past five days, Qin Wudi had grown more focused in battle, no longer distracted by sudden events around him.

"Here!"

Responding to Xiao Tian's call, Qin Wudi's eyes flashed with determination. He charged at the Minotaur in front of him like a raging bull.

"Sky-Splitting Slash!"

"Invincible Might!"

Qin Wudi roared, unleashing two powerful techniques. One hand emitted a blade-like energy, while the other launched a fierce punch, colliding with the warrior-level Minotaurs and sending them flying. He pressed his advantage, swiftly finishing off several more with a relentless series of attacks.

After defeating the Minotaurs, Qin Wudi expertly extracted several cores from their bodies, grinning broadly as he approached Xiao Tian. Any Minotaur at the warrior level would have a core, containing immense power useful for alchemists to craft potent pills. Warriors who couldn't refine pills themselves often sold these cores for money.

"Xiao Tian, what's up? Why'd you call me?" Qin Wudi asked with a cheerful smile, still riding the high of battle.

"There's not much more we can gain here. Next, let's head to the Drakenfell Mountains," said Xiao Tian.

"The Drakenfell Mountains?" Qin Wudi's eyes widened in surprise.

The Drakenfell Mountains are famous for the Shadow Dragons that inhabit them. These creatures are powerful dire beasts, with even the weakest being as formidable as a Battlemage. The strongest among them reach the level of a Kingbane, making it a place that ordinary warriors dare not venture.

Despite the dangers, the Drakenfell Mountains are also rich in Soulspark, rare flowers, and exotic herbs, making it a treasure trove for adventurers. While the mountains are known for the Shadow Dragons, not every part is inhabited by them. The Shadow Dragons usually dwell in the deepest regions, while the outskirts are home to other dire beasts.

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