Chapter 20

C20 – Each of Them Cultivate!

After a full day of intense cultivation in the Cultivation Room, Peng Gengkun had managed to boost his Growth Value by nearly five thousand points.

Previously, Peng Gengkun would have maxed out at around three thousand points. But now, with the Leviathan Egg having evolved into a baby Leviathan, its enhanced devouring ability meant he could absorb even more Spiritual Energy than before, resulting in a five thousand point increase in Growth Value.

Yet, when stacked against the Growth Value needed to advance to the Soul Refining Stage, these five thousand points hardly seemed sufficient.

“To ascend from the Intermediate to the High Rank of Qi Refining, I needed just about three thousand points of Growth Value. But to progress from the High Rank of Qi Refining to the Soul Refining Stage, I’m facing the daunting requirement of thirty thousand points,” Peng Gengkun mused, caught between amusement and frustration.

Despite his rigorous day of cultivation, yielding nearly five thousand points, Peng Gengkun was still a staggering twenty thousand points shy of the threshold for the Soul Refining Stage.

10371/30000.

The figure made his head spin momentarily.

“Still, as a Warrior, I have the option to hunt mutated beasts and trade them for Spirit Stones. If luck is on my side and I can take down a few more beasts like that giant python, I could quickly amass the three hundred Spirit Stones needed for my upgrade!”

Peng Gengkun mulled over this for a moment before deciding to hold off on the idea.

Even setting aside his chances against such formidable beasts, the sheer strength of the python he had encountered was evidence enough of their rarity. Stumbling upon one had been both a stroke of misfortune and a blessing.

Checking the system once more, Peng Gengkun noted that the baby Leviathan had entered a longer digestion phase, this time for a full seven days.

“Considering the sheer volume of items and Spiritual Energy it has consumed, it’s only natural for the baby Leviathan to need more time to digest. With this in mind, I’ll seize the chance to further hone my Martial Arts. Then, when the opportunity arises, I’ll be ready to rise as an Inner Sect disciple!”

“The Vajra Worshipping Moon may not pack the punch of the Vajra Subduing Devil, but the latter’s power is too dispersed to be of much use outside specific situations. And while the third technique of the Great Vajra Palm, the Vajra Subduing Dragon, is incredibly formidable, my current level of Astral Energy is likely insufficient to execute it. I need to reach the Soul Refining Stage, forge a Martial Soul within me, and only then can I wield the Astral Energy needed to perform the second technique.”

Peng Gengkun practiced the Vajra Worshipping Moon on the Martial Training Field for some time before pausing to ponder. These past few days, his focus wasn’t solely on practicing Martial Arts; he was also strategizing his next steps. He had honed the Vajra Worshipping Moon to near perfection, and the Vajra Subduing Devil was beginning to take shape.

Peng Gengkun was confident that if he executed the Vajra Subduing Devil technique today, even without any advancement in his realm, he could still obliterate that massive python with the move.

Lost in thought, Peng Gengkun sensed someone approaching. He looked up to find Yan Xinheng making his way toward him.

“He’s come to find me already? Seems he’s eager to reclaim the Space Ring.”

Peng Gengkun’s gaze shifted. Eyeing Yan Xinheng, he remarked, “That Space Ring must hold great significance for you.”

“It’s merely a Space Ring, of no great importance,” Yan Xinheng casually replied, waving his fan. “The ring and its contents are worth but a thousand gold coins. Its loss is trivial to me. Yet for a commoner like yourself, such wealth is surely beyond imagination.”

Yan Xinheng’s words belied a dual intent, dismissing the ring’s value while simultaneously belittling Peng Gengkun.

But Peng Gengkun just offered a slight smile, unaffected by Yan Xinheng’s disdain.

With a grin, Peng Gengkun responded, “It seems that pride is paramount for a scion of nobility like yourself. Very well, I’ll spare us both the empty talk. I have no intention of returning the Space Ring to you.”

“I’m aware you won’t surrender it willingly,” Yan Xinheng said with a smile that quickly turned frosty.

Dipping his hand into his sleeve, Yan Xinheng retrieved an object and flung it skyward.

Simultaneously, he declared, “I am Yan Xinheng, an elite disciple. I bear a personal vendetta against fellow elite disciple Peng Gengkun. I implore the sect to grant leniency and open the Death Match Arena, so that Peng Gengkun and I may resolve our conflict in a battle to the end!”