Tang Yan focused on the Heavenly Creation Cauldron, trying to sense the source of its sudden excitement—astonishingly, it was reacting to the beast core in his hand!
Damn, does this thing actually eat beast cores?!
Stunned, he hesitated for a brief moment before directing his spiritual will. In the next instant, the beast core vanished into the cauldron.
For a long time, the Heavenly Creation Fire within the cauldron had remained dormant. But now, it flickered to life, emerging faintly in his dantian. Inside the cauldron, the beast core was rapidly being refined—visible to the naked eye.
In just ten seconds, the previously energy-rich beast core was completely dissolved, transforming into a stream of incomparably pure spiritual energy that gathered within the cauldron.
“Shit! I worked my ass off all night for this, and you just gobbled it up?”
Tang Yan cursed internally, picturing a herd of alpacas trampling through his mind.
Just as he was about to vent his frustration, an intense wave of pure energy suddenly surged from the cauldron, flowing into every fiber of his being.
A pleasurable sensation swept over him, and then—a sudden tremor in his dantian.
His expression changed.
Could he be breaking through again?!
Without hesitation, he leaped onto a towering tree, found a sturdy branch, and sat down cross-legged to stabilize his breath.
After four hours of frantic running, he had consumed six High Spirit Pills. Now, the residual medicinal energy—combined with the refined power of the tier-three beast core—was flooding his dantian, pushing his cultivation rapidly toward Yellow Rank, Tier Three.
Boom!
A subtle tremor shook his dantian, like an eggshell cracking open. A surge of unparalleled clarity rushed through his meridians.
Breakthrough! Yellow Rank, Tier Three!
The surging energy coursed through his body. Feeling the raw power of his advancement, Tang Yan’s heart soared with excitement.
But suddenly—
His expression hardened.
The energy wasn’t stopping. It was still rising—forcefully pushing toward Tier Four!
Boom!
Another minor rupture resounded within him.
The barrier of Yellow Rank, Tier Four had shattered!
Only when he reached Tier Four did the surging energy finally subside. Tang Yan closed his eyes, methodically absorbing and consolidating his newfound strength.
By the time he opened them again, daylight had already broken across the sky.
Feeling the powerful energy within him, Tang Yan smiled faintly.
He checked on the Heavenly Creation Cauldron within his body—though the cauldron itself had not changed in size, he discovered something astonishing.
The Lingwo Fruit Sapling he had planted inside had sprouted a new shoot!
Tang Yan stared at the tender green sprout in disbelief. According to ancient records, this fruit was supposed to be an elliptical deep-green sphere—and that was exactly what had appeared.
It had to be because of the tier-three beast core he had just fed the cauldron!The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Apparently, the cauldron’s inner space required nourishment. As long as he provided suitable nutrients, the spiritual plants within would grow at an accelerated rate.
If a tier-three beast core alone could do this, then what about a tier-four… or even a tier-five core?
Tang Yan’s mind raced with excitement.
Of course, he had no idea that within the entire Tianxiang Kingdom, spirit beasts above tier five were extremely rare.
With a flick of Phantom Step, he sped toward Cloud City.
With his newly advanced cultivation, his speed had greatly improved compared to the night before.
Within an hour, the city’s silhouette appeared on the horizon.
—
Back at the Tang residence, he was making his way to his courtyard when—
A faint melody drifted through the air.
He paused, following the sound.
The music was filled with bitterness and sorrow, as if lamenting fate’s cruelty, railing against invisible shackles, and drowning in the confusion of life.
Eventually, by the lake, he spotted a graceful figure.
The early morning breeze gently tousled her silky black hair, revealing an exquisitely beautiful face, stained with traces of tears.
Tang Yan stood still for a moment, sighing inwardly.
Even a noble-born woman like her is bound by struggles she cannot escape…
The woman, Ziyun, sat with her eyes closed, her delicate fingers gliding across the strings of a guqin.
But suddenly—
"Pluck!"
The serene melody was abruptly interrupted.
Ziyun’s eyes snapped open in shock—her music had turned into an unpleasant cacophony because of one large hand pressing firmly down on the strings.
She glared at Tang Yan in anger.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
The artistic mood she had so carefully cultivated was utterly ruined.
Tang Yan crossed his arms, looking unbothered.
“Why play such a depressing tune first thing in the morning? It’s bad luck.”
Ziyun’s delicate brows knitted in fury.
“You… uncultured brute!”
“A brute wouldn’t even be able to recognize such a miserable melody,” he quipped lazily.
She was momentarily stumped.
That… actually made sense.
With a clang, her thin sword shot out of its sheath.
“Hmph! The Tang family patriarch asked me to guide you in martial arts. I mustn’t disappoint the old man’s kindness.” She smirked. “Let’s see how much you’ve improved. Draw your sword!”
Without further warning, she launched an attack, releasing the power of Mortal Rank, Tier Nine!
Tang Yan blinked in surprise.
She recovered to Tier Nine in just a few days?
No wonder she was regarded as a prodigy in Tingxiang!
Little did Ziyun know that in just one night, Tang Yan had already advanced to Yellow Rank, Tier Four.
Originally, she had planned to use her profound swordsmanship and Mortal Rank experience to completely overwhelm Tang Yan, who was supposedly only at Tier One.
But this time—
She had miscalculated.
Tang Yan, a reincarnated ninth-rank alchemist, was no ordinary opponent.
Even with his cultivation suppressed to Mortal Rank, Tier Eight, he effortlessly met her assault.
Ziyun felt a surge of anger.
Did this brat just… hold back against me?!
This wasn’t just an issue of strength—the disrespect was unbearable!
"You dare look down on me?!"
Furious, she unleashed a dazzling flurry of sword strikes, vowing to teach him a lesson.
But as they fought, Tang Yan marveled.
Ziyun truly was a genius.
Compared to Lin Dongxue, she was several times stronger. Even with his Tier Eight power, he had to exert real effort to keep up.
Meanwhile, Ziyun’s mind was in chaos.
She had never lost to a Yellow Rank, Tier Two warrior before.
Yet now—
How was this possible?!
What kind of freak is Tang Yan?!
Fighting a Mortal Rank, Tier Eight warrior should have been easy, yet she was completely overwhelmed.
The realization struck her like a lightning bolt—
She was the one being suppressed.
Her frustration peaked.
“Enough!” She huffed, withdrawing her sword and storming off toward her courtyard.
Tang Yan chuckled, watching her retreating figure.
Women… so hard to please.
—
The Mid-Autumn Tournament was approaching.
Though Tang Yan despised public attention, this event was crucial for the Tang family’s reputation—he had no choice but to participate.
Determined to bring honor to his clan, he threw himself into rigorous training.
Meanwhile, Ziyun had gone into seclusion, likely still brooding over her defeat.
In just nine days, with the aid of various elixirs, Tang Yan’s cultivation skyrocketed to Yellow Rank, Tier Six.
His monstrous progress was nothing short of legendary.
Yet, he still found it too slow.
With the tournament looming, his gaze turned sharp.
“I may only be Tier Six… but with my Heavenly Creation Fire and Phantom Step, no one in Yellow Rank can take me lightly.”
As he pondered, the sound of a door opening caught his attention.
He turned—
Ziyun emerged from her room, wearing a smug smile.