Unmatched Emperor in Isekai: A LitRPG Cultivation Adventure: Unmatched Emperor in Isekai, #3

By Bai Dian Qing Xiao

In a world where the strong prey on the weak, Li Fan, who has traveled to a different world, finds himself in a body that is the most useless and incapable of cultivation. Although this body once had a powerful family background, its inability to cultivate led to a violent temper, frequently bullying others until it met an untimely death in an accident, at which point Li Fan took over by a twist of fate.

However, fortune favors the bold, and Li Fan stumbles upon a talking stone—Yao Lao. Yao Lao, a mysterious being trapped in stone with extraordinary skills, becomes Li Fan's hope for a turnaround.

Bearing countless expectations and ridicule, Li Fan embarks on a journey of revenge. How will he utilize the power of Yao Lao to transform from a worthless individual into a peerless master step by step?... As the sun rises, a new era dawns, and Li Fan's destiny will be rewritten!
 

 

 

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Torrential rain poured down from the sky, and the dark clouds crackled with bright bolts of lightning, illuminating the pitch-black sky with each flash. Most people would seek shelter from such a stormy night, but there was one person standing atop a mountain peak.

It was Li Fan. His black eyes were fixed on the thick bolts of lightning, each carrying unimaginable power. The thunderous roar was not inferior to any Earth-rank Martial Technique. Even a Great Martial Master would suffer severe injuries if struck by lightning, let alone deliberately seeking it out. It was madness.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zhou Yan
• Release date: Apr 22, 2024
• ISBN: 9798223810612

Book preview

Chapter 109: The Power of Lightning

Torrential rain poured down from the sky, and the dark clouds crackled with bright bolts of lightning, illuminating the pitch-black sky with each flash. Most people would seek shelter from such a stormy night, but there was one person standing atop a mountain peak.

It was Li Fan. His black eyes were fixed on the thick bolts of lightning, each carrying unimaginable power. The thunderous roar was not inferior to any Earth-rank Martial Technique. Even a Great Martial Master would suffer severe injuries if struck by lightning, let alone deliberately seeking it out. It was madness.

Ironically, Li Fan was seeking to absorb the lightning to gain Thunder Spiritual Power, an essential step in cultivating the Thunderstorm technique. He could not avoid it. He felt nervous, oppressed, and slightly expectant.

Let’s begin! After a moment, he shook his head, casting aside his worries. His gaze became focused and determined. With a slightly nervous voice, he activated the remaining Spiritual Power in his body, transforming it into radiant Golden Spiritual Power. Others might need guidance on how to attract lightning, but as a transmigrator, he had some common knowledge. The metallic property possessed a unique ability to conduct electricity.

In an instant, he became like a magnet, emitting a golden glow. The lightning in the clouds seemed to be affected, deviating from its original path and converging above Li Fan’s head. The sight of so many bolts of lightning made his throat tighten. He hurriedly suppressed his Golden Spiritual Power, not daring to attract too much lightning at once.

Crackle! Despite his caution, a bolt of lightning as thick as an arm could no longer resist and descended from the clouds with an electric arc. The mere sight of it was terrifying, not to mention the violent energy it contained. His body froze.

Ah! Fear consumed him. Before the lightning, he felt as insignificant as an ant, easily reduced to dust. He took a step back, showing signs of retreat, but the lightning had locked onto him, giving him no chance to escape. It struck him almost instantly. As the lightning coursed through his body, he felt numbness all over, his hair standing on end. Then, the violent lightning, like a harbinger of destruction, surged through his body, tormenting him and forcing him to scream in agony.

At the same time, his body rapidly filled with lightning, every part of him glowing ominously. He was like a self-inflating lamp, his dark pupils turning blood-red. Every blood vessel felt like it was about to burst.

Fortunately, his feet were planted firmly on the ground, giving the lightning somewhere to discharge. Additionally, a single bolt of lightning could not last forever. However, he still felt a strong sense of impending death. If multiple bolts of lightning were to strike him, he would likely die a horrible death.

Hiss! After enduring the ordeal, his clothes had long vanished, and his entire body was covered in a layer of charred skin, giving off a foul burnt smell. He finally felt a moment of relief as he grimaced.

Then, he turned his attention inward, hoping that a single bolt of lightning would have been enough to grant him Thunder Spiritual Power. He really did not want to withstand more lightning coursing through his body. However, the lightning was like a fleeting guest, causing wanton destruction before disappearing without a trace. No matter how he searched, he could not find any lingering traces of lightning.

I need to keep going! Seeing this, his already numb face twisted into an ugly expression. But he had not succeeded in obtaining Thunder Spiritual Power, and if he had, he would not need to endure such pain again. Although he had suffered countless hardships in the past, he was not a masochist.

He considered giving up, but he could not convince Elder Yao. He could only continue to endure the lightning strikes. Bolt after bolt of lightning descended, numbing him to the point where his entire body was charred black. However, he also noticed that he had developed some immunity to lightning. Unlike the first strike, he could now gradually regain control of his consciousness and observe the lightning’s destruction within his body.

Do I need to be struck by lightning regularly? But the one thing he had sought all along had never materialized. Moreover, the dark clouds in the sky were fading, and the lightning storm was weakening significantly. As the rainstorm drew to a close, he could not help but feel frustrated.

According to the Thunderstorm technique, it will take too long. I don’t have that kind of time. I can only try using the vortex! After a moment, his consciousness sank into his dantian, or more precisely, the dim, colorful vortex. This vortex had helped him greatly in the past, possessing a purifying effect and a terrifying suction force.

However, he was well aware of the severe consequences of allowing lightning into his dantian, especially when his own Spiritual Power was depleted. If he were to recklessly send Thunder Spiritual Power into his dantian without his own Spiritual Power to suppress it, the result could be a catastrophic self-explosion.

Since such an action was so dangerous—a single misstep could cost him his life—he had to proceed with the utmost caution. As a result, he hesitated.

Cultivating the Thunderstorm technique is already incredibly risky. If I don’t even dare to send it into my dantian, then even if I obtain Thunder Spiritual Power, I won’t be able to store it in my dantian. Besides, even if something goes wrong, I should be able to expel the Thunder Spiritual Power from my body in time! However, his worries quickly dissipated.

After all, the Thunderstorm technique required him to eventually store the Thunder Spiritual Power in his dantian until he was ready to use it. If his own Spiritual Power were to become too depleted to suppress the Thunder Spiritual Power, it would still cause a Thunder Spiritual Power rampage. Since he had decided to cultivate the Thunderstorm technique, he could not avoid this issue. Experiencing it now was simply a matter of timing.

This realization quickly solidified his resolve. Once again, he guided lightning into his body, filling it with electrical energy. Normally, the lightning would have dissipated through his feet, but this time, the vortex began to spin, generating a suction force. This suction force was not particularly strong, as he had intentionally controlled it. If the vortex had gone all out, all of the lightning in his body would have surged into his dantian in an instant. Li Fan, despite his boldness, did not dare to attempt such a reckless move. He was not confident that he could control it.

In an instant, the lightning surrounding his dantian slowly entered it, merging with the vortex. This caused the vortex, which was already lacking in Spiritual Power, to show signs of collapse. After all, Thunder Spiritual Power was violent and difficult to tame, especially since he did not have enough Spiritual Power to sustain it.

Li Fan focused intently. As soon as he noticed something amiss, his expression turned extremely grave. Without hesitation, he forced the Thunder Spiritual Power that was disrupting the vortex out of his dantian. This expulsion was like forcibly controlling the Thunder Spiritual Power, and the Thunder Spiritual Power was particularly unruly, constantly resisting him. As a result, his body began to convulse.

Fortunately, he managed to forcibly extract that bit of Thunder Spiritual Power, purified by the vortex, and gradually pulled it out through his meridians. This caused significant trauma to his meridians, making the convulsions even more intense. His charred face was a portrait of agony, and though his lips were cracked, he couldn’t manage to draw a cold breath.

Crack! The moment that bit of Thunder Spiritual Power was extracted from his body, he collapsed to the ground, exhausted. Sweat emerged on his already charred skin, and the Thunder Spiritual Power, like a rootless duckweed, only lingered in the air for a moment, leaving a crisp sound before dissipating.

Phew, just a bit of Thunder Spiritual Power almost destroyed the vortex! After catching his breath, Li Fan’s eyes showed a wariness. He knew better than anyone that even a slight mishap could have been catastrophic. After all, the vortex was the foundation of his existence. Without it to purify Spiritual Power, he couldn’t continue to consume herbs and pills. Naturally, he did not wish for the vortex to be damaged.

Young man, feels good, doesn’t it? Yet, Elder Yao’s voice seemed to deliberately incite the anger in his heart, giving him an almost irresistible urge to gnash his teeth, to which he replied irritably.

Elder Yao, I almost lost my life, and you call that good!

Hehe, enduring the greatest hardships is what makes a superior person! Elder Yao encouraged him.

I understand the principle well enough, but to suffer endlessly without getting the deserved reward, that doesn’t make one superior, it just means asking for trouble! Upon hearing this, Li Fan felt as miserable as if he’d swallowed a fly.

Young man, how can you be so shortsighted, only seeing the present hardships but not looking to the long-term? Elder Yao said with exasperation.

Elder Yao, what are the benefits? At this, Li Fan’s spirits were lifted. He had a vague hunch that Elder Yao was trying to help him, but he simply didn’t understand the intricacies. If he did, he would have put more effort into it and not had so many negative emotions.

Lightning isn’t just for cultivating the Thunderstorm technique. It can also refine the body. If you continuously temper your body with lightning, not only will it solidify your Martial Path foundation, but it will also make your body stronger. In the future, you won’t be able to gather enough high-level herbs to help you fuse the Five Elements Spiritual Objects. Only by enhancing your body can you avoid stagnating due to a lack of herbs! Elder Yao earnestly explained.

At these words, Li Fan was stunned. He hadn’t expected that Elder Yao intended to use lightning to help him reinforce his shaky Martial Path foundation. The benefits of lightning to him were no less than engaging in combat with others, or even better, taking the initiative to withstand it. It was an excellent way to hone his Martial Path foundation. Moreover, he was deeply aware that as herbs increased in rank, they became increasingly scarce. Even if he had the intention of gathering them, he wouldn’t be able to collect hundreds of types of herbs quickly. Without herbs to lubricate the fusion of the Five Elements Spiritual Objects, he could only remain stagnant.

To change the situation he might face in the future, Elder Yao had truly racked his brains. Even though he hadn’t mentioned it before, Li Fan was truly moved. He knew that Elder Yao could have said nothing at all and let him figure it out himself. Unfortunately, Li Fan was rather dull-witted and did not have Elder Yao’s foresight.

Sigh, had I known, I would have absorbed more lightning. Now that I’ve missed this opportunity, I don’t know when the next one will come! His thoughts on being struck by lightning had changed dramatically. Instead of being resistant, he began to anticipate it. However, the heavens did not give him another chance. The dark clouds in the sky dispersed, replaced by bright sunlight. There was no more thunder or lightning, and Li Fan couldn’t help but sigh.

Perhaps if Elder Yao had told him sooner, he would have tried even harder to guide the lightning into his body to temper it and solidify his shaky Martial Path foundation. Just as this thought crossed his mind, Elder Yao’s voice startled him, causing him to nod in agreement.

Young man, you have only just come into contact with ordinary lightning and know very little about it. If you try it blindly, you will only destroy your Martial Path foundation. Without a cautious attitude, you are like someone who wants to become fat in one bite!

Chapter 110: Stone Arm Ape

Day after day, time flew by, especially for Li Fan, who didn’t just wait for thunderstorms every day. He also experienced brutal fights and never neglected his pill refining practices, almost forgetting the concept of time in the continuous cycle.

In fact, he knew that even if he could leave the Heavenly Demon Forest with the strength of a Third Grade Great Martial Master, he still wouldn’t be able to truly confront Liu Zhan and the others. In the end, he would have to flee again. The issue was that his trump cards were too scarce. The only threatening trump card he had was the Langqing Sword Technique, which could affect his Spirit Martial Technique and was his ultimate move that drained Spiritual Power.

If he were to confront Liu Zhan and the others in such a desperate manner, and if Elder Yao, true to his unpredictable nature, were to abandon him midway, he would truly be devastated. After all, the harsh lessons that kept replaying in his mind reminded him not to pin his hopes on Elder Yao, emphasizing that more tactics meant more security.

Meanwhile, staying in the Heavenly Demon Forest was not without its benefits. His shaky Martial Path foundation gradually became more stable, his body’s resistance significantly increased, and his pill refining skills improved—all of which enriched his foundation.

Now, he was facing a Stone Arm Ape, comparable in strength to a Fourth Grade Ninth Grade Great Martial Master. This beast was the absolute ruler among the Fourth Grade demon beasts in this area, aside from the Demon King. Yet, Li Fan had set his sights on it because battling the Stone Arm Ape could provide him with enough pressure to indulge in combat to his heart’s content.

The Stone Arm Ape was about two meters tall, with a pair of disproportionately large arms almost equal to its entire body. Its thick and powerful arms, like sledgehammers, were its means of survival.

Thump, thump, thump! As it swung its robust arms, its two massive fists heavily struck its broad chest, producing a drum-like sound. The sound waves even stirred up a breeze, blowing the surrounding dry leaves all around, showcasing the immense power of its hammering. Then, it no longer stayed in place but took a step forward, causing a slight tremor in the ground as it charged straight towards Li Fan.

Li Fan’s expression turned solemn, not underestimating his opponent in the slightest. Any Fourth Grade demon beast deserved his full attention. With a thought, five-colored Spiritual Power surged and enveloped his black iron spear. Without retreating a step, the fierce determination in his dark pupils showed he was ready for a head-on collision with the Stone Arm Ape.

Clang! Without hesitation, the black iron spear aimed straight for the Stone Arm Ape’s throat. However, the ape, possessing a certain level of intelligence, would not allow the spear, with its terrifying piercing force, to strike its throat. A massive fist swung towards the spear tip, compressing the air around it. A metallic clang echoed instantly as the Spiritual Power on the spear dispersed, causing the spear to bend. The Stone Arm Ape also halted its advance.

Li Fan felt the power transmitted from the ape’s arm, making it challenging to hold onto the spear shaft. The intense vibrations threatened to slip from his grasp, even travelling up his arms into his body, forcing him to take several steps back. Wood Spirit Power flowed out to dissipate the shockwave. He then gripped the black iron spear tightly with both hands. On closer inspection, the ape’s fist, despite being struck head-on by the spear, only bore a tiny mark. It seemed his attack couldn’t even tear through the ape’s hide, leaving him secretly astonished.

The Stone Arm Ape truly lives up to its reputation with arms as hard as boulders!

However, the stronger the Stone Arm Ape proved to be, the more it fueled his desire to fight. If the ape had been all bark and no bite, he would have been greatly disappointed.

But the Stone Arm Ape didn’t share Li Fan’s sentiment; it only knew that Li Fan had challenged it and was determined to make him pay a severe price. Such a price would undoubtedly be grim, given the ape’s arms could pulverize a person into minced meat, leaving no chance of escaping unscathed.

Moreover, the Stone Arm Ape’s might wasn’t limited to its powerful arms. Its short and stocky legs possessed terrifying jumping power. Stomping heavily on the ground, leaving two large footprints, its body launched toward Li Fan like a rocket. Its fists ferociously slammed into him. This was the Stone Arm Ape’s fighting style: relying on its boulder-like body to fully express its wild and unrestrained nature.

Thump, thump, thump! Li Fan didn’t back down, still thrusting his spear forward, colliding fiercely with the incoming fists. In that instant, the Spiritual Power was completely shaken off, revealing the true form of the black iron spear, which quickly bent. A tremendous force vibrated through his arms, tensing them like steel cables on the verge of snapping. At the same time, his complexion rapidly reddened under the impact, and his body uncontrollably staggered backward, each step landing with significant weight.

The assault from the Stone Arm Ape was far from over, its terrifying force kept Li Fan from halting his retreat. Even knowing a tree trunk was directly behind him, he couldn’t dodge in time. After crashing through several trees, he finally got a moment to catch his breath.

Using Wood Spirit Power to soothe his boiling blood, his complexion quickly returned to normal. Continuous collisions with the Stone Arm Ape would make even the sturdiest body vomit blood, which is why he dared to clash with it head-on. Without Wood Spirit Power to mitigate the shockwave’s effects, he would have had to resort to martial techniques much earlier.

However, using martial techniques too early would mean not benefiting as much from the fight. Why then bother fighting the Stone Arm Ape at all? It would merely be a waste of time and energy, better spent on meditative cultivation.

The Stone Arm Ape wouldn’t grant Li Fan any rest; closing the short distance between them in just a few strides, its arms swung through the air, creating a vacuum as it furiously aimed for Li Fan.

Clang, clang, clang! Close-quarters combat was the Stone Arm Ape’s forte. With each punch, Li Fan was forced to retreat several steps. The palms gripping the black iron spear turned crimson, not from the ape’s blood but from his own as his palms began to tear under the continuous forceful impacts.

The battle turned one-sided with the Stone Arm Ape relentlessly pursuing Li Fan, keeping his blood boiling uncontrollably. Even with Wood Spirit Power to alleviate some effects, it couldn’t keep up with the ape’s striking speed. After a short while, blood ran from the corners of Li Fan’s mouth, indicating severe internal shock.

Despite his grave expression, Li Fan’s eyes shone with excitement. The brute force of the Stone Arm Ape was a pleasant surprise, reassuring him that enduring a bit longer would surely enhance his body’s resilience.

This resilience was hard-earned; every slight increase required undergoing high-pressure situations like those posed by the Stone Arm Ape. Such resilience should never be underestimated, as it could play an unimaginable role at any time, even enabling survival in otherwise lethal situations.

He needed to enhance his body’s resilience, which was directly linked to his own strength. Only with a significant improvement in his body’s resilience could he stop relying on spiritual herbs to alleviate the trauma caused by merging with the five elements’ spiritual substances.

The goal was grand, the hope beautiful, yet reality cruel!

Ordinary people didn’t possess Li Fan’s courage to endure such relentless impacts, keeping their bodies under constant, unresolved pressure. It wasn’t something to be taken lightly. One misstep could lead to an irrecoverable downfall. After all, walking on this tightrope, once the body reached its limit and snapped, it meant certain death.

Pfft! Finally, his body’s capacity to endure reached its limit, and he could no longer suppress the blood spurting out. His breathing became erratic, clearly, the brute force accumulated inside was too immense. The sleeves on his arms were long gone, revealing arms stained red, with wounds stretched open by the brute force’s impact.

Boom! Li Fan’s eyes gathered a fierce determination, clouds formed under his feet, allowing him to break free from the Stone Arm Ape’s relentless assault. The ape, caught off guard, punched the tree Li Fan was about to crash into, causing it to instantly burst apart, turning into fragments that drifted away.

Fierce Fire Spear! In that moment, Li Fan’s thoughts activated the Spiritual Power in his dantian, which instantly transformed into surging Fire Spiritual Power. It swiftly flowed out of his dantian, especially into his arms that were on the verge of bursting. The sudden pain from the influx of Fire Spiritual Power made him grimace.

Quickly, the spearhead was engulfed in Fire Spiritual Power, forming a spearpoint in an incredibly short time, likely less than one-tenth the time it would take a Ninth Grade Martial Master. However, its fluctuations were not as violent as those of a Ninth Grade Martial Master; instead, they were restrained like an ordinary spear and not composed of Fire Spiritual Power.

This was the Spiritual Power infused with the soul. If one wished, they could completely calm the Spiritual Power or return it to its original state. Everything depended on the individual’s will. This was what differentiated a Martial Master from a Great Martial Master—the ability to control Spiritual Power, making it more versatile and responsive.

Li Fan, without a moment’s hesitation, thrust fiercely at the Stone Arm Ape with the Fierce Fire Spear. The spear, following the trajectory Li Fan had set, headed straight for the Stone Arm Ape. The ape’s eyes filled with fear, no longer wild but trapped, as the distance between them was too short for it to dodge. It had no choice but to block with its arms, hard as boulders, protecting its entire front.

Boom! Before the Fierce Fire Spear struck the Stone Arm Ape’s formidable arms, no heatwave emanated. But the moment it touched, the spear could no longer remain still. It began to deform, stirring the calm might within and tearing open.

The released flames, akin to a terrifyingly high temperature, directly twisted the air, as if capable of burning everything fiercely. They spread around, and before the flames even reached, many of the lush plants had already withered.

Ow, ow, ow! Unluckily, a strange cry came from being scorched by the flames. The Stone Arm Ape, comically hopping around as if its butt was on fire, used this method to resist the flames engulfing it.

After all, it had concentrated its primal force to enhance its arms, giving them the strength of boulders and more brute force. With gains come losses; it could no longer use its primal force to protect its body. However, it could rely on constantly swinging its arms to create a force field. Though it couldn’t completely isolate the flames, it managed to save most of itself.

Even enduring the scorching, it refused to flee, staying at the center of the Fierce Fire Spear’s explosive vortex the entire time. This showed that, despite its intelligence, the Stone Arm Ape couldn’t change its stubborn nature.

Li Fan had already retreated to a distance, watching the Stone Arm Ape hop around. When the power of the Fierce Fire Spear dissipated, he finally saw the ape’s condition clearly. Its fur was all curled up from burning, and its hard skin appeared even darker. A burnt smell wafted through the air, as if he had roasted the Stone Arm Ape over a flame. However, the results were less than ideal, merely leaving the ape in a sorry state. He couldn’t help but silently marvel,

The power of the Fierce Fire Spear, a lower-grade Earth-tier technique, still couldn’t break through the Stone Arm Ape’s arms!

Chapter 111: Thunderstorm Cloud

Li Fan, having spent some time in the Heavenly Demon Forest, had gained some insight into the evolutionary paths of demonic beasts. The Stone Arm Ape focused on enhancing its strength. One shouldn’t underestimate the power of strength, for when it reaches its pinnacle, a creature like the Stone Arm Ape, capable of both offense and defense, becomes invincible if you can’t breach its defenses. However, its weakness lies in its inability to unleash the primal force integrated into its body for long-range attacks. After all, with gains come losses. Choosing the path of enhancing its own strength meant losing the ability to project its primal force externally.

Now that the Stone Arm Ape had obtained tremendous strength, even an opponent of the same rank might not be able to defeat it. Moreover, Li Fan was only able to gain some advantage by relying on the purity of his Spiritual Power, far from being able to crush the Stone Arm Ape. After all, he couldn’t utilize the five types of Spiritual Power simultaneously, which would definitely diminish the power.

Langqing Sword Technique! However, Li Fan still had a decisive technique. After putting away the Xuan Iron Spear into his Qiankun Bag, he drew the Langqing Sword. The moment the voice echoed in his heart, the Spiritual Power in his dantian was nearly depleted, leaving just a bit to maintain his state. This was still the refined Spiritual Power; had it not been refined, it might have been completely drained in an instant.

Moreover, his previous battle hadn’t consumed much Spiritual Power. Even under the suppression of brute force, he only used Wood Spirit Power to ease the pressure internally, taking most of the impact with his body, which didn’t consume much. Only the Fierce Fire Spear had used a significant amount of Spiritual Power, but it didn’t prevent him from executing the Langqing Sword Technique.

When his body’s endurance reached its limit, executing even more intense Spirit Martial Techniques would inevitably lead to greater torment. Fortunately, it was over quickly, and he didn’t really suffer to the point of death. However, his expression nearly twisted in pain, maintaining only a fierce look in his eyes; otherwise, one might truly suspect he was undergoing inhuman torture.

Thud, thud, thud! Unfortunately, the Stone Arm Ape, filled with rage, pounded its chest heavily. If Li Fan had been hit like that, he would have been knocked unconscious, but the ape was merely stirring its blood, its momentum skyrocketing as it charged towards Li Fan, who was preparing his move. But just as it charged halfway, not yet swinging its fist, it saw a wave-like Spirit Martial Technique surge out from Li Fan wielding the Langqing Sword. It trembled, its legs screeching to a halt, feeling it was still not enough, it thrust its powerful arms into the ground ahead, forcefully halting its forward momentum.

Right then, there was no trace of its previous wildness, only a rush to flee, all because it sensed a threat of death. That was certainly beyond its tolerance range, and not fleeing meant only death awaited.

Li Fan’s eyes blazed with a fervor akin to desire, yet after enduring such prolonged and arduous training, he managed to retain a semblance of reason. Under his deliberate control, the wave erupted with even greater ferocity, crashing towards the Stone Arm Ape, which had turned to flee.

Bang! Even though the Stone Arm Ape managed to halt in time, it only bought itself a brief respite. Ultimately, it had no choice but to turn around and use its life-sustaining stone arms to block the wave that was now mere inches away. However, the moment its arms collided with the wave, a heavy impact sound rang out, followed by the arms buckling under the pressure to its chest, causing the ape to stagger backwards.

Crack! The arms, hard as boulders, couldn’t withstand the battering for long. They began to show cracks as if tearing apart, revealing the fresh red flesh underneath. Before blood could even begin to seep out, it was obliterated by the relentless wave. The ape’s eyes contracted in fear, but there was nothing it could do except desperately hope the wave’s might would soon deplete.

Unfortunately, its wish was in vain. The moment its arms failed to defend, an intense scent of death overwhelmed it. The wave crashed down furiously, as if intending to hammer it into the ground like a nail. In reality, it struck the ape’s head, causing its eyes to bulge out and its entire neck to retract into its chest. The ape’s sturdy body, now devoid of conscious control, offered no resistance to the wave’s might.

Before long, the Stone Arm Ape was battered by the wave into fragments, as if it were made of paper. Had it not been for years of using its primal force to strengthen its hide, it would have vanished entirely. This indirectly proved the Stone Arm Ape’s defense was astonishingly robust, capable of withstanding even the might of a Spirit Martial Technique to some extent.

Seeing this, Li Fan hastily directed the wave away from the spot. He didn’t want the wave to reduce the Stone Arm Ape to mush, as that would truly leave him with regrets.

He then ignored the wave’s destruction of the forest and dragged his weary body towards the now lifeless Stone Arm Ape. Without any hesitation, he tore open the ape’s body through its wounds and extracted a demonic crystal. Gazing at the crystal, a smile, though hard to look at, spread across his pale face, his eyes sparkling with a look of distant hope.

I’ve gathered enough for one fourth-rank Explosive Pill; it’ll have to serve as a temporary showpiece!

Li Fan’s pursuit of the Stone Arm Apes wasn’t solely for the sake of honing his endurance but also to seize the Earth-attribute demonic crystal from the apes, all for the purpose of crafting Explosive Pills.

After all, he had a special fondness for Explosive Pills. Even a single pill could unleash terrifying destructive power. Such power, if unleashed in a densely populated area, could cause casualties that would send shivers down one’s spine.

Since he was in the Heavenly Demon Forest, he naturally dedicated himself to collecting elemental demonic crystals. As for the Thunderstorm, there was still no lead, nor could he ascertain its destructive capabilities. He could only seek a reliable trump card to hold in his hand, especially since Li Fan had enemies everywhere and without a trump card, he wouldn’t know how he might perish.

Moreover, any person with a bit of sense would want to secure more trump cards. Relying on a single skill to conquer the world was utterly foolish. This is akin to an Alchemist who, despite possessing superior alchemy skills, is limited by their own combat abilities and must constantly hire a group of guards. If those guards were to turn against them, it would be a truly dire situation.

Li Fan had always been covetous of the martial techniques in Elder Yao’s possession, wishing Elder Yao would impart everything to him. However, Elder Yao was miserly and unwilling to share. Initially, Li Fan thought Elder Yao wanted him to be self-sufficient, but after encountering the outside world, he gradually realized that Elder Yao’s behavior was very peculiar. This peculiarity lay in forcing him to face dangerous situations where his life was constantly at risk.

Just as one bitten by a snake fears a rope for ten years, Elder Yao did not want Li Fan to become a tragic Alchemist like himself. He was determined to push Li Fan into the fire, enabling Li Fan to not only improve his alchemy but also enhance his combat abilities. Only then could he truly avoid the tragedies that befell many Alchemists who neglected their combat prowess.

Li Fan knew that Elder Yao had his best interests at heart, not genuinely wishing for him to perish before achieving his potential. And he couldn’t always rely on Elder Yao’s protection; everyone yearns to soar on their own, to face the future’s challenges independently.

Besides, he was the type who refused to suffer losses. If others did not provoke him, he was content to leave well enough alone. But if someone deliberately sought trouble with him, he was prepared to return the favor, holding grudges and seeking revenge. There was no way he would simply step back and let things slide. Even if others saw him as nothing more than a slightly stronger ant, he would not shrink back in the slightest. What did it matter if others thought he was overestimating himself, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot? He was who he was, unable to become a coward who would rather live on his knees than die standing.

Knowing his own unyielding nature and that his temperament would inevitably attract countless enemies, he was always prepared.

Having weathered many storms, his reliance on external things had greatly decreased. He increasingly longed for strength that surpassed that of many others, as only such power could deter adversaries from all directions. The deterrent effect of mere objects was very limited, or else he wouldn’t have had to endure endless conflicts over the past two months.

Now, he sat down cross-legged, not relying on any medicinal pills but healing bit by bit on his own. Although the recovery was slow, only in this way could his endurance be maximized without wasting the ordeal he had undergone with the Stone Arm Ape.

His boldness in choosing this place for cultivation was not out of recklessness but rather a temporary peace secured through the deterrence of the Stone Arm Ape. As for humans, who typically flock to wherever the action is, it was unlikely they would venture here.

After the monster tide outbreak, human activity in this area had ceased, and it would take a long time for humans to overcome their fear of this place. Only then would they dare to set foot here again.

When he finally recovered, it took him an entire day, even with the help of Wood Spirit Power to expedite the process. Otherwise, it would have taken even longer. As soon as he was recovered, he immediately took out his alchemy furnace and began crafting Explosive Pills.

Li Fan, who had some experience, was naturally familiar with the process. Moreover, he was no longer the same two-rank Martial Master as before. His current strength allowed him to effortlessly crush the remaining consciousness within the demonic crystals, quelling any resistance and pulverizing them with his immense power.

How easy! When the medicinal powder condensed into a pellet, a smile spread across Li Fan’s face, and he couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride.

After all, he would definitely be able to produce a steady supply of fourth-rank Explosive Pills in the future. It was just that the elemental demonic crystals were difficult to collect; otherwise, he would refine a whole basketful and throw them at anyone who displeased him. Even if he didn’t blow them up, he would scare them to death.

Little guy, it’s time to prepare yourself! Elder Yao’s voice suddenly sounded in his ears, catching him off guard. But in an instant, he understood what was happening and looked up at the sky, only to see a vast expanse of dark clouds rolling in from afar. The mere sight of them was enough to