The gentle sound of running water was echoing in the surrounding area, with the various howls of beasts from the forest. The dark cloud gathered together densely, obstructing the ray of light. Lightning sparkles everywhere, illuminating the dark cloud while the sound of thunder reverberated in the sky, displaying the incoming of the heavy downpour. There, beside the stream stood a boy with his upper body in nakedness, concentrating on his training, oblivious to what was happening in the sky.
The boy threw a punch at a regular pace with different styles from different angles without leaving a spot, displaying a work of art. The punch followed the same pattern with subtle changes, pushing the running wind back every time the punch was executed.
Po! Po! Po! Po!
The boy threw a single punch generating four sounds, tearing the wind into two making a vacuum, leaving the surrounding intact without a trace of the punch. The powerful punch was precise and gentle with frightening control.
Boooom!
The thunder shook everywhere as if acknowledging the beautiful and powerful display of the punches. The boy smiled. The boy was Thomas.
After concentrating on his Fist Art and cultivating rigorously for the past 10 days, he achieved success in his training. His Fist Art had a breakthrough to the fourth form while in the Stone Fist Art, he attained a small accomplishment - gentle stage.
Meanwhile, his cultivation at the peak of essence building realm stage 2 was consolidated and he could attain a breakthrough to essence building realm stage 3 at any time.
Though there won't be a major change in strength from an essence building realm stage 2 to an essence building realm stage 3.
There would be increments in essence in the dantian while the essence would be purer and condensed.
'I can not achieve any breakthrough for the time being. Now, I should focus on getting accustomed to the changes in strength.' He thought, looking up to the sky.
The cloud released the water, pouring with great momentum. Thomas stood in the rain, getting wet for a few minutes before walking toward the big tree that was his base.
Thomas quickly climbed the big tree and sat at one of his branches, ignoring the turbulent wind and rain. Being an essence-building realm and already trained his physique to a considerate high level, the turbulent wind and rain had no impact on him.
12 hours later.
The rain had stopped and everything was now calm and wet from the heavy downpour. Thomas climbed down from the big tree. He changed into a new set of dry clothes, looking toward the inner forest.
'All the ordinary beasts can't give me the battle that I needed. I need to go to the senior forest'
Thomas quickly activated his 'Go Footwork', disappearing from his position, moving toward the senior forest.
At the entrance of the intermediate forest, the instructor supervising the entrance stood vigilant of his surroundings. There had been many cases where the junior would try to sneak into the intermediate forest.
Thomas runs past the instructor supervising the entrance, entering the intermediate forest undetected. How could a rank 8 bodybuilding realm detect his movement skill?
Thomas did not stop running, he ran for 2 hours without any obstacles on his way. Since the ordinary beasts couldn't detect his movement, his journey became a walk in the park.
A middle-aged man stood at the entrance of the senior forest with a stoic expression and a saber by his waist. The middle-aged man did not hide his cultivation aura, early essence building realm stage 1.
Meanwhile, Thomas stood 10 meters apart from the middle-aged man, looking at him without any expression on his face.
Whizzzz!
"Hmm"
The middle-aged man raised his eyebrow while looking at his surroundings vigilantly with his hand on the handle of his saber, ready to withdraw it any moment.
"I feel some movement around me. Is it my imagination?" He squinted his eyes. "Nothing can pass through me without me detecting it. I'm so stressed lately that I am now imagining things, huh?"
Thomas walked casually in the senior forest, feeling the changes in environments. The senior forest was a mile apart from both the junior and intermediate forest. The essence in the atmosphere was more condensed than both forests while the trees are more robust and much taller than the junior and intermediate forest.
A moment later.
Thomas stood in front of a Metallic Boar, a rank 1 monster beast. The fur on the beast looked like metal while the boar is about 5 meters tall with a robust body. The Metallic Boar eyes were dark brown with a little dot of white at the center.
Groawwwwww!
The Metallic Boar attacked Thomas with its right hand, forming a fist with great momentum. Thomas did try to avoid the attack, he retaliated with a punch, without any skills. The punch contains only his physical strength.
Boooooooom!
The Metallic Boar was sent 10 meters back while the Metallic Boar had a bewildered look. It stared at the little boy in its presence who had yet to take a step back.
"Hmm, Nice! With 40 percent of my physical strength, I can defeat peak bodybuilding realm stage 9. " Thomas looked at the confused Metallic Boar "Now let me add the 'Stone Fist Art - first form'"
Whizzzzz!
Thomas disappeared from his position and appeared in front of the confused beast while sending out a punch that looked like a stone. The punch hit its chest.
Booooom!
Caught unprepared, the Metallic Boar was sent flying back, destroying everything on its path. Slamming on an enormous tree, the Metallic Boar crashed on the ground, its chest was torn open, many fractured ribs came out of its chest with blood pumping out from its mouth and nose.
The Metallic Boar was deader than dead.
'10 percent of my physical strength! Huh! The Metal Shirt and the Stone Fist are worthy of mortal grade technique'
"When I attain the early essence building realm stage 3, I believe I will be able to hold on to a fight with peak essence building realm without being defeated while I could escape unharmed," Thomas murmured.
Thomas continued to journey deeper into the forest while every rank 1 monster beast he accosted was killed by a single punch.
While Thomas was walking leisurely in the forest, his ear raised a little. He stopped while listening to a sound coming from the East.
'Hmm, that looks like a human voice'
He changed his direction and walked toward the East. Though he was not going there to save anyone, he was just too bored walking in the forest without meeting any rank 2 monster beast.
After walking for about 15 minutes, Thomas saw a pretty young lady fighting a rank 1 monster beast Rock lizard, with her life on the line. The lady had sustained a deep injury on her stomach, her face was pale due to loss of blood.
The defense of the Rock lizard was high while its tail was sharp like a sword, with good agility. The Rock lizard could move swiftly in the forest without hindrance, making its nightmare for a cultivator that was yet to be at the peak of bodybuild realm peak stage 9.
Thomas stood 50 meters away from the fight while looking at the fight without any expression on his face.
The pretty lady had almost given up when he sighted Thomas. She said in a low voice
"Please save me."