Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
The sounds of a vicious liquid could be heard as it fell to the floor.
LingYue stood nearby a small mound of corpses as blood ran down his fingertips, his hand grasping a fresh heart as it slowly stopped beating.
His gaze fell upon the door to the Trial Of Prowess as he slowly sat and began cultivating, his neidan absorbing the ancient beastial aura while he operated the Moon Lotus Mantra to absorb the spiritual Qi before it was converted to Demonic Qi.
His body pulsed as the beastial Qi ran rampant, while his neidan spun even faster, growing at a pace visible to the naked eye!
BOOM!
His body expanded by a size as his body began expelling various impurities, cleansing his marrow and fortifying his bones as his body slowly contracted with every beat of his heart...
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The sound rippled within the hall, creating small tremors with him as its epicentre as his obsidian-coloured hair fluttered in the wind while his robes flapped.
His tails worked to increase the amount of Spiritual Qi he absorbed as they multiplied his absorption by 2 folds!
His breath was a mass of blood-red fog and his body was soon covered within a massive plume of Demonic Qi while his meridians shone from within, like guiding lights within a harbour.
Soon 25 red stars shone from deep within the blood-red mist of Demonic Qi as the sound of the massive heartbeat continued.
The Demonic Qi trembled with every thump as it too contracted as the vague image of a body within grew smaller.
Upon reaching his limit of contraction, Xiao LingYue was still a size bigger as his neidan stabilized; which had reached the lower tier of a stage 2 Ferocious Beast Core.
He flexed his arm as he could feel the strength he was granted, his physical prowess leaping from 3 QiongQi to 5 which was a massive increase in strength!
His Demonic Demeanor Transformation Art circulated as the shadow of an ivory-coloured fox appeared as the body became slightly more substantial before slowly fading once again...
"Hai, it really isn't easy to break through with this Transformation Art, even with the number of resources I have..."
With his fox fae features slowly fading, he sighed as his physical strength fell to around 3 QiongQis and as he slowly stood, he changed his disguise and slowly walked towards the eerie door at the other end of the Hall.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The sky was like a deep pool of murky water, as its expanse grew to borders unknown, its clouds dyed a scarlet colour while a blood-coloured moon hung within the void.
The full moon stood alone and untouched after seemingly wearing a robe of blood as it sat aloof casting its disdainful gaze at the world below.
Xiao LingYue stood at the edge of an eerie grove, its trees stood silent as the world was vacant of sounds except the rustling of their scarlet leaves as they beckoned all those they saw to enter.
Xiao LingYue kept his eyes open as he slowly walked towards the grove as the fog slowly flowed over the grove floor.
Further, into the grove, his visibility fell even more, not even being able to see 30 meters ahead as he used his ears to listen to anything that may approach...
Suddenly a beast emerged from within the depths of the fog...
Its body was similar to a wolf, it's snarling teeth were like razors while its talon-like claws were similar to stakes as they glimmered in an icy fashion and as it stood on its hind legs it was around 2 meters tall.
' A Frost Claw Wolf...'
These ferocious beasts were very likely to reach the Demonic Soldier stage and could control ice and frost from birth...
He lowered his body as he aimed to use his internal Qi to open his storage pouch, but to his shock, he wasn't able to summon any trace of his Demonic Qi!
He couldn't even feel any spiritual Qi within his meridians or in the surrounding area.
His brows furrowed as he understood that this was probably a part of the Trial as he could only fight barehanded with this beast, slightly regretting he didn't come with his saber already drawn.
Roooooaarr
The beast roared as it lunged forwards, its swipe carrying a frosty chill as the trees in the vicinity began to frost over...
[Feral Crane's Agile Claw First Movement: Wind Catching Wing!]
LingYue rushed in as his palm hit the inner portion of its arm stopping its movements!
Its body stalled as he spun, his palm held like a knife as his claws cut into the Frost Claw Wolf's throat while blood sprayed violently!
Xiao LingYue retracted his gaze as he expected as much since it was only a stage 1 ferocious beast.
Soon he heard steps from within the fog as he frowned. . .
His gaze landed on a middle-aged man who held a spear on his shoulder, his gaze filled with nonchalance as it fell upon LingYue.
"Are you going to kill yourself or do I need to do it?" His tone was full of disdain as he withdrew the wrapped spear from his shoulder before pointing it at Xiao LingYue's face.
LingYue looked around towards the surroundings and upon realizing that no-one else was coming he turned to the man before him as he said,
"WHY couldn't you have used a saber?"
Before darting towards the man as his flesh tensed and his heart began to thump forcing his blood through him while the sounds of a roaring river were heard from his body.
His opponent's eyes widened as he heard that, his previous nonchalant demeanour completely vanishing as he became serious!
'Blood Qi like River!'
He also tempered his body so he knew how hard it was to reach the stage of the plain-faced young man before him.
His spear snaked out as he shouted!
[ Heavenly Boa Spearmanship 1st Movement: Heavenly Boa Crosses The Luo River!]
The spear's tip flashed towards LingYue's face as he aimed to make him retreat before gaining the advantage of distance!
But!
Xiao LingYue smirked as his fist tightened before punching the shaft of the spear upwards as he dodged to the side, his body stepping passed the shaft of the spear!
The man's eyes widened at this completely brutish attack which was completely unexpected to him, leaving him confused as his spear was wrenched out of his hand from the sheer force that was felt rushing down its shaft!
The spear flew high into the air as Xiao LingYue appeared suddenly before him, his fist swinging directly towards his face!!
The man regained his composure as he opened his palm before striking with his fingers together!
[ Heavenly Boa Spearmanship 4th Movement: Heavenly Boa's Yin Yang Reversal!!]
His hands slithered around Xiao LingYue's arm as it redirected his power outwards, using soft to conquer hard!
Blows were traded within the black and scarlet grove as scarlet leaves and black twigs were thrown to the wind as they executed their movements within their melee battle.
[Heavenly Boa Spearmanship 3rd Movement: Heavenly Boa Lunar Wheel!]
[Feral Crane's Agile Claw Second Movement: Flying Feral Claw!]
Xiao LingYue frowned as he countered his opponent's kick while they were in close quarters.
Their fight was like the collisions of two behemoths as one aimed to overpower while the other aimed to redirect, constantly trading blows as just one mistake could end in the other's life being forfeited!
Xiao LingYue finally saw one of his weaknesses; even though he was stronger than his opponent physically, his opponent had a better handle on his strength and his martial techniques were of a higher grade than his own...