Chapter 12
Looking at the two boxes, Wang Shitian felt joyous about the reward and nodded. "Thank you, elders. I will take my leave now."
He immediately vanished, utilizing his new movement martial arts, Cloud Treading Steps. It was enigmatic and several times more powerful than the Swift Wind Steps he had previously mastered. Wang Shitian had started learning it after mastering the Swift Wind Steps. With the swift wind steps technique, he could run on water and even float in the air for a few seconds but with his new technique he could do more.
As they watched his departing figure, the elders sighed. "This kid has too much hatred for the devil sects. I don't blame him, but I only hope it doesn't consume him in the process."
Wang Shitian walked out of the sect gate and gazed towards the direction of his village for some time. Then, with determination in his eyes, he took a step forward and started sprinting in that direction.
Thoughts about the ongoing war filled his mind, leaving him deeply uncertain. What could have transpired to ignite such a conflict among the sects? Were they simply weary of their peaceful and prolonged existence?
Over the years, Wang Shitian had acquired some knowledge about the continent he resided in, known as the Northern Desolate. It was divided into six domains, each governed by a major power. The Sky Covering Domain, where he currently resided, was ruled by the Sky Covering Sect. The Darkmoon Domain was under the governance of the Darkmoon Sect, while the Crimson Domain was ruled by the Crimson Mountain Sect. The Golden Domain was under the jurisdiction of the Golden Lotus Temple, and the Underworld Domain was governed by the Underworld Sect. Lastly, there was the Demon Domain, ruled by demonic beasts. The war now appeared to be a conflict between the Sky Covering Domain and the Darkmoon Domain.
The One Leaf Sect was one among many sects within the Sky Covering Domain, but Wang Shitian couldn't shake the feeling that there was something distinct about it. His doubts arose from the question of where those two senior cultivators at the Core Realm had originated from.
Wang Shitian focused his mind on the mission at hand, pushing aside distracting thoughts as he embarked on his journey to Ox village, a three-day trek away. Along the road, he prepared himself for the challenging task of bone refinement that awaited him.
The bone refinement chapter he was about to undertake was more complex than any he had encountered before. It consists of three shatterings and nine refinements. After the first shattering and remolding, one had to undergo three refinements before they can shatter and remold again. The process was known to be excruciatingly painful, and not everyone had the fortitude to endure it. Additionally, staying awake throughout the process was crucial. Furthermore, the refinement process involved tempering his bones with fire and water essences.
Today was the day Wang Shitian had chosen to undergo his first bone shattering. However, before he could begin, he needed a sufficient supply of blood. He swiftly dealt with any enemies he came across, killing them on the spot and storing their bodies for later use. The same fate awaited any demonic beasts that crossed his path.
As he continued his journey, the sprawling battlefield unfolded before him, extending across several miles and encompassing a vast region. After a day spent killing and collecting corpses, he stumbled upon a group of six demonic cultivators who were besieging three disciples from his own sect.
Rather than immediately intervening, Wang Shitian chose to observe the fight from a distance. Although the disciples were not in imminent danger, he knew that the battle would be fought mercilessly, with no quarter given.
The clash of weapons and explosions echoed throughout the battlefield as he watched the One Leaf Sect disciples employ their techniques. Wang Shitian was astonished by the elegance and power displayed. While he had previously witnessed some of these techniques during his encounters with Yang Ling, Xu Li, Tuo Sen, and Mao Song, it was the first time he truly appreciated their forms. The aqua veil, a defensive skill that formed a thin shield of water around the user's body, deflected and nullified incoming attacks without hindering movement. On the other hand, the earth's embrace utilized earth Qi to fortify both offense and defense, leaving Wang Shitian in awe of the disciples' resilience.
Motivated by the spectacle before him, Wang Shitian decided to intervene. He sprinted toward the ongoing battle, arriving in an instant. Given his higher cultivation level, most of the combatants at the fifth level of Qi gathering posed little challenge to him. Passing by his foes, they fell behind him, defeated.
An hour later, after saving the disciples, Wang Shitian found a natural cave and ventured inside. After navigating through its twists and turns, he created a smaller chamber within. He then retrieved the corpses he had collected and laid them on the floor. However, just before he climbed atop the pile to begin his bone refinement, a memory flashed in his mind.
The scene before him mirrored the recurring dream he had been having—a towering mountain of corpses with someone seated atop it. Could this be a glimpse into his future? Did he possess the ability to peer into what lay ahead? He contemplated these thoughts briefly before pushing them to the back of his mind, reminding himself that whatever was destined to occur would come to pass. Whether it brought blessings or disaster, he would face it head-on.
With determination, Wang Shitian ascended the pile of corpses and took his seat. He began chanting, a different and more painful chant than before. The agony started as a mere trickle but swiftly intensified. Before long, he couldn't contain his screams. The pain was unbearable, it was as though he was being bitten by a thousand ants and it showed no signs of abating. In that moment, his bones shattered, reducing him to a heap of flesh atop the corpses, resembling a discarded husk.
Strangely, amid the torment, dizziness, and the looming specter of death, his thoughts remained clear, his mind focused solely on the scripture. He entered a state of enlightenment, transcending his own existence.
As he continued his chant, the blood and essence of the fallen cultivators beneath him flowed into his body, gradually mending his bone particles.