Chapter 18
Wang Shitian lay unconscious in the forest for two full days before finally regaining consciousness. As his surroundings came into focus, his memories gradually returned, and he recalled the events leading up to the moment when a black ray of light shot towards him.
Surveying the corpses scattered around him, he was shocked and puzzled. He couldn't comprehend how they had met their demise. He had been certain of his defeat and expected to lose his beloved, but somehow, the Little Demon King was dead, and he himself was alive.
"I truly underestimated my enemy this time and nearly paid the ultimate price," he muttered to himself, shuddering at the thought. He couldn't die before exacting his revenge.
Soon, Wang Shitian noticed a heightened sense of awareness within himself. Even more astonishing was the formation of a mind's eye that allowed him to peer into his own body. Witnessing the light bronze patterns on his iron-colored bones left him in awe of the invincible Vajra Body technique. His mental acuity had increased exponentially, enhancing his comprehension abilities.
Upon thoroughly examining his body, he realized that he had grown stronger in every imaginable way after the battle. His physical form had been refined to an entirely new level. He felt confident that he could kill a careless Level 9 Qi Gathering practitioner. It was only a matter of time before he could challenge those at the peak of Qi Gathering.
Though uncertain how this was possible, he pushed the questions to the back of his mind and swiftly leaped up, utilizing the tree branches and leaves to disappear into the distance, heading back to his sect.
Having been away for some time, he was unaware when the war had ended. However, after reading the message on his token, he couldn't help but feel joy, even though it meant there would be fewer Devil Sect disciples for him to eliminate in the future.
Throughout the war, he had become a true menace to the Devil Sect, dealing significant damage to their forces.
Upon reaching the sect, Wang Shitian was filled with delight at the sight of the friends he had made during his time there. The sect had become his second family. Initially, he had worried that someone would inquire about the source of his newfound power and cultivation method, driven by greed. But to his surprise, no one had ever asked him about it, and no one seemed to care. Each disciple focused on their own pursuits and opportunities. Wang Shitian couldn't help but smile at the realization that even in such a place, individuals like Mao Song and Yang Ling had managed to infiltrate the ranks.
He was greatly rewarded for his contributions to the war and had now become a prominent figure within the sect, earning respect from his peers. Accumulating countless spirit stones from his victories, he had become quite wealthy. The same could be said for the other disciples whose wealth had also significantly increased.
The sect itself had grown immensely prosperous, leading to an abundance of resources for the disciples and an expansion in the number of disciples accepted.
Though many lives had been lost during the war, it was only a matter of time before the sect surpassed its previous strength, with many disciples becoming more powerful than their counterparts in terms of might.
A decade flew by, during which Wang Shitian devoted most of his time to cultivation. The sect had grown incredibly powerful, with six core disciples and three elders reaching the middle stage of the Foundation realm. The great elders had even advanced to the late stage.
Li Tianming, in particular, had reached the peak of the Foundation realm and comprehended the 13th level of the Longevity Art. The only technique left for him to master was the Verdant Blossom, and it was said that upon his advancement, a small forest spanning 100 meters would grow at his cultivation site. The power of all four techniques had grown to terrifying levels, making him virtually unbeatable below the Golden Core realm. The sect progressed day by day, with everyone contributing to its advancement, including Wang Shitian.
He had completed his third shattering and two refinements. Now, he was in the midst of his third refinement. Deep within his body, a blazing fire burned, strengthening every aspect of his bones. The initial sensation of a thousand ants biting him had vanished, but there was still pain. At this moment, his bones appeared like heated metal, glowing red. The heat emanating from his body twisted and distorted the air around him, creating the impression of a furnace. This was his final refinement, and he decided to utilize the essences he had obtained from his mission regarding the Little Demon King.
After an unknown duration, the refinement gradually came to a halt. However, Wang Shitian didn't stop there. He took out the water essence and began refining it, allowing it to merge with his flesh, muscles, tendons, bones, and every part of his body, pushing him to an entirely new level.
Two weeks passed in this manner, and suddenly, he opened his eyes. Over the years, the killing intent that had once surrounded him had diminished several levels,and it was no longer as overt. This was thanks to the guidance of the elders who had steered him away from the path of mindless killing. However, despite the diminished killing intent, his imposing aura remained unchanged.
As he stood up, his 2-meter-tall figure exuded the presence of a towering mountain. His long hair flowed wildly behind him, extending all the way to his back. His eyes were sharp and piercing, and his body felt as hard as iron.
His body could now withstand sword strikes even from a 6th-level Qi Gathering practitioner, leaving only a faint white mark. After carefully examining himself for a while, he nodded in satisfaction. The youthful innocence he once possessed had vanished, though he still appeared as young as when he had first embarked on his cultivation journey.
His eyes were calm, resembling an ancient well. Closing his eyes, he entered a state of meditation. The sound of chanting filled the air as a phenomenon of rumbling thunder and crackling lightning emanated from his body.