Ling Chongshan was born into the Foundation Establishment family of the Changyang Ling Clan. As a non-direct descendant, even though his talent was one of the best within the Ling family, the Foundation Establishment Pill was destined to be given to a Cultivator with a Spirit Root on par with his, who hailed from the direct line.
After reaching the late Qi Refinement stage, Ling Chongshan could not content himself with being trapped in the Qi Refinement realm for his entire life; he thus ventured to the small Black Mountain Market to hunt demon beasts for a living, hoping to gather enough resources to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill and ascend to become a Foundation Establishment Expert.
Apart from undeveloped and dangerous mountain ranges like the Canglong Mountains, demon beasts appearing in the hinterlands of the Northern Wasteland were swiftly eradicated by Cultivators from the four great sects and various Foundation Establishment families, turning them into nourishment for their cultivation.
That dusty, dragon-eye-sized bead was the inner core of a Low-grade Second-Order Demon Beast, the Steel-Armored Rhino, which Ling Chongshan obtained as a trophy after killing a late-stage Qi Refining powerhouse.
Normally, only Golden Core cultivators within the human race could condense a Golden Core within their bodies, but some demon beasts with exceptional talents could start to congeal inner cores as early as the Second-Order.
The "Gold Element Power" secret manual was Ling Chongshan's main cultivation technique—a Gold Attribute Cultivation Technique which could be cultivated up to the first level of Foundation Establishment.
The final letter was Ling Chongshan's will, expressing his hope that the person who inherited his legacy would provide care for his wife and daughter at the Changyang Ling family. Although he had made arrangements for his wife and daughter to have no worries for food and clothing, he remained concerned that they would be bullied without a protector.
Ling Chongshan also knew about Zhao Yu's experience in handling old Liu's legacy and trusted in Zhao Yu's character, which is why he listed him as the fourth heir to his inheritance.
"Brother Ling, since I have taken your inheritance, I will certainly look after your wife and daughter if I ever have the chance!"
Zhao Yu picked up the Low-grade Second-Order Demon Beast Steel-Armored Rhino's inner pill and swallowed it in one gulp, immediately activating the Dao Fruit absorption. The inner core of the Steel-Armored Rhino was quickly refined, and a stream of information surfaced.
+ signs appeared behind Zhao Yu's Martial Talent, Gold Attribute Spirit Root, and Vajra Dragon Elephant Art.
"As expected, using the inner pill of a demon beast can enhance the cultivation level of the Vajra Dragon Elephant Art. However, using demon beast inner pills to cultivate mortal martial arts is too extravagant!"
Zhao Yu noticed the plus signs behind the Vajra Dragon Elephant Art and pondered. With his Martial Arts Genius talent, a cultivator's ability for internal inspection, and both martial and cultivation insights, he had deduced that using demon beast inner pills could take the Vajra Dragon Elephant Art further, advancing it beyond the capabilities of a Great Grandmaster.
However, demon beast inner pills are only born within the bodies of Second-Order or higher demon beasts, making it impossible to cultivate the Vajra Dragon Elephant Art even if it is theorized.
"Martial Talent and Spirit Root Talent can both be gradually increased; what I lack the most now is a means of protection for my path!"
Zhao Yu tapped on the plus signs that had appeared behind the Vajra Dragon Elephant Art. A powerful and intense heat flowed instantaneously inside his body, strengthening his bones, organs, meridians, and blood—making his blood surge like a raging river.
It took an entire quarter of an hour for Zhao Yu to complete his transformation.
"Vajra Dragon Elephant Art Level Forty (0/100)."
"My physical strength has increased a lot! My defensive power has also skyrocketed!! I wonder how strong my combat abilities really are! It would be best not to fight so I can safely cultivate until the Foundation Establishment stage!"
Zhao Yu felt the overflowing power within his body, a slight smile forming on his lips, his heart brimming with confidence.
In the days that followed, Zhao Yu continued to hide in the small Black Mountain Market, working hard to improve his cultivation level.
One month later, in the market's stall area.
"Law Enforcement Team!! Those are people from the Cangling Sect Law Enforcement Team!!"
"The Cangling Sect Law Enforcement Team was defeated!"
"Could it be, they were defeated by demon beasts?"
"…"
Zhao Yu was running his stall when he heard a wave of discussion among the crowd. Following the voices, he saw members of the Cangling Sect Law Enforcement Team, in their black outfits, walking into the Market in a sorry state.
Many of the Cangling Sect Law Enforcement Team members were bathed in blood, with quite a few missing arms or legs, clearly having been through an incredibly brutal fight.
"Damn it, how could this happen? If anything happened to the Cangling Sect Law Enforcement Team, I won't be able to continue my peaceful cultivation!"
Zhao Yu frowned slightly as he watched the sorry state of the Cangling Sect Law Enforcement Team, a surge of unease rising in his heart.
Even though the Cangling Sect Law Enforcement Team had embezzled Old Liu's and Ling Chongshan's inheritance, they were also the guardians of order in the Black Mountain Market. Without them, the Black Mountain Market would never maintain its current order and prosperity.
Zhao Yu looked up and saw in the distant sky an elderly man with a head of silver hair, wearing a black robe, brandishing a magic sword, and commanding a silver-white spiritual shield. He was battling a terrifying snake over thirty feet long, covered with a layer of gray scales and surrounded by wisps of grey mist, and a giant ape over ten feet tall, covered in red fur, constantly spewing fireballs.
"Those two are Second-Order demon beasts!!"
At the sight of those two demon beasts, Zhao Yu's scalp went numb, his hair stood on end, and an involuntary sense of fear rose in his heart. It was the natural fear of a lower being towards a higher one.
Second-Order demon beasts had strengths comparable to Foundation Establishment Experts; they were terrifying creatures whose life level was far beyond that of Qi Refining Stage Cultivators. If a cultivator in the Early Qi Refining Stage were to encounter these Second-Order demon beasts alone, nine out of ten would be petrified by fear and then become mere snacks for the beasts.
The lead member of the Cangling Sect Law Enforcement Team swallowed a medicinal pill, and his face turned crimson immediately. He spat out a mouthful of blood onto his magic sword, waved his hand, and the sword, shrouded in a layer of hazy light, turned into a bolt of lightning, instantly piercing the eye of the red-haired giant ape and through its head.
Taking advantage of the moment, the Second-Order demon snake opened its mouth and exhaled a dull grey mist that formed an arrow and instantly struck the spiritual shield in front of the Cangling Sect Law Enforcement Team leader.
Sss!
Countless grey vapors rose up, and the spiritual shield showed numerous signs of corrosion, lost its spirituality, and fell from the sky.
The leader of the Cangling Sect Law Enforcement Team took the opportunity to fly into the Black Mountain Market on his escape light.
Beams of light emerged from within the Black Mountain Market, and a gigantic Second-Order magic array was quickly unfolded, covering the entire Black Mountain Market.
The Second-Order demon snake slammed fiercely against the magic array, causing ripples to spread, but it was unable to shake the array.
Various spells were unleashed from within the Second-Order array, bombarding the Second-Order demon snake. Many of the spells were blocked by the grey mist surrounding the demon snake, and only first-grade high-quality spells could barely penetrate its scale armor and inflict some minor injuries.
After lingering around the Black Mountain Market for a while and being repelled by the Second-Order array, the Second-Order demon snake swallowed the corpse of the demon ape and slowly slithered back towards the Canglong Mountain Range.