This was the first creature Zhou Heng had encountered that could survive the Sky-soaring First Form without dying, and surprisingly, it was not human, but a Demon Beast!
The Demon Beast at the peak of Bone Refinement Realm was indeed powerful! However, the more crucial issue was that he was too weak, able to gather only a pitiful amount of the Power of Heaven and Earth, unable to unleash the true power of the Sky-soaring Nine Forms.
If he had been in the Bone Refinement Realm at that moment, this sword would have definitely pierced through the neck of the Six-legged Giant Head Beast!
Zhou Heng's feet slipped, and he unfolded the Cloud Flying Step, easily dodging the angry counterattack of the Demon Beast.
While he was self-pitying on one side, Lin Fuxiang was so shocked that her mouth hung open.
In ten days, although she didn't know much about Zhou Heng, she knew that the kid was actually only at the Body Refinement Sixth Layer.
But who had ever seen such a fierce Body Refinement Sixth Layer?
"Ugh..." The Six-legged Giant Head Beast kept growling, its copper bell-like eyes emitting a bloodthirsty aura; pain drove it mad, blood made it furious, it was determined to devour this damned human!
Zhou Heng tapped lightly on the ground, unfolded the Cloud Flying Step and once again merged with the entire world. With each step he took, it felt like the ground itself was bouncing back, as though the air was pushing him from behind, greatly increasing his speed and allowing him to move freely under the attack of the Six-legged Giant Head Beast.
However, without a sword, he couldn't attack anymore, and for a moment, neither side could do anything to the other.
"You brat, catch the sword!" Finally catching on, Lin Fuxiang threw her right hand up, and a streak of cold light flew towards Zhou Heng.
Zhou Heng reached out and suddenly held a long sword in his hand; its blade was like a pool of autumn water, shining brightly. With the sword in hand, his confidence surged, and he raised the sword as if it carried the entire world!
Swoosh, he swung the sword!
A flash of fear crossed the eyes of the Six-legged Giant Head Beast; it had suffered from this sword before.
Clearly seeing a sword stabbing towards it, it was strangely unable to muster any thought of dodging, as if it was meant to be stabbed by this sword, or else it would be defying the heaven and earth! But an intense will to live surged through it, and with a booming roar, the beast suddenly twisted its head and neck by a few inches in the nick of time.
Splash!
A spurt of fresh blood rose. The sword had penetrated the Demon Beast's neck. The blade slid in as if into tofu, the tip emerging from the other side!
Unfortunately, this sword strayed slightly, missing a chance to pierce through the Demon Beast's throat directly!
The Six-legged Giant Head Beast roared and, disregarding everything, swung its claw towards Zhou Heng.
Having learned from the previous encounter, Zhou Heng quickly withdrew his sword, pulling it out of the beast, causing a spray of blood. He couldn't help but internally praise the sword for not being ordinary, or else it couldn't have penetrated the Six-legged Giant Head Beast's neck!
However, the Demon Beast, worthy of being a Bone Refinement Realm creature, showed some resistance ability when faced with the second sword!
Unfolding the Cloud Flying Step, Zhou Heng kept moving around, dodging the frenzied counterattacks of the Six-legged Giant Head Beast.
The first sword didn't cause much damage to the Demon Beast, and the long sword even remained in its neck, significantly preventing blood loss. However, the second sword was different; it completely pierced through the neck of the Six-legged Giant Head Beast, blood gushing rapidly, bleeding speed was extremely fast.
Although the Six-legged Giant Head Beast was large, it couldn't withstand such massive blood loss.
"Ugh!" The beast wasn't foolish; after prolonged attacks without even touching a corner of Zhou Heng's clothes, it decisively gave up the struggle and turned to attack Lin Fuxiang instead.
Lin Fuxiang's face paled instantly; although she was also a Bone Refinement Realm being, how could she struggle with a same realm Demon Beast! Moreover, she didn't know the Cloud Flying Step, and her weapon was borrowed out, what could she use to block?
She exerted force on her feet, sweeping to the left.
Whoosh, a dark shadow enveloped her head; Lin Fuxiang looked up only to see the Six-legged Giant Head Beast had already leaped above her, its blood spraying like a fine rain.
In terms of speed, how could she compare to the Demon Beast!
Seeing the ferocious giant head of the beast getting closer, Lin Fuxiang couldn't help but let out a delicate scream, raising both palms, and struck out desperately.
She would die!
Although it hadn't happened yet, Zhou Heng could determine the final outcome from the Six-legged Giant Head Beast's pouncing posture and strength, just as he could easily see through Lin Fuxiang's swordsmanship, everything could be deduced!
Thinking of Lin Fuxiang acting coyly, calling him "senior" repeatedly, thinking of her flying into a tantrum after finding out the truth, thinking of her clumsiness in burning a wild pheasant to charcoal, a strong emotional surge rushed through Zhou Heng's heart.
She didn't deserve to die here!
Zhou Heng roared, stepping on the Cloud Flying Step and chasing after her in haste. In that instant, he suddenly gained more insight, as if the mysteries of the whole heaven and earth were completely displayed before him.
Sky-soaring Second Form!
He desperately stimulated all his strength, transformed the stabbing motion into a slashing one, and swung fiercely at the Six-legged Giant Head Beast. With the foundation of the Sky-soaring First Form, he had grasped the form of the Sky-soaring Second Form in just ten days, but had always failed to understand its essence.
But now, it all became clear to him!
The heaven and earth thundered, and the sword light was like lightning!
Die!
Swoosh!
With one slash, the entire head of the Six-legged Giant Head Beast was chopped off, and blood instantly gushed out like a pump.
Zhou Heng only felt a strong sense of weakness hitting him, and he involuntarily collapsed onto the ground, his skin's surface veins bursting, every muscle in his body seeming to moan, the pain indescribable.
With the power he possessed at that time, he actually wasn't qualified enough to execute the Sky-soaring Second Form, which consequently caused him serious backlash injuries. Fortunately, it was only some minor blood vessels that had burst, and the bleeding soon stopped, yet it still left him soaked in blood.
But Zhou Heng felt more joy than pain, as he had finally learned the Sky-soaring Second Form!
Listening to his heavy breathing, Lin Fuxiang finally snapped back to reality, and when she saw the headless demon beast, she was utterly shocked, her eyes wide and her mouth agape.
To decapitate a Bone Refinement Realm demon beast with one strike? Goodness, that was a demon beast at the Body Refinement Ninth Layer—its bones as hard as refined iron. Even though Zhou Heng was using her treasured sword, could it really sever the neck bone of the Six-legged Giant Head Beast with one stroke?
The truth was right in front of her eyes, she had to believe it now!
After recovering from the shock, Lin Fuxiang gradually regained her bearings and kicked the demon beast's corpse out of frustration; it had scared her terribly, which was really infuriating!
Once she had vented her anger, she burst out laughing and said, "Dad will be absolutely astonished when he sees I've hunted a Body Refinement Ninth Layer demon beast! Hmm, I'll skin it to make a robe for Dad!"
This heartless woman, didn't she see the man covered in blood next to her?
Zhou Heng forced himself into a seated position to meditate with the Moonshadow Heart Jue to recover his True Yuan Force.
In fact, practicing cultivation techniques doesn't necessarily require specific poses, but sitting cross-legged seems to allow more thorough circulation of energy channels throughout the body, facilitating the flow of True Yuan Force, hence, most cultivators adopt this pose.
One Circulation Cycle, two Circulation Cycles; after continuously circulating his True Yuan Force through four or five cycles, Zhou Heng had somewhat recovered his strength.
He stood up and walked deeper into the cave.
Demon beasts have a strong sense of territory, so there definitely wouldn't be another demon beast around, no need to wait until he was fully recovered.
"Hey, where are you going?" Lin Fuxiang asked quickly as she saw Zhou Heng leaving.
"Our deal is finished. I helped you kill a demon beast. We're even!" Zhou Heng said without turning back, just waving his hand.
"Hey, hey, hey—" Lin Fuxiang hurried after him, walking side by side with Zhou Heng.
Zhou Heng frowned and asked, "Why are you following me?"
"Who says I'm following you?" Lin Fuxiang scoffed. "Demon beast lairs usually hide treasures. I'm here to check out the spoils of war!"
Zhou Heng shrugged and ignored the young lady, which made Lin Fuxiang's nose wrinkle up in irritation.
The cave was not dim; all the stones emitted a faint glow. Zhou Heng had heard that this was called "Star Stone," which can glow in the dark. It was a very valuable material.
However, the cost of cutting these stones and transporting them out of the mountain would far exceed their selling price; only a fool would make such a trade.
After walking about a hundred meters, three diverging paths appeared ahead. Zhou Heng followed the direction indicated by the Black Sword in his Dantian and took the middle path.
"You know the way?" Lin Fuxiang was startled and then quickly followed him.
"I don't!" Zhou Heng replied indifferently.
This conceited jerk!
Lin Fuxiang gritted her teeth in anger and silently followed behind Zhou Heng, but couldn't understand why she was following this annoying guy.
The cave was large and complex. Not far along, another set of paths emerged, and Zhou Heng simply noted the paths they'd taken while following the direction indicated by the Black Sword.
About twenty minutes later, Zhou Heng stopped. This was the direction the Black Sword was pointing to.
"Haha, you got lost too?" Lin Fuxiang had been dizzy for a while, and seeing Zhou Heng stop, she suddenly felt delighted—she was happy to see Zhou Heng at a disadvantage.
Zhou Heng ignored her and started searching for anything that might be a treasure around him.
Ting, ting, ting, he started tapping the rocks with the tip of his sword.
"Hey, that's my sword, don't damage it!" Lin Fuxiang immediately exclaimed. Her father had taken great pains to forge this Frost Cold Sword for her, and she cherished it immensely.
Even though the Frost Cold Sword was inlaid with the incredibly precious and immensely hard molybdenum gold, capable of cutting through metal and jade, using it like a hammer to strike stones was still distressing for her.
Zhou Heng continued without heeding her, slashing a few more times until, snap, a piece of stone was forcibly chiseled off.
Indeed, it was a treasured sword!
Zhou Heng was so fond of it that he didn't want to give it back to Lin Fuxiang. Swipe, swipe, swipe, after a few more strikes, he had carved a large hole in the cave wall.
"What on earth are you doing?" Lin Fuxiang couldn't believe Zhou Heng would waste time chiseling stones for fun.
Zhou Heng reached into the large hole, and after a bit of searching, he pulled out a small stone fragment, all white, crystal-clear, looking like a fine piece of jade.
"Eh, this is—" Lin Fuxiang snatched the stone fragment and examined it closely in her hands. After a moment, her face lit up with boundless surprise, "Do you know what this is? Do you know what this is?"
She was almost jumping with excitement.
"I don't know," Zhou Heng shook his head.
"This is Earth Rock Cloud Stone!"