The surrounding spiritual energy in the air poured into Yang Feng's body, like a surging river. His body's capacity for spiritual energy was seemingly infinite, absorbing every last wisp from the air.
While other cultivation techniques had issues regarding the amount of spiritual energy that could be absorbed into the body, the Boundless Heavens Sutra had none.
A shaky foundation from continuously absorbing spiritual energy was also not a problem, as the Boundless Heavens Sutra also removed this limitation.
In theory, he could cultivate forever without interruptions until the spiritual energy in the air ran dry.
Within a few minutes, Yang Feng quickly approached the ceiling of the first level of Body Tempering. He could feel every sinew, tendon, and muscle being continuously nourished by the spiritual energy.
A loud crack reverberated throughout the cave as Yang Feng directly broke through to the second level of Body Tempering.
There were in total nine levels to every major realm. Each level contained a qualitative leap in power on the journey of cultivation.
Yang Feng let out a turbid breath and stabilized his realm.
The residual spiritual energy was condensed in the air as a mist, giving the entire cave a mystical and ethereal feel. Drops of spiritual energy dripped onto the floor from the ceiling, quickly evaporating.
Although Yang Feng could continue practicing, he chose not to.
The first level of the Body Tempering realm was to allow the body to adapt and absorb the spiritual energy within the air. The second level was the perfect time to strengthen one's foundation, allowing the path of cultivation in the future to be easier.
Yang Feng did not have a weak foundation by any means, but strengthening it would only bring him benefits.
He walked outside of the cave, having been essentially reborn from the mortal that walked inside just a few minutes ago. Now he was confident in killing demon beasts within the Body Tempering realm, maybe even leapfrogging and killing ones in the early levels of the Qi Refining realm.
Yang Feng walked through the woods searching for the herbs that he needed. The plants and flora were all strange ones that he had never seen before in his countless years of living.
It was of no matter, as herbs with similar properties would work just as well.
Yang Feng searched around, quickly picking several herbs, especially ones with heavy Yang energy surrounding them. He was trying to create the Fire Spirit medicinal bath, suitable for strengthening the foundation of males.
Stooping over to pick another herb, his innumerable years of combat experience suddenly screamed danger. Swiftly catching an arrow that was aimed at his head, Yang Feng looked up.
There were golden yellow eyes peering at him through the darkness of the shadows from the trees. Seeing his gaze, the unknown assailant attempted to flee, but Yang Feng was faster. He instantly caught up to the attacker, stopping a few feet away.
It was a humanoid lizard covered in red scales, standing at a height of 2 meters tall. Donned in leather armor and a bow, with arrows on its back, it snarled at Yang Feng.
"A subspecies of dragon?" Yang Feng wondered aloud.
This was good. Now Yang Feng could instead create the superior version of the Fire Spirit bath, the Dragon Spirit bath, which required a portion of dragon blood.
Although the beast in front of him was not a dragon, it contained a hint of their blood. Even though the Dragon Spirit bath would not be at maximum efficiency, it was still far ahead of the Fire Spirit bath.
The lizardman reached down for its close-range weapon, a shortsword hanging on its waist. But before it could react, Yang Feng appeared in front of it, kicking it in the stomach.
The beast sailed backward and struck a tree, causing the leaves to fall from its branches from the impact.
Dazed, it attempted to stand up.
Yang Feng merely struck it on its pressure points, causing it to fall unconscious. He then dragged it by its horns on the top of its head and walked back to his cave.
He would have to be more cautious in the future. If there was one of these creatures, there would be more.
Walking inside his cave, he used his swordsmanship to carve out a hole in the middle of the ground. Though he was not able to utilize qi due to having not entered the Qi Refining realm yet, Yang Feng could still use a portion of the Daos he had mastered.
Using the Dao of Water, the spiritual energy in the air rushed into the hole and transmuted into water. Yang Feng then crushed the herbs in his hand into a fine powder and sprinkled them into the bath.
The water in the hole surged and swirled together, the color turning into a deep red. Yang Feng then picked up the unconscious lizardman, cut it open, and began to drain its blood into the bath.
The creature woke up halfway and watched its blood being siphoned away in horror, before attempting to struggle. Yang Feng merely slapped the beast asleep again and continued the process.
Eventually, all the blood was drained from its body and Yang Feng tossed it aside.
The bath churned once more and this time specks of gold could be seen inside the whirling water.
Yang Feng removed his clothes and stepped into the bath, assuming a posture of meditation. The liquid continuously broke down his body and repaired it stronger than before. Cleansing his mind and ignoring the pain, Yang Feng began to recite the Boundless Heavens Sutra.
His skin sizzled due to the heat emanating from the boiling liquid. Slowly, the red and gold disappeared from the bath as they were absorbed into Yang Feng's body.
Yang Feng opened his eyes, before punching outwards in front of him. The air whistled around his fist, before exploding outwards, creating a shockwave. His power had again increased several times compared to before.
Good, he had now taken another step.
Yang Feng stepped out of the bath, dried himself, and put his clothes back on.
He used his finger as a chisel and began carving symbols on the mouth of the cave. After he was finished, Yang Feng drew spiritual energy from the air and drove it into the symbols.
The cave entrance slowly disappeared from the outside view, having been camouflaged by Yang Feng. He could now cultivate in peace without worry of the dragonlike creatures tracking and finding him.
Yang Feng sat down and resumed cultivating, striving to break through to the third level of Body Tempering.