Zhou Yan was ecstatic, feeling his inner strength surge like an inexhaustible force.
"Haha... this dragon vein power is enough for me to advance to the God King realm, and even step into the ranks of Martial Masters."
Zhou Yan laughed heartily, filled with excitement.
The power of dragon veins was extraordinary, considered a heaven-defying existence. Only the legendary Saint Grade Dragon Veins possessed such formidable and overbearing strength.
"Huh? This dragon vein power is actually helping me temper my physical body." Suddenly, Zhou Yan noticed that the dragon vein power within him was rapidly transforming his body and enhancing his strength.
"It seems that the power of dragon veins is closely related to the physical body. As long as I continuously temper my body, the dragon vein power will grow, and I will be able to increase my strength."
With this realization, Zhou Yan's heart blossomed with joy, all his worries vanishing as he focused on his cultivation.
Soon, Zhou Yan became so immersed that he lost track of time. He didn't know how long had passed.
*Crack—*
Suddenly, Bei Ming Shan's body violently cracked, his bones snapping, his flesh and blood becoming a bloody mess.
*Bang!*
In the next instant, Bei Ming Shan fell straight down, utterly dead.
Zhou Yan opened his eyes, gazing at Bei Ming Shan's corpse. A faint smile played on his lips. "Bei Ming Shan, you dominated an era, only to meet your end nonetheless."
"What a pity, I can't kill you!"
Zhou Yan shook his head and sighed, a hint of regret in his voice.
Bei Ming Shan, as the master of the Bei Ming family, held immense power and wealth. His status and position were self-evident. His death would undoubtedly stir up a massive storm and implicate many matters.
Furthermore, Zhou Yan was not foolish; he understood the value of these connections.
Therefore, even though he had now broken through to the God King realm, he still needed to conceal his identity and avoid exposure as much as possible. Otherwise, he would face endless trouble.
"I'm still too weak. If I were at the Martial Ancestor realm now, why would I need to be so cautious? The Bei Ming family and all others would be crushed!" Zhou Yan clenched his fists, his gaze chilling.
The cultivation of martial artists not only required diligent practice but also resource support. Without it, hard work alone was insufficient to improve.
Take Zhou Yan for example. Although he practiced the "Spirit Devouring Art," his cultivation stagnated due to a lack of high-level spiritual medicines, preventing further advancement.
Therefore, Zhou Yan planned to use Bei Ming Shan's identity to obtain a batch of spiritual medicines and rapidly enhance his strength.
"I'll heal my injuries first!"
After a brief contemplation, Zhou Yan sat cross-legged and circulated the "Spirit Devouring Art."
Instantly, wisps of peculiar energy emanated from his pores, seeping into his limbs and bones, coursing through his entire body, nourishing it and strengthening his vitality.
As the energy replenished him, the color returned to his cheeks, and his previously pale and weak body gradually became healthy.
After about dozens of breaths, Zhou Yan's condition completely recovered. He was full of spirit and his aura was sharp and imposing.
"Hoo..."
Zhou Yan stood up and took a deep breath. He felt light and agile, with inexhaustible strength coursing through him. He couldn't help but roar towards the sky: "Exhilarating! So exhilarating!"
He sensed that with the aid of the dragon vein power, his body had reached its peak.
Especially his meridians and dantian, which had become wider and more robust thanks to the dragon vein power, now containing vast reserves of strength, several times stronger than before.
This transformation made Zhou Yan's cultivation more stable, greatly enhanced his combat power, and filled him with confidence.
"Bei Ming Shan, you old dog, how dare you scheme against me and cause me such heavy losses, nearly costing me my life."
Zhou Yan's eyes were cold, his heart filled with indignation. "Now, I will first use you to hone my blade, obliterate your soul, and seize your storage ring. Later, I will slowly deal with you."
Immediately, Zhou Yan's gaze shifted to Bei Ming Shan's neck.
"What? What's going on..."
Zhou Yan's pupils contracted, and a look of shock appeared on his face.
He saw that around Bei Ming Shan's neck hung a dark green ring, ancient and weathered, radiating a powerful dragon's might.
This dragon's might was filled with an aura of dominance and nobility, something not possessed by ordinary dragon beasts.
Clearly, this was a storage ring.
"This storage ring must be the wealth Bei Ming Shan collected throughout his life!"
Zhou Yan frowned, his expression serious. Upon closer inspection, he found that the storage ring was made of a special material, incredibly hard, to the point that even he could not destroy it. A key was required to open it.
"Right, the key must be here." Zhou Yan's gaze moved, quickly focusing on Bei Ming Shan's chest.
However, Bei Ming Shan's chest cavity had collapsed, his flesh and blood a bloody mess, already torn apart by the dragon vein power. Only a gaping hole remained where his chest had been.
"It seems this was a scheme. Bei Ming Shan planned to kill me, then use the dragon vein power to corrode my body, causing me to suffer the backlash of the dragon vein power and die miserably here."
Zhou Yan's gaze was icy. He snorted coldly, "Unfortunately, you encountered me. Your plan was destined to be in vain, a loss of both reputation and resources!"
As Zhou Yan's thoughts raced, the dragon vein power erupted and surged into his body. Within his mind, it formed a swirling vortex, spinning madly and generating immense suction.
*Buzz!*
In an instant, dark tendrils of light shot out from Bei Ming Shan's corpse, sweeping towards Zhou Yan like a tide and merging into his mind.
*Roar—*
A low dragon's roar echoed out, resonating in Zhou Yan's mind, filled with boundless might.
This was true dragon's might, terrifying and awe-inspiring, far surpassing any dragon vein power Zhou Yan had ever witnessed. It was the purest dragon elemental power in existence.
"This is a dragon scale, containing the Heaven-tier cultivation technique, 'Myriad Dragons Ascending the Heavens Art'!"
Zhou Yan gazed at a pitch-black scale in his palm, shimmering with a faint dark light, like a piece of Xuan iron, emitting a terrifying dragon's might.
Under the impact of the dragon's might, Zhou Yan felt as small as an ant, as if he could be crushed with a mere flick of a finger, filling him with unease.
"Bei Ming Shan, we'll see!" Zhou Yan clenched his fist, his heart seething with hatred.
However, this flame of hatred had not extinguished. Zhou Yan firmly believed that one day, he would personally ascend to Bei Ming Mountain and avenge himself for the past.
*Whoosh!*
Immediately, Zhou Yan strode away, preparing to return to the Zhou family and await news of Bei Ming Shan.
...
Night fell.
Outside Nanling City, in a secluded mountain forest.
A blur streaked across the sky, as fast as lightning. In a few breaths, it arrived before a magnificent gate.
Three golden characters were carved above the gate: Bei Ming Mountain Manor.
"This is the Bei Ming Mountain Manor?"
Zhou Yan glanced up, murmuring to himself.
The Bei Ming Mountain Manor occupied a vast area, adorned with carved railings and jade masonry, built in a magnificent style. Two guards stood watch at the entrance, both with cultivation at the ninth level of Body Tempering.
Zhou Yan surmised that these two guards were likely hired guards recruited by Bei Ming Shan to protect the manor's security.