Zhou Yan clenched his fist, his gaze firm.
Then, Zhou Yan adjusted his breathing and began to circulate the "Myriad Elephants Thunderclap Art," absorbing the thunder and lightning power between heaven and earth to temper his physique.
Crackle!
Arcing lightning flashed and flickered around Zhou Yan's body. Faint blue electric sparks, like snakes of thunder, rampaged in all directions, filled with destructive energy.
"The Myriad Elephants Thunderclap Art, this martial skill's power is indeed extraordinary."
Zhou Yan mused inwardly, marveling in his heart.
The Myriad Elephants Thunderclap Art was created by Zhou Yan's grandfather. It was an incomplete martial art, divided into six layers: Thunder Attraction Technique, Lightning Body Tempering Technique, Lightning Explosion Technique, Thunder Sword Qi, Myriad Elephants Thunderclap Art...
Each layer of the cultivation method was accompanied by tribulations at the beginning of its practice. A slight mistake could lead to death.
Therefore, even Zhou Yan's father, Zhou Hongyuan, had never attempted to cultivate the third layer of the technique, to avoid harming himself.
"Fortunately, my physical body is strong and can withstand the lightning strikes..."
Zhou Yan thought, feeling a surge of emotion. This body seemed naturally suited for cultivating the Myriad Elephants Thunderclap Art.
In his past life's memories, only those with special constitutions were granted such innate talent by heaven and earth.
"According to the description of the Myriad Elephants Thunderclap Art, this martial skill is divided into nine layers in total."
Zhou Yan was silent for a long time, muttering to himself, "With my aptitude, it will probably take at least seven or eight years to cultivate the complete version of the Myriad Elephants Thunderclap Art."
Zhou Yan estimated that it would take him at least around twenty years old to cultivate the complete Myriad Elephants Thunderclap Art.
This age was the peak of martial arts.
By then, it would be normal for Zhou Yan to have broken through to the Martial Disciple realm.
However, if he missed this opportunity, he might have to endure several years, or even longer, before he could rise again.
Rumble—
Suddenly, a muffled sound echoed in Zhou Yan's ears, like rolling thunder, booming incessantly, causing his eardrums to ache.
"What is this..."
In an instant, Zhou Yan's hairs stood on end, and a sense of fatal crisis surged in his heart.
"Not good!"
With a startled cry, Zhou Yan's face turned pale. Without the slightest hesitation, he quickly dodged to the side.
Whoosh~
The next moment, a thick pillar of lightning pierced the void and struck where Zhou Yan had been standing, shattering the rocks and leaving scorched marks.
"Hoo... hoo..."
Zhou Yan panted heavily, his chest heaving. If he had been even a second slower, he would have been utterly annihilated, his bones turned to dust.
"What was that thing that attacked me just now?" Zhou Yan's expression was uncertain, a trace of fear surfacing in his heart.
To know that with his current strength, even ordinary Martial Disciple realm cultivators could not pose a threat to him.
Yet, he had been forced to flee in a panic by a sudden attack. One could imagine how terrifying that attack was.
"Not good!"
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Zhou Yan's mind, and he remembered something, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Swoosh~
Zhou Yan reacted swiftly, instantly leaping across the valley and sprinting towards the deep mountains and dense forests.
These deep mountains were fraught with danger, inhabited by fierce and violent demonic beasts. Once trapped within, the consequences were unpredictable.
...
In the quiet woods, Zhou Yan moved swiftly, cautiously observing his surroundings, guarding against any sudden developments.
Swish~
Suddenly, a cloud of gray mist emerged from thin air, emitting a pungent stench and obscuring Zhou Yan's vision.
"This is Corpse Rot Mist!"
Zhou Yan's face changed slightly, and he retreated rapidly.
However, the Corpse Rot Mist spread with extreme speed, engulfing an area of ten feet in the blink of an eye.
Instantly, poisonous gas permeated the air. Zhou Yan's sense of smell was numbed, his mind grew hazy, and he felt dizzy, nearly collapsing to the ground.
"No! If I stay here any longer, I'll definitely be poisoned to death..."
Zhou Yan gritted his teeth, exerting all his strength to rush outwards.
However, his steps faltered, and he ran slower and slower. Finally, his feet touched a swamp, and he fell into the mud, his body limp and unable to move, blood seeping from his nose and mouth.
"Damn it..." Zhou Yan cursed, but he was helpless, able to do nothing but watch as the poisonous gas invaded his body and he lost consciousness.
"Master, your body has reached a level of resistance to poison. As long as you consume one 'Corpse Rot Mist,' you can escape the area covered by the toxic fog..."
Suddenly, a flame burned between Zhou Yan's eyebrows, transforming into a human form. It was the Flame Emperor's imprint.
"Corpse Rot Mist!"
Zhou Yan was stunned for a moment, then a smile flickered across his lips. Without hesitation, he took out a jade box, placed the Corpse Rot Mist inside, sealed the lid, to prevent the medicinal properties from dissipating.
After completing this, Zhou Yan sat down cross-legged and circulated the "Myriad Elephants Thunderclap Art," guiding the Corpse Rot Mist to integrate into his blood, refining his bloodline...
However, this refinement was very slow. It took more than half the night before Zhou Yan finally succeeded.
"The Myriad Elephants Thunderclap Art is truly profound!"
In the early morning, the sun shone brightly, dispelling the dark clouds and casting a warm glow.
Zhou Yan slowly opened his eyes, exhaled a breath of stale air, his spirit refreshed, and his blood and qi full.
Compared to yesterday, Zhou Yan's strength had increased considerably, and the true qi within his body had become even more refined.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Zhou Yan let out a soft exclamation, raised his eyes to gaze into the depths of the valley, his expression filled with surprise.
"There... there is a spirit spring gathering, with dense spiritual energy."
His gaze swept over the area, and Zhou Yan's eyes narrowed slightly, looking rather astonished.
A spirit spring gathering was a treasure land.
A spirit spring gathering was abundant in spiritual energy, nurturing various precious spiritual items of considerable value.
"My current location is precisely the core area of this spirit spring gathering. If I can occupy this place, I will be able to continuously cultivate a group of martial artists."
Zhou Yan's eyes darted, and with a thought, he quietly crept closer.
However, Zhou Yan did not approach rashly. Instead, he hid in a nearby ancient tree and observed the spirit spring through the gaps in the foliage.
"Hmm? It's actually..."
With just a glance, Zhou Yan's expression changed drastically. His face was filled with shock, and he stared with wide eyes.
"How is this possible!?"
Zhou Yan was filled with disbelief.
This spirit spring was milky white, crystal clear, like fine wine, emitting an alluring fragrance that refreshed the mind and spirit.
"It's actually Spirit Marrow!"
Zhou Yan took a deep breath, feeling a sense of comfort throughout his body, his blood and qi churning, and his spirit invigorated.
Spirit Marrow, as the name suggested, contained pure spiritual energy and could be considered a heavenly treasure.
"Spirit Marrow contains pure spiritual energy and is a rare treasure for any martial artist."
Zhou Yan's gaze was fiery as he stared at the spirit spring, licked his dry lips, and felt a surge of desire.
Spirit Marrow was extremely rare, formed from natural ores, and possessed miraculous effects.
"Gulp."
Zhou Yan couldn't help but swallow his saliva, his heart pounding.
"Heh heh... this is Spirit Marrow."
"As long as I consume it, I can advance to the Martial Master realm, and even open up the Ren and Du meridians, obtaining a true innate spiritual root..."
Zhou Yan's eyes burned with ambition, and greed boiled within him. He wished he could pounce on it immediately.
However, Zhou Yan did not act rashly. He continued to wait patiently.
After all, Spirit Marrow was too precious. If other martial artists discovered it, they would undoubtedly fight fiercely for it.
"Hmm? Something is not right!"
However, after a moment, Zhou Yan's brow furrowed.