I Can Strengthen Everything

"On account of us having met before, I will give you a chance."

As the cold voice reached their ears, the expressions of the two men in the woods turned exceedingly grim.

It took them a long moment to snap out of it.

Xu Yan wiped away the blood, his eyes sinister.

"Senior Brother Xu, are you alright?" Lin Ze asked, stepping forward.

"Hmph!" Xu Yan snorted, glaring in the direction Fang Xing had disappeared.

...

Lin Ze looked at Xu Yan with a bitter expression. "Senior Brother Xu, we have to accept our loss this time. That guy’s strength is extraordinary. I’m afraid that even if we joined forces, the most we could do is fight him to a draw."

Xu Yan remained silent, but a sense of dread crept into his heart as he recalled how Fang Xing had shattered his Secret Treasure with his bare hands.

’Defeated by a True Qi Third Level Martial Artist.’

’This was a first.’

Although it was only a brief exchange, the power Fang Xing had displayed instilled a sliver of fear in even him.

"What’s his name?" Xu Yan asked after a moment of silence.

"Senior Brother Xu, his name is Fang Xing. He’s from the Jiang Province Observatory."

Lin Ze replied.

"A few months ago, his cultivation was only at the True Qi First Layer. Now, he’s already reached the True Qi Third Layer. He’s also the one who stole my Profound Flood Dragon Core."

Hearing this, Xu Yan looked at Lin Ze and suddenly felt a little better.

Still, he couldn’t suppress his anger.

He was always the one taking from others; this was the first time someone had taken from him.

And by someone with a lower cultivation level, no less.

Yet this person possessed such freakish strength.

"Let’s move on to the next target."

Xu Yan said after a moment of silence.

Lin Ze nodded.

Then, the two of them vanished into the woods.

...

After leaving Wolong Island, Fang Xing boarded a small fishing boat and channeled his True Qi to speed away.

This trip had gone much more smoothly than he’d imagined.

All he had to do was land the final blow.

Although there had been a few "surprises," it didn’t matter as long as he had completed his objective.

For a split second when he’d made his move, he had considered killing the two Upper Sect Disciples, but he restrained himself.

It wasn’t out of kindness, but because he wasn’t completely certain he could succeed.

He might be able to defeat Senior Brother Xu, but he had no guarantee he could keep him from escaping.

’Either I don’t act, or I ensure a one-hit kill.’

Killing Lin Ze would be no issue, but if Senior Brother Xu escaped, the consequences would be dire.

It wouldn’t be surprising for a disciple of a Martial Dao Upper Sect to have some special tricks up their sleeve.

Even with his identity as a member of the Observatory, it might not be enough to guarantee his safety against a Martial Dao Upper Sect.

The Observatory was known to protect its own, but Fang Xing only ever trusted in his own strength.

Even though he was highly valued by Nangong Qing at the moment, there was no guarantee he could be protected from this kind of trouble.

To a Martial Dao Upper Sect, disciples in the True Qi Realm were considered core members.

He couldn’t afford to gamble.

Either don’t kill, or ensure the kill is absolute.

There was no third option.

Even though the Martial Dao Upper Sects and the Court didn’t always see eye to eye, some situations were different.

There was no need for him to take such a reckless risk.

Getting himself embroiled would not be worth the trouble.

...

By the time he returned to Nanshui Town, dawn was breaking.

Fang Xing headed straight for the Post Station.

After a whole night of travel, he was somewhat tired. Having completed his mission, it was the perfect time to rest.

Upon arriving at the Post Station, Fang Xing went into his room.

He took out an enormous Demon Core.

The Demon Core of the Black Water Profound Snake!

It was a size larger than the Demon Core of an Initial Realm Great Demon.

A powerful Demon Qi radiated from it.

He could even see a residual soul within the Demon Core.

It was the Demon’s Residual Thought of the Black Water Profound Snake.

His Golden Eyes of Truth could perceive it easily.

’A Middle Realm Great Demon is worth forty thousand Enhancement Points. I wonder how many it will take to enhance this.’

As the thought crossed Fang Xing’s mind, he focused his gaze, and the enhancement prompt appeared.

[An Inner Core from a Middle Realm Demon, containing powerful Demon Qi and a Demon’s Residual Thought. Enhancement requires 30,000 Points!]

’Thirty thousand. I’ll have some to spare.’

Fang Xing breathed a sigh of relief as he looked at the notification.

This time, he had more than enough.

With a thought, he immediately began the enhancement.

VMMMM—!!!

A crimson light enveloped the Demon Core, causing it to tremble violently.

[An Inner Core from a Middle Realm Demon has been successfully enhanced. You have obtained one pure Middle Realm Dragon Essence!]

"Middle Realm Dragon Essence!"

Gazing at the red Dragon Essence in his hand and inhaling its exotic fragrance, Fang Xing felt a scorching, immense power.

’I’ll put this away for now. I’ll consume it to break through once I’m back!’

The power of the Middle Realm Dragon Essence was immense, and it was the key to breaking through to the True Qi Fourth Layer.

Not a single trace of its power could be wasted.

After stowing the Dragon Essence, Fang Xing undressed and lay down to rest.

The next day, Fang Xing set off on his journey home.

Upon returning to the Observatory, Fang Xing turned in the mission. One mission was worth a full ten thousand Merit!

The Merit reward for a Middle Realm Great Demon mission was even more generous.

After turning in the mission, Fang Xing returned to his personal courtyard.

Inside his room, he took out the Middle Realm Dragon Essence. Gazing at it in his hand, Fang Xing steadied his mind and swallowed it in one gulp.

A moment later, a searing power erupted from within, surging through his entire body.

The Dragon Essence Power erupted.

It was his first time consuming a Middle Realm Dragon Essence, and the power it contained was dozens of times greater than the Dragon Essence from an Initial Realm Great Demon.

The feeling of being overwhelmed by the energy was even more intense than the very first time he’d consumed one.

Dragon’s Roars echoed within his body.

Fang Xing circulated the Longevity Technique with all his might to absorb the power.

The vast Dragon Essence Power surged like a mighty river.

His qi and blood churned within him.

The Dragon Essence Power rampaged through his body like a savage beast.

Mobilizing his True Qi, Fang Xing immediately began to assail the next Profound Gate.

True Qi Fourth Layer—this was the first great Profound Gate after entering the True Qi Realm!

To break open all the Major Acupoints in the body!

To unblock all one hundred and eight Major Acupoints throughout the body at once!