On a cliff edge, surrounded by weeds, a figure stood there, wielding a refined iron sword continually.
This person was Chu Ming. After a month of cultivation, his cultivation had reached the pinnacle of the Fifth Layer Postnatal stage, just one step away from the Sixth Layer Postnatal stage. Moreover, his Rainfall Swordsmanship had mastered the first three techniques perfectly, while the fourth technique was in the process of reaching great success.
The Rainfall Swordsmanship consisted of four techniques: Rainfall Ruthless, Rainfall Silent, Rainfall Fall, and Rainfall Kill.
When Rainfall Fall reached perfection, Chu Ming's abilities would rival those of the Seventh Layer Postnatal stage.
As for the Mysterious Step, Chu Ming had already achieved perfection in it. With one step, his body transformed, reaching five meters away in an instant.
Whoosh
Chu Ming's refined iron sword suddenly pointed to the cliff not far away. Instantly, the air became incredibly humid, a chill filled the space, and it shattered like an illusion.
Poof
...
A sword mark suddenly appeared on the cliff, half a meter deep, looking exceptionally terrifying.
Huff
Chu Ming exhaled a breath of foul air and put away his refined iron sword. Now he could be described as penniless, having already converted the Spirit Stones he received into his strength.
"I must find a way to make money, and the best way without a doubt is entering the Cyan Yang Mountain Range."
Chu Ming turned around and ran towards the direction of the Cyan Yang Mountain Range.
The Cyan Yang Mountain Range was vast and boundless, surrounded by tall trees that often obstructed one's view. Perhaps the Cyan Yang Sect was named because it was located here.
On the outskirts of the mountain range, there were only first-level and second-level demon beasts. Occasionally, one could see third-level demon beasts, while fourth-level demon beasts were almost extinct.
The Cyan Yang Mountain Range was also incredibly chaotic, with numerous mercenaries and cultivators hunting demon beasts inside, selling materials and corpses to earn Spirit Stones for cultivation.
To cultivate is to compete with the heavens, the earth, and others, all for a chance at survival.
Although the Cyan Yang Sect was incredibly powerful, it would not intervene if a sect disciple was assassinated. After all, an unproven genius is not considered a genius.
Chu Ming simultaneously cultivated his Mysterious Step while rushing along, making the journey not boring at all.
Whoosh
Soon, a towering peak appeared in front of him with flowing clouds drifting. At the peak was a dense forest, which was part of the Cyan Yang Mountain Range.
Looking at the mountains, Chu Ming could not help but marvel at the creator's wonders. Such mountains filled with Spiritual Qi were nonexistent on Earth but were everywhere here.
Chu Ming stepped into the dense forest. His strong comprehension made him aware of impending dangers, yet he couldn't rely solely on the unknown. He had to be cautious.
Currently, he could only deal with low-tier second-level demon beasts. Encountering middle-tier second-level ones meant he had to escape. Along the way, Chu Ming didn't encounter many demon beasts, only a wounded Flame Bird flying past in the sky. If it had descended, Chu Ming wouldn't mind having a fight with it.
Suddenly, a blue herb in the distance caught Chu Ming's attention. The herb was blue, looking somewhat crystalline.
"Sky Blue Herb, the main ingredient for refining Spirit Gathering Pills."
Information about this herb surfaced in Chu Ming's mind, "This herb can also be sold at a herbal store for two hundred silver taels."
His body flashed, reaching the Sky Blue Herb in the next moment. He gently picked it and was about to put it in his backpack when.
"Put down the Sky Blue Herb, and you can leave!"
A rugged voice came from behind. Chu Ming turned around to see a rugged man standing not far away, looking at Chu Ming like he was prey.
Chu Ming directly placed the Sky Blue Herb in his backpack, turned around, and gazed at the rugged man. Based on his attire, Chu Ming concluded that he was a mercenary.
"A little Postnatal Fifth Layer brat, looking for death!"
The rugged man saw Chu Ming's disdain for him and roared furiously. His body shook, releasing a faint golden light, giving the impression of Mount Tai's pressure.
This was a body refiner. Under the golden light, the rugged man's aura surged, his fist the size of a sandbag raining punches at Chu Ming.
Chu Ming's eyes flashed brilliantly. He immediately drew his refined iron sword to meet the attack.
Clang clang clang
Chu Ming's sword left no marks on the rugged man's fist, instead letting out a sound of clanging metal.
Boom boom boom
Their attacks became faster, destroying many surrounding trees and turning them into gray thorns. Chu Ming's attacks grew swifter, gradually making it difficult for the rugged man to keep up.
Poof
The two bodies separated, each taking five steps back. However, Chu Ming retreated due to inertia, while the rugged man was forced back by Du Ming.
"Impossible!"
The rugged man looked at his bleeding hands, incredulous, shouting. He couldn't believe that he was injured by a Postnatal Fifth Layer cultivator, considering that as a Postnatal Seventh Layer body refiner, ordinary Postnatal Seventh Layers couldn't break through his defense.
"Vajra Fist!"
The rugged man roared, his body glowing intensely like a golden fortress, charging at Chu Ming with fists seemingly forged from gold, a sign of Golden Light Fist reaching great success.
"Good timing!"
Chu Ming's refined iron sword turned into a gray light without a sound. The world seemed devoid of any life, silent, surrounded by a vacuum.
"Rainfall Silent!"
Poof
Thud
A blood-dripping head fell to the ground, the rugged man's eyes filled with disbelief. Until his death, he couldn't believe he had died at the hands of a Postnatal Fifth Layer martial artist.
Whoosh
Chu Ming picked up the rugged man's backpack and vanished into the woods; the scent of blood was the most likely to attract demon beasts.
Soon, after Chu Ming's figure disappeared into the woods, several Silver Wolves arrived to devour the rugged man's body, the scene was bloody.
...
Three days later, in a dense forest, Chu Ming crouched on a towering tree, using the large leaves to hide his body.
Each tree here was at least a hundred meters tall, with abundant leaves, making them impressively magnificent.
Not far away was a massive rhinoceros covered in iron armor, shining white under the sunlight, its armor incredibly thick.
"Armored Rhinoceros, a low-tier second-level demon beast, equivalent to a human Sixth to Seventh Layer Postnatal cultivator. But due to its strong defense, even a Seventh Layer Postnatal would struggle to kill it."
Chu Ming's eyes brightened. The Armored Rhinoceros's horn could sell for at least five hundred silver taels, and its hide totaled about seven hundred silver taels.
The Armored Rhinoceros had no idea of the impending danger, still lowering its head to graze.
"Now's the time!"
Chu Ming's body shook, and a cyan beam of light shot from his sword, forming a cyan light blade, shattering like an illusion, aiming at the Armored Rhinoceros's neck.
Poof
The refined iron sword penetrated slightly over three inches, but then couldn't advance, feeling as if it hit steel. However, Chu Ming's attack immediately enraged the Armored Rhinoceros.
"Roar"
The Armored Rhinoceros roared, its horn becoming a whirlwind, charging at Chu Ming who retreated, surprised by the rhinoceros's tough hide.
"Perfect Cyan Light Kill, equivalent to a Seventh Layer Postnatal attack. It seems killing the Armored Rhinoceros requires Rainfall Fall."
Chu Ming thought to himself, watching the charging Armored Rhinoceros horn. His body flashed, becoming spectral due to perfect Mysterious Step.
Chu Ming positioned his refined iron sword, and a white light shot from its tip, seemingly tearing through the mist. Within the sword light area, raindrops began to float, resembling an artistic conception as much as a sword technique.
The artistic conception of rain, elusive yet traceable!
"Rainfall Fall!"
The sword light touched the Armored Rhinoceros's hide, slicing it neatly into two halves, revealing blood.
Rain, turning to ice upon cold, vapor upon heat, permeates everywhere, returning to nature, forming deadly raindrops within a certain area. Adding sword techniques within the raindrops, it kills enemies comprehensively, embodying the essence of Rainfall Kill.
Moments later, Chu Ming opened his eyes, a sharp light flashed by, his aura receding, seeming like an ordinary person.
Feeling the spiritual power within himself, though it hadn't increased, the fourth technique of Rainfall Swordsmanship showed signs of progress.
"It's a pity about this rhinoceros hide!" Chu Ming said with slight regret, looking at the bisected Armored Rhinoceros. He chopped off the remaining hide and horn, placing them in his backpack, then disappeared into the woods.
...
Ten days later, in the market beneath the Cyan Yang Mountain Range, a teenager carrying a massive backpack walked towards the Spirit Medicine Pavilion.
The teenager was none other than Chu Ming. Ten days of cultivation had elevated his cultivation to the Sixth Layer Postnatal stage. Furthermore, the fourth technique of Rainfall Swordsmanship, Rainfall Kill, had also reached the Realm of Perfection.
The Spirit Medicine Pavilion was the only store in Cyan Yang Mountain Range selling herbs. Although its area was not large nor its shopfront luxurious, it was definitely unrivaled in wealth.
After all, in this world, the richest were martial artists. To improve their cultivation, martial artists were willing to pay any amount of silver. Silver could always be earned again, but life couldn't be redone.
Upon entering the Spirit Medicine Pavilion, Chu Ming frowned.
The shop was bustling, filled mostly with martial artists in tight clothes, wealthy house young masters, and a couple of individuals Chu Ming couldn't discern, likely cultivators at the Transcendence Realm.
Approaching the counter, Chu Ming placed his backpack on it.
"Shopkeeper, selling materials!"
Chu Ming called out, prompting a shopkeeper to hurry over.
"Sky Blue Herb, two hundred silver taels, Ice Phoenix Flower, five hundred silver taels... Armored Rhinoceros Horn, five hundred silver taels. This hide is somewhat damaged, worth only fifty silver taels. A total of five thousand three hundred eighty silver taels, we'll round it to five thousand four hundred. Are you satisfied with this price, young man?"
The shopkeeper asked after assessing the materials.