Some time later, Xue Ren stopped atop the mountain peak near where he usually trained. Not many people came to these monster-infested parts, so it made for the perfect training grounds.
However, because of all the Fireball Skills he tested in this area, a lot of the environment had either been scorched or destroyed…
"Hmm, I wonder what I should do for training locations when this one is no longer usable…" Xue Ren's thoughts stirred as he sat down on the very edge of the mountain's summit, immediately conjuring a huge mass of flames that loomed over him. "I guess I'll think more about it when I get around to it. Not like this place is unusable just yet."
OOOM!
The high-density fire energy of the |Large Fireball| rapidly swarmed toward Xue Ren. It nourished his Qi Veins, speedily filling them up one by one.
10 times faster than normal cultivation speed!
"Level 2 Fireball Skills are way better than the Basic Level 1 Fireball Skill." He smiled while ceaselessly conjuring and absorbing the fire energy of |Large Fireballs|. "If this is what Level 2 Fireballs can do, I wonder to what extent Level 3 Fireball Skills will improve my cultivation speed."
With his |Large Fireball|, Xue Ren could theoretically make a breakthrough into the 2nd Layer of Qi Condensation within 3 years, which was plenty good. However, it was still far from sufficient to compare with the geniuses who broke through stages every few weeks like his sister.
"Instead of spending all my time on cultivating, I should split half of my day practicing Level 3 Fireball Skills and improving the effectiveness of cultivation with my specialized training regimen," said Xue Ren. "If I do everything in the most efficient way possible, I should be able to cut that 3-year expected breakthrough time in half."
With a goal in mind, Xue Ren put his all into the grind.
Two months in, something pleasantly unexpected happened.
*Ding!*
[Skill 'Fireball Shield' proficiency increased to 100%!]
[Evolution Points +500]
[Evolution Gauge (0%) → (25%)]
"Nice," said Xue Ren while upside down doing a handstand push-up.
"Now the shield can cover an area of multiple meters," he noted while casting it. "It also appears to be a lot more robust than before. Probably twice the defensive power?"
Wishing to figure out the exact improvement parameters, Xue Ren leapt off the mountain's cliff with no hesitation!
*Thud!*
Surprisingly enough, besides a few bruises that occurred because of the shattering of the |Fireball Shield|, there were no other injuries.
"Although the calculations are rough, I suppose this should allow me to be invincible within the Qi Condensation Realm," Xue Ren mused. "If only I had some worthy opponents to test it out on."
His wishes were answered a few days later when a group of unsavory characters intruded the Blue Moon Sect's territory. So as to not alert them of his existence, Xue Ren used only his enhanced vision to track their movements.
"Big Brother, are you sure the High-rank Blue Moon Elders aren't secretly hiding in wait?" asked a short, scrumpy man with a slight hunchback. "Something about this gig is making me uneasy…"
"Quit your bellowing, Pan Mo," remarked a far larger man with an eyepatch, leading the group forward. "Our sources are reliable, and they told us that the Inner and Core Elders are out slaying a Wild Demon that's about to break through the Golden Core Realm. This is the most opportune time to slip in and rob them clean while also taking a few beautiful women for ourselves!
We already had the Senior create a small crack in the Sect's Protective Barrier so we could slip in; what else do you want??"
Pan Mo nervously nodded, holding a hand to the back of his head. "You're right, Big Brother," he said while glancing at the shrewd-looking man with closed eyes walking beside them. "The Senior would never have joined us if he wasn't certain in our success."
'A Wild Demon about to break through into the Golden Core Realm?' Xue Ren thought. 'I believe I heard Mother and Father mention something about that, saying that they'd be away for a brief period of time.'
'But they can handle themselves,' he added. 'As for these meager bandits and dredges of society who think this job will be an easy one, I'd like to make them my new testing dummies. Though I suppose I'll have to save the testing of |Fireball Shield| for later.'
The big one-eyed leader of the bandit group was in the Early Foundation Establishment Realm, whereas the shrewd one was in the Middle Foundation Establishment Realm. Neither would be easy to take out, but Xue Ren didn't transmigrate to have an easy life.
"I'll save those two for last. As for first…" he muttered to himself before flickering in their direction.
"Big Brother, I really think something isn't right here." Pan Mo felt a cold chill run down his spine, urging him to wearily survey his surroundings. "The air is growing thicker, and my heart is constricting…"
"Pan Mo, what nonsense are you on about now!?"
The Bandit Leader snapped his head around, but was surprised to see that Pan Mo was no longer there. Neither were the other nine members of his party.
"Huh—...."
SPURT!
With bloodshot eyes, the Bandit Leader watched in horror as he got further and further away from his body. A body that… no longer had a head.
'H-How… Why…!?' was the last thing to filter through his mind before the sound of clanging metal accompanied him into the afterlife.