Cultivation System: Stronger with Age

At Luoxia Slope, in the Kun Branch gathering area, hundreds of Martial Cultivators from the five gathering areas had already built hundreds of wooden houses. These Martial Cultivators, hailing from various sects across the hundred cities of the Great Marsh Prefecture, greeted each other and chatted, discussing the mysterious Female Martial Cultivator who had summoned them.

None of them would ever imagine that the extremely dangerous Demon-Suppressing Valley would have half its Demons slaughtered within days by a mysterious Female Cultivator!

At this moment, at the highest point of Luoxia Slope, in the first-floor hall of a spotlessly clean stone building, Xiaoo Ying'Er, dressed in white, was holding a black chess piece, frowning as she looked at the chessboard before her.

The man playing against her appeared to be thirty-four or five years old, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, exceptionally handsome.

Seeing the woman frown, he smiled and said, "Saintess, you're clearly going to win this game. Why are you still frowning?"

Xiaoo Ying'Er raised her delicate eyebrows slightly. "I'll only be happy if I beat you by several more eyes. In all these years playing chess with the Celestial Sect Leader, he's never pushed me into a situation like this. Yet you, the Vice Gang Leader of the Spirit Snake Gang, almost turned the tables just now! Not only did you mentor the top ranker on the Hero List, but your chess skills are incredibly strong too!"

The man cupped his hands. "Saintess, you flatter me!"

Xiaoo Ying'Er, still holding her chess piece, said, "You sound rather pleased with yourself! Let's see if you can still be this smug when we face each other in a few days!"

The man laughed. "Over the years, during my travels in Kyoto, I've always been at a disadvantage whenever we've sparred, Saintess! However, we are now in the Demon-Suppressing Valley, where everyone's Realm is suppressed to the Third Layer. The outcome is far from certain this time!"

Xiaoo Ying'Er, who yearned to break through her Realm, had a flicker of anticipation in her eyes. "If you can truly defeat me while we are both at the Third Layer Realm and help me comprehend the Cultivation Technique, I will credit you with a great merit!"

At that moment, the voice of Ding Rui, a female disciple from the Profound Phoenix Celestial Sect, came from outside the door.

"San Gu, the Saintess was very pleased with the Marsh Python Demon Pearl you presented and has already permitted you to join the Holy Dragon Association! So why aren't you with the Holy Dragon Association? What are you doing here?"

Listening to the voice outside, the handsome man glanced at Xiaoo Ying'Er, whose delicate eyebrows were still furrowed, and cupped his hands. "That's my disciple's sworn brother. I'll go have a word with him!"

Xiaoo Ying'Er nodded slightly and continued to study the chessboard.

The handsome man then rose and walked outside.

Standing at the hall entrance, he glanced at San Gu. The two walked to a more secluded spot before the handsome man frowned and asked, "What's the matter?"

San Gu's six eyes glinted. "Bang Master Chu, what if that Lin Xuankong comes here and claims the Demon Pearl was condensed from a Demon he killed? Have your subordinates from the Spirit Snake Gang spotted him near the gathering area?"

Chu Yuhui, the Spiritual Snake Deputy Leader, raised his eyebrows slightly.

"In this world, all things belong to the capable—be it Treasures, Cultivation Techniques, beauties, or even the world itself! The Demon Pearl bears no name; naturally, it belongs to whoever possesses it!

"As for that Lin Xuankong, killing a few Tier Three Demons is nothing significant. It's only because everyone's Realm is suppressed here in the Demon-Suppressing Valley. Otherwise, with my Mid-grade Fifth Layer Cultivation, a single True Qi Finger from dozens of zhang away would be enough to obliterate him, body and soul! If my men spot him around here, I'll have my disciple Chu Qing help you dispose of him!

"In short, presenting the Treasure and joining the Holy Dragon Association is your pivotal moment for a meteoric rise. You must always remember what I've done for you!"

「In Cold Fragrance Valley, within a wooden building,」

Liy Ruofeng had, in the end, told Lin Xuankong the Nourishing Heart Method, including the Fierce Tiger Roar Bone Technique—the one he was most proficient in from the Black Tiger Three Techniques.

It was not merely out of fear of death. The main reason was that Lin Xuankong had threatened to feed him his fill and then, in front of those dozens of Martial Cultivators, make him lose control of his bowels and bladder dozens of times each day.

Liy Ruofeng, fearing utter humiliation more than death itself, decisively recited the Heart Method and the Fierce Tiger Roar Bone Technique to him for a full hour. As one of the top figures in the Black Tiger Great Marsh Hall—second only to one and above thousands—Liy Ruofeng feared death. However, the thought of completely losing face, of soiling himself in front of those who had once feared and respected him, was even more unbearable.

It wasn't just Demons that had fatal weaknesses; everyone had their vulnerabilities, and Liy Ruofeng was certainly no exception.

Before Liy Ruofeng died, he told Lin Xuankong a piece of news that made him frown: San Gu had presented the Marsh Python Demon Pearl to a mysterious Female Martial Cultivator, and that Female Martial Cultivator...

To think that Female Martial Cultivator could command Ding Rui and had even slaughtered all the Tier Three Demons near several gathering areas within just a few days! Even though Lin Xuankong was confident in himself, he had to admit that this Female Martial Cultivator possessed strength, equipment, and Treasures far superior to his current self. At the very least, he knew he couldn't have cleared such a vast expanse of the Demon-Suppressing Valley in mere days... This Female Cultivator was probably a Fifth Layer expert, or perhaps even higher!

But the Marsh Python Demon Pearl was condensed from a Demon he himself had killed; it should rightfully be his! And that San Gu... he absolutely had to die!

This mysterious Female Cultivator was planning to hold a martial arts tournament seven days from now. She would fight numerous experts for seven consecutive days, claiming that anyone who managed to injure her can obtain either the Marsh Python Demon Pearl or the Evil Sheep Demon Pearl.

If he cultivated diligently during these fourteen days and fully assimilated all his recent gains, his strength would increase significantly. Could he, perhaps, then be able to give this Female Cultivator a beating?

Her background was mysterious, and her actual strength was likely immense. But within the Demon-Suppressing Valley, she could at most exert Third Layer Cultivation. He should have a chance... right?

Thinking this, anticipation flickered in Lin Xuankong's eyes. Fourteen days... Just how much could he prepare, how much could he improve...?

He suppressed these thoughts and recalled the Miracle Jade's Nourishing Heart Method. The Nourishing Heart Method wasn't complex.