Backed by a majestic Daqing Mountain, the desolate village was surrounded by towering mountains and steep hills for thousands of miles, reminiscent of the Daxing'anling Mountains from the previous life.
The forest was dense, with fallen leaves accumulating a foot deep, making it soft to step on. Towering trees stood tall, their overlapping leaves blocking the sunlight. Vines snaked like serpents, clinging to the giant trees, and small animals could occasionally be seen moving about in the woods.
Suddenly, the nearby bushes rustled, causing Ning Ming to tense up.
In the next moment, a brown squirrel emerged from the bushes and quickly climbed back up the tree.
"Phew."
Ning Ming finally let out a sigh of relief.
It had been thirteen years since he last left the village. This mysterious area was full of unknowns and dangers.
Along the way, the ground was littered with strange and bizarre skeletal remains. There were leg bones measuring over three meters long and skull plates the size of grinding stones, all covered in bite marks and claw prints.
The beasts in this world were probably far more formidable than the jackals, wolves, and leopards on Earth.
However...
The old man in the gray linen clothes was walking ahead. Despite not having a tall and robust physique, he exuded a terrifying power that surpassed even savage beasts.
Before long, the village chief led Ning Ming to a stream and sat down to rest.
"You've seen those foreign cultivators last time, 'Twins' and 'Snake Hair,' and their forbidden cultivation techniques," the old man Li took out his tobacco pipe again and emphasized, "The stars have been contaminated, so cultivation should not be rushed. Otherwise, your consciousness will be affected, and you won't even know if you've become distorted."
Ning Ming nodded, but he couldn't help feeling puzzled.
His Fate Star was extraordinary, and that black stone could absorb the dreadful taboos of other cultivators. He had no idea what kind of existence it truly was.
And his cultivation of the 'Twins' divine ability was also somewhat unconventional...
"It's my first time taking on a disciple, so I don't have much experience," the old man Li said while smoking his pipe, "From now on, I'll teach you using the methods my master taught me."
Curiosity got the better of Ning Ming, and he asked, "Village Chief, what were you before...?"
"I was a disciple of a small sect," Old man Li said, "Later, most of the people from that sect died, so I left and traveled the world."
It was a fairly ordinary life experience.
But in the next moment, the words uttered by old man Li sent a chill down Ning Ming's spine. "Oh, by the way, I killed those people."
The old man's expression was calm, without any fluctuation, as if he were talking about an ordinary and unremarkable matter.
Ning Ming shivered inwardly, "Why...?"
"When my master took me in, he said a sentence, 'In this world, only the bad ones can live longer.'"
After contemplating for a moment, old man Li continued, "My master taught me too well."
Ning Ming didn't know what to say.
He had now caught a glimpse of the true nature of the village chief...
"At the beginning of your cultivation, I will pass this sentence on to you. I hope you will remember it, Ning Ming," old man Li said, taking out a yellowed ancient book from his pocket, "I was looking through the house last night and found only this lower three ranks cultivation method suitable for you. It's the Dragon Elephant Skill practiced by the monks of the Lotus Sect."
Ning Ming immediately took the ancient book from him.
In the world of cultivation, cultivators of the ninth, eighth, and seventh ranks are collectively referred to as the Lower Three Ranks, also known as the Martial Master Realm.
Although they are considered part of the Martial Master Realm, some cultivators of the seventh rank possess incredible strength, equivalent to the power of 300,000 kilograms. With a single punch, even a small hill would tremble.
Undoubtedly, the Lower Three Ranks focus on tempering the physical body, utilizing various methods to unlock the potential within the human body and enhance physical constitution.
The Dragon Elephant Skill, mentioned in this book, is a cultivation method that stimulates the growth of blood and qi.
It consists of two levels: cultivating qi and refining the body, which must be practiced together to strengthen the physical body.
It is said that when this skill reaches perfection, one's fist can produce the roar of a dragon and the bellow of an elephant. One can only imagine the immense power it possesses.
Ning Ming sat cross-legged and began practicing, following the qi cultivation technique of the Dragon Elephant Skill, stimulating the true essence within his body and connecting each meridian.
There was silence for a while.
It was early morning, and the sunlight was radiant. The sounds of birds and beasts occasionally echoed through the jungle, while a clear stream flowed gently.
Old man Li sat beside him, smoking his pipe.
After so many years, there wasn't much to do in the village. Now, teaching this young man cultivation became something to occupy his time...
After a long period of time, Ning Ming felt his body swell, as surges of uncontrolled energy circulated within him, causing his muscles to strain against his clothes.
He stood up and began practicing stance training and punching, following the body-refining technique of the Dragon Elephant Skill.
Despite his movements still being somewhat inexperienced, there was already a hint of a fierce and domineering aura.
"This Dragon Elephant Skill is extraordinary!"
Ning Ming thought to himself, realizing that this body-refining technique had greatly increased his punching power compared to before.
Through intense exercises, the circulating energy gradually spread into his limbs, stimulating cellular activity and invigorating his blood and qi.
Soon, Ning Ming was drenched in sweat, and his thin clothes became soaked. The unusual sensations within his body gradually disappeared.
In their place, a powerful surge of vitality...
He then found a tree with a trunk as thick as a bowl, assumed a horse stance, and took a deep breath. This breath was the Qi of the Dragon Elephant.
Boom!
Ning Ming focused his mind, condensed the Qi onto his right fist, and struck out like a cannonball. The sturdy tree trunk immediately shattered, with wood chips flying in all directions.
"So powerful..."
Ning Ming's eyes lit up. Although his fist felt a bit sore, it was insignificant.
"Take it slowly. When the day comes that you can shatter this tree with a single punch, that will be the first step on the path," Old man Li suddenly said. "The monks from the Lotus Sect, with their powerful physique, are known as Little Vajras when they reach the seventh rank. It's all thanks to this Dragon Elephant Skill."
"Ah."
Ning Ming restrained his excitement and walked to the edge of the stream, cupping his hands to drink the cool water and asking curiously, "Old man Li, why did you bring me here instead of practicing in the village?"
Old man Li revealed a dangerous smile and said, "Didn't I tell you? I am teaching you the methods my master taught me."
A chill ran down Ning Ming's spine.
In the next moment, Old man Li continued, "You have half an incense stick's time to recover your energy. After that, unless it's a matter of life or death, I won't make a move."
"...What?"
Ning Ming immediately had a sense of unease, and his heart started racing.
Without wasting any time, Ning Ming immediately sat down cross-legged, regulating his breath and adjusting his state.
After half an incense stick's worth of time had passed,
As soon as Ning Ming opened his eyes, he realized that Old Man Li was nowhere to be seen. The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only himself remaining.
Almost simultaneously, a faint sound came from the front, and the dangerous aura of the primeval forest instantly enveloped him!
Ning Ming's pupils contracted, feeling a chill rising from the soles of his feet to his scalp.
There, he saw
A wild wolf with black fur, walking slowly and steadily, step by step emerging from the woods, its gaze coldly fixed on him.
It had a length of at least two meters, agile limbs, and sharp teeth that seemed capable of easily biting through a neck.
At this moment, cold sweat trickled down Ning Ming's forehead, and he dared not make any sudden movements.
How did this large wild wolf suddenly appear? Village Chief?
But he had only been practicing for less than two days...
One question after another arose in Ning Ming's mind, and suddenly, a chill ran through his heart, "Could this be the Village Chief's method of cultivation?"
"Roar..."
Just then, the low roar emitted by the wild wolf brought Ning Ming's consciousness back to reality.
It stared intensely at this tender and juicy young boy, as if looking at a meal, anticipating the delicious taste of flesh and blood.
On the other side,
Ning Ming quickly entered a focused state, discarding all distractions, his gaze sharp and his fists slowly clenching.
"Do I need to use the Twins?"
Ning Ming wasn't quite sure if the Village Chief was nearby, watching over him, and whether using the forbidden doppelganger technique would cause trouble.
However,
As the saying goes, "Wolves have copper heads and iron bones, but a soft waist"...
With his current strength, if he could seize the opportunity, he could kill this wild wolf!
Swish!
Suddenly, Ning Ming stood motionless, while the wild wolf moved swiftly on its agile limbs, charging forward as if carried by a gust of wind.
In an instant, Ning Ming's spirit reached its peak, all thoughts vanishing from his mind, leaving only this lightning-fast black shadow in the world.
So fast...
The wolf's charge covered a distance of five meters in just one step, as if a knife was slashing towards him!
Compared to such a terrifying beast, Ning Ming was only thirteen years old, and his physique was still somewhat weak, creating a stark contrast.
As if in the next moment, the boy's neck would be snapped, spraying blood like a fountain...
But at the critical moment—
Found it!
A glint flashed in Ning Ming's eyes, and in that instant, his body moved.
He sidestepped the attack, and with his right hand clenched into a fist, his true essence transformed into arm strength, swinging out like a cannonball.
The wild wolf probably never expected that such a tender young boy not only wasn't scared out of his wits but also reacted so quickly, and possessed such tremendous power.
This punch landed solidly on the wolf's body, the robust muscle group unable to counteract the force. The flesh rippled like jelly...
Crack—
The next moment, this massive wild wolf was sent flying several meters away, crashing heavily onto the grass.
Swish!
At the same time, Ning Ming was well aware that this punch alone wouldn't end the life of the wolf. He swiftly rushed forward and, catching the opponent off guard, delivered a lightning-fast kick to its belly.
The wild wolf let out a painful cry and retaliated by swiping its claws, tearing through Ning Ming's trousers and leaving several bloody gashes.
"You're asking for death!"
The sight of blood ignited the young man's fighting spirit. Spotting a large rock nearby, he hefted it and brought it down with force.
A wail resounded as flesh and blood scattered, staining the surrounding lush grass with crimson.
It felt like an eternity had passed.
Only when the beast could no longer make a sound did Ning Ming finally force himself to stop, gasping for breath.
At this moment, his entire body was covered in blood, bearing the marks of several wounds. His black hair was disheveled, giving him a rather disheveled appearance.
His heart continued to beat relentlessly...
Such a life-and-death battle left a deep impression on the young man.
"It was just an ordinary wild wolf, and you're already a cultivator in the Ninth Rank Stellar Power Realm. Why are you so excited?" spoke Old man Li, emerging from behind a tree, holding a smoking pipe in his hand. "Facing death head-on is terrifying, but the more terrifying it is, the more you need to remain calm."
"Once you can face it without changing your expression and without the slightest ripple in your heart after killing someone, then you'll be close to achieving that."
Listening to these words, Ning Ming fell silent for a moment before lifting his face and smiling. "Don't worry, it won't happen next time."
Seeing this, Old man Li was slightly taken aback.