Chapter 105: Body Refiner

Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Body Refiner

At this moment, the dozen or so disciples remaining on the Ninth Layer stared with wide, round eyes.

"He... He actually killed Luo Feng!"

"Heavens, I thought Yi Xiaoyao was a dead man for sure. I never expected both Luo Feng and Luo Lie to fall at his hands."

"I’d heard about an up-and-coming Yi Xiaoyao who’s been making waves, but seeing him today... He’s even more incredible than the rumors claimed!"

The crowd broke into a discussion, their faces filled with disbelief. No one dared to underestimate this young man who appeared to only have the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Fifth Realm anymore.

After all, any veteran disciple knew Luo Feng’s and Luo Lie’s strength. They were two of the most powerful cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Yet in Yi Xiaoyao’s hands, neither of them had been able to withstand a single blow. One’s fate was unknown, while the other had been brutally cut down.

On top of that, the scene of Yi Xiaoyao shattering the Black Stone Puppet moments ago had left them even more stunned.

One had to remember that eight disciples at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Realm had already been defeated by this Black Stone Puppet. Yet before Yi Xiaoyao, such a powerful puppet was like nothing more than a common stone.

But how could these people know that outside, Yi Xiaoyao’s strength wasn’t nearly this great?

Inside the Cultivation Tower, however, Yi Xiaoyao could turn the Gravity and Magnetism—which everyone else saw as the greatest obstacle—to his own advantage, causing his power to skyrocket.

Yi Xiaoyao looked at the shattered Black Stone Puppet on the ground, the corners of his mouth lifting into a slight smile.

His last strike had been imbued with Gravity and Magnetism, and the power of that single slash was so immense that it shocked even him.

’It’s a shame this power can only be used inside the Cultivation Tower,’ he thought. ’Once I leave, it will be completely useless.’

Before the Black Stone Puppet could reform and revive, Yi Xiaoyao flicked his sword again, helping Luo Yi shatter another one.

"Little Junior Brother, thank you," Luo Yi said gratefully.

Yi Xiaoyao gave a faint smile. With him here, Luo Yi would naturally be able to enter the tenth layer with ease.

’Then again,’ he mused, ’Luo Yi and I have already secured two of the three spots for the Great Demon Ancient Tomb. I just wonder who will be able to claim the last one.’

Just then, the explosive sound of a massive stone being pulverized rang out from the side.

Yi Xiaoyao turned his head, his eyes widening in surprise.

The commotion was actually caused by Han Xiao, the man who had been sitting quietly in the corner.

Luo Yi had previously warned Yi Xiaoyao to watch out for the three strongest people. Now that Luo Feng and Luo Lie were out of the picture, only Han Xiao remained.

Under the force of Gravity and Magnetism, Han Xiao’s speed, while not as unhindered as Yi Xiaoyao’s, was clearly far less affected than anyone else’s.

That explosive sound just now was the result of Han Xiao demolishing a Black Stone Puppet with five punches.

’So strong!’

Yi Xiaoyao couldn’t help but marvel. For someone to achieve this under the effects of Gravity and Magnetism, it was clear he was far beyond any ordinary Foundation Establishment Ninth Realm disciple.

"That’s Han Xiao. He’s a famous Ascetic Cultivator in our Seven Kills Star Hall, and a powerful Body Refiner to boot," Luo Yi explained to Yi Xiaoyao.

Body Refiners specialized in cultivating their physical forms, tempering their bodies’ strength through various painful methods. It was a path where only those with immense willpower could achieve anything.

Therefore, a Body Refiner’s physical strength and power were far beyond those of ordinary cultivators.

Yi Xiaoyao finally understood. No wonder the Gravity and Magnetism didn’t affect Han Xiao as severely as the others. The man possessed an incredibly powerful physical body, which was why he could clash head-on with a Black Stone Puppet and shatter it in five punches.

With this, Yi Xiaoyao instantly knew who the third person joining him and Luo Yi in the Great Demon Ancient Tomb would be. It had to be Han Xiao.

Since they would be companions in the future, Yi Xiaoyao offered Han Xiao a slight smile.

Han Xiao had also been keeping an eye on Yi Xiaoyao. Seeing the friendly gesture, he gave a slight nod in return.

Yi Xiaoyao felt a bit helpless. ’Looks like this guy is just as cold as Xuan Mo,’ he thought.

But this scene greatly surprised the disciples in the Safe Zone.

"Did you see that? Han Xiao actually nodded back at Yi Xiaoyao in acknowledgment. You have to understand, that guy is so proud and aloof he doesn’t spare anyone a second glance."

"Han Xiao might be aloof, but he has the strength to back it up. He’s widely acknowledged as the number one cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm in our Seven Kills Star Hall. It would take both Luo Feng and Luo Lie combined to even be compared to him."

"Exactly. Shattering a Ninth Layer Black Stone Puppet in five punches... None of us can match that kind of power."

"But speaking of which, doesn’t shattering a Black Stone Puppet in five punches still seem a bit lacking compared to Yi Xiaoyao? That guy destroyed one with a single slash."

"It looks like even the ever-arrogant Han Xiao has admitted he’s not Yi Xiaoyao’s match. No wonder he acknowledged him."

For a moment, the faces of the crowd showed a mixture of shock and wry amusement.

They were shocked that Yi Xiaoyao, with only the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Fifth Realm, displayed strength even greater than Han Xiao’s. This clearly meant he was about to usurp Han Xiao’s position as the number one cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm.

They were smiling wryly because they all knew full well they stood no chance of competing with these three for the spots in the Great Demon Ancient Tomb.

Even though these disciples already knew the outcome, they didn’t leave. They wanted to see which of the three would be the first to enter the tenth layer.

On the Ninth Layer, rumbling sounds echoed continuously as Yi Xiaoyao made full use of the Gravity and Magnetism, slashing apart one Black Stone Puppet after another.

Luo Yi, on the other hand, had it easy, because Yi Xiaoyao took care of everything for her.

Meanwhile, Han Xiao was just as fearsome, his fists comparable to divine weapons.

Under his fists, every single Black Stone Puppet would crack after four punches and shatter completely after five, without exception.

"Little Junior Brother, you’re amazing! You’re amazing! Even while fighting two Black Stone Puppets at once, you’re still so much faster than Han Xiao!"

Luo Yi stood beside Yi Xiaoyao, clapping her hands and giggling sweetly.

Hearing Luo Yi’s voice, a wry smile appeared on Han Xiao’s face. He had been a Body Refiner for so many years and had always been unrivaled among those in the same realm. Today, he had finally met someone even more monstrous than himself.

The disciples in the Safe Zone watched the entire spectacle, amazed from start to finish.

"A monster! He’s a true monster!"

"Is that Yi Xiaoyao really only at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Realm?"

"Why is the gap between people so huge? Watching Yi Xiaoyao is making me have an existential crisis."

During this time, both Yi Xiaoyao and Han Xiao returned to the Safe Zone several times to recover their Spiritual Power. The two gradually became acquainted, even exchanging a few words now and then.

At first, Han Xiao still harbored the idea of competing with Yi Xiaoyao, but in the end, he reluctantly gave up on the notion.

By the time Yi Xiaoyao had finally defeated all the Black Stone Puppets, several days had passed.

"Phew! Finally dealt with these lumps of rock. We can enter the tenth layer now."

Yi Xiaoyao took a deep breath. He did a quick mental calculation and realized that, without him noticing, half a month had already passed since he and Luo Yi entered the Cultivation Tower. Still, that was much less than the two months the Hall Master had allotted.

Next, Yi Xiaoyao couldn’t wait to step into the tenth layer and see just what grand figure had been waiting for him there all this time.

...