Leaving the earth fire cave, Mộc Phàm felt an unprecedented surge of power. His Black Iron Core had now transformed into a deep, dark hue with shimmering blood-red streaks, containing earth-shattering might. His Mortal Body True Adamant had been tempered to its limits; his body was as hard as divine steel, capable of withstanding blows he previously couldn't have imagined.
He continued his journey westward, deeper into desolate lands where spiritual energy was virtually nonexistent, but Earth Vein Primordial Force and other primal energies were incredibly abundant. Mộc Phàm believed that the greatest secrets of the Mortal Body Hundred Forgings Art still awaited his discovery in such places.
However, he couldn't find peace. News of his defeat of Lei Xiong, a talented Late Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Heavenly Sword Sect, had spread far and wide. The Heavenly Sword Sect grew even more enraged and determined. This time, it wasn't just individual pursuers or small groups. Mộc Phàm sensed a mighty, overwhelming aura approaching. It was a Golden Core expert!
An elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect, a ** 초기 Kim Đan (Early Golden Core)** cultivator, had personally set out to capture Mộc Phàm. His name was Elder Xie, renowned for his Heavenly Spirit Bow magic artifact and his exquisite control over spiritual energy.
Mộc Phàm didn't flee. He knew that once a Golden Core expert locked onto his aura, escaping would be incredibly difficult. Moreover, he wanted to test his new strength. He chose a deep, treacherous rocky valley, a terrain that could somewhat limit his opponent's maneuverability.
Elder Xie appeared in the sky, soaring on his flying sword, his mighty Golden Core aura crashing down like a massive wave, causing surrounding trees to collapse and mountain rocks to crack. He looked at Mộc Phàm with cold, disdainful eyes. "A lowly mortal, daring to disrupt the rules of cultivation! You are a calamity! Today, I shall personally end your existence!"
"Your rules are not my rules!" Mộc Phàm growled. He showed no fear. His Black Iron Core erupted within him, his Mortal Body True Adamant operating at its peak. He felt like an unshakeable mountain of steel.
Elder Xie wasted no words. He drew his Heavenly Spirit Bow, spiritual energy from his Golden Core surging into it, transforming the spiritual arrow into a dazzling green light that shot straight at Mộc Phàm. The arrow's speed was incredibly fast, tearing through the air and leaving a long streak of light.
Thud!
The spiritual arrow struck Mộc Phàm's chest directly. But there was no sound of flesh being torn, only a dry clang of metal. The arrow was stopped! It couldn't pierce Mộc Phàm's Mortal Body True Adamant, merely embedding itself deeply into his hardened flesh, creating a small indentation.
Elder Xie was stunned. He couldn't believe his eyes. His Heavenly Spirit Bow's arrow could penetrate the armor of high-level demonic beasts and severely wound other early Golden Core cultivators, yet it was stopped by a mere mortal's flesh?
"You... what kind of monster are you!" Elder Xie yelled, his face transforming from disdain to utter horror.
Mộc Phàm didn't reply. He pulled the arrow from his chest; a tiny trickle of blood seeped out then immediately clotted. That minor wound couldn't affect him. He threw the arrow to the ground, then charged straight towards Elder Xie, moving with lightning speed.
"Shameless!" Elder Xie bellowed. He hadn't expected Mộc Phàm to dare to close in on a Golden Core expert. He continuously fired spiritual arrows. Thud! Thud! Thud!
Dozens of arrows repeatedly struck Mộc Phàm, but all were blocked by his Mortal Body True Adamant. Mộc Phàm didn't stop. He swung his fists, each punch carrying earth-shattering power.
Elder Xie was forced to retreat, continuously dodging. He was a Golden Core expert, two major realms higher than Mộc Phàm, yet he couldn't withstand Mộc Phàm's close-combat punches. Mộc Phàm's body was too hard, too strong, unafraid of magic artifacts or spiritual energy!
In one instant, Mộc Phàm closed the distance on Elder Xie. He unleashed an incredibly powerful "Mortal Body Blood God Punch."
Elder Xie had no time to dodge. He hastily summoned a thick spiritual energy shield.
CRASH!!!
A heaven-shshattering explosion echoed throughout the valley. The spiritual energy shield shattered completely. Elder Xie was sent flying into the cliff face, his robes torn to shreds, spitting out a large mouthful of blood, his bones audibly cracking. He collapsed to the ground, his eyes wide with disbelief and extreme terror.
"You... you're not a mortal... you're... a Body Cultivator!" Elder Xie stammered, his eyes wide, staring intently at Mộc Phàm. He had heard ancient legends about Body Cultivators, those who didn't cultivate spiritual energy but focused on tempering their bodies to a realm that could destroy heaven and earth, but he had never believed it was true.
Mộc Phàm didn't respond. He knew he had reached a realm that even Golden Core cultivators had to fear. He didn't kill Elder Xie, leaving him alive to carry this terror back to the Heavenly Sword Sect.
He had proven: His Mortal Body could contend with a Golden Core!
After the battle, Mộc Phàm didn't linger. He sensed more powerful auras approaching, perhaps reinforcements from the Heavenly Sword Sect, or even other forces stirred by the recent battle. He needed to go into hiding once again and continue on his path.
His Black Iron Core within Mộc Phàm emitted another dazzling ray of light, but this time it wasn't due to combat. He sensed another transformation occurring. The absorption of the Earth Core Blood Marrow had pushed his Body Core to a new threshold, and now, after a life-or-death battle with a Golden Core expert, it had truly awakened.
Mộc Phàm felt a deeper connection to the Earth Vein Primordial Force, to the raw essence of heaven and earth. He believed that he was about to enter a completely new realm of the Mortal Body Hundred Forgings Art, a realm he had never known before.