We found a 3 Star 100% beast, its strength was equal to a Perfection Core Formation cultivator.
It was also the last day of our training, so this beast was the perfect opponent to test our current strength.
The offense team took their stances, ready to attack.
We activated our techniques.
I had evolved my Frozen Wind Blade to a new level — it was now sharper and no longer dependent on the environment.
Even though creating a new technique required natural talent, upgrading one didn't.
According to what Gu Chaun once explained — every cultivator has Qi Nodes inside them, and each node performs a specific function when a technique is activated.
If one could understand what each node did, they could modify it.
That's how I managed to upgrade my technique.
Now, instead of relying on moisture in the air, I used Qi to generate water and froze it directly.
It was slightly slower, but it solved the problem of environmental dependence.
I had also adjusted a few of my Qi Gathering Nodes to make the process smoother.
I formed multiple ice blades, each sharper and more condensed with Qi than before, and sent them flying toward the beast.
The attack was powerful enough to kill a 60% 3 Star beast, but it didn't even leave a scratch.
The beast was far stronger than expected.
Then, Feng Chen attacked — and it worked.
We finally caused some damage and quickly realized the beast's weakness: fire.
That was why my ice attacks had no effect.
We immediately switched formation.
The three fire element cultivators — Feng Chen, Ye Fei, and Ye Xiu — took the front.
The rest of us shifted to support, focusing our attacks on the beast's weakened spots to maximize effect.
The beast didn't stay still.
It realized who was hurting it the most and went after them.
It raised its leg and launched a sudden attack toward Ye Xiu.
Ye Xiu tried to dodge, while Ye Fei countered by striking the beast's leg.
Feng Chen noticed something strange — but it was already too late.
The beast had used its leg attack as a distraction to hide its real strike, a sharp ice blade formed behind its body.
Before Feng Chen could warn them, both Ye Xiu and Ye Fei were hit directly and fell to the ground, severely injured.
The attack was so fast that even Feng Chen didn't realize it had already landed.
Seeing the twins down, Feng Chen gritted his teeth and prepared his strongest technique.
It was powerful, but it needed time.
"I need some time. Long Wei, distract the beast!" he shouted.
Long Wei immediately charged forward, attacking nonstop.
His attacks weren't strong, but they were fast enough to draw the beast's attention.
The beast roared and started launching attacks at him.
Long Wei kept dodging using his speed, buying precious seconds.
Meanwhile, I ran toward the twins, picked them up, and moved them to a safer spot.
Long Wei dodged again and again, until finally he was hit and sent crashing into a boulder.
The beast's battle Qi was extremely high.
But Feng Chen had gained enough time.
He completed his technique — a giant sword made of fire, burning with dense Qi.
If compared to my Frozen Wind Blade, it was at least seven times stronger.
The fiery sword descended upon the beast.
The beast noticed it and panicked, trying to evade, but it was too late.
The sword struck directly.
Boom!
The explosion shook the forest.
Feng Chen exhaled, relieved that it was finally over.
But before he could relax, a sharp ice blade shot out from the smoke and pierced multiple parts of his body.
It even aimed for his neck, but missed slightly.
Even then, the attack left him severely wounded and unconscious.
When the smoke cleared, the beast was still standing.
Its face, however, was completely burnt.
Enraged, the beast charged toward Hei Ming and Wei Han.
They tried to resist, but their cultivation levels were too low.
They were both quickly defeated.
When I arrived, I saw everyone lying on the ground.
The beast's body was covered in burns, but it was still alive and furious.
I realized Feng Chen had caused most of that damage.
I couldn't run — it was already in a rage.
So I fought.
For ten straight minutes, I clashed with the beast, my body screaming in pain.
I managed to cut it multiple times, but in the end, I also collapsed from exhaustion.
The beast, injured and bleeding, looked at me with killing intent.
It raised its claw — but before it could strike, a light of Qi appeared from my body.
The glowing light spoke:
"All the requirements have been met."
"Starting T.N V1."
"Target Level: 3 Star 100%."
"User Level: 3."
"Executing Datas V3 Prototype."
"FAILED. Executing again... FAILED."
"Not enough time to gather Qi."
"Following Rule 54: Forcefully using the life force of the user."
As it spoke, an enormous amount of Qi burst out of my body and gathered around the light.
"Qi requirements have been met."
"Executing Datas V3 Prototype again."
"Success."
A massive beam of light engulfed the entire area.
"Target defeated. Report sent."
The voice faded away.
Then, another light appeared and said:
"This is a prerecorded message. If activated, it means the life-threatening situation has been avoided.
It will continue for one hour. If you do not wake up by then, I will come to check personally."
The message kept repeating again and again.
After thirty-six minutes, my eyes slowly opened.
I remembered everything.
I looked around — the beast's body was lying motionless.
The light was still repeating the same message.
I stopped it, and it vanished back into my body.
Then I noticed my cultivation had dropped to Core Formation Early Stage.
One by one, everyone started waking up.
They were shocked to see the beast dead.
I told them I had used a forbidden technique that consumed a large amount of Qi and life force.
That was how I managed to defeat it.
In the end, everyone decided to give the 3 Star 100% beast core to me.
---
Deep inside the forest, a man lay on a boulder, relaxing under the open sky.
A report arrived beside him.
"So that's what happened, huh," the man said.
It was none other than Gu Chaun.
"The Datas V3 was just a prototype, but it still has too many issues.
The main one is the Qi requirement... looks like I'll need to fix that."
He stretched his arm and called out, "Hey Xinyi, I need some juice. Bring me some."
Feng Xinyi, who was lost in thought, returned to reality, poured him a drink, and handed it over.
"Haa... feels great to drink after working," Gu Chaun said with a smile.
Xinyi looked to the side, where five 3 Star 100% beasts lay dead on the ground.
She quietly nodded.
"Yes."