Having returned armed from the Mirage Workshop of Flying Clouds, Feng Zikang didn't immediately seek out the disciples of Sunset Peak—whom he already viewed as prey—but instead plunged straight into cultivation.
For one, while the vital essence from those disciples was precious, he hadn't yet fully digested what he absorbed last time; the same held true for Huo Zhongguang, that scavenger of scraps. Hunting now would be a waste. Secondly, and naturally, it was because Feng Zikang's own strength was too weak. He wasn't without a chance of killing those disciples at the fourth or fifth layer of Qi Induction by risking everything, but the price would be too steep. It was far better to spend time consolidating and improving his cultivation so that hunting could become an effortless pleasure.
However, his cultivation was not one of secluded meditation for drawing in Qi. As Huo Zhongguang had mentioned, for military strategists, especially those in the early stages, true skill couldn't be honed purely through sitting and refining Qi; practical combat was the finest training!
Disciples who reached the fourth layer of Qi Induction could undertake merit-based tasks. Those below the fourth layer, however, only had access to meager sect missions—tasks that were more of a nuisance than a benefit. Outer disciples, lacking sufficient strength, could only barely afford spirit stones to sustain their cultivation by completing these trivial sect chores. For inner disciples, however, there was a much better destination.
The Five Elements Origin Cave!
The Grand Dao of the Military School valued only battle and precedence; almost all its techniques were born from life-or-death encounters, prioritizing comprehension and breakthroughs achieved on the razor’s edge of survival.
The Military School of Dragon Tiger Mountain was the orthodox lineage of the military path, naturally placing the highest emphasis on real combat. For low-level disciples, the best training ground was the Five Elements Origin Cave.
The Five Elements Origin Cave, as its name suggested, was divided into Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Within each element was a specific cavern filled with countless mechanisms, magical arts, and puppets. The basic combat training for military disciples was completed here. Among the five elemental pathways, the Gold Origin Cave housed the highest level of power; only disciples approaching the Foundation Establishment stage could contend with the impenetrable Golden Men.
The Earth Man Alley, conversely, was the best choice for disciples in the early stages of Qi Induction to hone their skills.
Feng Zikang donned his bell-shaped armor, secured his Cloud-Crowning Helm, and retrieved a saber from his small bamboo grove hut. Though this blade was merely a mortal weapon, it was exceptionally sharp, its edge exuding a chilling aura. Since he still couldn't command objects with his mind, it was perfectly suited for his current needs.
The Five Elements Origin Cave was located southwest of Dragon Tiger Mountain, about a hundred li from his bamboo hut. Feng Zikang was now considered a wealthy man among low-tier disciples and saw no need to economize. He found a Talisman of Swift Movement, ignited it, and darted off with all his might.
In less than the time it takes an incense stick to burn, he arrived at the entrance of the Five Elements Cave.
This location was also guarded by a third-generation disciple, whose situation was much like Huo Zhongguang’s, though this man was older, appearing somewhat resigned to fate, having lost his pursuit of the path to longevity and contentedly drinking from his gourd.
Feng Zikang stated his identity and purpose. The guard naturally did not obstruct him intentionally, yet he showed no particular warmth or fawning attention, nor did he even bother to give his name. He merely waved a hand, signaling that Feng Zikang could enter on his own.
The entrance was a platform situated in a shaded area of the mountain. In the center stood the thatched hut of the guard disciple. Behind the hut, in five directions, was an opening to a cavern, each etched above with large, seal script characters.
“Gold!” “Wood!” “Water!” “Fire!” “Earth!”
This marked the location of the Five Elements Caves. Each entrance leaked a different colored elemental aura—some fierce and hot, others heavy, or light and nimble, sharp, or chillingly cold.
The five elemental auras mingled in the air, a riot of color that was quite beautiful to behold. This was a naturally formed spiritual nexus of the Five Elements, hence such a marvelous spectacle.
Feng Zikang had no real choice; with his current cultivation, he could only enter the simplest one: the Earth Origin Cave.
He gripped the saber hilt tightly and cautiously took his first step inside.
“Swish!”
He had barely stepped into the dim cavern, before his eyes had time to adjust to the faint light, when he felt a powerful gust of wind rush down from above!
An ambush!
This Earth Origin Cave was no safe haven. To think that the earth puppets would line up obediently, waiting for military disciples to fight them, would be a grave error. The cave was filled with loess, permeated by dense Earth Elemental Energy. Any unauthorized intrusion of an earthen object would naturally trigger a counter-reaction from the elemental force, resulting in an immediate attack upon entry!
“Hah!”
Feng Zikang had been prepared. He twisted his body, stepping back half a pace, redirecting the incoming object, and drove a punch forward with borrowed momentum!
“Thwack!”
Feng Zikang’s punch landed squarely on the chest of the dark attacker—an earth puppet. The puppet staggered a few steps, crashed against the wall, and dissolved into dust!
“Hmph!”
Feng Zikang shook his wrist and gazed forward, not hurrying to advance.
The strength of these earth puppets was roughly equivalent to the ghost soldiers outside General’s Tomb, but they were hidden and capable of surprise attacks, and their numbers were greater than the ghost soldiers. It was indeed an excellent place for training.
As he tried hard to discern the path ahead, another puppet attacked from behind. Feng Zikang didn't even turn around, merely swinging his saber backward, shattering the puppet’s head with a resounding crack.
At this time, he had only cultivated the Nameless Heaven Demon Art, and though his demonic seed was formed, it was only at the first layer. He had not yet been taught the Military School's core cultivation methods; he only knew the basic techniques for drawing Qi into the body, circulating, and breathing. Naturally, he couldn't yet practice any of the various military divine abilities. However, first, his body, tempered by the demonic seed, was extraordinarily tough and his reactions exceptionally agile, giving him an advantage over others. Second, he could unconsciously apply the experience and skill inherited from General Lu. Compared to an ordinary second-layer Qi Induction disciple, he was far superior, making dealing with these troublesome puppets much easier.
The earth puppets emerged ceaselessly. Since they would simply dissolve back into Earth Elemental Energy upon shattering, they would reform and regenerate soon enough.
Feng Zikang remained unhurried, steadily wielding his saber, focusing on internalizing the techniques unconsciously inherited from General Lu while slowly absorbing the killing intent, refining and sublimating it within his body, laying a foundation for his own ascent to the third layer of Qi Induction.
The Military School's path was truly one of striving for victory; the improvement gained through actual combat far surpassed that of static meditation. If he could practice military divine abilities now, he would better appreciate the exhilarating feeling of such rapid advancement. Even so, he felt his saber work becoming smoother and his movements increasingly economical. A slight flick of the tip, a subtle sweep of the edge, a feigned tap with the hilt—with just one concerted action, three puppets shattered instantly, effortlessly.
“Remarkable!”
Feng Zikang wasn’t complimenting himself. Only at this moment could he truly gauge General Lu’s strength. Even a mere one-ten-millionth imprint remaining from a tribulation-transcending cultivator's divine sense was so perfectly aligned with the military path, as if it were instinct.
How powerful must the man himself have been?
Recalling that such a formidable existence had fallen under the might of the Celestial Dao, Feng Zikang felt a secret chill and dared not slacken in the slightest.
He didn't believe that General Lu’s failure in transcending the tribulation was due to his own merit; he was merely the last straw that happened to fall.
Strong! To roam freely and proudly, one must be strong!
As the weak, they would die beneath the blades of others; even if General Lu was stronger than everyone else in the world, he still perished under the Heavenly Tribulation.
Only by becoming stronger than the Will of Heaven could one command one's own fate!
This was the Great Heavenly Demon Dao!
“Good!”
A light round of applause and an astonished murmur from behind interrupted his thoughts. Feng Zikang’s back muscles instantly tensed, and the hand gripping his saber shifted slightly.
He hadn't detected anyone behind him!