From this point onward, besides visiting the Five Elements Yuan Cave every three days to temper his Daoist techniques, Feng Zikang also frequently poured over the military strategy classics in the Bamboo Grove, striving to fathom the true essence of the Military Way from the words of the ancient sages.

“War is the province of the State, a matter of life and death, a road to survival or ruin…”

“Thus, use the Five Factors to analyze it, test it with schemes, and seek its truth: first, the Moral Law; second, Heaven; third, Earth; fourth, the Commander; and fifth, Discipline.”

The Way of the Soldier originated from the ancient arts of pitched battle. Amidst the slaughter of thousands upon thousands of troops, some great sages suddenly attained enlightenment—a general’s triumph bought with ten thousand bleached bones—and thereupon broke free from the cycle of life and death, ascending to the upper realms.

They left behind only fragmentary scrolls for later generations to study.

Later inheritors of the Military Way gradually organized a system of cultivation, allowing practitioners to proceed step-by-step toward achieving the fruition of the Soldier’s Dao.

However, the primary prerequisite for becoming a successor of the Military Way was possessing an unyielding desire to win, an unyielding spirit of defiance.

Only such individuals could truly align with the Military Dao, achieving success in their practice. Therefore, the selection and screening of both inner and outer disciples used this as the foremost criterion. The stage of Dao Inquiry, which is the fourth layer of Guiding Qi cultivation, served as the final test of the disciple’s Dao heart. After this point, the master could offer guidance on cultivation at most, but could no longer intervene if the Dao heart deviated.

Whether one could maintain the Dao heart and advance bravely depended entirely on the disciple’s own fortune.

“So that’s how it is!”

Feng Zikang nodded, knowing that aligning himself with the Military Way inheritors was a great stroke of fortune.

The Way of the Formless Celestial Demon, he still could not grasp entirely; it was like viewing flowers through a mist, vague yet discernible—essentially a path of unrestrained freedom, one where the core self must not be bound.

Behind me, let the floods rage unto the heavens—this was the demon’s singular thought.

This philosophy clashed in no way with the Dao heart of the Military Way. If he had attempted to possess the disciples of the Mohists or various Buddhist sects, who preached universal compassion, he could not even successfully feign discipleship, let alone flourish as he did now, feeling completely at ease.

“Since that is the case, I might as well cultivate the Military Dao earnestly, walking the world as a legitimate disciple while secretly practicing the Celestial Demon Way. The very thought is exceedingly amusing…”

Feng Zikang smiled faintly and closed the book.

Cultivating both heart techniques simultaneously would undoubtedly slow the pace of progress, but they mutually supplemented each other. Moreover, with the various means of cunning acquisition and forceful seizure inherent to the Celestial Demon arts, the overall speed would not be much slower than that of ordinary practitioners.

Furthermore, the most crucial point was this: if he brazenly practiced the demonic path and stirred up torrents of demonic qi that affected the Mandate of Heaven, he might attract some righteous cultivators to slay the demon and eradicate him. It was better to remain hidden and low-key until his abilities reached fruition before revealing his true demonic nature.

With his decision made, he spent his days practicing the Military Dao and his nights secretly cultivating the Celestial Demon heart method. Time flew by quickly.

He encountered Luo Lianxin two or three more times in the Earth Element Yuan Cave, but this Senior Sister had resumed her cold demeanor, offering him only a slight nod in acknowledgment. He was quite content not to seek her out.

Within a month, his cultivation surged forward dramatically. The internal circulation through the Lung Meridian of the Right Hand’s Taiyang channel had taken initial shape, bringing him to the third layer of Guiding Qi, a natural progression.

“Hah!”

Feng Zikang felt refreshed and invigorated; the internal energies circulated ceaselessly within him, filling his body with strength.

In addition, his Formless Celestial Demon Heart Method had advanced by leaps and bounds, reaching the tenth layer. Many demonic divine abilities that he previously couldn't utilize were now resurfacing within his consciousness.

The profound mystery of the demonic path was that as the heart method advanced, the various divine abilities manifested naturally, requiring no search for secret manuals or formulas. However, mastering these abilities to perfection was certainly not an easy feat.

He immediately prioritized the re-cultivation of the Formless Celestial Demon Incarnation divine ability. His first incarnation had self-annihilated while dealing with Miao Yuchun, causing him significant damage. During this recultivation, he naturally paid extra attention, pushing this ability straight to the tenth layer in one go before feeling secure enough to summon an incarnation.

The Celestial Demon incarnation remained formless and incorporeal at this stage, but it was more condensed and less likely to dissipate. It could instantly traverse dozens of miles and return, serving as an agile, perceptive informant.

Celestial Demon Devour was another core life-bound divine ability. Although its effect was excellent, capable of directly absorbing various vital energies for self-use, its side effects in the early stages were too severe: the user suffered unbearable agony, and the absorbed vital energies were mixed and impure, preventing the realization of maximum potency. He only cultivated the first layer lightly for emergencies. He taught this ability without reservation to Huo Zhongguang, enabling him to rapidly boost his strength and contend with the Eldest Senior Brother, Liang Sian.

When the Celestial Demon Heart Method reached the tenth layer, he comprehended yet another new divine ability.

“Heh heh, this one benefits Huo Zhongguang again… With this ability, he has even greater certainty against Liang Sian!”

Joyful laughter echoed from the thatched hut in the Bamboo Grove, emanating from Feng Zikang.

Sunset Peak.

As the ancestral seat of the Military School of Mount Longhu, this peak exuded an imposing majesty, piercing the vast heavens. Clouds perpetually swirled around the mountainside, with only a narrow, silver-thread path leading straight upward to the ethereal heights.

This single path ascending to heaven was, for mortals, no different from a ladder to the sky, offering no handholds.

However, this place was never meant for mortals to tread.

Feng Zikang activated a Divine Movement Talisman, ascending without his feet touching the ground. Internally, he grumbled—if he had mastered Object Manipulation, he wouldn't need this arduous climb; he could simply fly to the summit.

He was here today to learn the Object Manipulation divine ability.

Any disciple of the Military School on Mount Longhu, upon reaching the third layer of Guiding Qi, could visit the Scripture Hall on Sunset Peak to obtain the secret scroll for the “Hundred Arms Object Control Technique.” Although Feng Zikang, as a direct disciple, could have received this from his master, Ye Tiansheng was in seclusion, and he saw no need to trouble his master over such a minor matter, so he made the journey to Sunset Peak himself.

Although his current body had been a disciple of the Military School for a full seven years—and it was at the foot of Sunset Peak during the Sect Assembly that Ye Tiansheng had chosen him and brought him back—this was Feng Zikang’s first visit.

The shape of the peak was bizarre, resembling a great halberd thrust into the sky, its grandeur breathtaking.

Feng Zikang had never witnessed such a spectacle before. Traveling upon it, he felt the mountain was higher than heaven itself, as if the summit could never be reached.

“Halt!”

Fortunately, the Divine Movement Talisman was highly effective. After half an hour of rapid ascent, Feng Zikang finally spotted the mountain gate and was immediately stopped.

“Disciple Feng Zikang from the Bamboo Grove. Having recently reached the third layer of Guiding Qi, I have come to the Scripture Hall to study the Hundred Arms Object Control Technique. I ask Senior Brother to grant me passage!”

Feng Zikang stopped his movement and respectfully bowed towards the gate, awaiting the appearance of the senior brother guarding it.

“Feng… Zikang?”

The man’s tone held a hint of confusion. Amidst a sound of clashing metal, the guard descended and scrutinized Feng Zikang from head to toe.

He hadn't recognized Feng Zikang yet, but Feng Zikang had already identified him.

The man was sharp-featured and harsh, with high cheekbones, a hooked nose, and thin lips—a visage impossible to forget.

It was Xiao Gao, the same person who had clashed with Huo Zhongguang at the General’s Tomb!

“So it is Senior Brother Gao…”

Feng Zikang offered a respectful salute. At this moment, Xiao Gao recognized him too.

“Feng Zikang? Hahaha, this kills me! Isn’t this that blockhead under Martial Uncle Ye?”

“Since when did an idiot get to cultivate our Military Dao?”

Xiao Gao snorted, a blast of icy air escaping his nostrils, his face filled with contempt and disdain.