Chapter Twenty-Six: Conclusion

“Huff huff…”
The Black Iron Giant Ape still seemed bewildered. Though its massive frame remained upright, it could feel its strength ebbing away, draining from its body, accompanied by the bubbling gush of scalding blood from its throat.
Strange, powerless sounds escaped its mouth. This beast, which moments before had been swaggering with pride, finally collapsed as its body gave way, crashing to the ground and stirring up a cloud of dust. Amidst the swirling earth and smoke, the ape’s eyes remained wide open in unwilling defeat, yet the light within them was quickly fading.
It was dead.
The pain on Luo Tian’s body had not yet subsided, but these sensations paled in comparison to the shock brought by the heat of combat.
If, on the day he first entered the valley, the Black Iron Giant Ape had fought with its full strength to kill him, he would not have survived even a single day—he would have been smashed to pieces. Even if he managed to escape, he would surely have been noticed by the Ironclad Rhinos outside, which would have been another path to certain death.
A lion uses all its strength even when hunting a rabbit—so it is.
It was only because of the ape’s negligence that Luo Tian managed, by a stroke of luck, to snatch the crimson fruit. With the aid of his divine sight, he discovered a cave and thus gained a chance to catch his breath.
If you fail to kill the snake, it will become a future threat; the fortunes of others are only known to themselves. Once a tiger escapes back to the mountain, when it returns, it may no longer be the same as before.
Luo Tian took a deep breath, his emotions complex.
That crimson fruit obviously had the power to enhance strength. If a human cultivator consumed it, the effect might not be so pronounced, but if the Black Iron Giant Ape had swallowed it, its strength would have increased substantially. Even if Luo Tian had gained another opportunity in the cave, upon leaving, he would merely have been a lamb to the slaughter.
Resources are limited: what others have, I must have; what others lack, I must possess. As long as one does not betray one’s heart, all contests for strength are justified. Otherwise, one can only watch others advance step by step, left behind in the dust, never able to catch up.
Ten days in the cave—Luo Tian was grateful he had not wasted his time, nor idled away the days, but had trained ceaselessly, almost to the point of sleeplessness.
Had he slackened for even a day, he would have faced his enemy with only the power of the third stage of Qi Condensation. Even though his meridians were cleared and he possessed body-tempering secret arts, he would have been forced into a bitter struggle.
The fourth stage of Qi Condensation is only a single step above the third, yet it marks the difference between two phases.
Stages one, two, and three constitute the early phase; four, five, and six form the middle phase. This is not merely a difference in words, but a true leap in strength.
The vitality of the fourth stage is far richer, not simply a gradual increase from the first three. It is, in fact, a dramatic leap—calling it a somersault is no exaggeration.

Moreover, each transformation in Qi Condensation enhances the physical body. Luo Tian had nearly died when the ape’s fist grazed his back at first, but after leaving the cave, he was struck again and quickly recovered. Though Luo Tian’s adaptability played a part, the changes in his body were undeniably a key factor in enduring the damage.
Cultivators in the Qi Condensation stage enjoy longer lifespans, but immortality remains out of reach. Thus, time must be seized.
This is especially true in youth, when even small progress can show within days—the period of fastest growth in a cultivator’s life.
Luo Tian’s fists clenched, crackling audibly, his mind in constant turmoil.
After leaving the cave with his cultivation improved, he felt confident, and this rapid progress bred a certain disdain for the Black Iron Giant Ape. As a result, what should have been a straightforward battle nearly overwhelmed him, even threatening his life.
Confidence is good, but arrogance is fatal!
Otherwise, he would be no different from that foolish ape, repeating the same mistake.
Luo Tian let out a long breath.
Fortunately, he regained his composure in time, adjusted his mindset, and adopted the correct approach, reversing the disadvantage and killing the Black Iron Giant Ape in an instant.
Calmness is always the most indispensable attitude.
He scrutinized the azure longsword in his hand, pursed his lips, and his gaze flickered.
Humans cannot compare to magical beasts in physical strength, but excel in crafting and wielding tools. When fists and flesh cannot pierce a beast’s defenses, sharp blades and swords are used instead. This is the advantage of human cultivators; neglecting it would be utter folly.
The Black Iron Giant Ape was merely a second-tier low-level magical beast, equivalent to the early stage of Qi Condensation in human terms. Luo Tian not only reached the fourth stage, barely entering the middle phase, but his weapon was of mid-grade human rank—such a blade is usually seen in the hands of late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators or those at the threshold of the Pulse Stream stage.
With superior strength and weaponry, he still suffered injuries.
Luo Tian took a deep breath.
The pain in his body gradually faded as vitality circulated, yet his mind was still unsettled.
Two years in the Divine Sun Sect brought far less change than these ten days of enlightenment and shock.

Only by stepping out, leaving behind the familiar small circle, and entering a broader world can one gain deeper insights and discover past deficiencies and weaknesses.
After a long while, Luo Tian finally stirred, raising his head slightly.
His appearance had not changed, nor had his clothes grown tidy, yet his eyes now gleamed with divine light, and his entire spirit was transformed compared to before.
This feeling was indescribable, yet undeniably real.
Luo Tian glanced at the ape’s corpse and shrugged—there was nothing worth searching for, so he abandoned the idea of dissecting it.
As for the fruit tree, he decided to leave it; perhaps in another ten years, it would bear a new fruit.
He sheathed his azure sword, took out his identification token, and immersed his mind, silently reciting his tasks. Instantly, information appeared in his mind.
Luo Tian felt at ease—the tasks were not difficult, and since he was on the outskirts of the Divine Sun Forest, not far from Purple Sun Mountain, a day would suffice, though he would have to exert himself.
He found a stream, washed his clothes, and reluctantly began his tasks.
Sunset and sunrise.
A day passed quietly. Luo Tian worked hard to complete all the simple tasks he had taken, and finally felt a weight lifted from his heart.
Reflecting on the changes in his strength over this brief period, Luo Tian felt a surge of pride. With Li Yang as witness to his abilities and his own rapid progress, he knew he would astonish many, and under such excitement, it was only natural that others would come seeking Brother Luo’s guidance.
A faint smile appeared on Luo Tian’s face as he strode toward Purple Sun Mountain.