Chapter 51: The Fusion of Seven Forms

Zheng Yifeng got up early that morning. The sky was barely light, but for once Zheng Yifeng, who usually enjoyed sleeping in, was surprisingly energetic. The night before, he had exchanged a few words with Li Yang. Although the conversation hadn’t been particularly pleasant, Zheng Yifeng felt a stir of excitement. Three hundred contribution points—he could make up for them by completing a few more tasks; it was a loss he could afford. Besides, if he succeeded, this investment would be nothing short of brilliant, a thousandfold return. Even if he didn’t reach a breakthrough, simply solving a problem or difficulty on his cultivation path would be well worth it.

With anticipation and joy for his own advancement, Zheng Yifeng arrived spiritedly at Luo Tian’s residence, Number 36, Special Area A. But as soon as he got there, the scene before him startled him.

He saw that twenty or thirty people had already surrounded Luo Tian’s door, all of them indignant and upset. “How shameless! He’s not even home?”
“Isn’t it infuriating? Slipped away early in the morning.”
“He gets a little fame and suddenly acts so arrogant, doesn’t even tell anyone, just leaves as he pleases. What kind of person is this?”
“Luo Tian’s not home?”

Zheng Yifeng couldn’t help but feel a bit angry himself, and naturally began calling Luo Tian by name. He’d risen early and hurried over, just to visit the Special Area. Now, Luo Tian had started acting proud because he had some ability? What did he take him for?

“Hmph, probably left before dawn! Maybe he’s all show and feared being exposed, so he just ran off.”
“Not necessarily. A friend of mine consulted him yesterday. No breakthrough, but he felt he gained a lot. Luo Tian has skills, but he’s not very decent—takes the money, and as soon as he gets a bit of fame, forgets who he is!”

Listening to this, Zheng Yifeng’s anger flared. He stomped his foot hard. “Exactly! Disgraceful!”

Meanwhile, Luo Tian was in the Divine Sun Forest, inside the mountain cave at the node of the Gathering Energy Array, quietly absorbing spiritual energy and refining it.

The concentration of spiritual energy here was even higher than at the Divine Sun Mountain, where inner disciples gathered. The results were naturally extraordinary; otherwise, Luo Tian could not have cultivated so quickly.

The Qi Essence Technique itself was merely an ordinary method among lower-tier human-grade cultivation arts, but the environment made all the difference. Waves of spiritual energy were drawn into Luo Tian’s body, coursing through his meridians, flowing and cycling, before finally being collected in his dantian.

Luo Tian’s eyes were half-closed, the blue light on his body deepening.
No further progress?
He stood and moved his limbs slightly, choosing not to force his cultivation, but instead to practice his secret body tempering art.

After witnessing the aerial encounter between the Wind-Winged Flying Eagle and the Sky-Swallowing Swallow, Luo Tian had memorized their movements. Fortunately, the Nine Beast Boxing Style he practiced focused on common magical beasts; if there had been more exotic species, it would certainly have been much more troublesome.

Now, however, Luo Tian was troubled. Of the nine beasts, he had seen and understood seven. The remaining turtle and fish types he had yet to observe carefully. But where could he find a great river?

Luo Tian left the cave, standing in the valley, having assumed the tiger stance, but his mind was uneasy.
Forget it. Focus on what’s in front of you first.

With a sudden exhale, Luo Tian crouched low, supporting his body with all four limbs, then sprang up in a tiger’s leap, soaring high and then dropping abruptly from the air. The blue light on his hands rippled as he opened his palms and struck the ground with force. His fingers curled into claws, digging deeply, and when he pulled his hand out, he held a piece of rock excavated by sheer strength.

With a surge of energy, Luo Tian crushed the stone in his grasp, scattering fragments in all directions.
His body suddenly twisted with a boneless suppleness, like a slippery eel or a snake winding unpredictably. The flying stones heading toward him were few, but with his vigorous dodging, none struck him.

The stones weren’t particularly fast, and Luo Tian was prepared, so he wasn’t hit, but his face showed no satisfaction or joy.

Every step he took was heavy, landing forcefully on the earth, producing muffled rumbles. The sound wasn’t loud, but for a human, it carried a sense of power.

After walking along the edge of the valley for a while, Luo Tian’s pace suddenly lightened. His strides grew longer and quicker, and his body moved rhythmically, perfectly in sync with his limbs.

When imitating the ox form, Luo Tian’s strength pressed deeply into the ground through his palms. Now, emulating the horse form, his focus was on speed, his force transmitted diagonally through the earth to generate greater propulsion, allowing him to move faster.

Suddenly, Luo Tian let out a long howl.
His figure leaped high into the air.
Mid-air, his posture changed; his hands spread, his legs shifted subtly, and his direction bent into a small arc. Though slight, it successfully mimicked the Sky-Swallowing Swallow’s movement.

Swallow’s curve.

Though only a resemblance, Luo Tian was quite satisfied. That day, the Sky-Swallowing Swallow had evaded the Wind-Winged Flying Eagle’s attacks twice, despite the opponent being a whole realm stronger. The outcome was inevitable, but the response was flawless—worthy of imitation and study.

As Luo Tian landed, he sank his body to dissipate the downward force. Having completed a round of the Nine Beast Boxing Style, he felt utterly refreshed, his movements smoother and more fluid, with no hint of stiffness.

If he could master the turtle and fish forms as well, the benefits would surely surpass even this.

Luo Tian pondered. Since the Nine Beast Boxing Style incorporated observation and practice of these nine magical beasts, whether he could fully master it made a considerable difference.

Thinking of the turtle and fish forms made him even more eager. Though he held the manual, Luo Tian had only read and imagined them carefully, not daring to attempt them lightly.

After all, no matter how detailed the body-tempering manual’s explanations, they could never compare to direct observation. Unless absolutely necessary, Luo Tian wasn’t willing to take that step.

It’s easy to walk down a path, but if you stray, returning to the right way demands significant effort.

Besides, he still had ample time. He might as well wait. If he reached the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm and still lacked the forms, he could practice according to the manual then—it wouldn’t be too late.

Of course, if he could thoroughly comprehend the forms before breaking through to the Meridian Flow Realm, that would be ideal. For at that realm, the body and spiritual power became even stronger, and the focus shifted from “form” to “meaning”—not just mimicking outwardly, but understanding the essence.