Training II

Hao Ren continued his journey into the deeper parts of the forest. He has been able to learn the techniques he acquired from the dragon-phoenix cultivation technique, he didn't know what tier the cultivation technique and the martial techniques he got from it was, but he new it was definitely a high tier.

Cultivation techniques are divided into 9 tiers respectively. The lowest being tier 1 and the strongest being tier 9. Each tier are further divided into, low, mid, and high. The cultivation technique he started out cultivating with was a mid tier 3 technique, it was given to him by his father when he reached the age to begin his cultivation.

Hao Ren has a very high comprehension ability which he has proven on different occasions. He received 3 techniques from the scriptures namely, Phoenix dash, Sonic Punch and Fire Guard. Phoenix dash is a movement technique which improves his speed tremendously and he also found out that if he is able to cultivate it to a high level, he will gain the ability of temporary flight. Though martial artist could fly, they can only do that after getting to the Core Formation Realm. So him being able to fly while at the Foundation Establishment Realm is really something.

Sonic punch is an attacking technique. Just as the name implies, sonic waves spreads out of his fist when he sends out a blow using this technique. He has noticed the more he train on it, the stronger it gets.

Fire guard is a defensive technique which creates an armor of fire around its user. Hao Ren also noticed that his physique has also grown insanely powerful. A punch from him without any martial technique is currently as powerful as a full force attack from someone at the Qi Gathering Stage Nine while using martial techniques.

Hao Ren also got to know his companion more as they journeyed together. What he has noticed about Xiao was that he was insanely fast, although Xiao is currently only at the Third Stage of Qi Gathering Realm, its speed matches that of someone at the Seventh Stage of the Qi Gathering Realm. The wolf also has intelligence no different from a six or seven year old child.

Roar..

The roar shook the entire western region of the forest. When Hao Ren heard this roar, he immediately retreated in a flash and changed the direction he was heading to. "Seems I have already gotten deep enough in the forest, that roar must have been from 10 miles away. Although its quite far, it wouldn't take long to move that distance for the beast" Hao Ren felt lucky as he had already forgotten that he shouldn't go too deep into the forest. Although the beast he has met weren't that strong, he knew that there are beast in this forest that can kill him as easily as killing an ant.

Hao Ren continued to roam around the place he had marked as his end point in the forest and he wouldn't dare go past it. Although he fought some beast, they were not that strong and the cores were all given to Xiao.

Another week passed by and Hao Ren still haven't gotten a chance to meet the beast which fits the requirements for him to be able to breakthrough. But the same can't be said for Xiao, since it got almost all the beast cores they have killed lately, his cultivation has improved a lot. Currently he has already broken through to the Fifth Stage of the Qi Gathering Stage and Hao Ren has also noticed that he isn't that far from breaking into the Sixth Stage

"No wonder Senior Zhao said he was special" Hao Ren was left shocked by Xiao's cultivation pace as it was extremely fast. But he also knew that it was because of the resources he had access to. Since it got a large share of the beast cores. Hao Ren has always given him the beast cores of the below the Sixth Stage of the Qi Gathering Realm as any higher might cause him to explode from excess energy.

The world energy in the deeper parts of forest is better than that of the outer region but unfortunately, there is no way for Hao Ren to have access to it. World energy is used by martial artist, martial artist will absorb the world energy around them into their Qi sea. It pass through the meridians and follow the instructions of the cultivation techniques they practice before going into the Qi sea

Hao Ren kept some of the beast core they got from higher ranked beast. He planned on selling them to have money to provide for his needs since he will be going on a long trip soon. In the sect he isn't really bothered about money so he had never cared for it, but now that he has to fend for himself he realized how important money was. Currently he was broke as hell, with not a single coin in his storage pouch.

......

Late at night, Hao Ren made a fire and was preparing roasted pork from the pig he killed in the forest, the pig was only at the Sixth Stage of the Qi Gathering Realm and he didn't even have to make a move as Xiao was able to take care of it. The wolf has already advanced to the Sixth Stage of the Qi Gathering Realm and due to its high speed, it can easily take care of beasts in the same stage.

Pork has always been one of Hao Ren's favourite food, but the meat he loves eating the most is barbecued chicken. One of the reasons Elder Wu hated Hao Ren also attributed to the fact that he stole his rare blue winged chicken from his farm. This particular specie of chicken is known for its exquisite taste, Hao Ren couldn't help himself when he saw them. He went over to Elder Wu to beg for a chicken, but he was refused impolitely by Elder Wu. Hao Ren resulted to stealing them since he never really liked Elder Wu also.

Although Elder Wu knew Hao Ren was the one who always steals his chickens, he has never been able to catch him on the act.

As Hao Ren waited for his dish to be properly cooked, he heard a sound from his back. Although it was faint, he knew his senses weren't wrong as his senses has improved greatly from when he first entered the forest. His senses first increased dramatically after his transformation, added up with his extended stay at the forest, it further increased as he always had to keep his vigilance at the highest

Xiao also looked up, Hao Ren signaled him to pretend like it didn't hear anything. He complied and dropped his head back unto the floor. Hao Ren continued what he was doing as he waited patiently for his current opponent

BAM

"Phoenix dash"

The ground made a huge sound as a pitch black Leopard pounced out of his hiding spot and landed on it hardly. Hao Ren immediately dodged after the leopard struck, so it was not able to do any damage to Hao Ren

Hao Ren sized up his foe with his blue eyes. When he sensed the level of the beast his expression turned solemn.

The leopard was at the Fourth Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, which is 3 stages higher than his own. He knew this is going to be a tough fight as this is the strongest opponent he has ever faced in his life. Although he has defeated a Second Stage Foundation Establishment Realm beast, that was only once and he knew there was a difference between the early and mid tier in the Foundation Establishment Realm.

The leopard struck out with its claw and Hao Ren was once again forced to use Phoenix dash to escape from its attack range. Hao Ren also sent out an attack but it was easily evaded by the leopard due to its agility.

Hao Ren and the leopard exchanged moves and moved back and forth in the patch of the forest. Xiao only looked on from the side as he couldn't contribute to this battle. He wasn't scared that the leopard will be able to kill Hao Ren as he had been with Hao Ren for some time now and had come to know his strength

'Damn!, this leopard is too quick. If I am able to land any of my attacks on its body, it will be as good as dead. But unfortunately, it is just too quick' thought Hao Ren with a sigh. Although he thought the leopard was difficult to deal with, his blood was still boiling with excitement as he and he battled the beast more crazily.

After another 5 minutes, both fighters separated from each other and stared at one another for some time. Hao Ren's clothes was torn on different places and claw marks could be seen on his body. He would have been critically injured if not for fire guard and also his strong body.

The leopard wasn't any better as it had blood flowing out of its mouth and his internal organs are also not in the right positions from the strong attacks of Hao Ren which landed on it. Although it was quick, it was not able to completely dodge all of Hao Ren's attack

The leopard immediately pounced at Hao Ren once again and it struck with the aim to take its opponents life, Hao Ren was quick to react as he jumped to his left and delivered a quick punch to the side of the leopard.

"Sonic punch" Hao Ren attacked with his right fist

The leopard was critically injured by Hao Ren's attack. Hao Ren calculated the trajectory of the leopard that was why he was able to deliver a deadly blow. The leopard which was midair could do nothing to evade it.

The entire ribs on its right side was completely damaged by Hao Ren's attack. It fell on the floor immediately after landing without the strength of being able to stand. It looked on helplessly as Hao Ren walked closer to it and ended its life with a blow.

"Finally" Hao Ren breathed out a sigh of relief