Focus on Power Development

ate opened her eyes to find herself back in her temporary house. "Looks like I came back," she said to herself. "I better sleep for now to rest; my body still hurts." She lay down on her bed and quickly fell asleep.

The next day, Kate practiced the Tempered Body Records. "This cultivation technique is really miraculous," she said to herself. After completing the last form, she broke through to the Body Tempering Realm's 7th Stage. "This is the moment. The Yang art should be in the Demon Mystic Tome," she muttered.

Summoning the Black Demon Mystic Tome, she found the Pure Yang Secret Art within its pages. After comprehending it, Kate decided it was time to head towards the Destitute Dragon Ravine.

Destitute Dragon Ravine

Kate arrived at the Destitute Dragon Ravine, taking in the rich Yang Qi that filled the air. "It's really rich in Yang Qi, huh," she said to herself. "This will help me form more Yang Essence."

Finding a quiet spot, she sat down silently and began her cultivation. The energy in the ravine was potent, providing the perfect environment to enhance her Pure Yang Secret Art. She focused on absorbing the Yang Qi around her, feeling it merge with her own energy.

"I'm probably about a week ahead in advancement," Kate thought. "Yang Kai has likely discovered the Incense Burner by now. But with the Evil God's Meridian, my cultivation speed is much faster than his."

As she meditated, Kate felt the Yang Qi flowing into her, filling her meridians and strengthening her body. The process was intense, but her newly acquired meridians from the Evil God's Blood allowed her to absorb and process the energy more efficiently.

Time passed, and Kate lost herself in her cultivation. The power of the Pure Yang Secret Art continued to grow within her, and she could feel herself getting stronger. Her body was becoming more resilient, and her understanding of the Yang energy was deepening.

After several Days, she opened her eyes, feeling a surge of energy within her. "This place is incredible," she said to herself. "I've made significant progress. I should visit here regularly."

Kate opened her CCC (Character Creation and Customization) screen and examined the intricate details of the Evil God's Meridian. "The Evil God's Meridian has more slots, maybe because it still has seeds that the Evil God left," she mused, her curiosity piqued by the potential hidden within her meridians.

"For now, I need to focus on the Elements tab. Currently, I only have 1% in the Yang Element," she noted. "I have to understand what this truly means and how to increase it."

Knowing that Yang Kai was dealing with problems involving Su Mu, Kate decided it was best to stay at the Destitute Dragon Ravine for a few more days. "For now, I'll stay here and continue cultivating. The rich Yang Qi here will help me grow stronger."

With that, Kate sat back down in her cultivation spot, her mind focused and her determination strong. She began absorbing the Yang Qi around her once more, her CCC screen providing real-time feedback on her progress.

Hours passed as Kate continued to cultivate, her focus unwavering. She felt the Yang energy merging with her body, her understanding of it deepening. The percentage in her CCC screen for the Yang Element began to slowly increase as she absorbed more and more of the energy around her.

Several days went by, and Kate's dedication to her cultivation was paying off. She had increased her Yang Element percentage to 1.1%. The CCC screen showed her progress, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment.

"It's time to head back to the High Heaven Pavilion," Kate decided. She stood up, feeling the powerful energy within her. "But I'll return here regularly. This place is a goldmine for cultivation."

With her goals set and her progress evident, Kate left the Destitute Dragon Ravine, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead at the High Heaven Pavilion.

Two weeks had passed since Kate's last intense cultivation session at the Destitute Dragon Ravine. As she returned to the High Heaven Pavilion, she noticed a crowd of disciples gathered once more, but she chose to ignore the commotion and headed straight to her temporary house.

Upon arrival, Kate immediately set about cleaning herself, washing away the grime and fatigue accumulated from her extended stay at the ravine. After some time, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, she lay down on her bed, allowing herself a moment of reflection.

"I've been here for close to a month now, and I still don't regret anything," Kate mused aloud. "Except for not managing to copy the Fire Seed because of the time limit. Now I need to wait two years to use the Universe Leaf Transfer again." She sighed, feeling a twinge of frustration.

Despite this setback, Kate's progress had been substantial. She had significantly increased her understanding and integration of the Yang Element, and her cultivation had advanced at an impressive pace.

Feeling the weight of her efforts and the need for rest, Kate slowly closed her eyes. The fatigue from her rigorous training sessions, combined with the stress of her unique situation, made sleep come easily. She drifted into a deep, restful slumber, her body and mind finally given a chance to recuperate.

Kate slept through an entire day, her body healing and her mind clearing. When she finally awoke, she felt a renewed sense of energy and purpose. "Time to plan my next steps," she said to herself, stretching and sitting up on her bed.

Her thoughts turned to the immediate future and her goals within the High Heaven Pavilion. "I need to continue advancing my cultivation, but I also need to keep an eye on the events unfolding here. Yang Kai is bound to face more challenges, and I need to be prepared for any opportunities that arise."

With her path set, Kate got up and prepared for the day. She knew that every moment counted and that her actions within the High Heaven Pavilion could significantly impact her future. As she stepped outside, she felt a sense of anticipation and readiness, determined to make the most of her time and abilities.

As Kate pondered whether to meet Ms. Su Yan again, she was abruptly interrupted by a female disciple stepping into her path. The disciple, with an air of confidence and perhaps a hint of condescension, addressed her.

"Your name is Kate Apocalypse? What a weird name," the female disciple remarked.

"Yes, that would be me," Kate replied calmly, unfazed by the comment.

"I challenge you to a duel," the disciple continued. "Zhou Yan, Peak stage of Body Tempering Realm," Zhou Yan declared, drawing the attention of more disciples who began to gather around, curious about the impending fight.

"Zhou? Is she the bigger sister of the one I beat up?" Kate thought to herself, recalling her previous encounter with Zhou Qin.

"Kate Apocalypse, Peak Stage of Body Tempering Realm," Kate declared confidently. Her announcement caused a stir among the crowd, who began whispering about her rapid advancement in cultivation. Reaching the peak of the Body Tempering Realm in just a month was no small feat and drew considerable attention.

Zhou Yan's eyes narrowed as she assessed Kate, clearly not expecting her to be at the same cultivation level. "So you've reached the peak too. This will be interesting," Zhou Yan said with a hint of surprise but also determination.

The crowd buzzed with excitement as the two young women faced each other. Some were skeptical of Kate's rapid progress, while others were curious to see if her prowess matched her reputation.

"Let's begin," Zhou Yan said, wasting no time. She immediately adopted a fighting stance, her eyes locked onto Kate.

Kate mirrored her stance, ready for the challenge. "Let's," she agreed, her voice steady and filled with resolve.

The duel commenced with Zhou Yan launching the first attack, a swift and powerful punch aimed at Kate's midsection. Kate dodged effortlessly, her movements fluid and precise. She countered with a low sweeping kick, attempting to destabilize Zhou Yan.

Zhou Yan leaped over Kate's kick, landing lightly on her feet and retaliating with a series of rapid punches. Kate blocked and parried, her training and experience showing in every movement. The two exchanged blows with incredible speed, each testing the other's defenses and skills.

As the duel progressed, it became clear to the onlookers that this was no ordinary fight. Both fighters were evenly matched, their movements displaying both strength and strategy. The crowd watched in awe as Kate and Zhou Yan pushed each other to their limits, their duel becoming a testament to their dedication and prowess in martial arts.

In a decisive moment, Kate saw an opening and capitalized on it. She feigned a high attack, drawing Zhou Yan's defense upwards, then swiftly struck low with a powerful palm strike to Zhou Yan's abdomen. The impact sent Zhou Yan stumbling back, winded and momentarily disoriented.

Kate seized the opportunity, stepping forward and aiming another precise strike. But before she could land it, Zhou Yan, with a burst of resolve, managed to deflect the blow and retaliate with a spinning kick. Kate blocked it with her forearm, absorbing the impact but maintaining her balance.

Both fighters paused, breathing heavily, acknowledging the other's skill. "You're strong," Zhou Yan admitted, her voice carrying a mix of respect and frustration.

"You are too," Kate replied, her tone equally respectful.

The duel had reached a stalemate, each recognizing the other's strength and the potential for further conflict. But for now, the fight was over, with both having proven their capabilities.

The crowd erupted into applause, impressed by the display of skill and strength. Kate and Zhou Yan exchanged a nod of mutual respect before parting ways, each knowing that this encounter was just one of many challenges to come in their paths of cultivation.

Kate stood proud, her demeanor calm and untroubled. "I'm done playing with you," she said, aiming her hand at Zhou Yan.

"This is it," Zhou Yan thought, bracing herself.

Kate opened four gates aimed at Zhou Yan's four limbs and used Enkidu to restrain her.

"This coward move again," Zhou Yan muttered, struggling against the restraints. "I thought I could dodge it," she lamented inwardly.

Kate walked behind Zhou Yan and swiftly struck her neck, rendering her unconscious. "Weak," Kate commented, turning away from her fallen opponent.

As the duel concluded, someone hidden in the trees recorded the events. "That technique is really strange. I wonder how it works," the mysterious observer mused. Suddenly, the branch the observer was standing on snapped, and she fell to the ground with a yelp.

"What are you doing sneaking around for?" Kate asked, looking down at the fallen woman.

"You! I'm the one responsible for recording the history of the disciples' duels," the woman said, dusting herself off and standing up.

"I see, I'm sorry for being disrespectful," Kate said, offering her hand to help the woman up.

The woman took Kate's hand and stood up, brushing off the remaining dirt. "No harm done," she said, adjusting her robes. "My name is Xia Ning Chang. I document the significant events within the sect, and your duels have certainly been noteworthy."

Kate nodded, taking a moment to observe Li Mei. "Well, Senior Xia, I didn't mean to interrupt your work. It's just that things got a bit intense."

"It's okay," Xia Ning Chang said, before suddenly disappearing.

"She's really shy, huh? But I think she's more mad than shy," Kate thought to herself. "So even at that cultivation level, she didn't manage to detect the appearance of the gate behind her?" Kate mused, feeling a mixture of curiosity and satisfaction.

After the brief encounter with Xia Ning Chang, Kate resumed her journey towards the Destitute Dragon Ravine. However, on the way, she saw Yang Kai leaving the area. She quickly ran to catch up with him.

"Where are you going?" Kate asked, falling into step beside him.

"I'm going outside," Yang Kai answered, not breaking his stride.

"Then I'll go with you," Kate said decisively.

"Okay," Yang Kai replied without hesitation.

As they walked together, Kate observed Yang Kai, noting the determined look on his face. She felt a sense of camaraderie with him, knowing they both were on paths of rapid improvement and discovery.