Chapter 9 : The Law of Cultivation

"Shall I try the bracelet again?" Zhou Tong sat on the bed, lifting the scroll of the Refined Void Fist with his right hand and holding the bracelet with his left. He infused them with elemental energy, and the bracelet changed color once again. Zhou Tong felt a moment of dizziness before realizing he had entered the space within the bracelet once more.

Surveying his surroundings, Zhou Tong found the scenery within the space identical to the last time. Numerous gray scrolls hung in the air, with only the one for the Void Seclusion Body Technique glowing. Zhou Tong looked at the Refined Void Fist in his hand, placed it in the air, and saw the scroll emitting a continuous light, as if the bracelet was absorbing information from the scroll. Seeing this, a smile curved on Zhou Tong's lips.

"Since I'm here again, I'll cultivate the Void Seclusion Body Technique first," Zhou Tong muttered.

Approaching the scroll of the Void Seclusion Body Technique, Zhou Tong reached out to touch it.

Soon, information flowed into Zhou Tong's mind as characters formed.

After a while, Zhou Tong opened his eyes.

"It's indeed similar to what I guessed. This scroll not only contains the practice method for the body technique but also includes insights from previous users, along with a trace of spatial power." Zhou Tong was delighted.

In the midst of Zhou Tong's joy, the scroll of the Refined Void Fist also turned silver. Seeing this, Zhou Tong touched the scroll with his hand, and a surge of information entered his mind.

"How can this be?" Zhou Tong exclaimed.

The characters on the scroll suddenly changed, and the Refined Void Fist three characters transformed into Barren Void Fist. Zhou Tong touched the scroll, and it emitted a beam of light, landing in front of him, revealing several lines of ancient text.

The Refined Void Fist was originally the first form of the Barren Void Fist. Due to the high physical requirements of the Barren Void Fist for the user, the martial arts creator divided it into six forms: Refined Void Fist, Shattered Void Fist, Merged Void Fist, Hollow Void Fist, Returning Void Fist, and Barren Void Fist. Users must have at least the cultivation of the Heaven Yuan Realm, and attempting the last two forms without breaking through Nirvana could result in severe injury or even death.

"What a domineering technique! The conditions for cultivating the last two forms are unexpectedly so strict." Zhou Tong marveled.

Although this Barren Void Fist was a bit demanding, its power was undoubtedly top-notch in martial arts. Therefore, without hesitation, Zhou Tong chose it.

"Each form of this martial art has the power to destroy mountains and split rocks. However, with my current strength, I can only practice the first form at most. I wonder who created this martial art; to create such a powerful martial art and then break it down into six forms, the creator must be an extraordinary talent," Zhou Tong pondered. "According to the records of this martial art, the first form, Refined Void Fist, requires a large amount of Yang Qi to be absorbed into the body. It seems I need to find a different place to practice."

As Zhou Tong contemplated the location for cultivation in his mind, suddenly, his eyes lit up with excitement. "I got it! The Yang Element Stone Vein."

Yang Element Stones could only be born deep within volcanoes. These crystals not only absorbed elemental energy from the heavens and the earth but also contained a trace of Yang Qi. For some martial artists at the Heaven Yuan Realm, these Yang Element Stones were excellent materials for cultivation.

Zhou Tong's monthly quota of Yang Element Stones was only a limited amount, and he had already exhausted it during the breakthrough to the Heaven Yuan Realm. Now, the only place with abundant Yang Qi was the vein mined by the Zhou family on the outskirts.

Thinking of this, Zhou Tong immediately packed his things, took two martial art techniques, and headed towards the outskirts.

...

The mining vein on the outskirts of the Zhou family was managed by the family and covered an area of about ten thousand acres. Ordinary people were not allowed to approach it, as it was the exclusive industry of the Zhou family. All the Yang Element Stones used by the Zhou family came from this vein.

Zhou Tong continuously used the Void Seclusion Body Technique on the way and soon arrived near the mining vein. He slowed down his pace and began searching for the location of the Yang Element Stone vein.

After walking for a long time, Zhou Tong finally found the Yang Element Stone vein. The closer he got to the vein, the higher the temperature became.

Just as he approached the vicinity of the vein, Zhou Tong was stopped by someone.

"Young Master Zhou Tong, why are you here?" A guard saw Zhou Tong coming towards the vein and respectfully greeted him.

"I've come to find a place for cultivation," Zhou Tong replied.

"Cultivation?" The guard was stunned, then smiled wryly. "Excuse me, does Young Master Zhou Tong have a permit?"

"Permit?" Zhou Tong was puzzled.

"The vein is a confidential place of the Zhou family. Regardless of who it is, a permit authorized by an elder or higher is required to enter," the guard explained.

"Oh, is that so." Zhou Tong felt troubled. "Even if I go back, I don't know if I can get such a permit. The family competition is in four days, and time is running out."

Zhou Tong's face was filled with disappointment, thinking, "Do I have to go back?" Seeing that the guard showed no intention of letting him pass, Zhou Tong could only turn around to get a permit from the family.

"No need, I'll give you a permit now." Just as Zhou Tong was about to go back, a calm voice sounded.

Hearing the voice, Zhou Tong looked up.

A young man walked towards him.

"Second Uncle?" Zhou Tong turned around and found that the person speaking was his second uncle, Zhou Hong.

"Second Uncle." Zhou Tong greeted him and then whispered, "Why are you here?"

"I was in seclusion in the mine and just finished. I saw you here, so I came over to take a look. What brings you here?" Zhou Hong smiled.

"I'm here to cultivate a martial art," Zhou Tong replied.

"Martial art?" Zhou Hong closed his eyes for a moment, then suddenly opened them and said, "Refined Void Fist?"

"Second Uncle, you also know this martial art?" Zhou Tong was puzzled.

"I and your father practiced this martial art when we were young, so of course, I know. Are you looking for Yang Qi here?" Zhou Hong asked.

"Yes, exactly," Zhou Tong answered.

Giving Zhou Tong a token, Zhou Hong said, "This is a family steward token. Use it for now, and return it to me after the family competition in a few days."

Zhou Tong held the token with both hands, his face filled with excitement. "Thank you, Second Uncle." Immediately, he stepped forward and rushed towards the mining vein.

"Southeast direction, seventeenth cave entrance," Zhou Hong reminded in a calm tone.

Zhou Tong adjusted his direction and headed to another location. In no time, he arrived at the entrance of the cave.

Entering the mining vein, Zhou Tong found a secluded place. The stone walls here emitted a red glow, and the temperature was much higher than outside the cave, making it ideal for practicing the Refined Void Fist.

Approaching a large

 rock, Zhou Tong realized that there was a massive crack in the center.

Zhou Tong knew that within the rock wall, there must be a small Yang Element Stone vein.

Zhou Tong arrived at the edge of the crack, extended his right palm, and immediately felt the intense surge of Yang Qi.

"There is plenty of Yang Qi here, perfect for cultivation." Zhou Tong sat cross-legged.

"Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale..." Zhou Tong closed his eyes, adjusting the rhythm of his breathing. After a while, he slowly opened his eyes and exhaled deeply, "The Yang Qi here is so abundant, just right for me to cultivate for some time."

Having said that, Zhou Tong closed his eyes and began circulating his cultivation technique.