Towards The Next Goal

Mobilizing the Dao rune, Miao Ying activated its absorption power! 

The surrounding air began to churn as the fallen disciple's energy was forcibly sucked out through his pores.

Despite barely holding onto consciousness, the youth's eyes widened in primal terror. Miao Ying's entire being radiated an aura more horrifying than the vilest demon! 

He could only watch helplessly as his strength was stolen away.

The rune pulsed with an eerie glow as streams of drained ambient energy flowed into it. Miao Ying marveled at how the Dao rune purified this energy, removing impurities and transforming it into highly concentrated ambient energy.

Though the boost was minor, as expected from siphoning a half-dead cultivator while still getting used to the Devourer rune, Miao Ying could feel the quality of energy within his bones rising ever so slightly.

'Remarkable...I've only scratched the surface of this ability, yet its potential is already clear. In time, I'll be able to drain my enemies dry and use their power for myself!'

Eyes gleaming with ambitious zeal, Miao Ying turned his attention to the other two corpses and the slain demonic beasts. Their lingering energy signatures called out to him like a succulent feast.

'I'd be a fool to let these resources go to waste. The Devourer will refine the demonic Qi, so contamination isn't an issue. At least these guys have some uses than just annoying me.'

Over the following days, Miao Ying scoured the Azure Cloud Forest, preying on any demonic beasts unfortunate enough to cross his path. Each life he claimed further enhanced his cultivation, courtesy of the Devourer Dao rune.

Miao Ying didn't really bother with human cultivators. Not because he has some sense of morals or that he can't kill others for his own benefit. But he simply knows that an influx of human corpses within the forest is bound to draw unwanted attention. No sect wanted to send out their disciples if there was some crazed killer on the loose.

He didn't want to have to deal with stronger Qi Establishment experts or worse a powerful Houtian master. 

Still, Miao Ying didn't need the energy from human cultivators.

Through a combination of his heaven-defying cultivation art and the abundance of demonic ambient energy he was accumulating, Miao Ying's progress advanced by leaps and bounds. 

In what felt like no time at all, he had reached the absolute peak of Body Refinement!

The sheer might thrumming within his tempered flesh was awe-inspiring, a power begging to be unleashed upon the world.

It was right after Miao Ying finished reaching the 9th stage of Body Refinement that he sensed something peculiar. 

Two fairly strong auras were rapidly approaching his position, clearly drawn by the shockwaves of energy he had been releasing from his breakthrough.

Miao Ying scrutinized the incoming cultivators with a calm smile. A young man and woman, both dressed in resplendent flame-patterned robes that denoted their status as disciples of the mighty Blazing Sun Sect.

While outwardly showing no reaction, Miao Ying was inwardly shocked. The Blazing Sun Sect was in a completely different league from his former Blue Wind Sect. They had numerous legendary Xiantian experts, while Blue Wind could only boast of a couple of Houtian elders at best.

'Talk about a small world. I go from crushing Profound Martial Sect juniors to encountering Blazing Sun Sect disciples? The heavens must be playing a joke on me.'

Though he couldn't gauge their exact cultivation, Miao Ying could tell these two were in the Qi Establishment realm. However, the pressure they exerted was far less overwhelming compared to what he had experienced from other experts in the past. It seemed his current strength wasn't too far off from theirs.

Still, Miao Ying remained cautious. He had no intention of letting his newfound powers make him reckless. For now, he would wait and see how this unexpected encounter played out.

The Blazing Sun disciples came to a stop a short distance away, appraising Miao Ying with a mixture of curiosity and condescension.

"You there, commoner. We detected a significant energy disturbance in this area, but all we find is a measly Body Refinement cultivator. How peculiar..." The young man's tone dripped with barely-concealed disdain.

His female companion chimed in, a devious smile curling her lips, "Indeed, very suspicious. I bet this bumpkin is hiding some sort of treasure. Why don't you save us the trouble and hand it over? We might even grant you a nice reward for your compliance."

Their haughtiness was palpable, a typical attitude found in disciples from powerful sects. In their eyes, a mere commoner like Miao Ying wasn't even worth acknowledging, let alone respecting.

'If you only knew...' Miao Ying had to stop himself from bursting into laughter. To be looked down upon by a couple of Qi Establishment juniors, if only they had any inkling of his true abilities!

Playing along with their assumptions, Miao Ying put on a nervous act as he slowly inched closer to the arrogant pair. He made sure his movements appeared non-threatening, lulling them into a false sense of security.

Once he was in range, Miao Ying struck! 

His aura exploded outwards in a maelstrom of crackling lightning, the thunderous boom of his ambient energy causing the earth to quake!

Caught completely off guard, the disciples could only watch in wide-eyed horror as Miao Ying blurred from sight with godlike speed. 

A fraction of a second later, a blood-curdling scream tore through the air!

The young man was sent rocketing backward, his chest caved in like a crushed tin can! Shattered ribs jutted out from his mangled flesh as he smashed into the ground, choking on his own blood.

His female companion barely had time to react before Miao Ying's fist slammed into her stomach with the force of a raging thunderbolt! Bones crumpled and organs ruptured from the devastating impact.

She crumpled to the ground in a broken heap, her cultivation utterly useless in the face of Miao Ying's overwhelming strength.

Observing the twitching bodies with an impassive gaze, Miao Ying couldn't help but marvel at how easily he had dispatched these so-called "elite" disciples.

The difference between a truly heaven-defying cultivation art and the resources of an upper-ranking sect was laid bare for all to see.

'Well now, it seems my trip to this forest has been quite productive. Not only have I reached the peak of Body Refinement, but I've also gained a powerful tool in the Devourer rune.'

Miao Ying gazed upon the crumbled, bloodied, twitching bodies before him. With a surge of his Devourer Dao rune, he exerted a magnetic force, pulling the scraps of their Qi essence into himself. 

The refined Qi, even in small amounts, provided a tremendous boost to his ambient energy. He could feel the cusp of the Qi Establishment realm tantalizingly close, yet still lacking that crucial spark of insight to truly breakthrough.

To reach the next stage in his cultivation journey, Miao Ying knew he needed to put himself in treacherous, life-or-death situations. 

While the Azure Cloud Forest presented opportunities with its fierce Demonic Beasts, the risk was too great. Spirit Tier beasts roamed those woods - creatures that rivaled Qi Establishment cultivators in strength. Not to mention the potential of encountering powerful human cultivators that could easily crush him at his current level.

No, discretion was the wiser choice for now. 

Miao Ying began looting the fallen Blazing Sun Sect disciples, procuring decent medical resources, healing pills, and mid-grade Spirit Stones. These glowing Spirit Stones served as the currency of the cultivation world. When refined, they bolstered one's cultivation base, fueled the abilities of mystical weapons, or powered intricate formation arrays.

What intrigued Miao Ying most were the disciples' High Tier Mortal Grade swords. Sleek and lethal, the blades were adorned with intricate Dao runes etched along the gleaming metal. 

Perfectly balanced for both power and speed, they felt natural in his hands as he took a few practice swings. The swords sliced the air with a satisfying hum, each slash potent enough to cut down any peak Body Refinement expert.

With his plunder complete, Miao Ying pondered his next move. 

The incident with the Blue Wind Sect still stung, their abuse of authority conflicting with his carefree nature. But pragmatism won out. With his exceptional talent, taking shelter in a powerful sect would provide the resources and protection to rapidly advance his cultivation. 

It didn't have to mean blindly obeying their every whim. Miao Ying would carve his own path, tapping their support while retaining the freedom to explore as he pleased.

His mind settled on a single option - the Blazing Sun Sect. Renowned as a fourth-rated powerhouse that valued individual strength above all else, their reputation was summed up in a common saying: "The Blazing Sun Sect's might makes right." 

Where other sects played political games, putting on airs of righteousness, the Blazing Sun Sect focused solely on the talent and combat prowess of their members. Background and personality were secondary concerns next to one's ability to dominate on the battlefield.

Miao Ying gauged his current combat strength to be on par with a 2nd or 3rd stage Qi Establishment expert, dozens of times more potent than his peak 9th stage Body Refinement state. 

The elders were sure to notice the lightning properties of his ambient energy as well. Lightning cultivators were prized for their overwhelming power, even as the Dao of Lightning was notoriously difficult to master. Those who could tame such wild, destructive energies were destined for greatness.

Decision made, Miao Ying retrieved a map from a disciple's low-grade cosmos sack and set off.