Inner Zone

As Ling Tian ventured beyond the boundary of the Outer Zone and into the Inner Zone, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.

The air was thicker with spiritual energy, and the forest seemed darker and more foreboding.

Here, the demonic beasts were far more powerful, their auras oppressive and their presence a constant reminder of the peril he faced.

"The Inner Zone," Ling Tian murmured, scanning his surroundings. "This is where things truly get interesting. But also where the opportunities increase massively compared to the outer zone."

The first beast he encountered in the Inner Zone was a Thunderclap Bear, a formidable creature in the early stages of the Foundation Establishment realm.

Its hulking frame and electrified fur made it a terrifying opponent.

Ling Tian drew the Tianwu Sword, feeling its reassuring weight in his hand, and prepared for the battle.

The bear roared, the sound reverberating through the trees, and charged at him with earth-shaking force.

"Let it begin then," Ling Tian muttered, bracing himself. "Come!"

Ling Tian moved with practiced precision, his movements a blur as he dodged the bear's massive claws.

Sparks flew as his sword clashed against the beast's electrified fur, the air crackling with energy.

"Your strength is impressive for a mere early-stage foundation establishment realm beast," Ling Tian remarked, sidestepping a swipe that could have cleaved him in two.

"But brute force alone won't be enough to take me down."

He countered each of the bear's attacks with a swift, calculated strike, aiming for its weak points.

The fight was brutal and intense, but his rigorous training and previous battles had sharpened his skills.

"Every move must count," he thought, recalling his previous life experience. "Precision, not power, will win this fight."

The bear roared again, launching a flurry of attacks, but Ling Tian's movements were fluid and adaptive.

He dodged, parried, and struck back with unerring accuracy at his weak spots.

Each clash of the Tianwu Sword against the bear's electrified fur sent sparks flying, lighting up the dark forest around them.

"You're strong, but not strong enough," Ling Tian shouted, his voice a mix of despise and arrogance. "Mere beasts are not enough to take me down!"

With a final, powerful thrust, he pierced the bear's heart, ending the fight.

Panting, he extracted the beast's core, its energy pulsating in his hand then he began extracting its other parts like blood, tendons, etc.

"Foundation Establishment realm beasts are no joke," he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "But I need this. I need to grow stronger."

He examined the core, feeling the raw power it contained. "This will be useful," he said, storing it carefully. "But it's only the beginning."

Ling Tian continued deeper into the Inner Zone, his senses heightened.

The forest around him was alive with the presence of other powerful creatures, each one a potential threat and a potential opportunity.

As Ling Tian pressed on, the forest grew denser, and the beasts more dangerous.

Each encounter tested his limits, pushing him to adapt and refine his techniques.

He faced a variety of Foundation Establishment realm demonic beasts: the Wind Razor Hawk, with its blinding speed and razor-sharp talons; the Earthquake Boar, whose every step caused tremors; and the Shadow Serpent, whose venomous bite and stealthy attacks kept him on edge.

"I'm improving in my overall strength, my goal of fighting against mid-level foundation realm demonic beast doesn't seem too far now."

Despite the growing challenges, Ling Tian remained resolute.

With each battle, he grew stronger and more skilled, his movements becoming a seamless dance of offense and defense.

The Tianwu Sword, an extension of his will, gleamed with each strike, its blade singing through the air as it cut through the creatures that stood in his path.

One particularly tough battle was against a Flame-Winged Lion.

The beast's fiery mane and wings made it a fearsome opponent, its attacks were a deadly combination of fire and brute force.

"This will be a tough battle." He said while eyeing the beast.

Ling Tian's senses were sharp as he dodged fireballs and countered with precise sword strikes.

The heat of the flames licked at his skin, but he remained focused, his determination unwavering.

With each clash, Ling Tian learned the lion's movements, anticipating its attacks and finding openings in its defenses.

'Fuck! Why is this guy so strong? does he have a higher level bloodline?'

The battle was fierce and exhausting, pushing him to his limits. But he refused to yield, drawing on his inner strength and resolve to win without the help of his body cultivation.

At the end, with a final, decisive strike, he brought the lion down.

The creature roared in defiance, its flames flickering and fading as its life force ebbed away. Ling Tian stood victorious, his chest heaving with exertion, but his spirit soaring with triumph.

He retrieved the lion's core, its fiery energy pulsating in his hand. It was a hard-won prize, a testament to his skill and determination.

"Hmm, it will be a good material to consume if I want to learn that technique."

He remembered the technique that he could not learn in his previous life due to the harsh requirements.

As he gazed at the shimmering core, he made up plans for his future.

As Ling Tian sat in the secluded clearing, the Flame-Winged Lion's core pulsing with fiery energy in his hand, he delved deep into his memories, seeking the elusive knowledge of the Heaven Devouring Codex.

But as he concentrated, something extraordinary occurred.

A subtle shift took place within his sea of consciousness, where the memories of his past life resided.

The unknown treasure, a mysterious entity that coexisted with him in this ethereal realm, began to stir.

A radiant glow enveloped Ling Tian as the indescribable dao patterns transferred out by the treasure cascaded towards the Heaven Devouring Codex.

The space-time cube, another enigmatic artifact that had accompanied him since his reincarnation, resonated in harmony with the unfolding transformation.

At that moment, the Heaven Devouring Codex underwent a profound metamorphosis.

What was once a singular technique is now fragmented into multiple parts, each imbued with the essence of the treasure's dao patterns.

The original concept of devouring the flames of heaven and earth to condense them within a cultivator's dantian became merely a fraction of the whole.

Ling Tian's eyes widened in awe as he witnessed the evolution of the Codex before him.

It was no longer just a cultivation technique; it had become a synthesis of ancient wisdom, chaotic energy, and the essence of his own being.

Each part of the Codex resonated with a unique power, waiting to be unlocked and mastered.

It was woven so intricately that Ling Tian believed the treasure changed the whole technique to be better suited for himself.

While looking at the changes taking place in the technique he thought to himself.

'The technique not only got upgraded but it has become so much more powerful, even though it can't be compared with Eternal Transcendence Scripture, the technique easily surpassed anything I have seen in the Divine Radiance Realm.'