Chapter 36

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Amidst the deafening sound of breaking through the air, a middle-aged man with a resolute and steady face, dense beard like steel needles,

wearing a plain but sturdy outfit, and with strong muscles and bones, threw a punch.

A domineering surge of spiritual energy burst forth, directly striking a ferocious monster as powerful as a tiger descending the mountain, causing it to emit a shrill wail and collapse instantly.

"It's done!"

Zhang Ming exhaled and slowly walked towards the monster's corpse, performing a sacrificial ritual to offer it to the immortal tree.

Immediately.

Zhang Ming examined his own information interface, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face once more.

[Name: Zhang Ming]

[Species: Human]

[Cultivation Level: Late First-Tier]

[Offering: 1000]

"One thousand offering points are just enough to exchange for a treasure and also unlock the second-tier market!"

Zhang Ming nodded with delight.

Who could have imagined that just a month ago, he was still a mundane mortal, but now he had reached the point of killing monsters with his bare hands.

Feeling the vigorous and unceasing flow of blood and qi within his body, Zhang Ming felt even more reverence for the immortal tree that had created the Heavenly Court chat group.

"It turns out the path of martial cultivation truly exists, and those ancient legends are not mere fabrications. We martial artists are not just playing with sticks and swords; it's just that we hadn't grasped the true methods of cultivation to fully unleash the power of ancient martial arts!"

Before the cataclysm,

Zhang Ming was the heir to a martial arts school, inheriting his ancestral business at a young age, managing a martial arts school, and earning a good reputation locally.

However, when the catastrophe struck and monsters ran rampant, Zhang Ming realized that his once-proud martial arts were fragile and powerless against the monsters.

With the emergence of wild cultivators in this realm, Zhang Ming also yearned to become one of them.

Combining his martial arts background to contribute to protecting his home.

Unfortunately,

not everyone could become a cultivator. Like other mortals, Zhang Ming failed to embark on the path of awakening even after trying to consume monster blood, and eventually, he became disheartened.

Years passed.

The appearance of the Heavenly Court chat group reignited the flames of hope in Zhang Ming's heart.

As a martial arts inheritor, Zhang Ming did not choose to exchange for immortal cultivation techniques or talisman magic but opted for body cultivation techniques similar to martial arts.

Among the various body techniques, Zhang Ming selected a first-tier top-grade secret technique called the "Iron Bone Technique," hoping to utilize it to bring out the essence of martial arts.

Unexpectedly,

the moment he began practicing the "Iron Bone Technique," Zhang Ming seemed to be blessed by the heavens, breaking through realms with ease. Since he started cultivating, it has been just over a month, and he already possesses the strength to challenge the peak of the first tier.

"According to the 'Iron Bone Technique,' I should now be at the ninth level of body refinement. I just need to step into the tenth level to reach the peak of the first tier."

"The body refinement stage mainly tempers the flesh. I can exchange for corresponding spiritual pills to assist, leveraging the power of the pills for the final leap."

Thinking of this, Zhang Ming quickly found his target item in the first-tier market.

Bone Refining Pill.

A top-grade first-tier pill.

Exchange price: 5000 offerings.

If he were to exchange for a whole bottle of Bone Refining Pills, Zhang Ming clearly did not have enough offerings, but after the entire bottle, there were single Bone Refining Pills available for exchange, each costing 1000 offerings.

"A whole bottle contains ten pills, averaging about 500 offerings per pill, but a single pill requires 1000 offerings."

"Anyone with a bit of sense can see which is more cost-effective..."

Zhang Ming smiled bitterly and shook his head.

A bottle of ten Bone Refining Pills costs 5000 offerings, while a single pill costs 1000 offerings.

Even a slightly rational person can see that the former is more worthwhile.

However, Zhang Ming's accumulated offerings over the past month were just barely enough for 1000.

To save enough to exchange for a whole bottle of Bone Refining Pills would take more time.

Moreover,

Zhang Ming was currently in a desolate wilderness, with scattered monsters often roaming around, potentially facing powerful monsters at any time.

In such a situation, improving his strength was undoubtedly crucial.

Realizing that he was just one step away from a breakthrough, Zhang Ming gritted his teeth and decided to exchange for a single Bone Refining Pill.

As soon as the thought passed,

a glow appeared before Zhang Ming's eyes, and a pill gradually materialized. He quickly reached out to catch it, and the rich fragrance of the pill made his blood and qi surge instantly.

"This is the Bone Refining Pill!"

Zhang Ming's face lit up with joy. Upon smelling the fragrance that could stir his blood and qi, his previous reluctance instantly vanished.

In an instant,

Zhang Ming swallowed the Bone Refining Pill without hesitation. The surging medicinal power exploded like thunder in his belly, making his whole body's blood and qi fill to the brim.

The vast medicinal power gave Zhang Ming an urgent impulse to release it.

"Boom!"

With a mighty stomp, Zhang Ming's body shot forward like a meteor chasing the moon, quickly locking onto a late first-tier monster wandering nearby. Without a word, he charged straight at it, and a fierce battle ensued.

At the alliance's headquarters,

the leaders of various alliances gathered once again.

Ji Xuan scanned the crowd and spoke directly without any hesitation.

"The Heavenly Court chat group has existed for over a month, and countless mortals have used the opportunities within it to cultivate extraordinary powers, becoming members of the cultivation world.

Most of these people have left the Eighth Alliance, heading to various places to hunt monsters.

While they are helpless against high-tier monsters, they have cleared countless low-tier monsters in recent times.

Moreover, the alliance has trained a group of strong individuals who have now joined the ranks of orthodox cultivators. I believe it is time to expand our territory and gradually reclaim our lost lands!

With the emergence of numerous cultivators, the overall strength of the alliance has significantly increased, proving that many ants can indeed bite an elephant.

Even though the alliance has not yet produced any fourth-tier wild cultivators or orthodox cultivators, the current mass of low-tier wild cultivators can still pose a challenge to fourth-tier monsters.

Especially with several third-tier peak experts within the alliance, our chances of success have increased."

Fourth-tier cultivator!

Upon hearing this title, a fervent light flickered in everyone's eyes.

Although the trend of cultivation is currently prevalent, all techniques are still limited to the second-tier level. To truly compare with high-tier cultivators, there is still a considerable gap.

If they could advance to fourth-tier cultivators, it would undoubtedly elevate the alliance to the pinnacle.

As Ji Xuan's words settled, the other alliance leaders unanimously agreed.

Thus,

the entire alliance was stirred, and a large number of wild cultivators and secretly trained orthodox cultivators of the alliance mobilized, ready to gradually reclaim lost lands and step up to greater challenges.

4o