To avoid prying eyes and unnecessary attention, Yang Kai and Hu Mei Er parted ways soon after that night, each returning to their respective sects. It left an undeniable mark on both of them.

..............................

As Yang Kai made his way back to his wooden hut, his mind replayed the events of the day—the battle, the overwhelming strength he had displayed, and most of all, the lives he had taken.

He had killed.

Not just defeated, not just wounded, butkilled—without hesitation, without remorse.

Yet, what disturbed him most was not the act itself, but how little he felt about it. No guilt. No regret. Not even satisfaction. It was as if snuffing out a life was as natural as breathing, as simple as breaking a twig beneath his foot.

Shouldn't he feel something? A first kill was supposed to leave a mark on one's soul, shake them to their core. But for him, it was just another moment in the struggle for survival. Those two had come to take his life, and he had simply taken theirs first.

That was the way of the world.

Kill or be killed.

Letting out a slow breath, Yang Kai pushed open the door to his hut and stepped inside. His muscles ached from exertion, fatigue clinging to him, but he knew he couldn't afford to rest for long. The battle had drained hisYang Liquid, and without replenishing it, he would be vulnerable in his next fight.

Determined, he left his hut once more and made his way towardCoiling Dragon Stream. The secluded area was perfect for cultivation—rich inYang World Qi, untouched by distractions, and most importantly, a place where he could focus.

Arriving at the stream, he sat cross-legged on the rocky ground, his mind still lingering on his earlier thoughts.

Perhaps this was what it meant to walk the path of strength.

To be a cultivator was to step upon the lives of others, to tread a road paved with blood. Strength was the only truth, and the weak existed only to be crushed beneath the feet of the powerful. If he hesitated, if he showed mercy, he would only invite his own downfall.

A slow smirk curled on his lips.

No, he had nothing to regret.

With that final thought, he closed his eyes and entered a meditative state. The ambientYang Qistirred around him, drawn to his body like a moth to a flame. Slowly, it seeped into his meridians, replenishing his strength, fortifying his resolve.

He had consumedtwo dropsofYang Liquidin that battle—each drop carrying an immense force that had shocked even himself. If he could wield this much power at theTempered Body Eighth Stage, then what would happen once he advanced further?

The thought sent a shiver of anticipation through him.

Days Passed...

In the past few days, Yang Kai's training had been fruitful. Within hisdantian, another drop ofYang Liquidhad condensed, and hisTrue Yang Tacticshad advanced once more. With the help of theIncense Burner, his body grew stronger by the day.

However, he noticed something—his absorption ofYang Qihad slowed down drastically. The efficiency of theTrue Yang Tacticshad dropped, and even after two or three days of intense training, he had barely absorbed any moreYang Qi.

At the same time, Yang Kai had been discreetly gathering information aboutStorm House. After all, he had killedCheng Shao FengandNiu Tao, two of their disciples. He had expected retaliation, yetStorm Houseremained silent.

This could only mean one thing.

Hu Mei Er had kept her word.

That woman…was actually worthy of his trust.

..........................

The eighth day of the month soon arrived, marking the time to collect hiscontribution points.

It was almost unbelievable.

Just a month ago, he had obtained theGolden Body, and at that time,Now, in a mere thirty days, he had risen to theTempered Body Eighth Stage.

Entering theContribution Hall, he spottedTreasurer Mengslouching lazily behind the counter. The old man's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Yang Kai, surprise flickering across his face.

He hadn't seen Yang Kai in a while, and yet…

His strength had grown immensely.

For a brief moment, Treasurer Meng studied him in silence before regaining his usual lazy composure.

"Treasurer Meng." Yang Kai greeted.

"Come to exchange some things?" the old man asked, eyeing him up and down.

"En. This month, I should have fifty-nine contribution points, correct?"

"That's right. What do you want to exchange them for?"

"Twenty-nine Dead Jedi Tree Grasses and thirty Three-Leaved Chaos Spirit Flowers."

......................

Ten days passed.

The pressure in Yang Kai's body grew stronger with each passing moment, an invisible weight pressing down on him, as if the heavens themselves had shackled him. He could feel it—the bottleneck.

He was close to breaking through, but something held him back.

Gritting his teeth, he pushed hisTrue Yang Tacticsto their limit. The fiery energy within him roared to life, burning away at the unseen chains that bound him. His body trembled, his breathing sharp and unsteady.

And then—

BOOM!

A thunderous sound echoed through his body, as if chains had been shattered. A powerful surge of energy coursed through him, filling every inch of his being. The suffocating pressure vanished, replaced by an exhilarating lightness.

Yang Kai slowly opened his eyes.

Tempered Body Ninth Stage.

He had finallystepped to the threshold of the Initial Element Stage.

For a while, he simply sat there, feeling the raw power coursing through his veins. The difference was staggering. Compared to before his breakthrough, his strength had soared by leaps and bounds.

This was the feeling oftrue progress.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com