Demon Cultivator with Celestial Book-Chapter 105 - 88: The Strength of Nine Oxen and Two Tigers
The strength to pull nine bulls and two tigers?
Steward Xu froze at his words, his face a mask of disbelief.
He of course recognized Jiang Yi. The highly acclaimed Cyan Ganoderma Dew from Heshui Cave was his creation.
He recalled that not long ago, Jiang Yi had been just an insignificant Outer Sect Mortal Servant, who only associated with the likes of Wang Heng and Lu Yun.
Who would have thought that in such a short time, he would have risen so far as to sit among the Inner Peak Disciples, chatting and laughing at ease.
It truly was as the saying goes: you have to re-evaluate a person after just three days apart.
"Jiang... Senior Brother Jiang!"
Steward Xu collected himself and couldn’t help but try to dissuade him, his tone pleading.
"These Copper Bulls and Iron Tigers are already ferociously strong. Once activated by the Copper and Iron Essences, their brute force becomes completely unstoppable!"
It wasn’t that he doubted Jiang Yi’s abilities. He was just worried that Jiang Yi was trying too hard to show off and would end up in an embarrassing predicament.
Failing the test of strength was a minor issue. But getting injured by the brute force of the Copper Bulls and Iron Tigers and being publicly humiliated would be far too awkward.
Han Li frowned as well and added his own words of caution.
"Junior Brother Jiang, I know you’ve just broken through to the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer and passed the Body Barrier’s transformation. Your physique and True Qi are far beyond what they once were."
"But when nine Copper Bulls exert their strength at once, their power is far beyond what an ordinary cultivator can resist."
His meaning was perfectly clear: a tug-of-war with a single Copper Bull was worlds apart in difficulty from measuring one’s strength against nine of them.
The first could be handled with clever maneuvering, but the second was a direct contest of pure True Qi and one’s fundamental cultivation. The slightest mistake could lead to failure.
Young men are often proud. Han Li had no desire to see a lighthearted test of strength turn sour if Jiang Yi were to be publicly humiliated.
"Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Han."
Jiang Yi cupped his hands in a salute and smiled, his tone firm.
"I know what I’m doing."
He turned to Steward Xu. Without another word, he activated his Primordial Brain God. A vast Divine Thought, condensed into a fiery glow, surged forth. It mingled with his potent True Qi, forming an invisible hand that slowly descended and remotely plucked all the Copper and Iron Essences from the Wooden Plate.
"Junior Brother Jiang has such exquisite Qi Control."
Among the many Inner Peak Disciples, Han Li’s Cultivation was second only to Xu Yan, a prodigy carefully nurtured for Cultivation by Elder Sui.
But as a scion of the Huangfeng Han Clan who received their full support, Han Li’s eye for talent and his breadth of knowledge were both top-notch.
When Junior Brother Li made his move earlier, he still had to form hand seals and perform breathing exercises during his Cultivation to raise his True Essence, combine it with his Divine Thought, and project it outside his body.
Yet Jiang Yi had casually grabbed the Copper and Iron Essences without even touching Steward Xu, who held the Wooden Plate. It made the feat look effortless, a clear demonstration of his profound mastery over Qi Control.
’Junior Brother Jiang may have come from humble, mortal origins, but his foundation is anything but weak. Even with his meteoric rise in Cultivation, he clearly hasn’t neglected to polish his Merit.’
Han Li couldn’t help but admire Xu Yan’s judgment. ’He really knew how to spot talent.’
Many Inner Peak Disciples looked down on the Mortal Servants promoted from the Outer Sect. Even when they filled the vacant spots in the Inner Peak, they were mostly seen as inferior filler.
But Jiang Yi was a clear exception. His Cultivation was high, his Merit was considerable, and he was worthy of being called a prodigy.
As these thoughts raced through his mind, Han Li announced loudly:
"Since Junior Brother Jiang is so confident, let’s all watch closely and see how he pulls nine bulls and topples two tigers!"
The Inner Peak Disciples present had mixed expressions; some were doubtful, others filled with anticipation. In an instant, every gaze was fixed on Jiang Yi.
’Xiao Jiang’s flair for the dramatic is quite like my own. I remember back when I ran with the Demon Dao, I subjugated seventy-two Demon Kings in much the same way...’
True Master Xuanmiao crouched on the threshold of Heshui Cave, reminiscing about its magnificent past.
It had not the slightest trace of a demonic aura, appearing as nothing more than an ordinary calico cat that wouldn’t draw a second glance.
Its round, amber eyes watched Jiang Yi, seemingly curious to see just how far Xiao Jiang had progressed in cultivating the Qi Cultivation Chapter of the "Mixed Refining Origin, Commander of Ten Thousand Truths" Dao Inheritance.
The Copper and Iron Essences clinked like marbles, DING DING DANG DANG, as they fell into the open mouths of the nine Copper Bulls and two Iron Tigers.
ROAR!
A thunderous roar suddenly erupted, like a peal of thunder rolling overhead!
The nine bulls and two tigers stomped the ground in unison. The bluestone tiles shattered on impact, and a savage Qi Mechanism swept outward like a tidal wave, stifling the breath of everyone present!
Wang Heng and Lu Yun stood at the back of the crowd, exchanging glances and whispering to one another:
"’Can Senior Brother Jiang... really subdue these nine bulls and two tigers?’"
They both felt that if they were in his place, they would be thrown to the ground in an instant, with no chance to even resist.
WHOOSH!
With one hand behind his back, Jiang Yi slowly raised the other. His Primordial Divine Thought, suffused with potent True Qi, billowed out into a vast, fiery red haze. In an instant, it covered the entire clearing, its presence overwhelmingly majestic!
"’Such a pure Ding Fire’s Nature...’"
Junior Brother Li’s eyebrows shot up. As someone who also cultivated Ding Fire, he could keenly sense how refined Jiang Yi’s True Qi was.
That aura felt as if it had been refined a million times over; it was so pure and profound that it made him feel utterly inadequate in comparison.
He thought to himself:
’This Junior Brother Jiang truly is a diligent worker. I am no match for him.’
THUD!
With a dull thud, the first Copper Bull was lifted into the air by True Qi, its four hooves leaving the ground. It struggled and thrashed, but like a great fish on a hook, it could not break free!
This was a solid ten thousand pounds of force!
The watching Inner Peak Disciples clicked their tongues in wonder.
It had to be understood that the power of True Qi was completely different from physical brute force; there was a distinction between the corporeal and incorporeal.
A Cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Fourth or Fifth Layer might be able to lift a few Copper Bulls with their bare hands if they pushed themselves, but to levitate one out of thin air as Jiang Yi had done? That was a feat as difficult as ascending to the heavens!
THUD!
With another thud, the second Copper Bull was also lifted steadily into the air.
But this time, the expressions of all the Inner Peak Disciples changed drastically!
For Jiang Yi hadn’t tossed the first Copper Bull aside; instead, he left it suspended in mid-air.
A sharp glint flashed through Han Li’s eyes. He stared intently at Jiang Yi, then clapped his hands and laughed.
"What a man, Junior Brother Jiang! His ambition is as vast as mountains and rivers! He intends to pull up all nine bulls in a single, fluid motion!"
Just a moment ago, when Junior Brother Li had lifted the bulls, he had tossed each one aside before moving to the next in order to conserve his strength.
Jiang Yi’s method, however, increased the difficulty severalfold. For each additional Copper Bull he kept suspended, he had to expend an extra portion of True Qi. If he couldn’t finish quickly, he would easily exhaust himself.
Unless one had absolute confidence in their own strength, they would never attempt such a thing!
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Three consecutive thuds rang out as the third, fourth, and fifth Copper Bulls were lifted by his True Qi. They hung suspended in a line with the first two, as if steadily supported by the fiery red haze, barely even swaying.
The crowd held its breath, and Steward Xu’s eyes were wide with disbelief.
’Just how much effort has this Junior Brother Jiang spent polishing his Merit and purifying his True Qi?’
’How could his foundation be so profound, his reserves so solid?!’
"’A bit light.’"
Jiang Yi, now the center of everyone’s attention, paid no mind to the amazed and admiring stares.
Even after lifting five Copper Bulls in one breath, his expression remained casual and relaxed. He was clearly far from using his full strength.
’According to the Celestial Book, showing off my abilities today will not only be free of repercussions, but will also lead to a considerable Opportunity.’
And so, Jiang Yi circulated his Merit once more. The Spiritual Liquid stored in his Inner Mansion gushed forth, surging like a great river through every part of his body!
A grave look suddenly appeared on Han Li’s face. The Primordial Gate in the center of his forehead twitched as an overwhelming Qi Mechanism, like a storm cloud about to break over a city, washed over him.
The fiery red haze on the ground suddenly converged, shooting up like a colossal pillar and soaring hundreds of feet into the air!
Its momentum was unmatched, pressing down on the clearing with such force that it trembled violently. Huge patches of green tiles shattered, kicking up billowing clouds of dust!
The spectating Inner Peak Disciples felt as if they were hit by a gale. Their robes billowed wildly, and they subconsciously fell back to avoid the surging wave of energy.
"’Senior Brother Jiang! What incredible power!’"
That Junior Brother Li, the one who had lifted five bulls, immediately corrected his form of address, utterly impressed by this display of Cultivation.
"Rise!"
Jiang Yi gave a light shout, and his Primordial Gate and Inner Mansion rumbled in unison.
As his Divine Thought willed it, the soaring, fiery red haze transformed. It became a titanic hand of crimson cloud, its five fingers spread wide as if to cover all of Heshui Cave!
The supposedly ten-thousand-pound Copper Bulls and Iron Tigers seemed as light as feathers, lifted without the slightest hint of strain.
In a single breath, every last one was lifted!
Wang Heng and Lu Yun were dumbstruck, standing frozen on the spot.
The most outstanding person of their generation they had ever seen was none other than the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer Xiao Tongquan.
They recalled a time, also at Heshui Cave, when that Senior Brother Xiao had demonstrated his power. Rushing black water had surged in all directions, leaving an area dozens of yards across in complete disarray.
At the time, they had thought it was the pinnacle of power, something that made them admit their own inferiority.
But now, having witnessed Jiang Yi’s heaven-storming feat of pulling nine bulls and seizing two tigers, they felt like frogs at the bottom of a well, their worldview utterly shallow.
"’The Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer!’"
"’Senior Brother Jiang hasn’t even walked the Qingyun Road, yet he’s already one of the top disciples of the Inner Peak!’"
"’I’m convinced. Utterly convinced...’"
Jiang Yi circulated his True Qi and unleashed his Merit. Through the candle flame of Ding Fire manifested by the Embrace God and Cultivate Thoughts Seven Emotions Curse, he could faintly perceive the indistinct thoughts of the crowd.
His gaze was tranquil. He mulled it over for a moment, and it seemed he felt this still wasn’t enough. He wasn’t finished yet.
He took another breath, and the massive hand of fiery haze trembled several times before abruptly and violently disintegrating!
The sky filled with a red glow, like a blazing inferno of scattering fire. It was as if a painted scroll was unrolling, dyeing the heavens.
From Guanlan Peak, numerous Inner Peak Disciples could witness the spectacle.
The pristine white snow covering the mountain was completely obscured by a crimson glow, like a fiery sunset that lingered long in the sky.
Before the wide clearing of Heshui Cave, there was a dead silence.
The entire crowd seemed too stunned to speak. Who could have possibly imagined that this Outer Sect Mortal Servant, not yet even officially part of the Inner Peak, had refined his Cultivation Merit to such an incredible degree!
Han Li clapped his hands again and again, tilting his head back to laugh.
"’Steward Xu, let me ask you. Junior Brother Jiang has pulled nine bulls and captured two tigers. With such a display of skill, can he not be called the best in the Inner Peak?’"
Holding the now-empty Wooden Plate, Steward Xu’s throat was dry. These nine Copper Bulls and two Iron Tigers had been brought out by Elder Xu to attract business and stir up excitement under the pretense of testing the Inner Peak Disciples.
He never imagined that less than ten days after they were put on display, someone would already claim the grand prize.
"’Senior Brother Jiang’s strength is divine! Among the Sixth-Layer Cultivators of the Inner Peak, I doubt any can surpass him!’"
Steward Xu swallowed hard and replied with gravity, "’He is truly first-rate!’"
"’Truly first-rate!’"
The other Inner Peak Disciples echoed in unison, their voices so loud they seemed to stop the clouds in the sky!
Jiang Yi set down the nine bulls and two tigers. His True Qi receded, his Primordial Gate closed, and the power sank back into his Inner Mansion.
As his thoughts turned, his face showed little excitement. Instead, he was thinking:
’Where is this Opportunity? The Celestial Book said that by taking the top spot, I would earn someone’s favor...’
