Chapter Twenty-Three: Into the Depths

It was the yellow-spotted tiger!

Gathering strength, leaping, pouncing—all these countless movements unfolded before Luo Tian with seamless perfection, as smooth and natural as flowing clouds and water. The operation of its limbs, the transmission of force—nothing was hidden from him any longer.

An immense surge of blood and energy roared within Luo Tian, surging and flooding like a torrent with no outlet, crashing through the channels and dikes formed by his veins and arteries. If this continued unchecked, some unforeseen consequence was bound to occur.

Then I shall practice a body-tempering secret art!

Luo Tian thought of this solution.

The essence of these secret arts lay in transforming vital energy into the power of blood and flesh, thereby strengthening oneself. If one’s physical vitality was sufficient, there would be no need to expend vital energy. Yet how could the blood energy of a human compare to that of a beast?

Hence, anyone who cultivated such arts invariably hindered the progress of their vital energy cultivation.

Luo Tian could not be sure that this fruit was directly related to blood energy, but the immense power he had sensed within it, coupled with the longing of his body for the fruit, led him to speculate as much.

Moreover, there was no other way at present.

If he did not absorb or expel this overwhelming force, disaster would surely follow.

He shifted his body slightly lower, his limbs gently bent. In his mind, the image of the yellow-spotted tiger churned ceaselessly, while the movements of the Form-Intent Nine-Beast Fist continually manifested before him, each validating the other.

The burning heat inside him seemed ready to erupt, yet his mind was unprecedentedly clear.

Gathering strength!

Luo Tian completely broke down the tiger's preparatory movement and mirrored it upon himself.

Shoulders, neck, waist, hips, legs—

Every part that required adjustment was swiftly understood and subtly altered.

Luo Tian withdrew his body slightly, assuming a stance of stored power.

If his earlier practice on Mount Ziyang was like a precise machine—every position and angle perfectly imitated—then now, Luo Tian resembled a real tiger: full of blood and flesh, lively and spirited, no longer mechanical.

Leap!

With explosive force from all four limbs, Luo Tian propelled himself into the air, standing aloft like a mighty tiger.

Pounce!

In midair, the tiger fell with momentum, ten fingers curling slightly, as if in the next instant he would crush his prey beneath his paws.

After landing, Luo Tian’s body naturally sank, dissipating the force with perfect ease. The entire process was smooth and unbroken. If not for his human form, from a distance, he would have been indistinguishable from a real tiger.

Countless streams of blood energy, guided by his will, coursed throughout his body, seeping into his flesh. The burning sensation rapidly faded, replaced by a vigorous vitality, as if all things were flourishing within him.

A subtle tingling arose—not uncomfortable, but rather exhilarating.

His whole body felt unburdened and at ease.

Luo Tian grew even more excited. He had vividly recreated the yellow-spotted tiger’s series of movements, yet still felt unsatisfied.

Within the Form-Intent Nine-Beast Fist, there were the tiger, snake, turtle, ape, eagle, fish, horse, ox, and swallow—nine chapters in all. Luo Tian had only glanced briefly at the ape section and not committed it to memory, but now he could not help but mimic the simple movements the Iron-Black Giant Ape had performed outside, repeating them unconsciously.

Of all these beasts, the ape’s body most closely resembled a human’s, making it the easiest to imitate. Even without detailed textual instruction, Luo Tian was unconcerned.

No written description could surpass the clarity of his own mind.

Although he could not observe the ape’s posture again, Luo Tian could reconstruct most of it from memory.

After all, the purpose of the Form-Intent Nine-Beast Fist was for humans to enhance their physical qualities by imitating the movements of magical beasts. Once the principle was understood, the rest was easily managed.

As a young man from an age overwhelmed by information, Luo Tian’s thinking was free of rigid constraints. Had he been a native of this world, he would never have dared to experiment so boldly.

Most of the day slipped by quickly. Luo Tian had consumed part of the fruit’s power; after stretching and exercising, he felt as if countless tiny cracks had formed within his body, absorbing some of the fruit’s energy, while the rest seemed stored away, hidden deep within. Though barely perceptible, Luo Tian could sense that whenever his body again hungered for such power, these reserves would reappear until they were entirely depleted.

Exhilarating!

Luo Tian stretched, and a series of crisp, crackling sounds echoed from within him, resounding throughout the cavern.

Though unclear about the precise changes, Luo Tian knew that after consuming the fruit, his body, if not wholly transformed, was at least vastly different from before.

Once I’ve unraveled the secrets of this cave and seized its peerless opportunities, the first thing I’ll do is deal with that big monkey!

Luo Tian thought smugly. The fruit’s stem remained—the Iron-Black Giant Ape was unlikely to leave. A mere low-tier second-rank beast—surely, in this place where countless prodigies have risen, I can teach it a lesson in no time!

As the power of the Divine Tree activated, Luo Tian was suddenly astonished.

The air was thick with vital energy!

He had been too engrossed earlier to notice, but now, focusing his senses, he found the energy here was far denser than on Mount Ziyang.

What sort of place is this?

Luo Tian frowned, but spared no further thought. He advanced cautiously.

There was neither sunlight nor lantern in the cave, yet at the apex, some unknown plant—like moss—glimmered faintly, not bright, but sufficient.

A cultivator’s body far surpassed that of ordinary folk—not just in combat ability, but in every physical aspect, including vision.

Luo Tian stepped lightly, faint footsteps echoing through the cave; judging by the sound, it did not seem terribly deep.

Yet after only a few steps, something strange appeared ahead.

Sweeping out with his divine sight, Luo Tian saw several walls of vital energy barring his way. Without this extraordinary ability, his eyes would have been deceived, leading him astray—perhaps even looping through the widening corridor only to return to his starting point.

Illusions and labyrinths—what on earth is going on here?

Luo Tian had heard from Yang Qing of a formation called the Gathering Essence Array, so it was unsurprising to find others of a similar sort.

The path ahead was mysterious, but cultivators ever strive to grow stronger, seeking power and longevity—how many would lack the courage to venture into the unknown?

All the more so for Luo Tian, a transmigrator, who could not believe he would die meaninglessly.

Though he did not believe in fate, if transmigration was possible, what else could truly be impossible?

Having come by such a miraculous opportunity, why should he hesitate or lose his nerve?

Resolute, Luo Tian pressed forward, following the guidance of his divine sight through the walls of vital energy. After a while, he turned a corner, and the path suddenly opened up before him.

What is this place?

Gazing at the scene ahead, Luo Tian’s confusion only deepened…