Chapter 44: The True Breakthrough (5)

Luo Kai burst into loud laughter, looking at the motionless wild boar with self-satisfaction. “Stupid pig, don’t dare to chase me now, do you? Ha! My divine skills are beyond the comprehension of mere beasts like you. I won’t make things difficult for you today—go on, get back!”

As soon as he finished, he seemed to realize something was amiss, his face darkening as he snapped, “Damn, did I just call myself ‘Master’ in front of a beast? Me... Damn it! You wretched creature, why haven’t you retreated yet? Are you waiting for me to unleash my killing move?”

The wild boar stood its ground, its crimson eyes fixed fiercely on Luo Kai. Its front hooves scraped the earth as it let out low growls, poised to attack yet held back by a flicker of fear, reluctant to advance.

Luo Kai was secretly astonished. Could this creature actually understand what I’m saying and is too scared to come closer?

After glaring at Luo Kai in frustration for a while, the wild boar finally turned away without a backward glance and stomped off, leaving Luo Kai standing there, mouth agape, stunned into silence.

He watched the imposing, swaggering boar as it sauntered back to its territory in the basin, still dazed atop the mountain peak.

Only after confirming that the wild boar had lain down again in its usual spot did Luo Kai exhale deeply, collapsing onto the ground, sweat pouring down like rain.

“Oh no, this Step of Return is powerful, but it consumes too much true energy. The bit I managed to gather from the ‘Three Yang Fruit’ left by that old man is almost completely depleted after just one use. Clearly, my top priority now is to strengthen my true energy.”

Luo Kai sat cross-legged and began to regulate his breathing with the “Unity Heart Method.”

The true energy derived from the “Three Yang Fruit” had successfully enabled Luo Kai to generate his own internal energy, which now gathered at two points: his dantian and his ancestral aperture. These served as bases, but to enhance his true energy, he needed to meditate and cultivate daily, drawing in energy from the world, refining its essence and discarding its impurities.

At his current level, Luo Kai was not yet considered an initiate; he had only managed to manifest a mere “point” at each of the two locations, both of which were insubstantial. Only after cultivating these points until they became as solid as reality, transforming illusion to substance, would he achieve minor success.

From what Luo Kai knew, the “Unity Heart Method” consisted of two initial layers. The first: Three Spirits as One, the Foundation of Life. The second: Taiji as One, the Union of Yin and Yang. Each layer contained three sub-realms: Entry, Insight, and Mastery. The first layer, Three Spirits as One, Foundation of Life, referred to condensing true energy and gathering two points at the dantian and ancestral aperture, then solidifying them. Only by fully forming these two substantial points would this stage be considered complete.

At present, Luo Kai was only at the first stage—Entry, barely able to sense the two points. However, thanks to the grueling training he had undergone with his teacher, his meridians were already unimpeded, allowing him to cultivate at astonishing speed. In just an hour, he had already replenished his depleted energy and even felt slightly stronger than before.

It seemed that, like physical strength, the more true energy was used, the faster it grew.

Luo Kai rose with renewed spirit, his eyes blazing as he gazed down the mountain, a faint smile playing at his lips.

This time, Luo Kai did not act recklessly. Instead, he memorized the surrounding terrain in detail, using the Step of Return to map out countless escape routes within the widest possible range. Only after ensuring foolproof plans did he leisurely descend the mountain.

Roaring echoed in the air as soon as he set foot at the base—the wild boar had sensed Luo Kai’s presence and was instantly enraged, charging at him with abandon, not even waiting for Luo Kai to provoke it.

This time, Luo Kai did not immediately run. Instead, he calmly watched the wild boar, his eyes locked on it with the precision of a satellite tracking its prey, analyzing continuously.

“So this beast does have a weakness after all? But why does it look so ridiculous?”

His keen gaze, almost shamelessly, fixed on the wild boar’s groin, the very spot he’d struck before.

The boar’s weakness was its two bowl-sized testicles, swinging comically as it bounded about.

However, such a weakness was not easy to exploit at close range—who would risk diving under a wild boar’s belly?

Gritting his teeth, Luo Kai thought, if I don’t take risks, how can I break through?

Provoked repeatedly, the mutant boar was now utterly enraged, determined to crush Luo Kai to pieces. With a furious bellow, its two tusks thrust straight at him.

Luo Kai’s mind reacted instantly, his feet shifting just slightly to dodge three meters aside, a look of delight on his face.

Just as he’d predicted: though the Step of Return consumed tremendous energy, if he managed it carefully and avoided large movements, he could still handle it. This subtle sidestep equaled three or four steps for a normal person without true energy—what a difference!

The wild boar, missing its mark, paused in confusion, but its innate abilities soon locked onto Luo Kai’s new position. Its massive body rolled over like a truck in a crash, kicking up a cloud of dust and leaving a terrifying crater in the ground—large enough to bury itself.

Adjusting its direction, it charged at Luo Kai again.

Luo Kai laughed heartily, channeling his true energy once more and dodging aside.

The boar’s agility was beyond belief; for such a massive, three-meter-tall beast to move with the nimbleness of a cat was astonishing, and each charge carried devastating force, worthy of its reputation as a fierce beast of District D.

As the wild boar attacked in a frenzy, Luo Kai’s mind raced, his full attention immersed in this strange state. It was like playing a game of chess, with nine points as bases, relying on his own resources to counter a ferocious foe. The subtlety of it all mesmerized him, and only when his true energy was finally exhausted did he laugh and turn to flee.

If the wild boar possessed any spiritual awareness, it would surely be fuming—this damn human was treating it like a toy! After playing to his heart’s content, he’d just slip away—utterly outrageous.

Though still powerful and relentless, the wild boar was no match for Luo Kai’s well-prepared escape plan. Following his predetermined routes, Luo Kai’s form flickered through the trees, and in moments he had put a hundred meters between them, once again reaching the summit. Standing atop a boulder, he looked down at the charging boar with smug satisfaction.

As expected, the wild boar halted halfway up the mountain, glaring resentfully at Luo Kai but not daring to pursue further.

So this must be the edge of its territory—no matter how furious, it wouldn’t cross this line. How strange!

After another round of roaring, the wild boar finally gave up and trudged back, leaving Luo Kai deep in thought.

He sat down to meditate and recover again.

This time, he restored his true energy even faster—within forty minutes, not only had he replenished what he’d lost, but he also sensed a slight gain. This speed was even more exhilarating and stimulating than the electric current training his teacher had used before.

Luo Kai was thrilled.

This wild boar was the perfect sparring partner, a gift from the heavens!

The wild boar’s roars and Luo Kai’s laughter echoed at intervals across the lonely hillside, infusing it with vibrant life.