Young Master of the Rare Beast Peak, Fourth Layer of the Divine Edge Cave

Time passed swiftly.

Ten days later.

The young man stepped into the Divine Edge Cave.

The cold glint of the cave reflected in his eyes, a sharpness flashing for just a moment.

Yet the harmless smile on his face made it seem as though that fleeting edge had been nothing but an illusion.

"Ah, Li Mo’s here again."

"Junior Brother Murong was asking about you this morning."

"Tsk tsk, training your body every single day—Li Mo, you must have a special constitution like Junior Brother Murong, don’t you?"

Over these days, the disciples of the Divine Edge Peak had grown quite familiar with Li Mo.

After all, this true disciple carried no airs, treating everyone with the same warm and approachable demeanor.

The last time someone got injured, if not for Li Mo swiftly producing healing medicine, that inner disciple’s hand might have been ruined.

Thus, in just ten short days,

an outsider might have mistaken Li Mo for the true disciple of the Divine Edge Peak.

After exchanging greetings with everyone,

Li Mo passed through the corridor and entered the second level of the Divine Edge Cave.

He didn’t activate his Extreme Blade Slaughter Body, yet he felt no discomfort whatsoever.

[Name: Li Mo]

[Age: 16]

[Root Bone: Mystic Womb Immortal Body.]

[Realm: Eight Meridians of Qi-Blood Realm.]

[Destiny: ??]

[Evaluation: Possessing an immortal physique, his fate is shrouded in chaos—unknowable.]

[Recent Events: Within the Divine Edge Cave, he has tempered his body to the peak of mortal weapons. One step further, and he will reach the level of a sharp weapon.]

"If my body can become as tough as a sharp weapon, I can venture down to the fourth level."

"If not, I’ll just use my martial insights to push the Extreme Blade Slaughter Body to perfection."

In ten days, he had accumulated seventy-six years’ worth of martial insights.

Not just perfection—if he poured them all into the Extreme Blade Slaughter Body, he might even push it to the realm of transformation.

But for now, there was no need.

Body tempering emphasized the word "temper." To make progress, one had to grind themselves day after day. Otherwise, no matter how strong the theory, it remained just that—theory.

Unlike sword techniques, where every bit of refinement brought tangible power.

Stepping into the third level,

Li Mo walked to the very end, swallowed a Clear Heart Pill, and then sat down cross-legged.

......

At the entrance of the Divine Edge Cave.

"Name."

Not even lifting his head, the inner sect steward spoke as he sensed someone approaching.

"Yin Huacheng."

The newcomer coldly stated his name.

The steward’s heart jolted, and he hurriedly stood up.

Before him stood a young man in his twenties—lean, almost as if the cloud-patterned white robes hung too loosely on his frame.

His features were handsome, yet his pallor was sickly, and the black mole between his brows lent him an air of gloom.

Of course, what made the steward react this way wasn’t just Yin Huacheng’s status as a true disciple.

The current master of Rare Beast Peak also bore the surname Yin.

"Ah, True Disciple Yin! It’s been a while. How is Peak Master Yin?"

"Hmph. No need for your concern."

Yin Huacheng’s tone was indifferent, not even bothering to spare the steward an extra glance.

Still, after taking the identity token, the steward quickly recorded the details.

"Might I ask, True Disciple Yin, what brings you to the Divine Edge Cave...?"

"Body tempering. Weapon retrieval."

[Yin Huacheng, True Disciple of Rare Beast Peak.]

[Entering the Divine Edge Cave for body tempering and weapon retrieval.]

Once the record was complete,

Yin Huacheng retrieved his token and stepped into the Divine Edge Cave.

"True Disciple Yin? He hasn’t been here in ages."

"Must’ve just emerged from seclusion. Do you think he’s already condensed his inner breath into form, stepping into the Observation Divine Realm?"

"Tsk... hard to say."

"If True Disciple Yin is here for body tempering, he’ll probably head to the third level."

"Haha, then he’ll run into True Disciple Li, won’t he?"

The disciples in the first level of the Divine Edge Cave couldn’t help but murmur among themselves.

But before they could say much more, the chatter died.

Because not far away, Yin Huacheng had turned around, his gaze sweeping over the Divine Edge Peak disciples present.

For some reason,

being looked at by him made them feel as though they were being sized up by a predator.

Narrowing his eyes, Yin Huacheng asked:

"Since when did the sect have a ‘True Disciple Li’?"

"Uh... he just joined our Qingyuan Sect at the recent initiation ceremony."

Someone answered.

The next moment, a chill ran down his spine.

Yin Huacheng’s figure vanished from where he stood, reappearing right in front of him in an instant. And those eyes staring at him... had they turned into vertical slits?

"A newly initiated disciple, entering the third level of the Divine Edge Cave? Are you mocking me?"

"N-no... I wouldn’t dare..."

The inner disciple gulped. "Everyone knows True Disciple Li comes here every day. On his first visit, Elder Hanhe was so alarmed he went down to check on him—but he was completely fine."

The surrounding disciples nodded vigorously.

Yin Huacheng remained half-convinced, a flicker of anger in his eyes.

After standing still for a few seconds, he snorted coldly and strode off.

Only then did the oppressive weight in their chests lift, and everyone collectively exhaled in relief.

Once his figure had completely disappeared, someone spat quietly.

"That True Disciple Yin... spending too much time with those beasts on Rare Beast Peak has messed with his head, hasn’t it?"

"Don’t say that. If he’s reached the Observation Divine Realm, he might hear you."

"True Disciple Li’s better. At least he treats us to drinks."

"Hmph... damn right."

......

Walking through the second level of the Divine Edge Cave,

Yin Huacheng was indeed in a foul mood.

For the sake of this physique, he had paid a price beyond ordinary imagination—only then had he gained the ability to temper his body in the third level.

And now, someone claimed a newly initiated disciple could do the same?

Did that mean all his sacrifices were a joke?

"If Murong Xiao has half-demon blood, fine."

"But where did this ‘True Disciple Li’ come from?"

"Does he also carry some kind of demon blood?"

Step—

Yin Huacheng entered the third level.

The flesh beneath his skin suddenly began twisting unnaturally, his lean frame inflating as though pumped full of air.

Fine, dense fur sprouted across his skin, and his arms elongated in an instant.

He had grown stronger.

Yet his entire body now bore faint bestial traits, making him appear grotesque.

"My Hundred Beasts Blood Training is just a few forms away from completion!"

"When it’s done, it’ll be a true peerless technique... heh heh..."

Sensing the boundless strength within him, Yin Huacheng let out a low chuckle and strode forward.

The razor-sharp intent of the cave struck his body, but the iron-like feathers covering him deflected it all.

Ten minutes later.

Suddenly, he froze.

Up ahead, a young man sat cross-legged.

Dozens—no, hundreds—of weapons of all kinds orbited around him, every single one a famed armament!

This was likely half of the famed weapons in the entire third level of the Divine Edge Cave.

Yin Huacheng’s eyes instantly reddened, his vertical pupils dilating.

......

"Hm?"

Feeling the ground tremble,

Li Mo opened his eyes and looked back.

Well, well—turning around was a mistake.

What in the world was that thing?

Surely not human, right?

"Nobody mentioned there were monsters in the Divine Edge Cave..."

"Ah well. My body’s already as tough as a sharp weapon—might as well try the fourth level."

After hesitating for exactly three and a third seconds, Li Mo stood up.

Before the creature could react,

he dusted off his pants, didn’t even glance at the famed weapons surrounding him, and stepped into the fourth level.

And as he left,

The renowned weapons all returned to their original positions, clearly demarcated.

Crack...

Something seemed to shatter within Yin Huacheng's heart.

It was his fragile Dao heart.

He had schemed tirelessly to obtain even a single famed weapon, yet the other couldn’t be bothered to spare him a glance.

He had undergone hundreds, even thousands of trials to temper his body, even at the cost of becoming a monster—yet to this day, he still dared not approach the fourth layer of the Divine Edge Cave.

Meanwhile, the other had just joined the sect, and his starting point was already the unattainable peak Yin Huacheng had longed for.

The son of a peak master, Yin Huacheng—born with a silver spoon in his mouth—felt his composure crumble in an instant.

"Why... why wasn’t I chosen?!"

"What right does he have?!"

The flesh on his body began to writhe once more, showing faint signs of losing control.

Yin Huacheng rampaged wildly, venting his resentment.

But everything here was a renowned weapon.

The saying "a famed weapon has a spirit" was no mere jest.