Chapter 43: Divine Art: Samadhi True Fire

Samadhi True Fire: This thing is the true fire forged by cultivators gathering their primordial spirit, primordial Qi, and primordial essence.

Although this fire is not the exotic fire created by heaven and earth, it nonetheless contains the laws of heaven and earth, possesses a powerful purifying force, and can incinerate all evil spirits and specters in the world!

It can burn the bodies of living beings, converting them into spiritual energy for oneself to absorb; while replenishing the host's true Qi, it also enlarges one's own blood and Qi to sustain battle, thereby raising one's cultivation realm!

Samadhi True Fire LV1: Can incinerate the flesh of all living creatures in the world, drawing fifty percent of the spiritual energy from the creature's body.

Note: The one who wields Samadhi True Fire must take it upon themselves to judge the world, purify all sinful corruption, and thoroughly cleanse this world!

Those scorched by Samadhi True Fire, the deeper the sins they committed in life, the greater the evil to be purified, and the more pain they endure!

"I'm going..."

"Samadhi True Fire?"

"I didn't expect that the first divine technique awakened by my eighth or ninth mysterious cultivation would be Samadhi True Fire!"

After seeing the detailed description of Samadhi True Fire appear on the system panel before him, Li Mu's eyes showed a flash of wild joy.

Let me ask!

In this world, is there any cultivation method faster than directly plundering another's lifelong cultivation?

None!

You cultivate diligently, even if your talent is supreme and your comprehension is demonic.

But where is there a better way than killing someone and directly seizing their cultivation results?

As long as Li Mu is crazy enough!

If the number of people you kill is sufficient!

Then, with the addition of Heavenly Dao Blessing, Li Mu himself cannot imagine how fast his growth rate would become!

The key!

What truly moves Li Mu's heart is still the characteristic of Samadhi True Fire!

It is a purifying fire that burns away all evil spirits, specters, and sinful filth.

Li Mu represents the radiant Heavenly Dao; killing you is merely acting on behalf of Heaven!

Li Mu took several deep breaths in succession, finally calming his inner excitement.

Then, Li Mu leapt up from the cave entrance.

Seeing that the cave, which could have been filled with snake blood ten meters deep, was now completely empty, Li Mu's mouth twitched involuntarily.

At first, I was simply seeking the greatest body-tempering effect of snake blood.

Therefore, without much thought, I poured all the black-scaled demon python's snake blood straight into the big cavity.

But I forgot that the nature of snakes is inherently lewd...

I both eat raw snake gallbladders and temper my body with snake blood!

The risk is not merely the snake venom I first considered; it may also torment me with desire-fire scorching my body, making me unable to restrain myself and act chaotically...

Thinking of this, Li Mu instinctively glanced at the massive hundred-year-old ancient trees and then at the towering peaks that pierced the clouds.

Li Mu couldn't help but shiver violently!

"Fortunately, I don't have to endure the side effects of this snake venom."

"Otherwise..."

"I'm afraid it would truly be a social death."

After silently mourning the sacrificial souls for three seconds in his heart for the Heavenly Dao treasure scroll, Li Mu turned his gaze to the corpse of the black-scaled demon python, whose Demon Crystal had not yet been extracted.

As a second-grade Demon General-level great demon, its Demon Crystal naturally cannot be compared to those Demon Soldier-level beasts Li Mu previously hunted on Longtan Feng.

It is enough to let Li Mu breakthrough to Ninth-Grade Refining Qi Realm!

This will greatly augment Li Mu's own strength!

No longer hesitating.

Li Mu raised his hand, blade descending, and directly Slash the black-scaled demon python's head, discovering a goose-egg-sized Demon Crystal inside.

A Demon Soldier-level beast's Demon Crystal is at most about the size of an adult's thumb.

But once it reaches Demon General-level, its Demon Crystal can actually be the size of a goose egg!

It is crystal-clear like quartz, with a glassy interior swirling with black-red energy ripples.

Even without personal experience, one can keenly feel the immense power it contains.

Li Mu smiled with satisfaction.

"Not bad, not bad!"

"This time I really made a huge profit!"

Li Mu happily tucked the black-scaled demon python's Demon Crystal into his chest, about to leave the place.

But a stray glance from the corner of his eye inadvertently caught something else hidden deep within the black-scaled demon python's head.

It was a perfectly round object; if it hadn't emitted a faint red glow throughout its body, Li Mu might not have noticed it.

Li Mu frowned, reached out, and directly took the object out.

It turned out to be a tiny sphere no larger than a fingernail cap, resembling a glass marble, its whole body a dark red hue, and when placed in sunlight it showed a faint translucence.

"What is this?"

Just as Li Mu felt puzzled, a flash of insight suddenly lit up his mind.

It is said that profoundly cultivated, powerful demons can not only condense crystal cores but also form an inner core!

An inner core is something that can be encountered but not sought; its formation conditions are extremely stringent!

Only a demon beast with sentient spirit can forge an inner core within its body!

One in ten thousand!

Sensing the immense energy contained in this red sphere, Li Mu is now certain that this is the black-scaled demon python's inner core!

Roar...

This really is a great find!

I didn't expect it, but it actually gave me an inner core!

Li Mu suppressed his excitement, then took the Demon Crystal of the black‑scaled demon python from his bosom.

If it were the usual way, Li Mu would definitely crush the Demon Crystal outright and crudely absorb its internal energy.

But now he has an inner core in his hand.

At the same time, Samadhi True Fire, which can purify everything in the world and greatly boost both alchemy and artifact forging, has awakened within him.

If he were to crush the Demon Crystal again and directly absorb its energy into the inner core.

That would indeed be too wasteful; better to collect some Heavenly Treasures and refine them into pills, making full use of the material.

"After this Four Peaks Grand Competition ends, it's time for me to study alchemy and artifact forging."

"But for now I must first return to that mountain stream and find a way to get that crimson‑cloud purple grass!"

Having made up his mind, Li Mu prepared to retrace his steps.

Yet, just as Li Mu had barely stepped out,

"Whoosh!" sounded.

A sharp sound of cutting through the air came, suddenly blasting toward Li Mu.

Arrows flew!

However, when they were about a zhang away from Li Mu,

"Clang!"

"A perfect strike!"

Li Mu placed his finger on the hilt and drew his blade, Slash!

Black‑red blade aura, like a mountain‑splitting axe, crushed the arrow, and the blade's momentum remained, continuing to slash forward.

"Boom—..."

Accompanied by a thunderous roar, the trees and rocks ahead were all slashed into powder, clearing a vacuum zone of about a hundred meters radius.

"No wonder you're the strongest new disciple who could one‑slash Zhao Jianfei at the martial discussion conference—truly powerful!"

From the thicket ahead, a towering, robust figure emerged, eyes sharp, staring straight at Li Mu.

Li Mu casually lifted his gaze and glanced at the person.

A flash of surprise crossed his eyes!

This person!

It turned out to be Shao Wenqiang, ranked fifth on the Storm‑Cloud Ranking!

Rumor has it Shao Wenqiang's cultivation has already reached the Ten Grade Lian Qi Realm Peak and is now aiming for the Five Qi Ascending Concentration Realm.

The only question is whether he has taken that final step!

"What?"

"You want my identification badge?"

"You've probably picked the wrong opponent!"

Li Mu's long sword stood ready, faint golden flames flickered in his black pupils, his whole body brimming with battle intent.

"I say, Shao Wenqiang!"

"What were you just doing?"

"It wasn't that far to the place we mentioned, why strike now!"

Just as Li Mu prepared to swing his blade, a familiar voice rang out from beside him with a resonant tone.

Li Mu turned toward the voice.

There, a rustling sound came from the thicket.

Soon, a round, plump figure stepped out.

The other looked at Li Mu, also showing a stunned expression, and said, "Big brother?"

"It's you!"

"What are you doing here too!"

This person!

It turned out to be Qian Wenyi, Yao Mengzhen's cousin!

Besides Qian Wenyi, five more people emerged one after another from the thicket; they were all members of Little Sky Peak.

Seeing Qian Wenyi appear, Li Mu frowned slightly and said, "What are you all doing!"

"Nothing!"

"It's the Ziyang Sect Outer Peak; the rumors about Junior Brother Li are truly extraordinary."

"Especially Junior Brother Li, daring to risk provoking the whole Xuan Yue Feng, yet still publicly trying to chop off Qin Zhixiang's head."

"I've got a bit of a technique itch, couldn't resist testing Junior Brother Li!"

"If I have offended, I hope Junior Brother Li will forgive me!"

Saying that, Shao Wenqiang glanced again at the vacuum zone Li Mu had just cleared with one slash, a hint of caution flashing in his eyes, and added,

"Junior Brother Li!"

"The reason I tested you this time was mainly to assess your strength in advance."

"See if we can cooperate!"

"Cooperate on what?"

Li Mu sheathed his blade, looking at Shao Wenqiang with a playful smile.

"With your strength that placed you fifth on the Wind and Cloud Ranking, you want to obtain enough identity plaques to enter the Top Sixteen and join the final tower duel competition— isn't that a piece of cake?"

"We discovered a powerful demon beast nearby!"

Shao Wenqiang stepped forward two paces and whispered.

"Oh?"

"What demon beast?"

Li Mu raised an eyebrow.

"Crimson Flame Giant Tiger!"

Shao Wenqiang's voice lowered again.

"Crimson Flame Giant Tiger…"

Li Mu's eyes showed a hint of understanding.

Li Mu was not surprised by Shao Wenqiang's entire answer.

Long before they arrived, Li Mu had already surveyed the several‑hundred‑mile radius fairly thoroughly.

The demon beasts that Shao Wenqiang's cultivator squad could hunt were nothing but Black‑scaled Demon Python and Crimson Flame Giant Tiger.

However, the Black‑scaled Demon Python had already been completely devoured by him, leaving only the Crimson Flame Giant Tiger.

But Li Mu did not expose this, instead feigning ignorance: "Crimson Flame Giant Tiger?"

"That beast, in its adult stage, can rival a Concentration Realm great demon."

"With the strength of your little squad, you intend to hunt and eat the Crimson Flame Giant Tiger?"

"If we actually go, we might just become a meal for that Crimson Flame Giant Tiger!"

"Don't panic, big brother!"

At that moment, Qian Wenyi suddenly came up to Li Mu, nudged his shoulder with an elbow, and said with a mysterious grin.

"Our squad also heard a fierce battle erupt in the mountain ravine; when we arrived, we found that the Crimson Flame Giant Tiger had just been fighting a nearby Demon General‑rank great demon."

"Now it's gravely wounded, which is our chance to scoop up a prize!"

"If we truly can hunt this Crimson Flame Giant Tiger, we'll make a fortune!"

"It's definitely a huge opportunity!"