Chapter 116: Deeply Self-Reproachful

Cultivation has never been an easy thing.

It is boring, it is arduous, it is repetitive... and also dangerous!

Facing Facing Cang Luo had asked Shangyi Huimeizi during the day how long it takes to refine and absorb a second-rank demon core; Shangyi Huimeizi said at least three nights.

Facing Facing Cang Luo was pleased by this, deeply satisfied with the Earthling physique.

At first, he needed only two hours to refine and absorb a second-rank demon core; later, each additional core took about one more hour.

This was due to drug resistance.

When warriors refine the same type of cultivation resource in a short time, their bodies develop inertia and resistance; the speed of absorbing Qi gradually slows, requiring them to alternate resources and increase variety.

Pills, Qi stones, spirit herbs, demon cores—rotate them; among these, pills are easiest to absorb but also the most expensive.

But it's not absolute—some warriors possess special physiques, such as the Leakless Body.

Warriors with the Leakless Body absorb Qi at several times, even dozens of times the speed of ordinary warriors, faster even than Facing Facing Cang Luo's Earthling physique, and never develop resistance.

Of course, warriors with such a physique are one in ten thousand.

In fact, the Earthling physique is a weakened version of the Leakless Body; it is called weakened not only because it develops resistance, but also because of another more important reason.

Although the Earthling physique can rapidly refine and absorb Qi, it has a cultivation ceiling.

According to Facing Facing Cang Luo's assessment, Xuan Qiankun judged that if all Earthlings possessed Facing Facing Cang Luo's talent, their cultivation would cap at the Martial Spirit realm.

Even Facing Facing Cang Luo's martial saint master, Zang Feng, had once judged that Facing Facing Cang Luo's maximum cultivation ceiling would be Martial Spirit Ninth Layer...

Facing Facing Cang Luo himself did not yet know this—he was still refining a demon core.

This time, it took him over seven hours to fully refine and absorb one second-rank demon core; the effect was excellent—the third Qi wheel was faintly beginning to form.

Facing Facing Cang Luo estimated that absorbing another seven or eight second-rank demon cores should bring him to Martial General Third Layer, but he didn't know how long it would take—resistance would make absorption slower and slower.

He checked his phone—it was already 1 a. m. —Facing Facing Cang Luo muttered, "I'll return to Xuantian Gate once I break through to Martial General Third Layer; in the meantime, I'll stockpile more demon cores and refine them only after resistance fades."

"And I must subdue a satisfying demon beast..."

As Facing Facing Cang Luo contemplated his next plan, he suddenly frowned—he noticed the osmanthus scent growing denser, making him drowsy.

Was it because the space was too cramped?

Facing Facing Cang Luo quickly bit his tongue, instantly becoming more alert, then remembered that he hadn't felt extreme hunger during his previous demon core refinement.

That almost confirmed the Hunger Compensation ability wasn't caused by the osmanthus scent—it must be "Conquer and Occupy."

Facing Facing Cang Luo felt it necessary to confirm this further...

He glanced at Shangyi Huimeizi, still cultivating, and frowned: "Is this osmanthus scent your body odor? After smelling it long enough, it makes one drowsy?"

Shangyi Huimeizi was startled, hesitated, then stammered: "It is this servant's body odor... after prolonged exposure, it does indeed induce drowsiness. This servant did not intend it—this servant cannot control it..."

"Please, Lord Cang, believe me—I would never harm you. I live as your person, I die as your ghost!"

She knew Facing Facing Cang Luo had suspected her, so she confessed openly—but she did not reveal that the osmanthus scent was Dream-Drifting Incense, nor that she had once possessed a jar of it.

She said "once" because she had secretly discarded the Dream-Drifting Incense—if she hadn't, and Facing Facing Cang Luo discovered it, she could never explain.

Facing Facing Cang Luo feigned surprise: "Body odor? Smell it long enough and you fall asleep? How miraculous?"

As he spoke, Facing Facing Cang Luo shifted closer to Shangyi Huimeizi; the tent was already small, now the two were nearly pressed together.

Then Facing Facing Cang Luo stretched his neck and sniffed deeply along Shangyi Huimeizi's body—from head to toe—then sighed contentedly: "Huimeizi... you're so fragrant!"

Shangyi Huimeizi blushed, with nowhere to hide and no strength to resist—her cultivation was already weaker than Facing Facing Cang Luo's, and now he had surpassed her in rank; she was utterly powerless.

She lowered her head: "Lord Cang... please don't..."

Facing Facing Cang Luo smiled but said nothing—then the next instant, he lunged at her...

Soon, the state of extreme hunger appeared; Facing Facing Cang Luo now confirmed—the Hunger Compensation ability was indeed caused by "Conquer and Occupy."

Now that he knew the cause, Facing Facing Cang Luo intended to stop "Conquer and Occupy"—but how could one simply stop such a thing?

So Facing Facing Cang Luo swallowed another second-rank demon core and continued "Conquer and Occupy..."

Within five minutes, the demon core was refined—just like last night, waste occurred; only about five percent of the Qi was absorbed.

Facing Facing Cang Luo couldn't understand—where did the other ninety-five percent of the Qi go?

Had Shangyi Huimeizi absorbed it?

Yang-Stealing, Yin-Nourishing?

After all my hard work, the one who benefits is her?

Facing Facing Cang Luo carefully sensed around—but found no sign of Qi being absorbed by Shangyi Huimeizi; he was baffled.

Then hunger returned—he ate another second-rank demon core and continued "Conquer and Occupy."

Half an hour later, something shocking happened.

Facing Facing Cang Luo discovered—he had no demon cores left!

All six second-rank demon cores stored from the day had been refined; had they been refined normally, Facing Facing Cang Luo might already have reached Martial General Third Layer.

But now, Facing Facing Cang Luo remained at Martial General Second Layer.

Waste! Such a terrible waste!

Soon, Facing Facing Cang Luo grew hungry again.

Hungry!

Starving!

Facing Facing Cang Luo frantically gnawed on a tough strip of dried meat—nearly choked to death—but it did no good; within seconds, it was digested.

Still hungry!

Facing Facing Cang Luo was nearly broken—completely out of food; he even considered slaughtering Erha to eat.

The moment this thought arose, Erha, faithfully guarding outside the tent, suddenly startled and immediately sent a mental message: "Boss... what happened?"

Facing Facing Cang Luo froze, quickly sent a vague mental reply, then resumed starving.

Minutes later, Facing Facing Cang Luo could no longer endure—the troops could not be replenished, and his forces collapsed like a mountain falling—he had no choice but to end "Conquer and Occupy."

Giving up halfway!

Shangyi Huimeizi looked emptily at Facing Facing Cang Luo and said softly, "Cang? What's wrong?"

Facing Facing Cang Luo: "......"

Facing Facing Cang Luo's happiness was stripped away by his starvation ability; he had bitterness but no way to speak it, so he only said he felt unwell, then pulled the covers over his head and slept...

That night, Facing Facing Cang Luo went hungry, didn't sleep all night, and had no energy to cultivate.

And Shangyi Huimeizi spent the whole night feeling empty and lonely...

Facing Facing Cang Luo... felt deeply guilty!

The night passed without a word; dawn came quickly, and the two walked out of the tent with dark circles under their eyes.

Facing Facing Cang Luo was worse off; Shangyi Huimeizi could tell at a glance he had nearly lost a whole layer of flesh, and she said anxiously, "Cang! What's wrong?"

Facing Facing Cang Luo said miserably, "It's nothing... just a bit hungry. Let's continue searching for demonic beasts..."

Shangyi Huimeizi nodded in confusion and said nothing.

So the two continued hunting demonic beasts.

Whether it was bad luck or some other reason, the two still hadn't found the demonic beast they wanted.

Until ten days later, finally a demonic beast caught Shangyi Huimeizi's favor; although it wasn't a mutated demonic beast, it was very cute!

Wind Monkey, a wind-attribute second-rank demonic beast, a type of raccoon-dog demonic beast; its fur is brown and white mixed, its body is small, and even with its tail, its total length is less than one meter.

Very small, very cute.

Although its body is small, it is also very fierce, after all, it is a second-rank demonic beast.

The Wind Monkey is agile and incredibly cunning; it can condense qi with its claws to attack, and its qi claws are extremely sharp, with power comparable to a second-grade weapon.

Some individual Wind Monkeys can even transform their qi claws into wind blades for ranged attacks, with even greater power.

Moreover, the Wind Monkey is skilled at running and climbing, and its combat power increases significantly in the forest.

It is simply a tree-climbing expert.

Therefore, ordinary martial generals and martial artists who do not carry bows and arrows have no way to deal with the Wind Monkey; they can't even catch it.

Unfortunately, this Wind Monkey ran into Facing Facing Cang Luo, who is no ordinary martial general.

Over these ten days, Facing Facing Cang Luo consumed one second-rank demonic core per day; his cultivation smoothly reached the third level of Martial General, his technique became more proficient, and his strength increased significantly.

Not only did Facing Facing Cang Luo's strength improve, but his beast companion Erha's strength also rose with the tide as Facing Facing Cang Luo's cultivation advanced.

Before, although Erha possessed the combat power of a second-rank demonic beast, it was essentially still a first-rank demonic beast.

Now, as master Facing Facing Cang Luo's cultivation broke through to the second-rank Martial General, Erha's single demonic core's yuan energy content, yuan consciousness strength, and body size all reached the standard of a second-rank demonic beast within these ten days.

This is an ability demonic beasts gain after becoming human martial artists; their strength increases as their master's cultivation rises.

At this moment, Erha not only grew larger in size, but its speed, strength, and other attributes received corresponding improvements; most crucially, its ability to spew fire and white smoke was also enhanced.

Previously, the length of the fire Erha spat out was only about four meters; now it nearly reaches eight meters, almost doubling.

The ability to spew white smoke was also enhanced: faster speed, thicker smoke, and it gained an additional effect—the smoke chokes people, and staying in it too long makes breathing impossible.

The current Erha, Facing Facing Cang Luo estimates, can fight a third-rank demonic beast and can fight a third-rank martial artist.

It was relying on the strengthened Erha that Facing Facing Cang Luo forced the Wind Monkey, which had been hiding in the tree, down and caught it.

Otherwise, relying solely on him and Shangyi Huimeizi, two second-rank martial artists who cannot fly and carry no bows and arrows, catching the Wind Monkey would be utterly impossible.

Facing Facing Cang Luo tied up the Wind Monkey and said softly to Shangyi Huimeizi, "Huimeizi, prepare to capture it."

Shangyi Huimeizi nodded joyfully, but suddenly thought of something, and her expression immediately changed drastically.

"Oh no! Cang, I didn't bring my beast companion contract scroll; it should be with my senior brother. What should we do?"

Shangyi Huimeizi stamped her feet in anger; after finally finding the desired demonic beast, she had no beast companion contract scroll!

After being angry for a while, Shangyi Huimeizi said gloomily, "Cang, now we can only tie up the Wind Monkey and go to the camp; let's hope someone at the camp sells beast companion contract scrolls."

Facing Facing Cang Luo smiled and said, "It's fine; I have a way."

Saying this, Facing Facing Cang Luo opened his backpack and started rummaging; soon, he took out a piece of beast skin, a second-rank demonic core, and a waterskin.

Shangyi Huimeizi was stunned; she thought the beast skin Facing Facing Cang Luo took out was for a beast companion contract scroll, but after seeing him spread the beast skin open, she discovered it was the skin of a demonic beast they had hunted just a few days ago.

She asked in confusion, "Cang, what are you going to do?"

Facing Facing Cang Luo said casually, "I will draw a beast companion contract scroll for you."