Chapter 143: G.o.dfiend Body Tempering, Transcendence Stage
The thick spirit fog enshrouded every nook and cranny of the Fog Plain, and silence prevailed everywhere.
Meanwhile, four Divine Binding Vine dashed through the plains seductively as if their lives depended on it. Two Divine Binding Vines in front leading the way, the other two Divine Binding Vines followed behind; they were using their vines to weave a cage.
The person locked up in that cage was none other than Shen Tian, who was wearing his Black Tortoise Armor, as well as an additional layer of Black Tortoise Armor—his defensive capabilities were unmatched.
Although an immovable and indestructible armor protected him and these Divine Binding Vines were unable to do anything to him temporarily, Shen Tian was still in a panicked state.
The vines wanted to bring him to the mastermind manipulating them—the old female demon that called herself the Mother Vine. It was an existence that could casually send out over ten mutated Nascent Soul Divine Binding Vines, and its cultivation level was unfathomable.
If they really handed him to the Mother Vine, his Black Tortoise Armors would not stand a chance before it!
No, I cannot just sit and wait for my doom! I must overcome this predicament!
Shen Tian observed the vine cage weaved by thick and large vines, and he suddenly thought of a solution.
The Divine Binding Vine was widely known as an extremely tough plant; it was difficult for even superior-grade Dharma artifacts to chop off the vines.
The powerful weapons Shen Tian carried on his person were only the Lotus Shooting Gun, Purple Golden Hammer, Sword Master Token, and Jade Water Sword.
Previously, Shen Tian had obtained a long whip in the Celestial Water Immortal Abode, but as the grade was too high, Shen Tian was unable to use it until now. Thus, to Shen Tian, the practical use of that whip was not high, at least not as useful as Dharma artifacts like Purple Golden Hammer.
“To chop off these vines, I need to use a sharp weapon, so the Purple Golden Hammer does not fulfill the requirement. The Lotus Shooting Gun is a middle-grade spirit artifact, but it’s a pity that it’s more suitable for charging and piercing, instead of slashing or chopping.”
Shen Tian seemed to be deep in thought. “So, the most suitable for slashing the Divine Binding Vine is still the Jade Water Sword that Lian’er gifted me.”
Shen Tian put his thought into action, so he pulled out the Jade Water Sword and slashed toward that vine cage suddenly—the blade looked just like blue water as it was swung.
Clang!
The Jade Water Sword slashed deeply into one of the Divine Binding Vines, but it was unable to continue once it was halfway through. At the same time, the Divine Binding Vine was extremely flexible, and just when Shen Tian was prepared to pull out the sword, he realized that it was tightly stuck!
If he did not pull his sword back and retreat into his Black Tortoise barrier in time, the Divine Binding Vines might s.n.a.t.c.h his Jade Water Sword.
Shen Tian’s attacks made Divine Binding Vines’ binding tighter, and Divine Emblems started to appear on the vines’ surfaces.
Those Divine Emblems were the Divine Binding Vines’ innate talent, as well as their energy circuit route, which allowed their bodies to become even tougher. It was because the vines had the Divine Emblems’ protection that even the Jade Water Sword was unable to slice through its body.
Seeing that his all-out attack did not work, Shen Tian could not help but frown.
These demons are too troublesome to deal with. What should I do? What can I do to strengthen the Jade Water Sword’s power?
If the Sword Master Token could still be used, Shen Tian would not be this worried as he could escape with just the slash of a sword. Unfortunately, when facing that Nascent Soul Divine Binding Vine, Shen Tian had already used the Sword Master Token once.
The Sword Master Token was still absorbing the Spirit Stones to replenish and store energy. At least another two hours were needed before its cooldown ended.
The problem was that what if two hours later they had already moved him where the Mother Vine was? By then, even the Sword Master Token would be useless!
Suddenly, Shen Tian recalled a previous thought, which led to a bright idea.
In the 21st century, humanity had developed an extremely fearsome cutting tool—the water jet cutter!
The principle behind it was to apply ultra-high pressure to water, then release the water through an extremely small nozzle to form a rapid water flow. Although the water flow’s speed was so fast that the amount of kinetic energy needed was astonishing, it could easily slice through bluestone and steel.
Back when Shen Tian had obtained the First Essence Heavy Water, he had thought of forming it into the shape of a longsword. Although its speed might not be extremely fast, its high ma.s.s would make it fearsome, nonetheless.
Shen Tian had discovered that the difficulty of shaping the First Essence Heavy Water into such a meticulous weapon was just too high.
On the other hand, it was extremely easy to attach the First Essence Heavy Water onto the Purple Golden Hammer’s surface and simply enhance its heavy strikes.
That was also the reason Shen Tian had chosen to use the Purple Golden Hammer when researching his killer move.
However, Shen Tian now had to break through his own limits while facing the vine cage. Only by successfully attaching the First Essence Heavy Water onto the Jade Water Sword’s blade could he have a chance to escape!
Shen Tian took a deep breath and patted his kidney slightly, mobilizing quite the amount of First Essence Heavy Water. He tried his best to attach the First Essence Heavy Water onto the Jade Water Sword’s blade and suppressed it into the thinnest state.
Nevertheless, no matter how he tried, he was unable to successfully form the Jake Water Sword’s blade’s sharpness. There seemed to be a barrier that was stopping Shen Tian from reaching such a realm.
Just what did he lack?
Shen Tian frowned.
Why do I feel that the First Essence Heavy Water is not this obedient now?
The First Essence Heavy Water was crazily attracted to him and had merged with him when he had first encountered it. But even after such a long time, he was still unable to perfectly control the First Essence Heavy Water.
Wait a second!
Shen Tian was suddenly enlightened.
He recalled that when he had circulated the Lightning Emperor Body Tempering Art, the First Essence Heavy Water had immediately caused an uprising. Only after changing back to the Tinder Body-Tempering Art did the First Essence Heavy Water calm down.
That was to say, the Tinder Sutra could subdue the First Essence Heavy Water!
As such, if he cultivated the Tinder Sutra and officially broke through the Body Tempering stage, wouldn’t his control over the First Essence Heavy Water increase greatly?
Shen Tian believed that his speculation was highly possible.
Since the demons have already trapped me, rather than just sitting and doing nothing, why not take a chance?
At that thought, Shen Tian took bags of Spirit Stones out of his Archeon Sea Ring and started devouring Spirit Qi crazily. At the same time, he took out Divine Binding Vines and started sucking their juices that were filled with rich energy.
Shen Tian’s body instincts screamed at him that sucking those Divine Binding Vine’s juices would be advantageous to his breakthrough!
The Spirit Stones turned into powder one by one, while the Divine Binding Vines were sucked dry of their Spirit Qi until only their empty sh.e.l.ls remained. All the cells and acupoints in his whole body were resonating as if undergoing the transition of the energy.
Shen Tian could feel that his physical body had been strengthened to the maximum. The Qi and blood in his body were like mercury, letting out rumbling sounds when moving around, like that of a huge surging river.
His muscles, veins, and nerves were all trembling vigorously, powerful and dynamic. It was as if a fierce tiger was in his heart, roaring at the forest.
Shen Tian took a deep breath as his body was emitting a red Qi aura.
That was the Body Tempering Qi Aura, the sign of one breaking through the Body Tempering stage and almost entering the Transcendence stage!
Only by refining one’s physical body to the extreme could one gather and form pure aura essence energy.
This Qi Aura had the feature of “extreme firmness and Yang”, and it was the nemesis of all kinds of demons and heretics.
If Foundation Establishment was the first step Qi Refinement cultivators took toward cultivation to immortality, then the Transcendence stage was the turning point of G.o.dfiend Body Tempering.
Only by forming Body Tempering Qi Aura could one be counted as a real G.o.dfiend Body Tempering cultivator.
At that moment, Shen Tian broke through to such a stage and entered a whole new world.
Qi Aura could now refine his body, strengthening it and allowing it to transcend the mundane. Thus, this stage’s name—Transcendence!