Getting Stronger By Fighting

"Your methods were too cruel just now. Be mindful that being too unyielding can cause you to break..."

On the way to the Pure Yuan Pool, He Miaomiao, a beautiful woman, advised Wang Zhan from the perspective of someone with experience.

If the Book Collection Pavilion was the dark side of the Small World, then the Pure Yuan Pool was its bright side.

It was situated on a vast prairie, flat and stretching as far as the eye could see, covered in lush green grass.

However, the woman walking on the grassland at this moment had no interest in appreciating the scenery; only the man seemed relaxed and content.

Glancing at Wang Zhan who seemed rather indifferent beside her, He Miaomiao said gravely, "Don't take this lightly. Between Heaven and Earth, there is a cycle of cause and effect, and retribution is swift. I am much older than you; I've seen such things countless times and am no longer surprised."

She felt somewhat helpless; Wang Zhan was, after all, a descendant of her Qín Family. If it weren't for the family's decline, how could they have produced such a shallow and reckless descendant?

Wang Zhan shook his head slightly. "It's not that I don't want to listen, but overthinking is pointless. Living in the Federation, especially when surrounded by foreign enemies, means survival demands a constant path of slaughter and forging ahead bravely. After all, no one knows if they'll die tomorrow, so how can they care about such things? Naturally, killing one breaks even; killing two is pure profit."

He Miaomiao's expression turned solemn, and after a pause, she sighed. "Alas, your generation... if you continue like this, you'll surely succumb to demonic corruption sooner or later!"

By 'demonic,' she didn't mean the wicked arts of the Magic Path, but a twisted, uncontrollable state of mind.

This is considered a major taboo on the cultivation path.

Wang Zhan chuckled, choosing not to explain further. What does succumbing to demonic influence mean? One only falls to it due to selfish desires.

The Federation has endured decades of relentless war, leaving countless individuals maimed or dead, their hearts filled with hatred. The resentment is immeasurable.

If demonic corruption can save the world, then so be it. If I don't descend into Hell, who will?

He Miaomiao sighed inwardly, understanding Wang Zhan's stance. This is Wang Zhan's code of survival, and indeed, the law of the outside world. We hide away, seemingly in a Utopia, but we're already disconnected from the current era. What right do we have to persuade them otherwise?

So, she had to continue explaining matters concerning the Pure Yuan Pool to Wang Zhan; after all, he was also one of her clan members.

"Since you've cultivated the "General Outline of the Supreme Pure Thunder," you should know that a person's mental energy is supported by their vital energy. Without vital energy, mental energy becomes like rootless duckweed.

Countless Qín ancestors failed at this stage because they lost the balance between their vital energy and mental energy. But an opportunity is now before you, one that can greatly help compensate for the imbalance of mental energy in your body.

If I'm not mistaken, your current mental energy is already three to four times greater than your vital energy. Have you ever considered that the disparity could reach hundreds, or even thousands, of times?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhan was taken aback.

He Miaomiao was right; his current mental energy had indeed far surpassed his basic attributes. Although he hadn't noticed any issues yet, what if the gap reached hundreds or thousands of times?

Even a casual thought revealed how terrifying such a state would be, and how immensely powerful. Yet, He Miaomiao implied that even those incredibly strong elders of the Qín Family had all turned to dust...

"...Therefore, for you and for the Qín Family, only a potent life force represents a true opportunity. The things in the Book Collection Pavilion are merely supplementary; one's own foundation is paramount..."

...

Along the way, He Miaomiao tirelessly admonished Wang Zhan, teaching him the precautions and taboos of the cultivation path.

Finally, Wang Zhan arrived at the entrance to the Pure Yuan Pool!

It was a bare tree standing in the very center of this vast prairie—a Crooked-neck Tree.

It didn't have a single leaf, and its trunk and the 'neck' where it bent were abnormally massive.

At their juncture, ripples of light occasionally flared, like a Star fallen to earth from the bright blue sky.

"Miaomiao, it's been a long time!"

Just then, an ethereal-looking old man, as if stepping out of nothingness, appeared beneath the tree.

He Miaomiao stepped forward and said respectfully, "Greetings, Martial Uncle!"

Wang Zhan remained silent, merely offering a polite greeting to the senior.

He wasn't familiar with these people and didn't know their temperaments, so a standard, polite greeting was sufficient.

"Hehe!"

The old man chuckled, then turned his gaze to Wang Zhan.

His hawk-like eyes scrutinized Wang Zhan sharply for a moment before his gaze softened, becoming as calm as a gentle breeze, showing no ripples of emotion.

He smiled and said, "Not bad. You have indeed cultivated the "General Outline of the Supreme Pure Thunder." No wonder you made a special trip here. Although your realm is a bit low, it's good to take precautions. Did you bring the token?"

"We brought it!" He Miaomiao responded.

Wang Zhan remained silent, leaving the two to converse.

The old man chuckled again, looking at Wang Zhan with a meaningful expression.

"Go in. Remember, know your limits. If you get greedy, not even I can save you."

Wang Zhan replied respectfully, "Understood!"

As he spoke, the Crooked-neck Tree before Wang Zhan's eyes shimmered and transformed into a faintly glowing portal.

It all seemed like an illusion.

Though his thoughts wavered slightly, Wang Zhan didn't hesitate, stepping straight through the portal. In that instant, his vision was enveloped by a world of brilliant light.

Then, he saw it.

Before him lay a vast, sparkling sea.

The ocean sprawled beneath the blue sky, its azure expanse touching everything. A long, sandy beach encircled it like a silk ribbon, appearing to hold back the endless waves, yet so intoxicating it felt like paradise.

Recalling the Pure Yang Pool he had previously imagined, a wry smile touched Wang Zhan's lips, his heart a mixture of longing and envy.

He murmured, "Is this the Pure Yang Pool?"

This pool is enormous, practically an ocean!

...

「By the Pure Yang Pool.」

Wang Zhan could only sense an incredibly dense Spiritual Energy directly before him, while the surroundings were utterly desolate.

He stepped forward cautiously, touched a droplet of water with his finger, and was suddenly overwhelmed as the Spiritual Energy within it seemed to explode, surging madly into his body.

At that moment, Wang Zhan's pupils contracted. He stared intently at the droplet of Pure Yang Liquid on his hand, which was visibly shrinking at an alarming rate, and horror surged through him.

Host: Wang Zhan

Domain: 1

Limit: 0

Strength: 4,600

Agility: 4,600

Physique: 4,600

Charm: 240

Wisdom: 300

Mental Power: 14,400

Just half a droplet of Pure Yang Liquid had boosted Wang Zhan's basic attributes by a large margin, allowing him to directly reach the peak of a level 1 Martial Master's basic attributes.

The amplifying effect of this Pure Yuan Liquid was truly terrifying. It was even purer than the Pure Essence Pills Yu Tai had given him, and remarkably gentle and mild, as if it had no side effects whatsoever.

Wang Zhan finally understood why He Miaomiao repeatedly reminded him to cherish this opportunity. Compared to human efforts, this ocean could be considered a miracle.

He also understood why the Old Man had warned him not to be greedy. Greed meant death. No one else needed to act; his own avarice could lead to an irrevocable end.

No wonder they let me in... I'm just a mere Martial Master. Even if I absorb with all my might, how much could I possibly take from this vast pool? It would barely make a dent...

Similarly, Wang Zhan now understood the reason for their unusual friendliness. He was just a level 1 Warrior. Even if he absorbed the energy with all his might, he couldn't take much.

One should know that after entering the Martial Master Realm, Wang Zhan's basic attributes had doubled again. For each rank he advanced, he gained 400 points in basic attributes and 200 points in extreme attributes. With all bonuses fully active, his overall capacity could be equivalent to that of two level 1 Martial Masters.

Yet, despite this, just half a droplet of Pure Yuan Liquid had already pushed his basic attributes to the limit for a level 1 Martial Master. This just went to show how terrifyingly potent it was, surpassing even the Federation's Sky-grade Elixirs.

Thinking this, Wang Zhan suddenly chuckled and stopped his wild thoughts.

Anyway, he didn't have the ability to take this ocean away. He could only look on with envy. He might as well focus on figuring out how to absorb a little more.

So, he took out the ancient book about domains that Old Master Zao from the Book Collection Pavilion had given him and began to read it.

Ultimately, the only thing that might allow him to achieve an unexpected result was that inexplicable domain. Since they had been so courteous, Wang Zhan felt he owed them a significant favor and had to try his best.

"...The domain, the fruition of the Human Race's path, the core of martial arts..."

...

Time passed as Wang Zhan slowly read.

An unknown amount of time passed until the Sun vanished from the sky, replaced by a full moon.

Only then did Wang Zhan let out a deep breath, gently setting down the book and rubbing his temples.

What on earth is this? It's too difficult to understand, far beyond what I can comprehend at my current realm.

Ultimately, what was written in the book were just theories from the book.

The ancients, those who lived in prehistoric times, preferred to let things develop naturally, to go with the flow. How could they have anticipated that a special case like Wang Zhan would appear in a later era?

Wang Zhan had never gone through the typical stages of domain preparation, cultivation, and condensation. He had simply acquired a formless, attribute-less domain within his body, as if conjuring something from nothing.

Even the ancient book only mentioned a possibility: awakening.

Conversely, most domains manifest naturally, and each possesses unique characteristics. After all, though there are myriad flowers in the world, no two are identical; this is what distinguishes them.

The problem was, Wang Zhan didn't even understand what a domain was, how to unleash it, or how to comprehend it. What he was doing now was no different from trying to reinvent the wheel.

Should I just give up? He felt deeply unwilling. This Pure Yuan Pool before him was the greatest opportunity of his life, and no one was stopping him. Could he really just let it slip through his fingers?

Perhaps it was fate, or perhaps, as they say, where there's a will, there's a way.

Just then, a figure exuding a potent bloody aura, its deep red eyes glinting in the darkness, quietly entered the Pure Yuan Pool.

With a single glance, the figure spotted Wang Zhan, who was deep in thought by the edge of the sea. A cruel smile touched the corners of its mouth.