Chapter Six: Ascetic Cultivation II

As Yao Ye slowly opened his eyes, he saw himself covered in filth and dried bloodstains. He couldn't help but laugh softly and said, "I've finally made it through!"

Tearing off his tattered shirt, Yao Ye noticed that the wounds inflicted by the oppressive force had already scabbed and healed—something that would never have happened to him before.

He recalled that, when he jumped from the top of the cliff, he had seen the Creation Cauldron emit a faint glow. At first, he thought it was an illusion, but he survived the fall. Considering all these circumstances, Yao Ye gently touched the emblem on his chest and resolved to test whether it was indeed the Creation Cauldron assisting him.

Picking up the Blood Cry lying nearby, he drew it across his arm. At that moment, Yao Ye discovered the Creation Cauldron at his chest emitted a subtle warmth; he felt a slight itch at the wound. After about a quarter of an hour, the wound had scabbed over and no longer bled. "The wound is healing on its own—heaven truly favors me! With the aid of this divine cauldron, my cultivation of the physical body will be twice as effective!" Yao Ye exclaimed joyfully.

He stood up and tried punching the air; the force of his punches astonished him again. His physical strength was now double what it had been before, and Yao Ye was instantly filled with fighting spirit!

He walked toward the edge of the area, but unfortunately, there were no large demon beasts for him to spar with. The outskirts were infested with poisonous insects. Touching his empty stomach, Yao Ye could only fill himself with such creatures—when hungry, he ate poisonous scorpions, snakes, ants, and the like; when thirsty, he quenched himself with grass sap.

All his remaining time was spent training himself under the oppressive force. Watching his daily progress, Yao Ye felt both pain and joy. At present, his hair was wild, his clothing in tatters—he was as disheveled as one could possibly be.

Having taken the Shapeshifting Herb since childhood, he had always maintained a human form. Now, even without reverting to his true body, he resembled a demon beast—covered in filth. But Yao Ye paid no heed, devoting himself wholly to cultivation.

"Today, I must take a hundred steps," he encouraged himself, for nearly half a month he had been stopped at the ninety-ninth step.

On this day, Yao Ye once again reached the ninety-ninth step. Gritting his teeth, he summoned all his strength and stepped forward, reaching the hundredth step. Suddenly, a change occurred—he froze. He saw his father, the emperor, approaching and saying, "My child! You've suffered so much. Come here, let your father have a good look at you!"

"Father!" Tears streamed down Yao Ye's face uncontrollably. He rushed forward, wanting to embrace his father, to vent all his grievances and longing.

But then, his chest suddenly burned, as if seared by a red-hot iron. Yao Ye's vision brightened; he found himself still at the hundredth step, his left foot raised. His body was covered in wounds as if cut by blades. "Phew! That was close. If not for the Creation Cauldron's warning, I might have died here today!" Yao Ye collapsed to the ground, murmuring to himself.

Surveying his surroundings, Yao Ye discovered an invisible gale. Releasing his spiritual power, he realized the area was saturated with demonic energy; chaotic currents swirled in all directions. To progress further, one needed powerful divine sense, for the currents changed constantly—sometimes swelling, sometimes shrinking. If one failed to detect them in time, there might not even be a chance to escape.

A sudden stabbing pain forced Yao Ye to withdraw his divine sense. "It's only been a few minutes, yet my spiritual power is depleted, and there's stabbing pain—the very symptoms of divine sense being attacked! And the oppressive force has nearly doubled," he said in astonishment.

"Yet it's truly a perfect place to temper divine sense. Without the Creation Cauldron, even a Spiritual Communion realm expert would likely bleed to death here!" Yao Ye spoke with delight and gratitude.

Relying on the cauldron's power, Yao Ye gritted his teeth and persisted in cultivation. Whenever he could no longer endure, he retreated a bit, recovered, and pressed forward again. Alone in this sunless, dim place, he clung desperately to his sense of duty. He knew that any relaxation might lead him astray in this perilous realm.

Though aided by the Creation Cauldron, his own efforts were still essential. Despite being covered in wounds, he dared not slacken—not only did he have to guard his mind against the demonic energy, but he also had to keep training his body!

Unbeknownst to Yao Ye, everything he experienced was being watched by a certain presence. "A promising seedling for cultivation. I, the old man, shall see how long you, little one, can endure!" came a voice of praise beside Yao Ye, though he remained unaware...