Cosmic-Level Demon God-Chapter 278 - 175: Elephant Demon and Blood Crystal, Absorbing the Heart of the Furnace!_2

Chapter 278: Chapter 175: Elephant Demon and Blood Crystal, Absorbing the Heart of the Furnace!_2

Old Zhang couldn’t be bothered listening to Xu Sheng’s "complaints"; he disliked mingling with the Martial Arts Association, even deliberately keeping his distance because of this.

In the early years of the Martial Arts Association, grandmasters were plentiful, and the atmosphere was rich with exploration and validation.

However, where there are people, there are conflicts. The Martial Arts Association, certified by Dongxia, gathered the vast power of the martial arts world from the Old Era, gradually becoming a giant system on par with the Three Departments.

With the promotion and popularization of martial arts paths being listed as an examination item, a necessary route to university, the resources it held grew more extensive, naturally evolving into factions and sects. After several millennia, it has now completely transformed into a semi-bureaucratic system.

"Stop with the excuses. If it’s really that difficult and bitter, why put yourself through this? It all boils down to longing for that bit of power and benefits—this has nothing to do with strength or weakness.

Just do your work as an examiner and wait for those kids to slowly come over. If you ask me, you bunch of officials like to endlessly complain, whereas those truly suffering, even when their throats are hoarse from crying out, you may not hear a word."

Old Zhang, apparently well-rested, finally opened his eyes, gazing toward the Bronze Demon Mountain, his hand involuntarily clenching.

"Old Zhao is too impatient, taking too big a step. That mountain is a materialization of the ’Elephant Demon’ descending into the physical realm. It fell into the Great Rift Valley and was polluted similarly, showing faint signs of becoming active. Having contestants below the Specialized Level challenge the Great Demon of the Netherworld is like force-growing seedlings."

The "Old Zhao" he mentioned was the highest leader of the Heng Province Martial Arts Association.

Because this master of the Nanhuang Daoist School had such deep experience, apart from the first generation of top ten, few can match his status.

Xu Sheng said in a deep voice:

"The Elephant Demon Copper Mountain is a kind of anchor point where the Netherworld fell into the physical realm. If it isn’t dealt with, it’s hard to guarantee it won’t form a rift entrance someday. The leaders of the Martial Arts Association believe that if someone can subdue the spiritual imprint left by the Elephant Demon and completely conquer this Copper Mountain,

they would genuinely be the number one in Heng Province, at the top of the hundred rankings!"

Old Zhang sneered and exposed it:

"He’s coveting the blood crystal that is about to mature in Copper Mountain. During the Great Expansion period, that Elephant Demon descended and was smashed into pieces, leaving only a heart-like blood crystal behind. This item is rooted deep within Copper Mountain; unless extraordinary measures are taken, don’t dream of getting it."

Xu Sheng’s face turned awkward, speechless, unable to continue.

He hadn’t expected the senior of Nanhuang Daoist School to know such secrets.

"You are the chief examiner; you must fulfill your duties. Contestants in the core area capable of climbing Copper Mountain are all considered geniuses. If they can’t withstand it and are assimilated by the Elephant Demon, you cannot stand idly by."

Old Zhang reminded him.

"Of course, otherwise the Martial Arts Association wouldn’t have assigned me to guard here."

Xu Sheng nodded. Although the wilderness trials were reactivated, they wouldn’t be as extreme as in the past, allowing talented students to perish.

"Senior, since you know the blood crystal of the Elephant Demon is hidden inside Copper Mountain, why didn’t you tell your disciple? This is also a chance; if he obtains the blood crystal to irrigate his mortal body, he might break through the limits."

Old Zhang shook his head:

"The real name of the Elephant Demon is ’Gromax,’ meaning ’the one who sends off the earth.’ Its remaining spiritual imprint transforms into demonic nature, contained within the rhythm of the heartbeat. To obtain the blood crystal, one must suppress Copper Mountain’s breathing with their own—something even I might not have achieved in my youth.

Telling Little Qin too early is merely adding to his worries, driving him to pursue it intentionally, which could instead harm him."

...

...

"Senior Pei, finally caught up to you."

Qin Shi stepped onto the 150th step, standing shoulder to shoulder with Pei Han, who was earlier placed in the core area.

The latter, seeing his face full of smiles, seemingly relaxed and joyful, looked as though he had seen a ghost.

"Qin... Shi?"

Pei Han was drenched in sweat, his life force like a breached flood, continuously releasing outward.

"It must be an illusion! How could he have possibly run from the outer area to the core area and caught up with me so easily!"

Pei Han shook his head in disbelief; the demonic nature of Copper Mountain was deep, and even his spirit was almost contaminated.

"Senior Pei, your flesh and blood activity has depleted too much, nearing exhaustion. Your whole body’s breathing and vibration rhythm are almost resonating synchronously with this mountain."

Qin Shi’s sharp senses detected that the 150th step was Pei Han’s limit.

Recalling how Pei Han had invited him to team up before the competition due to Lin Yunqing’s request,

he sighed and decided to help:

"Senior Pei, if you’re assimilated, with your flesh imbalanced and activity depleted, it will affect your future path, becoming irreversible.

So, better retreat and settle down!"

Qin Shi operated the cultivation furnace, intense flames covered his body, and he clenched a fist and struck forward.

"It’s indeed an illusion! It wants to attack me, prompting me to fight and deplete more stamina!"

Pei Han smiled wryly, as if he saw through everything, silently standing on the step without moving.

Bang!

A powerful fist struck Pei Han’s eye socket, instantly imprinting a circle of black marks.

"Eh! Not even dodging? It seems you’re really exhausted, Senior Pei!"

Qin Shi showed surprise, not expecting Pei Han to be worn out like this.

How painful!

Pei Han widened his eyes; something’s wrong, why is the illusion so real?

"Could it be my senses are deceived?"

Qin Shi sighed, knowing everyone acquainted, he became less courteous.

He immediately climbed two steps and then turned and kicked out.

"Senior Pei, no need to thank me, saving a life is more meritorious than saving seven pagodas."

Dong dong dong dong——

Pei Han had no time to react, tumbling down like a gourd on the ground.

"This illusion... isn’t an illusion!"

Climbing is tough, but falling is easy; within minutes, he powerless lay at the "foot" of the mountain.

The eerie rhythm constantly invading his mortal body and consuming his flesh and blood activity disappeared in an instant.

"He landed second place; he shouldn’t have reached the core area yet. Catching up so fast... what a monster!"

Pei Han sprawled out, panting heavily, rubbing the bruises around his eyes, laughing bitterly:

"Getting knocked down by a junior who hasn’t even taken the college entrance exam is truly humiliating! Almost ranks with those defeated by the Spiritual Ability System’s Old Martial Sect, sharing the shame of the Martial Arts System!"

...

...

A while later, Qin Shi climbed to the 280th step with some effort, breaking the Three Great Limits of his mortal body, greatly reducing the oppressive pressure Copper Mountain exuded.

With Divine Residence Inner World, Spiritual Meditation close to condensing the Holy Embryo, the demon-infused battle cries and roars couldn’t disturb him much.

The only issue to consider was how to counter the increasingly clear pulsations from within Copper Mountain.

Among the martial arts world of the Old Era, there’s a secret technique, exaggerated to divine levels by later novelists, known as "Heart-Breaking Lock."

Using amplified breathing, it drives the blood force, causing the heart to pound like a drum, audible in all directions.

Such a display of robust life force forcibly draws the weaker into one’s bodily rhythm, shattering their heart, causing bleeding from seven apertures, leading to death.

Climbers aiming to summit Copper Mountain suffer attacks similar to the "Heart-Breaking Lock."

"Humanity’s proudest trait is its resilience in adapting to environments. In biology, there’s a phrase known as ’Survival of the Fittest.’ But this challenge, the stronger the adaptability, the worse the outcome; one must stick to their own rhythm and not be swayed..."

Qin Shi silently operated the cultivation furnace; Nanhuang Daoist School’s legacy emphasizes "Strengthen Me," carving out an internal small world, forming unification.

And He Lanchan’s Void Meditation Technique focuses on "Only Me."

The combination makes one hard to sway by Copper Mountain.

The iron heart he carried seemed placed in a heated urn, starting to melt.

The "Heart of the Furnace" acquired from the Boss Level Rust Beast couldn’t withstand Copper Mountain’s pulsations, showing cracks, akin to a candle exposed to high temperatures, slowly melting.

"Softened, like yam puree."

Qin Shi pinched it, easily leaving marks.

He previously pondered how to digest this.

"A chance indeed."

Qin Shi smiled contentedly, raising his head and swallowing it whole.

The previously hard texture now felt like a boiled yam.

Sticky and mushy, the taste wasn’t bad.

The iron heart was quickly absorbed.

The panel soon reflected a towering stone monument.

[Basic Achievement - Iron People Activated]

Concurrently, the pixelated gray embryo visibly expanded, showing outline shapes.

The round-headed, round-bodied figure emerged with pointed ears, resembling a plush ball.

Giving an impression of being elastic and very squeezable.