```

The raging storm was bone-chillingly cold.

The three-zhang-long, variegated tiger body leaped high into the air, frantically darting through the hills, toppling countless giant trees, shaking the very earth and mountains.

As soon as the elder tiger was disemboweled by that palm, the young Tiger Demon fled in the opposite direction without looking back.

It had never imagined that it would become the "Leopard King" in this manner, the only choice of its father.

Yet there was no joy in its heart, only a chill that caused it to shiver uncontrollably.

Because another ferocious demon was still on its tail, its overwhelming demonic power signifying that its adversary possessed at least a thousand more years of cultivation than itself.

"Senior!"

The young Tiger Demon howled as it fled, "My father is the Mountain Lord of Creek Terrace Mountain, and my stepfather is the White Deer Demon Lord. Spare my life for their sake!"

In the midst of its desperate screams, a pitch-black Ceremonial Blade flew at a speed invisible to the naked eye, piercing its hind leg and nailing it to the steep rocky cliffs.

"Ow!"

A sharp cry of pain, and the young Tiger Demon, with bloodshot eyes, roared, "My father is in Yong'an City!"

A slight figure stepped out of the curtain of rain, walking unhurriedly to the forefront of the Tiger Demon.

Shen Yi grasped its massive head and pounded punch after punch down, his demonic power unleashed as if it cost him nothing, smashing the Tiger Demon's skull until it was fractured, its eyes glazed over, utterly powerless to fight back.

Boom—Boom—

Soon, the whole tiger's face was stained red with blood plasma.

It didn't even notice that the young man's aura was rapidly waning.

Shen Yi couldn't remember how many punches he had thrown, not until the Tiger Demon's head under his fists was unrecognizable, then the dark red mist in his eyes began to fade slightly.

[Slain Condensation Realm Tiger Demon, total lifespan of three thousand eight hundred and twenty years, remaining lifespan of one thousand nine hundred and twelve years, absorption complete]

[Remaining demonic lifespan: four thousand three hundred and seventy-eight years]

Another strand of a Condensation Realm Demon's essence blood drilled into the bell.

He walked over to pull out the Ceremonial Blade, expertly sliced open the belly to extract the inner core, and also took several valuable demon goods, all of which he placed inside the bell.

Then, feeling somewhat drained, he lay atop the corpse of the Tiger Demon.

Shen Yi took deep breaths and slowly extended his right hand, his sleeve sliding down to reveal a wrist covered in fresh red lines.

This was the first time he had used the full strength of the Fiendish External Elixir.

Fear flickered through his clear, dark eyes as they returned to normal.

He didn't know what a normal Condensation Elixir Realm was like, but aside from its appearance, this Fiendish External Elixir was definitely not related to an inner core in the slightest.

Previously, by just barely allowing the Fiendish External Elixir a pathway, Shen Yi was able to channel that slight demonic power into the blade to instantly kill the Vajra Gate abbot with one strike.

But if, like now, he directly removed the suppressive force of the Sun Melting Furnace,

The surging cultivation of the Demon Lord within it was something Shen Yi couldn't control, like the initial palm strike on the elder Tiger Demon, which seemed simple and unremarkable but actually consumed around one-fifth of his savings, destroying the opponent's entire circulatory network with a single blow.

But the destruction caused to his own body was not to be ignored either.

If it were an inner core connected to the meridians and acupuncture points, how could he mobilize so much power at once?

"Without some body refining skills, this thing really can't be used."

Shen Yi's eyes twitched twice, and he introspected.

The Sun Melting Furnace easily suppressed the External Elixir back into place.

About half of the demonic power cultivation originally housed inside was left, now there was only about a third remaining.

```

"..."

Shen Yi sighed and took the Outer Elixir in hand, also pulling out the Crocodile Dragon Cub Pill that A'Qian had given him. This time, he did not swallow it but instead brought the two together.

The moment the Skyprowler Yama Outer Elixir burst forth with a domineering devouring power, as if it wanted to completely swallow the cub pill.

The stored energy inside was rapidly replenished, returning to about fifty percent, which was the current limit of the Sun Melting Furnace.

Shen Yi reacted swiftly, withdrawing it and reabsorbing it back into his inner sea.

He then observed the Crocodile Dragon Cub Pill in his hand.

As he had guessed, a single cub pill could restore about twenty-five percent. At this moment, there was not much essence left in it. He needed to find an opportunity to consume it, or once the essence completely dissipated, it would become useless.

He lay down and rested a while longer.

Gradually, Shen Yi dispelled the abrupt violence in his emotions and sat up straight again.

Anyway, this was his biggest gain since traveling to this world.

He summoned the panel with a thought.

A millennium of Demon longevity turned into a Demon Crystal.

[Remaining Demon Longevity: Three thousand three hundred and seventy-eight years]

[Condensation Elixir. Life and Death Zen Body (Upper Volume): Complete]

Shen Yi wasn't as tense as last time, bolstered by several thousand years worth of Demon longevity.

He wasn't looking for anything too exceptional, just a complete set of Condensation Elixir Body Refining Martial Arts would do. He hoped not to encounter any mess like the Skyprowler Yama Outer Elixir again.

With that thought in mind, he slowly poured the Demon Crystal into it.

...

[In the first year, you consumed the Demon Crystal, attempting to deduce the lower volume of Life and Death Zen Body, and the grievances of numerous demons gradually awakened.]

[Lifespan extended by twenty years.]

[In the third year, the young Fox Demon, not skilled in Body Refining techniques, complained that these were for brainless warriors and a waste of time.]

[In the fifth year, the Ape Demon awakened, suggesting that you might as well genuinely die once to see if that vitality could bring you back to life. If successful, your understanding of martial arts would inevitably advance greatly.]

"..."

Shen Yi had not expected much from these lesser demons.

The Demon Crystal could awaken the grievances of the dead demons, but it required time. If his memory served him right, the last Crocodile Demon had awakened around the thirtieth year.

[In the twenty-eighth year, the Crocodile Demon and the Tiger Demon both regained some consciousness. They were creatures blessed by the heavens and earth, naturally possessing incredibly strong bodies. The Crocodile Demon attempted to study the mysterious white light upon you.]

[In the forty-sixth year, the Crocodile Demon was troubled by the notion of life and death. The mysterious white light, like chains, bound it. You observed this and gained a bit of insight.]

[In the one hundred and twenty-seventh year, you attempted to use the will to die to suppress demonic power and absorb vitality for your own use... The Crocodile Demon described its feelings in detail to you, helping you perfect this hypothesis.]

[In the one hundred and ninety-third year, with the help of the Crocodile Demon, you finally deduced the rough path. Out of gratitude to the Crocodile Demon, you contemplated naming it "Conquering Flood Dragon Arhat Golden Body," when the Crocodile Dragon suddenly reminded you that you shared the same metamorphic talent as it and asked if you could further combine them.]

[In the two hundred and ninety-third year, the Crocodile Dragon imitated its former self and demonstrated the entire process to you. Not quite understanding, you suggested it do it again.]

"This is..."

Shen Yi had been quietly observing until now but found himself unable to suppress his emotion.

He was only a step away from completing the Body Refining technique, yet seeing the prompts on the panel, he couldn't help but clench his fists.

The same realm of martial arts, yet they still varied in grade.

A Crocodile Dragon in the Jade Liquid Boundary actually wanted to help him break through his Body Refining technique even further?