77: Chapter 77 Fourth Tier

“So that’s it!”

Gao Feng’s eyes erupted with shocking brilliance!

He was now 100% certain that this woman was the “offering” necessary to open the ruins!

And the condition to open the ruins was to gather the three keys, bring the offering, and find the place called “Serpents Eye Peak” during the special celestial phenomenon of “Twin Moons Weeping Blood.”

Although the puzzle wasn’t fully solved, he had grasped enough key clues!

With everything clear, the last trace of doubt in Gao Feng’s heart vanished.

He no longer had any hesitation, storing all the spoils, along with the huge ice coffin, into his spirit spring space.

After confirming there were no omissions, Gao Feng set a fire, burning this hellish place filled with sin and evil to the ground.

The raging fire burned for an entire night.

When the first ray of sunlight illuminated the Ghost Sees Sorrow Mountain Range the next day, the once terrifying Hundred Ghost Cave had completely turned into ruins.

Gao Feng stood on the mountain peak, gazing at the rising morning sun in the distance, feeling refreshed.

This trip, although extremely dangerous and having hovered on the edge of life and death several times, had brought unprecedented gains.

Not only had he completely cleared this huge threat near Panshi Stockade and made a valuable connection with Lin Xuan, but more importantly, he had obtained the keys and the “offering” to open the ancient ruins, and had unveiled the first layer of the mystery regarding how to open them.

All preliminary preparations could be said to be complete.

Next, it was time for closed-door Cultivation to improve his strength!

At the same time, it was time to use the intelligence network of Panshi Stockade to find out what the so-called “Twin Moons Weeping Blood” and “Serpents Eye Peak” actually represented!

When he had digested all his gains, achieved a Breakthrough in his strength, and solved all the mysteries, that would be the day the ancient ruins, silent for thousands of years, would reappear in the world!

Gao Feng’s eyes burned with a fierce fire named ambition and exploration.

He took a deep breath of the cold, fresh morning air, turned around, and his figure disappeared into the vast mountains like a giant roc spreading its wings.

Goose-feather-like heavy snow drifted down from the leaden sky. In just a few days, it had wrapped the entire Ghost Sees Sorrow Mountain Range in a thick silver coat.

Between heaven and earth, it was vast and white.

The once noisy mountain forest had now fallen into complete silence, with only the biting cold wind whistling through the withered branches, making “woo-woo” sounds like ghosts crying.

This sudden heavy snow completely cut off all contact between Panshi Stockade and the outside world.

The clouds of war were also temporarily masked by this endless white.

The entire Panshi Stockade entered a rare “wintering” season.

Unlike the refugees outside the mountains struggling to survive in the cold wind and hunger, this year, Panshi Stockade was living in unprecedented prosperity and peace.

The huge warehouse was filled with grain, dried meat, and salted vegetables enough for thousands of people to eat throughout the winter.

In the newly built textile workshop, the women sat around a warm stove, sewing large quantities of high-quality animal skins and fabrics into thick winter clothes, quilts, and felt boots.

Every household was allocated enough clothing to keep out the cold and sufficient firewood.

The children no longer needed to brave the severe cold to go up the mountain to dig for wild vegetables or pick up firewood.

They were gathered in the newly renovated, spacious, and bright “Panshi Academy.”

Outside the window was the howling north wind and snow filling the sky.

Inside the window was the warm stove fire and the sound of reading.

Liu Chengfeng personally served as the head of the academy. He patiently taught these children, who once couldn’t even write their own names, to read and understand reason, starting from the most basic “Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, Yellow, Universe, Great Wilderness.”

He taught them what loyalty was, what righteousness was, and what the nation and the world were.

He also taught them to always remember who gave them all this.

A seed named “hope” was quietly taking root and sprouting in the hearts of these children.

For those energetic soldiers, this winter was not a rest, but a more severe tempering.

Du Wei, the impartial head of the Law Enforcement Hall and commander of the Tiger Guard Battalion, turned the entire winter into a crazy “winter drill.”

In the early morning, when the first ray of faint morning light just pierced the horizon,

“Dong! Dong! Dong!”

The dull drums of the generals would sound on time in the silent valley.

All soldiers, whether new or old, had to be fully dressed and assembled on the huge drill ground in the wind and snow within three drum beats.

Latecomers, regardless of the reason, would receive twenty military strokes.

Du Wei would bare his steel-like upper body, letting the cold snowflakes fall on him and turn into white mist.

He would personally lead all the soldiers in the most cruel cross-country training with heavy loads in knee-deep snow.

They carried heavy stones and equipment on their backs.

Under their feet were slippery ice and rugged mountain roads.

Every breath inhaled was cold air like a knife.

Every step taken required several times more energy than usual.

Many new recruits could not withstand such high-intensity training at the beginning, tired like dead dogs, lying in the snow, foaming at the mouth.

But no one dared to give up because they knew that General Du Wei was by their side, running and training with them.

They also knew that at the finish line, steaming nourishing meat soup with plenty of meat and medicinal herbs awaited them.

In the afternoon, it was the most boring and willpower-grinding equipment training.

Shield soldiers had to practice chopping and blocking over and over again against the cold wind.

Spearmen had to stab the wooden stakes in front of them ten thousand times until their arms were so sore they could no longer lift them.

Archers had to perform the most precise aiming training under the interference of the flying snow.

Their training standard was only one: to practice every movement into body instinct.

Let them make the most correct reaction even in their sleep.

At night, the soldiers could not rest immediately.

They would be driven into rows of newly built, huge bathhouses.

In the bathhouses, huge wooden barrels were already prepared.

Inside the barrels was hot medicinal soup brewed from various medicinal herbs personally prepared by Uncle Sun to promote blood circulation, remove blood stasis, and strengthen tendons and bones.

The soldiers soaked their exhausted bodies in the medicinal soup.

That warm and stinging medicinal power instantly spread throughout their bodies.

The fatigue and soreness of the day quickly dissipated under the effect of the medicinal power.

Replacing it was a kind of comfort and strength that permeated from their bones.

They could clearly feel that their bodies were becoming stronger and tougher day by day under this cruel tempering and scientific nourishment.

Their eyes also became sharper and more confident.

That iron-blooded military Soul tempered by countless challenges to the limit was quietly taking shape in them.

As the creator of all this, Gao Feng seemed to have “disappeared” from everyone’s field of vision.

Except for Su Yue, Luo Qin, and a few core members, no one knew his true whereabouts.

In fact, this calm winter was the golden period for Gao Feng’s strength improvement.

Inside the spirit spring space, time passed quietly at ten times the speed of the outside world.

In the outside world, it had only been a short month.

Inside the space, it had already been several summers and winters.

Gao Feng had studied the “Wind Thunder Guide” obtained from Hanyang City over and over again a hundred times.

This core Cultivation Technique from the Wind and Thunder Sword Sect was far more exquisite and profound than any Internal Skill he had learned before.

It emphasized not just the accumulation of Internal Energy.

More importantly, it was how to build a miniature “Wind Thunder Cycle” in the body.

Through visualization, imitating the birth, death, and operating trajectory of wind and thunder between heaven and earth.

Converting the Origin Qi absorbed into the body into a kind of “Wind Thunder True Qi” full of sharpness and explosive attributes.

This True Qi was not only powerful, but also had a natural restraint against all evil things.

Gao Feng sat cross-legged by the spirit spring lake.

As he breathed, the invisible free Origin Qi in the surrounding air, as if guided by some mysterious force, turned into fine white air currents, pouring into his body continuously.

In his Dantian, the originally thick and heavy Internal Energy began to change qualitatively.

Wisps of extremely faint, light purple electric arcs began to flash and jump within his Internal Energy.

Every jump would cause a tingling sensation in his Meridians.

But at the same time, it also made his Meridians tougher and wider.

Besides Cultivating Internal Skill, Gao Feng did not relax the polishing of his Physical Body.

Every day, he would first soak his whole body thoroughly with spirit spring water mixed with medicinal herbs, and then Cultivate several hard-training techniques.

From skin and flesh, to tendons and bones, to internal organs... huge changes had taken place.

His Physical Body strength was increasing rapidly at a terrifying speed.

And when his body and spirit were trained to the limit, he would stop.

Either he would practice the three-pointed, double-edged blade technique, which was already in unity with him, in the space.

Or he would study the “Corpse Refining Art” and “Corpse Control Technique” obtained from the Hundred Ghost Cave, drawing inspiration from them to verify his own martial way.

He even tried to release the beautiful woman, half-human and half-corpse, who had been sealed by him in an ice coffin.

He found that this woman’s body was extremely peculiar.

The vitality and Death Qi in her body reached a delicate balance.

Any external force, once it entered her body, would be instantly dissipated by this balanced force and turned into nothingness.

Even the massive life energy of the spirit spring water could not have any effect on her.

“It seems that if I want to purify the corpse qi in her body, ordinary methods will not work.”

Gao Feng finally gave up this idea and sealed her again.

To him, this woman’s greatest value now was still the “offering” to the ancient ruins.

Until he found a definitive solution, he would not easily attempt to change her state again.

Thus, day after day, the cycle repeated.

When the snow outside had piled up several feet thick, and the entire Gui Jian Chou Mountain Range was completely frozen over.

Inside the spirit spring space, Gao Feng finally underwent an earth-shattering, tremendous change.

On this day, he sat cross-legged, his entire body covered by a thick layer of black filth expelled from within.

His breathing became faint, as if he had completely merged with the surrounding world.

Suddenly!

"Boom!"

A muffled, thunderous sound, as if coming from the depths of his Soul, exploded within his body!

That unbreakable Bottleneck, which had troubled him for so long, was finally struck by the True Qi of the Wind Thunder Guide that had accumulated to the extreme, cracking open a tiny fissure at this moment!

"Now is the time!"

Gao Feng's eyes snapped open!

Two rays of purple lightning, as if tangible, shot out from his eyes!

He let out a roar, gathering all the power in his body into one force, and launched a final all-out assault against that fissure!

"Break for me!"

"Crack!"

A crisp sound, like shattering glass, rang out clearly in the depths of his Soul.

That unbreakable barrier shattered instantly!

A purple torrent, more than ten times more powerful than before and filled with an aura of explosion and destruction, broke through all restraints!

They no longer remained only in the Meridians.

Instead, like countless tiny purple spirit snakes, they crazily burrowed into every inch of his bones!

"Sizzle! Sizzle!"

Pain!

An extreme pain, indescribable in words and as if it would crush his Soul, instantly swept through his entire body!

He felt that every single one of his bones was being tempered and forged, inch by inch, by that violent thunderous power!

His bones shattered and then rapidly reorganized under the majestic life energy of the spirit spring space water!

In this cycle of life and death, destruction and rebirth.

His bones began to undergo an incredible qualitative change!

Originally stark white, his bones gradually began to take on a faint metallic luster.

The density of his bones was increasing at a terrifying speed.

Within his bone marrow, it seemed as if wisps of golden divine radiance were being conceived!

Fourth Rank!

Bone Refining Realm!

Success!

When the last wisp of thunderous power was completely integrated into his bone marrow, all the pain receded like a tide.

Replacing it was an unprecedented, powerful feeling as if he could control the world!

Gao Feng slowly stood up. He casually clenched his fist, and a crisp, resounding boom, like a great golden bell, emanated from his body!

The sound was long and heavy, filled with the beauty of power!

He felt that now, a single punch was enough to shatter a small mountain!

This was the power of a Fourth Rank expert!

Compared to the Third Rank, this was a completely new level of life!

"Finally... succeeded."

Gao Feng let out a long breath of turbid air, tinged with faint purple lightning.

A long-lost, joyful smile appeared on his face.

At this moment, he truly felt he possessed the real capital to establish himself in this vast and dangerous world!

Gao Feng Cultivated for a few more days, and after he had completely stabilized his Realm, he finally exited the spirit spring space.

Outside, the wind and snow had long since ceased.

However, the entire Panshi Stockade was shrouded in an unprecedented, tense, and murderous atmosphere.

Gao Feng was startled and quickly found Luo Qin, "What happened?!"

"Scouts reported some time ago that refugees fleeing south have suddenly started returning in large numbers!"

"After investigation, we learned it is because a barbarian tribe from the outskirts of the Million Mountains, called the 'Wuhui Tribe', is crazily invading northward!"

"Wherever they pass, villages are turned into scorched earth, and men, women, and children are all slaughtered!"

"They have already conquered several counties to the south!"

"Judging by their direction... they will pass through our Gui Jian Chou Mountain Range!"

The Wuhui are coming!

This news was like a massive boulder, slamming into the heart of the Panshi Stockade, which had just experienced great development and was immersed in peace and hope, instantly stirring up monstrous waves!

An emergency military meeting was held overnight in the newly built council hall.

The council hall was brightly lit, but the atmosphere was suppressed to the extreme, as cold as the howling wind outside.

Gao Feng sat at the head of the table, his expression unprecedentedly grave.

Below him were all the core leaders of the Panshi Stockade—the strategist Liu Chengfeng, Tiger Guard Battalion commander Du Wei, head of internal affairs Luo Qin, as well as King Tiger, Zhao Iron Pillar, and a group of newly promoted company commanders and squad leaders.

Every person's face carried a lingering trace of shock and worry.

On the sand table, the territory representing the Panshi Stockade's influence had been re-planned to encompass the entire Gui Jian Chou Mountain Range.

But at the southernmost end of the sand table, a blood-red area drawn in vermilion, representing 'extreme danger', was spreading northward at a shocking speed, like a bloody maw about to devour everything.

Scout squad leader Li Four, the sturdy man who had made great contributions in the last battle, now wore a look of pallor and lingering fear on his face.

He stood before the sand table, reporting in a hoarse voice the bloody intelligence that his scout team had exchanged their lives for.

"Stockade Master, Generals... the situation is far more serious than we imagined."

"I personally led a ten-man team to the south for reconnaissance, but..."

Li Four's voice choked with emotion, his fists clenched, knuckles slightly white from the force, "Only three of us returned."

As soon as these words were spoken, a collective gasp of cold air sounded in the council hall.

Li Four's scout team was one of the most elite forces of the Panshi Stockade, with every member carefully selected from thousands for their jungle survival and stealth skills.

A ten-man team had actually suffered seventy percent casualties!

The terrifying combat power of this so-called 'Wuhui Tribe' could be seen from this.

"Tell us exactly what you saw, every detail."

Gao Feng's voice remained steady, but his deep eyes were already flickering with cold light.

Li Four took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, and began to describe the hellish scene.

"We traveled south, and all we saw was scorched earth. Those villages that once had people were all burned to white ground. The village entrances were piled with corpses, scattered everywhere—old people, children, and women..."

"They were all brutally murdered; some were disemboweled, some had their limbs cut off, and others were burned alive... The cruelty of their methods is simply not something a human could do!"

His voice trembled, his eyes filled with endless anger and lingering fear.

"We finally encountered their patrol outside a conquered county. Those barbarian warriors were all like demons crawled out of Hell, with dark skin, ridiculously tall statures, and bodies covered in twisted poisonous snake tattoos; just looking at them made one's blood run cold."

"We wanted to ambush them, but their vigilance was terrifyingly high. We suffered a huge loss upon engaging; their fighting style was completely suicidal! They were fearless in the face of death, possessed immense strength, and their scimitars were coated with lethal poison that kills on contact! One of our brothers was just grazed by a blade, and within ten breaths, his whole body turned black, and he died from the poison!"

He paused, gritted his teeth, and concluded, "They are just a pack of inhumane beasts!"

The surviving scout's description, filled with terror, made the atmosphere in the council hall even more grave.

Liu Chengfeng's brows were tightly locked into a 'chuan' shape. He walked to the sand table and, combining it with various scattered intelligence reports that continued to arrive, began to summarize and analyze.

"According to all current intelligence, the threat level of this Wuhui Tribe far exceeds any enemy we have encountered before, including the Dushan Stronghold in its prime." The thin wooden rod in his hand tapped heavily on the sand table.

"First, the scale is huge. According to the descriptions of fleeing refugees and the observations of our scouts, the total population of this northward-moving Wuhui army is likely close to ten thousand. Among them, the able-bodied warriors who can be deployed for battle are estimated to be no less than two thousand! This is more than three times all the combat-ready troops currently in our Panshi Stockade!"

"Second, their combat power is fierce. As Brother Li Four just said, Wuhui warriors have strong physiques and are skilled in using poisoned scimitars and blowdarts; their fighting style is barbaric and lethal. If our ordinary soldiers were to face them head-on one-on-one, I fear they wouldn't last even three moves."

"Third, their methods are bizarre. According to some Jianghu figures who were lucky enough to escape from them, there exists a highly ranked entity within the Wuhui Tribe called the 'Snake Shaman'."

"These Snake Shamans can cast various bizarre curses and witchcraft, and can even summon large-scale poisonous mists, causing enemies to be poisoned, hallucinate, and lose their combat effectiveness silently. This coincides with what we previously saw from that Snake Shaman who escaped from the Wuhui Tribe."

Speaking of this, Liu Chengfeng's expression became unprecedentedly grave. He took a deep breath before stating the worst news in an almost strained tone.

"Fourth, and the most terrifying point. According to the desperate reconnaissance of our scout team, the vanguard of this Wuhui army is actually riding a kind of gigantic Yao Beast!"

"It is a type of Yao Beast we have never seen before, called the 'Black-Scaled Giant Python'! They are over ten zhang long, as thick as a water vat, and covered in black scales that are impenetrable to blades and spears; their impact force is ten times more terrifying than the most elite heavy cavalry!"

"They are natural battlefield meat grinders!"