Three days was too short a time. No one was confident they could advance a rank in just three days.
What's more, no one would dare claim they could break through from the Power Martial Realm to the Qi Martial Realm in that time.
Of course, Shen Lang was no exception, especially since his unique Celestial Vein Sacred Body made things more complicated.
'However, three days is enough time for me to practice the powerful Cultivation Techniques I have in my mind.'
On the Star Continent, Cultivation Techniques were categorized as Mortal, Profound, Earth, and Emperor Level, among others. An insurmountable chasm existed between each level. Even if Shen Lang couldn't raise his Cultivation to the Qi Martial Realm, using a Celestial Level technique against Shen Jianfeng—who was in the Qi Martial Realm but only knew a Mortal Level technique—was tantamount to bullying.
'If I really took the risk and used the Sword Skill I used on Hong Yu, there's no way Shen Jianfeng could block it.'
'But I'm not ready to slice him in two, and I'm even less willing to do something like that in front of the old-timers at Tayun Academy.'
The academy didn't prohibit fighting, but killing was another matter entirely.
Besides, if he used a technique that was too high-level and those old-timers found out, it would be a huge hassle.
Trading a small problem like Shen Jianfeng for a much bigger one wasn't the outcome Shen Lang was looking for.
'In any case, I have a Martial Soul now, which solves the problem of not being able to absorb Spiritual Qi. So, for the next three days, I should just focus on my Cultivation.'
'If it turns out I really can't win, then I'll consider using a higher-level technique.'
Shen Lang headed straight for the academy's Gravity Cultivation Hall. Although the hall required Contribution Points, every student received a monthly allowance of three days' worth of Cultivation Points, even if they had earned none. Otherwise, he never would have mentioned "three days" to Shen Jianfeng.
Stepping into the Cultivation Hall, Shen Lang looked around. He saw a series of Teleportation Arrays inscribed on the bluestone floor, each leading to a different gravity zone.
Though the place was completely new to him, he had a basic understanding of its rules.
After a moment's observation, he selected an array marked with a sign that read "Tenfold Gravity Chamber." He took out his Crystal Card and swiped it through the slot in front of the Teleportation Array. A Spirit Light on the slot flickered, and a sapphire-blue glow instantly rose from the array, enveloping him completely.
His figure quickly faded, vanishing from the Gravity Cultivation Hall.
Shen Lang felt a wave of dizziness. The moment his feet touched the ground, a staggering, tearing force shot up from below. His body instantly buckled, all his muscles and flesh compressing as if he were about to be flattened against the floor!
'HUFF! My body is too weak. Tenfold gravity is already almost too much for my meridians to handle...'
Although Shen Lang had braced himself, the force still left him in a wretched state. His face turned deathly pale, and his entire body trembled uncontrollably.
He forced his body upright. A glance revealed that the tenfold gravity zone was much larger than the main hall, divided into individual cultivation chambers numbered one to three hundred.
Many people were without rooms, sitting and waiting quietly in the common area. When they saw him enter, they merely raised an eyebrow, paying him little mind.
However, when some noticed his staggering, utterly wretched state, they couldn't help but look him up and down. After a moment of scrutiny, one of them let out a "PFFT" and burst into laughter.
"Haha, look! Isn't that the 'Sleep God' of Martial Arts Class One, Shen Lang? What a rare sight. He actually came to a Gravity Chamber to practice his Cultivation?"
"Are you sure? Isn't that kid a good-for-nothing without a Martial Soul? I heard he has the Celestial Vein Sacred Body, so he can't retain any Spiritual Qi at all. He's the type to do nothing but eat and sleep. How could he possibly be here?"
"That's him, no doubt. My little sister is in his class; I've visited a few times and seen him before. I just can't believe I'm running into him in the Tenfold Gravity Chamber. You need to be at least at the Power Martial Realm Fifth Heaven to even get in here. Hasn't he been stuck at the Power Martial Realm Second Heaven forever? I guess pigs really can fly..."
"I heard that yesterday evening, this loser beat up Shen Daofeng on the back mountain. I wonder if it's true."
"You've got that backward, haven't you? Shen Daofeng is at the Power Martial Realm Ninth Heaven. If anyone got beaten up, it must have been Shen Daofeng beating him! Just look at him now, walking like an old man. He looks like he could topple over any second and never get back up, haha!"
Shen Lang shot a cold glance at the people pointing and gossiping about him before walking straight toward Cultivation Chamber Twenty-Five. After cultivating the Sleeping Arhat Skill for so many years, his Divine Thought was so powerful that even a prodigy like Chu Qingcheng, who had reached the Qi Martial Realm Sixth Heaven, might not be his match. Under the sweep of his Divine Thought, he had already sensed that the person inside Chamber Twenty-Five was packing up to leave.
The crowd waiting on the floor continued to point at him, their expressions growing puzzled. The door to Chamber Twenty-Five was shut. 'What's that kid doing over there? Does he plan to just camp out by the door?'
Cultivation was unpredictable; someone might stay inside for a week or more. Who would be bored enough to just pick a door and sit there? Besides, weren't there rules against crossing the yellow line in the middle of the floor?
CREAK!
Just as Shen Lang shuffled his way to Cultivation Chamber Twenty-Five, its door creaked open. A pale-faced man, drenched in foul-smelling sweat, stumbled out.
"Holy shit!" The gawking crowd was stunned. In the next instant, several people shot to their feet and sprinted over to block Shen Lang's path.
"You're Shen Lang, right? Junior Brother Shen Lang, we all know it's first come, first served around here. We've been waiting for a long time. Why don't you let us have this chamber?" a young man in a blue shirt said with a smile.
Though his words sounded polite, they carried an undeniable undercurrent of command, making it clear he wasn't really asking for Shen Lang's opinion.
"Kid, the Tenfold Gravity Chamber is no place for a loser like you," another burly-looking guy said even more bluntly. "Even if you go in, you won't last more than a few minutes. If you know what's good for you, step aside. Don't make me throw you out."
"My name is Shen Lang," Shen Lang said with a faint smile.
The burly young man froze. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Before he could even react, his vision blurred. He felt a hand grab his collar, and in the next second, he was sent flying through the air. THUD! He crashed heavily onto the floor!
"What I mean is, I want you to remember that I was the one who threw you. My name is Shen Lang. Next time you see me, you'd better stay far away."
The crowd that had just surrounded him instantly and subconsciously scattered, putting some distance between themselves and Shen Lang. They all stared in disbelief at the person he had just thrown.
"How is that possible? Sun Yunlong is at the Power Martial Realm Sixth Heaven! And he's been training here for at least three months. How did this guy just toss him aside like that?"
"Is that kid really just at the Power Martial Realm Second Heaven? I couldn't even see his move clearly. It was lightning-fast! And his timing was unbelievable; he didn't even give Sun Yunlong a chance to fight back!"
A look of apprehension appeared in everyone's eyes.
A hint of mockery flickered in Shen Lang's eyes. 'The Celestial Mountain Grapple Hand may not be considered a top-tier technique among the Major Sects, but for tossing a Power Martial Realm Martial Artist at such close range... forget the fact that he was unguarded, even if he had been prepared, he couldn't have escaped his fate.'
"You little bastard, you're tired of living!" Sun Yunlong's face twisted into an ugly mask. After scrambling on the ground for a moment, he shot back up, lunged forward, and threw a punch straight at Shen Lang.
"Dragon Elephant Divine Fist—Dragon Elephant's Power to Fell the Stars!"
A colossal elephant materialized over his fist, accompanied by the sound of tearing air. The sight was truly terrifying.
"Holy crap, Sun Yunlong is really pissed! He used his ultimate move right off the bat! If that punch lands, an ordinary Martial Artist at the Power Martial Realm Fifth Heaven couldn't take it. Even if they don't end up with snapped tendons and broken bones, they'll still be coughing up blood!"
"This kid's in for it now. His technique was impressive, but he could barely walk when he first came in here. In his current condition, there's no way he can dodge that punch. If it connects, he'll be crippled, if not dead!"
"That bastard Sun Yunlong is surprisingly patient. He's actually cultivated the Dragon Elephant Divine Fist to the third form and kept it hidden all this time. If Shen Lang hadn't thrown him, he probably would have never revealed it. An ordinary person could never block such a Supreme Yang and Firmness Fist Force head-on. That kid isn't even moving. Looks like his luck has run out..."
As the crowd murmured, a cruel delight glinted in Sun Yunlong's eyes. He'd be damned if this punch didn't shatter a few of that loser's bones.
To his surprise, however, Shen Lang merely watched him with an indifferent gaze, showing no intention of dodging.
'The kid can't move! Haha, he's frozen! He was shuffling one step at a time when he came in—but... why do I feel like there's something wrong with his eyes? Why does this loser's gaze make me feel like I'm facing an Ancient Fierce Beast, sending a chill down my spine... I can't think about that now! Was his struggling earlier all an act? Absolutely not!'
With no more time to think, Sun Yunlong's fist was already upon him. Shen Lang, who had been motionless, finally acted. He stomped his right foot hard on the ground, producing a sound like an explosion of air, and then shifted two steps to his right.
Just as the crowd was gasping at his speed, Shen Lang's right hand traced a graceful arc through the air. It was as if he were gently caressing the giant elephant formed from Spiritual Power. Then, with a flick of his right hand, he guided it to the left!
To everyone's astonishment, the rampaging elephant inexplicably changed course, charging toward the crowd of onlookers!
BOOM! A huge explosion resounded. People in the crowd who couldn't get out of the way in time were sent tumbling, letting out cries of agony. The very same people who had rushed over the fastest to block Shen Lang had now paid a heavy price!
They were all of a similar Cultivation level to Sun Yunlong. Caught completely off guard by his powerful killing move, the Dragon Elephant Divine Fist, they took a viciously heavy blow.
But it wasn't over. While the others were in chaos, Sun Yunlong still hadn't processed what had happened. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot up his arm. In the brief moment Sun Yunlong was stunned, Shen Lang had formed his fingers into a claw and clamped down on his right elbow. A jolt like an electric current shot through Sun Yunlong's body. Not only did his arm go numb, losing all strength, but the entire right side of his body became paralyzed!
Shen Lang tightened his grip, yanking Sun Yunlong around. He then used his knuckles to strike several acupoints on Sun Yunlong's back before delivering a vicious kick to his rear, sending him flying.
This time was clearly much more ruthless than the first. Sun Yunlong crashed to the ground and didn't get up for a long time.
Sun Yunlong's Cultivation wasn't as high as Shen Daofeng's, and he wasn't wearing any Armor inside the Cultivation Hall. In front of Shen Lang, he was utterly powerless to resist.
The few remaining onlookers scattered in an instant, scrambling to a safe distance, no longer daring to get anywhere near Shen Lang. Only a few unlucky souls remained on the ground, groaning and unable to move.
By now, everyone in the main hall was on their feet, staring at the scene in utter disbelief.
Shen Lang frowned. He was panting slightly as he walked slowly over to the prone Sun Yunlong. "Is there a restroom here?" he asked.