On the other side, the students of Celestial Yang City were living in anguish, caught in a life of deep despair.
During the day, at school, they were urged by their teachers to practice "Painful Demon Body."
At night, back home, their parents continued to pressure them to practice, with the technique still being "Painful Demon Body."
After a few days, they were all wearing expressions of torment and brimming with resentment.
They were especially angry at Lin Ping'an, the instigator, making their teeth itch with hatred.
Of course, these students didn't know that he was also the creator of the cultivation technique.
Otherwise, they would probably stop at nothing to catch and beat him up.
For now, in their ignorance, they targeted Lin Ping'an only because of the public commendation event.
After all, in a way, it could be considered one of the sources of their misery.
If not for Lin Ping'an, surpassing all Celestial Yang students with his low martial arts talent using "Painful Demon Body," this wouldn't have happened.
Regrettably, despite finding the right person through a twist of fate,
Lin Ping'an had already taken leave, becoming impossible to find, making it a luxury to vent their anger.
At this moment, it wasn't just them.
Even Zhou Shang, a Fourth Grade Martial Artist, was troubled by this matter.
The incident even exacerbated the bloodline erosion he suffered, on the verge of losing control and causing a massacre in the streets several times.
If not for his severe fear of the Divine Teaching Envoy, Zhou Shang's sanity would've vanished long ago.
He was aware of his condition.
But ever since the exotic beast's bloodline continued to erode him,
tormenting Lin Ping'an became his obsession.
If he couldn't achieve this goal and release his pent-up frustration, the erosion might worsen, causing him to lose his humanity and go on a killing spree.
Under various pressures, for Zhou Shang, he had no choice left.
Now, he could only continue roaming the streets and alleys of Celestial Yang City.
Like a lost soul, searching everywhere for his target.
While cursing Lin Ping'an, that little pest, in his heart.
If not for the kid running around, he wouldn't be stuck in such a disadvantaged position.
At the same time, hiding in a hotel room, Lin Ping'an was making significant breakthroughs after days of uninterrupted cultivation.
In recent days, as Celestial Yang students competed in cultivating "Painful Demon Body," it provided him with substantial assistance, accelerating the bone forging process significantly.
As time passed, the progress of lower limb bone forging gradually reached perfection.
60 bones... 61 bones... 62 bones...
When all 62 bones in the lower limbs were tempered to 90% completion.
In an instant, qi and blood flowed, surging through the lower limbs, making them into a cohesive whole.
At the same time, his overall qi blood value limit increased further out of nowhere.
According to his martial arts knowledge, Lin Ping'an smoothly advanced from First Grade Peak to the Second Grade Early Stage.
He then started cultivating the 64 bones of his upper limbs, continuously enhancing his cultivation.
Apart from this, the creation progress of new techniques was also promising, rapidly approaching completion.
...85%...87%...89%...
Believing it wouldn't take long, the third cultivation technique would soon be unveiled.
This time, the technique is meant for killing, extremely sinister and peculiar.
Once revealed, it would likely bring unprecedented shock of the Demon Path to the world's martial artists.
It would also teach them what it truly means to be a bit sinister.
[Name: Lin Ping'an]
[Qi and Blood: 3698 Calories]
[Martial Arts Realm: Second Grade Martial Artist (Ninth Body Tempering, Lower Limb Tempering 62/62, Upper Limb Tempering 1/64)]
[Created Techniques: Painful Demon Body (Yellow Level), Stealth Technique (Profound Level), Unnamed (92%)]
[Civilization Value: 321]
In a few days, his overall strength multiplied several times, and his qi and blood limit more than doubled.
Its intensity and total amount exceeded normal Third Grade Peak Martial Artists by two levels.
Compared to the minimum qi and blood required for a Fourth Grade Early Stage, he was only a tiny bit short.
Yet, Lin Ping'an's actual realm was just a recent breakthrough to Second Grade.
One could only say that the limits of the Ninth Body Tempering laid his foundation incredibly deep.
Second Grade Early Stage with nearly Fourth Grade Early Stage qi and blood could only be described as absurd.
...
Two days later.
Zhou Shang roamed the streets and alleys of Celestial Yang City, walking and observing.
Meanwhile, he did everything he could to suppress the agitation and madness deep within his bloodline.
During these days, he had exhausted all possible methods.
Camping near the school, waiting for Lin Ping'an at home, searching back and forth, stealing surveillance footage...
Yet, still, to no avail.
Just like with math, if you don't know it, you just don't know it.
Now, unable to find him meant just that—he could not be found.
The little pest seemed to have vanished, without a trace, leaving everyone clueless about his whereabouts.
Contact methods were unreachable, and despite exhausting all efforts, there had been no progress.
Honestly, Zhou Shang was on the verge of going insane from anger.
How could such a sly existence exist?
Wasn't a high school student supposed to be naive, pure of heart, displaying innocence in their behavior?
Why was the demeanor completely different when it came to Lin Ping'an?
At this point, thinking of no other solutions, Zhou Shang set his sights on the Martial Arts High Exam.
In his view, no matter how deeply Lin Ping'an hid, he would inevitably appear then.
Even if guarded strictly, making a move then would be difficult.
But as long as Lin Ping'an appeared once, he could lock onto him tightly, preventing further hiding.
Waiting for the right moment to strike.
Then, escape the city and leave this place far behind.
This was a desperate measure. If possible, Zhou Shang definitely didn't want to take such a risky step.
But if he didn't,
he feared he would miss the chance and never find that little pest again.
It was ridiculously elusive, impossible to grasp even a shadow.
Comparatively, Zhou Shang felt even his own shady identity wasn't as well hidden as Lin Ping'an.
In the following days, he waited while continuing the search, not holding much hope but still not giving up.
Finally, heavens favored the dedicated; Zhou Shang found a clue by chance.
Online, a picture surfaced with a blurry image of Lin Ping'an.
The accompanying text narrated how the poster encountered a martial arts talent from another city dining at a hotel by chance.
Zhou Shang recognized it immediately—that was his desired target, sought for many days.
Others might not recognize him, but to Zhou Shang, obsessed to the point of near madness, Lin Ping'an's image was etched in his mind like a brand.
After pinpointing the target, he set off menacingly, regardless of whether Lin Ping'an was still there.
With this last useful clue, whether true or false, it had to be checked.
Meanwhile, after some days of intense study and with continuous incoming Civilization Value, Lin Ping'an also worked on closing that final gap.
As the creation and completion of the cultivation technique reached its final stages, the process slowed, becoming increasingly difficult.
With continued effort, the progress slowly advanced.
97%...98%...99%...
Eventually, with a flash of inspiration, the progress reached 100%.
At the same time, a system notification rang out.
[Ding~]
[Creation of Earth Level Technique (Unnamed) successful.]
...