Cultivation: Starting from a Fighting Cock

Chapter 101 Breakthrough
"Moo~"

"Fizz!"

"Woo~"

When Ji Cheng appeared, the bull demon, the white python, and Xiao Hua were all extremely excited and surrounded him to see how serious his injuries were.

The demon beasts all looked concerned, as they had many questions for him.

Ji Cheng smiled and first raised his left wing to show the wound that was gradually healing, indicating that his injury was not serious.

"Fizz!"

The python demon gasped. Just by looking at the wound, one could imagine how powerful that third-tier monkey demon was. Ji Cheng was really lucky that his wing hadn't been torn off.

It asked Ji Cheng, "How dare you challenge that third-tier monkey demon?"

The Azure Flame Rabbit squeaked as it realized that during the time Brother Chicken was away, it had successfully broken through to become a first-tier demon beast—a cause for celebration!
I wonder what Big Yellow would think if he knew that Brother Chicken's level had caught up with his own?

Ji Cheng replied, "I heard that a few days ago, several demon hunters perished on Monkey Mountain. One of them lost a first-tier Xuan weapon, so I was thinking of going to retrieve it. I never expected to encounter that third-tier monkey demon."

Upon hearing this, the python demon's expression changed. It was astonished that Ji Cheng was so audacious as to dare to provoke a third-tier monkey demon for the sake of a first-tier Xuan weapon.

The Azure Flame Rabbit squeaked, as if asking Ji Cheng, "Did you get that first-tier Xuan weapon?"
Ji Cheng smiled and summoned the black hammer from his crop space. The black hammer slammed heavily onto the ground, creating a small crater.

This hammer is shiny black, and its head is the size of an adult's head. It is engraved with intricate patterns. When magic power or internal energy is injected, these patterns light up, which can concentrate the power into the hammer head many times over.

The hammerhead already weighs a thousand pounds; if it were further enhanced by magical power or internal energy, the force of a single strike would be unimaginable.

The hammer handle is made of a special spirit wood, which is very tough and has the effects of shock absorption and anti-slip.

A martial artist at the Opening Meridian Realm wielding this black hammer would have their combat power increased at least several times. Ji Cheng estimated that Situ Ying must have been attacked by the monkey demon's astonishing speed and suffered serious injuries first, otherwise he would never have ended up in such a miserable state.

"Squeak?"

The little rabbit crouched down and curiously examined the black hammer several times. It could tell that this hammer was no ordinary weapon.

It observed for a while, then grasped the black hammer with both hands and found that the black hammer did not move at all.

“This black hammer weighs a thousand pounds; you, with your small frame, can’t lift it.”

Ji Cheng laughed and said, "Why don't you let a few of the kids give it a try?"

The Azure Flame Rabbit was unconvinced. It rubbed its hands together, loosened its joints, and tried again with all its might.

"Ee-hey!"

The little rabbit screamed, kicked its feet, leaned back, and its whole expression became incredibly ferocious.

Unfortunately, it was still impossible to shake the black hammer—it was not a strength-type spirit beast to begin with.

Exhausted, the Azure Flame Rabbit collapsed to the ground. It let out a long sigh and called for Little Flower to give it a try.

Little Flower smiled, waved, and stepped back; it knew its own limitations.

Next, the python swung its tail, wrapped it around the hammer handle, and picked up the black hammer.

It used its tail to swing its black hammer and smash a large tree in half. It didn't look relaxed at all, but its destructive power was truly strong.

Finally, there's the bull demon Xiao Hei, no, we should call him Ah Niu.

Ah Niu was very strong and easily lifted the black hammer, swinging it with great force and ease.

The monsters were all astonished by Ah Niu's immense power; this guy was both strong and unassuming.

Ji Cheng was not surprised. He knew Ah Niu's identity. Ah Niu was the son of a fifth-order great demon, and his human body had already cultivated to the mid-stage of internal strength. Lifting a thousand-pound black hammer was no problem for him.

This weapon was handy, but Ji Cheng couldn't possibly give it to A Niu, since he would have to return it to his master, Situ Ying, in the future.

So, after the demons had played around with it for a while, he put the black hammer away.

The python demon looked at Ji Cheng with admiration. To snatch the black hammer from a third-tier monkey demon was no less than snatching food from a tiger's mouth.

It was very curious to know how Ji Cheng had done it.

The Azure Flame Rabbit jumped onto Ji Cheng's body and played, preening the feathers on his neck, wanting him to tell the details of the battle with the third-tier monkey demon last night.

Ah Niu let out a "moo," and his big, dark eyes looked at Ji Cheng, also wanting to hear how Ji Cheng fought that third-tier monkey demon last night.

"Alright, alright, I'll tell you, but please wait a moment."

Ji Cheng called the little rabbit down, then flapped its wings and flew up, quickly surveying the mountain forest.

He returned shortly afterward.

He caught two wild boars, a deer, and seven or eight wild rabbits, threw them on the ground, and then breathed out Samadhi Fire to roast them. The aroma quickly filled the entire forest.

"Actually, I've secretly come to visit you a few times, and I found that without me around, your meals were really meager!"

Ji Cheng laughed and said, "This time, I'll let my friends have a good meal."

"Fizz!"

The white python's saliva was already dripping onto the ground, and its gaze was fixed on a roasted wild boar, unable to look away.

To be honest, it had been craving this for a long time. Without Ji Cheng around, the food had really tasted bland.

"Aww!"

The little rabbit's eyes lit up, and it pounced on the roasted deer, tilting its head back, opening its mouth wide, and taking a bite.

Xiao Hua didn't stand on ceremony either, picking up a wild rabbit and starting to gnaw on it.

Only Ah Niu remained reserved, insisting on not eating meat and only eating wild fruits that Xiao Hua picked from the mountain.

Seeing this, Ji Cheng smiled. How could he listen to a story without snacks? Then he began to recount the great battle with the third-level monkey demon last night.

"That monkey demon covered in red fur had awakened three innate abilities. First, it had an extraordinary jumping ability, capable of leaping hundreds of feet into the air. Second, its red fur could be rolled into a ball to defend against attacks..."

Ji Cheng vividly recounted many details of his battle with the third-tier monkey demon.

What's more important is his combat strategy and his analysis of the monkey demon's innate abilities; these are the keys to his ability to severely injure the monkey demon despite being of a higher level.

The demonic beasts were stunned, and they were incredibly impressed by Ji Cheng's intelligence. They realized that when they fought, they seemed to act on instinct and never thought about such things.

The white python even wrote on the ground, asking Ji Cheng for his combat experience and insights. Ji Cheng answered it one by one, and the white python fell silent. It suddenly realized that although it had lived for nearly two hundred years, it didn't have half as much cunning in battle as Ji Cheng.

Ah Niu also said that it learned a lot of practical skills from Ji Cheng.

These monsters are all simple-minded and straightforward. Ji Cheng can easily teach them some basic military tactics, such as the principle of deception.

After Ji Cheng finished speaking, they had almost finished eating the barbecue in front of them.

His gaze fell on Xiaohua, and he asked, "Xiaohua, what is your relationship with that monkey demon? Also, deep in Monkey Mountain last night, was that old voice a fourth- or fifth-order great demon?"

The other children's eyes were also focused on Xiaohua.

Previously, Xiaohua might have found these questions difficult to answer.

But now, Monkey Mountain has basically no secrets left. Plus, Ji Cheng went to Monkey Mountain last night to fight that monkey demon. If it continues to hide things and refuses to reveal the situation of Monkey Mountain to its brothers, it would be too dishonest.

Little Flower cried out and gestured a number—five.

Just as Ji Cheng had guessed, the one who imprisoned him last night was a fifth-tier great demon.

Xiao Hua then revealed that the aged voice belonged to their ancestor, a fifth-tier flower-faced fox. The third-tier monkey demon was once the king of Monkey Mountain, but was later subdued by the ancestor and became his disciple.

"Squeak!"

After understanding what Xiao Hua meant, the Azure Flame Rabbit was terrified, and all its fur stood on end.

Are you kidding me? There's actually a fifth-tier demon in Wuzhen?
The python demon's pupils also contracted violently. It was a fifth-order great demon, a name it had only ever heard of in legends. It was actually Xiao Hua's ancestor?

Does Xiaohua have such a powerful background?
Ah Niu rolled his pair of dark cow eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

Then, Ji Cheng asked Xiao Hua, "Xiao Hua, what is your fifth-tier demon ancestor doing in a small place like Wuzhen? Is he planning something?"

When he asked this question, he glanced at Ah Niu without realizing it.

Little Flower shook its head. It couldn't answer that question. How could it know so much about its ancestor's affairs? It was just a Flower-faced Fox in the Demon Transformation Realm.

Ji Cheng nodded, unsurprised, and did not press further.

That concludes our gathering for today.

Ji Cheng said, "Now that I have a new place to stay in Wuzhen, you don't need to look for me. I have been secretly watching the changes in Wuzhen. If anything happens, I will take the initiative to show myself to you."

Hearing this, the demons felt much relieved and all nodded obediently.

The little rabbit squeaked, telling Ji Cheng to come out and play with everyone more often. Without your barbecue, our gathering wouldn't be the same!

Ji Cheng smiled and patted the little rabbit's head, agreeing, "If you come out to play, wait for me by the river where we often go."

Upon receiving this reply, the little rabbit jumped for joy.

Afterwards, the demons dispersed, and the mountains and forests returned to silence.

……

After that, Ji Cheng would meet with the demons every three to five days and feed them some good food.

During the day, he practices boxing at the Niu family martial arts school, and after practice, he goes to the Zhao family for a free meal. At night, he transforms into a chicken demon.

At first, Ji Cheng was eating at the Zhao family's house, and Zhao Kun didn't get along with him much. But as time went on, the rest of the Zhao family accepted Ji Cheng, and Zhao Kun stopped saying anything.

In the blink of an eye, Ji Cheng had been practicing martial arts at the Niu Family Martial Arts School for a month.

He has been practicing medicinal baths during this period, and his progress has been very rapid.

The demon body that was previously injured by the monkey demon has been healed.

A few days later, Ji Cheng was soaking in a medicinal bath at home when suddenly his blood and qi reached a critical point. After a period of intense stimulation, he suddenly burst forth.

He broke through to the mid-stage of Qi and Blood.

At the same time, Ji Cheng felt that his understanding of the Tiger Roar Killing Fist had also made a breakthrough.

On a whim, he jumped out of the bathtub, went out into the yard, and performed a set of boxing moves while naked.

"Roar!"

He understood perfectly and incorporated the true meaning of the tiger's roar. When he threw this punch, the sound of a tiger roaring through the mountains and forests rang out.

The big yellow dog in the yard was so frightened that it hid in a corner and trembled, feeling the tiger-like aura emanating from Ji Cheng exerting a subtle bloodline suppression on it.

Ji Cheng didn't care, but was delighted that he had achieved a minor success in the Tiger Roar Killing Fist.

Name: Ji Cheng

Age: 17

[Realm: Mid-stage Qi and Blood]

[Physical Ability: Above Average in Martial Arts]

[Titles: Heavenly Chicken (15/60), Married Chicken Follows the Chicken, Fire-Shooting Chicken, Wind-Blowing Chicken, Copy Chicken (Not Wearing)]

Tiger Roar Killing Fist: Minor Success

[Bull Demon Fist: Level 1]

Ji Cheng automatically ignored the talents [Observation, Listening, Inquiry and Diagnosis] and [Fighting Spirit], only looking at the important information.

During the month or so he spent learning martial arts at the Niu Family Martial Arts School, he gained many points from his senior brother Zhang Jiang.

Unfortunately, now that I've broken through to the mid-stage of Qi and Blood, I can no longer actively seek out Senior Brother Zhang Jiang for sparring, which is a bit of a regret.

"The Tiger Roar Killing Fist emphasizes offense, while the Bull Demon Fist focuses on the method of generating power. If I master this breathing method to drive the power of qi and blood, can I add the power of a bull to the Tiger Roar Killing Fist?"

Both of these boxing styles have their own advantages and disadvantages, and Ji Cheng has gained a lot of insights from practicing them for so long.

He wanted to try combining the two, pouring the power of an ox into the "Tiger Roar Shocking Fist," which would increase its power by more than several times.
……

That night, at the Zhao residence.

Inside the room, Zhao Kun sat cross-legged on the bed, suddenly opened his eyes, and his aura surged.

(End of this chapter)