From Five Animal Exercises to being hailed as a saint and ancestor

Outside the Martial Arts Tower, a huge water mirror shimmered, clearly displaying the scene inside the tower to all the disciples watching.

Yao Mengkang stepped into the first floor, and the scene was exactly the same as when Xu Ziyi took the challenge.

In the empty stone chamber, opposite stood a burly puppet over ten feet tall, wielding a giant axe and radiating a cold metallic luster.

However, in stark contrast to Xu Ziyi's agile and evasive fighting strategy, Yao Mengkang did not even draw any weapons.

He stood there quietly, as if waiting for something.

"Why isn't Senior Brother Yao moving?"

"Does he intend to fight empty-handed?"

"This puppet's power is astonishing; wouldn't a cultivator at the Opening Meridian Realm be courting death by taking it head-on?"

Just as everyone was puzzled, the gatekeeper puppet was activated, its eyes flashing red light.

The enormous axe blade tore through the air, carrying immense force, and cleaved down towards Yao Mengkang!

This axe strike seemed to be even more powerful than the one he used against Xu Ziyi.

The violent energy even penetrated the water mirror, causing the disciples watching from the outside to feel a sense of suffocation.

Faced with this blow that could split mountains and shatter rocks, Yao Mengkang still did not retreat.

His eyes remained calm until the giant axe was about to strike him. Then, without dodging or evading, he clenched his right fist, and the immense Yuan energy in his twelve meridians surged forth instantly.

More importantly, the dragon spine meridian was activated, and the immense power hidden in the limbs and bones and deep into the marrow was suddenly unleashed!

His entire right arm, infused with Yuan energy and blood, faintly shimmered with an almost invisible jade-like luster, and the muscle fibers beneath his skin twisted and taut like coiled dragons.

"roar!"

Faintly, a deep dragon's roar seemed to resound from within his body!

He didn't use any martial arts techniques; it was just a simple, unadorned punch that shot upwards!

Wherever the fist passed, the air exploded with an unbearable roar!

"clang--!!!!!"

The clash of fists and axes produced not the dull thud of flesh hitting metal, but a deafening roar like two bronze bells violently colliding!

A violent shockwave exploded outwards from the point of impact, kicking up clouds of dust!

All the disciples in front of the water mirror stared wide-eyed and held their breath.

As the dust settled, the massive, heavy axe was seen being held aloft by a single fist!

The axe was less than three inches from Yao Mengkang's forehead, but it could not fall any further!

The bluestone slab beneath Yao Mengkang's feet was cracked in a spiderweb pattern, extending more than ten feet outwards from his feet.

But his tall and straight body remained as firm as a rock!

In contrast, the puppet's arms, which were holding an axe, were trembling slightly, and the joints were making a grating grinding sound!

"hiss--!"

Outside the tower, a collective gasp of astonishment rippled through the crowd.

"He...he caught it?!"

"Caught the puppet's axe with his bare hands? My God!"

"Is this body... a monster?!"

"Is he really at the Meridian Opening Realm? His physical strength is probably even stronger than many of our senior brothers who specialize in body refinement!"

The crowd erupted in a frenzy, with exclamations rising and falling.

Xu Ziyi also covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.

She knew Yao Mengkang was strong, but she never expected him to be this powerful!

Among the crowd, an elderly man dressed in the robes of a martial arts academy elder, exuding a powerful aura, had been squinting, but now he slightly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

He listened to the disciples around him discussing that he was "stronger than the disciples of the Martial Arts Academy," but he did not get angry.

His eyes became somewhat unfocused, as if he were seeing some distant memories through the green-robed figure reflected in the water mirror.

He murmured almost inaudibly, "A body that has had its dragon spine meridian opened... truly extraordinary..."

Inside the tower, Yao Mengkang felt the recoil from his fist, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

After opening twelve meridians and connecting the crucial hidden meridian of the dragon spine, his physical body underwent a complete transformation.

His blood and qi are like mercury, his muscles and bones like iron. His strength and defense alone far surpass those of his peers, making him comparable to a body-refining cultivator!

"It's time to end this."

He muttered something, and his fist, which was bracing against the axe blade, suddenly jerked!

"boom!"

An even more violent surge of internal energy traveled upwards along the axe blade!

The puppet's massive body was struck as if by a heavy blow, and it staggered backward, the core rune on its chest flashing violently.

Finally, with a loud "bang," it exploded into a cluster of tiny sparks of electricity, and then the entire puppet vanished into a stream of light.

First level, passed! Time taken: three breaths!

The commotion in front of the water mirror grew even louder, and everyone's eyes were filled with shock and fervor.

Yao Mengkang did not linger and stepped directly onto the stairs leading to the second floor.

The second floor is slightly smaller than the first floor, but the feeling of oppression is several times stronger.

The light was dim, and a thick, somber atmosphere permeated the air.

His opponent was still a puppet. But this puppet was completely different from the one on the first level.

Its height is similar to that of an average person, and its body is a streamlined dark silver color with a more delicate and tough material.

What he held in his hand was no longer a heavy giant axe, but a slender sword about four feet long, gleaming with a cold light.

Its eyes were no longer scarlet, but a deep blue. It stood there quietly, yet gave off a dangerous, venomous feeling.

"The second-level guardian puppet has been upgraded in all aspects, including speed, skill, and Yuan power, making its overall combat strength comparable to that of a cultivator who has just entered the Spirit Sea Realm!"

"It's almost impossible for an ordinary peak-stage Qi Opening Realm cultivator to pass this!" A disciple who knew the inside story explained in a low voice to those around him, his tone solemn.

Everyone held their breath, eager to see how Yao Mengkang would deal with this opponent whose strength had increased dramatically.

The Dark Silver Puppet moved! There was no earth-shattering sound, only a blur that almost blended into the shadows! Its speed was too fast for the naked eye to catch!

"So fast!" exclaimed the outside world.

Yao Mengkang's eyes narrowed; this speed indeed far exceeded that of the first-level puppet.

He dared not be so arrogant as to rely solely on his physical strength to withstand the attack, and his footwork became more varied.

The Five Animal Frolics were brought to their fullest potential.

His movements were as agile as an ape, narrowly avoiding the silent sword strike.

The sword's edge swept across, and the sharp sword energy it generated left a deep scratch several inches deep on the stone wall behind him!

When the attack missed, the Dark Silver Puppet flicked its wrist, and the slender sword instantly transformed into dozens of sword shadows, enveloping Yao Mengkang like a storm!

Each sword shadow was incredibly solid, containing penetrating power!

"Surging Waves Sword Technique!" A disciple recognized the sword move the puppet was using; it was a high-grade mortal-level sword technique from the academy, known for its speed and precision.

Yao Mengkang took a deep breath, his internal energy surging, and his palms flew.

With a single palm strike, the bear-shaped figure unleashed a barrage of palm shadows carrying the power of the earth, surging like waves to meet the myriad sword shadows.

"Jingle bells..."

A series of dense, rain-like collisions rang out! Palm winds and sword energy clashed fiercely, and the dissipated energy raged wildly in the stone chamber.

Yao Mengkang was so shocked that his blood and qi surged, and he retreated repeatedly. The strength of the opponent's yuan power was indeed far beyond that of the opening meridian realm.

It possesses a solidity and weight unique to liquid true essence.

Although his palm strike was fierce, it was inferior in terms of absolute power and quality.

If it weren't for his strong physical body, which absorbed most of the impact, he would probably have been injured after just a few exchanges.

He stopped fighting head-on and instead relied on his powerful spiritual perception and the exquisite techniques of the Five Animal Frolics to maneuver against the puppet.

His "Five Animal Frolics" had been perfected; his movements in advancing and retreating were as fluid as flowing water, always managing to avoid fatal attacks at the last possible moment.

At the same time, he kept striking with his palms, fingers, and fists, probing the puppet's moves and weaknesses.

This dark silver puppet is not only fast and has exquisite swordsmanship, but also has extremely high combat instincts, making it almost flawless.

Yao Mengkang tried to get close several times, but was forced back by the slender sword that seemed to have a life of its own.

His arms and shoulders were even cut by the sharp sword energy, leaving shallow cuts that, though not serious, still drew blood.

Outside the tower, the crowd watched with bated breath and intense tension.

"It's too fast! I can't see it at all!"

"Senior Brother Yao is injured!"

"This puppet is too powerful! I'm afraid you really need Spirit Sea Realm strength to defeat it!"

"Can Senior Brother Yao hold on?"

Xu Ziyi clenched her hands tightly, her nails almost digging into her palms, her beautiful eyes filled with worry.

Time passed slowly, and the battle had lasted for nearly half an hour.

Yao Mengkang had a few more wounds on his body, and his breathing was slightly disordered, but his eyes were getting brighter and brighter.

Through this half-hour battle, he not only became familiar with the puppet's attack patterns.

Under immense pressure, he gained new insights into controlling his own power and mastering the rhythm of battle.

The potential of opening the twelve meridians was further stimulated in the life-and-death battle.

"Found it!"

Just as the puppet thrust out its sword, its move old and its new power yet to be generated, Yao Mengkang's eyes flashed with a sharp light!

He stopped dodging, and the Yuan energy within his body began to circulate wildly in an unprecedented way.

The twelve meridians trembled simultaneously, and a powerful aura far exceeding the previous one suddenly erupted!

He stomped his left foot hard on the ground, and his body shot out like an arrow, deliberately crashing into the thin sword!

At the same time, the jade-colored luster on his right fist shone brightly, with a faint dragon-shaped energy swirling around it!

"roar!"

The dragon's roar resounded once more, this time clearly audible!

He narrowly avoided the sword's edge, and his punch, imbued with all his strength and will, fell like a meteor.

It struck the shoulder blade of the Dark Silver Puppet's sword-wielding arm squarely!

"Snap!"

A clear cracking sound!

The Dark Silver Puppet's entire right arm, along with the rapier.

This earth-shattering punch sent him flying out of his body, crashing into the wall with a dull thud!

The puppet's body trembled violently, the blue light in its eyes flashed intensely, and its movements came to a fatal halt.

Yao Mengkang, having gained the upper hand, pressed closer like a ghost.

His left palm, like a knife, concentrated highly compressed Yuan energy and slammed into the core of the puppet's chest!

"Bang!"

The dark silver puppet's chest caved in, and the blue light instantly dimmed and went out, then dissipated into specks of light.

Second level, passed!

Yao Mengkang stood there, slightly out of breath, his blue robe torn in several places and stained with blood.

His face was also somewhat pale, clearly indicating that he had exhausted his energy and physical strength, and had suffered some minor injuries.

But those eyes, like stars with the dust wiped away, shone brightly, filled with the exhilaration of victory and a deeper understanding of their own power.

Outside the tower, there was a deathly silence at first, then a deafening cheer erupted!

With his cultivation at the Opening Meridian Realm, he fought fiercely for half an hour and finally defeated the second-level puppet, whose combat power was comparable to that of the Spirit Sea Realm!

This achievement is worthy of being recorded in the annals of the Qinglu Academy's outer school!

All eyes were focused on the figure reflected in the water mirror, a figure that, though slightly disheveled, stood proudly upright, filled with awe and admiration.

Yao Mengkang took a deep breath to calm his churning blood and turned his gaze to the stairs leading to the third floor.

He wanted to give it a try.