I am in Yellow Maple Valley, and I have a demonic beast clone!

"I Have a Demonic Beast Doppelganger in Yellow Maple Valley!" is causing a reading frenzy on Cola Novels. Haven't you read it yet?

Zhou Ding's consciousness was immersed in Xiao Jin's body, carefully observing the changes after its advancement.

He could clearly feel every bone, every meridian, and every piece of flesh in Xiao Jin's body.

That feeling of being connected by blood allowed him to understand Xiao Jin's current state better than any words.

The first thing that comes into view is that even more resilient and powerful physical body.

Xiao Jin's size is still that of a giant tiger, although it is not considered very large among monsters.

But Zhou Ding knew what terrifying power was contained within this body.

It lay there motionless, yet it exuded an invisible sense of oppression—the aura naturally emanating from a body that had become powerful to a certain degree.

Like a sleeping beast, though its eyes are closed, it makes people afraid to approach.

The most striking feature is the thick layer of golden scales on its body.

The scales were even denser than before, almost covering Xiao Jin's entire body—back, head, limbs, abdomen, and even its tail was covered with fine scales.

The scales were pale gold, gleaming softly under the light of the fluorescent lamp. They were layered and tightly arranged, like a fine work of art, or a tailor-made suit of armor.

Zhou Ding reached out and touched it; it was cold and hard to the touch, as if he were touching a layer of fine metal.

The scales were as smooth as a mirror, yet incredibly tough; when you ran your fingertip across them, you could feel the elasticity hidden within their hardness.

He took out an ordinary top-tier magic weapon, a cyan flying sword with a sharp blade capable of cutting through gold and jade.

He obtained this flying sword from the Crimson Forbidden Land and kept it in his storage bag. Although he rarely used it, its quality was indeed quite good.

He held his flying sword and lightly sliced ​​across Little Gold's scales.

"laugh--"

With a soft sound, the flying sword slashed past, leaving only a faint white mark on the scales, which disappeared in an instant.

Zhou Ding raised an eyebrow slightly.

He intensified his efforts, using all his strength to make a final strike.

"when!"

Sparks flew everywhere, the flying sword was deflected, and his hand felt slightly numb.

There was still only a shallow mark left on the scales, a little deeper than before, but it still didn't break through, not even the skin was broken.

A look of surprise flashed in Zhou Ding's eyes.

Even ordinary top-tier magical artifacts cannot break through its defenses; they can only leave white marks on it.

This means that Xiao Jin's current defensive capabilities are sufficient to withstand the full-force attack of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

If it were to match its speed, even an ordinary late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator would probably not have a chance to injure it.

A sense of relief welled up in his heart.

That once weak treasure-hunting rat has grown to such an extent.

He continued to examine Xiao Jin's other talents and abilities.

The precision detection mode of the Earth Listening Technique has been improved to a range of forty miles.

Within a forty-mile radius, no movement, no matter how small, could escape Xiao Jin's perception.

Whether it's the escape light of a cultivator, the tracks of a demonic beast, or the fluctuations of spiritual veins deep underground, all can be clearly detected.

Zhou Ding closed his eyes and, through Xiao Jin's perception, could "see" the scene forty miles away.

For example, at this moment, a wild rabbit is foraging in the grass, a stream is flowing through the mountains, and the roots of an ancient tree are deeply embedded in the ground.

That feeling was like having the ability to see a thousand miles.

The speed of the earth-遁术 (earth-遁术 is a type of technique that allows one to move underground) increased again, and when moving underground, it was like a fish swimming in water, smooth and free.

Zhou Ding had Xiao Jin try it out, and it transformed into a golden streak of light, traversing the underground of the quiet room at an astonishing speed.

It only takes a moment to go from one end of the quiet room to the other.

What surprised Zhou Ding even more was that this ability had even undergone some changes.

He had Xiao Jin try it out in the quiet room. It burrowed underground, and a moment later, the ground suddenly cracked open, creating a shallow pit.

Zhou Ding's heart stirred.

Is this... manipulating the land?

He had Xiao Jin try it a few more times and discovered that when it traveled underground, it could easily manipulate the surrounding land, creating ground cracks, collapses, and bulges.

Although its power is limited, it already possesses some offensive capabilities.

If they encounter an enemy, Xiao Jin can suddenly create a collapse from underground, making the enemy lose their footing; or create a crack to trap the enemy's footsteps.

It can be surprisingly effective at crucial moments.

For example, if an enemy is casting a spell that requires a stable foothold, a collapse can interrupt him.

If the enemy is fleeing, a crack can block his path.

Of course, high-level cultivators usually engage in combat in the sky.

This ability can only be used in certain specific environments.

Zhou Ding nodded in satisfaction.

The Black Spirit Claw and the Clone Technique remain unchanged, retaining their original power.

The claws of the Black Spirit Claw remain incredibly sharp, capable of tearing through spiritual energy shields.

Zhou Ding had Xiao Jin try it out. With one swipe of its claw, it left five deep claw marks on the stone wall, each an inch deep with smooth, mirror-like edges.

The clone technique can still create two clones, each possessing some of the original's strength.

The duration of the Light of Breaking the Restriction has increased significantly due to the enhancement of demonic energy.

Previously it could only support dozens of breaths, but now it can support at least one hundred breaths.

This means that if we encounter large formations in the future, we will have enough time to pass through them calmly.

Zhou Ding pondered that if he maintained this speed, he might be able to pass through the ancient wind-attribute barrier of the Crimson Forbidden Land.

Their original talents and abilities have all been amplified.

To Zhou Ding's surprise, this feedback actually awakened a new talent in Xiao Jin.

Zhou Ding had a sudden thought and shared his view with Xiao Jin.

The next moment, Xiao Jin's eyes changed.

Those originally golden pupils suddenly emitted an eerie purple light!

The purple light was deep and dark, like two purple flames burning in Xiao Jin's eye sockets, emanating a chilling aura.

Just looking at that purple light gives one a feeling of being captivated, as if one's soul is about to be sucked in.

Zhou Ding was startled.

This awakened ability should be related to Xiao Jin's twin pupils.

However, the specifics of its ability remain to be tested.

He snapped out of his daze, opened his eyes, and looked at Xiao Jin in the corner.

I'll find an opportunity to test this new ability in a few days.

……

Subsequently, Zhou Ding went into seclusion for another half month to completely solidify his late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.

For the past two weeks, he has been sitting cross-legged by the Spirit Eye Spring every day, circulating the Azure Origin Sword Technique and repeatedly sorting out the true essence in his body.

The true essence that was somewhat restless when it first broke through gradually became docile and tamed, flowing smoothly through the meridians.

He repeatedly circulated his cultivation technique, allowing his true essence to flow through his meridians. With each circulation, the true essence became more solidified.

The feeling is like polishing a piece of raw jade; the more you polish it, the smoother and warmer it becomes.

His cultivation at the late stage of Foundation Establishment was completely stabilized.

He could clearly feel that the true energy in his dantian had completely calmed down, like a bottomless lake, calm on the surface but containing terrifying power deep within.

……

On this day, Zhou Ding walked out of the quiet room and into the hall.

In the hall, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the ceiling, illuminating the stone table with warmth and brightness.

A faint fragrance filled the air, emanating from several pots of medicinal herbs in the corner.

Xin Ruyin was sitting at the stone table, holding a jade scroll in her hands, her expression focused.

She had been studying the "Qinghe Battle Manual," which she obtained from Li Huayuan's treasure vault, for over a year and was still enjoying it immensely.

She would sometimes frown, sometimes seem to realize something, and sometimes mutter to herself, completely immersed in the world of the array.

The sunlight shone on her, giving her a soft glow.

Her profile looked exceptionally gentle in the light and shadow, with her long eyelashes casting soft shadows on her eyelids.

Zhou Ding looked at her quietly, a warm feeling welling up in his heart.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up and saw Zhou Ding, a look of joy flashing in her eyes.

"Zhou Lang, you've emerged from the pass?"

Her voice was soft and concerned.

Zhou Ding nodded and sat down next to her.

"Yes. My cultivation has been completely stabilized."

Upon hearing this, Xin Ruyin smiled.

"Congratulations, Zhou Lang, you've reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment."

She put down the jade slip in her hand, looked at him seriously, her eyes full of pride.

Zhou Ding smiled slightly and asked, "How have you been these days?"

Xin Ruyin nodded, a mysterious glint in her eyes.

"Zhou Lang, I have good news to tell you."

Zhou Ding was taken aback.

"What good news?"

Xin Ruyin did not answer directly, but stood up, took his hand, and walked towards the entrance of the cave.

"Come with me."

Her hands were soft and warm, and holding them made one feel at ease.

The two arrived at the entrance of the cave.

There, the Reversed Five Elements Array was still in operation, with the five-colored light screen flowing endlessly, exuding a tough and profound aura.

Five colors of light—gold, cyan, blue, red, and yellow—flickered alternately, like a magnificent rainbow, enveloping the entire entrance to the cave.

Xin Ruyin pointed at the formation, a hint of smugness in her eyes.

"Zhou Lang, take a look at this formation. Has there been any change?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ding carefully examined the formation.

He looked at it for a while, then his brows furrowed slightly.

The formation was still the same formation, and the runes were still the same runes, but something felt different.

Those runes seem to be more complex now?

What was originally just a few strokes has now become densely packed, layer upon layer.

Those lines seem to be denser now?

The originally sparse lines have now interwoven into a net, with each link connected to the next.

Some of the spiritual energy nodes seem to have become more stable? The originally loose nodes are now tightly connected and unbreakable.

He observed carefully, and after a moment, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"This formation...is quite complex now?"

Xin Ruyin nodded, a smile flashing in her eyes.

"Feel its aura again."

Zhou Ding closed his eyes, extended his divine sense, and carefully sensed the aura of the formation.

That aura was heavier, deeper, and more unshakeable than before.

If the previous formation was a solid city wall, then the current formation is a majestic mountain peak that inspires awe.

A moment later, he opened his eyes, his face showing shock.

A moment later, he opened his eyes, his face showing shock.

"The power... seems to be even stronger?"

Xin Ruyin then explained, "I further enhanced the original Five Elements Reversal Formation."

She pointed to the runes on the array and explained them one by one, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Look here, the original runes only had three nested layers, but I increased them to five, greatly improving the stability of the formation. With three nested layers, it might loosen under continuous attacks. Now with five nested layers, even if a late-stage Core Formation cultivator attacks continuously for an hour, it won't budge an inch."

"Look here, I've adjusted the positions of these nodes to make the flow of the five elements smoother and reduce energy loss. The original energy utilization rate was only 70%, but now it has increased to over 90%. This means that with the same amount of spirit stones, the formation can be maintained for a longer time."

"And here, I added a 'counterattack' rune. When someone attacks the formation, it can reflect some of the attack power back. Although the force of the reflection is not great, continuous reflections can still make the opponent suffer."

"And here, I've optimized the array's sensing range. Now, we can sense anyone approaching within a hundred feet of the array..."

She explained at length, her fingers tracing the positions and changes of the runes in the air.

Her eyes grew brighter and brighter, and the excitement on her face intensified.

Zhou Ding was stunned.

Although he also studied formations, he was far from reaching Xin Ruyin's level.

Those complex runes and mysterious formations were like celestial books to him; he recognized each character individually, but when put together, he couldn't understand their meaning.

But there's one thing he's sure of.

The power of this formation has indeed increased significantly.

"And its current power..." he asked tentatively.

Xin Ruyin smiled slightly, her eyes filled with confidence.

"The original Inverted Five Elements Formation could withstand attacks from mid-stage Core Formation cultivators. Now, it can withstand attacks from late-stage Core Formation cultivators."

Zhou Ding was both surprised and delighted.

Resist the attack of a late-stage Core Formation cultivator!

What does this mean?

This means that even if a late-stage Core Formation cultivator comes knocking on their door in the future, they can safely hide in their cave thanks to this formation.

Unless the enemy attacks relentlessly for several days at any cost, the formation cannot be broken at all.

He looked at Xin Ruyin, his eyes full of admiration.

"Ruyin, you truly deserve to be called... a prodigy in the art of array formations!"

Xin Ruyin blushed slightly and said softly, "You flatter me, Zhou Lang. Ruyin simply likes formations."

Zhou Ding shook his head and said seriously, "This is not praise, it's the truth. You can even enhance a complex formation like the Reversed Five Elements Formation. You can't find another person with this talent in the entire cultivation world."

Xin Ruyin felt embarrassed by his words and lowered her head, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.

Joy sparkled in those clear eyes.

Zhou Ding put his arm around her waist and laughed, "Today is truly a double celebration. I broke through to the late Foundation Establishment stage, and you perfected the formation."

He paused, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"It's been a long time since you've practiced the Yin-Yang Creation Technique. Let me process the Yang energy in your body."

Upon hearing this, Xin Ruyin's face instantly turned red.

"Zhou Lang... in broad daylight..."

Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.

Her cheeks were so red they looked like they were about to bleed, and even the base of her ears was bright red.

Without saying a word, Zhou Ding picked her up and carried her towards the bedroom.

Xin Ruyin buried herself in his arms, not daring to look up, her hands tightly gripping his clothes.

She could hear her own heartbeat, thump-thump-thump, so fast it felt like it was going to jump out of her chest.

Zhou Ding looked down at her shy appearance, and a surge of tenderness welled up in his heart.

This woman is his.

……

noon the next day.

Sunlight streamed through the cracks in the cave ceiling, illuminating the bedroom.

Zhou Ding opened his eyes and looked at the woman in his arms.

Xin Ruyin was still asleep, her long eyelashes covering her eyelids, and a faint smile on her lips.

Her breathing was steady, and her complexion was rosy; she was clearly sleeping soundly.

Her long, black hair was scattered on the pillow, making her face appear even softer.

Zhou Ding got up gently without waking her.

He got dressed, left the bedroom, and went to the living room.

The hall was empty; Xiaomei wasn't there.

Zhou Ding found it strange. This little girl should usually be wiping the tables and chairs or preparing spiritual tea at this time. Why is she nowhere to be seen today?

He looked around. The hall was clean and tidy, with several plates of snacks on the stone table and the tea still warm.

Xiaomei had obviously come this morning, but I don't know where she went.

At this moment, Xin Ruyin also came out of the bedroom.

She was wearing a light blue dress, her long hair was simply tied back, and she had a slightly lazy look on her face.

Seeing Zhou Ding looking around, he asked, "Young Master Zhou, what are you looking for?"

Zhou Ding said, "Where's Xiaomei? I haven't seen her all day."

Xin Ruyin smiled slightly and pointed to a tightly closed stone chamber.

"He's in seclusion, cultivating his spiritual practice."

Zhou Ding was stunned, and an expression of disbelief flashed across his face.

He looked at the stone chamber, which was Xiaomei's bedroom. The stone door was closed at the moment, and he could faintly feel the fluctuations of spiritual energy coming from inside.

Given Xiaomei's playful nature, how could she possibly go into seclusion to cultivate?

He remembered that the little girl's favorite things to do were to stroll through the market, eat snacks, bask in the sun, and play with her spirit pet.

Making her cultivate is more painful than killing her.

Every time Xin Ruyin urged her to cultivate, she would find various excuses to refuse.

"The weather is so nice today, perfect for sunbathing, miss. Why don't you continue your practice tomorrow?"

"Miss, my stomach hurts, so let's skip the cultivation today."

"Miss, I'd like to go to the market to buy some things. We can talk about cultivation when I get back."

Zhou Ding had heard these kinds of excuses countless times.

Is she... really cultivating?

Zhou Ding could hardly believe it.

Xin Ruyin nodded, a look of relief flashing in her eyes.

"That day I told her that if she wanted to stay with us for a lifetime, she had to cultivate diligently. She understood and said she would work hard to cultivate and strive to reach the Core Formation stage so she could stay with us for a lifetime."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ding felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

This little girl is quite loyal.

He looked at the tightly closed stone chamber, a look of admiration flashing in his eyes.

"It's a good thing that she can cultivate diligently."

Xin Ruyin walked to his side, leaned on his shoulder, and whispered, "Zhou Lang, I will also work hard to cultivate. I will strive to reach the Foundation Establishment stage as soon as possible so that I can stay with you for a longer time."

Zhou Ding reached out and put his arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace.

"No rush. Take your time."

Xin Ruyin shook her head.

"No. Zhou Lang is already in the late Foundation Establishment stage, while I'm still stuck in the Qi Refining stage. If this continues, the gap will only widen."

She looked up at Zhou Ding, her eyes filled with determination.

"I must reach the Core Formation stage. I will stay with you for five hundred years, a thousand years, forever."

A resolute light shone in those clear eyes.

The light was so bright and so persistent, as if telling him that this was not a momentary impulse, but a well-considered decision.

Looking into her determined eyes, Zhou Ding felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

To have such a Daoist companion is truly a blessing.

He lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead.

Okay, let's work together.

……

The next day.

Taiyue Mountains.

In a remote valley.

Zhou Ding appeared here.

This valley is extremely secluded, surrounded by steep peaks, and accessible only by a narrow passage.

Ancient trees reach for the sky in the valley, overgrown with weeds, creating a desolate landscape. The occasional bird song only adds to the valley's tranquility.

According to Xiao Jindi's listening technique, there is a cave deep in the valley, where a top-tier level one demon beast is hidden.

Zhou Ding's purpose in coming here was to test Xiao Jin's newly awakened abilities.

He brought Xiao Jin silently to the cave entrance.

The cave was about ten feet high, its entrance hidden by vines, from which a faint, foul stench could be smelled. It was the distinctive smell of a monster's lair, mixed with rotting leaves and monster excrement, making one want to vomit.

Zhou Ding made no attempt to conceal his presence and stepped directly into the cave.

The cave was dimly lit, with only a few rays of sunlight filtering through cracks in the ceiling.

Scattered on the ground were the bones of some animals, including rabbits, pheasants, and some larger prey.

A moment later, a hissing sound rang out.

A gigantic serpentine monster emerged from the depths of the cave.

It was a rock serpent, a top-tier level one demonic beast, its body was earthy yellow, about three zhang long and as thick as a water bucket.

Its scales were rough, like rocks, and its vertical pupils emitted a cold light as it stared intently at Zhou Ding, the intruder.

It flicked its tongue, hissed threateningly, and slowly coiled its body into an attack posture.

A first-level top-tier demonic beast is equivalent to a cultivator at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining.

It poses a deadly threat to ordinary Qi Refining stage cultivators.

But to Zhou Ding, they were nothing more than ants.

The rock serpent seemed to sense the powerful aura emanating from Zhou Ding, and a look of fear flashed in its eyes.

The beast's instincts told it that the person in front of it was very dangerous, extremely dangerous, and it was best to run away as soon as possible.

But it is fiercely protective of its nest; its eggs are hidden there, and it cannot escape.

It still hissed threateningly, opened its blood-red maw, and revealed its sharp, venomous fangs.

The fangs glowed with an eerie blue light, clearly indicating they contained a potent poison.

Zhou Ding looked at it, his eyes showing no emotion whatsoever.

He neither dodged nor avoided, but went straight to meet her.

Seeing that he did not retreat, the rock snake suddenly pounced, its speed as fast as lightning!

Its body twisted in the air, its mouth wide open, and it lunged to bite at Zhou Ding's neck.

Zhou Ding sidestepped its attack with ease, then punched it right on its vital spot!

"Bang!"

With a muffled thud, the rock serpent's massive body flew backward, crashing heavily against the cave wall, causing rocks to fall in a shower and the entire cave to tremble.

One punch, and he was seriously injured.

Zhou Ding's current physical strength is comparable to that of a peak level four demonic beast.

The power of that punch was terrifying!

Although the rock snake had an amazing defense, with scales like rocks, its internal organs were shattered by this punch.

Rock snake