Eternal Life: My Lifespan Increases Daily

Chapter 534 - 375: Seven Steps of the Ape, Mountain-moving Power! (Double-Length)

"Three days," replied Rongjiang.

"It’s been so long..." Song Changming hadn’t expected this bout of immersive cultivation to feel like a mere moment, yet three days and nights had already passed.

He took out a large piece of fresh demon flesh from the storage ring.

This meat was from the Sheep Demon that Song Changming had slain with a single strike a few days ago.

Sheep meat is highly nourishing and tastes delicious, so Song Changming deliberately set aside some before extracting the demon blood essence.

"Go, have the fireman in the army prepare it quickly; I’m starving," Song Changming weakly lifted his hand and urged.

"Yes." Although Rongjiang was a bit puzzled as to why his general looked so weak after a few days of cultivation, he did not question it further and took the Sheep Demon meat to leave.

Suddenly, recalling the invitation from the Commander of Five Armies, he informed him of the matter.

"Understood." Upon hearing, Song Changming didn’t immediately rise to pay a visit.

On one hand, he was not in a good state, and the matter was already three days past, making it less urgent.

Soon, stewed, roasted, and fried meat were all served.

Although lacking some wine, based on taste alone, Song Changming was quite satisfied and invited Rongjiang to join him and enjoy the meal.

Once the hearty meal settled in his stomach, the rising warmth within alleviated his fatigue.

"Has anything happened over these three days?" Song Changming asked subsequently.

Rongjiang answered one by one.

Over the three days, the army had been clearing the battlefield, with occasional demon appearances outside the city, but none posing significant threat.

However, it was heard that several cities in the south had also successively fallen into bitter battles, with the scale of demon incursions growing larger. Even if the entire Cuiqi Army engaged, it would still be hard to hold them all back at the southern border.

Reportedly, in the heartland of Cui Bai Dao, sizable demon groups had already crossed, causing serious destruction to villages and towns.

After Rongjiang’s recount, Song Changming had a rough understanding of the situation over the three days.

For now, Tai Nan City, where he was stationed, remained safe. However, the various parts of Cui Bai Dao outside Tai Nan City were in quite a precarious situation.

Their forces dared not leave lightly, lest Tai Nan City, hard-won, become visited by demons again.

"Any news of the Great Demon?" Song Changming asked again.

This was his primary concern.

The immense power of a Great Demon, once appearing, could instantly overturn the situation on any battlefield!

If a Great Demon had indeed invaded Cui Bai Dao, it would certainly be the top priority!

Everyone understood one thing: only human race strongmen of Grandmaster level could contend with a Great Demon.

Below Grandmaster, it’s not saying they’re ants in the eyes of a Great Demon, but they don’t pose much threat!

Currently, Song Changming’s strength had been tested in the battlefield.

It could be said that as long as there was no Great Demon, he would be generally safe. He could progress, retreat, and as long as he remained calm, there were not many Demon Generals who could genuinely threaten him.

"None." Rongjiang truthfully responded, at least he had not heard any news related to Great Demons.

Song Changming nodded, asking no further questions.

After resting for a while longer, when the fatigue finally subsided, Song Changming stepped out of the barracks, three days later.

In the sky, the Black Brilliance remained high above, casting the world into endless darkness.

No one knew how long this Black Brilliance would last, but the longer it lingered, the more its negative effects would accumulate.

Food, the ecological environment, were all severely harmed in various aspects.

Song Changming could feel that there was indeed sunlight above, but the sunlit energy cast by this Black Brilliance was not the same as that under normal sunlight.

Common people feel cheerful under sunlight, but the light of Black Brilliance only makes people irritable, even with a constant sense of breathlessness and anxiety.

With an expression of disdain, Song Changming glanced at the Black Brilliance looming over the sky, then made his way to the City Lord’s Mansion.

On the streets, many were clearing the post-battle ruins, with carts transporting debris and stones to be dumped outside the city.

The four surrounding walls were also undergoing repair and reconstruction.

The order within the city was relatively stable, with people mostly having resumed their daily labor.

City Lord’s Mansion.

Song Changming met Meng Kunlun, along with several other Grand Marshals present, and apologized to them.

"Cultivation is of utmost importance, especially for talents like General Song, which must not be delayed," said Chu Tianquan, the Grand Marshal of the Seventeenth Army, with a wave and a gentle smile, praising Song Changming.

"The summons that day was nothing significant, merely to confirm your true current strength," Meng Kunlun explained.

"True strength..." Song Changming understood.

Not too surprising indeed.

The strength he displayed in the battle was indeed astonishing, with battlefield influence far surpassing ordinary Little Flag Masters.

The Grand Marshals were aware of this, but Song Changming’s exact strength still needed his own clarification.

After all, the apparent cultivation level in Qi Refining did not fully represent Song Changming’s real power.

The usual method of measuring a Martial Artist’s strength didn’t apply to Song Changming.

"If possible, can you explain a bit?" Chu Tianquan asked.

Song Changming nodded; having already demonstrated his power publicly, there was no longer any need to conceal it. He looked at Wang Tianshuang and said:

"The Grand Marshal should know that my cultivation primarily focuses on Body Refinement, with Qi Refining as auxiliary. If judged purely by my current Qi Refining cultivation, it’s inferior to all the Little Flag Masters in the army.

But when combined with the results of my Body Refinement cultivation, it should allow me to exchange a few moves with a Martial Artist at the Innate Perfection Realm."

Song Changming considered he was being modest and not overly boasting.

Yet, having the ability to engage a Martial Artist at the Innate Perfection Realm, with just Qi Refining cultivation of opening Six Martial Veins, was indeed outrageous, surpassing the conventional notion of low overpowering high!

"Would it be possible for me to have a try?" asked Lord Yan Lan, the Grand Marshal of the Twenty-First Army, suddenly rising.

Regarding Song Changming’s true strength, he wasn’t as informed as Wang Tianshuang and Meng Kunlun. He had only seen, from afar amidst the chaotic battlefield, the scene of Song Changming slaying the Toad Demon once.

Although Song Changming’s strength had been unanimously acknowledged by Wang Tianshuang and Meng Kunlun, he wanted to see it up close once more.

He was genuinely curious about how a Martial Artist with merely Six Martial Veins possessed combat power comparable to the Innate Perfection Realm level.

Hearing this, Song Changming couldn’t help but look at Wang Tianshuang once more.

"Since Lord Yan wishes to test, let him have a few casual moves," Wang Tianshuang nodded to Song Changming.

Song Changming saw this and agreed.

"Pardon my boldness, please," Lord Yan Lan said to Meng Kunlun and Wang Tianshuang courteously, then nodded to Song Changming and strode outside.

"Brother Chu, shall we go have a look?" asked Wang Tianshuang, looking at Chu Tianquan, Grand Marshal of the Seventeenth Army.

"Of course, we should," Chu Tianquan nodded, following along as well.

The group didn’t go far, gathering in a practice ground within the City Lord’s Mansion.

"Shall we begin?" Lord Yan Lan stood firm and asked Song Changming.

He appeared stern, concise in speech, decisive, without a hint of hesitation.

"Whenever you’re ready," Song Changming saw that the other hadn’t drawn a weapon and stood ready without taking up a blade, barehanded.

Lord Yan Lan didn’t delay; as soon as Chu Tianquan and others arrived, he moved swiftly, dashing toward Song Changming.

The speed demonstrated no significant reservation.

Since they were testing whether Song Changming possessed enough might to contest with a Martial Artist at the Innate Perfection Realm, it was natural to measure him by the standard of Innate Perfection Realm strength.

Holding back would be meaningless.

In the blink of an eye, Lord Yan Lan was close to Song Changming, his Grand Marshal robe flapping, creating a sharp sound.

Lord Yan Lan straightforwardly launched a punch.

The immense Innate Qi Aura condensed into this punch, transforming into a fierce and vigorous fist force.

The menacing aura suppressed Song Changming, as if he were mired in a swamp, increasing the difficulty of movement to evade.

A few strands of hair in front of Song Changming’s forehead were blown aside by the yet-to-arrive fist force, as his eyes narrowed slightly.

Then he also responded with a punch, meeting Lord Yan Lan head-on.

There was no fist force formed by Gang Qi on his punch, only the eruption of his pure physical strength.

Their fists collided.

With a muffled sound, gusty waves rolled, filling the entire practice ground.

...