Ming Zhi Tian ignored them, shaking his head instead. Seeing them talk while working, and even stopping their hands to slack off, he thought their training speed would keep them stagnant for life.
Noticing Guo Wang Qiang and his companion occasionally glancing at him and the cave entrance, Ming Zhi Tian’s lips curved upwards. He mused, “Oh ho, there’s something here.”
Despite appearing to train nonchalantly, Ming Zhi Tian was subtly wary of sneak attacks from the Guo family duo.
They trained from morning till evening, hunting for wild game to eat, one meal a day.
Another five days passed, and Ming Zhi Tian made a qualitative leap, advancing to the late Tai Ji stage!
He felt a surge of power throughout his body. Though still far from the next breakthrough, he believed he would return to his peak condition soon.
In just fifteen days, Ming Zhi Tian had advanced consecutively, making Guo Wang Qiang and Guo Xi Rang restless.
Because Ming Zhi Tian had clearly become a threat, Guo Wang Qiang wished he had eliminated him while he was still weak!
Guo Xi Rang glared at Guo Wang Qiang, "Who said we'd deal with this brat in a month? Now he's advanced to the late Tai Ji stage, and you want to eliminate him? Hmph, it won't be easy!"
Guo Wang Qiang angrily smashed a stone mountain, "You didn't say anything back then! Why regret it now? Why didn't you advise me?"
Guo Xi Rang waved his hand, "Enough, it's not too late to deal with him now. With both of us at the early Qian Kun stage, are we afraid of a mere late Tai Ji?"
Guo Wang Qiang stopped training, "You've finally said something right. Attack!"
Their fist winds whistled as they attacked! Ming Zhi Tian quickly dodged behind a stone mountain, but it was shattered by their combined blows!
Ming Zhi Tian smiled slightly, "Do you want my life?"
Guo Wang Qiang and Guo Xi Rang exchanged a smile, "Why ask the obvious? Die!"
Guo Wang Qiang added, "I've tolerated your sycophancy for too long!"
Ming Zhi Tian leaped, creating distance instantly. His technique was controlled to the extreme, allowing him to jump farther than ordinary people.
He patted his butt, provoking them, "Come on, you couldn't catch me when I was early Tai Ji. Now that I'm late stage, I doubt you can even see my taillights!"
"Brat, you're asking for death!" Guo Xi Rang roared, charging forward first!
"Wait for me!" Guo Wang Qiang immediately followed.
The three chased, two behind one, Ming Zhi Tian not boasting, and having clearly assessed their strength – merely early Qian Kun stage.
Even so, Ming Zhi Tian didn't hold back, because the stages below Tai Ji were vastly different from those above it.
As the stage levels increased, ten great Heavenly Cycles might not be enough to defeat one Tai Ji, but fifty Tai Ji cultivators might not necessarily defeat one early Qian Kun!
This was why Guo Wang Qiang and his companion looked down on Ming Zhi Tian, a mere Tai Ji cultivator, and had been toyed with like dogs multiple times. It was a disgrace to the martial world!
Of course, Ming Zhi Tian was well aware of this. If he couldn't beat them, he could at least outrun them!
All three exerted their full strength, darting back and forth like specters. After a brief rest, they resumed running, then a few more evasive maneuvers, followed by more running.
After several rounds, Ming Zhi Tian still had them spinning in circles. But the two pursued relentlessly, even after losing sight of him, vowing not to give up until they found and whipped him one hundred and eighty times.
While Guo Wang Qiang and his companion searched blindly for Ming Zhi Tian, he had already circled back and entered the cave to investigate.
Guo Xi Rang, realizing what had happened, cursed, "Not good! Back!"
As Ming Zhi Tian followed the torchlight along the wall, he saw a golden light radiating ahead. Could there be treasure?
He approached slowly, only to hear a deafening roar: "Hwah~!"
Before him stood a massive, muscular Golden Armored Bear Beast!
It was confined by a peculiar cage, and the Golden Armored Bear Beast was injured. Two spear-like metal objects were impaled through its shoulder blades, severely restricting its movement and rendering it unable to struggle.
Ming Zhi Tian was somewhat surprised, "I didn't expect to find such a rare Golden Armored Bear Beast in this ancient ruin. How wonderful it would be to have it as a pet. An adult Golden Armored Bear Beast has strength comparable to a mid-stage Divine rank. Just thinking about it makes me giddy."
The Golden Armored Bear Beast seemed to understand Ming Zhi Tian's words and roared defiantly, "Aowah~!"