Ming Zhitian pulled away the sticky spider silk, put on his Nan Mang Fist Gloves again, and said to the corpse of the giant spider, "Don't underestimate my bare fists. Even without spiritual artifacts, I can deal with you with ease."
"It's a pity I didn't get to test the true power of the Nan Mang Fist Gloves."
Continuing forward, he encountered many corpses of wild beasts and strange creatures, indicating that many battles had taken place here.
Ahead, corpse mist swirled, and dozens of ghoul creatures hovered nearby. Ming Zhitian swallowed an antidote pill and proceeded.
Suddenly, a senior disciple from the Ascending Dragon Realm was pinned down by a ghoul. Infected with corpse poison, he was powerless to resist and was about to be devoured.
Ming Zhitian leaped forward, his fist shattering the ghoul's head, which then rolled to the ground with a clatter.
Though its head was gone, the ghoul's body still twitched. Ming Zhitian unleashed another punch, a flash of cold light, crushing its decaying heart!
Ming Zhitian helped him up, "Senior disciple, are you alright? What sect are you from?"
The senior disciple slowly rose, picked up his sword, and sheathed it. He asked, "How come you're not poisoned?"
Ming Zhitian replied, "I took an antidote pill beforehand. Would you like one?"
The senior disciple eyed him warily. "No, thank you for saving me. I'll take my leave now."
Ming Zhitian nodded. "Farewell."
The senior disciple exclaimed, "Wait? Isn't that our Sect Master?"
Ming Zhitian turned back, seeing nothing. The senior disciple launched a sudden sneak attack!
Fortunately, Ming Zhitian had been cautious. Without even looking, he sidestepped the blow. "Senior disciple, what is the meaning of this? I saved you, and now you attack me?"
Just as Ming Zhitian thought the senior disciple was delirious from poison, the latter said, "A Qi Cultivation Level 5 cultivator possessing antidote pills and a Heaven-grade spiritual artifact? You must have quite a few treasures. Hand them all over, and I'll spare your life out of consideration for our fellow disciples."
Ming Zhitian smiled faintly. "Robbery? But you're heavily poisoned, and your cultivation is less than half what it should be."
The senior disciple sneered, "Even so, it's enough to deal with a mere Qi Cultivation Level 5 like you!"
It seemed the Heaven-grade Nan Mang Fist Gloves that Tian Nanjie had given him were indeed extravagant, making certain people covetous.
Ming Zhitian said, "Out of consideration for our fellow disciples, if you leave now, I will not act against you."
The senior disciple mistook his words for a threat. "I gave you a chance. It seems you don't want to live."
Ming Zhitian retorted, "Sneak attacks are dishonorable, young man. I advise you to consider your actions."
The senior disciple drew his sword. "Take this!"
Ming Zhitian clenched his fists, gathered his strength, and unleashed a punch! The Nan Mang Fist Gloves struck the tip of his sword, shattering it with a resounding crash!
The punch, carrying fragments of the sword, slammed into the senior disciple's chest, sending him directly to the underworld.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he died, a hint of unwillingness lingering. "You... You! ...Im... Impossible..."
Ming Zhitian shook his head, collecting the senior disciple's storage bag. "Anything is possible."
He examined the sect marking on the senior disciple. "Someone from the Shiying Sect? I'll remember this."
He fought his way through, killing over a dozen ghoul creatures, and arrived at an area populated by wooden figures. Each of these figures possessed the cultivation of the ninth level of the Ascending Dragon Realm. Ming Zhitian dared not advance rashly and chose to wait for an opportunity.
Ming Zhitian realized this place was fraught with danger, from the ecosystem to the internecine strife among fellow disciples. Everyone resorted to any means necessary for their own strength, and the same applied to the beasts.
He found a concealed patch of grass and decided to cultivate the "Longevity Art," as he heard the sounds of fighting not far away, and in more than one location. He let them fight to the death.
Ming Zhitian slowly opened his eyes. The "Longevity Art" had advanced another level!
Indeed, the spiritual energy here was abundant, accelerating his cultivation speed exponentially. If he stayed here for a month, his Longevity Art could easily advance dozens of levels. However, he didn't want to spend all his time on the Longevity Art. He valued strength and cultivation realms more, the power of a world that revered the strong.