<h4>Chapter 537: Improving Once Again</h4>
Shang Xia had a guess when he first started cultivating there. Under ideal circumstances, he would be able to raise his cultivation speed to 4 times its original. He was extremely excited about the possibility, but he clearly understood that there were too many criteria he needed to clear in order to cultivate so quickly. It was extremely difficult for him to even reach a 3 times efficiency in cultivation but that itself was a shocking feat. <button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
One had to know that ordinarily, anywhere that could increase cultivation speed by 10 to 20 percent was already considered a prime location that could incite great wars. An example of such was the battlefield between the two worlds.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
A location that could increase cultivation speed by 30 to 40 percent was where powers established themselves, like the region where the Tongyou Institution was built.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
If a faction found a secret region that could increase cultivation efficiency by 50 percent, they would definitely defend it with their lives. They would obtain a blessednd of cultivation and they could immediately call themselves a holynd.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
It was practically unimaginable for Shang Xia to be able to raise his cultivation speed by 3 times!<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
With the help of his Four Seasons Extermination Origins and his powerful perception, Shang Xia merged himself into the mountain with his understanding of the Heaven and Man Synergy Chapter. Because of that, he could absorb a massive amount of heaven and earth qi and world origin. Whatever hecked in quality he made up for in quantity.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
That might be the case, but he wasn’t able to reach a 3 times increase in cultivation speed as he had hoped. Instead, he forcefully maintained it at around 2 times his normal speed.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
2 times the speed of cultivation might shock ordinary people, but for Shang Xia who had extremely high hopes for himself, it was a little disappointing.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
There were many factors that caused the ‘weak’ increase in cultivation speed, but 2 main reasons stood out.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
The first was that the heaven and earth qi in the region was just too damn thin. One had to know that he went through aplicated process to refine 4 extermination origins at once. Because of that, his speed of cultivation had been limited since a long time ago.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
The second reason was that even though the mountain was massive and could absorb a lot more heaven and earth qi and world origin than a tiny Shang Xia, it was a problem for Shang Xia to properly control the flow of energy due to the huge area it covered.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
Actually, the second reason could be solved easily. He could justy down a giant formation around the mountain to replicate what happened to the Yuxi Peak. That would stop the energy in the surroundings from leaking.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
Even though he couldn’tpletely prevent heaven and earth qi and world origin from being wasted, it would be able to increase the speed of his cultivation regardless.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
However, a formation that could cover the entire mountain he was on was bound to be a grand formation. It wasn’t possible toy one down willy-nilly, and it would require a huge amount of resources. Even without mentioning whether it was worth it or not, Shang Xia wouldn’t be able toy down such a huge formation even with the aid of the institution.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
He also discovered another huge problem after he started cultivating. Moreover, that was something he was absolutely helpless about.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
He discovered that his way of cultivation would cause great damage to the mountain. His Four Seasons Samsara Art might be extremely special as it possessed extraordinary properties, it came at a price. He could cause the unending cycle of the four seasons in the various locations on the mountain, but that went against the naturalws of the world. Shang Xia might be able to rece the cycle of time in those regions and cause the various life forms to wither before regaining their vitality for various cycles, he wasn’t able to fully replicate the cycle of life and death. Since it wasn’t perfect, it greatly damaged the vitality of the area and it was almost impossible for it to ever return to its natural state.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
After prolonged cultivation, Shang Xia might experience a huge increase in strength. However, the entire mountain would have its vitalitypletely exhausted. It would turn into a massive piece of rock at best with no ability to support life. In theing tens, even hundreds of years, it wouldn’t recover.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
Using the vitality of the mountain in exchange for personal strength seemed like a reasonable trade on the surface. After all, with Shang Xia’s current strength, he could level a mountain like that with a single thought. However, there was a tiny voice in the back of his mind telling him that it was best to avoid doing things like sucking the vitality from things.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
That was also a reason Shang Xia was unable to unleash the full power of his extermination origins to refine his Four Seasons Extermination Origins.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
While holding back slightly, Shang Xia managed to raise his cultivation speed to twice its original level and the speed at which he refined his Four Seasons Extermination Origins increased to a great extent. His cultivation andbat abilities naturally followed.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
2 months passed just like that and throughout the period, Shang Xia would patrol the surrounding dozens of miles every 3 to 5 days or so. The rest of his time was spent cultivating in the huge mountain that was covered in a thickyer of clouds.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
Not everything was peaceful during his time there. During his first month there, he ran into an expert of the Manyu Continent on one of his patrols.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
The 2 sides moved extremely quickly and by the time Shang Xia discovered that the other side had entered his range of perception, he couldn’t react in time and the distance between both sides had closed to around 30 miles. At that distance, the other party also detected Shang Xia’s presence.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
The expert of the Manyu Continent slowed down immediately and Shang Xia tried changing his direction subtly. However, he didn’t deviate too much from his original path as he nned to mark out his territory.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
From the other party’s reaction, Shang Xia could tell that the other party was starting to retract their aura. However, they maintained a distance of 30 miles or so as they flew. Eventually, they flew in a semi circle around the region Shang Xia was protecting before the expert from the Manyu Continent left.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
Neither of themmunicated with each other throughout the whole process. Instead, they merely probed each other with their divine perception. After the expert of the Manyu Continent left, Shang Xia finally realized what had happened. The other party might have been sent there to feel him out.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
The expert who came might possess the same aura as experts from the Manyu Continent, but no one could be sure that he wasn’t a part of the mysterious third party!<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
If Youshang’s judgment was correct, Su Jinyuan was a member of the mysterious third faction that entered the Manyu Continent. With his cultivation at thergepletion stage of the Martial Extermination Realm, there was no way he would be a nameless expert. The moment anyone noticed his death, they would carry out a detailed investigation immediately! Every single Martial Extermination Realm expert on the Snowy Peaks Mountain Range was a suspect.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
Luckily, when they joined hands to kill Su Jinyuan back then, they crossed a huge portion of the mountain range to do so. Their battle took ce extremely far away and Shang Xia’s ability to conceal his strength was no joke. He was sure the experts on the other side wouldn’t be able to discover his strength just by probing him the way they did earlier.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
They might not be able to determine if Shang Xia was involved in Su Jinyuan’s death, but if Shang Xia’s guess was right and they were really investigating the matter, one thing was certain. Youshang wouldn’t be able to impersonate Su Jinyuan any longer!<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
Thinking of the possibilities, Shang Xia’s heart sank. Of course, with Shang Xia’s understanding of Youshang, even if his disguise was seen through, he would be able to escape unless theyid out an borate trap for him.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
The appearance of the strange ‘expert from the Manyu Continent’ caused Shang Xia to experience several days of unrest. After realizing that everything remained as peaceful as it was, Shang Xia tossed his worries to the back of his mind as he focused on his cultivation.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
During the second month of his cultivation, Shang Xia ran into 2 Martial Extermination Realm expats. One of them was scared away by Shang Xia before they could get close. The other exchanged a blow with Shang Xia before leaving in defeat.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
The person who came to blows with Shang Xia was a member of the Azure Origin World and Shang Xia had no idea where the other party came from. He also didn’t know if he managed to recognize Shang Xia. <button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
Other than those interesting encounters, Shang Xia received 2 transmissions from the Tongyou Stronghold during his time there.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button> n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
The first informed him about the chaotic situation on the Manyu Continent and the fact that the Tongyou Stronghold was about to expand their territory. They nned to increase the scope of their grand formation from the 1200 mile mark to the 1500 mile mark.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
If everything went well and the expansion continued smoothly, they would be able to expand their territory to cover an area of 2000 miles before the destruction of the Manyu Continent. When that happened, the Tongyou Institution would be able to obtain a massive ind after the Manyu Continent crumbled.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
Shang Xia couldn’t help but look at the dense clouds around him and his gaze swept over the region he was defending. <button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
Without a holynd to guide the hugendmass after the destruction of the Manyu Continent, the Martial Dipper Realm Ancestors would have to take on the entire burden themselves. Shang Xia felt that Kou Chongxue and Ji Wenlong made their estimations a long time ago and after careful consideration, they chose to maintain the Tongyou Stronghold at 1200 miles. <button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
Now that they were expanding again, there were 2 possibilities. One of them was that the Tongyou Institution managed to gain the assistance of another Martial Dipper Realm expert, and the other was that the Tongyou Institution had upgraded themselves to the Tongyou Paradise.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
The possibility of thetter happening wasn’t toorge, and that left the other exnation.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
Currently, Shang Bo was the only expert of the Tongyou Institution who had hopes of breaking through to the Martial Dipper Realm. Shang Xia thought that he had been protecting the region his grandfather was in seclusion all along but he hadn’t detected anything. <button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
That begged another question. How in the world would Kou Chongxue and Ji Wenlong know about Shang Bo’s current situation if Shang Xia failed to detect anything? Moreover, they were confident that they could expand the size of the Tongyou Stronghold’s territory.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
Clearly, Shang Bo had another way of contacting Kou Chongxue and the rest who were outside the Manyu Continent. Also, there was no way Shang Xia would fail to detect anyrge scale fluctuations if his grandfather experienced an increase in cultivation around the Snowy Peaks Mountain Range. <button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
Since Shang Xia brought the Abyssal Firmament Fate Dipper to the Manyu Continent under Ji Wenlong’s orders, Shang Bo had to be on the continent.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
Adding up every single factor and exnation, Shang Xia knew that there was only one possibility. Shang Bo wasn’t cultivating in the region he was protecting. It didn’t matter if it was Youshang or Shang Xia. Both of them were mere pawns tossed out by the institution to bait the enemy.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
Being the institution’s pawn again…<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
A deep frown formed on Shang Xia’s face. If everything he thought about was true, that would mean one thing. It was pretty obvious at that point, but Shang Bo’s whereabouts were only known by 3 people! Kou Chongxue, Ji Wenlong, and Yun Jing!<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
At the end of the day, those old fellows were still keeping their own secrets!<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
Now that Shang Xia had reached his own conclusion, he suddenly lost the urge to cultivate. With a trace of irritation in his heart, he unleashed the fruits of hisprehension as he chopped downwards. Snow descended upon theyer of dense clouds and it grew heavier and heavier. Each snowke was like a de that fell mercilessly to the ground below.<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>
With the inspiration taken from the 21st sr term, Shang Xia developed another move, Greater Snow!<button ss="MuiButtonBase-root MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways ww-nw4feq" tabindex="0" type="button">0</button>