Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

”Commander, no need to hesitate, Banu will definitely win.” One person urgently whispered when they saw Niu Mang looking at the stakes hesitantly.

”Bet on Banu, guaranteed win.” Another person asserted confidently.

...

After the people around him finished speaking, Niu Mang finally moved his gaze away from the stakes on the right stone platform.

At the same time, a wise smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: ”Guaranteed win? Win against whom?”

The person beside him subconsciously looked toward the left stone platform upon hearing this.

At this moment, the left stone platform still remained empty.

”Bang!” In the next moment, Niu Mang placed all his stakes on the left stone platform.

”The Clan Leader is the wisest in the clan. His remark ’win whose’ has enlightened me. To win more, you have to bet on the side with more stakes.” He affirmed in his mind.

Gulp~

Watching Niu Mang place down a large number of stakes and then stride away, the surrounding Barbarians were dumbfounded.

”Isn’t Niu Mang supposed to be the smartest commander? Why has he become foolish.”

”Niu Mang isn’t as smart as me; I’m actually the smartest in the clan.”

...

As numerous Barbarians finished placing their bets, the focus finally shifted towards the dueling stone platform.

There, an elderly man with white hair and beard, looking frail with the Coiled Dragon Staff in hand, appeared even smaller and weaker against the towering, muscle-bound Banu.

”Hey, I’ll give you one last chance. Admit defeat now, and I won’t toss you into the cesspit,” Banu said, baring his upper body while his muscles shook threateningly.

Li Ji’an could feel the surging power within him, truly matching the power he had when he first entered as a Tier Three Body Cultivator.

The rules of the divine power contest are simple.

The two will face off with strength on the stone platform; the objective is to throw the opponent off the platform.

Magical power can be used.

However, the platform is very small, and the contestants are close to each other; using magic against physique power requires being at least one realm higher to have a chance to resist.

Besides, physique power consumes less compared to magical power and is more lasting, focusing on grappling rather than slaying, so achieving a stable victory on such a small platform requires being two small realms higher.

For an ordinary Dharma Cultivator, a Late-stage Core Formation Ascendant can barely defeat a physique comparable to a Tier Three Body Cultivator’s power on this stone platform.

Unfortunately, Banu is up against Li Ji’an.

His Middle-stage Tier Three Body Cultivator physique completely surpasses Banu.

Li Ji’an smiled faintly and stepped forward.

”Why isn’t that Old Douding activating his Magical Shield?”

”With that small frame, if he doesn’t use the Magical Shield, he’d better watch out for being sent flying by Banu’s stomp.”

...

Watching Li Ji’an calmly approach Banu without activating the Magical Shield, the Barbarians were all perplexed.

Banu widened his eyes as he watched Li Ji’an walk over.

Even as Li Ji’an entered close range, Banu remained utterly puzzled.

”Old Dou...”

However, just as he uttered the first two words, Li Ji’an had already lifted his foot to kick toward him.

Still without using magical power, purely striking with physical prowess.

”...” Everyone was left speechless, staring at Li Ji’an.

Completely unable to fathom what Li Ji’an intended to do.

Boom~

Yet in the next moment, a massive force suddenly erupted from Li Ji’an’s body, instantly transferring to Banu.

”Pama!” Banu turned pale instantly, exclaiming as he was knocked flying.

Just about to fall off the stone platform, his dark red skin suddenly flashed with a blood glow, turning bright red all over. Simultaneously, he unleashed powerful physical strength from within, countering the residual force of Li Ji’an’s kick, allowing him to barely land on the edge of the stone platform.

Rustle~

In an instant, the entire crowd fell silent.

Everyone wore expressions of shock.

Even unable to believe what had just transpired.

”Is that Old Douding a Body Cultivator?”

”But there’s no Qi and Blood Power flowing from him.”

”Could he be one of our Divine Race?”

...

The brains of the Barbarian Race, already not too bright, quickly got overloaded.

”Good! Very good! I hope you can be even stronger, don’t let me down.” After regaining his footing, Banu was rather than annoyed by Li Ji’an’s unexpected burst, instead filled with excitement and fighting spirit.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

Immediately, his whole body’s physique power erupted as he took steps toward Li Ji’an.

Li Ji’an stood still, neither dodging nor avoiding.

Soon, Banu reached Li Ji’an, finding satisfaction in his non-dodging behavior.

”Adawa!” Banu immediately lunged his hands towards Li Ji’an’s shoulders.

Boom!

Li Ji’an remained unfazed, raising his hands at the moment Banu’s hands approached.

The two immediately locked in a four-arm grappling, wrestling stance.

Roar~

Banu exerted his full strength, trying to throw Li Ji’an away.

However, Li Ji’an stood rooted to the ground, not moving an inch.

At the same time, he finally felt the source of Banu’s Physical Strength at close range.

It was surprisingly a power completely fused within his being.

Distinctly different from the Qi and Blood Power he cultivated to nourish his physique.

Li Ji’an’s physique was essentially still that of a Human Race, whereas Banu’s physique contained Divine Power that required no Qi and Blood nourishment.

Moreover, this Divine Power was greatly related to his Dantian.

The Magical Power in the Dantian also bore much similarity to the Physical Strength.

He had heard before that the Barbarian Race’s Dharma Cultivation Techniques differed from the Human Race’s, and that those from the Human Race who attempted to learn them could never succeed.

Now it seems, he finally understood why.

”What’s happening?” Banu was shocked as his Physical Strength failed to budge Li Ji’an at all.

”Just so-so.” Li Ji’an responded with a faint smile and a force greater than Banu’s.

Rumble~

The instant Li Ji’an exerted his power, Banu’s feet left the ground.

Clearly, Li Ji’an’s strength completely surpassed Banu’s.

Banu was thrown out of the stone platform once more.

While he flew in the air, he was dazed.

The force he just encountered was unbearable.

Simultaneously, a stirring within him grew increasingly stronger.

”Ah!”

Just as he was about to be thrown out of the stone platform again, Banu came to his senses, and a deep-rooted unrest finally broke free.

Roar~ as if a beastly roar erupted, Banu’s entire form twisted mid-air as if undergoing some mutation.

Next, his limbs suddenly swelled to twice their size.

His already knotted muscles appeared more menacing.

One arm was bulkier than Li Ji’an’s entire body.

At the same time, it exuded the aura of a wild beast.

His figure once again countered Li Ji’an’s force due to this transformation, eventually landing back on the stone platform.

”Divine Descent!”

”Banu has undergone Divine Descent!”

”The ancestors truly favor Banu.”

Seeing Banu’s transformation, all the Barbarians in the plaza became extremely excited.

Banu ignored everyone; his eyes were only on Li Ji’an.

The power of Li Ji’an, making his fighting spirit surge.

”Again!”

After landing, Banu steadily walked back to Li Ji’an, stretching out his arms once more for another four-arm grapple with Li Ji’an.

”Ah!” This time, he used his Ancestral Power, attempting to throw Li Ji’an once again.

At the moment of Banu’s exertion, Li Ji’an hesitated for a second.

Clearly, this force was at least 50% stronger than his previous peak Physical Strength.

Without using full strength, it was difficult to keep up.

”Not enough!” Immediately he no longer held back, unleashing his Qi and Blood Power.

Rumble~

Banu’s expression changed again as he was about to shake Li Ji’an; the Ancestral Power increased his Peak Divine Power by 50%, thinking it would be easy to defeat Li Ji’an.

But it only barely managed to shake him.

And at that moment, Li Ji’an’s power exploded once more, twice as strong as before.

This power was something even his Ancestral Power couldn’t reach.

Crack~

In the instant Li Ji’an exerted his power, the stone platform beneath Banu’s feet cracked, then violently shook, with half the platform nearly collapsing.

”How is this possible?” The Barbarians watching were no longer just suspicious but completely shocked.

This stone platform was a Barbarian treasure from thousands of years ago, indestructible, withstanding countless internal Divine Power competitions.

Even the previous Commanders’ battles endured countless times.

This time, it’s destroyed!

”High Tier Body Cultivator!” Simultaneously, the old clan leader in a nearby stone pavilion changed color dramatically, incredulously witnessing the scene, then a look of ecstasy appeared on his face as he quickly headed towards the central stone platform in the plaza...