Chapter 1036: Fifth Layer of the Five Radiance Golden Body

"That's right, it's this..."

Seeing the piece of wood in the other's hand, though small, it was like charcoal, giving off a scorching heat. Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

It was precisely the Five Yang Tough Wood.

He had only asked casually, thinking that if it didn't work out, he would have to find another way. He never expected that President Han actually had it, and such a large piece at that, more than enough to cultivate the fifth layer of the Five Radiance Golden Body.

"How much? I'll buy it..." Zhang Xuan took it and said casually.

Earlier, using his formation flags was for everyone to enter this place—a public matter. His contribution didn't count for much; even Zhang Xuan himself would give up everything for the sake of others.

But now, the Five Yang Tough Wood he offered was to enhance his own physical strength—a private matter. Naturally, he had to pay the corresponding price.

"This... We're all together, helping each other to find the way forward. How can I accept money?" President Han shook his head.

In the current situation, no one knew when they might die. No matter how precious this item was, it was merely an external possession. He had bought it out of curiosity, and it wasn't of much practical use.

If it could help break the seal and truly enter the ruins, that would be a gain.

"Let's keep things separate. If you don't accept, I won't feel at ease." Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"This..."

Knowing that master teachers act according to their conscience, refusing outright would be counterproductive. President Han could only smile wryly and shake his head. "I bought this tough wood for 200 high-grade spirit stones. If you need it, just pay the same price."

"Alright." Nodding without further ado, Zhang Xuan flipped his wrist and took out 200 high-grade spirit stones, handing them over.

Selling the unique Cloud Mist tea from Cloud Mist Ridge had greatly increased his income. Coupled with looting many storage rings of alien race kings... he had tens of thousands of high-grade spirit stones on him. This amount was nothing.

Taking the spirit stones, President Han looked helplessly at the young man before him, his admiration growing even stronger.

So young, with profound knowledge, far surpassing his own understanding of formations. More importantly, his emphasis on the 'Way of the Teacher' and his self-discipline were extreme, worthy of admiration.

Such a person, if he didn't fall, would achieve far more than him, becoming an eight-star master teacher or even higher.

Others who witnessed this scene were also filled with admiration.

What does selflessness mean? This is it!

No wonder he became a dean at such a young age, while they, at the same age, had accomplished nothing... Just thinking about it made them feel ashamed.

Liu Mo, in particular, wished he could find a hole to crawl into.

When this young man first arrived, he thought he was too arrogant and even scolded him. In the end, not only did he solve the seal problem, but he also led everyone here...

This ability was far beyond his own.

If the other was a bright moon, he was coal slag on the ground—no comparison at all.

"I need to cultivate using this Five Yang Tough Wood. You all can study the seal here, or rest and recover your strength. Once the seal is broken and we enter the portal, we don't know what dangers lie ahead. But the stronger we are, the greater our chances of survival."

Zhang Xuan said.

Everyone nodded.

Having said this, he ignored them and went to a corner of the ruins, a place out of everyone's sight. There, he sat cross-legged, gripped the newly acquired Five Yang Tough Wood, and began to cultivate, circulating his true energy.

Boom!

The power within the tough wood flowed through his meridians into his body, tempering every cell and causing his physical body to undergo a qualitative transformation and leap.

The Five Radiance Golden Body aimed to perfect the five yangs of the body, greatly enhancing strength.

For the first four radiances, he had used the Heaven's Path technique, cultivating them flawlessly without any defects. This layer came naturally, smooth and unimpeded.

True energy mixed with the power of the tough wood stimulated his entire body, even his blood seemed to undergo a transformation.

An hour later.

A roar sounded within his body. All the power converged to form a ring. Heart yang, lung yang, spleen yang, liver yang, kidney yang... the five yangs flowed without obstruction, shining brightly. His entire body seemed to have formed a golden body, giving a sense of indestructibility.

"Excellent..."

Feeling the power within, he opened his eyes and clenched his fists.

At this moment, relying solely on his physical body, he could easily crush a Saint Realm Second Layer expert. His strength was fierce and violent, and his body's hardness was comparable to a saint artifact!

Though only a low-grade saint artifact, it was still terrifying.

He had grown a bit taller. Now, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, his body was streamlined, giving a sense of perfection. If the previous Ice Rain Sword were to stab his skin, it would be the sword that broke, while he remained unharmed!

Even if he clashed head-on with the Golden Source Cauldron before him, he wouldn't lose by much.

In other words, he was now a humanoid weapon. Even without using sword techniques or blade techniques, he was incredibly powerful.

Whoosh!

Exhaling a breath, Zhang Xuan stood up and concealed the changes in his body.

If anyone saw such a huge change after just a short cultivation session, they would surely find it hard to believe. Caution was key; to avoid trouble, it was better to keep a low profile.

Looking down, the Five Yang Tough Wood in his palm was now mostly consumed, with little left.

He put it into his ring, then with a flicker of his body, he strode straight toward the portal.

Before reaching it, he saw everyone sitting cross-legged not far from the portal, lined up in a row. Some were close, some far, looking quite strange.

"Master Teacher Zhang, you're here..."

Seeing him arrive, the battle master at the very back stood up.

"What are you all..." Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

Cultivating was one thing, but lining up like in a cafeteria? What was going on?

"Oh, it's like this. Master Teacher Wu discovered that using the portal's heat to refine true energy makes it purer, so... we're cultivating in order. But everyone's tolerance is different, so we have to sit in positions suitable for us."

The battle master explained.

"Different tolerance?" Zhang Xuan nodded.

The portal was scorching hot, enough to melt the lava above, with flames burning endlessly year-round—a testament to its terror. Being close to it, like when he tempered his soul earlier, was indeed beneficial for purifying true energy.

What he said about different tolerance was true. For instance, earlier he could only get within twenty meters; any closer was impossible.

"Yes. Some of us can only cultivate at forty meters to avoid qi deviation. Master Teacher Wu and the others can already be at about fifteen meters—it's incredible..."

The battle master nodded, looking ahead with admiration.

"Being able to be within fifteen meters means not only a strong physical body but also a strong soul and true energy..." Zhang Xuan nodded.

He had been to the twenty-meter point before and knew how difficult it was to go further. For Master Teacher Wu and the others to be so close was already terrifying.

"By the way, Master Teacher Zhang, have you finished cultivating?"

After explaining, the battle master remembered to ask.

"Mm." Zhang Xuan nodded. "Continue your cultivation..."

As he spoke, he walked forward and in a flash reached the twenty-meter point he had been at earlier.

Now, only a few people were sitting ahead: Master Teacher Wu, President Han, Feng Xun, and a few others. Even Wu Tianqiong and the other academy deans were behind.

"Master Teacher Zhang... just walked over? Wasn't he unable to hold on earlier?"

Seeing the young man smiling and nodding to everyone, walking while signaling them not to get up and interrupt their cultivation, the battle master who had just spoken felt his jaw drop.

Earlier, he had clearly seen Zhang Xuan unable to advance at twenty meters. He thought that for a Congenital Saint, twenty meters was already incredible. But now, he casually walked past as if he didn't feel the temperature... How did he do it?

While he was shocked, Feng Xun, who was at about nineteen meters, also stared wide-eyed at Zhang Xuan, who was smiling and nodding as he walked past, his eyes nearly popping out.

He was a Saint Realm Third Layer peak, a thousand-man commander of the Battle Master Hall. Reaching nineteen meters had taken all his effort, nearly killing him. He could only rely on constant cultivation to neutralize the fire poison's damage... This guy walked past with a smile on his face, as if shopping, feeling no pressure at all—wasn't this too exaggerated?

Just as he was wondering how far the other could go, he saw him already chatting with Master Teacher Wu.

"Master Teacher Wu, cultivating? Don't get up, just continue. I'll go take a look... No need to be polite!"

Then, he saw this guy continue walking forward with a smile, fourteen meters, thirteen meters, twelve meters... In a flash, he entered the ten-meter range.

The scorching flames made his clothes rustle, as if they might tear at any moment. But Zhang Xuan's face still carried a smile, as if nothing had changed, as if the heat had no effect on him.

"This..."

This time, not only Feng Xun was terrified, but even Master Teacher Wu and President Han exchanged glances, their mouths twitching.

Fifteen meters was their limit. This guy, on the other hand, walked into ten meters without feeling anything, still smiling—he was simply an inhuman monster...

Eight meters, seven meters, six meters...

As he got closer, he seemed to feel some pressure, his brows rising.

Boom!

True energy burst out from his many acupoints, enveloping his entire body.

"He only used true energy within five meters... How strong is his physical body?"

Seeing this, Master Teacher Wu swallowed his saliva.

As a seven-star peak master teacher, his eyesight was naturally extraordinary. The other had walked to within five meters without any sign of strain, strolling leisurely. He had thought it was just an act, with true energy already circulating inside. Now he realized it wasn't the case.

Using true energy only within five meters... His physical body was too terrifying!

Could it be that this guy had just gone to train his physical body?

But... wasn't the physical body the hardest to train and improve? How had he reached such a level in just about an hour?

In his shock, he saw Dean Zhang had already reached the seal. With a leap, he touched it with his palm, then retreated seven or eight steps, stopped, closed his eyes for a moment as if pondering something.

After a while, he frowned, looking ahead as if he had discovered something, his expression strange.

"This... how is this possible?"