Inner Core~

After killing the lion beast, Zhen stored it in his spatial ring and found a nearby cave. Apparently, this nearby cave was the habitat of the lion beast Zhen just killed.

The world is this harsh, once killed, everything you owned will be gone and collected by others. Zhen won't feel sad nor guilty for killing anyone.

No one would pity the weak and he will never ever be on the latter end.

'From now on, I'm the predator that will hunt for my prey.'

"Little boy, you rest enough, seeing how you're distracted with some nonsense thinking again"

"Can you stop randomly speaking to me at an unknown time? You will give me a heart attack if this continues on." Zhen can't help but ask her not to do this every time.

She always manages to find the correct timing to interrupt him and Zhen doesn't know if it's on purpose or just coincidence.

"You think I want to interrupt whatever your brain is wondering. I'm just notifying you that it's still not time to rest. Start assuming the lotus position and cultivate. With your fatigued body, the result will be tremendous, especially after a near-death fight."

No matter how tiring Zhen is, he agrees with Cecilia's words because he's here to become stronger.

'If I keep complaining about some little hardship then I might as well hide in a corner.'

Zhen sat in the lotus position and slowly closed his eyes. Although he still can't form the core, he can feel its aura growing a bit stronger.

Not to mention, his fighting experience and natural instinct increased too. That extreme fight benefits well and he probably has to do that every day.

Once Zhen concentrates and starts gathering the spiritual qi around him, his soul starts to assimilate with it. Slowly but surely, a tiny pearl is appearing near his dantian.

Once that tiny pearl formed into a bright sphere, his core would form and that's when Zhen officially entered the Core Formation.

When Zhen was in that rank, his body automatically stores spiritual qi that the core can store and use in his will.

Whoever is able to gather spiritual qi faster into their attack, then they have at least an 80% of chance winning.

Unless you count on fighting experience then the person who is used to fighting will be at the advantage. This is simply common sense and right now, my training is not to advance faster but consolidate my rank.

Zhen has advanced too quickly and he's still not used to this new concept of cultivation.

Rushing things will only break things faster so Cecilia has constructed this training for me.

When 2 hours pass, Zhen has finally recovered at least 85% of his strength, and Cecilia unsealed his cultivation at this time.

"Your cultivation should be stable when you continue to train more. However, you don't have much time if you want to defend the Town of Ash."

"Huh? What kind of nonsense are you saying?"

"Aren't you training this hard to protect the Town of Ash and ruining those dogs of empyreans?"

*Whoosh*

Zhen looked at Cecilia in confusion after entering the mysterious space. He was seeing if she was sick or something for asking this kind of question.

"Cecilia, I indeed want to hunt those dogs to get a bit of our vengeance but why would I want to risk my life in defending the Town of Ash?"

"Isn't that the reason why you're staying here and not accompanying your little girlfriend?" Cecilia said in confusion and Zhen wanted to facepalm at this comment.

"Listen here, the only reason I'm staying here is to help you and myself to kidnap some of those dogs for more information. After all, you have disappeared for 10,000 years and many things could happen. Also, I have no relationship with the Town of Ash so whether it survived or collapsed is not my problem."

"Oh, I thought you wanted to stay here to be some righteous hero or say something ridiculous like it's your duty to protect the town since you have the power."

"HAHAHA, sorry for my burst of laughter but haven't you pry in my memories before? I'm no righteous hero and I will never become one. I live for myself and I do what I want. Of course, helping you is my will at this moment because you're the only person I can truly open my heart to."

Zhen doesn't get why Cecilia would ask something so outrageous. She knows his past and his personality the best.

When he was down and completely hopeless, where were the people who would lend him a hand?

None, there was nobody willing to help him except for his maid. His maid wasn't obligated to take care of him but she did and for that, Zhen was eternally grateful and treated her with his best.

He has struggled for his entire life and besides his maid, the other wouldn't even lend a hand and would kick him down harshly instead.

Therefore, why would Zhen be any righteous person that will be selfless? He would rather be selfish than help those who are defenseless.

Sara was a different story back in that time because she didn't have any prejudice against him.

It was the first time Zhen had seen those pure eyes and looks that aren't disgusted by his very appearance.

Other than his maid, she was the second person and Zhen appreciated her very much. Now that she's his woman, officially at that, his motivation to protect her is his own wish.

"Boy, I'm impressed with your answer and glad that you're not some idiot that would risk your life for some nobodies. I was just testing to see if you would save the Town of Ash despite being powerless." Cecilia said softly while Zhen was still contemplating her motive.

"Heh, if I was really that much of an idiot then you mind as well just kill me. Trying to act like a hero without any capability is asking to die. Also, there is no longer anyone in the town worthy of having me to save."

"You are one decisive fellow and cruel person."

"Then I guess we are the same type of person," Zhen replied right as Cecilia said those words.

'Indeed, we both have a slight smile hanging on around our face. We are cruel and decisive in our actions because that's the only way to survive.'

"Seems like I could save my effort in trying to convince you that our goal is simply the dogs of empyreans and not being some hero." Cecilia no longer continues the topic and changes to another one.

"Well, it seems to be this case because I don't need you to educate me on some common sense. Although you're a projection, are you interested to see my cooking skills?" Zhen asked with a cheeky smile.

'Not being able to eat my delicious cooking will be torture for her.' Zhen wonders what's having a projection body feels like.

"Hmph, you're still a dumb boy if you think I can't eat. Listen up, dumb boy, I'm still a Sovereign despite not having that cultivation and I can easily eat food with just a projection." A victory smile appeared on her face as she exclaimed.

Meanwhile, Zhen was dumbstruck by her words. 'You can eat with a projection body.... just how ridiculous are cultivators. They are truly what people called, a god.'

Zhen bowed in defeat and started dissecting the lion beast and Cecilia used her essence flame to start a fire.

Seeing the magnificent essence flame becoming a tool for cooking, Zhen can't help but feel extremely jealous.

He envies her because her essence flame is so powerful and if she wants to defeat him, a tiny portion of it is enough.

"Start cooking and if your food is not as delicious as you boast..... then I don't mind roasting you a little bit," Cecilia said in a very sweet tone and Zhen felt a chill.

The sweet tone of Cecilia is never a good thing. Zhen would rather have her teasing and mocking him over this sweetening tone.

Zhen starts cooking earnestly to avoid being roasted by the essence flame.

Whereas Cecilia watches Zhen cooking with a serious face and giggles a bit. 'Let's see if his food is as good as his boasting is.'