Chapter 1409: Improvement

"Hah? You want to try that on me? I'll teach you a lesson today then! I'll have you know that suffering to win my trust doesn't work!"

The nine-coloured deer sneered and raised her front legs, kicking Li Qingshan viciously in the head.

With a thump, Li Qingshan was sent flying again, this time with a bright-red hoof print on his forehead that was slightly sunken in. It even oozed with blood. A strike from a Daemon Sovereign could not be shrugged off so easily.

However, the part he found unbearable was the fact that he remembered the humiliation from being sent flying by the rabbit's kick. Why do these fucking mounts always like to kick the face!?

Though, this is it! This exhilarating feeling leaves me filled with power. This is me, Li Qingshan! I'm not a good person! Hahahaha!

As a result, he made his way back up the tall hill with a smile, not just to gather demonic thoughts, but also to recover his sense of self.

"Come! No matter how you trod on me, I won't fight back!"

Bang! Before Li Qingshan could even finish what he was saying, he was sent flying by a slender leg.

The nine-coloured deer had assumed her human form. She was draped in a nine-coloured, speckled cloak, clenching both hands and eager to beat him up. "You asked for this yourself! You better not run off to your parents next!"

However, before she could finish what she was saying, there was a swish, and Li Qingshan stood in front of her again. He smiled away just like before as two specks of fire seemed to light up in his eyes. "Then that'll depend on how capable you are."

"Alright!" The nine-coloured deer said nothing more and punched Li Qingshan in the face.

Li Qingshan's head turned to one side before he slowly corrected it. "Why'd you become so weak? Are you not used to your human form?"

Immediately, the nine-coloured deer turned into a series of colourful streaks, bombarding him with an array of attacks. Even more impressively, every single punch and kick was extremely elegant, like a dance, pleasing to the eye.

Li Qingshan's feet were firmly rooted to the ground as he stood within the barrage without budging, having become one with the earth. He even constantly commented, "That's a good punch. That's not a bad kick either! It's very beautiful, but you haven't really fought before, have you?" He really did seem like he was admiring a dance.

"Shut up!" The nine-coloured deer ground her teeth.

However, Li Qingshan could clearly sense that while she was furious, she possessed no killing intent. She did not even have the determination to harm others, clearly not skilled in combat. If it had been a certain black rabbit instead, he would be fortunate if he had his life intact, so why would he still have the courage to simply stand there and take a beating? This was probably just the difference of races!

The black-furred hou did not even care about destroying Myriad city, yet the nine-coloured deer had to restrain her power constantly in the Hundred Herbs garden. She could not allow any disturbance she created to harm the plants.

Of course, she was still enough to crush any regular Daemon Emperor, but to Li Qingshan, it merely seemed a little showy and impractical. As a result, while he seemed to take a vicious beating, most of it consisted of scratches. Even if the injuries were a little deeper, he could make a complete recovery in a short while with his recovery rate.

The nine-coloured deer suddenly stopped and glared at him furiously, panting away slightly.

Li Qingshan smiled. "You're out of energy?"

"You madman!" The nine-coloured deer balled her fists, refusing to accept this. Nine-coloured light gathered in her eyes. That was the glow of an innate ability. "Kid, if you take this on, you will die. If you think you're capable, try not to dodge!"

Li Qingshan sensed danger, but he did not care at all. Instead, he spread his arms. "Alright, come at me. What doesn't kill me makes me stronger!"

The nine-coloured deer's innate ability was on the brink of firing when Ruan Yaozhu's stern voice suddenly rang out from the air, "Jiu'er, come back!"

"You screwed me over!" The nine-coloured deer's face changed. "You despicable scoundrel!"

"Hey, you're the one who's been beating me up the entire time!" Li Qingshan objected. Even if he only stood there and took a beating, he could be regarded as despicable. Those opponents of his had been far too noble in the past.

"I won't spare you!"

The nine-coloured deer shot a glare at him and turned around. With a leap, she turned into a white deer and galloped off towards the Hundred Herbs dwelling.

Li Qingshan felt aggrieved, adding another name to the blacklist in his mind. This damned deer has been working against me right from the beginning. If I get the opportunity, I'll never spare her. I wonder how venison hotpot tastes. Though, her human form is beautiful enough for me to foam at the mouth. I'll do that first, and then I'll...

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Demonic thoughts sprang forth from his heart; he circulated the Heavenly Tome of Liberty rapidly. Set off by the demonic thoughts, the Yin Demon lost control once again, only to be subdued by his innate ability.

As the Endless Cycle of Life and Growth circulated, his wounds rapidly recovered. Not only did the innate ability come with powerful regenerative properties, it could rapidly wear away his mental fatigue, which left Li Qingshan more and more satisfied.

A while later, his mind returned to peace, no longer with any anger or hatred. He had become a great man of virtue who won others over by virtue once again.

From that, he understood just how unfounded of a notion it was to "eliminate demonic thoughts".

If a person could not feel fear, they would not avoid danger. If they had no anger, then they would not protect themselves. That was why they said even the buddha had a temper, making the lion's furious roar. Whether it was to protect the dharma or to spread the dharma, it was still winning people over by force at the end of the day.

With that thought, the Yin Demon surged.

The hazy mist on its face dispersed, revealing its true appearance. It was not actually Li Qingshan's current appearance, but the young man from Crouching ox village. His face was a little defined, neither handsome nor ugly. He was only a regular farmer boy, just like the countless other mortals.

The wear of time had managed to leave many marks of joys and sorrows on his face, but he also possessed all the desires and fears that a mortal possessed. That was his true disposition. Without his true disposition, there was no such thing as so-called great liberty.

The Heavenly Tome of Liberty advanced further. His cultivation had completely stabilised, approaching initial mastery.

Sensing the rapid increase in his strength, Li Qingshan could not help but smile. He had not suffered the beating for nothing. However, if he wanted to take a step further, these small scuffles would not be enough.

The nine-coloured deer did not count as an enemy to him at all. No matter how heavy-handed she was, she could not rouse any killing intent from him.

Only by training and comprehending in a wider space could he develop even stronger demonic thoughts, allowing him to succeed with the Heavenly Tome of Liberty and witness the true path of liberty.

In the Hundred Herbs dwelling, Ruan Yaozhu grumbled unhappily, "Jiu'er, I just entered secluded cultivation for a short while and what did you do?"

"He told me to hit him." The nine-coloured deer was dejected and aggrieved, like a primary school student being scolded by the teacher.

"And does that make you right?"

Ruan Yaozhu raised her voice slightly. No matter how she looked at it, the nine-coloured deer had been giving Li Qingshan an overwhelming beating. He had not even fought back, and he definitely did not possess the ability to fight back. She even began to doubt whether she was his opponent in a struggle to the death or not.

Everything he had done in the Hundred Herbs garden over the past few days had left her feeling quite touched. Regardless of his past, he possessed a heart to do good. He was truly working hard, yet he was immediately harassed for that, and that had happened in her Hundred Herbs garden, with the nine-coloured deer behind it all.

"I'm wrong." The nine-coloured deer understood she was truly angry. It was best if she did not argue back at a time like this. That damned Li Qingshan was actually tried sowing discord between the two of them. How despicable, utterly despicable!

Ruan Yaozhu grabbed her shoulders gently. "I know you're doing this for my sake. I'll just do my best to not see him. Promise me, don't make any more trouble, alright?"

"Alright."

Li Qingshan completed his first phase of cultivation and temporarily set the Heavenly Tome of Liberty aside, switching over to the Qilin's Path of Longevity. There were no shortcuts to take. All he could do was take it step by step and let nature take its course.

He circulated the Endless Cycle of Life and Growth and constantly inhaled and exhaled. The vitality flowed about; the plants flourished and wilted, both nourishing him as well as the spiritual herbs growing in the Hundred Herbs garden.

Ruan Yaozhu obviously did not let his hard work go to waste, increasing his contribution.

On the Myriad rankings, his ranking pulled higher, advancing towards inner disciple at an unstoppable rate.