Body covered in a thin layer of silver qi Haiyang was panting furiously. The three snow fruits were nowhere to be seen. He had eaten all of them and almost finished the yin layer of the Yin Yang Body Refinement technique.

It took him two snow fruits to finish the full moon imprints on his dantian and qi pathways. The final snow fruit he used to strengthen all of his full moon imprints. He was almost done refining the ones on his qi pathways to near black.

After a few more moments Haiyang stood up on all fours and cracking noises exploded throughout the small room. He could feel all his muscles exploding with power, and his body overflowing with energy.

Haiyang took a few breaths to calm his excitement. After a moment he was calm but his eyes still shined quite bright. He sat down and looked through the next part of the body refining technique.

He read through it twice and memorized each word. The yang layer was basically the same method but instead of using moon qi and cultivating at night you would use sun qi and cultivate during the day. He pondered about it for the next best way to cultivate, but got up and walked out of the room.

Opening the door and getting blinded by the bright sunlight he made his way to Shizi’s study. Haiyang clawed at the door slightly.

Shizi opened the door and smiled, “Look at who is finally out of seclusion. It was only five days though so not long at all.”

Haiyang thought, “Five days….so I should finish the Yang Layer in about half a month to a month.”

“Let’s see how much you’ve improved,” exclaimed Shizi. He excitedly walked towards the training ground.

Haiyang followed just as eager to find out how strong he had gotten.

At the training ground, Shizi and Haiyang did the same thing as last time. He tested his strength on a copper crown tree and left a millimeter gash. He didn’t even penetrate the bark.

With surprise, Shizi praised, “Wow, not bad. You have the power of a peak grade 1st rank qi condensation cultivator. So, you know what means, right?” He said the last part with a small sinister smile.

Haiyang broke out a small sweat because of the smile. He was excited though. He wanted to fight again.

“Zui Ruodian,” Shizi yelled!

Ruodian came running over with his fastest speed possible, knelt and said, “Yes, Young Master Lan!”

“What is your current cultivation base,” asked Shizi?

Ruodian responded, “About low-grade 2nd rank.”

“Good, now like last time fight this junior brother here and don’t hold back,” said Shizi.

“Yes, sir,” Ruodian gave a small laugh, “Let’s do this junior brother.”

Ruodian and Haiyang made their way to the stone arena, and when they stepped onto it almost all the guards surrounded it. The younger ones were the ones watching the most intensely. The older guards just watched with amusement.

“Are you ready, Junior Brother,” Ruodian yelled?!

Haiyang responded with a nod and got into a slight stance.

Ruodian smiled and yelled, “Alright then, here I come!” He sprinted toward Haiyang focusing red qi onto his fist!

Silver moonlight qi started to rotate around his body. It gathered at his paws and he sprinted toward Ruodian. He sent a paw swipe to meet Ruodian’s fist.

A small almost inaudible boom sounded as their strikes met. A bright light of red and silver shone out.

Ruodian took a few steps back while Haiyang slid back two meters.

Haiyang felt pain in his paw and foreleg.

“Nice improvement, Junior Brother. That attack was much stronger than a few days ago,” Ruodian yelled with a happy smile.

Haiyang let out a small smile, or as much of a smile as a fox can make. He extended his claws and covered them in silver qi. He sprinted towards Ruodian swiping with all his strength.

Ruodian ducked and sent a red qi covered palm strike towards Hiayang’s stomach.

With a small thud, the palm connected and sent Haiyang flying to the other side of the arena. He slid to the very edge and wobbled trying to find his footing. With most of his strength used in that strike, he was panting. Haiyang was determined to land at least one strike. He focused his last bit of qi into his paws and launched forward.

Sliding on the stop as if on ice Haiyang went two times faster than before. In a second Haiyang landed in front of Ruodian and used the last bit of his qi and strength to swipe at Ruodain’s stomach!

Ruodian faltered for a moment and couldn't dodge! Haiyang’s claws made contact and left three horizontal claw marks. They broke through the tiniest bit of skin and the most pitiful amount of blood leaked out.

Haiyang used the very last bit of qi and strength in that strike. He stood there for a moment and let out a small sad smile. He fell to the ground unconscious his body void of qi.

Haiyang woke up, back in the infirmary, with Shizi waiting by his side. He looked around smiling completely ignore the pain.

Shizi laughed, “What are you so happy about?! You left only the tiniest of damage and then even fell unconscious.”

Haiyang just shook his head and got out of the bed he was in. He briskly walked back to Shizi’s courtyard. He was eager to cultivate the second layer, not wanting to waste a moment.

He walked in through the gate and ran to the top of the tree that rested on the east side of the courtyard. He ran up to the top of the tree and sat down on one of the thicker branches.

Shizi ignored him and walked back to his study. Before he disappeared into his room he left off a faint smile. His eyes shined with the same light of determination as Haiyang’s.

Haiyang on the tree started to meditate and “grab” hold of the yang qi. He did this for what felt like hours before a sliver of yang qi appeared. He got excited and rotated it around his body.

Everywhere the yang qi passed brought warmth to his body. He rotated it more and more and focused it on his muscles next to the moon imprints.

He did this until the sun started to set. By the time he finished his muscles carried a faint sun imprints of a bright orange color.

He looked at the moon feeling content, he soon climbed down the tree and walked back to his little room. He smiled before drifting to sleep.