Chapter 505: Chapter 287: To Be Continued

"What should I do?" Qi Xuancheng asked, cupping his fists earnestly. He certainly didn’t want to be outdone by them.

"Go temper yourself in the Yunling Mountain Range," Qi Tai said with a wave of his hand. "If you don’t face a life-or-death crisis, you can forget about ever breaking through to the Celestial Essence Realm."

Qi Xuancheng’s breath caught in his throat. ’Temper myself in the Yunling Mountain Range?’

’Back then, Yan Guiyun went to temper himself in the Yunling Mountain Range after his breakthrough failed, and he never returned. Grandfather, do you really want to lose your grandson?’

"I understand. Once I’ve recovered from my injuries, I will head to the Yunling Mountain Range!" Qi Xuancheng didn’t dare to refuse.

He knew that compared to people like Xu Yang who had clawed their way up from the bottom, his own character truly lacked a certain decisiveness and ruthlessness.

"Catch!"

Qi Tai made a tossing motion, and a healing Elixir landed in Qi Xuancheng’s hand. After he took it, his weak and unstable aura gradually began to strengthen.

"Grandfather, of the three of them, who do you think is most likely to break through?" Qi Xuancheng asked curiously.

"Any of them could break through, but the ones with the highest chance are Jiang Fan and Li Chuyang, followed by Sun Tao," Qi Tai said slowly.

Qi Xuancheng was taken aback. "How can Xu Yang be the one with the lowest chance?"

’Xu Yang’s talent surpasses all of theirs. Shouldn’t he be the one with the greatest chance?’

Qi Tai shook his head. "Li Chuyang and Jiang Fan both have a Celestial Spirit Pill. With their talent and character, a breakthrough is almost a certainty. That Sun Tao is a bit of an anomaly. He’s defied expectations at every turn, and his Cultivation has been advancing much faster than Xu Yang’s."

"Xu Yang’s talent is also excellent, but he’s far too cautious. To put it bluntly, he’s afraid of dying, just like you."

"Without the courage to face the might of Heaven and Earth, even the greatest talent is useless."

The Celestial Essence Realm was completely different from all previous realms. To advance one’s Cultivation, Comprehension, Root Bone, mental fortitude, and willpower were all indispensable.

This was also why Qi Xuancheng, whose talent was clearly no worse than Zhang Hanzhou’s, had failed repeatedly. When facing the pressure emanating from Heaven and Earth, it wasn’t a matter of simply declaring you weren’t afraid. If his mental fortitude was insufficient, if he harbored even a sliver of fear, trying to force this step was a path to certain death.

...

As Qi Xuancheng appeared on Medicine King Peak, news of his failed breakthrough to the Celestial Essence Realm quickly spread throughout the Purple Sun Sect. Many couldn’t help but sigh in regret. After failing to break the bottleneck twice in a row, how much of his former drive could Qi Xuancheng possibly have left?

"I thought I’d be gaining a like-minded friend, but it seems he’s just another pile of old bones."

A gentle breeze wafted past, carrying with it the fragrant aroma of tea.

Zhang Hanzhou poured Ye Qiuling a cup of tea, a faint smile playing on his lips. He felt not a shred of pity for Qi Xuancheng’s failure.

On the contrary, Qi Xuancheng’s failure only served to highlight his own, Zhang Hanzhou’s, exceptional nature. ’So what if he’s the grandson of the Medicine King Peak Master? He’s had unlimited resources since he was a child, and he’s still a good-for-nothing.’

With an elegant movement, Ye Qiuling lightly lifted her cup and took a delicate sip. "Senior Brother Zhang, surely you didn’t come here just to mock Qi Xuancheng in front of me."

His gaze swept faintly over Ye Qiuling’s exquisite, flawless cheeks, a flicker of heat in his eyes. He chuckled. "Junior Sister Ye is as perceptive as they say. I did, in fact, come here for another reason."

"Now that both of us have broken through to the Celestial Essence Realm, we’ve secured our entry ticket to the Secondary Dragon Ascension. However, Junior Sister Ye must be aware of how difficult it is. For an individual to succeed in the Ascension single-handedly is next to impossible."

"Since we are from the same Sect, why don’t we join forces? We can leap the dragon gate and enter the Celestial Strategy Academy together."

’So he wants to team up with me for the Secondary Dragon Ascension.’

Ye Qiuling smiled placidly. "Why the hurry, Senior Brother Zhang? Xu Yang, Li Chuyang, and the others are still in seclusion. Why don’t we wait until they’ve had their breakthroughs? Then all of us, as fellow disciples, can discuss an alliance."

"Xu Yang?" A strange smile appeared on Zhang Hanzhou’s face.

Ye Qiuling frowned slightly. "Senior Brother Zhang, what is the meaning of that smile?"

Zhang Hanzhou chuckled. "If you’re waiting to team up with them, Junior Sister Ye, I’m afraid it’s impossible."

"Are you implying that none of them will succeed in their breakthrough? Isn’t that a bit presumptuous, Senior Brother Zhang?" Ye Qiuling’s frown deepened.

’Is he implying my only option is to team up with him?’

"Not at all. I’m not saying none of them will reach the Celestial Essence Realm. But has Junior Sister Ye considered this? Li Chuyang is the son of Li Lingdu. Even if he were looking for allies, he wouldn’t pick us. He has far better options."

"With Li Lingdu’s status, even if he couldn’t find a Spirit Bone Celestial Pride to assist his son, he could easily find a genius with Root Bone Perfection. Why would he need burdens like us?"

"And then there’s Young Master Marquis Jiang Fan. The Marquis Mansion is a politically sensitive entity. Teaming up with him would mean publicly siding with the Marquis Mansion. Even if he were willing to ally with you, would you dare to do so?"

"As for Xu Yang... let’s not even discuss whether he can break through to the Celestial Essence Realm. Even if he does, we cannot team up with him."

Zhang Hanzhou explained his reasoning point by point. "Junior Sister Ye, you haven’t forgotten the incident with Jiang Wang and Huo Xiaochen, have you? The Sect Leader may have suppressed the issue, but that was only because they were on Purple Sun Sect territory and had no choice but to yield."

"I heard back in Yellow Sand Valley that after Huo Xiaochen returned to the Iron Sword Sect, he put the word out: during the Secondary Dragon Ascension, he will be gunning for Xu Yang. If you don’t want to be targeted by a genius with Root Bone Perfection, you’d best keep your distance from Xu Yang."

"Huo Xiaochen is still hung up about Liu Qingyuan?" Ye Qiuling’s brow furrowed slightly.

’Xu Yang’s combat prowess is undeniable. Back when even Qi Xuancheng was defeated, it was Xu Yang who stepped up and authoritatively suppressed Lin Jingyu from Yellow Maple Valley. If I could team up with Xu Yang, my chances in the Secondary Dragon Ascension would increase immensely.’

’But if Huo Xiaochen is going to be gunning for Xu Yang, then I really need to think this through.’

’With Huo Xiaochen’s talent and resources, he might even be at the Celestial Essence Second Layer by the time the Secondary Dragon Ascension begins.’

"Liu Qingyuan is irrelevant now. From the moment the Sect Leader used his Cultivation to suppress Huo Xiaochen and Jiang Wang on Tianquan Peak, this stopped being about Liu Qingyuan. A genius like him is far too proud and arrogant to swallow that insult."

Zhang Hanzhou shook his head. "For now, his threats are aimed only at Xu Yang, but we could easily get caught in the crossfire."

’If I were Huo Xiaochen,’ he thought, ’I would definitely target Xu Yang, and probably every other disciple from the Purple Sun Sect participating in the Secondary Dragon Ascension, just to vent my anger.’

’No matter how strong Zhang Jingyuan is, once Huo Xiaochen enters the Celestial Strategy Academy, Zhang Jingyuan’s influence won’t be able to reach him there.’

"The Secondary Dragon Ascension is still a long way off. Let’s not be hasty about forming an alliance. What do you say, Senior Brother Zhang?" Ye Qiuling said softly.

She hadn’t refused Zhang Hanzhou outright, but it was close.

A forced smile appeared on Zhang Hanzhou’s face. "Very well. We’ll speak again some other time."

...

Day and night cycled past. In the blink of an eye, Xu Yang had been in seclusion for a month and a half.

Zhu Yuan delivered his meals on schedule each day. Xu Yang cultivated methodically, refining a Spirit Medicine every five or six days. His Cultivation increased with each passing day.

Inside his quiet room, Xu Yang had just finished meditating on the Eight Ferocious Hidden Dragon Strength when he suddenly felt a vast aura surge up not far away. Immediately, the Power of Heaven and Earth in the air began to churn, flowing toward the source of the aura.

’Senior Brother Sun broke through to the Celestial Essence Realm?’ Xu Yang was flabbergasted.

The majestic aura was rising from a spot merely five or six meters from his courtyard, directly across from his own. That was precisely where Sun Tao’s courtyard was located.

His Heart Spirit spread out like a great net, blanketing the courtyard across from his. He saw the Power of Heaven and Earth swarming around Sun Tao’s courtyard, its Spiritual Qi being rapidly devoured. It was true—Sun Tao had successfully broken through to the Celestial Essence Realm and was now Introducing Heavenly and Earthly Power into the Body to condense his Gang Yuan.

He truly hadn’t expected the Spirit Medicine Sun Tao accidentally consumed to be so potent. It had actually allowed Sun Tao, who had struggled even with Marrow Cleansing, to step into the Celestial Essence Realm before geniuses like Li Chuyang and Jiang Fan.

Xu Yang wasn’t jealous, though. He was wondering, ’Could I get my hands on a similar Spirit Medicine for Xu Qing?’

Unfortunately, even now, Sun Tao hadn’t been able to identify what that Spirit Medicine actually was.

Before long, Xu Yang heard a commotion building outside his courtyard. The disturbance from Sun Tao’s breakthrough had attracted a crowd of Li Fire Peak disciples.

Eventually, Sun Tao’s master, Elder Gong Shu, as well as Peak Master Yue Zhong, Elder Huoyun, and Elder Tie Fu, all appeared and shooed away the disciples lingering nearby.

"To think he was the first one to break through," Elder Huoyun murmured, his tone a mixture of surprise and disbelief.

"Li Chuyang, Jiang Fan, and Xu Yang went into seclusion first. There’s been no sign of a breakthrough from those three, the most talented of the bunch, yet Sun Tao has somehow done it."

"There’s something strange about this boy," Elder Tie Fu remarked, a hint of jealousy in his tone.

Although he had mentored a Forged Soldier genius like Lu Ren, in the end, a Martial Artist’s worth was judged by their Cultivation. No matter how masterful one’s Weapon Forging Skill, it was ultimately just a service provided to the powerful.

Yue Zhong said, "He often goes adventuring in the Yunling Mountain Range. He might have consumed some rare Spirit Medicine or a natural treasure, causing a fundamental change in his talent."

This wasn’t some case of slowly accumulating power for a sudden burst, nor was he a late bloomer. Such concepts didn’t really exist in the Martial Arts Realm.

The only explanation for Sun Tao’s situation was that he had consumed some rare Spirit Medicine that altered his innate talent.

「Three days later.」 Sun Tao emerged from his quiet room, positively glowing. He exuded a formidable pressure, and a faint aura of the Power of Heaven and Earth swirled around him, giving him a transcendent air.

"Has Junior Brother Xu emerged from seclusion yet?" He glanced at the courtyard across the way, a dazed look on his face. He never imagined that he would one day surpass Xu Yang, being the first to step into the Celestial Essence Realm.

Over the next few days, a constant stream of visitors came to Sun Tao’s courtyard to congratulate him. Even some of the Elders paid a personal visit.

Having broken through to the Celestial Essence Realm, he was now on a different level. With the talent he now displayed, there was a high probability he would succeed in the Secondary Dragon Ascension.

Sun Tao was flooded with so many gifts it was overwhelming. The Sect even bestowed a Spiritual Soldier upon him.

After several days of celebration, Sun Tao returned to seclusion to consolidate his Cultivation.

Time slipped by quietly. In the blink of an eye, another half-month had passed, and Jiang Fan also successfully broke through to the Celestial Essence Realm.

Seven days after Jiang Fan’s breakthrough, news came from Medicine King Peak: Li Chuyang had also succeeded. He had Introduced Heavenly and Earthly Power into the Body and condensed his Gang Yuan.

And so, of all the Purple Sun Sect disciples who had entered seclusion to break into the Celestial Essence Realm, only Xu Yang had yet to emerge.

"He’d better not succeed," Xiong Kun muttered, his face thick with jealousy. He did not want Xu Yang to break through.

If Xu Yang hadn’t knocked him off the Ten Heroes List, he might have already achieved Marrow Cleansing Great Success by now.

"Jiang Fan and I were only able to break through on our first try because we had the Celestial Spirit Pill," Li Chuyang said with a smug smile. "He’s just some peasant. He’ll need at least two or three attempts to succeed."

’So what if his talent is good? Without a powerful background and a Celestial Spirit Pill, it’s virtually impossible to break through to the Celestial Essence Realm on the first try.’

’After all, even geniuses with Root Bone Perfection sometimes failed to break through to the Celestial Essence Realm.’

Throughout the entire Purple Sun Sect, quite a few people were hoping Xu Yang would fail. It wasn’t due to any personal grudge—it was pure, simple jealousy.

’By what right does a peasant achieve something they themselves could not?’

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