Martial Saint with Passives

However, there were also more knowledgeable fellow disciples who thought it was possible.

Such cases of someone in Force Integration killing a Bone Forging expert, while not common, were not entirely unheard of.

Some people were born with Divine Power or an innate Copper Skin Iron Bone constitution, making it easier for them to fight across Realms.

Additionally, some people possessed unknown Secret Techniques or trump cards, allowing them to unleash combat power far exceeding their peers at lower Realms.

However, such heroic feats of fighting across Realms usually only occurred at relatively low stages.

Once one stepped into the Refining Organ Realm or higher, the chasm between Realms became a celestial rift, making it almost a fool’s dream to fight across them.

Moreover, it was unknown who leaked the news, but the rumor about Jiang Che Dissipating his Skill also spread.

This caused those who were optimistic about Jiang Che to lose interest.

It was common knowledge that someone who had Dissipated their Skill would have a damaged foundation.

Once you Dissipated your Skill, it meant a bleak future, with your potential firmly capped.

Even if he had a stunning performance for a moment, it was ultimately nothing more than a flash in the pan.

Gradually, the number of eyes focused on Jiang Che dwindled.

Furthermore, with a grand Sect ceremony on the horizon, the annual "Cloud Tier Inquiry Conference" was about to begin.

Everyone’s focus began to shift.

The "Cloud Tier Inquiry Conference" was divided into two parts.

One part involved Sect Leader Xu Zhouzi, the Vice Sect Leader, the various Elders, and the Courtyard Deans giving lectures from a high platform.

They would expound on the great principles of the Dao, share their cultivation insights, and offer public guidance and instruction.

The other part was a competition among the elite Inner Courtyard disciples of each courtyard, where they would spar on stage to determine who was superior through strength.

This competition was not just about personal honor and disgrace; it also directly affected each courtyard’s share of resource allocation and its prestige within the Sect for the coming year.

Those who ranked at the top would receive abundant Cultivation Resources bestowed by the Sect—Elixir Pills and Treasure Materials that were coveted by all.

Among this generation of disciples, four shone the brightest and were privately known as the "Four Great Celestial Pride."

The four were Gu Qingxuan of Lingxiao Courtyard, Fang Muye of Liufeng Courtyard, Lin Bihe of Yunhai Courtyard, and Shi Poyue of Thunder Shock Courtyard.

These four were widely acknowledged as the strongest among the current generation of disciples.

Many people were discussing which of these four would take first place in the grand competition.

The two most talked-about were Gu Qingxuan of Lingxiao Courtyard and Fang Muye of Liufeng Courtyard.

The two of them had placed first and second, respectively, in the previous year’s conference.

Now that a year had passed, no one knew if their strengths had changed.

As for Jiang Che himself, he paid little attention to these discussions.

His mind was currently preoccupied with the large sum of money he had just obtained and his own future Cultivation.

He had reaped a bountiful harvest this time.

From the Tributor payment from Yin’s Cloth Shop to the spoils from cleaning up those Bully Gangs and the Iron Bone Gang.

In total, it added up to over twenty thousand taels of Gold!

He first spent a portion of it to purchase enough Cultivation Resources to last for half a year.

Although he hadn’t yet obtained any Withered Soul Grass and couldn’t continue to rapidly increase his Qi Blood using the Dissipating Qi Blood Realm Method.

He hadn’t been idle, either.

After all, besides accumulating Qi Blood and Strength...

...the Cultivation of his True Skill, the Nine Heavens Azure Cloud Technique, was the foundation!

Only by cultivating the first layer of the technique to Perfection could he break through the Realm and step through the gate to the Bone Forging Realm!

The True Skill required a huge amount of Skill Level.

Just going from Entry Level to Minor Achievement required one thousand Skill Level points.

From Minor Achievement to Great Success, it was two thousand points.

And from Great Success to Perfection, it required a whopping four thousand points!

Currently, he had only just reached the Great Success Realm.

Jiang Che estimated he would need another half a year to cultivate the first layer to Perfection.

’I wonder what Talent I’ll be able to activate once the True Skill reaches Perfection...’

A faint sense of anticipation began to build within him.

...

...

...

Soon, the Cloud Tier Inquiry Conference began.

On this day, the giant Martial Arts Plaza at the center of the Sect was bustling with people and buzzing with excitement.

On the high platform, Sect Leader Xu Zhouzi, with his silver hair and beard, a complexion as ruddy as a baby’s, and an aura as deep as the sea, sat cross-legged in the main seat.

Vice Sect Leader Xie Songnian, Yunhai Courtyard Dean Xu Qingshan, Yanluo Courtyard Dean Ye Lianzhen, and the other courtyard deans, as well as the various Sect Elders, sat on either side, their presence grave and imposing.

After a brief address from Xu Zhouzi, the disciple competition officially began.

Disciples with powerful Qi Force began to ascend the stage, preparing for the competition.

Those able to participate in the grand competition were all disciples at the Bone Forging Realm or above.

These individuals were the pillars among the disciples.

As for the disciples in the Force Integration Realm, they all watched from below the stage.

Since Jiang Che had not yet broken through to the Bone Forging Realm, he stood in the ranks of the Yunhai Courtyard disciples, watching the competition with several other fellow disciples who were also in the Force Integration Realm.

Beside him, a few senior brothers were conversing in low voices.

The content of their conversation, naturally, revolved around the four Celestial Pride.

"Look, that’s Senior Sister Gu Qingxuan from Lingxiao Courtyard!"

A senior brother next to him said, pointing to a cold and otherworldly figure in the distance.

Jiang Che looked over as well.

He saw a tall woman dressed in the signature azure, cloud-patterned Daoist Robe of Lingxiao Courtyard. A longsword was strapped to her back. Her face was exquisitely beautiful, but her eyes held an unthawable, icy intent, as if nothing in the mortal world was worthy of her attention—only the sword in her hand was her sole focus.

From the conversation of the senior brothers, Jiang Che learned that she was only twenty-five years old, her Cultivation had already reached the Late Stage of the Refining Organ Realm, and she was now pushing for the Peak of Refining Organ!

What was even more astonishing was the rumor that the very first time she held a sword, she triggered a Sword Intent Resonance. She was an Innate Sword Embryo, a once-in-a-century Innate Sword Cultivator Body!

Therefore, everyone in the Sect, from top to bottom, held high hopes for her, believing she had a very high chance of stepping into the True Master Realm before the age of thirty!