Chapter 280: Breakthrough—Fourth Realm
He sat cross-legged on the mended cushion, his gaze locked on his golden panel.
[Name: Lin Qi]
[Template: True Monarch Erlang Yang Jian]
[Fusion Degree: 22.6%]
[Spiritual Power: 103 (Fourth Realm)]
[Qi and Blood Value: 98.2 (Third Realm)]
[Fist Technique: Tier Three 50%]
[Spear Technique: Tier Three 37%]
[Body Technique: Tier Three 18%]
...
He scanned all the data. This was his current Martial Arts strength.
His Spiritual Power had already been the first to break through to the Fourth Realm, while his Qi and Blood Value still required more cultivation.
That would be the main focus of his cultivation from now on.
After returning to Azure Sky from Celestial Sea City, he could now use the Gravity Room time he’d accumulated in January and February.
Combined with the cultivation environment in his Martial Arts Room, he could reach 99.99 in half a month at most.
He no longer planned to skimp on cultivation resources either.
The second Disaster Beast Hunting Competition was only a month away. His strength had increased by a huge margin, so he’d be able to hunt more Calamity Beasts—enough to make a hefty profit.
...
After the new semester began, the entire campus once again plunged into the tense, competitive atmosphere of cultivation.
After relaxing their bodies and minds over the winter break, most people found that their Qi and Blood Value and Martial Arts had improved immensely.
Before they knew it, March had arrived, and the weather in the Imperial Capital began to warm.
At the Azure Sky First Institute, inside the luxurious villa exclusive to the Dean...
In the spacious Martial Arts Room, the burly Huo Wanyang stood inside a Qi and Blood Tester, clad in a white Martial Arts Uniform.
His large hand gripped the black metal arm of the device, and he suddenly exerted his strength.
"HAH!!"
He let out a great shout as Qi and Blood surged wildly through him. His muscles, like forged steel, exploded with power. Veins popped out across his body, looking like steel rebar twisted around his limbs.
A tyrannical aura burst forth from him, like an Eighth-Level Calamity Beast—an Earth-Split Dragon—roaring to the heavens.
"BEEP!!"
The infrared scanner of the Qi and Blood Tester swept over his body, and the data materialized on the electronic screen.
"Qi and Blood Value: 96.8!"
Huo Wanyang retracted his aura and grinned as he looked at his Qi and Blood Value.
"Excellent. In a little while, I can start preparing to break through to the Fourth Realm."
"I’ve already surpassed Lin Qi’s current Qi and Blood Value."
"The more time passes, the stronger I’ll become. I’m an SS-level genius, after all. My talent is finally starting to reveal itself."
...
「Meanwhile, in the Gravity Room, one of the three major cultivation facilities...」
Gravity Room 309
"BEEP!"
The metal door to the room slid open automatically, and the tall, well-built Lin Qi entered, carrying a black backpack and a metal cylinder.
He expertly changed into his Martial Arts Uniform and removed his Gravity Rings.
Finally, he took the Jade Skin Ointment—a container filled with a red, paste-like substance—from his backpack.
[Qi and Blood Value: 99.99]
The golden panel in his field of vision showed that his Qi and Blood Value had reached the peak of the Third Realm.
’In just half a month, my Qi and Blood Value has reached 99.99. I’ve hit a wall. Even raising it by another 0.1 will be incredibly difficult.’
’To keep improving, I’d have to spend time slowly grinding it out. With my Talent, half a month would be enough to break through.’
’But that’s too slow. I need to speed up my progress!’
Lin Qi analyzed inwardly. ’In Martial Arts cultivation, one must be relentlessly proactive. If you can be faster, you must be faster.’
With that, he opened the jar of Jade Skin Ointment and began smearing the viscous red paste over every inch of his skin.
’I’ll break through to the Fourth Realm today!’
"Little Chan, activate eightfold extreme gravity!"
"Yes, Master!"
The projection of the blue-robed Little Chan mentally connected to the room’s control system and immediately activated the gravity mode.
"HUMMM!"
A current of gravity, like flowing water, instantly enveloped Gravity Room 309. On the large wall screen, the number leaped to "8."
Lin Qi held his breath, his body buckling under the strain. Each breath became abnormally heavy, and he found it difficult to breathe.
"THUMP-THUMP!!"
He could clearly hear his own powerful heartbeat, and the blood roaring through his veins was like the churning waters of the Yellow River.
His body was already accustomed to the omnipresent gravitational force. After a moment, Lin Qi began to adapt.
"HISS~"
The next second, he felt a sharp pain, distinct from the oppressive discomfort of the gravity.
A tearing pain pulsed across his skin.
He endured the pain and took out his black training great spear. Under eightfold gravity, the long spear now weighed a full 800 kilograms.
An ordinary Martial Artist would struggle immensely just to lift it, yet he began to brandish it.
His Third Realm Spear Technique allowed him to fully mobilize every muscle, forcing him to move vigorously while simultaneously resisting the eightfold extreme gravity.
His cells worked furiously, consuming energy and stimulating the genetic potential deep within his body.
"SWISH~ SWISH~"
He began to execute the moves of his Basic Spear Skill with the heavy great spear: block, catch, thrust, split, shatter, flick, stab, entwine...
After completing just one simple set of movements, beads of sweat already covered his body, and exhaustion washed over him.
Moreover, the Jade Skin Ointment was also taking effect on his skin.
His skin grew hot, as if pressed against a furnace. Heat suffused his skin, turning it red and causing it to steam.
After a bout of tearing pain, an itching ache spread across his skin, as if countless ants were burrowing into him and biting his delicate nerves.
The neurological pain made Lin Qi grit his teeth, and veins bulged all over his body.
’It hurts. It hurts so much!’
’This was different from the tearing pain of the Molting Potion. This was a pain that targeted the nerves directly.’
’Not a single inch of his skin was spared, each undergoing a far more meticulous refinement.’
’The parts of his skin that were normally untouched by his training were now undergoing an even more intense refinement.’
The skin is connected to muscles and blood vessels; stimulated by the changes in his skin, his muscles were also being refined.
"AAAH!!"
But the combination of the pain in his skin and the eightfold extreme gravity subjected him to excruciating torment.
Lin Qi gritted his teeth. He could only endure the agony and let his body complete the transformation on its own.
’I have to use this training session to break through directly to the Fourth Realm and save time.’
’Every day I save means a huge boost to my Qi and Blood Value.’
"AAAH!!"
Amidst the intense pain, beads of sweat constantly dripped from Lin Qi’s face.
Through the pain, his Heart Eye Talent allowed him to sense that the very membrane of his skin was also transforming.
The sensation grew more distinct. The membrane was becoming tougher, approaching a state of Perfection.
’Just bear it a little longer, and it’ll be over.’
This was his thought. He grabbed his training great spear and resumed practicing his Spear Technique.
’Use the pain to stimulate my body’s potential and force an even more intense transformation.’
「Two hours later.」
Lin Qi felt the pain in his body rapidly fade. A moment later, the gravity pressing down on him also slowly dissipated.
The breakthrough was nearing its end. Through the pain, his skin had completed its transformation.
He waved his palm and felt the surrounding airflow with greater clarity. He could feel his skin ripple, coordinating with his muscles to generate even greater force.
"HUU~"
Lin Qi bent over, letting sweat stream down his face and drip from his forehead onto the floor.
He felt the liquid trickling over his skin. Suddenly, with a single shudder, he flung countless beads of sweat into the air, which then fell like raindrops to the floor.
’Finally, it’s reached Perfection!’
Lin Qi straightened up, feeling he had finally broken through. His whole body relaxed as a new wave of power surged forth.
[You have used the Jade Skin Ointment and cultivated under eightfold extreme gravity. Deep within your skin’s membrane, every inch has undergone meticulous refinement.]
[After two hours of tempering, your skin membrane has broken through. You have reached the Jade Flesh Realm and achieved Perfect Skin Cultivation. You have broken through to the Fourth Realm Bone Cultivation. Qi and Blood Value +0.01.]
[Qi and Blood Value: 99.99→100]
...