Chapter 178 - 175: Stepping into the 4th Stage
A crescent moon hung high in the night sky. Outside the window, the moonlight was as serene as still water. Tree shadows swayed, leaves and branches rustling softly.
Inside the Training Room, Ye Xing sat cross-legged in the Five Hearts Facing Heaven posture, cultivating the Innate Skill.
EXHALE—
INHALE—
He breathed slowly and deliberately, taking in pure qi and expelling the turbid. With every breath, his True Qi cycled endlessly.
As his Cultivation continued, beads of cold sweat appeared on Ye Xing’s forehead. His True Qi was constantly being compressed and refined, growing ever purer.
’Just a little more. I’m almost there!’
After cultivating for about an hour, Ye Xing quickly swallowed an Upper-grade Qi Nourishing Pill. As soon as the pill reached his lower abdomen, it dissolved, transforming into streams of True Qi that surged upward.
Ye Xing then began to circulate the Innate Skill to refine the True Qi produced by the pill.
Bolstered by the Qi Nourishing Pill from within, and the vast Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi from the Thunder Heart Spring Wood and the Purple Light Group from without, Ye Xing’s True Qi grew increasingly pure, steadily approaching its critical point.
Six hours later, Ye Xing’s eyes snapped open, shining with a brilliant light. His senses had sharpened to the point that he could clearly see an ant crawling on the floor by the door and distinctly hear the sound of falling leaves dancing outside the window.
"All that hard work paid off. I broke through three or four days earlier than I expected. I’ve finally reached the Martial Arts Fourth Realm!" A hint of joy flickered in Ye Xing’s eyes.
Advancing from the Martial Arts Third Realm to the Martial Arts Fourth Realm signified a leap from a Junior Martial Artist at the Qi Cultivation Stage to a Middle-level Martial Artist at the Qi Gathering Stage. The Martial Arts Third Realm was merely the Late-stage of Qi Cultivation, while the Martial Arts Fourth Realm was the Early-stage of Qi Gathering. His faint wisps of True Qi had now coalesced into distinct streams, making his Inner Power True Qi far more substantial and his strength much greater.
’Now that I’ve reached the Martial Arts Fourth Realm, it will be difficult to make another breakthrough in my Inner Strength anytime soon. I should try to break through with my Sword Skill. The Gale Sword Skill is truly profound and mysterious. I’m still just shy of reaching the Entry Level.’ Ye Xing immediately stood up, left the Training Room, and went out into the small courtyard.
In the small courtyard, a gentle night breeze blew. Leaves from the large scholar tree rained down, swirling in mid-air.
With a SHIING!, Ye Xing drew the longsword from his waist and began to practice the Gale Sword Skill.
In an instant, the courtyard was filled with the whistling of the wind and the constant ring of a Sword Roar.
The Cyan Blade Treasure Sword flashed under the moonlight as Ye Xing practiced the Gale Sword Skill over and over, tirelessly.
Time passed, drop by drop. The night gradually thinned, and a sliver of pale, fish-belly white light appeared on the horizon. The light soon spread, heralding the imminent arrival of dawn.
After practicing for a few more minutes, the Sword Roar in the courtyard suddenly ceased.
’Something isn’t right. I feel like I’m still missing something. It seems I can’t just keep training in seclusion. I need to go out and venture into the martial world. After some real-life combat, perhaps my Sword Skill will break through more quickly!’ A new resolve in his eyes, Ye Xing immediately sheathed his sword and returned to his room. After packing his belongings, he left the White Cloud Mountain Ye Mansion and embarked on his journey into the martial world alone.
That’s right. He was setting out alone, without the Gale Leopard.
Ye Xing’s main purpose for this trip was to wander the martial world, improving his Cultivation and strength. The pressure of life-or-death situations would surely speed up his progress. The Gale Leopard was, after all, an Advanced Demon Beast at the Peak of Level 8. Bringing it along would greatly diminish the tempering effect of his journey.
Therefore, Ye Xing left the Gale Leopard at the Ye Mansion to guard the home. After saying goodbye to Qiao’Er and the others, he slung his pack over his shoulder, took up his Cyan Blade Treasure Sword, and set off into the martial world.
On a wide, earthen road, both sides were lined with shady green trees.
CLIP! CLOP! CLIP!
A fine horse ambled along the earthen road at a leisurely pace.
Lying on the horse’s back was a young man in green robes, relaxing and sipping wine as he traveled.