56: Chapter 56 Disciple, are you riding a rocket?!

While the entire Taixuan Sect was swept up in a '996' Cultivation frenzy due to Su Changge's 'Immortal Realm Management Mode,' with everyone busy competing for contribution points...

Changge Peak remained as detached from the world as ever.

In a secluded Immortal Cave in the back mountains.

Ye Qingyao, who had been sitting cross-legged in meditation for seven days and seven nights, showed no signs of Spiritual Qi leaking from her body, as quiet as a jade carving.

But deep within her Sea of Consciousness, a storm was brewing.

No Cultivation Technique was running, and there was no Spiritual Qi breathing; only a single image was repeatedly imprinted upon her Soul.

Half a month ago, at the main Peak's square.

Her Revered Master, that seemingly ordinary man, had held a branch he'd casually snapped off and slashed that single sword strike toward the sky.

The elegance of that strike.

The dominance of that strike.

The supreme Concept contained within that strike—one that severed Karma and destroyed eternity—had become the sole imprint on her life.

She couldn't understand it.

She couldn't even comprehend it.

It surpassed her entire understanding of the word 'Sword'.

But she did not give up. Like the most devout believer, she gazed upon that miraculous trajectory over and over again, attempting to glimpse a sliver of divinity from it.

The seventh day, late at night.

When the phantom in her Sea of Consciousness performed that sword strike for the ten thousand and eighth time...

Buzz—

Her Soul trembled violently.

Within that Sword Intent as vast as the Universe, she finally captured a sliver of charm so faint it almost didn't exist.

That sliver of charm was named 'Heaven-Splitting'.

Even though it was just an insignificant, superficial trace.

To Ye Qingyao, it was no different from a Mortal witnessing the Heavenly Dao crack open with their own eyes!

Boom!

A terrifying Aura erupted from her body, shattering the Immortal Cave's Restriction and transforming into a sword-shaped pillar of Qi that pierced straight into the clouds!

The cultivation Bottleneck of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage was as fragile as paper before this sliver of 'Heaven-Splitting Concept,' collapsing at the first touch.

Foundation Establishment Late Stage Peak!

Foundation Establishment Perfection!

Her cultivation advanced triumphantly all the way, rushing directly to the very Peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage, only one step away from the Golden Core Great Dao!

But that wasn't the most important part.

What mattered was that her Sword Heart and Sword Intent had undergone an earth-shaking transformation because of that sliver of 'Heaven-Splitting' charm.

At this moment, if she encountered those three Golden Core Early Stage demonic cultivators again, she was confident she could slay them all within three strikes!

"Whew..."

Ye Qingyao opened her eyes, a brilliant sword light receding deep within her pupils.

Feeling the surging power in her body and that sharpness that felt as if it could cleave through anything, a trace of heartfelt joy finally bloomed on her cold, beautiful face.

"Thank you, Revered Master."

She stood up and performed a respectful, deep bow toward the summit of Changge Peak.

This Opportunity was entirely bestowed by her Revered Master.

...

Meanwhile, in the courtyard at the top of Changge Peak.

Su Changge was sprawled out on his rocking chair, grabbing handfuls of Medicinal Pills and popping them into his mouth like sunflower seeds.

"Ah, the Chaos Dao Body is just so satisfying."

The Medicinal Pills melted in his mouth, turning into the purest Spiritual Qi and being absorbed by his body with almost zero loss.

Over the past half month, relying on a massive amount of Medicinal Pills exchanged for millions of emotion points in the System mall, he had forced himself from the Qi Refining First Layer up to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

This speed would be enough to scare a bunch of Geniuses to death if it got out.

But Su Changge still felt it was too slow.

"The quality of these pills is too low. If I had a Nine-Revolution Golden Pill, I'd probably be sprinting toward the Golden Core stage by now."

As he was happily calculating, a sky-piercingly sharp Aura suddenly exploded from the back mountain, startling him so much that the pills in his hand scattered all over the ground.

"Hmm?"

Su Changge sat up with a start and turned his head toward the back mountain, his face filled with bewilderment.

"That girl has finished her seclusion? Holy crap, this Aura... Foundation Establishment Perfection?!"

His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

He had worked so hard, popping pills like food for half a month, just to crawl from Qi Refining to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

And what about this disciple of his?

She just went into seclusion for a nap and came out at Foundation Establishment Perfection?!

Is there any justice left in this world?! I'm the one with the cheats, yet I'm about to be caught up to by this local native?

Su Changge's mental state instantly became unbalanced, a sour wave of jealousy rushing to his head.

"Is having a protagonist template that amazing? Do you not even follow the basic laws of leveling up!"

As he was grumbling internally, a white-robed figure drifted into the courtyard, bringing a gust of fresh breeze.

"Disciple Ye Qingyao pays respects to Revered Master!"

Ye Qingyao bowed gracefully to Su Changge, her cold voice carrying uncontrollable excitement and reverence.

"Revered Master, your disciple has fortunately not failed the task. After observing your sword strike, I gained some insights and happened to break through."

Looking at his disciple, who was peerlessly beautiful and possessed an increasingly sharp and ethereal Aura, Su Changge felt even more sour.

It was one thing to be good-looking, but to have such monstrous talent was simply leaving others no way to live.

But on the surface, he maintained that calm and indifferent demeanor of a supreme Master who remained unruffled by anything.

He nodded slightly, his voice flat and emotionless: "Rise. Mere Foundation Establishment Perfection is nothing much. Guard against arrogance and impetuosity."

"Yes, Revered Master," Ye Qingyao responded respectfully.

She understood in her heart that from her Revered Master's Realm, her small Breakthrough probably really was no different from a child learning to walk.

"Revered Master, your disciple has realized a new sword move. I ask for Revered Master's guidance."

As Ye Qingyao spoke, she drew her sword, 'Autumn Water'.

She didn't activate any Spiritual Qi; she simply immersed her mind, merging that sliver of 'Heaven-Splitting Concept' she had comprehended into the blade and swinging it forward casually.

Ssh.

An invisible and intangible Sword Qi sliced through the air.

On the bluestone ground ahead, a bottomless, slender sword mark appeared silently, its edges as smooth as a mirror.

A domineering, sharp, and terrifying Concept that seemed as if it would completely tear space apart dissipated in wisps from that sword mark.

Su Changge's eyelid twitched violently.

Although his cultivation was low, the [God-Tier Sword Dao Comprehension] he had exchanged gave him the vision of a Great Grandmaster.

He could clearly feel the charm contained in his disciple's strike...

It actually had a tiny bit of resemblance to the 'Heaven-Splitting Strike' he had created with System effects that day!

Holy shit!

Effects! She actually learned my special effects?!

What kind of hellish comprehension is this!

Su Changge's heart was instantly submerged by a tsunami; he was completely stunned.

This disciple is too much of a Prodigy! If I keep teaching her, my true foundation is going to be exposed!

He was panicking inside, yet his face remained terrifyingly calm.

He gazed at Ye Qingyao, nodding slowly, and spoke his critique in a tone that was both approving yet carried a hint of 'it's just so-so':

"Acceptable."

Pausing for a moment, he looked into Ye Qingyao's bright eyes, which were full of expectation, and continued in an even more profound and mysterious tone:

"You have attained its form, but not its spirit."

"This sword strike already possesses one ten-thousandth of my elegance."