3: Chapter 3 Yin Demon Tribulation

The moon hung in the center of the sky.

Yu Xiu finally stopped the sword in his hand.

Sixteen volumes of basic sword Cultivation Techniques, all reached Perfection.

[Comprehension Ability: 25]

[Lifespan: 16 / 100]

[Realm: Leakless Realm Late Stage (489 / 500)]

[Sword Sense: 16]

[Basic Sword Cultivation Techniques: Sixteen volumes at Perfection (Sword Sense 16)]

'Sixteen volumes of basic sword Cultivation Techniques reached Perfection, and my Realm has increased by 8 points.'

No wonder he always felt that the essence, Qi, and blood within his body seemed more vigorous. It turned out that after filling the gaps in his basic Cultivation Techniques, he had indeed made progress.

'It is no injustice at all that I could not achieve a Breakthrough before!'

With this not at Perfection and that not at Perfection, how could I achieve a Breakthrough?

Forcing a Breakthrough might be possible, but it would certainly require Medicinal Pills to supplement it, and it would require external objects to assist. Otherwise, there would be absolutely no possibility of success.

But now!

Who cares about Medicinal Pills.

'A person must rely on themselves in the end!'

25 points in Comprehension Ability is no joke.

When he had 9 points in Comprehension Ability, he could rank in the middle tier in the Outer Courtyard.

Now that I have 25 points in Comprehension Ability, just try ranking me in the middle tier again and see what happens?

Furthermore, 25 points in Comprehension Ability is far from Yu Xiu's current limit.

He still has Leakless Realm Cultivation Techniques: ten volumes of the Tide-Rising Sword Art and ten volumes of the Unfixed Sword Art.

Even if each volume can only increase Comprehension Ability by 1 point, that would still add 20 points to his Comprehension Ability.

Besides, if a basic sword Cultivation Technique can increase Comprehension Ability by 1 point per volume, then if the Leakless Realm Cultivation Technique only gives 1 point, that would be an insult to the heavens!

After eating and drinking his fill, he went to sleep.

The next day.

When the morning sun rose, Yu Xiu was already moving with his sword.

Development, development, and more development!

[Tide-Rising Sword Art Volume 1: Major Achievement (295 / 300)]

Originally, he was only 5 points of proficiency away from Perfection.

Now, with 25 points in Comprehension Ability, 16 points in Sword Sense, plus the interface.

No, he didn't even need the 16 points of Sword Sense, nor did he need the interface.

As soon as the sword was in his hand and he had gone through the first volume of the sword art once, Yu Xiu clearly grasped the state of Perfection for the first volume of the sword art, how to practice it, and how to cultivate it.

The gap; this is the gap between 9 points and 25 points of Comprehension Ability.

This gap is far, far too large!

Whatever Bottlenecks, whatever difficulties, whatever barriers, whatever limits to progress—none of them exist.

In the face of absolute values, none of them exist.

If they do exist, it just means the values are not high enough.

He can still increase his Comprehension Ability by 1.

If it could be said that his original 9 points of Comprehension Ability were like a bronze mirror in Yu Xiu's mind covered in filth and rust, unable to clearly reflect himself or the path ahead.

Then, his current 25 points of Comprehension Ability were as if an invisible hand had wiped away a small portion of the filth and rust from the bronze mirror.

He could already clearly see himself, and he could also clearly see the path ahead.

Yu Xiu could perceive that the Four Stages of Ascending Dragon—not just one stage, not just two stages, but all four stages—could no longer trap him.

Even the Great Four Passes might not be able to block his path.

And this is only with 25 points of Comprehension Ability.

It is far from Yu Xiu's current limit.

Tide-Rising Sword Art Volume 1 +2

Tide-Rising Sword Art Volume 1 +2

It was no longer +1, but directly +2.

This is the most intuitive manifestation of 25 points of Comprehension Ability.

[Tide-Rising Sword Art Volume 1: Major Achievement (300 / 300)]

[Tide-Rising Sword Art Volume 1: Perfection (Sword Sense +3)]

'It reached Perfection just like that!'

Yu Xiu was a bit dazed.

This was not a basic Cultivation Technique, but a Leakless Realm Cultivation Technique, which directly related to his Realm.

The ten volumes of the Tide-Rising Sword Art correspond directly to the four stages of the Leakless Realm: Initial, Middle, Late, and Perfection.

With one point of progress, his Realm cultivation would increase by one point.

Now that his first volume had reached Perfection, there was an immediate change in his Realm.

[Realm: Leakless Realm Late Stage (491 / 500)]

He was only 9 points of cultivation away from Perfection.

When the time came for the Breakthrough, it would be as natural as water flowing into a channel; he would not need Medicinal Pills or any external force at all.

But right now, Yu Xiu didn't care about his Realm cultivation at all; instead, he looked directly at the Comprehension Ability and Lifespan columns.

For basic sword Cultivation Techniques, reaching Perfection in one volume would increase Comprehension Ability by 1 and Lifespan by 1.

So, how much would a Leakless Realm Cultivation Technique add?

[Comprehension Ability: 28 (25+3)]

[Lifespan: 103 (100+3)]

'It added 3 points to Comprehension Ability!'

Yu Xiu was overjoyed.

If the ten volumes of the Tide-Rising Sword Art and the ten volumes of the Unfixed Sword Art—a total of twenty volumes of Cultivation Techniques—all reached Perfection, wouldn't that add 60 points to his Comprehension Ability and 60 years to his Lifespan?

If 25 points in Comprehension Ability could clear the Four Stages of Ascending Dragon, then with 85 points, Yu Xiu didn't know which of the Great Four Passes could stop him!

'Steady, develop!'

He calmed his mind and continued to practice his sword, his sword momentum flowing unimpeded.

Tide-Rising Sword Art Volume 2 +2

Tide-Rising Sword Art Volume 2 +2

Tide-Rising Sword Art Volume 2 +2

[Tide-Rising Sword Art Volume 2: Perfection (Sword Sense +3)]

Comprehension Ability +3

Lifespan +3

[Tide-Rising Sword Art Volume 3: Perfection (Sword Sense +3)]

Comprehension Ability +3

Lifespan +3

...

In the blink of an eye, it was the night of the second day.

[Tide-Rising Sword Art Volume 10: Perfection (Sword Sense +3)]

[Comprehension Ability: 55]

[Lifespan: 16 / 130]

[Realm: Leakless Realm Perfection (Can achieve Breakthrough)]

[Sword Sense: 46]

'As long as I want, I can achieve a Breakthrough at any time and enter the second stage of the Ascending Dragon Realm, Qi Circulation!'

But, he could not achieve a Breakthrough like this.

First, a Breakthrough involves the 'Yin Demon Tribulation'.

The 'Yin Demon Tribulation' is something that practitioners in this world must experience, and it is also the greatest danger.

The so-called Yin Demon can also be called a 'Heart Demon', but it is more than just a Heart Demon.

A Heart Demon only corrupts the Dao Heart, but a Yin Demon not only corrupts the Dao Heart but also manifests during the Breakthrough to contend with the practitioner for their Physical Body.

He heard from the elders of his sect that ever since the 'Emperor' passed away, the myriad Daos have been in chaos, Yin and Yang have lost their order, and the heavens and earth have changed drastically ever since.

The heavens are divided into Yin and Yang, and humans are also divided into Yin and Yang. All living beings who cultivate contain a Yin Demon within them; as long as the person does not die, the Yin Demon will never cease.

The Yin Demon has always been within the living being, or it can also be called the dark side of the living being.

You are you, and the Yin Demon is also you; two sides of one entity.

Therefore, one's own Yin Demon is equal in strength to the person themselves.

Many practitioners are harmed by the Yin Demon during a Breakthrough and subsequently have their Physical Body usurped by the Yin Demon. These are also called 'Demons'. Many of the terrifyingly powerful evil demons in this world come from this.

But conversely, if one can kill the Yin Demon when it manifests, the Yin Demon will transform into various spiritual objects. Therefore, whenever a practitioner attempts a Breakthrough, they need the protection of sect elders to prevent the Yin Demon from causing chaos.

For a Loose Cultivator, a Breakthrough is naturally extremely risky, but for the Qingwei Sword Sect where Yu Xiu is, the Yin Demon is actually a reward.

If it shows its head, kill it instantly.

'Actually, I don't have to fear the Yin Demon Tribulation.' Yu Xiu thought thoughtfully.

His Comprehension Ability is already extremely high, and the Yin Demon's strength is equal to his. Therefore, when the Yin Demon shows its head, if he makes a Breakthrough in his Cultivation Technique or sword art during the battle, he could immediately crush the Yin Demon.

However, Yu Xiu had always been a bit curious. The Yin Demon is a product that appeared because the 'Emperor' passed away, leading to the disorder of Yin and Yang, but in the final analysis, it still comes from the Heart Demon.

In other words, the Yin Demon is also him.

Then, the two cannot coexist.

Hmm, that's wrong.

Is it that the Yin Demon cannot become his Incarnation?

If he could refine the Yin Demon into an Incarnation, wouldn't that mean he would have an extra version of himself?

If there's a trap, let the Yin Demon step into it; if there's danger, let the Yin Demon take the brunt of it!

Anyway, you are me, and if I don't die, you don't die. So, having the Yin Demon step into traps and having the Yin Demon take the risks—isn't that very reasonable?

Isn't this more useful than a subordinate?

This is directly gaining an external Incarnation!