103: Chapter 103 New Insights

In the following days, Li Changsheng became even more frantic in his Cultivation and Alchemy.

The Bottleneck of the Peak of Qi Refining Level 8 remained unbroken.

But he was not in a hurry.

He knew that once he had accumulated enough, a Breakthrough would happen naturally.

The "Introduction to Alchemy" had already been flipped through so much by him that it was falling apart.

He began attempting to refine higher-grade Medicinal Pills.

He worked on peiyuan pills, Spirit-Accumulating Pills, and even began studying the Pill Formula for the foundation establishment pill.

Although the success rate was pitifully low, he could learn something new from every failure.

Li Xiaocao's progress was even faster.

She was already able to independently refine peiyuan pills, and her success rate was even higher than Li Changsheng's.

Manager Qin held her in increasingly high regard and had begun teaching her some more Advanced Alchemy techniques.

Li Changqing also broke through to Qi Refining Level 7.

Her Thirteen Swords of the Clear Wind became more and more proficient, and her reputation in the Sword Guard Hall grew. People had already begun calling her "Uncle Master Jiang's brilliant Disciple."

Shi Tiezhu reached Qi Refining Level 5.

He practiced with that Black Iron Staff to a point of perfection; combined with the earth-element Spells of Houtu Peak, his combat power was startling.

It was said that once, he single-handedly faced off against three opponents at Qi Refining Level 5 and actually managed to knock them all down.

All four were growing and becoming stronger.

News regarding the exchange meeting for Qi Refining Stage Disciples also became clearer, with rumors already spreading.

"It's said that for this exchange meeting, all the major Sects within the Yunzhou Prefecture will participate," Li Changqing said.

"There's the Jinyang Sect, Qingxin Pavilion, Medicine King Valley, Blood Fiend Sect, and our Qinglan Sword Sect."

"Yes, I've heard about it too," Li Changsheng said to Li Changqing.

"They say there will be sparring, discussions on the Dao, and exchanges of Cultivation insights and such."

"Yes, I heard that each Sect will send their strongest Qi Refining Stage Disciples."

"The strongest?" Li Changsheng asked.

"Correct," Li Changqing nodded.

"As far as I know, over at the Jinyang Sect, there are several at the Peak of Qi Refining Level 9 who are veteran Disciples that have been in seclusion for many years."

"Medicine King Valley has an abundance of Medicinal Pills, so they have quite a few at the Peak of Qi Refining Level 9."

"Qingxin Pavilion also has three or four in the Late Stage of Qi Refining Level 9."

"The Blood Fiend Sect..."

"Although they suffered heavy losses last time, they also have people being nurtured in the shadows. It's said there's someone called 'Blood Butcher' who is already at the Peak of the Late Stage of Qi Refining Level 9."

Late Stage of Qi Refining Level 9.

Li Changsheng silently calculated his own strength.

At the Peak of Qi Refining Level 8, combined with the Green Wood Fist and the Qinglan Sword Art, plus Talismans and combat experience, he should be able to fight someone at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining Level 9.

But against someone in the Late Stage of Qi Refining Level 9, his chances of winning were not high.

He needed to Breakthrough.

He had to Breakthrough to Qi Refining Level 9 before then.

"What about our Qinglan Sword Sect?" he asked.

Li Changqing gave a bitter smile.

"In our Qinglan Sword Sect, there are a few at the Peak of Qi Refining Level 9, but they are all Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters who have been in seclusion for years, putting all their effort into pushing for the Foundation Establishment Stage. They won't necessarily participate."

"It's said they might send those at the Early Stage of Qi Refining Level 9."

Li Changsheng nodded and said no more.

He had to hurry into seclusion to Breakthrough!

The first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the window lattice, spilling into the simple stone chamber.

Li Changsheng slowly opened his eyes.

A mouthful of turbid Qi was exhaled from his mouth, condensing into a faint white arrow of Qi in the air, flying out three feet before dissipating.

He looked down at his hands, feeling the surging spiritual energy within his body, a very faint smile surfacing at the corners of his mouth.

Early Stage of Qi Refining Level 9.

His Cultivation had stabilized.

Half a year of bitter Cultivation in seclusion had finally yielded results.

He stood up and stretched his somewhat stiff limbs.

His bones gave off slight popping sounds, like beans roasting. Pushing open the door of the stone chamber, the familiar sight outside met his eyes.

That patch of spiritual field he had opened up himself, that Spirit Tea Tree that had already grown to the height of a person, and those lush Jade Dew Ginseng seedlings.

Sunlight fell on the leaves, shimmering with an emerald light.

Taking a deep breath, the air was filled with the fresh scent of vegetation and the unique, moist earthy smell of the spiritual field.

He walked over to the Spirit Tea Tree and reached out to gently stroke the trunk.

The trunk had already thickened somewhat, and the bark was covered with fine patterns.

"You've grown taller."

He said softly.

The tea tree was silent, its leaves swaying gently in the breeze as if in response.

He then went to check on the Jade Dew Ginseng.

The seedlings planted half a year ago were now half a foot tall, with thick leaves and sturdy roots, growing beautifully.

After checking the spiritual field, he returned to the tool storehouse to begin his daily mandatory lesson—practicing the Green Wood Fist.

This set of fist techniques obtained from the simulated world had been practiced by him countless times.

The thirteen forms of the fist technique, from the first form to the thirteenth, and then from the thirteenth back to the first, cycled over and over, starting again and again.

With every punch thrown, a faint green fist shadow remained in the air, lingering for a long time.

When he reached the thirteenth form, "Withered Wood Meets Spring," he suddenly stopped.

In the past, when he performed this form, there was always a sense of desperation.

Finding life after being placed in a dead end, trading injury for a life, trading life for life.

But today, when he threw this punch again, he suddenly had a different feeling.

It wasn't desperation, but...

Letting nature take its course.

Like a withered tree putting forth new shoots in spring, like a seed breaking through the soil, like all things growing, endlessly vibrant.

A sense of new life arose spontaneously, no longer the desperate struggle of before.

But rather...

Newborn.

He closed his eyes and practiced it once more.

This time, the fist momentum was much softer, but its power was even stronger than before.

As the punch was thrown, no fist shadow was left in the air; there was only a faint ripple of vitality, like a spring breeze brushing against the face.

Withdrawing his fist, he opened his eyes.

He looked down at his fist, lost in thought.

The true meaning of "Withered Wood Meets Spring" might not be trading injury for life, but...

Finding life after being placed in a dead end, and then, gaining new life.

He smiled and thought no more of it.

After finishing his Cultivation, he returned to the stone chamber and took out that emerald bead from his robes.

The nine-turn azure profound bead.

During nearly half a year of seclusion, he had refined another portion of its power.

The bead was still emerald and translucent, but the light inside was slightly dimmer than before. He could sense that there was still more than half of the power within the bead waiting for him to refine.

But he couldn't go any faster.

If his Cultivation level rose too quickly and his Foundation was unstable, problems would easily arise.

He needed time to settle and time to adapt.

Carefully putting the bead away, he walked out of the tool storehouse and headed towards the main Peak.

Today, Manager Qin was convening all Disciples who might participate in the exchange meeting to announce something important.

The Main Peak Discussion Hall.

When Li Changsheng arrived, seven or eight people were already seated in the hall.

They were all outstanding members of the Sect's younger generation, with Cultivation levels all at Qi Refining Level 8 or above.

Seeing him enter, several people nodded in greeting.

Li Changsheng found a corner to sit in and waited quietly.

Before long, a few more people entered.

Li Changqing also arrived; she was now at the Peak of Qi Refining Level 7, only a step away from Level 8.

Seeing Li Changsheng, her eyes lit up, and she came over to sit beside him.

"You've finished your seclusion?" she asked in a low voice.

Li Changsheng nodded.

"Are you at Qi Refining Level 9?"

Li Changsheng nodded again.

Li Changqing looked at him, a flash of complexity in her eyes.

When they had come out of Qinghe Town, among the four of them, Li Changsheng's Cultivation had not been the highest. Now, he was far ahead.

But she felt no jealousy, only joy.

"That's truly good," she said softly.

At that moment, there was a stir at the entrance.

A young man in white walked in, his expression cold and his aura deep.

His Cultivation... was at the Late Stage of Qi Refining Level 9.

The "Water-Severing Sword," Mo Han.

He was the number one person among the younger generation of the Qinglan Sword Sect's Outer Sect. It was said his sword techniques were superb, and his "Water-Severing Sword Art" could cut through flowing water.

He usually lived in seclusion and rarely showed his face; surprisingly, he had come today.

Mo Han walked in, his gaze sweeping over everyone without joy or sorrow.

However, when his gaze swept over Li Changsheng, it paused for a fleeting moment before withdrawing, and he found a place to sit.

Immediately after, another young man walked in. This person had an ordinary face, but his aura was sharp, like an unsheathed sword.

Middle Stage of Qi Refining Level 9.

The "Gale Sword," Lu Yu.

He was also one of the top experts of the Qinglan Sword Sect's Outer Sect, famous for his speed. It was said his sword was so fast that people couldn't see it clearly.

Behind Lu Yu, several others followed, all of whom were Disciples at Qi Refining Level 8 or above.