After breaking through, Gu Zuo’s perception of his own body became even more effortless. In this True Qi Pond, which was brimming with pressure, he adapted even better than just a while ago.
He opened his eyes, and turned his head to look at his dear big brother, who similarly made a breakthrough.
At this moment, Gongyi Tianheng reached out with his right hand, and gently made a grasping motion.
Bang! Pop!
A slight qi explosion echoed out. This was because, after breaking through, the qi energies discharged from his whole body were lightly squeezed by his fingers, producing the sound of mutual collisions.
Let alone that this movement was very dextrous, if someone wanted to extend a hand to touch it, they would inevitably be injured by the qi energy explosion.
Gu Zuo revealed a great, big smile: “Big brother, congratulations on breaking through!”
Tianheng had a smile on his face: “Congratulations to Ah Zuo as well.”
The two of them looked into each other’s eyes like this. Gu Zuo didn’t know why his face heated up. Soon after, he blinked his eyes, and switched subjects: “Big brother, how did you feel when you were absorbing the true qi?”
Tianheng followed the flow, and switched subjects: “It was very comfortable, like a river seeping into my body. There wasn’t the slightest feeling of pain throughout my four limbs and hundred meridians.”
Gu Zuo thought about it: “Maybe it’s because this place’s true qi is very pure?”
Tianheng looked pensive: “I can’t come to a conclusion... Ah Zuo, you also don’t need to reveal this. After we’ve asked others in the future, we can reconsider things.”
Gu Zuo diligently nodded: “I’ll listen to big brother.”
The true qi here was extremely dense. After the two people finished speaking, they sat in meditation once more, and channeled the true qi into their bodies. However, they didn’t continue to target their acupoints and condense bone pearls. Rather, they compressed the true qi inside the bone pearls that had already taken shape, and consolidated their current realms. Moreover, Tianheng’s sudden increase in strength and Gu Zuo’s even more valiant psychic power both required adapting to. Otherwise, if they encountered an enemy now, the strengths they were capable of exhibiting would probably be very crude. It might be inferior to how powerful they were at Xiantian stage six.
Once they were more or less stable, Tianheng walked out of the pond with Gu Zuo.
This place’s true qi was as dense as water, but because it wasn’t real water, their clothes and hair weren’t wet after they walked out. They were still as dry as before going in.
Following this, the two walked out of this cavern.
They looked at the sky. Unexpectedly, the light of dawn was just beginning to shine — So, a night had already passed during this period of cultivation?
Gu Zuo looked at the sun peeking over the horizon, and turned his head to ask: “Big brother, shall we continue to stay here or will we go back?”
Tianheng said: “Let’s walk around this place first.”
In this region, apart from each of the caverns, which they couldn’t arbitrarily rush into, the other places weren’t restricted. It wasn’t like those mountain peaks outside where each mountain belonged to a single individual, and bystanders couldn’t enter without the owner’s approval.
Gu Zuo was actually very interested in this Qingyun Mountain Range.
Speaking of which, since this place was called “Qingyun” and it was a region within the interior of the Sect, it was surely one of the Sect’s most important locations.
It was only natural that he wanted to understand more about it.
Hence, these two people first strolled around this hill.
Unwittingly, they arrived at the top of the hill. At the same time, Gu Zuo noticed the existence of another person on a rather enormous rock just ahead.
Gu Zuo blanked: “Big brother, look!”
Tianheng raised his eyes, and looked over. His expression faintly shifted.
The one who sat cross-legged upon that rock was a beautiful and elegant girl. And for some reason, the figure of this girl gave them a familiar feeling.
Immediately following which, Gu Zuo’s voice was detected by that girl. At once, the girl’s tender frame flickered, and she appeared at the base of the rock.
Both party’s lines of sight met one another. On that girl’s dainty face emerged a hint of astonishment. But even more than that, there was pleasant surprise: “Benefactor, Pharmacist Gu, what are you guys doing here?”
The corner of Gu Zuo’s mouth hooked up: “Young Lady Ling... It turns out to be you.”
Meanwhile, Tianheng gave a light nod to her: “Long time no see. It looks like Young Lady Ling has been doing well.”
— This girl was Ling Ziwei.
Gu Zuo considered things, and didn’t feel that it was very strange.
Ling Ziwei was received as a disciple by a powerhouse of the Sect Master’s bloodline. She also had the extremely remarkable Moon Siren Body. Arrangements were made for her in this unusual region, which could swiftly increase one’s strength. Truly, this was very normal.
A special constitution required special treatment.
Taking another look at Ling Ziwei’s strength, she was already a Xiantian stage one martial artist. Although she was only Xiantian stage one, how long had it been since she had been taken in as a disciple? Her progress was so fast. Sure enough, Qingyun Sect’s foundations were extraordinary! Ah, it made one envious...
Ling Ziwei also hadn’t been in touch with them for some time.
Before her seclusion, she availed herself of the opportunity of becoming a disciple, and seized many good things to secretly send them to Gongyi Tianyang. However, after she entered seclusion, there weren’t any more good things to give. However, while that wasn’t great, Tianyang also wasn’t lacking. On top of that, Ling Ziqi wanted to cultivate, and didn’t visit Tianyang too often. As a result, she and Tianyang hadn’t received news about each other for quite a few days.
When Ling Ziwei saw Tianheng and Gu Zuo, she was delighted to see them. But even more than that, she wanted to know about Tianyang’s current circumstances.
At this time, a rosy blush appeared on her face. Naturally, there was also a bit of bashfulness in her expression.
Gu Zuo knew what she was thinking about at a glance. It was only natural that Tianheng had an even clearer understanding. Gu Zuo intended to talk, but he didn’t know what to say, so he looked at Tianheng.
Tianheng smiled at him, and said to Ling Ziwei: “In the past few days, Tianyang has already reached the peak of the Meridian Condensing Realm. It won’t take but a few more days, and he’ll definitely break through to the Xiantian Realm.”
Following which, they watched as Ling Ziwei revealed a smiling expression like a hundred flowers at first bloom. It was incredibly beautiful: “Young Master Tianyang has always had a firm determination. This Ziwei has long known that he will certainly achieve this.”
In comparison, Tianyang’s progress was indeed much slower than that of Ling Ziwei. Moreover, Ling Ziwei had the help of the True Qi Pond, so her strength would increase even faster in the future. However, at the very least, the present Tianyang hadn’t fallen behind. So long as he persevered and constantly worked hard, he would be able to keep up with her.
As far as Ling Ziwei was concerned, this was enough — When she was at her lowest and most helpless point, he comforted her. The one who intimately came to her aid was Tianyang. She kept Tianyang in her heart at all times.
The edge of Tianheng’s lips formed a smile: “If Tianyang knew that you regarded him like this, he would certainly be very happy.”
Ling Ziwei’s slender fingers curled and wrung together somewhat nervously, and her lips faintly trembled. But in the end, this nervousness transformed into formidable courage. With great effort, she resisted her shy nature: “May I ask my benefactor to pass along a message to Young Master Tianyang for this Ziwei?”
Tianheng said: “Please speak.”
Ling Ziwei slowly said: “This Ziwei will do her utmost to cultivate. When I am powerful, the matter of my marriage will not be arranged by anyone else. The heart of this Ziwei has never changed. As the sky is fathomless and as the earth is ancient, as the constellations spin and as the stars shift, this Ziwei will wait for only one man to bring me away.”
A trace of admiration flashed across Tianheng’s eyes: “Okay.”
Ling Ziwei’s complexion reddened slightly, but the resolution in her eyes was still clearly distinguished.
On the side, Gu Zuo watched on, and couldn’t help thinking in his heart: This time around, Tianyang has also gotten...quite lucky.
After this kind of reminiscence, Tianheng and Ling Ziwei discussed other matters.
What was more important was still the matters related to this Qingyun Mountain Range. After all, although he and Gu Zuo obtained tokens and knew that this place was a cultivation site, they actually didn’t know if there were any other things that they should take note of. No one had discussed this place’s specific situation in detail with them.
Now that they met Ling Ziwei, they could get a careful understanding.
Ling Ziwei didn’t hide anything at all.
Gu Zuo listened while following on the side, and quickly learned about these things.
As it turned out, this Qingyun Mountain Range was a region that was specially used to support the very core of the Sect’s power. And this core power consisted of disciples with special constitutions, disciples with extraordinary aptitudes who deserved to be nurtured without reservation, extremely powerful Elders, any and all Grand Elders, the Sect Master, and so on.
Among them, the disciples formed one circle, and the Elders formed another.
Qingyun Mountain Range was also divided into inner and outer rings. The outer ring was for disciples, but the inner ring was hidden extremely deeply. Let alone going inside, it would be impossible to find it even if one excavated a meter down into the earth.
In the outer ring, there were two types of places that were specially used for nurturing disciples. One type was called the True Qi Pond, and the other type was called the Profound Qi Eye.
Everyone knew about the True Qi Pond. It used a formation to converge pure true qi. As for the Profound Qi Eye, it was a small aperture that was drilled out of an ore vein. Profound qi was also emitted from within.
In that case, what kind of thing was profound qi?
The answer: Profound qi was something absorbed and possessed by martial artists at the Immortal Realm and above.
Simply speaking, when martial artists reached the Immortal Realm, what they absorbed was the world’s profound qi. The present ambient qi was mostly composed of true qi, but the percentage of profound qi was very miniscule. As a result, after a martial artist broke through to the Immortal Realm, the reason why it was even harder to break through again wasn’t only because that realm was even more mysterious and abstruse, it was also because the ambient profound qi was scarce and the rate of absorption was low.
So to say, after martial artists reached the Immortal Realm, the amount of medicinal pills they required grew larger. Moreover, they needed even more resources to support themselves.
Profound Ley Lines were one of the most well-known types.
Ling Ziwei’s explanation was very detailed. She practically told them everything that she knew.
As the name implied, Profound Ley Lines were ley lines that produced profound qi. They were classified as a huge nurturing resource. The insides of these Profound Ley Lines were brimming with profound qi. And when the profound qi circulated within these Profound Ley Lines, there were some points that stirred somewhat restlessly. If a Sect found this kind of Profound Ley Line and appropriated the ley line for itself, then the Sect only needed to drill through those agitated points for lots of profound qi to rush forth, forming Profound Qi Eyes.
Back then, Qingyun Sect was established here because this Qingyun Mountain Range was full of many Profound Ley Lines. It could supply resources to countless martial artists at the Immortal Realm and above. And in order to allow these thin streams to flow forever, the Sect didn’t damage the Profound Ley Lines, allowing them the time to recover naturally. As a result, the Profound Ley Lines didn’t supply all the Immortal Realm martial artists. Rather, only the Immortal Realm martial artists who were outstanding enough and those who were at the Atomic Realm and above knew that the Sect’s core had this kind of place. And only they would enjoy its benefits.
In addition, for the sake of nurturing Xiantian martial artists, the Sect also added some True Qi Ponds in the vicinity of the Profound Ley Lines. This was also to prevent the Sect’s core from scattering.
Gu Zuo listened earnestly: “Then, how far apart are the True Qi Ponds and Profound Qi Eyes?”
Ling Ziwei replied: “Every mountain has a Profound Qi Eye. In the places that don’t have Profound Qi Eyes, it’s possible to set up a True Qi Pond as one pleases. The outer ring is vast, but the boundaries between Xiantian and Immortal Realm martial artists aren’t too big. Aside from one’s own cavern, there aren’t any private territories. It’s just that, after meeting an Immortal Realm senior, one should stay respectful.”
Of course, the Immortal Realm martial artists wouldn’t pick quarrels with the Xiantian Realm juniors in this place — Those who could come here were all valued personages of the Sect. One never knew when everyone’s levels would change, so there was no need to offend others for no reason. Even if it was a disciple with an awful nature, they wouldn’t casually cause trouble here.
As Gu Zuo listened, he inquisitively asked: “Suppose someone makes a breakthrough and doesn’t want to continue advancing. Do they need to leave this place if they want to hunt wild beasts or find a sparring partner to stabilize their foundations?”
Hearing this, Ling Ziwei hesitated for a moment. But she quickly answered: “In this place, a person can challenge the Qingyun Leaderboard.”
T/N: The majority of the next few chapters leading up to the end of this volume are double-length chapters. Expect the usual updating schedule.
Thanks for the correction, Charysa.
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