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Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Breakthrough After Breakthrough! Senior Sister!
The stars glitter like chess pieces, traces of starlight scattered here and there.
It was already deep into the night, and the entirety of Cuiliu Peak lay in silent stillness.
"Huh!"
All of a sudden, atop Cuiliu Peak, numerous Outer Disciples awoke from their cultivation, their faces showing puzzlement.
Just a fleeting moment ago, they faintly felt a terrifying pressure that pierced into their souls.
But when they probed carefully for its source, there was nothing—an illusion, seemingly.
Whoosh!
An Outer Elder soared into the night sky, his gaze darting around the darkness with uncertainty and suspicion.
"Could it have been a mere illusion..."
Finding nothing, the Outer Elder shook his head and withdrew his gaze.
Within a small courtyard, the strange fluctuations gradually settled into tranquility.
Luo Cheng opened his eyes, their brightness illuminating the dark night for an instant.
At this moment, within his Dantian, Dragon Energy enveloped scales that shimmered with divine radiance, his twin pupils glinting like stars. Upon the majestic and mysterious body of the energy, two pairs of four limbs resembling tiger paws had emerged, soaring through the sea of Qi within the Dantian! The overwhelming and domineering presence resembled that of an ancient flood dragon, weaving through clouds, devouring stars, and capturing the moon!
"The Seventh Level of the True Dragon Technique! What an incredible sensation!"
Each breakthrough in the True Dragon Technique enhanced the physical body.
Yet this time, Luo Cheng felt an unprecedented surge in strength!
Through this cultivation session, not only had the True Dragon Technique advanced—his potential to ascend to the Golden Body Realm had also fully erupted!
With these factors combined, Luo Cheng’s physical form grew explosively; even without deliberate perception, he could feel the density of his flesh, blood, and bones, now infused with a golden sheen, brimming with untamed power!
"Let’s see just how much I’ve improved!"
Standing up tall, Luo Cheng exclaimed lowly, then hurled a punch straight ahead.
Boom!
A thunderous sonic boom rippled through the courtyard, and the air churned like water.
The ferocity of the fist wind caused a nearby giant tree ten paces away to tremble, its branches swaying wildly!
"What power! At least two hundred thousand pounds! No—more than two hundred thousand pounds of force!"
That punch didn’t utilize any Martial Arts techniques; it drew purely on the raw power of his physical body yet eclipsed the strength of Luo Cheng’s previous full-force strikes!
Retracting his fist, Luo Cheng’s face lit up with a smile:
"Two hundred thousand pounds of force—this rivals even the peak of a Tongxuan Realm First Layer Martial Artist! Now, if I were to challenge Yan Qi, my odds of victory would be at least sixty percent!"
If it came down solely to physical strength, Luo Cheng was confident he could finish Yan Qi within three moves.
But combat prowess entailed more than just physical power.
As a Tongxuan Realm First Layer peak Martial Artist, Yan Qi possessed abundant Essence Energy that enhanced his attacks and defenses—a clear advantage for his opponent.
Even with only sixty percent odds, the feat was already daunting.
After all, Yan Qi was at the peak of the Tongxuan Realm First Layer.
Luo Cheng himself had yet to break through to the Tongxuan Realm!
As dawn had not yet arrived, Luo Cheng felt he had yet to fully refine the latent medicinal power buried deep within his body and decided to continue honing his swordsmanship.
Clang!
The Meteor Sword left its sheath and unleashed its cutting edge, its piercingly bright blade light tearing through the darkness like a raging storm.
By the time sunlight illuminated the sky.
"Wind Stopping!"
"Cloud Stabilization!"
Luo Cheng’s figure weaved across the Practice Field, his movements swift and agile. Mid-motion, beams of icy, piercing Sword Qi cascaded outward, slicing the air into scattered cracks.
"Electric Passage!"
Finally, Luo Cheng executed his strongest sword strike to date. A beam of Sword Qi several feet in length streaked through the air like lightning.
Crack!
A massive stone at the forefront of the Practice Field shuddered faintly before splitting cleanly down the middle, its cross-section smooth and faultless.
"Hm?"
Luo Cheng, returning from his state of cultivation, looked slightly astonished.
With just that sword strike, he discerned a newfound clarity in his thoughts, as if his sword techniques could now flow entirely unimpeded.
"Cloud Stabilization!"
Ch-ch-ch...
To confirm his hypothesis, Luo Cheng brandished the Meteor Sword once more. A mesh of Sword Qi threads overlapped, their sharp intents diffusing across the atmosphere and stirring up the winds and clouds.
This time, Luo Cheng felt the sensation within him even sharper.
When he swung the sword, as soon as the idea arose, it had already been executed—effortless and seamless. His sword seemed intertwined with his own spirit and body, fostering an unparalleled, sublime harmony.
"This is... Sword Heart Perfection!"
Luo Cheng’s eyes sparkled brightly.
A sword moving in sync with the heart, illuminated by clarity—this was undoubtedly a sign of attainment of Sword Heart Perfection!
His Sword Dao had ascended to a whole new level!
After pondering briefly, Luo Cheng quickly understood.
His comprehension had always been extraordinary, even regarded among the best! Previously, he had only been separated from Sword Heart Perfection by a thin veil—a lack of strength and a breakthrough opportunity.
Now, having achieved the Golden Body Realm and with his prowess surging greatly, coupled with warding off Sun Chuanwu’s strike amidst life-threatening danger that had activated every ounce of his potential, his Sword Dao Realm naturally advanced, reaching its pinnacle with ease!
As his eyes flickered with thought, a cold smile spread across Luo Cheng’s face:
"I’d originally expected Sword Heart Perfection to require a long period of honing and training. I hadn’t anticipated such ease. I truly must thank you, Sun Chuanwu!"
At this moment, if Sun Chuanwu knew the enormous benefit Luo Cheng had gained from his fatal strike, he would likely spit blood in anger!
The Martial Arts Realm was intangible and elusive, among the hardest to cultivate. Even elevating a minor realm required monumental effort!
Sometimes, even when separated by merely a thin veil, the absence of a suitable opportunity could delay progress for three, five, or even ten years without breaking through!
From this perspective, Sun Chuanwu had indeed unwittingly aided Luo Cheng immensely!
Finding the day now bright, Luo Cheng changed into a new set of clothes and headed toward Qingxuan Peak.
It was early morning, and the rich Heaven and Earth Essence Energy transformed into a light mist that blanketed the entirety of Qingxuan Peak, making it appear like a divine realm.
Walking along the mountain path, Luo Cheng inhaled deeply, feeling the surrounding Heaven and Earth Essence Energy was several times more concentrated than that of Cuiliu Peak. The further he ascended, the purer it became, making cultivation significantly more efficient!
The reason was evident.
Cuiliu Peak was merely a mountain for ordinary Outer Disciples to live upon.
On Qingxuan Peak, however, resided the Outer Sect’s ten esteemed elders.
Admiring the scenery on his way, Luo Cheng soon arrived at Elder Chen Xuan’s residence.
"Come in!"
Elder Chen Xuan’s voice rang out.
Luo Cheng easily navigated his way to the grand hall of practice.
Elder Chen Xuan sat upon the main dais atop a meditation cushion, with a young girl in red clothing seated beside him.
The girl in red appeared only fifteen or sixteen years old, her lips as crimson as lacquer and her eyes like glittering stars. Her exquisite beauty seemed to brighten the dim practice hall, her dynamic gaze curiously examining Luo Cheng.
"Master!"
Luo Cheng stepped forward and saluted.
Elder Chen Xuan nodded slightly, just about to speak, when the young girl in red cheerfully stepped forward.
"Little Junior Brother, my name is Chen Lingyu—your Second Senior Sister, alright?"
Luo Cheng had already learned that Elder Chen Xuan’s disciples consisted of two individuals: the eldest, Lin Xiaoyun, and the Second Senior Sister before him, Chen Lingyu. He immediately greeted:
"Greetings, Senior Sister!"
"Hehe, so well-mannered! I hear you’re on the verge of breaking through to the Tongxuan Realm. This is a little gift from your Senior Sister!"
Amused and delighted, Chen Lingyu reached out to pinch Luo Cheng’s cheek, then stuffed a porcelain bottle into his hand.
Such an intimate gesture flustered Luo Cheng slightly, but upon seeing the bottle, he was mildly taken aback.
It was a Four-star Spirit Pill known as the Bright Essence Pill—valued at no less than a million!
For an Outer Disciple, this was an exceptional treasure.
"Thank you, Senior Sister!"
Luo Cheng’s heart warmed.
Having offended the Crown Prince Hall, most avoided him like the plague; few dared to associate with him.
To encounter someone still willing to show him kindness was truly precious.
"Senior Sister, where is our Senior Brother?"
Luo Cheng had long known of his Senior Brother Lin Xiaoyun. Ranked second amongst the Outer Sect’s top ten disciples, he was a bona fide prodigy. He couldn’t help but inquire.
Upon hearing this, Chen Lingyu’s glowing eyes flickered slightly, her tone carrying a hint of resignation:
"It seems you’re still unaware. Senior Brother Lin Xiaoyun... is a member of the Crown Prince Hall."
