Chapter 92: Continuous Breakthroughs
Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Continuous Breakthroughs
Early that morning, the plaza in front of the Sect Hall was a sea of people. Zhang Chi and Qin Susu were among them, standing in line to have their Cultivation tested.
Clearly, the annual Sect Assessment had begun once more.
This was the third Sect Assessment for Zhang Chi and the others. After passing, they would become senior disciples.
Subsequent Sect Assessments would be held only once every five years. However, during that time, they would be required to complete a certain number of Sect missions and could no longer just hide away in the Sect and focus solely on Cultivation as before.
This assessment was still divided into two parts: first, a test of Cultivation, followed by a combat trial.
This time, however, the combat opponents were no longer Puppets. Instead, they had been replaced with Demonized Beasts specially captured by the Sect.
"Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer. Not bad. You pass!"
The Cultivation testing portion proceeded quickly, and Zhang Chi passed without a hitch. The Cultivation he revealed this year was precisely the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer.
Among disciples of his cohort, this was already considered quite outstanding.
But given his status as a Tier One Middle Grade Alchemist, this rate of progress wasn’t surprising.
However, this also led many to believe that he recklessly consumed Elixirs without regard for the consequences. They assumed his body had surely accumulated a great deal of Pill Poison, leaving him with no future prospects.
Qin Susu and the others had also reached the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer.
For one, they had all begun Body Refining and had already achieved some success.
For another, they had been diligently earning Spirit Stones through activities like Talisman Making, contracting Spirit Fields, and holding trading fairs. As a result, they had all amassed some wealth, which naturally accelerated their Cultivation speed.
Furthermore, Zhang Chi noticed that Chen Ling’Er’s Cultivation had already reached the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer.
This speed, though fast, was not surprising.
After all, Chen Ling’Er had an extraordinary background and had placed first in the cohort’s assessment for the past two consecutive years. Barring any surprises, she would do so again this time.
But even at this pace, she would still need at least thirty years to attempt a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
And this speed was nothing compared to Zhang Chi’s.
In the past six months, Zhang Chi had already finished refining one drop of Earth Milk Spirit Liquid. His Cultivation was now on the verge of reaching the limits of the Qi Cultivation Stage.
With the help of the Evil Qi and the Jade Pendant, even his Celestial Net Evil Body Technique had reached the Tier One Late Stage two months ago. Now, he was just one step away from the First Layer Peak.
After passing the Cultivation test, it was soon time for the second trial: fighting a Demonized Beast.
The requirements were similar to the last assessment: they simply had to hold out for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.
So, Zhang Chi repeated his old trick. He summoned a Magical Artifact Shield and easily held out for the time it takes to drink a full cup of tea, completing the assessment with a decent score.
Afterward, Zhang Chi collected his reward of three hundred Contribution Points. He then declined an invitation from Qin Susu and the others, who had also passed, to celebrate with drinks at the Drunken Immortal Tower in the Marketplace, and returned directly to the Earth Fire Hall.
First, he took out a drop of Earth Milk Spirit Liquid and once again began the methodical process of Refinement.
Then, after a moment’s thought, he also took out the Profound Crane Blood and spread it evenly over his body.
His body immediately became scalding hot, and it felt as if countless needles were pricking him all at once.
The immense Blood Qi contained within the Profound Crane Blood surged into his body like a flood.
THUMP THUMP THUMP...
Zhang Chi hurriedly steadied his mind, struck a stance on the spot, and began his Body Refining once more.
Every one of his movements was imbued with a sense of power, creating gusts of wind and sharp, crackling sounds.
In less than an hour, the Profound Crane Blood Energy was completely absorbed. Two layers of an invisible net of Power materialized on the surface of his body, each one tougher and denser than before.
His physical defense and strength suddenly skyrocketed.
This was the sign that his Celestial Net Evil Body Technique had successfully broken through to the Tier One Peak Realm.
This Realm was comparable to the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer, and it was incalculably stronger than the Bright Jade Body Refining Technique at the same Realm.
Moreover, this breakthrough in his Body Refining Realm was only the beginning and soon triggered a chain reaction.
Next, when he attempted Qi Cultivation, he discovered that his ability to refine, absorb, and contain Spiritual Power had increased significantly.
When he cultivated the White Bone Divine Forging Technique, he was able to persist even longer. He broke through his limits in one fell swoop, successfully advancing the Refining God Technique he had arduously cultivated for three years to the Great Success Realm.
BOOM!
The moment he broke through, the White Bone Demon God in Zhang Chi’s mind seemed to spring to life. It emitted waves of evil, terrifying pressure and let out a series of strange cackles, attempting to seize control of Zhang Chi’s consciousness.
But the Jade Pendant flashed, instantly neutralizing the negative effects. The White Bone Demon God could only roar in frustration before falling silent once more.
Zhang Chi immediately discovered that his own Divine Thought had skyrocketed.
The limit of his Divine Thought had originally been 299 zhang, precisely the peak level for an average Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivator.
But now, it had broken through directly to 310 zhang.
Although it was only an increase of eleven zhang, this represented a qualitative leap. He had officially stepped into the Foundation Establishment Late Stage Level.
His upper limit was now 399 zhang, bringing him infinitely close to the Foundation Establishment Peak Realm.
The boost to his Divine Thought also made his Qi Cultivation noticeably faster, and even his Comprehension was greatly enhanced once again.
Whether it was cultivating Magic, Swordsmanship, or even Artifact Refining, his efficiency would now be much higher.
The next day, when Zhang Chi went to the Sword Testing Valley for his daily sword practice, he ventured deeper and was able to endure for much longer. As expected, the efficiency of his practice had increased tremendously.
Coupled with the fact that Zhang Chi had been intentionally extending his practice time for the past six months and had now been practicing for three years, his Swordsmanship broke through its limits just halfway through his session. Amid a deafening roar of wind and thunder, it advanced to the Great Success Realm in a single stroke.
Though it seemed like only a fine line separated it from its previous state, the Mighty Power of his Swordsmanship had increased severalfold.
If he were to encounter Song Xinghai now, he wouldn’t even need to use his Body Refining Cultivation or the Demon Snake Spine. He could quickly shatter his opponent’s Protective Light Shield just by using the Small Bell Magical Artifact in concert with his Sword Control Technique.
Moreover, because the Sword Light was so fast, his opponent’s Protective Measures likely wouldn’t even have time to activate automatically before Song Xinghai was slain by the blade.
Furthermore, such a rate of improvement was nothing short of heaven-defying.
After all, even Chen Bufan, who possessed an Innate Sword Bone, had to cultivate arduously for ten years to bring his Sword Control Technique to the Great Success Realm.
The difference in time was seemingly only seven years, but this actually represented a difference in speed of severalfold.
If this trend continued, the difference in time it would take for them to cultivate their Swordsmanship to the Perfection Realm would surely stretch into decades.
According to Zhang Chi’s own estimations, if he kept this up, he could bring his Sword Control Technique to the Perfection Realm in just over ten years at most.
Chen Bufan, on the other hand, would need several decades at least.
Of course, in reality, the time required for both of them would be even longer.
After all, they couldn’t remain in the Sect and pursue Cultivation in Seclusion forever.
Without the aid of the Sword Testing Valley, their Swordsmanship improvement would slow dramatically.
This was the main reason why Zhang Chi had been deliberately extending his daily sword practice during this period.
—
In the days that followed, Zhang Chi continued his Cultivation in Seclusion. Five more months quickly passed.
He successfully finished the Refinement of the second drop of Earth Milk Spirit Liquid, a process that took a month less than the first.
This was the direct result of his comprehensive breakthroughs in Body Refining and Refining God.
However, Zhang Chi did not use the third drop of Spiritual Liquid.
His Cultivation had already reached the limit of the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer, a full month ahead of his original schedule.
In other words, he could finally attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm!