Chapter 63: Qi Condensation Fifth Layer

Yu Liang’s spiritual energy swirled within his dantian, dense and turbulent. He spent two days compressing his qi, layering it carefully while maintaining perfect control. The fifth layer’s barrier was significantly more resistant than the fourth as it was thicker, more complex and needed greater refinement before it could be broken.

He consumed another Qi Condensation Pill.

Spiritual energy surged through his meridians, adding to the pressure in his core. Yu Liang carefully guided it into his existing cultivation, while his Iron Marrow Body handled the strain without difficulty.

On the third day, he finally felt ready.

Yu Liang consumed four pills at once and directed their energy toward the barrier. It resisted fiercely, but he kept the pressure steady rather than forcing his way through.

He focused on the barrier, searching for the points where it was weakest. Once he found them, he concentrated his power there.

The Flowing Water Technique worked on the same principle. He didn’t need to force his way through the barrier. He only needed to find the right path.

Hours passed and the barrier began showing some cracks.

Yu Liang consumed two more Qi Condensation Pill and Spirit Awakening Pill together. The massive influx of energy was almost overwhelming, but he held control over it, channeling everything toward the weakening barrier.

A surge of spiritual energy rushed and the barrier broke.

The breakthrough was smoother than the previous ones. As he accumulated experience, combined with the profound understanding gained from the Enlightenment Leaves, allowed him to manage the transition perfectly. Spiritual energy flooded through his body, undergoing its qualitative transformation.

As everything settled, Yu Liang could feel the difference immediately. His cultivation had grown noticeably stronger.

He had reached the fifth layer of Qi Condensation.

He immediately began consolidation work. Without rushing forward, The foundation had to be flawless.

This process also went remarkably smoothly. Because of his enhanced understanding he instinctively corrected minor imperfections as they appeared. The spiritual energy circulated cleanly through his meridians with no turbulence or resistance. His dantian adapted to the increased capacity without strain.

By the fourth day after his breakthrough, the fifth layer was completely stable.

Yu Liang spent another three days refining his techniques at this new level of power. The Flowing Water Technique’s power had increased substantially as what had once been a devastating Waterfall strike now carried even more force. His Misty Steps were faster, covering more ground with less energy spent.

He practiced combat sequences repeatedly, integrating his enhanced capabilities into muscle memory. Speed, power, precision, everything had improved.

On the seventh day, Yu Liang finally emerged from deep meditation and allowed himself to assess his overall progress.

One week. He achieved the breakthrough to fifth layer and consolidated it completely in one week.

For most outer sect disciples, reaching the next layer was a slow process, even with decent resources and talent. Some spent years stuck at the same level, unable to make further progress.

Yu Liang had just reached the fifth layer in a matter of days and if previous breakthroughs were taken in consideration then he had jumped from second to fifth layer in less than two months.

Even with his admittedly poor spiritual roots, the combination of superior resources and perfect execution had produced results that defied normal cultivation process.

Calling him genius didn’t quite feel right. The resources had simply given him a chance he never would have had as a handyman disciple.

He had burned through a considerable amount of resources to reach this point—Enlightenment Leaves, high-grade pills, spirit stones, and various materials.

Any normal cultivator would have bankrupted themselves and their entire family attempting this pace of advancement.

For Yu Liang, however, none of it was a problem. He smiled faintly as he checked his system inventory, there were still enormous resources. He could purchase another batch of Enlightenment Leaves tomorrow without concern. The cycle was simple. Spend money on resources, use those resources to advance, receive cashback, then spend the cashback on even more resources.

It was absurd compared to how most cultivators lived.

But this was his situation now, and he had no reason not to make full use of it.

Yu Liang stood and stretched, feeling the difference in his body.

The fifth layer of Qi Condensation was a good improvement. When he returned to Cloudwater Sect, he should be able to hold his own among the stronger outer disciples.

He still had a long way to go, though.

More importantly, things in Jade City were finally running smoothly.

He’d spent enough time here. Before returning to the restaurant, he might as well take a good nap and enjoy some proper rest.

After that, he could go see how Lin Meihua had handled the expansion.

.

.

.

Meanwhile, in Jade City’s residential district.

Wan Jing walked around the streets in the evening with a smile on his face. It was a long but fruitful day for him since Master Chen had commended him for his knife skills during their afternoon shift, and there were many customers who had commented on the food that he prepared.

Working at Heaven’s Table had changed his life completely. Three months ago, he had been struggling to feed his family on a street vendor’s wages, barely scraping together enough spirit stones to buy basic cultivation resources. But now he earns more in one month than he had previously made in an entire year.

His family no longer had to think twice before buying what they needed. Meals were better, the house was more comfortable, and for the first time, there was some money left over at the end of the month.

All because Young Master Yu had given him a chance when no established restaurant would even consider hiring someone with his limited experience.

Wan Jing turned down a narrow side street, taking his usual shortcut towards home. The lanterns here were spaced farther apart, and fewer people traveled this route after dark. But it saved ten minutes, and he was eager to return home for happy dinner with his family.

He was halfway through the alley when he sensed some movement behind him.

Wan Jing turned, his hand instinctively reaching for the small dagger he carried.

Three figures emerged from the shadows. Their faces were covered with dark cloth, and their robes bore no identifying marks. Two were at Body Tempering third layer. The third, standing slightly behind, radiated the unmistakable pressure of someone at the Body Tempering fifth layer.

Wang Jing’s heart hammered against his ribs. "I don’t have much money on me," he said quickly, raising his hands. "Just a few hundred stones. Take them. I won’t resist."

Inside, he couldn’t help but curse his luck.

’What a terrible day to get robbed.’

But he leading figure didn’t respond. He simply raised his hand, in an attempt to attack him.

Wang Jin’s eyes widened in horror. This wasn’t a robbery.

This was an assassination.

He tried to run, but the other two attackers moved in coordination. One struck his legs with a technique that sent him sprawling. The other kicked his dagger away before he could draw it.

The lead figure stepped forward, with a blade.

"Wait!" Wan Jing gasped, genuine terror flooding through him. "Why? What did I do?"

No answer came.

The blade descended toward his chest.