Volume 1 Chapter 17 Breaking Through to the Sixth Realm
Just two days had passed, and Senior Brother Wang had already brought the treasured artifact. Yet, his demeanor was unlike before.
“Let me clarify first,” he began. “This item was acquired through covert channels and was found by Senior Brother Zhou during a mission... so it isn’t officially recorded.”
“Normally, you should keep it for protection only; do not use it openly within the sect.”
“If not, both Senior Brother Zhou and I will be held accountable!”
Zhao Fusheng nodded obediently. “Don’t worry, Senior Brother. I know what to do.”
After handing over the agreed ten gold bars in full, he even added an extra one.
“I was hoping you’d bring more of such good fortune,” Senior Brother Wang smiled.
“You’re clever; I must have been overthinking.”
But as he took the gold, his usually carefree expression darkened.
Pat, pat.
He patted Zhao Fusheng’s shoulder again. “I told you the artifact was found by chance, right?”
“This item only appears by name in ancient texts.”
“Senior Brother Zhou only conducted a simple test; since it’s unregistered, it hasn’t been examined by the hall’s custodians.”
“Be extremely careful when you use it!”
His rebellious gaze faltered slightly.
“If... you don’t want it, you can return it to me.”
“I’ll return all the money.”
Zhao Fusheng understood his meaning but bowed respectfully. “How could there be such a thing as ‘returning’?”
“This has always been your own money, Senior Brother!”
Ha ha ha!
Senior Brother Wang laughed heartily. “Good! Good!”
“I’m off now. Remember what I said.”
He left the room, soaring into the sky on his sword. But halfway through, he paused, his gaze fixed beneath the eaves of the back room.
A wisp of purple smoke soon appeared there.
It transformed into a stunning woman’s form, quietly asking the person inside, “Has he left?”
Then, deftly, she slipped back inside.
“That extra gold will be for your… enjoyment.”
Senior Brother Wang hummed to himself as he turned into a streak of azure light, vanishing into the forest.
...
Inside the sentry post, Zhao Fusheng stared at the ordinary, soybean-sized “Heaven’s Evolution” bead for a long time.
It seemed unremarkable.
“Could it be a scam?”
“Maybe that slick fellow just sees you as a fool with deep pockets,” Yun Yao murmured beside him.
“No,” he replied.
“Grandfather said business is about trust.”
“Besides, Senior Brother Wang is clever—not a fool who deals in one-off bargains.”
So he reached out.
But upon touching it, everything changed!
Whoosh!
The external energy he had cultivated over half a year instantly condensed inside the bead, shimmering with a delicate, fibrous glow.
When sensing the spiritual connection within the bead, he could fully feel that force.
Previously, that external energy served only as a protective aura around the body.
When enemies approached, it temporarily gathered to shield and reduce harm.
But now, with each breath, he could feel it fully.
Though not as refined as energy cultivators, it could transform internal energy to summon thunder, command wind, control fire, gather water, or condense ice!
He sensed this power was truly useful.
“Next time I meet trouble, I won’t be a clueless punching bag!”
...
But more testing was needed.
He rose.
“Be careful…”
“After all, it was given by that slick fellow!”
Yun Yao’s foresight made her warn him in advance.
Zhao Fusheng nodded and hurried out.
...
The sun blazed.
Birdsong and insect chirps echoed peacefully through the ravines and woods.
But moments later, silence fell abruptly.
Because Zhao Fusheng had arrived again.
Today he wasn’t here to wield his sword.
“Testing the effect!”
He stood by a poplar tree, inhaled deeply, and surrounded himself with a barrier formed from condensed external energy.
Exhaling, the energy took the shape of a tangible, mist-like fist that smashed forward!
Boom!
A bowl-shaped crater appeared on the trunk.
One inch deep, steaming hot!
“The duration is about two breaths; I need to master the control time.”
He panted and wiped sweat from his brow.
“It consumes a lot of energy—roughly equal to over ten consecutive ‘Mountain Shatter’ strikes.”
He paused.
“But for refining the abdominal core…”
“The speed increase is immeasurable!”
Finding an open spot in the forest, he exerted full power.
The poplar trunk, over a yard away, shook but only lost a few leaves.
“Hm… best suited for close combat.”
He then tried striking the treetop and grasping with the transformed energy hand repeatedly.
There was a slight delay in reaction.
But with proper breath control, only about half a breath difference.
Then he tested variations, maximum speed, energy transformation, and sword swings—all received feedback.
Suddenly—
A tearing pain exploded in his abdomen!
His vision darkened.
“Could it be… from overtraining?”
He quickly sat cross-legged and adjusted his microcosmic circulation.
But the abdominal core throbbed fiercely, as if about to burst.
His meridians stretched to their limits!
Sweat poured, burning like fire!
He could only keep circulating internal energy throughout his body repeatedly, hoping the strange condition would pass.
Yet the pain worsened—
Burning flesh!
Bones cracking!
It felt as if his body would be torn apart!
Worse, his consciousness grew foggy.
“Be extremely careful!” Senior Brother Wang’s words echoed in his mind.
Could it be... the bead’s curse?
No matter what,
he had to protect his abdominal core and preserve his Dao body!
“Grandfather wants me to live long…”
After an unknown length of time, the burning finally eased.
A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, cool and refreshing.
Under the bright moon, fireflies danced around him.
His body was drenched in sticky, foul-smelling sweat.
But oddly, his energy felt abundant.
He stood, feeling noticeably lighter!
Like rebirth, or a breakthrough beyond a minor calamity!
He wasn’t sure what had happened, but the important thing was he hadn’t died from the training mishap.
“That’s enough.”
He muttered, scolding himself.
“Senior Brother, Miss Yun clearly warned me to be careful, yet I didn’t listen!”
“Curiosity kills the cat!”
Still, the urgent thing was to return quickly!
Take more pills to recover, preferably nibble on that top-grade snow ginseng too!
He broke into a run.
But the speed felt oddly slow.
Trying to quicken his pace, his feet seemed coated in oil, gliding rapidly!
As he ran, an inexplicable impulse surged.
He glanced toward the treetops.
“No!”
“This damage is too severe. If I fall now, I’ll truly disappoint Grandfather and the uncles!”
He chose caution, heading swiftly toward the house.
Near the shore, he slowed.
Broken grass showed jagged tears, and the soil beneath was a deep, cone-shaped pit.
The pattern made his heart tighten.
The heavy stench of demonic aura was stronger here, even more pungent than across the shore!
The medicinal fields had been trampled and damaged.
He could clearly see marks on several patches.
His mind raced.
Especially when he saw the dead cricket spider, squeaking incessantly.
Was it begging for mercy?
“Such naïveté! The mother cricket spider is a dazzling yellow-grade sealed demon not because it's fierce and cannibalistic.”
“But because if its seal is broken, its offspring become uncontrollable!”
“And if they carry their mother’s aura… no one survives!”
On the river, two jackal demons rowed a small boat.
The one with sword scars across his chest spoke first.
“Lord Huang won’t tolerate a child urinating on his head.”
“Nor will he allow him to steal Miss Yun and his business!”
“Peaceful Qingyun Mountain hasn’t tasted blood in a long time.”
The other gritted his teeth coldly.
“Boss, tonight Lord Huang avenges you!”
“For every life you lost, they’ll pay back tenfold!”
Squeak—
Squeak, squeak!
Squeak, squeak, squeak…
When Zhao Fusheng returned, red light flickered through the forest, and glowing eyes peered from the water.
More terrifyingly,
a large cricket spider lurked on the roof.
Its massive size and enchanting eyes gleamed.
Squeak!!
Its cry was mournful yet imposing.
Six or seven cricket spiders of various sizes hurried over, their bristling legs pounding.
They surrounded Zhao Fusheng like dumplings in a pot!
But at that moment…
He narrowed his eyes fiercely.
Not out of fear or caution.
The sentry post’s lights shone bright.
The cricket spider on the roof chewed with relish—a long-haired head between its six sharp mandibles.
Fresh, crimson blood stained its mouthparts, dripping gruesomely.
He suddenly remembered.
He hadn’t yet shared a meal of fish with Miss Yun today.
“Miss Yun…”
“Passing on knowledge and guiding the way—that is my master.”