As another month flew by Madlenkosi was able to reach the pinnacle of the Temple Forging Realm, The Prana Heart layer. This layer allowed a Body Cultivator to not only elevate the level of their blood by combining it with qi to produce Vital Essence also known as Prana but to also increase their vitality and healing capabilities.
Today was 15 days from the Outer Sect deadline and he was ready to make his breakthrough in both Body and Qi cultivation. As he started with his Iron Temple Treasury Technique, he began to attack the boundary of the next realm with his Prana.
Soon a red murky layer was layer over him as his body and eyes began to glow a light golden color. He repeatedly attacked the next layer, after the first few tries due to his firm foundation and robust Prana he was able to breakthrough smoothly.
He felt like it had been elevated to a higher state of existence as he entered the Prana Gathering Realm.
This realm was based on the collection of Vital Essence into the Prana heart, similar to that of Qi in the Dantian.
Similarly, there were 9 layers and each layer was based on the gathering of Qi. This realm converts Qi into Prana before distributing it around the body to continually nourish it.
Entry to the Prana Gathering realm was quite similar to the Qi Gathering Realm.
...
He breathed out a turbid breath as he got up and stretched getting familiar with his strength.
He clenched his fist and noticed that his strength had a qualitative breath through. Eventually, he decided to take a walk and look around before breaking through to Qi gathering tonight.
As he walked around he noticed other preliminary disciples on their way in all directions.
He scratched his head and wondered to himself if he was considered a loner, being that he hadn't interacted with other disciples since he got here... he shrugged his shoulders and continued walking.
Soon he got to the Martial Arts Practice Area where people could be seen either sparring or using the testing equipment to practice.
As he watched them from the seating area he realized everyone slowly stopped to stare at him.
One of his fellow disciples from their courtyard came over.
"Junior Jīn!" he shouted as he waved towards him.
To which he nodded as he raises his hand in greeting.
Soon everyone was back to what they were doing although some still furtively looked in his direction.
As he looked around he noticed a group of beautiful female disciples walking towards him. Clothed in white sleek dresses they were from Outer Sect Disciples of the Yin Gate. Their clothes were well coordinated for beauty as well and ease of movement, as they had long poles with a cloth covering at the top.
The leading disciple did a small bow with her fists cupped as she introduced herself.
"Hello Junior Jīn, I'm Wei Xiuying, it seems you'll be entering the Outer Sect shortly," She said with a smile.
The other female disciples couldn't tell, but she had an innate talent when it came to gauging the strength of others.
Madlenkosi smiled as he nodded "I broke through to the Prana Gathering Realm earlier today." Which drew an audible gasp from the other female disciples. Some had an intrigued and curious look in their eyes.
The world was not very xenophobic due to the multiple ancient races within it. What matters most is strength and potential whether it be for males or females and the potential junior jīn showed was astounding.
Wei Xiuying also looked shocked as she looked him up and down.
"Normally to get into the Outer Sect people usually take the Qi cultivation route since it's easier to meet the deadline. Body cultivation has 9 layers, 4 more than Qi cultivation and you made it, even before the Outer Sect deadline, without pills I might add. I'm impressed, Junior Jīn, very impressed."
He smiled in response, but before he could answer a male voice was heard.
"Oho? Isn't it Miss Xiuying?" An outer disciple with fanciful robes, long hair, sharp eyes, and thick sideburns was leading a group of 4 males to the martial arts practice area and immediately laid eyes on them.
"Shenkong Yang, I keep telling you to stop being so familiar with me. I am Miss Wei to you." She snappily replied.
Madlenkosi was in total confusion and bafflement at this drama playing in front of him.
As he stood to leave, it was taken as a form of confrontation by the other party.
"Hey, you dare get in the way of me speaking to Miss Xiuying?" Shenkong Yang sneered.
He turned to stare at this pompous fool as he was wondering..." is he talking to me?"
"Hey! Golden Monkey, is your brain made of gold too?" Shenkong Continued.
The two stared at each other as everyone in the vicinity went silent.
Madlenkosi felt a nerve snapped as he heard that and slowly walked down the steps as he approached the latter.
"What did you just say to me?" He looked Shenkong Yang straight in the eyes.
Shenkong Yang was an Outer Sect disciple who came from a martial family. These families normally had higher standing due to the number of cultivators in the family, which gave rise to arrogance in the younger generation.
...
"I said you Golden..." POWW! Madlenkosi never even gave him time to finish his sentence.
"Never call me a monkey, you ass," He said.
"You dare hit me?! An Outer Disciple?!" He raved as he picked himself up from the floor.
As Shenkong Yang got to his feet he leaped towards Kosi while unsheathing his sword and exhibiting a martial technique he got from his family.
"Clear Sound Gentle Rhythm!"
Shenkong Yang barked as he stabbed his sword out twice at a strange angle.
"White Cloud Covers The Mountain."
Kosi was strangely calm and he ran his Qi to use the skill in addition to his pure brute strength.
*CLANG, CLANG*
As he repulsed the sword with his claw technique they were both pushed backward.
Shenkong Yang took 3 steps back while Kosi took 4.
He knew the reason he lost this exchange was due to two reasons. Firstly the skill he was using was only of a fundamental level which was far lower than his opponent and secondly, he did not have any Prana techniques to use, so he could only rely on his qi of the body refinement.
He had to either make a breakthrough or avoid going head-on with this disciple. It was such a stifling feeling of having the strength but being unable to fully utilize it.
...
He was shaken from his thoughts as his opponent came charging again.
"Turbulent Rapids!"
Shenkong approached again as he swung heavily at Kosi's head.
He dodged to the side to avoid the incoming blade as he utilized his only skill reliant on speed.
"Dancing. Flowers. On.The.Mountains."
He iterated every word with anger as he repeatedly dashed past Shenkong Yang as he sliced him over and over with his sword fingers.
Flowers blossoming as Kosi hands exhibited the technique as they continued to draw blood.
Shenkong screamed and shouted as he couldn't understand how he was on the losing side of this battle, so he made use of a faster technique to try and combat Madlenkosi.
"Purified and Exalted!"
He was able to fend off a few moves before Kosi changed his skills to the strongest attack he had.
"Mountain! Embraces! The Moon!"
He had forced Shenkong Yang to face him with light quick strikes as he suddenly changes to an overbearing, full-strength fist technique.
As he placed all his qi and effort into this move, he broke through the obstacle barring him from the Qi gathering realm as the silhouette of a golden fist grew exponentially bigger.
Forcing the enemy to face your strength with their weakness.
Shenkong Yang screamed as he was launched flying while spewing blood.
As he landed in the dirt and dust of the martial area he rolled and slammed into a wooden training puppet. He looked wretched as he could barely move.
Madlenkosi looked down at him before shaking his head and scoffed as he dusted off his fist.
He then proceeded to leave the martial arts practice area with everyone's eyes on his back.
As he got out of sight, cheers erupted, shaking the heavens above...