An Incredible Breakthrough . . .
A radiant circle enveloped Cha-Eun Xiao's form, akin to dissipating dust, but it swiftly vanished, giving way to an even more resplendent purple luminescence. It was so intensely brilliant that it almost defied direct observation. In the blink of an eye, a blue radiance, reminiscent of the ocean's hue, materialized like undulating waves.
The entirety of the courtyard was bathed in azure, imbuing the surroundings with its tranquil yet vibrant coloration. Cha-Eun Xiao parted his lips and expelled a mixture of purple and golden blood. Subsequent to this discharge, he commenced his recovery, seemingly suffused with an ethereal luminosity.
The day had witnessed a succession of extraordinary occurrences, each surpassing the previous in magnitude. Wen-Ren Chu-Chu and her master found themselves utterly astonished, grappling with the sheer incredulity of it all. These events flagrantly contravened their established norms, rendering them both almost disbelieving and awestruck.
Cha-Eun Xiao had, against all odds, achieved a breakthrough, having employed a method that seemed nothing short of suicidal to surmount the bottleneck and ascend to the Tianyuan Grade. He had, in essence, traversed the final chasm between the Diyuan and Tianyuan Grades—an epochal moment in every cultivator's journey. Attaining the Tianyuan Grade signified entrance into the Superior Period, a watershed moment that demarcated the divergence between ordinary individuals and superior cultivators, marking the inception of the true path of cultivation.
The azure glow rekindled, receding slightly before Cha-Eun Xiao, in high spirits, propelled himself forward, standing before the still-astounded duo. He grinned and offered his gratitude, saying, "Wen-Ren Chu-Chu, I appreciate your assistance in facilitating my breakthrough."
Wen-Ren Chu-Chu, her mouth agape, pointed a delicate, quivering finger at him and stammered, "You… You... Did you just achieve a breakthrough?"
Cha-Eun Xiao nodded with unwavering confidence. "Indeed. As you can see, I have already attained the Tianyuan Grade. Now, Lady Wen-Ren, shall we engage in another round?"
Bing Xin-Yue heaved a sigh of relief and smiled.
Bing Xin-Yue possessed a wealth of cultivation experience, and thus, she found herself with a comprehensive understanding of Feng Zhi-Ling's motivations. Her initial assessment of him had been far too conservative; she had assumed he was merely utilizing Wen-Ren Chu-Chu as a practice partner. However, his audacity and unorthodox methods had exceeded her expectations.
As Cha-Eun Xiao persistently compressed the energy within his dantian and repeatedly unleashed it, it gave the illusion that he was focused on defending himself. In reality, he was meticulously preparing for a critical opportunity—a chance to propel himself forward through a breakthrough.
Bing Xin-Yue was keenly aware of his intentions, yet she had not foreseen his willingness to stake his life on this endeavor. The inherent danger of such a gambit was undeniable. Although she comprehended the gravity of the situation, her heart raced with trepidation. She couldn't help but feel anxious, grappling with the fear of what might transpire.
[How could he dare to tread this perilous path?
Wasn't he cognizant of the harrowing consequences if this method faltered? The repercussions would be dire, leading to the annihilation of his soul, a fate that would erase him from the universe in an instant.
In that scenario, there would be no salvation, even if I were present and willing to intervene. His chances would be irrevocably squandered. Even though countless great cultivators had graced the annals of history, I have never heard of anyone resorting to such a life-endangering technique for a breakthrough.
It's akin to toying with one's own mortality.]
Despite witnessing Cha-Eun Xiao's successful upgrade, Bing Xin-Yue remained confounded by his actions. In her eyes, he was a discerning individual, a proficient alchemist with an affable and modest disposition—qualities that did not align with the audacious risk he had chosen to undertake.
Bing Xin-Yue, lost in contemplation, was drawn from her thoughts by the sounds of the ongoing battle. Feng Zhi-Ling, now Cha-Eun Xiao, had undergone a rapid transformation, and he was once again engaged in combat with Wen-Ren Chu-Chu. This time, he exuded an air of vitality and strength.
Despite Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's theoretical superiority, she seemed to be grappling with a newfound hesitation. She refrained from unleashing the full force of her attacks, eschewing the use of the Ling Xiao Ice Art, and struggled with inner turmoil.
Watching the skirmish, Bing Xin-Yue couldn't help but shake her head inwardly, [How can she expect to succeed when she's fighting like this?]
When Cha-Eun Xiao had initially crossed paths with Wen-Ren Chu-Chu, he had been eager for a confrontation, hoping that the intensity of battle might propel him towards the Grade of Tianyuan. However, sensing the lady Bing Xin-Yue's formidable spiritual presence, he had opted for caution rather than recklessness.
While he may have possessed the means to overpower Wen-Ren Chu-Chu, a battle against Bing Xin-Yue would undoubtedly result in his defeat. Even at the pinnacle of the Grade of Tianyuan, he would be incapable of inflicting so much as a scratch upon her.
Thus, he had refrained from launching an immediate assault against Wen-Ren Chu-Chu, choosing instead to follow her back to her residence. The discovery of Bing Xin-Yue's presence in the yard had provided him with a sense of reassurance.
Cha-Eun Xiao had discerned a lack of animosity in Bing Xin-Yue's aura, and her mere presence had infused him with a peculiar sense of ease. As long as he avoided overstepping certain boundaries in the confrontation, he was confident of his safety.
Consequently, he had deliberately taunted Wen-Ren Chu-Chu to provoke her anger, goading her into mounting increasingly furious attacks. Under the mounting pressure of Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's onslaught, he had persistently compressed the energy within his dantian. Each time he unleashed the pent-up energy, he retained a small reserve of purple qi. He had waited for the purple qi to accumulate to a critical point before releasing it, doing so under the combined pressure of Wen-Ren Chu-Chu and Bing Xin-Yue.
However, even with this strategy, Cha-Eun Xiao had found the challenge lacking in true peril. The intent to kill was conspicuously absent in both Wen-Ren Chu-Chu and Bing Xin-Yue's actions. Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's desire was to deliver a thorough beating, not to end his life. As for Bing Xin-Yue, her role had been more that of a passive observer. She would only intervene if the situation became excessively hazardous. Cha-Eun Xiao's extensive experience had honed his perception, enabling him to recognize the distinct absence of genuine threat in the unfolding conflict.