'It seems defeating someone at the 3rd level of Qi Training while I'm only at the 1st level is impossible for me right now. I can only fight Wang Min to a draw, and there are others stronger than him, like Mu Tai, Xia Guo, and Gao Zhu.'
Li Yun realized that with his current strength, he could only manage a draw against an average martial artist at the 3rd level of Qi Training, even with his Thunderclap Dragon Sword technique. His 1st level of Qi Training simply wasn't enough.
In his last confrontation with Wang Min, he had used the full power of the 6th layer of Thunderclap Dragon Sword, yet the battle still ended in a draw.
This showed Li Yun the vast difference in strength between each level in the Qi Training Realm.
Thanks to his mastery of the Thunderclap Dragon Sword, reaching the perfection of the 6th layer, and his unique cultivation technique, Li Yun could bridge that gap to some extent, but it also highlighted his limitations—or was it?
"You're strong, but this ends here," Wang Min's shout pulled Li Yun's attention back to him.
As Li Yun looked at Wang Min, his eyes narrowed. Wang Min was holding a red pill that radiated a fiery aura, unlike ordinary pills.
"Are you going to use a Berserk Qi Pill for this?"
Li Yun was shocked at the sight of the pill in Wang Min's hand.
"Why not?" Wang Min's expression twisted with madness. "Wouldn't it be humiliating to lose to someone two levels below you in cultivation? Someone without a bone root? Someone you despise?"
Li Yun's expression darkened at his words.
"But this is just an assessment. There's no danger to your life. Taking a Berserk Qi Pill might harm your foundation if not tended to carefully."
Li Yun advised against it, understanding the severe side effects of using such a pill.
"Li Yun is right," Mu Tai chimed in. "Wang Min, this situation isn't serious enough to warrant using the Berserk Qi Pill. Remember what your family told you when they gave it to you. They must have warned you to use it only when your life was in danger. Using it now would not only waste the pill but also harm your foundation. Think it through."
Wang Min clenched his teeth. He didn't want to use the pill, but he couldn't bear the thought of losing to Li Yun. He had already suffered enough before coming to the combat assessment. His mind couldn't take anymore setbacks now.
He had left Wind Stone City as the number one genius, but in the sect, he was just average. His three-star bone frame and proud comprehension were nothing special here.
This harsh reality had planted a seed of inferiority in his heart, and it had fully bloomed now that even with his 3rd level of Qi Training, he could only tie with Li Yun, who was at the 1st level.
In a way, Li Yun had become his heart demon. He had to either go all in or accept defeat willingly, or his cultivation path would be blocked here and now.
"It's all your fault!"
In the end, Wang Min chose to go all in and swallowed the pill.
He couldn't take another setback, not after being deemed mediocre by the sect—not against someone without a bone frame and with the lowest cultivation of all.
"Why must it come to this?" Li Yun sighed as he watched Wang Min swallow the pill.
Mu Tai shook his head, disappointed in Wang Min.
But he quickly refocused on Wang Min, who now emitted a wild, uncontrollable aura, like the Fourarmed Berserk Ape they had just fought.
'Time to get serious.'
Li Yun sensed the change in Wang Min's Qi and understood that his strength might now have reached the pinnacle of the 3rd level of Qi Training Realm.
"I'll demolish your cultivation!"
Wang Min shouted and disappeared.
Using the Chasing Wind Step, his speed surged after taking the Berserk Qi Pill, and he appeared in front of Li Yun in an instant, launching a punch.
"Boulder Crashing Punch!"
Li Yun took a deep breath as Wang Min's fist approached. Even though it hadn't reached him yet, he could feel the berserk force it carried.
'It's now or never.'
Li Yun calmed himself and activated the first stage of the Heaven Raging Chaos Art.
"Raging Heaven."
An unbridled and overwhelming surge of energy suddenly erupted from Li Yun's body, emanating from the black seed within his dantian.
The black seed had been floating quietly in his dantian since he entered the 1st level of Qi Training Realm, seemingly indifferent to everything around it.
However, the moment Li Yun activated the 1st stage of the Heaven Raging Chaos Art—Raging Heaven—the seed began to spin violently, unleashing a chaotic and frenzied energy.
As the chaotic energy flooded his body, Li Yun felt an immense strength coursing through his veins.
Compared to this overwhelming power, Wang Min and his attack seemed like an ant striking a giant boulder.
Yet, Li Yun knew he could only maintain Raging Heaven for a few minutes before his body would give out. With that in mind, he resolved to finish Wang Min as quickly as possible.
"Thunderclap Dragon Sword."
He unleashed the 6th layer of Thunderclap Dragon Sword, thrusting his sword forward like a spear at Wang Min's fist.
RUMBLE!
Their attacks collided with a deafening roar, and Wang Min was blasted back like a broken kite. He coughed up a mouthful of blood mid-air before crashing into a tree and finally coming to a stop.
Moments later, Wang Min turned into a red beam of light and vanished from the scene.
Li Yun immediately deactivated Raging Heaven and turned his gaze toward Mu Tai, who looked at him as if he had seen a ghost.
"You! How can you be this strong?" Mu Tai stammered, shocked at how easily Li Yun had defeated Wang Min, even after the latter had used a Berserk Qi Pill.
Li Yun smiled. "Come now, what are you waiting for?"