After parting ways with Feng Yanqing and Bai Chen, Shen Yuan walked slowly back to his abode. The events of the past few days had changed him, sharpening his resolve and reigniting the fire within him. Yet, the weight of everything he'd learned sat heavily on his shoulders, reminding him how much further he still had to go.
As he entered his abode, Shen Yuan closed the door and took a deep, steadying breath. His attempt to force a breakthrough earlier had weakened him slightly, but it had also pushed him to the cusp of the 2nd Heaven stage. All he needed now was a final push.
Sitting cross-legged on the cold stone floor of his cultivation chamber, Shen Yuan steadied his breathing and let his focus deepen. He shut his eyes, turning his senses inward, feeling the flow of Qi circulating through his body. Each breath was drawn slowly, deliberately, guiding the energy within him to harmonize with his heartbeat, creating a perfect rhythm.
He began circulating his Qi through his meridians, sending it through each pathway and allowing the energy to accumulate and throb like a pulse. It was a delicate process, one that required complete focus. Any slip in concentration would cause the gathered energy to backfire, which could easily lead to internal injury, or worse.
As he gathered more Qi, he began to feel the bottleneck of the 1st Heaven stage. It was like an invisible wall, blocking the full flow of his energy, holding him back from ascending further. The sensation was frustrating, an almost mocking reminder of the limits he hadn't yet shattered.
But Shen Yuan wasn't one to back down. Hours passed as the moon rose above the horizon and bathed Shen Yuan in its light.
In one intense, controlled effort, he pushed his Qi toward that barrier, forcing it to bear the weight of his ambition. The pressure was immense, and his veins felt like they were about to burst, but he gritted his teeth, enduring the pain. He could feel his skin heating, almost cracking from the internal strain, as though his very body were resisting his will. Still, he pushed harder, drawing every last bit of energy from his core and slamming it against the bottleneck.
Finally, with a nearly audible snap, the barrier shattered.
A surge of energy flooded through him, filling every part of his body with a newfound strength. The pain gave way to a profound warmth, and he could feel his entire being transforming, adjusting to this new realm of power. His muscles tightened, his meridians expanded, and the Qi in his core stabilized with a greater intensity. Two purple halos span behind his head signifying that he had broken through. The 2nd Heaven stage of the Heaven Path Realm was his.
As his power settled, Shen Yuan clenched his fists, testing the sheer strength that now coursed through him. He could feel it, his aura was sharper, denser. He had ascended beyond where he'd been before, and now, he was confident he could stand toe-to-toe with several of the Heaven Path realm elders.
A cold smile flickered across his face. Perhaps it was time to put this power to the test.
Quietly, he rose, his steps silent as shadows. Moving like a whisper in the dark, Shen Yuan slipped out of his abode, disappearing into the night. His aura was concealed, his presence masked. In this heightened state, he could control his Qi with exquisite precision, blending into the shadows until he was all but invisible. He had always been adept at hiding, but now, with his heightened cultivation, he could vanish from even the most perceptive eyes, unless they were of a higher realm.
The Elders' Hall loomed ahead, a grand structure half-lit by the faint glow of moonlight, casting long shadows across the courtyard. He approached slowly, merging into the darkness surrounding the hall, his breath controlled and measured. The sect elders would never expect him to be capable of such stealth, after all, to them, he was still just another disciple.
Carefully, he slipped past the entrance, moving with calculated steps until he found himself behind a massive pillar near the center of the hall. The faint murmur of voices reached his ears. Hidden within the deep shadows, he extended his divine sense, picking up every word spoken within the hall. The elders were gathered around a large table, some seated while others paced, their expressions thoughtful yet tense.
Their conversation began innocently enough. They spoke of mundane sect affairs, petty squabbles, and the progress of promising disciples. Shen Yuan almost dismissed it all, nearly convinced this was just an ordinary gathering. But he remained patient, forcing himself to stay.
At last, the tone of the conversation shifted, and a familiar chill crept into the air.
One elder, his voice gruff and condescending, spoke up, breaking the monotony. "What do we intend to do about Shen Yuan?" The elder's voice was laced with something darker than irritation, there was fear, and something more calculating.
Shen Yuan's pulse quickened as he leaned in, straining to catch every word.