"Xuanqi Eighth Layer!"
Upon thinking of this, Ye Bai gritted his teeth, and his heart couldn't help but burn with excitement. In the outer sect, no one would have imagined that the person they saw as someone without talent, lacking the aid of elixirs, with no connections or guidance, could cultivate to the Eighth Layer of Xuanqi.
Xuanqi ranges from the first to the tenth layer, which represents the realm of a Xuan practitioner. Once Xuanqi reaches the peak of the tenth layer, it can begin to liquefy and attempt to break through to the realm of Xuan Master.
Once someone becomes a Xuan Master, regardless of their talent, background, or status, they automatically become an inner sect disciple, receiving the family's support, elixirs from the Elder Hall, guidance from masters, and might even gain access to precious and rare Xuan weapons.
Xuan weapons are indispensable to every Xuan Master in their life. Ordinary people may never even see one, let alone use it. Normal weapons can't withstand the intense Xuanqi within a Xuan Master's body. Once Xuanqi is infused into them, they would crumble, unable to display the full power of a Xuan Master.
Thus, a good Xuan weapon is one of the most desired things in every Xuan Master's life, let alone for people like Ye Bai who have never even touched one.
At this point, the only thing they, the ordinary disciples, can rely on is their own efforts, apart from the few rich disciples who have family support. Everyone else, including Ye Bai, has nothing—no elixirs, no cultivation techniques, no Xuan weapons, and no guidance from seniors. However, Ye Bai knew that in three months, he would accumulate 500 contribution points and use them at the family's exchange ceremony to obtain a low-grade, gray-tier cultivation technique from the Xuanwu Pavilion.
This technique was essential for anyone attempting to break through from the Xuanqi realm to the Xuan Master realm.
Clenching his fist, Ye Bai quickened his steps, walking past the white marble plaza and the ancient building in the front yard. He looked up at the three flying birds inscribed on the building with the words "Xuanwu Pavilion" and paused for a moment. With a firm step, he continued towards his small residence. Soon, he turned down the dark, old alley and arrived at his humble abode.
Opening the door, everything inside was as usual. Ye Bai walked over to the cushion where he had practiced last night, sat cross-legged, and after a long time, he finally calmed his mind. The incident that had just happened only made him more determined in his path.
He was unyielding, willing to risk everything, and had no regrets!
Ye Bai knew that the person from earlier was just a minor figure, relying on his brother-in-law's connections to act arrogantly in the outer sect. If his brother-in-law had real power, he would have been assigned to more desirable positions, not wasting time in the Martial Hall, violating family rules for personal gain. Despite this, such a person still dared to humiliate him and drive him away.
Had Ye Bai lost control and fought him, he would have fallen right into the other's hands, risking expulsion from the outer sect. "A small sacrifice for a greater plan"—it wasn't worth it.
So he endured and walked away, ignoring the call of the martial arts instructor, Ye Meizhu. He knew that he could have followed her into the Martial Hall and that the old man with the horse face wouldn't dare stop him. However, he couldn't bear to rely on a woman to protect him. He would rather leave than walk in behind her. He swore that one day he would enter the Martial Hall with dignity, not as today, walking away or hiding behind someone else.
"If I had the strength of a Xuan Master, if only…"
Ye Bai couldn't help but think of the derisive look the old man had given him earlier, mocking words echoing in his mind: "No money, no status, no connections, no strength... you, with nothing, even think you can enter the Martial Hall?"
"Yes, I indeed have none of those!"
"But I have perseverance, determination, and the unyielding will to fight!"
"And I have the Illusion Heart Grass to improve my strength!"
"I won't lose to anyone. I absolutely won't!"
"Old man Ye, wait for me. The day I become an inner sect disciple, I will definitely return!"
Ye Bai firmly told himself, letting out a deep breath. The money wasn't the issue. Over the years, as his strength grew, hunting beasts became easier, and he often obtained valuable items. While these items couldn't be exchanged for contribution points, they could be sold for silver, like the skins, bones, and feathers of ferocious beasts, which helped cover his living expenses.
Ten taels of silver didn't matter to him.
But what mattered was that he wouldn't give in.
Giving in meant submitting. Ye Bai had a proud nature—his bones could break, but they would never bend. He would resist fate itself; how could he bow down to an old man whose life was almost over?
It wasn't fear of the old man or his brother-in-law in the outer law hall. If Ye Bai revealed his strength, even the outer law hall elder would not dare treat him unfairly, openly violating family rules. What angered him was the feeling of being looked down upon, the contempt and disdain. If the old man could treat him like that today, what about tomorrow? The world was full of opportunistic people with eyes that looked down on others. The only way to change that was to improve his own strength. When he became strong, those who once looked down on him would flock to him, and those who had sneered at him would soon turn into sycophants.
In the end, it all came down to his own strength. If he had the power, these things would never happen again.
With this thought, Ye Bai clenched his teeth and took the small cloth bag from his chest that contained two halves of Illusion Heart Grass. His expression fluctuated before settling on determination. He took a portion and swallowed it, then closed his eyes and began his cultivation again.
Although he had already consumed some yesterday, today, the pressure in his chest needed to be released. Holding it in would only harm his body, so the best way to clear it was through enduring the pain again, turning that frustration into motivation. Thus, he began cultivating once more.
Moments later, beads of sweat the size of mung beans started to drip down Ye Bai's forehead. The pain was even more intense and faster than last night, since today he had consumed it again on top of the previous dose. The pain doubled, becoming unbearable.
Soon, his body was soaked in sweat, his muscles twitching, his face twisted, his skin turning red as though it might burst. In some places, blood began to seep out. His arms were bulging with veins like twisted dragons, making it unbearable to watch.
At that moment, tiny traces of ambient energy from the surrounding world were pulled towards him, forming into thin strands of white mist that quickly merged with his body. The Illusion Heart Grass he had just consumed began to dissolve, forming a larger white energy that moved along with the world's energy, gradually sinking into his bones, veins, and flesh, strengthening his dantian and nourishing his qi sea. Ye Bai's head began to emit faint white mist. His entire body was as if he had been pulled from the water, and time seemed to lose meaning.
One moment, two moments, one hour, two hours—soon an entire night passed.
Suddenly, Ye Bai's body shook. His breath surged like a bellows. With a loud "boom," all the energy from the world vanished, and Ye Bai opened his eyes. Though exhausted, his expression was full of joy.
"The Eighth Layer's peak! After a month, I've finally broken through to the peak of the Eighth Layer. Only one step away from the Ninth Layer!"
"This progress... I doubt anyone in the outer sect could achieve it."
"Even in the inner sect, there would be no more than three people who have reached the Ninth Layer!"
Ye Bai had not expected that this accidental event would lead to such a breakthrough. Thanks to the effect of a quarter portion of Illusion Heart Grass, he had made it to the peak of the Eighth Layer, just one step away from the Ninth.
After the joy came the exhaustion, and Ye Bai collapsed to the floor, his limbs stiff and his clothes drenched in sweat. Blood stains marked his skin where it had ruptured under the pressure of the breakthrough. It would take several hours of rest before he could move again.
This was the consequence of consuming the Illusion Heart Grass twice in a row. It would take time for his body to recover, but he was used to this.
Several hours later, Ye Bai slowly regained feeling in his limbs and, with much effort, managed to rise to his feet. After a brief period of rest, he felt re-energized and full of explosive strength.
His mind was clear, and his body had fully recovered to its peak state.