C15 Breakthrough

Lin Yu felt an emptiness within himself, a void where his spiritual energy had once been. In that instant, he couldn't sense even a trace of it—an unprecedented situation for him, spanning both his past and present lives. The spiritual energy required by the Inscription Array was immense, having completely sapped his reserves. Given his current level of cultivation, managing to complete the process once a day was already an optimistic estimate.

With a wry smile, Lin Yu accepted that there were no shortcuts in the pursuit of martial arts or the Taoist path—one had to progress steadily and patiently. He quickly regained his composure, closed his eyes, and tapped into the power of the stars to replenish his spiritual energy. As time ticked by, his reserves swelled once more, and within just an hour, he had returned to his peak condition.

Despite his modest level of cultivation, Lin Yu's remarkable ability to recover was a significant advantage. He consoled himself with this thought, intending to conclude his practice, when he suddenly felt an unusual whirlwind of energy within him, relentlessly battering his meridians.

Was he on the cusp of a breakthrough?

A flicker of surprise crossed Lin Yu's face, quickly replaced by elation so intense he nearly laughed aloud. He hadn't anticipated that his recent ordeal would strengthen his spiritual energy to the point where he could directly challenge the bottleneck of the Yellow Rank's fifth level. He steadied his mind and meticulously guided his spiritual energy, which roared like a mighty river. Pain etched Lin Yu's features, yet he persevered.

Cultivation was a battle against fate itself. If he couldn't withstand this level of hardship, what hope did he have of ascending to the zenith of martial arts?

Lin Yu remained true to himself, neither rash nor retreating, methodically navigating his breakthrough.

Yao Xi had come back, and upon seeing Lin Yu still meditating, the blush of shyness in her eyes deepened. She quietly mused that perhaps she truly could pursue Lin Yu.

Yao Xi, though young and exceptionally gifted in the Sword Crafting Technique, carried a natural pride. But deep down, she was bold in matters of the heart. Liking someone meant pursuing them openly, without concern for the societal expectations that might deem a girl's forwardness in romance as shameless.

Sitting next to Lin Yu, Yao Xi gazed at his face and breathed in the aura emanating from him, completely mesmerized. In the tranquil Sword Crafting Room, she found herself wishing time would stand still.

It had taken Lin Yu a full six hours to achieve his breakthrough, and now he was a Fifth Level Yellow Rank master. Considering he had advanced in just a few days, his cultivation speed was nothing short of astounding.

As Lin Yu felt the surge of spiritual energy within him, he slowly opened his eyes, only to discover a petite figure nestled in his arms, her hands wrapped around his waist. Moonlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling window, illuminating the girl's jade-like skin, enchanting to behold.

"Yiya," Yao Xi murmured softly in her sleep, looking utterly adorable.

Lin Yu couldn't help but smile wryly. It seemed the girl had mistaken him for a pillow. Yet, he chose not to awaken her and closed his eyes once more to consolidate his newfound realm.

Dawn broke, scattering the darkness, and morning arrived.

The air was crisp and tranquil as the day began. Though early, the Martial Training Field of the Profound Heaven Sect's Outer Sect was already bustling with people, their faces alight with anticipation.

They had all come to witness the duel between Chu Xiangyue and Mo Yuntian.

Xiao Yang, Mo Yuntian, Chu Xiangyue, and Wang Meng were the formidable "Four Overlords" of the Outer Sect, with the deepest cultivation and favored to advance to the Inner Sect in the coming fortnight. This duel was a chance for each to gauge the other's prowess, promising to be a spectacle worth watching.

Among the spectators, some noticed that one had arrived even earlier than themselves—a white shadow, ethereal and peerless, was none other than Chu Xiangyue. She stood with her long sword, exuding the commanding presence of a true master.

The onlookers were captivated, for Chu Xiangyue's beauty was breathtaking. Were it not for her formidable presence, many would have sought her affection. Despite this, her popularity never waned, and she remained the dream lover of countless admirers.

The crowd, which had fallen silent for a brief moment, erupted into a cacophony of noise as a formidable man made his entrance at the Martial Training Field, flanked by a swarm of underlings that added to his imposing presence.

"There's Wang Meng!" a voice from the crowd shouted, as people quickly stepped aside. Known for his volatile temper, crossing Wang Meng was a surefire way to invite disaster.

"Xiao Yang's arrived as well," someone noted, as the buzz of conversation grew louder. A slender man in white glided in, seemingly unfazed by the crowd's surprise. He took a seat opposite Wang Meng, and despite his slight frame, his aura was in no way diminished by the larger man's—on the contrary, it seemed even more potent.

"I didn't expect to see you here," Wang Meng remarked coolly.

"Weren't you also drawn here?" Xiao Yang replied, his voice calm. His gaze fell on Chu Xiangyue, and he let out a soft sigh that hinted at a tinge of regret.

"Do you believe Chu Xiangyue will be defeated?" Wang Meng inquired.

Xiao Yang gave a small nod, not bothering to conceal his thoughts. "To put it plainly, Mo Yuntian's talent doesn't quite measure up, especially when compared to Chu Xiangyue's," he stated.

Wang Meng was no fool and quickly grasped Xiao Yang's implication. As fellow titans among the Outer Sect's four overlords of the Profound Heaven Sect, they had thoroughly investigated each other. Indeed, as Xiao Yang had pointed out, Mo Yuntian's innate ability paled in comparison to Chu Xiangyue's. Yet, his cultivation had reached Profound Rank Level Four, surpassing Chu Xiangyue by two minor realms. In the entire Outer Sect, only Xiao Yang could keep Mo Yuntian in check.

Mo Yuntian's meteoric rise within the Outer Sect could be attributed to his influential sister. It was common knowledge that Mo Yunxi, Mo Yuntian's elder sister, was a disciple of the Inner Sect. Though not listed among the Heavenly Ranking's elite, her prowess was formidable. The disparity in resources and treatment between the Outer and Inner Sects was stark: the Outer Sect disciples struggled without access to techniques, medicinal pills, or resources, while the Inner Sect lacked for nothing. The array of medicinal pills and techniques Mo Yunxi provided for her brother's cultivation were beyond the wildest dreams of their peers. Thanks to her, Mo Yuntian's ascent was swift and sure. In a true confrontation, even Xiao Yang, hailed as the preeminent master of the Outer Sect, might not be a match for him—not due to Mo Yuntian's own strength, but because of the unknown aces Mo Yunxi might have bequeathed to him.

Xiao Yang, who had clashed with Chu Xiangyue on numerous occasions, was well aware of her other, quite fatal flaw: perhaps it's a common preference among girls for bright and colorful things, and Chu Xiangyue was no exception. Her techniques were dazzlingly beautiful, but ultimately, they were of no practical use.

The cost of such flashy moves was a considerable expenditure of spiritual energy to sustain them, leaving her unable to mount effective counterattacks in battle. At best, she could only bring seventy percent of her power to bear on her opponent. This shortcoming might go unnoticed when facing a significantly weaker adversary, but against an equal, it would be glaringly apparent.

Another critical point was that, following their battle three days prior, Chu Xiangyue's Autumn Water Sword had been shattered by Xiao Yang. Even though it could be reforged swiftly, the original Inscription Array was irreparably damaged and rendered useless. Every cultivator knows the significant boost a well-crafted weapon paired with a potent Inscription Array can provide. The art of the Inscription Array is exceedingly intricate, and even Yao Wanli of the Myriad Mile Sword Crafting Pavilion had only a rudimentary understanding. While he could reforge the Autumn Water Sword, the chances of successfully inscribing a new array were slim, and if he did manage, it would likely be a low-rank Inscription Array with minimal auxiliary benefits.

In contrast, Mo Yuntian wielded the Blood Blade, rumored to be inscribed by his master, the Second Elder of the Profound Heaven Sect's Inner Sect—a figure whose status and prowess need no elaboration, and who stands among the top Inscription Array masters in Cangxi Province. How could the Blood Blade, personally inscribed by him, be anything but extraordinary?

"With inferior cultivation, glaring weaknesses in combat, and a weapon that's worlds apart in quality, the outcome of this fight is a foregone conclusion. Chu Xiangyue is bound to lose," Xiao Yang declared with a soft sigh, his tone leaving no room for doubt.