C9 Barrier Breaking Pill

Deep beneath the pitch-black terrain of the Black Wind Mountain Range, Hua Hsing found himself in a surprisingly small space. Yet, the spiritual energy here felt thicker than in the outside world.

"What is this place?" he wondered, scanning the area with a wary eye.

The darkness was oppressive, allowing Hua Hsing to make out only the enclosing walls, leaving the space feeling hollow and deserted. As he pondered his next move, the large opening above him vanished without a trace.

"What just happened?" Hua Hsing muttered, his confusion evident.

He was eager to get his bearings and find a way out. Reaching into his Space Ring, he retrieved a fire piston and struck a spark. The resulting flame cut through the darkness, revealing the confines of his surroundings.

Now, Hua Hsing noticed a small futon positioned at the forefront of the space. "This must be a Cultivation Land. I wonder who used it for their practice," he mused aloud.

Approaching the futon, Hua Hsing examined it but found nothing out of the ordinary. He then turned his attention to the walls, inspecting them closely. His search yielded four distinct patterns.

On the first wall, a line of small text was inscribed above an image of a man wielding a long sword, engaged in the practice of a sword technique.

"Golden Light Sword Arts," Hua Hsing read aloud.

The text indicated that the images on the walls represented the four incomplete swords of the Golden Light Sword Arts. "The complete Golden Light Sword Arts consist of seven swords. When mastered, they rival even inferior cultivation techniques in power," he read.

"For disciples of the Azure Edge Sword Sect who are fortunate enough to find this place, you may cultivate the last four swords of the Golden Light Sword Arts."

The name "Qih Nantian" was signed at the bottom.

"Qih Nantian? Could this be the same legendary disciple from the Azure Edge Sword Sect?" Hua Hsing gasped in astonishment.

Qih Nantian, once an unremarkable figure in the Outer Sect, had astounded everyone during a competition among the disciples by unleashing the Golden Light Sword Arts—albeit only the first three incomplete swords—demonstrating formidable strength.

It was only at that moment that all the disciples realized the top-ranked individual in the Outer Sect had always been Qih Nantian.

Afterward, Qih Nantian ascended to the Inner Sect. A year later, he vanished without a trace, sending shockwaves through the Azure Edge Sword Sect. Despite their efforts, no trace of him was ever found.

"I never imagined this would be Qih Nantian's Cultivation Land," Hua Hsing remarked, a touch of surprise lingering in his voice.

Qih Nantian was once hailed as the beacon of hope for the resurgence of the Azure Edge Sword Sect. His rise was meteoric, yet his sudden disappearance remained a mystery.

"How did Qih Nantian come by the last four moves of the Golden Light Sword Arts?" Hua Hsing wondered, his curiosity piqued.

Deciding not to dwell on the question, he was thrilled to have the final four moves of the Golden Light Sword Arts at his disposal.

Without further delay, Hua Hsing committed the intricate moves to memory with swift precision.

Half an hour later, having etched all four patterns into his mind, Hua Hsing's face broke into a satisfied grin.

The fully mastered Golden Light Sword Arts were on par with a subpar cultivation technique—a privilege typically reserved for Inner Sect disciples, renowned for their formidable power.

"With the Golden Light Sword Arts perfected, I'll be a force to be reckoned with in the Inner Sect," Hua Hsing declared confidently.

Stumbling upon Qih Nantian's Cultivation Land and acquiring the latter moves of the Golden Light Sword Arts filled Hua Hsing with joy.

After memorizing the patterns, his attention was drawn to a message inscribed in the lower right corner of the fourth wall.

"Whoever finds their way to my Cultivation Land is destined. Buried beneath this wall lies a Barrier Breaking Pill, a modest token for you."

Reading this, Hua Hsing's excitement was palpable.

"A Barrier Breaking Pill! Qih Nantian actually left one behind."

The Barrier Breaking Pill was no ordinary elixir. Rare even within the Azure Edge Sword Sect, it was a fortunate find indeed.

Consuming the Barrier Breaking Pill offered a warrior a fifty percent chance to overcome their current limits and ascend to the next minor realm.

Certainly, the Barrier Breaking Pill had a significant effect on warriors below the fourth level of the Qi Refining Stage. For higher-level warriors, however, its effectiveness diminished, with the chances of success decreasing steadily.

"I'll find it."

Hua Hsing crouched and began his search for the Barrier Breaking Pill. It wasn't long before he discovered a small box and opened it.

Inside lay a solitary black pill, resting quietly within the confines of the box.

On the Ancient Sword Continent, numerous Pill Refining Masters were capable of concocting extraordinary pills.

The hierarchy began with Pill Refining Apprentices, ascended to Pill Refining Masters, and peaked with Pill Refining Great Masters.

Pill Refining Apprentices were known for producing common pills, which held little value to the sects.

Pill Refining Masters, on the other hand, crafted extraordinary pills that were highly treasured. But it was the Pill Refining Great Masters who could create Primary Grade Pills—rarities beyond price.

"I've reached the pinnacle of the Qi Refining Stage Level Two. With the Barrier Breaking Pill, I stand a chance to advance to Level Three," Hua Hsing mused.

Resolved, Hua Hsing ingested the Barrier Breaking Pill.

Seated cross-legged on a cushion, he swallowed the pill and immediately felt its potency radiate throughout his body, coursing through his limbs and bones.

A warm surge flowed relentlessly.

Hua Hsing sensed this warmth within him, while the ambient cosmic spiritual energy continuously infused his body, refining it further.

As the medicinal effect of the Barrier Breaking Pill neared its end, Hua Hsing had yet to sense any indication of a breakthrough.

"Could it be that I'm unable to advance?" Hua Hsing wondered silently.

But in the waning moments of the pill's influence, his Golden Heart began to throb with renewed vigor.

The pulsations of the Golden Heart unleashed a powerful presence that emerged directly from within it.

Hua Hsing's body, having absorbed the final vestiges of the pill's essence, fortified to a new degree, emitting an audible crack.

The very next instant, Hua Hsing's eyes snapped open, revealing a trace of a smile on his face.

"Third level of the Qi Refining Stage."

Indeed, in the final moments, the pulsing of the Golden Heart helped Hua Hsing break through to the third level of the Qi Refining Stage.

"Now, if I were to confront Ma Shan and Douzhi, I could take them down in an instant," Hua Hsing mused.

The gap between the second and third levels of the Qi Refining Stage was significant.

With his newfound strength at the third level, Hua Hsing felt virtually unbeatable within the Outer Sect, confident that only a handful of disciples could pose any challenge to him.

"Re Yunzheng, Jiaang Xue, the shame you've inflicted upon me will be avenged," Hua Hsing declared with an icy resolve.

Having made his breakthrough, Hua Hsing set out to find an exit.

Two hours later, he emerged in a secluded area within the inner bounds of the Azure Edge Sword Sect.

"At last, I'm out. The rewards of this journey have been substantial," Hua Hsing observed, taking in the towering ancient trees around him.

Nearly a month had passed since Hua Hsing arrived at the Black Wind Mountain Range, and it was time to return.

He had accomplished his training goals, located the Black Spirit Grass, and even stumbled upon an unexpected boon.

In a secluded courtyard of the Azure Edge Sword Sect's Outer Sect, Re Yunzheng sat in his white robes, a contented smile gracing his features.

Across from him, Jiaang Xue, adorned in red, caught his gaze with her ample figure, rendering him captivated.

"Senior Brother Re, why haven't Ma Shan and Douzhi returned yet?" inquired Jiaang Xue.

"Junior Sister Ye, rest assured. Both Douzhi and Ma Shan are at the third level of the Qi Refining Stage. Dispatching Hua Hsing will be effortless for them. They've likely taken the opportunity to further their training," Re Yunzheng assured her confidently.

"I can't shake this feeling of unease. Hua Hsing seems to have transformed entirely in recent times," Jiaang Xue expressed her concern.

"Hmph, a weakling will always remain a weakling. In five days, the Outer Sect Disciple Competition will seal his fate," Re Yunzheng declared harshly.

"Yes, I believe you," Jiaang Xue said with a smile to Re Yunzheng.

"Junior Sister Jiaang, does your sister know about this?" Re Yunzheng suddenly inquired.

Re Yunzheng was fond of Jiaang Xue and had been actively pursuing her, which meant he was quite familiar with her affairs.

Jiaang Xue's opposition to Hua Hsing stemmed from the Jiaang family's strong disapproval of the marriage. She wanted to eliminate Hua Hsing and nullify the engagement.

Caught off guard by Re Yunzheng's question, Jiaang Xue momentarily froze, then shook her head and fell silent.

"Junior Sister Jiaang..."

"Senior Brother Re, I need to head back now. Please let me know immediately if there's any news," Jiaang Xue interrupted Re Yunzheng, stood up, and departed.

After leaving the Black Wind Mountain Range, Hua Hsing didn't hurry back to the Azure Edge Sword Sect but went straight to Breeze City.

Breeze City was bustling with activity, being a major city within Azure Cloud County and the location of the Azure Edge Sword Sect.

Hua Hsing's purpose in Breeze City was to sell the corpses of several Demon Beasts.

Upon arrival, he navigated from memory to the Breeze Branch of the Ancient Sword Chamber of Commerce.

The Ancient Sword Chamber of Commerce had branches spread across the Ancient Sword Continent, with its backing power remaining a mystery to all. Nonetheless, it was rare for any martial artist to stir trouble within its halls.

Once inside the Chamber, Hua Hsing informed the staff that he wished to sell ten Demon Beasts, each at the third level of the Qi Refining Stage.

This revelation quickly drew the attention of a Deacon Elder from the Breeze Branch.

Shortly thereafter, the Deacon Elder escorted Hua Hsing to a private VIP room.

After a prolonged examination of Hua Hsing, the Deacon Elder spoke, "My friend, I understand you're looking to sell ten Demon Beast corpses, all at the third level of the Qi Refining Stage, is that correct?"

"If the price is right, then we have a deal."

"May I inspect the merchandise beforehand?" inquired the Deacon Elder.

Suddenly, the room was filled with ten Demon Beast carcasses, the reek of blood permeating the atmosphere.

Yet, the Deacon Elder's eyes sparkled with interest, a hint of excitement evident on his visage.