C10 Powerful Medicinal Strength

"How could this happen?"

Wang Xianzhen's complexion turned ghastly, and Lee Tiancheng was hardly faring any better.

Both had set their sights on clinching first place in the competition, dead set on securing the Heavenly Level Technique. They saw each other as their main rivals, but Liu Sansheng's arrival threw a wrench into their plans.

Sensing that something was amiss, Lee Yi promptly left the plaza and headed to a quiet grove on the academy's western edge.

"Regardless of what unfolds, strength is the ultimate safeguard. I must enhance my strength quickly to face any forthcoming challenges," Lee Yi resolved.

With the emergence of Outer Sect powerhouses, he felt a pressure like never before.

Others might deem his ambitions far-fetched, but deep down, Lee Yi harbored his own aspirations for the top spot in the competition. His motives weren't solely to best Lee Tiancheng and prove his worth to everyone; he was also driven by the desire to master that Heavenly Level Technique.

"I need to elevate my realm as soon as possible," Lee Yi mused.

He produced a small vermillion-gold bottle containing an Earth Origin Pill.

With trepidation, Lee Yi uncapped the bottle, and a potent aura immediately enveloped him.

The Earth Origin Pill was a mere speck, a dark gold in hue, devoid of any scent, yet it unleashed a torrent of energy that struck his face like a tangible force, making it nearly impossible to peer into the bottle.

"Such formidable potency!" Lee Yi exclaimed, taken aback.

The pill's power radiating outward indicated a hint of sentience within the Earth Origin Pill, a resistance akin to self-preservation, warding off external malevolent forces.

He inhaled deeply and tipped the Earth Origin Pill into his mouth.

To his surprise, it lodged in his throat, refusing to go down. His face turned beet red, and he nearly choked, struggling immensely before finally managing to swallow the pill.

Moments later, Lee Yi felt an intense, scorching force unfurl within him, akin to being engulfed in flames. He winced in agony, his face beading with cold sweat.

If an uninformed bystander were present, they might well assume that Lee Yi had ingested poison rather than a spiritual elixir.

"Damn!" Realizing that the power of the Earth Essence Pill was raging uncontrollably within him, Lee Yi's face tensed with anxiety.

As the pill dissolved, its potent energy coalesced, rampaging through his body like a wild beast, wreaking havoc on his meridians and internal organs.

His chest and abdomen swelled, and large bumps appeared on his limbs, all filled with the pill's energy. His body grew increasingly hot, turning a bright red as if he were a glowing iron bar.

Under the onslaught of the medicinal power, his hair began to grow wildly.

In no time, Lee Yi's hair had doubled in length, and his body hair became as dense as that of a furry monkey.

Lee Yi, refusing to take any chances, leaped into a nearby pond with urgency.

With a hiss, steam billowed into the air.

The icy waters of the pond brought Lee Yi considerable relief, and his mind sharpened.

Enduring the intense pain, he began to channel the Demon Refining Art. His half-demon lineage kicked in, gradually repairing the damage within. His meridians, once healed, were tougher and could accommodate an even greater amount of medicinal power.

He methodically refined the Earth Essence Pill's energy, as if unraveling a tightly wound cocoon.

Time ticked away unnoticed, and before long, the pond water bubbled and boiled. The aquatic plants withered to a yellow hue, and several small fish floated belly-up, their scent permeating the air.

Lee Yi remained submerged, in a meditative stance, utterly still.

Several hours passed, and the pond water finally cooled.

Suddenly, a column of water shot skyward.

With a splash, a figure thudded onto the ground, radiating a powerful aura. It was Lee Yi.

His body had returned to normal, the medicinal power of the Earth Essence Pill fully assimilated into a robust magical force that coursed through his meridians and dantian. With every movement, a soft whistle of wind could be heard.

At the Peak of the Second Level!

Lee Yi was overjoyed. The Earth Essence Pill's power had surpassed his expectations. Just one pill had propelled him from the early stages of the Second Level to its peak, multiplying his magical power many times over.

After refining the demon blood, Lee Yi's meridians and dantian had become much thicker than those of an average person, allowing him to hold a greater amount of magical power. However, this also made it more challenging for him to achieve breakthroughs. Upon reaching the peak of the second level, his magical power was nearly on par with that of the third level, and he could even slightly project it outside his body.

"No wonder an Earth Origin Pill costs a thousand merit points. It truly lives up to its reputation!" Lee Yi marveled.

With the third level of Arcane Awakening within reach, he resolved to strike while the iron was hot and achieve the breakthrough in one fell swoop.

The third level of Arcane Awakening marked a significant threshold. Most disciples remained at the second level, with many unable to advance further in their entire lifetimes. Only a handful of exceptionally gifted individuals managed to enter the third level.

One could only hope to step into the third level of Arcane Awakening by relentlessly refining their mana and cultivating to the utmost limit. This level symbolized the pinnacle of one's magical power.

Lee Yi sensed a formidable barrier separating him from the third level of Arcane Awakening, a gate of the realm that was nearly impossible to budge.

Throughout history, innumerable cultivators had been defeated by this barrier. Many lost their will to continue, abandoning their practice out of despair, while others descended into madness or even paid the ultimate price.

In the world of cultivation, this barrier was known as the 'Gate of Hell,' representing the ultimate test of one's ability to progress on the path of cultivation.

Lee Yi consumed the second Earth Origin Pill. Now more accustomed to the pill's potent effects, he no longer needed to endure the pain by submerging himself in the pond for cultivation.

Leveraging the overwhelming power of the Earth Origin Pill, Lee Yi launched an assault on the gate of the realm.

Time and again, despite the formidable strength of the Earth Origin Pill, the gate remained steadfast, like an insurmountable chasm before him.

"The Third Level of Arcane Awakening truly is the Gate of Hell; it's incredibly difficult to breach. If I continue like this, I fear the outcome will be dire!" Lee Yi's anxiety intensified.

At his current level, Lee Yi was at full capacity and couldn't absorb any more mana. This meant that if he couldn't break his limits with the aid of an Earth Origin Pill, the pill's power would eventually backfire, wreaking havoc on his meridians and dantian, which could lead to a fatal explosion.

With each attempt, the Earth Origin Pill's power grew more turbulent and uncontrollable. Time was not on his side, and Lee Yi could feel his strength waning as the pill's power teetered on the edge of chaos.

"No holding back now!"

In the face of life and death, Lee Yi remained composed, his will to survive igniting a fierce determination. He produced a third Earth Origin Pill, closed his eyes, and swallowed it whole.

To any onlooker, this act would seem suicidal. The Earth Origin Pill was no ordinary medicine; most would hesitate to even attempt taking one, yet Lee Yi had just consumed two. The agony from one pill was already unbearable; taking another seemed like a death wish.

Lee Yi was well aware of the peril, but trapped in a dire situation, he recognized this as his sole opportunity. If he failed to shatter his constraints and unlock the Gate of Opening, death would be certain.

Gritting his teeth, he focused on his cultivation technique. The combined power of the two Earth Origin Pills surged within him like a mighty dragon, colliding with the barrier of his realm.

Boom!

A sensation of internal collapse was followed by the unfolding of a new expanse. Lee Yi's mana skyrocketed in an instant, seemingly boundless.

Crackling sounds emanated from his body as pores expelled black impurities, emitting a foul stench. Eventually, the transformation ceased. With a gentle squeeze of his fist, Lee Yi sensed a robust mana coursing through him, far surpassing the peak of the second level by more than tenfold.

With a sudden punch, he caused a distant, tranquil pond to erupt, sending water soaring dozens of feet into the air.

"Mana projection!" Lee Yi exclaimed, ecstatic. Despite witnessing it firsthand, he was still astounded by the feat.

Lee Yi had finally conquered the most perilous threshold and officially entered the Third Level of Arcane Awakening. His unique constitution meant that his mana was exceptionally potent, far surpassing that of an average disciple at this stage.

Spotting a massive boulder nearby, Lee Yi charged at it head-on. Just before impact, a surge of mana burst forth from within him, enveloping his body in a protective shield. The collision resulted in a thunderous boom as the boulder shattered to pieces, yet Lee Yi emerged without a scratch.

The true value of unleashing mana lay not in offense but in defense. Despite Lee Yi's formidable physical strength, without the shield of mana, even he would have sustained minor injuries from such a feat. Ascending to the Third Level of Arcane Awakening significantly bolstered his defenses.

Lee Yi was thoroughly pleased with his progress. His eyes were now set on the Fourth Level of Arcane Awakening, where he aimed to redouble his efforts in refining his magical power. However, this objective was still somewhat distant. Having just entered the early phase of the Third Level, a breakthrough in the near future seemed unlikely. Moreover, even reaching the pinnacle would not be enough; he would still require one crucial element to solidify his true qi—the Spiritual Items of Heaven and Earth.

These items were essential for the condensation of true qi. Take Li Tiancheng's Heavy Water True Qi, for instance, which was cultivated from a single drop of ancient Heavy Water, a highly treasured Spiritual Item of Heaven and Earth.

For the time being, Lee Yi lacked the means to acquire such an item. So, he activated his Wind Magical Power and sped back to his dwelling. Trees blurred into fleeting shadows as he raced by, and soon, he had left the seclusion of West Mountain for the bustling square.

Navigating through the throng, he unexpectedly encountered a line of people. They were servants of the Li Family, one of whom cradled a brocade box. This was the venerable steward of the Li Family, his hair and beard snowy white. Despite his fragile appearance, he moved with vigor and possessed an impressive presence.

Upon seeing each other, both parties paused in mutual surprise.

"Old Liu, what brings you here?" Lee Yi asked, his curiosity piqued.

He was acutely aware of General Manager Liu's standing within the Li family. To the outside world, he might appear to be a mere servant, yet in truth, he held more sway than most of the masters. Only the family Patriarch and a select few had the authority to command him.

Moreover, Liu's capabilities were enigmatic and profound. Even the Patriarch treated him with the utmost respect, never daring to utter a harsh word in his presence.

Yet, for a man of his stature and prowess to personally deliver a brocade box to the academy signified the exceptional nature of its contents.

Chief Liu spoke with a hint of detachment, "Young Master You, I am here to deliver this to Young Master Tiancheng of Sky City, as ordered by the Patriarch."

"Why deliver it without any apparent reason? And why must you personally see to its delivery?"

"It's because of Liu Sansheng."

A realization dawned on Lee Yi, and he thought to himself, "Even Li Tiancheng, with all his strength, became unsettled at the sight of Liu Sansheng. He was so anxious that he immediately sought support from the family, eager to enhance his own power."

"What's inside the box?" Lee Yi inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Chief Liu replied, "If Young Master You is so inclined to know, you may inquire with the Patriarch."

With that, he brushed past Lee Yi and carried on.

"Old Liu," Lee Yi paused, then suddenly called out after a brief silence, "Has my father said anything about me? I'm going to be competing in the Outer Sect Competition soon. Did he say anything about sending something for me as well?"