Free Web NovelChapter 13: Astonishing Advancments!
Any sat cross-legged in silence inside her room, her breathing long and steady as the Heart Method circulated throughout her body.
Threads of Spiritual Energy flowed through her meridians like streams converging into a lake, endlessly gathering within her dantian. At first, the energy moved slowly, but as the technique continued operating, the calm surface within the dantian suddenly trembled. The Spiritual Energy spun faster and faster, compressing inward while waves of heat spread through her limbs, tempering her muscles, bones, and organs. Sweat dripped from her forehead as the accumulated spiritual energy repeatedly slammed against the invisible bottleneck of the Fifth Layer.
Time passed quietly. Then, with another circulation of the technique, the dense spiritual energy inside the dantian abruptly surged outward like a lake breaking through its banks.
’This is it...’ Any’s heart trembled for a moment before she quickly calmed herself and focused once more on her cultivation. ’If I’m not mistaken, this is the final trace left from the enlightenment I absorbed earlier today.’
Her meridians shook violently as a stronger current of energy flooded through her body. Suddenly, her aura rose sharply, and her dantian expanded once more, allowing a far greater amount of Spiritual Energy to be stored within it.
Her previously exhausted body instantly felt light and powerful, every movement carrying greater force than before. After stabilizing the violent flow of energy, she slowly opened her eyes.
She had officially stepped from the Fifth Layer of the True Qi Realm into the Sixth Layer.
"This..."
Any was at a loss for words, but before she could collect her thoughts, someone appeared outside her room.
Knock... Knock...
Several knocks echoed through the door. For a moment, uncertainty flashed through Any’s eyes before she quickly suppressed it and reached for the door handle.
"Father, I can explain the situation."
Any uttered those words even before seeing who stood outside, as though such situations had happened many times before.
"Any, you must have grown quite daring. Since when do you fight enemies without calling for my help? Did you become that confident just because you stepped into the fifth realm?"
As the door burst open, a man clad in red robes stepped into the room, his cold voice carrying faint anger.
"Eh? Brother, I can explain!"
When Any realized the person standing there was her brother rather than her father, her entire body stiffened before she quickly retreated several steps.
Shen was a muscular man with red hair and a beard the length of a fist. His entire being exuded a fierce aura, as though he had just returned from a battlefield. His expression turned ugly as he scrutinized Any from head to toe.
"Tell me who it was and where they hurt you. I’ll make sure to repay the favor a hundred times over!" Killing intent spread from his body as he grabbed his retreating sister by the wrist. freёwebnovel.com
"Elder brother, hear me out first. I’m not little anymore. Stop obsessing over protecting me everywhere I go and give me room to grow." Any closed her mouth immediately after saying those words.
Being stressed throughout the entire day and after meeting that young man, her emotions had remained on edge the whole time.
She had instinctively shouted those words at her brother.
Shen’s grip on Any’s wrist loosened as he heard her response, his brows furrowing slightly.
"Sister, you..."
Any knew where this was heading, so she immediately raised her hand, causing a ball of Spiritual Energy to appear above her palm.
Even though Shen was still hurt by his sister’s earlier words, he couldn’t hide his surprise at the scene before him. He was the second person most aware of his little sister’s situation after her master, and he knew her abilities extremely well.
She had been stuck at the peak of the Fourth Layer for quite some time before finally breaking into the Fifth Layer a week ago. There had not been even the slightest sign of another breakthrough yesterday, so how had she suddenly succeeded?
No!
Looking closer, Shen felt his entire body stiffen as he carefully sensed the Spiritual Energy ball.
His thoughts had been chaotic earlier, causing him to overlook it, but now that he focused on the energy held in his sister’s hand, he felt as though a hammer had smashed into his mind.
"Sixth Layer energy! This... This can’t be real!"
Pinch!
He pinched the back of his palm so hard that a small patch of skin tore apart, yet his body remained frozen. He could feel the pain clearly, meaning he wasn’t dreaming, yet the situation before him was so surreal that he refused to believe either his eyes or senses.
"Elder brother! Luke may also be in the Ninth Realm, but you should trust your younger sister! One day, I’ll definitely defeat him and make him repay all his constant harassment!" Any declared with a laugh.
Her words were clear, and Shen immediately understood what she meant.
Calming down, Shen stared into his little sister’s eyes for a long moment. Seeing her gaze remain firm instead of lowering in guilt, he could only sigh before helplessly raising both hands.
"You win. But remember this—even if you’ve become stronger, you are still no match for him. Do not act recklessly if he ever notices you."
Any naturally understood this much and nodded repeatedly, glad that her brother had finally allowed her to fight Luke’s subordinates.
Luke had pursued her since they were children. As the son of Dragon City’s general, he had always wanted to marry her. However, after witnessing the constant humiliation her father suffered as a mere merchant dealing with cultivators, Any had sworn to become her father’s protector.
That was why she never gave Luke a second glance and instead focused solely on cultivation. Unfortunately, with Luke’s background, not only did he cultivate far faster than her, but he also continued pursuing her despite her repeatedly making it clear that cultivation was her only focus.
Any sank deep into thought as memories regarding Luke surfaced in her mind before her brother suddenly interrupted her.
