Free Web NovelChapter 469: Chapter 257: Cultivation Technique Upgrade; Leaving
The invisible True Qi that suddenly erupted from Cheng Zongyang’s body instantly shredded his clothes, making every hair on his head stand on end!
Cheng Zongyang discovered that there was no pain. Instead, an extremely comfortable sensation washed over him. It was like drinking a bowl of hot ginger soup when you have a cold—the goosebumps that rose on his skin were followed by a refreshing feeling of clarity that spread through his entire body.
The entire process lasted only a few seconds. The pressure in his Acupoints was released, their openings closed, and everything returned to normal.
But Cheng Zongyang also felt the drain on his True Qi.
’I’ve reached the Acupoint Opening Realm!’
Cheng Zongyang paid no mind to the loss of True Qi. He was keenly aware of the Realm he had just reached. He knew that once he mastered control over opening and closing his Acupoints and could expertly condense and manage his True Qi, such wasteful discharges would no longer occur.
But at that very moment, a notification interface appeared before him.
[Realm Breakthrough: Cultivation Technique can now be upgraded.]
A smile touched Cheng Zongyang’s lips as he saw the notification. The reason he hadn’t bothered switching to other Qi Cultivation Methods was that he had a better, more complete, and more detailed Cultivation Technique to upgrade, one that came with built-in experience. It was far more convenient than fumbling his way forward on his own.
Summoning the interface, he checked his Cultivation Technique’s proficiency.
——
Turtle Breath-holding Skill (164/164) ↑
——
At this, a thought from Cheng Zongyang initiated the upgrade. The next second, another notification appeared:
——
[Upgrade requirements met. 30,000 Points will be spent to advance the Cultivation Technique’s Level. The Upper Three Grades of Techniques are methods for condensing True Essence.]
[Please select a specialization:]
[Xuanwu Swallowing Qi Technique]: A method for condensing True Essence. The technique is steady but somewhat slow, emphasizing foundation and defense.
[Innate Qi Technique]: A method for condensing True Essence. The technique is steady and balanced. It can condense a singular qi in the chest, which can be used to amplify combat power.
[Overlord Body Refining Qi Technique]: A method for condensing True Essence. The technique is profound and fierce, forging the body while gathering qi. It cultivates a powerful Physique and condenses a domineering True Essence.
——
After reviewing the details of the three Cultivation Techniques, Cheng Zongyang realized that, in the end, the Innate Qi Technique was still the inevitable choice.
After a brief review, he no longer hesitated and chose the second option: the Innate Qi Technique!
He had three reasons—
First, he was already quite familiar with this Cultivation Technique.
Second, the technique was neither fast nor slow, and it wasn’t aggressive. The Xuanwu technique was too slow for his current needs, while the Overlord technique was completely at odds with his preference for stability.
Third, his clan brothers would all be practicing the Innate Qi Technique in the future. By learning it himself, he would be able to teach them.
Without hesitation, Cheng Zongyang looked at the interface and selected the second option!
The next second, the interface’s information changed:
[30,000 Points successfully deducted. Your Cultivation Technique Grade is increasing... Merging data... You have obtained the High Level Martial Arts Technique: Innate Qi Technique!]
Then, a massive amount of new information and experience related to the Cultivation Technique flooded into Cheng Zongyang’s brain.
He slowly opened his eyes after completely absorbing and integrating all the information about the Innate Qi Technique, turning it into his own experience.
He raised his right palm and focused his mind!
The next moment, an invisible stream of energy erupted from his palm. The instant it fanned out, it was swiftly drawn back, condensing and connecting until it slowly formed a thin film, like a transparent bubble.
The film hovered about a centimeter from his skin, enveloping his right palm like a bubble.
’So this is releasing True Qi externally? Incredible!’
Cheng Zongyang marveled as he felt the Gang Qi on his right palm. Following the method from his newly acquired memories, he controlled his True Qi, binding it to the surface of his body and transforming it into Gang Qi!
This was only because his True Qi reserves were still low and his control was unpracticed. In the future, as his True Qi increased and his control became more masterful, extending it half a meter from his body would be no problem at all.
He had successfully entered the Acupoint Opening Realm, the Third Grade of the Upper Three Grades! Now, with his Hundred Meridians Connected and his Acupoints linked, he could freely release his True Qi externally.
The purpose of the Upper Three Grades Realm was to master the opening and closing of more Acupoints, to condense and purify one’s True Qi, and in doing so, to expel impurities and toxins from the body.
To put it simply, it was about achieving complete control, continuous augmentation, and constant purification! It was all to lay the foundation for entering the Extraordinary!
The time this process of refining True Qi took depended only on an individual’s Physique and the degree to which they condensed their True Qi.
This process could be very short or very long. The only difference was one’s willingness to condense more True Qi. That was all.
His True Qi could now be released externally. His goal over the past few months of continuous, Elixir-fueled, closed-door Cultivation—constantly raising his Cultivation level—was primarily to prepare for his journey out to sea.
He had spent the last three months making preparations for his sea voyage. Now that affairs in the County Town were all settled and his Cultivation had successfully broken through, Cheng Zongyang could finally relax.
’As long as I’m here, even if this place suffers great damage, it can eventually be restored as long as the people remain.’
The next moment, he summoned his Attribute Interface.
——
Name: Cheng Zongyang
Age: 17 (Years)
Lifespan: 16/105 (-1908 days; +114 days)
Realm: Third Grade (Acupoint Opening)
Talent: Adaptation (1205/50000, Grandmaster)
Points: 301,600
Skills: Archery (15135/20000, Specialization); Medicine (1988/3000, Middle Level); Array (32/1000, Beginner Level)
Cultivation Technique:
Innate Qi Technique (1/50000)
Martial Arts:
Basic Saber Technique (5642/7000, Refined and Masterful)
Wind-Stepping Step (9654/15000, Divine Skill)
Great Strength Vajra Palm (5312/7000, Refined and Masterful)
Illusionary Blade (309/1000, Beginner’s Practice)
Acupoint-Sealing Hand (12/3000, Entering the Hall and Chamber)
——
Cheng Zongyang shook his head slightly as he looked over his stats.
’The contract with the Celestial Break Gang must have run its course. Just like that, the five years of Lifespan I gained are gone. But what I have is enough for now. I’ll worry about it later.’
Cheng Zongyang shook his head, deciding not to arrange any more contract signings over there. It was enough for only the core members to sign. The rest could wait.
Finally, his gaze fell on his Adaptation Talent, and he was quite satisfied. He had spent this time in constant Cultivation, spending countless Points in the Cultivation Room and facing numerous dangers in the Yu Sea. But his training had clearly paid off.
At the very least, with a Grandmaster-Level Talent, the time it took him to adapt was now just one second.
He closed the interface. When he emerged from the marketplace hut, he discovered night had already fallen.
Without disturbing anyone, Cheng Zongyang packed a few things into the marketplace hut, then quietly left Jade Peak County alone, heading south.
’Everything is settled. There’s no need to wait any longer. The next step is to journey to the coast south of Xiangyang, take a Dragon Bone Ship east, and head straight for the East Sea Abyss.’
After leaving Jade Peak County, under a sky with a bright moon and few stars, Cheng Zongyang summoned a horned horse—one that had been tamed by Luo Zheng—from the Wilderness World. He mounted it and galloped off along the main southern road.
He didn’t want to waste time on the road, so he urged the horned horse into a full gallop. While not an Exotic Beast, the horned horse was a powerful breed of wild horse from the Wilderness World, possessing both excellent Endurance and speed. Many had since been tamed, becoming mounts for hunting parties and exploration teams.
Cheng Zongyang traveled at a grueling pace, changing horses without stopping. As dawn began to break, after nearly ten hours of relentless riding, he had swapped mounts three times. He bypassed one county town, town, and desolate village after another, navigating around broken roads. Finally, he arrived at the coast. He was at the border between Xiangyang Prefecture and Luoyang Prefecture, in a region belonging to Xiangyang’s Hailing Prefecture.
He sent the panting horned horse back into the Wilderness World, then entered the marketplace hut himself. He sat in the Recovery Chair, restoring his Essence, Qi, and Spirit and dispelling his fatigue, before finally leaving.
He climbed a nearby mountain to survey the sea.
From the mountaintop, he could see the entire coastal landscape.
The deep blue sea met the sky, creating a magnificent panorama. By now, boats from the village at the mountain’s base had already begun to set out for the morning’s catch.
The morning sun broke through the clouds, blanketing the sea in light that shimmered like countless flecks of Gold. Waves crashed against the scattered reefs along the shore, then washed up onto the sand before receding with a rhythmic, rushing sound. It filled him with a sense of peace and harmony.
The sea here was much calmer than the Yu Sea in the Wilderness World.
The small village at the foot of the mountain was also clearly visible. Its houses were scattered in a picturesque arrangement, shaded by lush trees. Villagers were busy in the fields at the mountain’s base. Some washed clothes by a river, others mended fishing nets, and still others repaired their boats.
It seemed this place was completely untouched by the turmoil of the inland regions.
