Chapter 106: Chapter 106: Advancement to Qi Absorption Realm
There was no time to take a breath as the commotion from afar grew terrible.
Shi Xiaole even saw a large army of snakes, spiders, and scorpions that covered the ground to an astounding foot-high layer. The stench was so overpowering, it almost made him pass out.
If he attempted to break through the wall, Shi Xiaole was certain that he would be bitten to the point where not even his bones would remain.
Instead of fleeing, Shi Xiaole used his energy to shake off the ground’s remnants, finally uncovering a brilliant golden pill.
The golden pill was the size of a peanut, round, and emitted a faint aromatic scent. It was indeed the inner pill of the Emerald-eyed Golden Toad.
According to records in the Martial World, once spiritual beings become refined, they usually have an inner pill.
These inner pills are the essence of spiritual beings. If a human consumes it, they will gain incredible benefits.
Chaos erupted ahead as the poisonous creatures seemed to sniff out the inner pill’s scent, rushing towards it in a frenzy.
With a fifty meters gap between them, Shi Xiaole picked up the inner pill and swallowed it.
As soon as the inner pill entered his mouth, it dissolved, turning into a heat wave that instantly spread throughout his body. His complexion fluctuated between green and white while his body switched between cold and hot. With a thud, he fell to the ground, unconscious.
Boom!
An aura that only poisonous creatures could sense suddenly burst out from Shi Xiaole’s body.
The Three Poison Army emitted chaotic shrieks, halting their advance when they were only ten meters away. They looked at Shi Xiaole as soldiers wait for their general’s command.
The Emerald-eyed Golden Toad, the so-called King of Poison. After Shi Xiaole absorbed its inner pill, the unintelligent poisonous creatures mistook Shi Xiaole for the toad itself.
Time ticked away, second by second.
Two 2-hour periods later, Shi Xiaole reluctantly awoke.
The moment he woke up, his brows furrowed.
For at that moment, his internal power seemed to surge like a rising tide, involuntarily colliding within him, causing intense muscle pain as if they were about to burst open.
This was not an illusion.
In fact, if Shi Xiaole had awakened half a 2-hour period later, his body would have definitely exploded into a mist of blood.
What he swallowed was merely a ten-year old inner pill of an Emerald-eyed Golden Toad. However, the increase in his internal power was still somewhat unmanageable for him.
Especially without guidance, the aimless surge of his internal power would soon destroy his body, leaving him dead or crippled.
With no time to think, Shi Xiaole immediately sat cross-legged with his palms facing the sky and began to regulate his breathing with the Fuyang Qi Skill.
Under his conscious control, his internal power finally converged and began to hammer against the barriers within him.
Mid-stage of the ninth tier of the Hidden Qi Realm.
Late stage of the ninth tier of the Hidden Qi Realm.
Peak of the ninth tier of the Hidden Qi Realm.
The inner pill of the Emerald-eyed Golden Toad contained too much essence. Even after he had reached the peak of the ninth tier of the Hidden Qi Realm, his internal power showed no signs of fatigue as it started to push towards the next stage.
The next stage was naturally the Qi Absorption Realm.
It is often said in the martial arts world that there is a process of breaking through three elixirs, breaking through three barriers, and connecting three origins.
As the first major stage, the Hidden Qi Realm corresponds to the lower elixir field. It acts as the foundation for cultivating martial arts. Only when enough internal power is stored in the lower elixir field can one attempt to breakthrough the middle elixir field.
Successfully connecting the middle and lower elixir fields implies the opening of the second major stage: the Qi Absorption Realm.
Shi Xiaole never thought that he would reach this point so quickly.
He was just fifteen this year. If calculated from his transmigration, it’s been a little over half a year. He had estimated that it would have taken at least a few more months for him to have a glimmer of hope for breaking through to the Qi Absorption Realm.
As it turns out, due to the series of unfortunate events when he was pursued by the Ghost Mountain Three Evils, he was forced into the tiger’s den, leading to his current situation!
As the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. It truly is unpredictable.
"Should I try to breakthrough, or should I suppress it for a while and consolidate it?"
Attempting an immediate breakthrough carried certain risks. If the middle elixir field were to be damaged without managing to break through, he might not be able to attempt a breakthrough for a long time.
If he forcefully suppressed it, however, the chances of a successful breakthrough could increase.
After only a moment’s hesitation, Shi Xiaole made his decision. He wanted to breakthrough.
An old saying goes ’Heaven’s gifts, if not taken, will invite its wrath.’ Since he had naturally progressed to this point, there was no reason for him to withdraw.
What’s more important was his premonition. If he chose to suppress his power, it would affect his daring and decisive martial arts spirit and hinder his future progression.
Whether in cultivation or in the Martial World, if one only acts when they are a hundred percent certain, the opportunities would have slipped away long ago.
Clenching his teeth, Shi Xiaole calmed his mind and, slowly and orderly, directed his internal power towards an area an inch and a half above his sternum.
Boom...
In the midst of multiple successive impacts, pained groans of suffering echoed within the passage.
Breaking through to the Qi Absorption Realm was inherently a dangerous affair.
Most people in the martial arts world would prepare a large quantity of painkillers to mitigate the pain caused by the impact on the elixir field before trying to break through.
Despite this, many still couldn’t endure and gave up halfway.
Shi Xiaole relied solely on sheer will to endure the pain. To concentrate on controlling his internal power amidst such pain was unimaginably difficult.
Half a 2-hour period later, his whole body was soaked in cold sweat, as if he had just been fished out of water. His body even started to tremble occasionally.
But his handsome face remained rock steady, unshakeable.
One 2-hour period.
Two 2-hour periods.
When the time came to two and a half 2-hour periods, accompanied by a loud roar, boom, Shi Xiaole’s blue robe and black hair were blown violently simultaneously. A domineering presence, like a tsunami, erupted.
If one could perceive visually, one would find that Shi Xiaole’s internal power was now being disseminated from the lower cinnabar field, penetrating the middle cinnabar field, and surging throughout his body.
His cultivation has astonishingly reached the early period of the first tier of the Qi Absorption Realm.
Feeling the vigorous and robust internal power within his body, Shi Xiaole revealed a pleased smile.
Compared to before, his internal power had undoubtedly increased significantly. However, that wasn’t the most essential part.
The most crucial aspect was that with the penetration of the middle cinnabar field, the speed of a full rotation of his internal power had increased by almost fifty percent faster than before.
A quick rotation of internal power implies a fast recovery of Qi. This means that in the future, the gap between Shi Xiaole’s attacks will be nearly half less than before.
"If the lower cinnabar field is considered the storage base for internal power, then the middle cinnabar field is a significant shortcut, which substantially increases the efficiency when it circulates throughout the body."
Clasping his fist, Shi Xiaole had an impulse to howl at the sky.
His cultivation reaching the Qi Absorption Realm has made his strength surge dramatically, truly transforming him into an elite of the first rank within the Cloud Triangle. If he were to confront the Four Outstanding Youths now, he would be confident enough to take them on in battle.
Not far ahead, the Three Poison Army shrank timidly, not daring to move forward. This made Shi Xiaole realize that besides his internal power, he might have obtained an immunity to all poisons, causing any poison to distance itself respectfully.
Indeed, a pleasant surprise.
"Senior fellows, rest in peace. My parents, if you are not here, I will definitely find you and fulfill filial duties to this body."
Standing up, and looking at the pile of skeletons, Shi Xiaole bowed once again, then continued to walk deeper.
Half a 2-hour period later, he arrived at the end and found just a wall. There were no abnormalities on either side, so he turned around to return.
Seeing Shi Xiaole approaching, the numerous Three Poisons hurriedly retreated, huddled on both sides of the road, opening a path for Shi Xiaole.
Perhaps because he had absorbed the essence of the core, Shi Xiaole found that when he faced these poisons, he was not afraid at all.
...
Outside the tunnel, the Ghost Mountain Three Evils wore gloomy faces.
"Damn it! Brother, let’s just leave. That kid must have been devoured by now, waiting here is just a waste of time."
The third among the Three Evils cursed, seemingly recalling the situation inside the tunnel, his body shivered.
The Ghost Mountain Three Evils had been waiting at the mouth of the cave since they escaped to the surface, hoping that Shi Xiaole would appear sooner. They certainly didn’t worry about his safety, they were just lamenting over their lost reward.
The rules of the Red Flower Pavilion were very strict. Without bringing back Shi Xiaole’s head, even if he was dead, they wouldn’t get a penny.
"Let’s wait another half a 2-hour period."
After some thought, the eldest brother made the decision.
He also didn’t think Shi Xiaole could survive. But since that stupid kid was going to die anyway, why couldn’t he just come out and make it easy for them?
Thinking about the wasted effort made the eldest brother gnash his teeth with anger.
In the night sky, a bright moon was hanging high, casting a hazy glow.
"Let’s go."
Suppressing his unwillingness, the eldest brother waved his hand, leading his eager-to-leave brothers out.
"Gentlemen, were you waiting for me?"
Just then, an unexpected voice sounded.
The Ghost Mountain Three Evils turned around abruptly, startled.
"Kid, you actually didn’t die?"
Upon seeing Shi Xiaole in his blue robe, the third brother was taken aback, then suddenly burst into hysterical laughter. This damned kid, who caused him to get hurt and witness unforgettable nightmares in this life, he thought he had lost his chance to retaliate. He didn’t expect that heaven would be so kind, and deliver the kid before him again.
Good, very good, he would definitely slaughter this kid alive!
The third brother was excited, the second brother squinted his eyes, but the eldest brother looked puzzled, looking at Shi Xiaole’s fearless demeanor, he shouted abruptly, "Form the Three Evils Formation Skill."
The Three Evils Formation Skill was a combined attack array they serendipitously acquired. With this array, the three had once killed numerous Fifth Tier Qi Absorption experts.
The eldest brother didn’t actually think that Shi Xiaole could make such rapid progress in mere hours to force them to use the Three Evils Formation Skill, he just didn’t want to give rise to endless troubles.
In case this kid hides in the tunnel again, that would be troublesome.
The three were about to form the array, but unfortunately, Shi Xiaole was quicker.
They saw him draw his sword and in the blink of an eye, the deep-green glow of his sword had already touched the third brother’s chest.
"Get the hell away!"
The third brother didn’t dare to be negligent and exerted his full force to use the Ghost Head Blade Technique.
But this time, the azure sword merely bumped lightly, and immediately performed an ingenious change, like a mist piercing into an empty door. With a chi sound, it pierced through the chest of the third brother.
After reaching the first tier of the Qi Absorption Realm, Shi Xiaole’s internal power was not inferior to the Third Evils with the fourth tier of the Qi Absorption, the advantage of his techniques was undoubtedly revealed.
It is safe to say that a regular fourth tier Qi Absorption expert would no longer pose a threat to Shi Xiaole. As for the fifth tier Qi Absorption expert, it’s hard to say.
In the Hidden Qi Realm, the sophistication of technique can sometimes make up for several minor tiers difference.
However, in the Qi Absorption Realm, the disparity between each tier is so great that the gap brought by the sophistication of technique has been severely minimized.
