In that instant, the four key parts of his body—skin, flesh, tendons, and bones—seemed to be reinforced. They all pulsed with a response, as if celebrating an arrival.

With his thoughts reaching far and wide,

Chu Lingguang clearly felt the fifth Dharma Aspect of the Dragon Elephant, the Qi Phase, awaken within him.

Understanding dawned on him.

Yun Hong had said that one needed the courage to face the shadow and, more importantly, the confidence to coexist with it. At the critical moment, when the Dragon Claw Tree’s wave of Potential Energy entered his Spiritual Network and rushed toward his Sea of Consciousness, he hadn’t retreated. He was confident that the Qi Vortex in his Sea of Consciousness wouldn’t be easily crushed. He even believed he could cut down a Dragon Claw Branch, grab it, and escape the black soil before the wave of Potential Energy even reached his Sea of Consciousness.

In the end, just as the Dragon Claw Branch hit the ground, the wave of Potential Energy from the tree found his Sea of Consciousness and attacked the Qi Vortex. However, not only did the wave of Potential Energy fail to harm the Qi Vortex, it was devoured instead.

In that instant, it was as if Chu Lingguang had become immune to the Potential Energy attacks from the Dragon Claw Tree.

The courage to draw his sword in the shadows and to press on through despair had given Chu Lingguang the confidence to face the Dragon Claw Tree. Ultimately, he was victorious. He had successfully located that current of qi within him and, at the crucial moment, awakened the fifth layer of the Dragon Elephant—the Qi Phase!

Only now did Chu Lingguang understand why the "confidence to coexist with the shadow," as Yun Hong had put it, was so crucial for cultivation. It was the very key to unlocking the fifth Dharma Aspect and awakening the stream of qi that coursed through his entire body.

Of course, this was also thanks to the evolution of his Spiritual Sense. At the critical moment, it had allowed him to capture the qi’s response, ride its momentum, and, in one fell swoop, successfully unlock the fifth Dharma Aspect: the Qi Phase!

It was all a natural culmination of his efforts, but more than that, it was the ultimate reward for daring to draw his sword in the shadows and allowing himself to coexist with them.

As he looked at the Dragon Claw Tree, several realizations dawned upon Chu Lingguang.

The Dragon Claw Tree’s Potential Energy wasn’t as powerful as everyone imagined. It only seemed invincible because the psychological shadow it cast upon first encounter was so overwhelming that it convinced many they could never defeat it.

When he had charged forward with the courage to face it, he found that a standard Spiritual Defense could block most of its Potential Energy attacks. Even if the Spiritual Defense was shattered, the Qi Vortex in the Sea of Consciousness that generated it would not be so easily defeated.

The key to overcoming it all was determination and courage!

Chu Lingguang was thankful he had listened to his instincts and bravely taken that step. He had not only succeeded in cutting down a Dragon Claw Branch, but had also seized a golden opportunity to awaken and unlock the fifth Dharma Aspect: the Qi Phase!

After his Spiritual Sense was strengthened, he had detected three distinct responses from within his body.

The second response came from his True Dragon Power.

The fused Dragon Elephant Power had three layers.

The first layer was True Dragon Power.

The second layer was Divine Image Power.

The third layer was Primitive Power.

Each layer of power required a corresponding Dharma Aspect for support. Without the backing of a powerful bloodline, forcefully channeling it would damage one’s bloodline and internal organs, causing irreversible internal injuries. Minor cases would result in a shortened lifespan, while severe cases would lead to ruptured organs and certain death.

Now that Chu Lingguang had unlocked the fifth Dharma Aspect, his True Dragon Power seemed to have been strengthened as well. With his powerful Spiritual Perception, he could hear the sound of an elephant’s trumpet—filled with majesty and destructive force—emanating from within his True Dragon Power.

That was the response from the Divine Image Power, signaling that his True Dragon Power had entered a state of metamorphosis. Using his enhanced Spiritual Sense, Chu Lingguang latched onto this response. The transformation of his True Dragon Power into Divine Image Power was now only a matter of time, and it was drawing near.

As for the third response, it came from within his bloodline.

His Primordial Bloodline value had already exceeded eight thousand, long since reaching the Great Success Level. If Chu Lingguang hadn’t been so focused on his Spiritual Sense recently, his Bloodline Level would have evolved long ago.

He had already sensed before that his bloodline possessed the ability to perform Breathing and Exhaling on its own. Now, with his Spiritual Sense stronger, his fifth Dharma Aspect unlocked, and his confidence at an all-time high, Chu Lingguang discovered that his bloodline’s every "breath" had become as clear as that of his own organs. It was independently absorbing power from his Dantian Qi Vortex, and as it did, his Bloodline Level evolved step by step.

Intermediate Lower Grade.

Intermediate Middle Grade.

Intermediate Upper Grade.

Superior Lower Grade.

Superior Middle Grade.

In the end, his Bloodline Level settled at Superior Middle Grade. An inexpressible hunger surged through Chu Lingguang. He felt as if his bloodline had completely devoured all of his Qi Blood Power, and even the True Dragon Power that was still in the process of transforming.

Every piece of his flesh, every one of his bones, every single organ was screaming, wailing, and telling him how hungry he was.

Bloodline evolution was a process of devouring and absorbing energy.

The Primordial Bloodline’s purpose was to grant the bloodline the ultimate ability to devour and absorb, allowing it to evolve without end.

Cultivation was a rich man’s game.

Every evolution required massive nourishment from meat.

The ravenous hunger made Chu Lingguang feel as if his bloodline had consumed all his body’s stored energy in one go.

No wonder strengthening one’s bloodline had always been a privilege reserved for the Royal Family and Nobility.

No wonder his Primordial Bloodline value had been over seven thousand, yet his Bloodline Level had hardly evolved. It wasn’t that he wasn’t talented enough; it was that he hadn’t consumed enough nourishing food.

If he hadn’t entered the Trial Ground—where those with Heavenly Talent and A-grade Talent received generous nourishment from Demon Beast Flesh and Blood, and where he could occasionally drink the Spirit Tea brewed by Teacher Yun Hong—Chu Lingguang would not have stored up so much energy. Otherwise, the massive leap his bloodline had just made might have caused him to pass out on the spot. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Even so, he now felt completely powerless.

Fortunately, he was now immune to the Dragon Claw Tree’s Potential Energy attacks.

He bent down, picked up the Dragon Claw Branch, and started walking out of the black soil.

All of this seemed to take a long time, but it had actually transpired in an instant. The crowd hadn’t noticed the changes occurring within Chu Lingguang’s body.

The entire transformation took only a breath or two.

The fifth Dharma Aspect, the Qi Phase, had unlocked naturally and all at once.

The metamorphosis of his True Dragon Power was proceeding quietly.

His bloodline evolution, on the other hand, had been a brutish affair, leaping a whole major tier—from Intermediate Lower Grade to Superior Middle Grade—in a single moment.

Normally, unlocking the Qi Phase would have produced a powerful aura or manifested the Qi Wave Armor. But because the bloodline evolution had consumed so much of his power, Chu Lingguang had no Qi Power left to show for it, despite his Qi Phase now being active.

This conveniently concealed his breakthrough from everyone.

As the crowd watched him walk out from the black soil, holding the Dragon Claw Branch and carrying his Lightning Spear, they noticed he looked significantly gaunter. He seemed like a complete stranger.

They worried that he had lost his mind.

However, as Zhao Rushuang watched Chu Lingguang stride out from the black soil, the scene felt incredibly familiar. She was reminded of the day he had unlocked his fourth Dharma Aspect.

Confidence.

Yes, that was it. Confidence.

Zhao Rushuang felt as though Chu Lingguang had undergone a complete transformation. An aura of confidence radiated from deep within him, inspiring an involuntary sense of awe.

’Is this new charisma a result of him succeeding where no one else could, by cutting down that Dragon Claw Branch?’

"Teacher Yun Hong, I’m hungry."

Chu Lingguang stepped out of the black soil, came to stand before Yun Hong, and spoke in a firm, resonant voice.

"This bottle of Spirit Tea is yours. You’ve earned it."

Yun Hong opened a bottle of Spirit Tea he carried with him and had Chu Lingguang drink it all in one go. Instantly, all eyes were on Chu Lingguang, filled with envy.

As the Spirit Tea went down, the energy was absorbed quickly, and Chu Lingguang recovered a fair amount of his Qi Power. However, the hunger didn’t vanish. In fact, bolstered by the Spirit Tea’s energy, his flesh, bones, and organs cried out with an even more intense hunger, making him desperate to eat.

Suppressing his hunger, he said, "Teacher Yun Hong, I finally understand the source of that confidence."

"Good. Now go and get something to eat."

Yun Hong nodded.

Chu Lingguang cupped his fists in a gesture to Poisonous Snake, Xu Zhongguo, and the others, then headed for the dining hall. As the crowd watched him go, some were puzzled.

Some truly didn’t understand. All Chu Lingguang had done was cut down a branch from the Dragon Claw Tree, so why was he carrying himself like a conquering king? And why was he even rewarded with a bottle of Spirit Tea from Yun Hong?

"I have a feeling," Zhao Rushuang couldn’t help but say, "that he could become the top contender and defeat every single one of us."

"I’ll be waiting for him."

Xia Tianzhong snorted coldly upon hearing her words.

(Finally hit 10,000 characters today, thanks for the support!)

(Please vote with recommendation tickets and monthly passes! Please vote!)