Chapter 79: Chapter 66: Longxi Breathing Art, Advancement, Third Realm Trait: Qi Circulation

"Senior Brother Lian, why’d you stop smiling? Were you just born this serious?"

CRUNCH!

Those words made Lian Zhixia grind his teeth so hard they threatened to shatter. Filled with rage, he stalked straight toward Xie Yuzhu.

After he stormed off, Lin Yuxuan turned her gaze to Zhong Ming. In the midst of Lian Zhixia’s humiliation, she had become intensely curious about Zhong Ming.

’What kind of power do you have, to make Xie Yuzhu and Xie Yushuang abandon their bright futures at Molten Fire Peak and Cuixiang Mountain, just to face hardship with you on Longxi Peak?’

As she stared at Zhong Ming, slightly lost in thought, Lian Zhixia and Xie Yuzhu had already started to argue.

"I don’t have to report my actions to you! You can’t control me!"

"Besides, on Molten Fire Peak, my rank is higher than yours. You should be calling me Senior Sister!"

Unsurprisingly, the two of them began to quarrel.

And because Xie Yuzhu had been the first to achieve a breakthrough, her status on Molten Fire Peak was indeed slightly higher than Lian Zhixia’s, leaving him unable to win the argument.

In the end, with a grim expression, he could only throw out a final parting shot before leaving in a hurry. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"I will report this to Master Senior Brother Yan Chen."

"Hmph! Go tell him then. I’m not afraid..."

As she said this, Xie Yuzhu was initially a bit hesitant, but she soon caught sight of Zhong Ming, and her confidence immediately returned, making her puff out her chest.

This sight—of her confidence swelling just from having someone to back her up—made Zhong Ming chuckle. At the same time, it made him take this Yan Chen person more seriously.

’It seems that so-called Yan Chen commands a great deal of authority on Molten Fire Peak.’

...

Lin Yuxuan and Lian Zhixia had come in a hurry, and they left just as quickly.

Their arrival and departure had little effect on Zhong Ming.

Even though he had learned from them that Molten Fire Peak had partnered with the array-specializing Bamboo Forest Peak, while the alchemy-focused Cuixiang Mountain had recruited Body Cultivators from Bright Stone Peak.

These alliances made it even more difficult for Longxi Peak to take first place, but his expression remained largely unchanged.

It was Yi Yunya, who arrived late, who actually managed to frustrate Zhong Ming a little.

Of course, it wasn’t that he couldn’t be without her. It was that when he used Bright Mirror Stilled Water - Ripples, he discovered with a complicated expression that she had broken through to the mid-stage of Qi Cultivation before he had.

"..."

Yi Yunya noticed the odd look on Zhong Ming’s face. Though she didn’t think he would be jealous over something like this, she still offered an explanation.

"Senior Brother, in the early stages of Cultivation, a Spiritual Root is more important than comprehension. But this is as far as our rapid progress goes."

"To advance to the late stage of Qi Cultivation, we can’t just rely on taking Elixir Pills. We have to cultivate the Longxi Breathing Technique to the level of Refinement."

"And that will hold us back for at least several months."

"If we’re unlucky, it could even be a whole year."

Zhong Ming replied, "You don’t have to explain all that. Your increase in strength is a good thing for me."

After reassuring Yi Yunya, Zhong Ming closed his eyes and continued to rest his spirit.

Inhale... Exhale...

And so, two hours later, Zhong Ming suddenly had a premonition. He immediately began to circulate his Cultivation Technique.

HUMMM...

As his Magical Power circulated, he activated everything that could increase his comprehension: his Mind Reading, Bright Mirror Stilled Water - Ripples, and more.

PLINK!

The moment all these abilities were active, the foretold moment arrived. The sound of a water droplet striking a stone suddenly echoed in the depths of Zhong Ming’s Sea of Consciousness.

[Clear Sound Spring Stone: Divine Sound]

HUMMM...

This special power washed over Zhong Ming’s Divine Soul, leaving his Soul Spirit feeling utterly refreshed.

But unlike before, as his Heart Soul relaxed, he suddenly felt his Soul Spirit break through its boundaries, merging as one with his physical body and even the heavens and earth.

The instant this occurred, Zhong Ming knew: his Longxi Breathing Technique had broken through from the Second Realm to the Third Realm, plunging him into a minor epiphany.

WHOOSH...

In his state of epiphany, Zhong Ming felt his consciousness expand. At that moment, he inexplicably grasped the living rhythm of the world.

’To be alive is to be whole, to have a beginning and an end, to be part of an unceasing cycle...’

RUSH...

Following Zhong Ming’s realization, the Magical Power flowing within his meridians abruptly elongated.

Previously, the Magical Power flowing in his meridians—whether it resembled a Flood Dragon or a snake—was always disconnected, its head never meeting its tail.

But now, the elongated Magical Power formed a complete whole, like an Ouroboros, giving Zhong Ming a sense of completeness, as if his body had finally been made perfect.

’From this day forth, I am finally complete.’

And in the Cultivation Realm, this state of completeness has a specific name: Qi Circulation!

[You have performed one session of the Longxi Breathing Technique. Cultivation Technique progress +13.]

[Your Longxi Breathing Technique has advanced. Current level: Third Realm - Refinement.]

[Longxi Breathing Technique, Third Realm - Refinement (12/36000). Traits: ① Flow of Water, ② Qi Circulation... ③ Dragon Flood Dragon Dao Rhyme (Incomplete) (9.6%)]

Haaaah...

The feeling of completeness was almost moving to Zhong Ming, and he quickly began to notice the benefits of his body’s new ’wholeness’.

First, there was his cultivation. Previously, Zhong Ming had to consciously control the flow and circulation of his Magical Power.

But now, the head-to-tail loop of Spiritual Qi had become a part of his body, just like the blood in his veins.

Even if he did nothing, the connected loop of Magical Power would cycle through his body endlessly on its own accord.

This meant that Zhong Ming was now cultivating at all times, whether he was sitting, lying down, or walking.

’Cultivating twenty-four hours a day... for me, that’s no longer just a dream.’

In addition to constant cultivation, Qi Circulation also provided a massive boost to Zhong Ming’s combat prowess.

This was especially true for his immediate reaction speed.

Although the Magical Power was already branded as his and would move at the speed of his Thought, the process of it flowing out from his Dantian and circulating to where he needed it still involved a momentary delay.

This delay created an opening, a possibility of him being caught by a surprise attack.

But now, things were different.

With his Magical Power forming a complete circuit, Zhong Ming was now in a constant peak state.

He no longer needed to draw Magical Power from his Dantian; now, his every punch and kick was already infused with its power.

’Because my Magical Power is always circulating, my Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique doesn’t even need a preparatory pause. Any casual draw will now be a strike that contains my body’s full power!’

Thinking of this, Zhong Ming couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.

’A Basic Technique truly is fundamental. If I had managed to break through with the Longxi Breathing Technique first, cultivating the Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique wouldn’t have been nearly so difficult.’

’Back then, for my cultivation from the Second Realm to the Third Realm, I wouldn’t have even needed to think about shortcuts. I could have just drawn my sword, and the progress of my Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique would have increased by +1 with every single draw.’

After this moment of reflection, Zhong Ming also realized that besides offense, Qi Circulation had also greatly enhanced his defense.

’Now, my Magical Power pervades every inch of my body. In this state, for an enemy to attack my internal organs, they would first have to break through the complete network of Magical Power. And that will not be easy.’

’Especially since I have the Flow of Water, I can use my Magical Power as a medium to distribute the force of any attack aimed at my vitals across my entire body...’

Constant cultivation, instantly accessible Magical Power, and a defensive web of that same power covering his entire body.

Once his Longxi Breathing Technique reached the Third Realm and he obtained the Qi Circulation trait, Zhong Ming’s strength had undergone a qualitative leap.

Under normal circumstances, Zhong Ming’s epiphany would have ended there.

He had already gained more than enough. The Third Realm of the Longxi Breathing Technique corresponded to the late stage of Qi Cultivation, and these abilities were powerful enough to be considered Divine Skills even for a Cultivator at that level.

But his current state was anything but normal.

The Divine Sound from the Clear Sound Spring Stone continued to echo in his Sea of Consciousness. The blessing from this strange treasure ensured that Zhong Ming’s epiphany was about more than just the fusion of spirit and flesh.

His Heart Soul had also broken through the confines of his physical body, resonating with the very heavens and earth.