Chapter 53: Arriving Early

Ye Liuyun hasn't practiced with full concentration for a long time.

Now no one is tracking him, and the Black Python and Bald Vulture serve as his Protectors, so he can finally practice at ease.

So he takes a Gu Yuan Pill, begins cultivating True Qi, and condenses the True Qi Seed in the eighth Meridian.

These days he has been in constant battles. He feels that solidifying and advancing his realm through combat is the best method. It may also be related to his bloodline.

Opening the eighth Meridian didn't cost much effort. He broke through it quickly. Moreover, he is now familiar with the Meridian‑opening process, and his tolerance for pain has increased considerably.

Afterwards he began to cultivate his Soul, using Thunder‑Lightning Power to temper the Soul Sword.

His Thunder‑Lightning Power is now far stronger than before, but at first his Soul struggles to adapt, causing him to grit his teeth, grimace, and turn pale.

Just before dawn he managed to adapt a little. Yet he didn't continue; instead he took a Concentration Pill and napped for a while.

After sunrise they rode the Bald Vulture again, hurrying toward Tianyun County City.

At the Bald Vulture's pace, if they rest another night tonight, they should arrive around tomorrow noon. The Bald Vulture knows the area well, so they needn't worry about losing the way.

Ye Liuyun isn't idle on the Bald Vulture's back.

First he swallows a Bloodline Pill to raise his bloodline's awakening level, then continues to train his Soul.

In short, he practices nonstop. He finds Lei Ming bored to death, yet dares not disturb her.

During the night rest, Ye Liuyun sees that she is truly bored, so he slices meat to grill while chatting with her about how to use a dagger.

"Don't you know how to use it? Then why are you holding an assassin's dagger?" Lei Ming shows interest.

Ye Liuyun lifts the dagger and asks, "You can tell that? I can't see any difference. It's just ordinary black iron, right? I captured it from someone who was hunting me."

"You see this dagger doesn't reflect light; it must be specially forged for assassinations!" Saying that, Lei Ming pulls out her own dagger, demonstrates a few moves, and explains stabbing techniques to him.

"Treat the dagger as an extension of your arm!" Lei Ming says.

The words awaken the dreamer, and Ye Liuyun suddenly comprehends.

"Exactly! Cutting Heaven Finger is also an arm extension!"

Saying that, he rotates his finger force from afar and points with a single finger.

"Sss"—with a sound, the nearby big tree is pierced by a finger‑thin hole.

Sure enough, it saves a lot of True Qi and its power also increases considerably.

Ye Liuyun immediately stops grilling and directly practices Cutting Heaven Finger, refining it in one breath to a perfect state.

Since acquiring Cutting Heaven Finger, Ye Liuyun has rarely cultivated his Star‑Plucking Hand. The technique values quality over quantity; having more would be beyond his capacity to practice.

Lei Ming watches him from the side, entranced. "Your comprehension is quite good!"

"Likewise!" Ye Liuyun modestly replies, discarding the burnt meat and swapping for another piece to continue grilling.

"Grill me two more pieces; I can't teach you for free!" Lei Ming coos playfully.

"Alright! Tonight we'll be full!" Ye Liuyun laughs happily.

"But where did you learn these techniques?" Ye Liuyun asks curiously.

"I am a Monster Beast; I don't need to study specially—some techniques are inherited in the bloodline. Moreover, these methods were summarized by our ancestors and suit us perfectly," Lei Ming admits openly.

Ye Liuyun listens, his face full of envy. He wonders whether the full awakening of his bloodline will bring any powerful techniques.

That night, Ye Liuyun cultivates his Soul and bloodline power for a while, then lies down early to sleep.

Upon reaching Tianyun County City, something might happen; he might not be able to sleep again.

"While it's safe now, better get more sleep! Even sleeping has become a luxury!"

Ye Liuyun sighs inwardly, then quickly falls asleep. He's accustomed to keeping a portion of his Divine Sense awake even while sleeping.

In his dream, he finds Lei Ming transformed into her true form, curled in his arms as she sleeps. He doesn't mind, hugging her fluffy body for warmth.

After sleeping until dawn, they continue on their way.

Soon they arrive at Tianyun County City.

Ye Liuyun looks down from the sky at Tianyun County City, gaining a different understanding of the city. It's his first time surveying a city from the air.

Suddenly he wonders whether those legendary beings who can command the skies view the people below as equally tiny.

As the Bald Vulture slowly lands outside the city, Ye Liuyun's mood grows even more excited.

Finally arrived! Since leaving Fengyang City, the journey has been full of twists. Now he has finally reached his destination!

He shrinks the Bald Vulture and Black Python, placing them inside his Storage Ring.

Then he discusses with Lei Ming: when he goes to the barracks he can't bring Lei Ming, so he puts Lei Ming into the Storage Ring as well.

But Lei Ming refuses, saying she is an ancient fierce beast and cannot stay in storage. In truth she finds it too stifling. After negotiation, Lei Ming assumes her true form as Ye Liuyun's pet, perching on his shoulder and entering the city with him.

Since the Tianyun Royal Mansion's selection competition is about to be held, qualified martial artists from everywhere are gathering here, making many inns overcrowded.

All guest rooms are taken. In the end Ye Liuyun can only rent a Side Courtyard. Though it costs much more, it is quiet and free from disturbance.

After settling in, he inquires about the competition's time and venue.

Then Lei Ming clings to him, and they stroll around the county city, where he buys her lots of tasty food. Only when Lei Ming can eat no more do they return to the inn.

There are still seven days before the competition starts, so he can still raise his realm a bit.

In the coming days he stays indoors, calmly cultivating at his residence, aiming to raise his realm to True Essence First Level before the competition.

But things don't go as hoped; the True Qi Seeds in the acupoints of his ninth Meridian required great effort to condense.

Yet using True Qi to open the entire Meridian keeps failing.

He thinks it may be insufficient refinement of True Qi or an under‑expanded Qi Sea, so for the remaining time he desperately compresses and refines True Qi, expanding his Qi Sea.

Finally, before the competition, he manages to reconstruct the Meridian.

This final Meridian is broader than the others.

Although his realm hasn't broken through, Ye Liuyun finds that after reconstructing his ninth Meridian, the speed of absorbing Heavenly Earth spiritual energy has surged, becoming more than ten times faster than before.

Previously, each newly opened spiritual vein increased his absorption speed, but only after all nine Meridians were rebuilt did he feel a rapid surge.

Thanks to the Meridian reconstruction, the rate of absorbing Heavenly Earth spiritual energy is ten times faster; on the night before the competition, the True Qi Seeds throughout Ye Liuyun's body finally stir, showing intention to converge into the Qi Sea.

But there wasn't enough time left for him. He also had no choice but to stop and wait until after the match to break through again to the True Essence realm.