Chapter 173

The two words "attending class" gave Heng Xian a strange feeling, as if from another lifetime, distant yet as if only yesterday.

He suddenly became interested in this "mister", but the pressing matter was to first take the pill and break through the realm — this is the foundation of establishing oneself.

In the evening, after eating the dinner Ah Su brought back from school, Heng Xian excused himself, saying his wounds hadn't healed, and closed the door early to rest.

After waiting until late night when the whole valley had fallen asleep, he silently lifted the rear window, leapt out, and headed straight for the northern woods.

He ran for over half an hour before stopping in a pitch‑dark old grove, then sat cross‑legged, spent the time of half an incense stick calming his mind and breath, afterwards took out three "Yi Fire Breaking Origin Pills", swallowed them in one gulp, formed hand seals, and circulated the "Purple Stellar Eight Wastes Sword God Dao" cultivation method.

Each time a realm is broken through, it is actually a new sublimation that occurs after the body's spiritual energy has accumulated and the five viscera and six bowels have been tempered.

Such pills provide a vast amount of spiritual energy and what the body needs, achieving the effect of rapid breakthrough.

After the three pills entered his belly, a surging wave of spiritual energy, pungent aroma, and stimulation filled his abdomen.

Heng Xian immediately activated the cultivation method, drawing the pill's power bit by bit into his five viscera, six bowels, and limbs.

Half an hour…

One hour…

Two hours…

"Boom——"

A thick, heavy surge of spiritual energy shot from the forest straight to the sky.

Even from twenty li away, the "Peach Orchard Valley" could see it clearly.

At that moment in the valley, the door of a uniquely shaped wooden house opened, and a figure stepped out.

He was indeed a youth wearing a white long robe with his hair tied in a scholar's topknot; his attire differed greatly from the locals, he appeared about twenty years old, his features were not particularly handsome, even somewhat ordinary, yet he looked very comfortable.

He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the distant forest where a thick surge of spiritual energy shot to the heavens, and muttered to himself: "Qi Hai Realm seventh layer, pure spiritual energy, breakthrough came naturally, his aura fierce and sharp — a fine seedling, rare!"

Having said that, he turned to go back inside, but no sooner had the slowly waning breakthrough surge faded than another breakthrough surge shot up to the clouds.

He stopped, chuckled lightly, and said: "He has reached Qi Hai Realm eighth layer, breaking through consecutively; although the breakthrough aura seems unchanged, still pure and fierce, it is actually a bit weaker than the previous surge and has some impurity — he must have taken a pill!"

"Such a miraculous pill exists in the world? Who is this person?"

As he muttered, the people in the surrounding wooden and bamboo houses were awakened, all rushing out; led by a sixty‑something elder with his head wrapped in white cloth, they came running with torches.

The leading elder, who had cultivated to Qi Hai Realm fifth layer, stared at the breakthrough aura in the northern forest, his face full of panic: "Who is breaking through near our Peach Orchard Valley? Could it be… people from Black Crow Valley?"

The youth in front of the strange house smiled: "Valley chief, there's no need to worry; this person's breakthrough aura is completely different from Black Crow Valley's cultivation method,

Moreover, Peach Orchard Valley has always kept to itself and has no enemies; it's unlikely to be a foe!"

The old valley chief sighed in relief: "Thank you for the explanation, sir, but I still need to go see for myself to be at ease!"

The youth "mister" said: "If the valley chief truly wishes to go look, I suggest you hold torches and stop five li away; if that person wants to see you, he will come of his own accord; if he does not, forcing a meeting would be inappropriate!"

"Mister, rest assured, I understand," said the old valley chief, and he hurriedly led the people over.

The "mister" shook his head, lightly tapped his right foot; the door swung open by itself, a chair sprang out from inside, he lifted his foot onto it, and the chair carried him into the house, after which the door closed automatically.

The whole sequence was remarkably miraculous.

In the forest, Heng Xian opened his eyes and clenched his fist.

Having reached Qi Hai Realm eighth layer, his strength more than doubled, and his spiritual power and physique also doubled.

No wonder, while cultivating in the sect, everyone said that the seventh, eighth, and ninth layers of Qi Hai Realm are hurdles, each layer stronger than the last.

I wonder if, when I meet Hou Zhenfang and the others again, I'll be able to match them.

As he thought, a faint glow of fire came from down the mountain.

Heng Xian exhaled, his form flickered, he ran a circuit around the woods, and returned like a flash to his temporary dwelling in the valley.

Having just wiped himself clean and pretended to lie down, the whole valley bustled awake, everyone discussing the recent "spiritual energy vortex".

Heng Xian rubbed his brow; his breakthrough phenomenon was somewhat more intense than ordinary people's, drawing too much attention.

Fortunately, it was only a minor realm breakthrough; otherwise, Hou Zhenfang's "followers" would come after him again.

He formed hand seals and entered meditation.

…

Early the next morning, Ah Su came early to deliver breakfast.

Fried dough cakes, bird eggs, millet porridge, and a dish made by mixing wild beast meat with rice.

The taste was good.

Ah Su cupped his round face with both hands, staring at him, as if watching someone eat was its own unique pleasure; only when he was nearly finished did he smile and say: "Did you see that thick, long, terrifying thing from last night?"

Heng Xian feigned ignorance: "There's such a thing?"

Ah Su nodded: "That's the spiritual energy surge caused by the breakthrough; I checked your body — you have no cultivation at all, so you shouldn't know about it!"

"Yeah." Heng Xian nodded, then asked: "Are you going to class today?"

Ah Su startled, panicked and ran toward the door: "Oh no! It's my turn to strike the wooden bell today! Stay still, don't move — my father and the elders will come see you today!"

Heng Xian shook his head, finished breakfast in a few bites, tidied up, and walked out the door.

Outside on the street, many people in the valley saw him come out and gave him a curious, monkey‑watching look.

Heng Xian could only return the same monkey‑watching gaze.

At that moment, a group of dark‑skinned, sturdy youths ran over, blocking his path; their leader, a towering figure nine feet tall like a severed iron tower, shouted: "Hey! I heard Ah Su from Elder Su's household rescued a person — that must be you? Now I warn you!

"Ah Su is mine; if you think you can repay her lifesaving kindness with nothing but offering yourself, I'll twist your dog's head off!"

This youth clearly lacks education, yet he can utter the phrase "repaying a lifesaving kindness with nothing but offering oneself," which surprised Heng Xian.

Heng Xian immediately put on a solemn expression: "A fine horse matches a hero, a beauty matches a champion; brother, you look like a champion, Ah Su certainly belongs with you — you're a match made in heaven, just ignore me!"

The leader blinked in surprise: "What's a champion?"

Heng Xian replied seriously: "Someone even more formidable than a hero!"

The leader, embarrassed by the praise, laughed: "Haha, that's right — I am indeed a champion; I'm Ma Yong, and from now on I'll protect you in the valley!"

Heng Xian nodded: "Then, Champion Brother, I'd like to go see where the mister holds his class — do you think that's appropriate?"

Ma Yong laughed heartily: "Of course, follow me!"

Leading a group of young fellows, he walked ahead.

Heng Xian followed behind.

Walking down the main street for about a li, the group of young fellows stopped in front of a strange house, then turned and lowered their voices: "This is the place!"

Heng Xian looked over,

At this glance, it was as if struck by lightning!

He swore that, in the nearly two years since coming to this world, the total emotional upheaval he had experienced was not even one-third as intense as now.

His lips trembled involuntarily, and he couldn't help shouting: "Holy shit! A BMW X5?!"

(End of chapter)