Chapter 190: The Difficult Breakthrough After Body Forging

"Lord Jian's divine bearing is peerless, his aura piercing the heavens."

"Even the painter has reached the realm of returning to simplicity; with just a few casual strokes of her delicate fingers, I saw the profound truth."

"That sharp sword is so elegant and straight—it must be aimed at Shang Xiyao, Dou Yuan Kong, Chu He, and the masters of the foreign immortal estates in Fengzhou."

"Beautiful, I love it, I'll keep watching."

"Yours respectfully."

Even if I don't understand it, flattering him is always safe…

In the days that followed, the temperature grew colder and colder.

Every morning until noon, Ji You sat motionless in the meditation chamber, performing his sixteenth micro-illumination, using the spiritual energy leaking beyond his dantian as fuel to ignite spiritual fire and continue forging his body.

This time, his physical bottleneck proved extremely difficult to break through, as if he had reached the next critical threshold; the pain caused by each burning became excruciating.

For several consecutive days, the spiritual fire burning within him could only surge through his meridians, unable to penetrate his skin.

This is the limitation of cultivation: the stronger the body, the harder the next forging becomes.

From noon to afternoon, he sought the breakthrough opportunity, living with extreme regularity.

Several days later, at the peak of a scorching noon, after multiple rounds of spiritual fire forging, Ji You collapsed into weakness—his strength depleted, his spiritual sense exhausted, in dire need of rest.

He brewed tea in the courtyard, calmed his Dao heart, then began pondering Lord Jian's masterpiece once more.

Why stab me? Did she know Yuan Caiwei had seen the good thing first?

I still haven't received a reply—it's utterly baffling.

As the sun began its descent, Ji You wrote several farewell letters—to Cao Jingsong, to Kuangcheng, to Brother Ban—and handed them to the disciple guarding the inner courtyard, then walked toward the Purple Bamboo Meditation Grove.

He had no intention of suppressing his realm for the Tian Dao Assembly; he decided to enter Rong Dao as soon as possible to gain greater combat power.

The first threshold to entering Rong Dao was advancing from Tong Xuan Middle Realm to Tong Xuan Upper Realm.

After days of searching, he had roughly sensed the breakthrough opportunity, so he planned to begin his assault today.

Ji You stepped into the pure, boundless Purple Bamboo Meditation Grove, sat cross-legged beneath the bamboo, entered deep meditation, and continuously drew in the vast spiritual energy surrounding the grove, absorbing it into his body.

As the spiritual energy surged through him several times, the gentle stream within his body transformed into a roaring river, surging and churning.

Soon, radiant aura began to ripple around him, spreading from his forehead down to the ground, emitting a faint but unceasing hum.

Emptiness. Darkness.

This was Ji You's only sensation during his breakthrough—like being wrapped tightly, every part of him tensed—but this was not abnormal; it was a universal feeling when crossing a minor realm.

Yet he soon realized this constriction was different from before.

Previously, the constriction during breakthroughs had been a single layer of pressure; now, it felt alive, growing stronger the more he struggled.

This intense constriction likely stemmed from his physical strength.

Cultivation beyond the Fifth Realm is a process of separating spiritual sense from the body; the body's strength imposes real limits on the spiritual sense.

It's like a caterpillar seeking to ascend to a higher dimension of life—it must spin a cocoon. Sometimes it breaks free and becomes a butterfly; sometimes it suffocates within its own cocoon.

His last breakthrough had been at Qiling, when he had not yet conceived the idea of forging his body with spilled spiritual energy from shattered dantian.

Back then, his breakthrough had been as effortless as a sudden urination—no holding it, no squeezing it.

Now, having performed micro-illumination countless times, the restriction his body imposed on his spiritual sense was laid bare.

No matter. If the water's too much, add flour; if the flour's too much, add water.

He took a deep breath, continued drawing spiritual energy into his body, and strained with all his might to break free—his entire combat intent began to boil.

As Ji You pushed with all his strength, beads of sweat broke out on his forehead, the radiant aura around him erupted in sparks, the hum grew louder, transforming into a continuous roar that made the bamboo leaves above rustle incessantly.

He once asked the headmaster, how did martial artists in TV dramas train their lightness skills?

The headmaster didn't know either, so he fooled him: tie heavy iron blocks to your legs, run every day, and when you reach your old level, add more iron, then keep running.

One day, when you feel you've had enough, remove all the iron blocks—and suddenly, you've mastered lightness.

He thought it made sense back then, and now he still thinks it makes perfect sense.

The physical restriction is so severe, it's like being bound with immense weights—so he'd test just how high a Tong Xuan Upper Realm he could break through…

He Lingxiu had just finished her cultivation and entered the Purple Bamboo Meditation Grove.

Xiao Hanyan and Shi Junhao were there too, sipping tea and resting.

Both were currently pushing toward Ying Tian Realm; once they entered it, they would be chosen as direct disciples of the Hall Master—a benefit they gained from accompanying the envoy mission to the demon tribes.

He Lingxiu sat across from them and asked: "How's your progress?"

Shi Junhao frowned slightly: "It's been days since we returned from the Snowlands, yet we still haven't found the breakthrough opportunity. We'll need to prepare for a long wait."

He Lingxiu replied: "The elders say the Ying Tian Realm demands utmost naturalness, alignment with Heaven's will—you shouldn't rush."

Cultivation beyond the Fifth Realm advances one threshold at a time, growing harder the higher one climbs.

Because the Dao is profound; at this level, if one lacks insight, no amount of effort can compensate.

Yet Shi Junhao and Xiao Hanyan both possess excellent talent—they are among the academy's top students.

Moreover, though the Shi and Xiao families are not millennia-old clans, they are still powerful lineages, providing them the conditions to sit in seclusion in the mountains, enduring years of arduous cultivation in peace.

But Shi Junhao didn't seem to think so: "I'll wait for the Tian Dao Assembly."

He Lingxiu lifted her gaze: "You plan to break through at the Ancient Sages' Awakening Grounds?"

"Yes. Breaking through there might accelerate the process."

"The top ten in same-realm combat may enter the Ancient Sages' Awakening Grounds—it's not difficult for you."

Shi Junhao replied: "If I'm going to compete, I'll aim for the highest rank. To be honest, I want to reach the very center of the Sacred Ground."

He Lingxiu opened her mouth: "Then you'll have to take first place. What do you think, Sister Xiao?"

Xiao Hanyan smiled lightly at Shi Junhao: "Whatever you're thinking, I've thought of too."

Shi Junhao paused: "So you've had the same idea as me?"

"Even without the promise of a direct disciple status, I'm going to the Ancient Sages' Sacred Ground. Who among us cultivators can resist such temptation?"

At that moment, a roar erupted from deep within the Purple Bamboo Meditation Grove, instantly drawing the attention of the three.

He Lingxiu turned and saw Ji You between the bamboo stalks.

His radiant aura grew ever more magnificent; the roar generated by the aura around him had already reached the tea pavilion.

From the aura alone, He Lingxiu could tell he was breaking from Tong Xuan Middle Realm to Upper Realm—but Shi Junhao's next murmured words made her freeze.

"Do you think he's trying to enter Rong Dao?"

"?"

He Lingxiu turned to him and laughed lightly: "Breaking from Tong Xuan to Rong Dao is a major hurdle. Ji You's only been in Tong Xuan for a year—he won't advance that fast. Even if he enters Rong Dao, it'll be only the initial stage. Brother Shi, are you afraid he'll steal your spot?"

After speaking, she glanced at Xiao Hanyan, expecting her sister to laugh too—but Xiao Hanyan's expression had grown slightly grave.

This stunned her; she blinked, her pink lips slightly parted in confusion.

Wait—you're actually worried?

He Lingxiu had never been to the Snowlands, never faced a Warlord, never seen the 【Forty-Nine Mountains】—she'd only read the reports.

In her view, Ji You had merely blocked a punch from a Warlord equivalent to Ying Tian Realm. Though astonishing, blocking and defeating are worlds apart.

After all, after he blocked that punch, the barbarian Warlord remained unharmed, while Ji You suffered spiritual force piercing his body—he still had a long way to go.

Xiao Hanyan and Shi Junhao were already touching the threshold of Ying Tian Realm; they shouldn't be this concerned.

In truth, Xiao Hanyan and Shi Junhao thought the same—but whenever they recalled the 【Forty-Nine Mountains】 on the Barbarian Wastes, they felt a shiver.

What's learned from paper is always shallow; only those who have stood there can truly grasp how formidable that sword Dao was.

Shi Junhao lifted his teacup: "By combat power calculations, he shouldn't be feared—but… there's always this nagging unease."

Xiao Hanyan nodded: "Perhaps it's his reckless determination that makes us always overestimate his combat power."

"Does the younger brother really want to enter Rong Dao as soon as possible?"

"He did mention Rong Dao."

On a day when the temperature plummeted and frost hung from the branches, Ban Yangshu and Wen Zhengxin sat around a fire in Cao Jingsong's courtyard, talking.

The teapot, warmed by charcoal, released a fragrant steam that carried warmth through the biting winter, adding quiet comfort to the cold day.

Cao Jingsong had recently been busy helping Xiang Fu, Liu Jian'an, and Cong Yi consolidate their spiritual energy to reach the fullness of the Lower Three Realms.

After all, they were all disciples who loved giving gifts—even if the unruly disciples had stolen them later, the gifts had still been given, and as a teacher, it was only right to put in extra effort.

Yet their cultivation progress had been sluggish, deeply reminding Cao Jingsong of the vast gaps between people.

Back then, Ji You had advanced two realms in a single night—his speed was unstoppable, like five oxen couldn't hold him back. But Xiang Fu and the others had been stuck on consolidating spiritual energy for months; even some of the elixirs Ji You could never afford had been used, yet still no success.

Wen Zhengxin lifted his teacup, pondered for a long while, then spoke: "Perhaps it would be safer for the younger brother to compete in the Tian Dao Assembly as a Tong Xuan cultivator?"

"I told him that too, but Ji You said it's the right of noble family heirs, not something a rural self-cultivator like him can claim."

"What right?"

Cao Jingsong raised his eyes: "The right to sit in seclusion in the mountains, cultivating in peace."

Ban Yangshu added: "The younger brother means that the academy's noble disciples can cultivate peacefully because their families provide support—but the younger brother has none. He must worry about so much: the immortal estates of Fengzhou, next year's harvest, tax allocations—it's endless."

Cao Jingsong nodded: "Ji You plans to switch the crops in Fengzhou and attract more cultivators to reclaim vast wastelands. The immortal estates will inevitably use this opportunity to demand a reallocation of next year's taxes. For him, strength is the only bargaining chip on the table."

Wen Zhengxin frowned: "The path your younger brother chose is far too difficult."

"Fengzhou has been dominated by foreign immortal estates for a thousand years. Someone must walk this path."

In the following days, Cao Jingsong received a letter from Shengjing City, signed by Kuangcheng, asking about Ji You's breakthrough.

He still owed Ji You a meal—he'd even prepared the silver—and now he worked his nine-to-five shift at the Office of Immortal Affairs, waiting.

His relationship with Wei Rui was going smoothly; they often met secretly, and lately he'd been pondering holding her hand.

But Ji You was now wholly focused on his breakthrough, unable to meet him, leaving the scholarly Kuang unable to seek advice.

He'd considered writing a letter to the Heavenly Book Academy, but felt writing "I want to hold her hand" on paper seemed even more reckless than saying it aloud—and so he prayed for Ji You's breakthrough to come soon.

Besides this, Kuang Cheng often visited the Orphanage to care for the children.

Huwa had reached the age of rapid growth; each time they met, he was a little taller than before, but as always, he kept muttering about his sister.

Kuangcheng felt he seemed to already know his sister had been murdered, for he used to merely murmur her childhood name, yet he no longer asked Kuangcheng to help search for her.

Yet Kuang the scholar had never truly given up, always hoping to find even a corpse, a grave, or at least some trace of her.

But after the Zheng family's ancestral elder failed to ascend, everything seemed to vanish like smoke and clouds—nothing could be found, as if it had merely been a grand but inconsequential interlude, and even those who mentioned it grew fewer.

After delivering the letter, Kuangcheng now sat on a bamboo chair in the Lonely Orphanage, holding a candied hawthorn skewer and pondering long, when Wei Rui arrived gracefully.

"Miss Rui? What are you doing here?"

"I've come to deliver some preserved fruits to the children."

Wei Rui lifted the pastry box in her hand, plucked out one treat, hesitated a moment, then held it to his lips: "Just out of Furong Pavilion—here, have one…"

Kuangcheng held his breath, then softly opened his mouth.

Wei Rui's cheeks flushed faintly; she hastily found a topic: "By the way, why haven't we seen Master Ji in so long?"

Kuangcheng pressed his burning cheeks: "Ji You? You mean him? He… who?"

"?"

"Oh, I remember—you mean my sworn brother? He's in seclusion breaking through his realm; I haven't seen him in half a month…"

Wei Rui blinked: "Does breaking through take this long?"

Kuangcheng shook his head: "I don't know."

Does breaking through take this long? This question was tied to one's innate talent.

Ji You's talent had always been exceptional—a fact universally acknowledged by both inner and outer courtyards—and he should never have taken so long.

Thus, Xiao Hanyan and Shi Junhao had been observing him these past days; their earlier unease gradually eased.

Because Ji You's breakthrough had been extraordinarily difficult…

Gradually, some began to understand.

He was bound by his physical form.

Human cultivators needed to comprehend the Dao, and spiritual sense was the vessel for heavenly-human resonance; an overly powerful body restricted spiritual sense and hindered heavenly-human resonance—this was the universal consensus of Qingyun Realm, so nowadays few cultivators practiced body refinement.

Some haphazard body-refinement methods were only touched upon by private cultivators or those stuck at a bottleneck for years.

Yet many knew Ji You practiced body refinement.

"Though we don't know what method Ji You used, body refinement is undeniably a heretical path that wastes talent."

"True. Though it boosts combat power within the same realm, the drawbacks are glaring—it completely negates one's affinity with the Dao."

"For students with no talent who waste years, I might suggest they dabble in heretical paths—but Ji You? He shouldn't."

"He's just a country private cultivator—what choice does he have? Without body refinement, could he have defeated Chu He? Could he have lifted the Forty-Nine Peaks of Spirit Sword Mountain?"

Ji You's breakthrough dragged on so long that during the barren winter, it sparked endless debate—even Elders discussed it, igniting a dual inquiry into body refinement and Dao comprehension.

It was an extremely classic case, unparalleled in a hundred years.

For once a consensus turned negative, few dared defy it; someone like Ji You—talented yet stubbornly clinging to body refinement—was as rare as phoenix feathers or unicorn horns.

So, should one practice body refinement?

If yes, everyone had seen the limitations he now suffered.

If no, others argued that without it, he might not survive Chu He's 【Heavenly Chaos Art】 in the Autumn Duel, nor lift the 【Forty-Nine Peaks】 on the Wildlands.

"Honestly, I was a little afraid Ji You's breakthrough would be easy. Now I'm slightly relieved."

"Oh?"

"Brother Pan, don't you feel this rising star makes things difficult for us in the Inner Courtyard?"

On the path descending from Buchen Hall, two figures came down.

One was Pan Bin, the other Liu Qichen—both had entered the academy before Ji You, failed to sense the Heavenly Book, and had been stuck at the threshold of the Fusion Dao realm for years.

Compared to Ji You, they were unknown; though they'd entered the Inner Courtyard without strong rivals, without the Heavenly Book's aid, their cultivation pace had always been slow.

When discussing Ji You's breakthrough, they felt most awkward; upon hearing he struggled due to his overpowered body, they finally exhaled in relief.

In the twelfth lunar month, snow began falling across all Nine Provinces; in Shengjing, heaven and earth turned white, snowflakes falling like crushed jade shards, swirling endlessly.

The peak of Nishan turned white overnight; snow fell thickly, blanketing the entire capital.

The Heavenly Book Academy was the most attuned to the Dao among the Seven Immortal Sects, accustomed to following seasonal cycles, and rarely used immortal arts to dispel snow—so the eaves of the Five Immortal Halls in the Inner Courtyard hung thick with crystal-clear icicles, like suspended glass.

In the morning, Inner Courtyard disciples came toward the Purple Bamboo Meditation Grove.

After all, the day's plan began at dawn; human minds were clearest in the first few moments after waking.

Several Dao-comprehension spots had been cleared by the Office of Affairs, and meditation cushions placed neatly.

"Sister Xiao, some morning tea?"

"No, I don't drink tea in the morning—I'll go meditate first."

Xiao Hanyan waved to He Lingxiu, Shi Junhao, Chai Ze, Leng Yingying, and others in the teahouse, then went to her spot and sat in silent meditation.

Seeking a breakthrough differed from daily meditation—it required no prolonged effort, nor elixirs or spirit stones for replenishment.

Sometimes, a breakthrough came in a single flash of insight.

Cultivators at this stage rarely sank too deeply into stillness, lest their minds grow too still and miss that fleeting spark.

At this moment, Xiao Hanyan's eyes were tightly shut, continuously searching the Dao.

After some time, a sound of flowing water suddenly reached her ears, causing her third eye to furrow slightly.

In recent days, heaven and earth had been frozen by bitter cold; temperatures had plunged to extremes, and flowing water had turned to ice—she hadn't heard such lively water sounds in a long while.

She slowly opened her eyes, following the sound, and saw the uncleaned snow on the ground quietly melting.

The meltwater gathered in the ditches between the bamboo grove, forming trickling streams that wound forward.

"The temperature has risen…"

Xiao Hanyan thought inwardly, instinctively turning her head left—and saw other Inner Courtyard disciples also gazing in the same direction with astonishment.

There, the snow had melted into a neat circle; meltwater flowed steadily outward, following the terrain.

Then, a pair of brilliant golden eyes slowly opened, and a scorching aura poured relentlessly from its owner.

Xiao Hanyan froze slightly, feeling a wave of heat rush toward her…

He Lingxiu and Shi Junhao had just finished their morning tea and were about to meditate.

Jokes flew back and forth; someone even seemed to be betting on whether Xiao Hanyan or Shi Junhao would break through first.

But as they stepped out of the teahouse, their steps halted abruptly, and their smiles faded.

For they had just encountered Ji You emerging from the bamboo grove.

His lips were pale as paper, utterly bloodless; he gave a slight nod to those in the teahouse, then trudged heavily toward the grove's edge, his brow and eyes heavy with exhaustion, as if recovering from a grave illness.

Yet the comparison wasn't inaccurate—his breakthrough had been as grueling as surviving a serious illness.

Before the teahouse, everyone opened their mouths, expressions turning grave.

"He's reached the Upper Mirror of Tongxuan…"

"His aura… so strong…"

He Lingxiu and others watched his retreating back, clearly sensing his exhaustion.

But more obvious than exhaustion was the aura emanating from him—like a tiger's roar and dragon's bellow—like a blazing sunrise, howling fiercely against the winter chill.

Qi was tied to one's realm; aura was tied to combat power.

Though this judgment wasn't precise, it held some reference value.

He Lingxiu was still at Mid-Stage Fusion Dao, yet facing this aura, he felt he might not easily defeat him.

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(End of chapter)