Ten days later, the streets of Changyun County had returned to their usual bustle. The cries of peddlers and the chatter of townsfolk intertwined, carrying the warmth of everyday life.
Wang He wore a dark blue robe as he slowly walked down the streets, his gaze sweeping over the shops and passersby. Over the past ten days, he had personally inspected the county seat every day, observing the people's condition and confirming whether the Refining Essence into Qi Great Formation would affect ordinary folk.
Now, it seemed that the great formation truly only absorbed scattered essence, just as Xu Weiwu had said. The townspeople were rosy-cheeked and full of vitality, without the slightest abnormality. At last, the heart he had held suspended for days completely settled.
Upon returning to the ancient residence behind the Wang Clan ancestral hall, Wang He pushed open the main hall's doors. Xu Weiwu sat in a grandmaster's chair, idly turning a black token over in his hand. When he saw Wang He enter, a faint smile curled across his lips. "He, you've been inspecting the city every day these past few days. You should be at ease now, shouldn't you? Why would I deceive you? This formation does not harm the common people of the world in the slightest."
Wang He sat down opposite him, shame showing on his face. Because of the matter of the Zhao Kingdom, he had previously held much dissatisfaction toward Xu Weiwu and had been deeply suspicious of the Refining Essence into Qi Great Formation. He had even questioned Xu Weiwu several times. Looking back now, he had been the one in the wrong. He had misunderstood the other man.
"I was overly concerned. I hope Brother Xu will not blame me." Wang He cupped his hands.
Xu Weiwu waved a hand and set the black token on the table. The front of the token bore the two characters, "Refining Essence," while its back was engraved with intricate dragon patterns, exuding the unique majesty of a sect. "It's nothing. If I were in your place, I would have had doubts as well."
"This is the secret token for controlling the Refining Essence into Qi Great Formation in Changyun City. With this token, you can adjust the formation, inspect the gathering of essence, and exercise authority second only to the Dragon Transformation Sect's secret token."
He pushed the token toward Wang He, his tone solemn. "You must keep it safe. Do not lose it, and do not let outsiders know of it. From this day forth, the great formation in Changyun City will be entrusted to you."
Wang He looked at the black token on the table, his heart filled with countless emotions. He knew that Xu Weiwu must have spent no small amount of effort within the sect to obtain this "control authority."
In the past, the Dragon Transformation Sect had mostly controlled the Wang Clan from afar. Whenever something arose, they only sent disciples to deliver orders. Now that they were willing to hand over control of the formation, it was both trust and a way of completely binding the Wang Clan to the Dragon Transformation Sect's ship.
"Brother Xu, thank you." Wang He accepted the token with both hands and carefully tucked it into his robes. The token was icy cold in his hand, as though it carried a strange force that caused the Blood Qi within him to stir faintly.
Xu Weiwu's smile gradually faded, and his tone became stern, carrying a trace of warning. "He, you must understand. In the past, the sect mostly turned a blind eye and closed the other toward your Wang Clan. Even when it granted you benefits, it never truly regarded you as one of its own."
"But things are different now. You have accepted benefits from the sect. Not only can you receive essence from the great formation, but you have also obtained the Nine Revolutions Dragon Transformation Force. From now on, your Wang Clan will be regarded as a part of the Dragon Transformation Sect."
He paused, his sharp gaze fixed upon Wang He. "If the sect issues an order, whether it is to deal with the Zhao Kingdom or handle other forces, your Wang Clan must respond with all its strength. Do you understand?"
Wang He's heart tightened. He knew Xu Weiwu was reminding him that there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. The greater the benefits the Wang Clan received, the greater the responsibilities it would have to bear in the future. Once the sect gave an order, the Wang Clan would have no room left for excuses.
"I understand."
Wang He nodded solemnly. "Since the Wang Clan has accepted the sect's favor, we will surely follow the sect's lead in the future. There will be no second word."
Seeing that he understood, Xu Weiwu smiled again. "It is good that you understand. If you had not risked your life to save me in the Broken Dragon Mountain Range back then, I would not be where I am today. These are all things I ought to do. There is no need to speak such distant words."
He rose to his feet and straightened his robes. "The sect is currently constructing a secret realm to gather and store the essence collected by the great formations in the various county cities. I must return to lend a hand, so I cannot remain any longer."
"If everything goes smoothly, before spring arrives next year, countless Refining Essence into Qi Great Formations will likely be built throughout the Great Chang Territory. When that time comes, whether they are sect disciples or forces attached to the sect, all will benefit from them."
Xu Weiwu's tone carried a trace of longing, as though he had already seen the sect's flourishing future.
Wang He stood to see him off. "Brother Xu, take care on your journey."
"Take care." Xu Weiwu waved a hand, turned, and walked out of the residence. His black figure soon vanished around the alley corner.
Only after Xu Weiwu had completely departed did Wang He withdraw his gaze. Holding the black token, he turned toward the secret chamber behind the residence, where the Wang Clan stored the essence allotted to it by the great formation.
When he pushed open the secret chamber's door, a dense wave of essence rushed at him. Dozens of stone slabs that had been buried earlier were embedded in the floor and walls, and pure essence like thin mist drifted from the gaps between them.
Merely standing inside the secret chamber, Wang He could feel the force within him faintly stirring, as though it wanted to break free from the restraints of his meridians and merge with the surrounding essence.
He took out the Nine Revolutions Dragon Transformation Force Xu Weiwu had previously given him, walked to the meditation cushion in the center of the chamber, and sat down. Spreading open the secret manual, he lowered his gaze to the words on its pages, slowly closed his eyes, and sank into cultivation.
The pure essence around him seemed drawn by an invisible force and slowly gathered toward his body. It entered through his pores, circulated through his meridians, and merged with his own force. With this essence aiding him, his cultivation speed in the Nine Revolutions Dragon Transformation Force was several times faster than before.
Wang He thought to himself that the Zhao Kingdom, which had long ago established this formation and shared it across the land, was likely far stronger than Great Chang now.
The secret chamber door slowly closed, completely shutting out the noise of the outside world. Only the faint sound of flowing essence intertwined with Wang He's steady breathing.
Evening at the Wang Clan Martial Academy.
Wang Yue stood bare-chested, sweat sliding down the grooves of his back and dripping onto the blue bricks, where it spread into small damp patches.
He had just finished cultivating the Blood Dragon Secret Method. More than half of his eight strands of Qi and Blood had been depleted, and exhaustion seeped through every limb and bone. Yet his eyes shone astonishingly bright. He had already touched the threshold of the Blood Dragon Secret Method's third form, needing only the final few steps to fully master it.
"If I master the first level of the Blood Dragon Secret Method, my Qi and Blood can double. How many strands of Qi and Blood will I have then?" Wang Yue could not help imagining it. With such a total amount of Qi and Blood, even among disciples of great sects, he would absolutely rank among the best. "Perhaps by then, even the peerless prodigies of the world's sects will have to contend with me for a place!"
But reality swiftly shattered his fantasy. He rubbed his throbbing temples and sighed helplessly. "I still lack too many resources. Cultivating the Blood Dragon Secret Method consumes far too much Qi and Blood. If I had an endless supply of pills and medicinal brews, my progress could be several times faster."
He smacked his lips, savoring the lingering memory of that bottle of premium Blood-Restoring Pills.
"Right, pill refining?" A thought suddenly surfaced, only for him to crush it as soon as it appeared. "I can't even recognize all the medicinal herbs, yet I want to refine pills? That's simply a wild fantasy. Still... if I get the chance in the future, I could give it a try."
Just as he sorted out his thoughts and prepared to fetch a bucket of water to wipe himself down, a familiar voice sounded. "Kid, come with me! There's a tremendous piece of good news!"
Wang Yue looked up to see Wang Shuo striding over, an unusually excited expression on his face, as though he had found a priceless treasure.
"A tremendous piece of good news?" Wang Yue was puzzled, but he still followed Wang Shuo. "Master, what exactly is it?"
Wang Shuo kept him in suspense, saying only, "You'll know when we get there. I guarantee you won't be disappointed!"
The two passed through several quiet alleys and eventually arrived before the clan leader's residence.
Wang Yue looked at the steady, silver-thread-like filament of essence at the residence entrance as it slowly sank into the earth, and a faint guess arose in his heart. Could this be related to the Refining Essence into Qi Great Formation?
After entering the residence, he found Wang Daoling and several high-ranking Wang Clan disciples already waiting in the courtyard. Their faces were filled with confusion; clearly, they also had no idea why they had been summoned here.
"The clan leader suddenly called us here. Could it be that he wants to lecture us?" A disciple in brocade muttered quietly, his uneasy gaze sweeping the surroundings.
Wang Daoling was relatively calm. He simply stood quietly to one side, his gaze resting on the depths of the residence as though he were contemplating something.
Before long, Wang He emerged from the direction of the secret chamber. He had just finished cultivating, and a faint aura of essence still lingered around him.
When he saw Wang Yue and the others, his expression turned solemn and his voice low. "From this moment onward, everything you see and everything you hear must be kept strictly confidential. If anyone dares to leak even half a word, it will be treated as betraying the clan, and they will be dealt with according to clan rules!"
As his words fell, an oppressive might like a towering mountain suddenly burst forth from Wang He. The pressure was heavy and vast, bearing down so hard that Wang Yue's chest felt stifled and he could barely breathe.
Wang Daoling stood where he was, his expression calm, seemingly completely unaffected by the pressure. Clearly, the clan leader trusted Wang Daoling more.
The other high-ranking disciples fared much worse. Their faces turned paper-white, and their bodies trembled uncontrollably, as though they might collapse at any moment.
Just as everyone was about to lose their footing, Wang He abruptly withdrew his pressure, like pulling away an invisible mountain. Everyone instantly let out a breath of relief and began panting heavily.
He took out the black secret token for controlling the formation and lightly swept it before Wang Yue and the others.
Wang Yue's pupils suddenly contracted. He clearly saw an exceedingly fine silver thread extend from the secret token and precisely connect to his wrist, like an invisible shackle.
Could this thing track people's whereabouts? Wang Yue's heart skipped a beat.
This had to be another marvelous use of the Refining Essence into Qi Great Formation. So long as someone remained within the formation's range, Wang He could use the secret token to locate them and perhaps even sense their condition.
Although Wang Daoling and the other disciples could not see the threads, they could still sense a strange connection, their faces full of confusion.
"Follow me." Wang He offered no explanation. He turned toward the secret chamber, and Wang Yue and the others hurried after him, their curiosity growing ever stronger.
When the secret chamber door opened, an intensely dense wave of essence, nearly tangible, rushed toward them. Wang Yue was instantly dumbstruck. Transparent streams of essence drifted through the chamber like thin mist. To him, these streams were clearly visible; he could even see the minute energy particles contained within them.
The Blood Dragon Secret Method inside him began circulating unconsciously. His Qi and Blood surged through his meridians, issuing wave after wave of yearning roars, as though they wanted to burst from his body and devour the scattered essence.
Walking ahead, Wang He noticed the disturbance behind him and turned back to look at Wang Yue several times in confusion. He seemed to sense a faint aura of a Dragon Transformation Sect cultivation method from Wang Yue, but when he examined it carefully, it vanished. He took it for an illusion.
Although the others could not see the form of the essence, they could faintly feel a warm energy enveloping their bodies, causing their Qi and Blood to stir slightly. This was because the vast gathering of essence had formed an energy field imperceptible to the naked eye.
"Go in." Wang He stood at the entrance to the secret chamber and stepped aside, his tone calm. "The essence within can assist cultivation, but it also contains human stray thoughts. If you feel restless and troubled while cultivating, come out immediately. Do not force yourselves to endure."
"In the future, all of you may enter this place to cultivate. Remember not to rush recklessly in pursuit of progress, lest you suffer Qi deviation."
The high-ranking disciples and Wang Daoling were instantly stunned, their faces filled with shock. They had never imagined that their clan possessed such a blessed place! With such a cultivation environment, would breaking through realms not be as easy as turning over one's hand?
Wang Yue understood at once. This had to be the essence gathered by the Refining Essence into Qi Great Formation. Suppressing the excitement in his heart, he was the first to step into the secret chamber. Wang Daoling followed closely behind, while the others hurried after them with anticipation in their eyes.
The inside of the secret chamber was larger than it appeared from outside, roughly the size of several ordinary rooms. There were individual compartments containing stone slabs, and Wang Yue selected one of them before standing still.
His body's craving for essence could no longer be suppressed. He sat cross-legged and actively circulated the Blood Dragon Secret Method, forming seals with both hands. The Qi and Blood within him, like starving beasts, began madly devouring the scattered essence around him.
The Qi and Blood that had originally been more than half depleted recovered at a visible rate. In merely half a quarter-hour, it had returned to its peak state.
He did not stop. He continued converting essence into Qi and Blood, pouring it into the cultivation of the Blood Dragon Secret Method's third form.
"This... it can actually balance income and expenditure!" Wang Yue was greatly shocked. He discovered that when he cultivated the Blood Dragon Secret Method in the secret chamber, the Qi and Blood he consumed could be replenished in real time by the essence. Not only was there no loss, there was even a surplus. In other words, he could cultivate the Blood Dragon Secret Method here without limit, without worrying that his Qi and Blood would run dry!
What he did not know was that his top-tier innate physique granted him an essence conversion speed far beyond that of ordinary people. Meanwhile, the refined intent of his perfected Harmonious Flow Fist could automatically shatter the stray thoughts within the essence, allowing him to resist interference without dividing his attention. Naturally, his cultivation efficiency far exceeded that of others.
His extraordinary comprehension allowed the techniques of the Blood Dragon Secret Method to continuously evolve in his hands, one transformation after another, at an astonishing speed.
Methods that originally required several days to grasp became proficient in only the time it took for one incense stick to burn under the enhancement of the essence.
The Qi and Blood within his body continued accumulating, faintly showing signs of a breakthrough.
Buzz—
About an hour later, a rumble suddenly arose from within Wang Yue's body. The ninth strand of Qi and Blood rose slowly through his meridians like a newborn morning sun, standing alongside the other eight strands of Qi and Blood and radiating a dense, powerful aura!
At the same time, he completely mastered the final transformation of the Blood Dragon Secret Method's third form. The progress bar for the technique instantly filled to the brim. The third form of the Blood Dragon Secret Method was complete!
Wang Yue did not stop and continued circulating the cultivation method.
He attempted to charge toward a higher realm, but before long, he felt an inexplicable train of thoughts circling in his mind, leaving his heart and spirit unsettled. The stray thoughts in the essence had begun to accumulate. Even with the suppression of the perfected Harmonious Flow Fist's intent, they could not be completely eliminated.
"I can't force it." Wang Yue decisively stopped cultivating and slowly opened his eyes. When he rose to his feet, he realized that his clothes had already been soaked through with sweat.
He pushed open the secret chamber door and walked out. As soon as he reached the outer room, he met the gazes of Wang Daoling and the others. They looked at Wang Yue as though he were a monster, their eyes full of disbelief.
Wang Yue had just broken through to the ninth strand of Qi and Blood, and his Qi Aura had not yet fully withdrawn. The dense fluctuations of his Qi and Blood were like invisible pressure.
Wang He also noticed Wang Yue's change. A trace of surprise flashed through his eyes, and he could not help marveling inwardly, This child's talent is actually so high! He is even several degrees stronger than I was back then!
Wang He did not know that this was the combined effect brought about by Wang Yue's supreme comprehension and top-tier innate physique.
Suppressing the shock in his heart, he said lightly, "We'll stop here for today. Go back and rest first. Return here to cultivate in three days."
Everyone cupped their hands in acknowledgment and turned to leave the clan leader's residence.
As Wang Yue walked home, he had only just turned past an alley corner when a figure suddenly emerged from the shadows. It was Wang He.
"You've condensed nine strands of qi and blood?" Wang He looked at him, his tone calm, though it carried a faint trace of praise.
Wang Yue's heart tightened, and he hurriedly lowered his head and cupped his hands. "Yes, Clan Leader."
"I was able to make such a breakthrough today entirely because of the clan's cultivation. You recognized talent with your discerning eye and gave this junior the chance to cultivate in the secret chamber."
Wang He rolled his eyes, and his tone became solemn. "Starting today, you may come to the secret chamber every night to cultivate. There is no need to wait three days."
"You possess the perfected Harmonious Flow Fist, so you can resist the stray thoughts in the essence. You are different from them, and your cultivation efficiency will be higher."
He paused, then added, "Remember, once your Qi and Blood reaches the limit your body can contain, only then should you attempt to condense force. Do not rush for success. Only with a solid foundation can you walk farther down the road ahead."
"Also, that praise of yours was far too stiff!"
"This junior will remember the Clan Leader's teachings!" Wang Yue answered awkwardly.
Wang He said no more and turned to vanish into the night, leaving Wang Yue standing where he was, his heart full of excitement. With the secret chamber's essence assisting him, how fast would the Blood Dragon Secret Method progress?
Before you continue