Innate

Beside the Divine Fruit, Fang Qing circulated the Purple Haze Skill, Refining Essence into Qi.

The boundless essence contained within the Divine Fruit became Fang Qing's Misty Purple Qi.

Ye Fan and Pang Bo were both stunned by the sight.

"Ye Zi, what exactly was Brother Fang's identity back on Earth? Don't tell me he was a disciple of some ancient martial arts Aristocratic Family. The way he looks now is just too... strange."

Pang Bo had eaten a Divine Fruit as well. He felt himself go from starving to full in an instant, his energy brimming, but aside from that, he felt nothing else.

Yet Fang Qing before him was wreathed in purple qi, looking almost like some sage, an utterly shocking sight.

"I don't know. Maybe during the three years since we graduated, he really did take some master."

Ye Fan had also eaten a Divine Fruit. He felt invigorated all over, as if he could punch a bull to death with both fists, but he displayed none of the strange phenomena of Misty Purple Qi.

This seemed to be a change brought about by cultivating some kind of technique.

But this was clearly Fang Qing's secret, and he could not rashly ask what technique Fang Qing cultivated.

"Purple Qi Coming from the East. Damn, that's flashy!"

Pang Bo muttered softly, though he bore no ill will in his heart.

They had all come here together. Fang Qing becoming stronger would bring many benefits to them as well.

Just then, Fang Qing opened his eyes.

All the purple qi flowed deep into Fang Qing's body, making him appear no different from the others. But Fang Qing himself knew that his strength had increased enormously. With the Divine Fruit supplying him with energy, he could probably now contend with cultivators of the Sea of Qi Realm.

And if he added the Bronze Lamp, he might even be able to fight someone in the Fighting Spring Realm across realms.

Still, it was not enough. Unless absolutely necessary, it was better to keep the peace until he had truly stepped onto the path of cultivation.

Fang Qing rose and divided the fruits with Ye Fan and Pang Bo.

There were thirteen fruits in total. Fang Qing, Ye Fan, and Pang Bo each received four, leaving one behind for Liu Yiyi.

Fang Qing said nothing about this distribution. He had already consumed one fruit, then consumed two more.

He still had one left that he had not taken for the time being.

The medicinal power of three Divine Fruits was already more than he could refine. For the next few months, perhaps even years, he would likely remain on the path of fully refining their medicinal effects.

As everyone knew, eating a Divine Fruit did not mean one had refined it.

Fang Qing kept one Divine Fruit and placed it into the Fishing Rod.

This Fishing Rod contained a certain amount of space and even connected to other worlds. It was incredibly wondrous.

After storing the Divine Fruit in the Fishing Rod for the time being, he drank some Divine Spring water before leaving and returning to the main group.

While Fang Qing and the others had gone searching for Divine Fruits, the others had been taking care of their bodily needs. Some had brought chocolate and happily shared it with their little groups. Others gazed into the distance, surveyed the terrain, and discussed the road ahead.

When Fang Qing and the others returned, the students collectively settled on a direction. They believed that following it would get them out of this mountainous region and to an inhabited area in the shortest possible time.

Thus, all the students set off.

Everyone was extremely cautious on the way down the mountain, constantly guarding against birds and beasts that might appear. Yet after walking for most of the day, they had not encountered a single large predator, not even a field mouse.

This truly looked like a forbidden zone. There was not even a single bird.

As they traveled, the group picked many wild fruits, easing their food shortage.

But the distance between the mountains was simply too great. Even by nightfall, they had not made it out.

They had no choice but to spend the night in the forest.

It was an unsettling night. Spending a night in an unfamiliar forest was extremely dangerous, and many of the students were very nervous.

Fang Qing was not particularly worried. So long as nothing unexpected happened, there would be no problem leaving the Ancient Desolation Forbidden Zone safely.

The Bronze Lamp burned beside Fang Qing, lending the night a touch of warmth. Then, with the Bodhi Seed's aid, he began to comprehend the Longevity Art.

Shi Long had failed to comprehend the Longevity Art even after holding it for three years, but Fang Qing believed that with the Bodhi Seed's assistance, he could gain some understanding of it.

His expression grew tranquil as his entire being entered a state where nothing else existed in his mind.

The Bodhi Seed on his body gradually gave off a warm glow, seemingly bestowing Fang Qing with supreme wisdom.

It was as if the sound of the Great Dao flowed through the void, dreamlike and illusory. Yet aside from Fang Qing, no one else heard it.

Time passed as Fang Qing cultivated.

Within his mind, an image from the Longevity Art seemed to take shape.

Various currents of qi flowed along the paths shown in that image, causing the many currents within Fang Qing's body to move from the coccyx at the base of his spine, travel upward against the flow through the Governor Vessel, break through Jade Pillow Pass, pass through the Mud Ball, then return to the Conception Vessel at the front.

It circulated without end, completing itself after thirty-six cycles.

The qi continued to circulate in an incomparably mysterious process. Even the essence of the Divine Fruits that Fang Qing had not yet had time to refine flowed along with that qi, transforming into true qi within his body.

As this true qi circulated, Fang Qing's internal organs, meridians, and even his spirit were cleansed.

It was an immensely comfortable process.

As dawn approached, Fang Qing let out a deep breath.

He looked at the classmates sleeping around him, as well as those still awake, and could even make out every blemish upon their faces.

The entire world had become much clearer in his eyes. Not only were its colors richer, but all the subtle details he usually overlooked now entered his awareness.

Even the slightest changes in the sound of the wind, normally ignored, could no longer escape his keen hearing.

He could see farther and hear farther. All six of his senses had strengthened beyond anything before.

Whether it was the heavens and earth, stones, or blades of grass, all seemed connected to him, as though he had become a part of those stones and plants.

Fang Qing rose and took a step. With the slightest movement, he was already three zhang away.

With a light burst of speed, he was already dozens of zhang away.

His speed had increased beyond anything before, and his body had become incomparably light.

He had not even thrown a punch, but he knew his fists were far more terrifying than yesterday's. Killing three tigers with one punch would be effortless.

Fang Qing looked inward at his own body. He could now see many of the organs within himself.

He examined himself with Inner Vision.

"If we were speaking in terms of martial arts worlds, my Cultivation Level may have already reached the Innate realm. I could be called an Innate master."

Innate.

It was quite an impressive term.

Ordinary martial arts experts, from third-rate to second-rate and then first-rate, were all acquired masters. But someone like Fang Qing, who had cultivated the Longevity Art passed down by Guang Chengzi to this state, had reached the Innate realm!

Connected to heaven and earth as one, able to take heaven and earth as one's mother!

He had entered the Innate realm in a single day.

In the original Great Tang story, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling basically entered the Innate Realm in one day. The protagonist had the Bodhi Seed, so it was possible for him too.