After Han Fei swallowed the Spirit Gathering Pill, the spiritual energy around his body began to swell.
The Chief Judge immediately stopped him. "Han Fei, the tournament rules forbid the use of any external items during a match. Don't you know that? You'll be disqualified for this."
Han Fei replied, "As I recall, the rules only prohibit Magic Treasures, recovery pills, and one-time enhancement pills. Spirit Gathering Pills aren't included, are they? I'm on the verge of a breakthrough. What's wrong with taking one?"
The Elder Judge looked toward Qi Xiaotian. Qi Xiaotian waved a hand. "Break through first. We'll discuss this afterward."
Han Fei steadied his mind, clenched his fists, and stopped restraining his spiritual power.
Boom! A violent spiritual energy vortex appeared, spinning madly around Han Fei.
Fu Jiahao looked disdainful. "A Spirit Gathering Pill? At most, it can raise him one level. So what if he reaches the Seventh Level of the Innate Realm?"
Qi Xiaotian said nothing and focused on Han Fei's breakthrough. Those with low cultivation might not have noticed, but the stronger cultivators had taken in every change in Han Fei. Could an ordinary Spirit Gathering Pill really have such an effect?
Qi Xuanxuan, who was skilled in pill refinement, felt it most strongly. She was closest to Han Fei and could better distinguish the difference in his pill.
Qi Xuanxuan exclaimed in shock, "Th-this... is a Spirit Gathering Pill?"
She simply could not believe it. Though she had never taken a Spirit Gathering Pill, she had refined them before.
Moreover, she had once spoken at length with Han Fei. She absolutely refused to believe that he would take a Spirit Gathering Pill with side effects.
Han Fei threw back his head and roared. A pillar of spiritual light instantly expanded, shooting into the sky with a diameter of five meters and enveloping Han Fei within it.
At that moment, even someone as powerful as Qi Xiaotian could not see Han Fei's condition inside.
The people outside could not see him, but the five Ancient Gods within Han Fei's body saw everything clearly.
Han Fei's robe tore apart, leaving his upper body bare. The Blood-Colored Tattoo on his body appeared once more.
This time, it was even more eye-catching and distinct.
It was a blood-colored tattoo resembling a Kirin. Bright red lines clearly outlined the terror of the ferocious beast.
The tattoo covered more than half of his chest, its two horns stretching all the way up to his neck.
At the same time, Han Fei's spiritual energy level rose rapidly.
Peak Sixth Level of the Innate Realm, Seventh Level of the Innate Realm...
Whether it was his spiritual energy level or his own aura, Han Fei was soaring wildly.
The thousands of surrounding disciples were dumbfounded. Even when someone at the Tenth Level of the Innate Realm broke through to the Spirit Gathering Realm, they had never seen such a commotion.
When his cultivation reached the Innate Realm Eighth Level, the rate at which his spiritual energy level increased slowed.
However, Han Fei's skin color changed as well, turning completely dark red.
At the same time, the tattoo on his body dimmed, nearly blending into his skin.
The pillar of spiritual light slowly dissipated, revealing Han Fei inside.
When everyone saw Han Fei's current state, they were all startled.
Still, it was only temporary. Han Fei's skin gradually returned to its original color, and the spiritual energy vortex slowly vanished. Everything returned to calm.
Only half an hour had passed from the beginning of his breakthrough to its end. Han Fei had completed it in just half an hour—and had risen two levels in a row.
Opening his eyes, Han Fei said softly, "Sorry to have kept everyone waiting."
As he spoke, spiritual energy flickered around his right hand, and the Gale Sword several meters away flew directly into his palm.
Fu Jiahao suddenly said, "Can a Spirit Gathering Pill let a Martial Artist at the Sixth Level of the Innate Realm directly break through to the peak of the Innate Realm Eighth Level? Was that really a Spirit Gathering Pill he took? It was probably some forbidden drug that temporarily boosts cultivation. He should be disqualified."
Fu Jiahao was genuinely worried now. The Seventh Level of the Innate Realm would have been manageable, but the Innate Realm Eighth Level, combined with Han Fei's ability to challenge opponents above his level, could truly threaten him.
After Fu Jiahao said that, some of the observing disciples began to doubt as well. They all knew what Spirit Gathering Pills were. Generally, they were only used by those who believed they had no hope of breaking through, using the pill's power to forcibly raise their cultivation by one level.
For example, someone at the Tenth Level of the Innate Realm who could not break through to the Spirit Gathering Realm could use a Spirit Gathering Pill to make the breakthrough.
Hearing the surrounding discussions, the Elder Judge hesitantly looked at Qi Xiaotian.
Qi Xiaotian said, "To avoid affecting the tournament rankings, let the match continue for now. Once the tournament ends, I will investigate Han Fei's matter and give everyone an explanation. If Han Fei did not take a Spirit Gathering Pill, I will certainly punish him severely."
After hearing Qi Xiaotian's answer, the Elder Judge announced that the match would continue.
At that moment, Qi Xuanxuan said to Han Fei, "To defeat me, you were willing to take a Spirit Gathering Pill with side effects. Was it really worth it? Was it so important that you were willing to throw away your own future?"
Han Fei smiled and shook his head. "There are things you don't understand. I can only tell you this: I didn't do it to defeat you. I did it to settle things with Fu Jiahao."
Qi Xuanxuan raised her sword as well. "I'll say it again. I won't hold back."
As she spoke, Qi Xuanxuan spread her hands. The Azure Spirit Sword in her right hand filled with spiritual energy, and a blue light shone from its blade.
"Second form of the Dragon Slaying Sword Art, Azure Dragon's Roar."
Whoosh! An azure dragon formed from blue Sword Qi surged forth with a howl, charging straight at Han Fei.
Han Fei was not to be outdone. The Gale Sword lit up with a crimson glow.
"Blazing Dragon."
Crimson Sword Qi formed a long dragon, nearly equal to the azure dragon.
Qi Xiaotian frowned on the viewing platform. "They're both using the second form of the Dragon Slaying Sword Art, yet their attributes are completely different. Han Fei's spiritual energy level is weaker than Xuan'er's, but the strength and circulation method of his Sword Qi surpass hers by quite a bit. It can be ruled out that Xuan'er taught him. But if it wasn't Xuan'er, then who was it?"
One blue and one red stream of Sword Qi collided.
Bang! A burst of white smoke erupted, forming a ten-meter-wide cloud between them.
Qi Mengyu and the others asked Daoist Sanyuan in confusion why the Sword Qi from the clash had not produced a violent explosion, but instead formed smoke.
Daoist Sanyuan patiently explained, "The proportions of the two types of spiritual power were nearly identical, causing them to cancel each other out. Once the spiritual energy vanished, there was no excess energy left to erupt. All that remained was the air evaporated by the spiritual energy, which is the smoke you see."
Both of them were slightly out of breath. Qi Xuanxuan was astonished that Han Fei had just reached the Innate Realm Eighth Level yet had already adapted to his newfound power. She was even more surprised to discover that her advantage in spiritual energy was no longer significant. In terms of density and destructive force, they were nearly evenly matched.
What astonished Han Fei, however, was the amount of spiritual energy he possessed. Fundamentally, there was still a huge difference between him and Qi Xuanxuan. She was two levels above him and was already in the Spirit Gathering Realm. The spiritual energy stored in her inner energy core was at least twice his.
They had used the same move. Qi Xuanxuan had consumed less than twenty percent of her spiritual power, while Han Fei had lost nearly forty percent. That was Han Fei's greatest concern now.
Recovery pills were forbidden during matches. Once Han Fei's spiritual energy ran dry, there would be no point in continuing the fight.
"I can't drag this out any longer."
With that, Han Fei released the Gale Sword. It floated before him as his hands moved rapidly, continuously pouring spiritual energy into the blade.
The Gale Sword immediately shone with red light.
Qi Xiaotian and Qi Xuanxuan both muttered in surprise, "The sword leaves the hand? Is this the third form of the Dragon Slaying Sword Art?"
After saying that, Qi Xiaotian shook his head. "Impossible. The third form requires at least Spirit Gathering Realm cultivation to use. Han Fei is only at the peak of the Innate Realm Eighth Level. He can't possibly use it."
Qi Xuanxuan did not think further about it. The Dragon Slaying Sword Art was her strongest attack at present. Since Han Fei had used it, there was no need for her to hide her strength.
Qi Xuanxuan: "Dragon Slayer."
Han Fei: "Extermination."
They roared at the same time, and two completely different, overwhelmingly powerful waves of Sword Qi appeared. The Sword Qi drifted and swayed, making it nearly impossible to dodge if faced head-on.
The two waves of Sword Qi quickly collided.
Rumble! A powerful shockwave spread outward. In that instant, both of them were forced two steps back.
After the shockwave passed, Qi Xuanxuan's Azure Spirit Sword and Han Fei's Gale Sword revealed themselves at the same time and collided, producing a clear clang.
However, after that collision, Han Fei's Gale Sword broke into two pieces. Driven by the force of the impact, it continued flying toward Qi Xuanxuan.
Qi Xuanxuan was startled. She had only just stabilized herself when a broken sword tip flew toward her face.
At that moment, a hand caught the broken sword.
Han Fei's weak voice came through. "You lost..."
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