Self-Guided Breakthrough

Chapter 30: Self-Guided Breakthrough

Up on the high platform, Lu Xun was still the same Lu Xun.

But some people quickly noticed that something was off.

Among the disciples, the first to notice were the Inner Sect Disciples who had long since cultivated the Qi Devouring Art to completion.

Their cultivation was profound, and their eyesight was naturally exceptional. With a careful look, they immediately discovered that the moment Lu Xun stepped onto the high platform, his strength had surged in an instant!

Had he... broken through?

No way, he had broken through just like that!?

The Outer Sect Disciples were slower to react, but some veteran disciples whose Qi Devouring Art was nearing Great Perfection also noticed Lu Xun's change.

The mountaintop had originally been silent, with all the disciples waiting for Little Martial Grand-Aunt's admonition. Yet in an instant, it became lively!

Everyone knew that Lu Xun had jumped off a cliff earlier. Though no one knew why he had not died, he had still suffered grave injuries.

The Sect Master had produced a precious medicinal pill, allowing him to recover from his injuries in just a few days.

Before this, he had merely been an ordinary person.

His aptitude was nothing outstanding. To be precise, it was abysmal. This had long been no secret within the Demon Sect.

After all, every disciple had their aptitude tested before entering the sect, and it was then recorded.

Even though Lu Xun had been exceptionally admitted by Mister, he still had to go through this process. He had merely been unconscious at the time.

Compared to Ji Li's exceptional eight ripples, Lu Xun had only one pitiful ripple.

This meant that in terms of aptitude alone, he had only barely crossed the threshold. He belonged to the very worst category.

However, Tian Chen Continent had a long history, and there had been quite a few people with terrible aptitude who ultimately attained towering cultivation. The useless-prodigy trope was the hottest genre; every few centuries, one or two such figures would always emerge.

Furthermore, he was Mister's disciple, so no one dared make snide remarks about his aptitude.

Most people felt neither jealousy nor anger, only regret.

If only Little Martial Grand-Aunt's aptitude had been a little better.

Back Mountain Study was the Demon Sect's greatest and brightest banner. Everyone naturally hoped it would continue to shine.

They did not think Lu Xun had disgraced Small Study, but from the bottom of their hearts, they hoped he could add further glory to it.

As for how outsiders viewed them respectfully addressing a young man with rubbish aptitude as Little Martial Grand-Aunt... what did that have to do with the Demon Sect?

Why should those of the Demon Sect act according to others' expressions?

They could say whatever they wanted behind their backs. The Demon Sect would not decline because of it. But if anyone dared bring it up openly... did they think their blades and swords were not sharp enough?

It was like Mao Nanbei's sect-entry ceremony years ago, when she had declared her catchphrase: "Don't mess with this old lady, or I'll chop off your head with one stroke!"

The disciples below were first shocked, then began discussing it, before collectively smiling in understanding and nodding.

No one knew which mischievous troublemaker started it, but someone shouted, "We shall heed Martial Grand-Aunt's teachings!"

Then quite a few young disciples joined in the shout.

In the end, everyone below actually bowed and shouted in unison, "We shall heed Martial Grand-Aunt's teachings!!!"

Because this was the Demon Sect's attitude toward outsiders—don't provoke the Demon Sect, or the Demon Sect would chop off your head with one stroke!

And at this very moment, after Lu Xun had zoned out for a while on the high platform in front of everyone, he broke through to the second level of the Qi Devouring Art. The entire Demon Sect shared in his glory!

All introductory cultivation arts of the Demonic Path on Tian Chen Continent shared a common trait: the first level was especially easy, and the later levels were not particularly difficult either. Even the ninth and tenth levels were not too hard. The most difficult part was actually breaking through from the first level to the second!

The first level was the easiest. One only needed to draw qi into the body.

Each person's body would first absorb some Spiritual Energy, improving their physique. Once the body had absorbed its fill, the Spiritual Energy would remain within the qi sea.

Once there was a first wisp of Spiritual Energy in the qi sea, one had entered the first level of the Qi Devouring Art.

The second level was different. It did not merely require strengthening one's Spiritual Energy; it also required a certain degree of "comprehension." What one had to comprehend was—what exactly was one's qi sea?

Put simply, one had to "see" the qi sea.

This was an incredibly profound and mysterious realization.

It could also be considered the Great Dao's first test for cultivators after they stepped onto the path of cultivation.

Thus, it was clear that Little Martial Grand-Aunt's cultivation speed was not slow at all. Before jumping off the cliff, he had still been an ordinary person. Now, he had already touched the threshold of the second level of the Qi Devouring Art, and at the moment he stepped onto the high platform...

—He comprehended it!

That was right. Little Martial Grand-Aunt had not followed the procedure and begun his admonition. Instead, he had simply smiled without speaking, clearly lost in thought.

In such a gathering, while being the Center of Attention, he had actually managed to calm his mind and gain enlightenment!

Little Martial Grand-Aunt truly was a remarkable man!

Even the exceptionally talented Inner Sect Disciples put themselves in his shoes and felt that they could not do it.

With so many people watching, it would already be impressive not to feel nervous, let alone quietly settle down and seek enlightenment.

With such a temperament, how many young cultivators in all of Tian Chen Continent could accomplish this?

A surge of admiration arose naturally!

Similar thoughts emerged in many hearts: "I entered the sect earlier than Little Martial Grand-Aunt, and my cultivation realm is higher than his, but in terms of this temperament alone... I am inferior!"

On the high platform, the Sect Master, Peak Lord, and Elders standing behind Lu Xun were the first to discover his breakthrough.

They had heard Shen Yan mention that Little Martial Uncle had entered the threshold of cultivation overnight, reaching the first level of the Qi Devouring Art.

That was not fast, but neither was it slow. It far exceeded the speed his aptitude should have allowed.

Only one day had passed, and he had improved again?

In a day and a night, he had broken through two levels of the Qi Devouring Art in succession!

Had any of them possessed such speed back then?

Even once Heavenly Dust entered open beta and the players arrived, most players would not be able to level up quickly.

That was because the Experience Points from early-game novice quests were truly meager. Their main purpose was to familiarize everyone with the game.

Unless one was lucky, like Lu Xun, and encountered something like the Mountain Ghost—a "walking experience pack"—and killed it.

At the start of the game, players had not yet mastered the correct way to destroy ghosts and monsters. They did not know they had to pierce their eyes. Thus, even if they encountered ghosts or monsters early on, forget stabbing them—they were the ones being chased around and stabbed, all right?

"No, no! Ahhh!" That was what players looked like when they encountered ghosts and monsters in the early game.

Therefore, while Lu Xun could not claim to have set a record at this moment, it was absolutely shocking!

He no longer needed to stand on the high platform and give an admonition, because he had already taught the Demon Sect's disciples a lesson through his actions:

—The path of cultivation is long. You must cultivate your hearts.

According to procedure, once the admonition ended, all disciples were supposed to salute Martial Grand-Aunt once again.

At this moment, everyone saluted willingly.

All the disciples bowed together, their voices even louder than before. "We shall heed Martial Grand-Aunt's teachings!!!"

Standing on the platform and looking at the sea of disciples below, Lu Xun was somewhat dumbfounded.

Why were they already heeding my teachings? I spent several hours last night preparing a speech, and I haven't even said it yet! I wanted to be a literary plagiarist for once! Give me a chance, dear!

But matters had already come to this, so he could only continue smiling warmly, standing above them and displaying his composure.

At that moment, Reputation Points finally began to surge!

At the same time, a question arose in everyone's heart:

"What kind of qi sea had Little Martial Grand-Aunt seen?"

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