Halfway up Lingxi Peak, in the training room area, inside a spacious Grade-C Training Room.
Yang Jing was concentrating on practicing "Crossing the River," a Marrow Tempering Pill pressed beneath his tongue. The pill slowly dissolved in his saliva, becoming streams of pure, warm energy that followed his cultivation formula and trickled into every limb and bone.
His figure flitted unpredictably through the training room, sometimes sweeping through the air like a startled swan, gliding several yards with a light tap of his toes against the bluestone floor.
At other times, he seemed to tread upon waves. His shifting steps stirred gusts of wind, his robes fluttering as several afterimages trailed behind him.
His nimble, swift figure filled the entire training room, with only the faint sound of circulating internal qi echoing through the quiet stone chamber.
After a long while, Yang Jing slowly came to a stop and released a long breath of stale air.
The breath sank to the floor, faintly tinged with white vapor, evidently carrying the traces of impurities left after refining the Marrow Tempering Pill.
He stood still, eyes closed in concentration, carefully examining the changes within himself.
His legs felt light and powerful, and "Crossing the River" flowed more smoothly than ever. He had taken another step toward the Qi-Devouring Realm.
Meanwhile.
At the summit of Lingxi Peak, inside Lingxi Hall.
The hall doors were gently pushed open, and Si Jiawen walked in slowly, dressed in a plain robe.
Looking up, she saw a cool, breathtakingly beautiful figure seated in the place of honor. It was Bai Bing, the Lingxi Peak Master.
Her white robes surpassed snow, and her dark hair fell like a waterfall. As she sat quietly with her gaze lowered, a faint layer of frost seemed to surround her, discouraging