Against the Current Waterfall, the Competition Advances

The surging waves finally subsided after Li Changqing used large stones to fill the collapsed hole.

He floated at the bottom of the lake, his Heaven-Man Resonance aura growing deeper, constantly merging with the lake.

He performed fist techniques with both arms, his Blood Essence stirring the surrounding water, clearing the countless turbulent currents created by the ground collapse.

The rippling surface of the lake gradually calmed, and the birds that had flown high into the sky returned to the water to forage for food.

Li Changqing floated in the center of the lake. Dense bubbles no longer emerged from around his skin, nor were there any visible streams of hot air being expelled.

After breaking through to the five-star realm, Li Changqing himself could hardly estimate the thickness of his Blood Essence.

The Blood Essence surged, easily heating his skin. As his pores opened and closed, he expelled waste gases while inhaling oxygen filtered by the lake water, without any abnormality.

The Universe Breathing Technique had reached perfection.

"Cough, cough."

Suddenly, Li Changqing coughed a few times, and streaks of blood floated in the water.

"I need to heal first."

He felt a little regretful.

The attribute points gained from his breakthrough hadn't helped him mend his injuries. Otherwise, he could have exploited a bug in future battles and gotten a free resurrection card.

Instead of ascending, Li Changqing sat cross-legged in the water.

He had no intention of going to the hospital. Earth's technology was no different from a hundred years ago; treating a fracture would take over a hundred days. To recover quickly, he would need to use Psionic Energy technology.

But the problem was, anything related to Psionic Energy was very expensive.

Li Changqing had no money.

In that case, where else would be more suitable for a Martial Artist practicing Heaven-Man Resonance to heal their injuries than the center of the lake?

With a surge of Blood Essence, Li Changqing instantly resonated with the lake.

The power of nature enveloped his entire body, penetrating his skin bit by bit. Cooperating with his own Blood Essence, it began to repair his injuries.

An hour later, Li Changqing opened his eyes and examined himself internally.

"It's a bit slow."

The perfect Embracing the Core and Returning Strength gave him the ability to control his Blood Essence as if it were an extension of his arm, but even so, the speed of his body's repair was still not fast.

"Legend says that above Embracing the Core and Returning Strength is the realm of Unbreakable by Gods. At that point, every minute part of the body is under control. Even if the heart is injured, it can be healed quickly. One can even use mental power to lock onto cancer cells and kill them with pinpoint accuracy.

"There will be no more illness or suffering from pain."

Li Changqing envisioned the future, but this realm was still a bit far off for him.

To reach the legendary Unbreakable by Gods, one would at least need to see a god.

This god was the true self, the core of a person's spirit.

And now, Li Changqing couldn't even fully sense his own mental power.

"I'll focus on achieving perfect Blood Essence first."

He closed his eyes again, concentrating on healing.

Unaware of the moon in the mountains.

Time flew by, and seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

Fortunately, Li Changqing had prepared in advance and brought all his pots and pans from home.

He had also indulged in a hearty wild game feast.

In the heart of the lake.

He sat cross-legged at the bottom, his pores constantly inhaling and exhaling.

For these seven days, he had been continuously guiding the power of nature and his Blood Essence to temper his body.

In the pitch-black water, Li Changqing's body resembled a divine statue carved from jade. Within a three-meter radius around him, a faint glow emanated.

Finally, the last internal organ injury healed.

In seven days, his condition had been restored to its peak.

His tightly closed eyes suddenly snapped open, and two beams of divine light shot out from his pupils, as if they were tangible.

Rumble—

Thunderous roars erupted from the depths of the water.

A sharp arrow shot straight towards the lake's surface.

Bang!

Li Changqing broke through the water, his upper body bare. His muscles were well-defined but fit snugly against his torso, not appearing bulky. As his Blood Essence flowed, divine light shimmered.

His chest rose and fell, and a gentle breeze swept across the lake, causing ripples to spread.

The sound of the wind and the water were his breathing.

I examine my own body.

[Tai Chi (Heaven-Man Resonance): 95%]

[Tai Chi Fist (Thunder Department): 80%]

[Universe Breathing Technique: 100%]

[Vitality Concentration: 48%]

Seven days of rest not only fully healed Li Changqing's injuries but also elevated his strength.

He emerged from the water, dressed, and slung his deflated backpack over his shoulders.

Li Changqing didn't put on shoes, however. He snapped off a reed from the roadside and tossed it onto the lake's surface before lightly leaping up, his bare feet leaving the ground.

Splash.

The water rippled gently.

His Blood Essence had begun to solidify, like mercury.

At this moment, Li Changqing weighed at least 200 kilograms, rivaling the ferocity of a Bengal tiger.

This immense weight landed on the slender, fragile reed.

Yet, it only swayed slightly.

He stood steadily on the water.

Gazing at the wide river before him, his Blood Essence pulsed beneath his feet, propelling him across the river like an arrow loosed from a bow.

With only a single reed beneath him, the surging Tuo River was as tame as a kitten.

The splashing waves dared not even touch Li Changqing's pant legs.

On the vast lake, Li Changqing walked on the shimmering water, chasing the waves.

His peak martial arts attainment brought to life the most romantic martial myths of the past.

Crossing the river on a single reed.

Walking on water, traversing mountains and crossing ridges.

Li Changqing moved freely above the lush green treetops, the breeze caressing his cheeks.

He gazed at the towering mountain range in the distance; his sight spanned at least a thousand miles.

To him, this was still a vast distance.

Looking back at the surging Tuo River, Li Changqing's heart swelled with emotion, and he sang out loud.

"I roam the northern lands in the morning and reach Cangwu by dusk, my sleeve holds a green snake, my courage bold. Three times I entered Yueyang, unrecognized by men, then chanted and flew over Dongting Lake..."

A free-spirited poem, filled with sword energy. If Li Taibai was a banished immortal playing in the mortal world, then Patriarch Lü was undoubtedly an Earthly Immortal chasing the sun and moon.

"Patriarch Lü truly is a legendary Earthly Immortal."

Pure Yang Sword Immortal Lü Dongbin—he was the only person in contemporary times with evidence suggesting he might be an ancient cultivator.

The Old Technique Tai Chi that Li Changqing practiced had its roots in a stone carving left behind by the latter.

"One day, I too will travel to the northern seas in the morning and return by dusk, cleave mountains with my sword, and tread upon the Five Sacred Mountains. I want to see the splendor of these legendary Earthly Immortals."

He sped along the treetops, and the babbling stream reappeared before Li Changqing's eyes.

At the end of the babbling stream, a waterfall about three meters high roared.

"We meet again."

He descended from the sky, his Blood Essence beneath his feet skillfully agitating the stream's water, allowing him to stand steadily on the flowing surface.

Li Changqing looked at the waterfall before him, the murmuring stream flowing in his peripheral vision.

This was the place where he had first attained enlightenment in the mountains.

This was also the place where he had first met Sun Sheng.

And it was during that encounter that Sun Sheng had drawn his saber through the air, splitting the water with a palm strike.

He had shown Li Changqing the gap between himself and a top Lower-Rank Martial Artist.

"Cutting water?"

Li Changqing gazed at the stream, then suddenly, he smiled with carefree abandon.

"Why should I need to draw a knife to cut water when I have no need to lift a cup to drown my sorrows?"

He stood on the water's surface, leaped into the air beneath the waterfall, his feet on the flowing water, the waterfall cascading down from above him.

The curtain of water rushed down before his eyes.

Li Changqing closed his eyes, extending his limbs within this small space.

His Tai Chi Momentum arose, accompanied by a gentle breeze.

Li Changqing's Heaven-Man Resonance had reached a state of perfect mastery.

His left arm drew a circle, merging with the surrounding heaven and earth.

The wind came.

The wind swirled around his fingertips, grasped in his palm.

Li Changqing's right arm swept in an arc, his Blood Essence flowing and resonating with heaven and earth.

Gurgle—

The pool water rippled, and he stepped into it.

As his Blood Essence surged into the stream, a cycle was gradually constructed with Li Changqing's martial arts.

Water came.

Splash—

He opened his eyes, a smile curving his lips.

Under the pull of his Blood Essence, the water in the pool defied gravity, rising into the air and hovering before Li Changqing.

Water has no constant form, no constant shape.

From above, it is in a weaker position.

Li Changqing divided Yin and Yang with his hands, gazing at the roaring waterfall before him.

His fist technique, Embracing the Core, changed, naturally guiding the resonance of his Blood Essence.

The next moment, his palms flipped.

In an instant, Yin and Yang transformed.

The roar of the waves sounded, and Li Changqing divided Yin and Yang. As his fist technique unfolded, in a state of Heaven-Man Resonance, his fusion with nature grew ever closer.

Tai Chi, Invert Yin Overturn Yang!

Boom!

The roaring waterfall abruptly stopped. Li Changqing's pores relaxed, and his Blood Essence permeated his body, turning this small area into his domain.

Here, I am the center.

All things in the four directions, obey my command.

"Reverse!"

With a command, Li Changqing's martial arts reached their peak.

Rumble—

The waterfall, descending from above, suddenly inverted, the stream flowing backward, rising into the air.

The falling waterfall, in an unbelievable manner, was actually flowing upstream.

In this instant, Li Changqing defied the laws of nature, using his martial arts to drive his Blood Essence and dominate the small area beneath his feet.

Making the stream flow backward.

The waterfall reversing.

Violent splashes of water collided with the stream above his head.

Every moment, Li Changqing endured the full pressure of the river water above him.

His Blood Essence was heavily consumed, nearly depleted in just a few seconds.

"Hahaha—" Li Changqing burst into laughter.

His Blood Essence was exhausted and could no longer support it. The river water washed down the waterfall, once again falling from a height into the pool.

His laughter spread through the forest, resonating with nature.

From this moment on, Li Changqing had completely merged with nature.

Reversing the waterfall with his martial arts, such a feat had already surpassed the scope of a Lower-Rank Martial Artist.

Naturally, it also surpassed Sun Sheng's Drawing a Knife to Cut Water.

Li Changqing knew he had succeeded!

At the same time, his perfected Tai Chi also underwent a transformation.

[Tai Chi (Unity of Heaven and Man): 10%]

His martial arts had transformed again, his realm evolving from Heaven-Man Resonance to Unity of Heaven and Man.

Ding ding—

His phone rang.

Seeing the caller ID, Li Changqing's smile deepened.

"Hello, Coach Kang."

"Changqing, hurry back to the martial arts hall before five."

"Coach, is something wrong?" Li Changqing raised an eyebrow. He could hear excitement in Kang Tianchen's voice.

"The city government, to cooperate with the Psionic Research Institute's Seedling Plan, has moved the Youth Cup forward! Next Friday, the official competition begins."

"Moved forward?" Li Changqing's eyes lit up. This was good news, but before he could ask anything.

"Because the competition is earlier, the Hall Master is here to notify us. Tonight, we'll have a practice match against Jixing Martial Hall. It's a rare opportunity to observe, so hurry back."

"..."

After hanging up, Li Changqing stood on the water's surface.

A practice match?

His eyes flickered. I want to see who's stronger, Jixing Martial Hall's chief, or Sun Sheng.

Thinking this, Li Changqing revealed a confident smile.

As for who among these two is stronger or weaker.

It was merely a matter of seeing if the opponent's level could make him go all out.