Qi Condensation Third Layer, Father and Son Spar!

Several hours later.

Buzz!

Spiritual energy rippled around Li Qingyuan, and a surge of Spiritual Pressure overflowed from within his body.

An invisible set of Shackles broke with ease, as naturally as water flowing into a channel, without the slightest obstruction.

Just as expected, this breakthrough had been exceedingly simple.

"Phew~" Li Qingyuan let out a long breath of turbid air. The Great Spring Technique completed its final Great Heavenly Cycle, and his qi returned to his dantian.

"Out of sixteen Spirit Stones, I've only used four."

The corners of Li Qingyuan's lips lifted as joy filled his heart. He said, "Next, I'll refine all the Spirit Stones and thoroughly stabilize my cultivation."

Over the next week, Li Qingyuan ate Spirit Rice and refined Spirit Stones every day.

A few days later, his Qi Condensation Third Layer cultivation had completely solidified. His spiritual energy was restrained within him, making it seem as though he had entered this realm months ago.

"Ten years old, Qi Condensation Third Layer."

Li Qingyuan smiled. "Even among Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans, this cultivation speed must be rare."

"Foundation Establishment is within reach."

After ending his secluded cultivation, Li Qingyuan left the Small Courtyard where he had been cultivating and headed straight home.

In the courtyard, his father, Li Dingzhou, was practicing martial arts. Bare-chested, his muscles knotted like coiled dragons, fierce and powerful.

He held a long saber in hand. His blood qi flowed like mercury as martial true qi erupted from him. With every swing of his saber, saber qi crisscrossed the air, splitting apart huge rocks, wooden posts, stone steles, and the ground itself from several zhang away.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

For a time, sand and stones flew through the family training ground as spiritual power exploded with thunderous roars.

Li Qingyuan praised, "An Innate Martial Master at the middle stage of body refinement—terrifying indeed."

Mortal martial arts truly had a few merits for Qi Refining Cultivators at the bottom rung.

Li Qingyuan had heard his father speak of martial arts before.

The martial path had the Nine Blood Transformation Stages.

While cultivating breathing techniques, one used special Spirit Medicine to strengthen one's foundation and nourish one's vitality, bolstering the blood qi and allowing it to undergo nine transformations. Once the blood qi became like mercury, one would possess the strength of an ox.

After the Nine Blood Transformation Stages, one's qi and blood underwent a qualitative change, giving birth to martial true qi and allowing one to step into the Innate realm.

Innate True Qi could Kill Enemies from Afar. A fist could strike out three inches of force, a sword could unleash four feet of radiance, and one could swing out saber qi, Sword Qi, and fist force.

Furthermore, one could temper magical artifacts through the "Blood Refining Method," wield swords with true qi, and Kill Enemies from Afar.

Among the mortal kingdoms, there had never been any shortage of Innate military generals on the battlefield who could send flying swords a hundred steps away to take an enemy commander's head.

An Innate Martial Master possessed combat strength comparable to a mid-stage body-refinement cultivator.

However, without a spirit root, mortal martial masters could not absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy or Turn it into one's own use. They could only stop there.

Watching his father practice martial arts, Li Qingyuan felt his hands itch. He said, "Father, could you suppress your cultivation to Qi Condensation Third Layer and spar with your son?"

For Chinese people, their obsession with cultivation was not merely flight or divine abilities—it also included spell battles.

Li Dingzhou sheathed his saber and stood tall. His blood qi blazed like fire and true qi overflowed from his body as he said in a rumbling voice, "Qi Condensation Third Layer? Wouldn't that be bullying you?"

"Your father will suppress himself directly to Qi Condensation Second Layer instead."

"Besides, I won't use a saber."

As he spoke, Li Dingzhou waved his hand. The long saber flew ten zhang away, swift as a streak of light, and accurately returned to its sheath.

Li Qingyuan smiled. "Father, you should still use Qi Condensation Third Layer cultivation."

"Because~"

Boom!

Li Qingyuan circulated the Great Spring Technique. Spiritual energy surged from within his body as he released his cultivation realm.

Li Dingzhou's eyes widened. "Qi Condensation... Qi Condensation Third Layer!?"

"You brat, you broke through again?"

Two and a half years into cultivation, and already Qi Condensation Third Layer.

Li Dingzhou had cultivated for half his life, yet he had never seen nor heard of such a rate of advancement.

Back then, as someone with Five-Element Spirit Root aptitude, he received family resources once every three months—one Spirit Stone and ten jin of Spirit Rice each time, freely provided for three years.

It took him half a year just to enter Qi Condensation First Layer; it took a full five years to reach Qi Condensation First Layer Perfection, and he reached Qi Condensation Second Layer that same year.

Afterward, he began serving the family, slowly Accumulating Spirit Stones for cultivation. Another ten years passed before he reached Qi Condensation Second Layer Perfection.

Only after stagnating at Qi Condensation Second Layer Perfection for three years did he finally break through the Shackles and Step Into Qi Condensation Third Layer.

By the time he reached Qi Condensation Third Layer, he was already twenty-five years old.

Later, he spent fifteen years reaching Qi Condensation Third Layer Perfection, only to remain stuck at that realm ever since.

Because there were no senior cultivators in his family, his path had been exceptionally difficult. He had relied entirely on the family's early support and his own hard work afterward.

Yet even at forty, he was still Unable to Break Through Qi Condensation Third Layer Perfection, unable to reach Qi Condensation Fourth Layer, unable to cultivate Spiritual Sense.

That year, at the age of forty, Li Dingzhou resigned himself to fate. He chose a gentle and beautiful wife for himself from the Mortal World of Cloud Mist Town, selecting the nineteen-year-old Chen Xiuyun and marrying her.

The following year, Li Qingyuan was born.

Thus, Li Dingzhou was now fifty-one years old.

Of course, he cultivated both qi and the body. He was immune to all illnesses, robust and strong, while qi cultivation preserved his looks, making him appear only thirty-seven or thirty-eight.

Looking at his ten-year-old son, who had already revealed Qi Condensation Third Layer cultivation, Li Dingzhou was both incomparably thrilled and unable to believe it.

At last, Li Dingzhou laughed proudly. "Haha, good, good, good."

"Though I, Li Dingzhou, have been mediocre my entire life, my son is a peerless genius."

"Yuan'er, make your move."

Li Dingzhou said, "Let your father see what talent you possess in spell battles."

Li Qingyuan circulated his spiritual power and slashed his hand like a blade. "Father, be careful."

Whoosh!

The Qi Blade Technique—Gathering Qi into Blade. At the minor mastery realm, the qi blade was three feet long.

Li Dingzhou's eyes lit up. "A three-foot qi blade. The Qi Blade Technique has reached minor mastery. Not bad."

Boom!

Li Dingzhou threw a punch. His mighty blood qi shattered the three-foot qi blade. He had likewise suppressed his body-refinement cultivation and did not use Innate True Qi, relying only on the Nine Blood Transformation Stages.

His powerful blood qi erupted with formidable force.

Li Qingyuan attacked again, rubbing a fireball into existence and sending it forth to Kill Enemies from Afar.

Li Dingzhou leaped forward and threw a punch. His blood qi transformed into fist radiance, shattering the Fireball Technique with one blow. He swiftly closed in, Came Attacking Li Qingyuan's chest.

In a flash, Li Qingyuan activated the Moon Shadow Technique. His afterimage flickered, while his true body evaded the attack.

Li Dingzhou praised, "Good boy. The Qi Blade Technique, Fireball Technique, and Moon Shadow Technique have all reached minor mastery. Not bad."

"Still, you're a little too green."

Whoosh!

The moment his words fell, Li Dingzhou sprang forward. His movement speed suddenly increased. Though it was not the Moon Shadow Technique, he swiftly caught up to Li Qingyuan.

This was a martial movement technique. It could instantly erupt with the power of blood qi and send one's speed soaring.

As he caught up, Li Dingzhou swept both hands through the air, Gathering Qi into Blade as he attacked from afar.

Two qi blades, each a full three feet long.

It was also the Qi Blade Technique.

Alarm flashed across Li Qingyuan's face. Without time to think, he extended both palms.

Buzz! Buzz!

Spiritual power poured into his arms, turning them to iron. Not only did they possess the strength of an ox, they were also hard as iron.

This was a family spell: the Iron Arm Technique.

After his arms turned to iron, Li Qingyuan directly received the two qi blades head-on. He clenched the qi blades in his palms and circulated spiritual energy to block them, but his body was sent flying and slid across the ground for seven or eight zhang.

Still, he had ultimately blocked them.

Suddenly, a Strong Wind came rushing in, unleashing an explosive crack.

"Not good!" Li Qingyuan was startled. He formed hand seals with both hands and cast the Earth Armor Technique. Spiritual energy transformed into thick earthen armor that clung to the surface of his body.

With a sharp crack, Li Dingzhou delivered a flying kick into Li Qingyuan's waist and ribs. The thick earthen armor that had only just formed shattered at once, and the strike landed on Li Qingyuan's body.

With a bang, Li Qingyuan Flew Backwards seven or eight zhang.

"Cough, cough~" Li Qingyuan coughed as his blood qi flowed in reverse.

Li Qingyuan clutched his waist and ribs, his face pale.

Good heavens, he really was his biological father.

Had he not promptly cast the Earth Armor Technique to block most of that final kick, several of his ribs would definitely have broken. Even with Spirit Medicine to heal his injuries, he would still need several days of rest.

Li Dingzhou said with satisfaction, "Good boy. In your first battle, you were already able to flexibly employ family spells. Even in a perilous moment, you remained calm and promptly made the best defense."

"It seems that not only is your cultivation talent outstanding, your combat talent is also quite good."

Li Dingzhou flicked his robes with a wave of his hand and raised his hand in invitation. "Yuan'er, again!"

"As cultivators, we may not enjoy slaughter, but we cannot afford to be unskilled at it."