Peak Primordial Core

Before long.

Bai Ye successfully registered the jade slip for [Wind Chasing Shadow Stepping].

He put away the jade slip and turned to leave. Just as he reached the entrance of the Scripture Depository Pavilion, he saw a tall, slender figure stepping inside.

The newcomer wore a Moon White Brocade Robe, its hem embroidered with Dark Silver Flowing Cloud Patterns. His robes fluttered as he walked, carrying an effortless, graceful bearing.

His features were handsome, his brows slightly raised, and his eyes shone like cold stars. When they swept across the pavilion, they carried a trace of casual sharpness.

Almost the instant he crossed the threshold, several disciples who had been speaking in low voices fell silent, their gazes turning toward him in unison.

"That is... Lin Yan?" someone asked, craning his neck for a better look, uncertainty in his voice.

"No mistake! Look at the Ink Jade Token at his waist—it's the identity token of an Inner Disciple. But with that bearing, he stands out even more than a Personal Disciple!"

The person beside him lowered his voice, clicking his tongue in amazement.

"I heard he only entered the sect a year ago? A year ago, he was still at the Seventh Level of Qi Refining, yet now he's already at the Peak of the Sixth Level of Condensed Pulse!"

"That's not all! A few days ago, I saw with my own eyes that he clashed with Senior Brother Zhang from the inner sect. Senior Brother Zhang was at the Seventh Level of Condensed Pulse, a whole minor realm above him. The two arranged a battle at the Martial Training Ground, and Lin Yan actually won in the end!"

"Hiss... defeating the Seventh Level of Condensed Pulse while at the sixth—that's victory across a realm! For ordinary cultivators, even a single minor realm means a world of difference in the depth of their Spiritual Energy. How did he do it?"

"Who knows? Maybe he encountered some great fortuitous opportunity, or perhaps his talent truly defies the heavens. Someone like him will likely join the ranks of Core Disciples in the future. We should hurry over and greet him—at least become a familiar face."

The murmurs rose and fell, carrying undisguised amazement and a desire to curry favor.

The youth named Lin Yan seemed long accustomed to such attention. His expression did not ripple in the slightest; he merely gave a faint nod before walking straight toward the depths of the pavilion.

His steps were unhurried, and a natural pride showed through.

"Lin Yan..."

Standing by the entrance, Bai Ye let his gaze rest briefly on the young man's retreating back before withdrawing it.

He secretly shook his head. In this world where the strong devoured the weak, no matter how exceptional one's talent, one should still conceal some of one's edge. Being so ostentatious at such an age would likely invite unnecessary trouble.

Still, everyone had their own way of living.

He had never crossed paths with Lin Yan, so there was no need to waste further thought on him.

Bai Ye composed himself and silently left the Scripture Depository Pavilion, following the winding stone steps back toward his courtyard.

The morning breeze passed through the bamboo grove, making it rustle softly.

The moment he returned to his courtyard, Bai Ye shut the gate behind him and quickly entered the Quiet Chamber.

His fingertips tapped the stone wall several times. Amid a low hum, the Spirit Gathering Array, Soundproofing Array, and Alert Array outside the Quiet Chamber all lit up at once, sealing the entire chamber into an airtight cultivation space.

He sat cross-legged on the Cloud Pattern Cushion and took out the jade slip for [Wind Chasing Shadow Stepping], gently rubbing the engraved markings with his fingers.

A Profound Grade Peak movement technique Martial Skill—the jade slip alone exuded a faint spiritual aura, clearly polished from spirit jade.

"Let's begin."

Bai Ye drew a deep breath and pressed the jade slip to his brow.

In an instant, countless profound diagrams of footwork and methods for circulating one's aura surged into his Sea of Consciousness like a tidal wave!

Bolstered by Ten Thousand Times Comprehension, the positional shifts and methods of guiding Spiritual Energy that had originally been obscure and difficult to grasp became as clear as the lines on his palm.

Just ten breaths later, he sensed Spiritual Energy stirring faintly beneath his feet, as though an invisible wind were supporting his soles. The key to "beginner mastery" suddenly broke open in his mind, and [Wind Chasing Shadow Stepping] had crossed the threshold.

At twenty breaths, he unconsciously lifted his foot and stepped forward. His body was actually several degrees faster than usual, and the spot where his toe touched the ground was precise to the slightest fraction—an unmistakable sign of minor mastery in the footwork.

At forty breaths, faint afterimages began to shimmer around him. With a single step, he left an afterimage in place for half an instant. The circulation of his Spiritual Energy perfectly matched the rhythm of the footwork—he had already reached major mastery.

At sixty breaths, the afterimages gradually solidified. When he moved, he did so without a sound, as though he had merged with the surrounding wind. His aura vanished, and perfection had been achieved.

Ninety breaths.

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Peak Mastery!

A muffled thunderclap, louder than before, exploded above the Quiet Chamber!

Immediately after, rolling thunder rang out without end, as though ten thousand spiritual tides were rushing forth!

An opening of golden light, broader than the previous ones, appeared out of thin air.

The spiritual essence within was so dense it had nearly liquefied. Carrying seven-colored rays of light, it poured down and swallowed Bai Ye whole.

Heavenly Dao Boon!

As a Profound Grade Peak Martial Skill, [Wind Chasing Shadow Stepping] drew forth a Heavenly Dao Boon upon reaching Peak Mastery that was more than thirty percent stronger than that of the previous Profound Grade High Martial Skill.

The spiritual essence flooded into his body, not only tempering his meridians but nourishing his flesh as well, until every inch of his skin glimmered with faint spiritual light.

Ten breaths later, the opening of golden light slowly faded away, but the Spiritual Energy within the Quiet Chamber lingered for a long time, swirling around Bai Ye's body as though tangible.

He slowly opened his eyes, a streak of light flashing through them. As he rose and shifted his feet, he actually left three afterimages where he stood.

"The Heavenly Dao Boon of a Profound Grade Peak technique truly is extraordinary."

Bai Ye felt the surging power within his body and sighed softly.

His meridians were several degrees tougher than before, his fleshly body seemed to have grown lighter, and even the circulation of his Spiritual Energy had sped up by a fraction.

Over the past year, counting this time, he had received six Heavenly Dao Boons.

His innate foundation had long since undergone a complete transformation, while his Dao Body had been repeatedly tempered by spiritual qi. He was no longer the mediocre person he had once been.

"Though I'm currently at the Peak of the Sixth Level of Primordial Core, if I truly fight, even an ordinary Peak Ninth-Level Primordial Core cultivator may not be able to defeat me."

A confident curve lifted at the corner of Bai Ye's lips.

With six Heavenly Dao Boons as his foundation, and every cultivation method and Martial Skill having reached Peak Mastery, fighting above his level was absolutely no problem for him.

But the thought only flashed through his mind before he quickly calmed himself. "So what if I reach Peak Primordial Core? In Azure State, even Profound Comprehension Realm cultivators aren't considered the strongest. There are also the legendary Nascent Soul Realm cultivators and Tribulation Transcendence Old Monsters. If I truly encounter such an old monster, this bit of cultivation of mine won't even be worth mentioning."

Steady. He still had to remain steady.

Keeping a low profile and developing quietly, reaching the threshold of the Nascent Soul Realm as soon as possible—that was when he could truly gain a foothold.

After steadying himself, he tried [Wind Chasing Shadow Stepping] once more.

The instant the thought arose, his figure vanished from where he stood like a ghost.

The next second, he appeared in a corner of the quiet chamber several hundred meters away, without leaving even the slightest trace of his presence in the air.

With another step, afterimages scattered everywhere, and in the blink of an eye, he was back beside the meditation cushion, as though he had never moved.

"With this Peak Mastery [Wind Chasing Shadow Stepping], even if I encounter a Profound Comprehension Realm expert, no one will be able to stop me if I want to leave." Bai Ye nodded in satisfaction, a hint of reassurance flashing in his eyes.

When it came to preserving one's life, the more methods one had, the better.

"Continue cultivating in seclusion. I'll strive to reach Peak Primordial Core as soon as possible."

He sat back down and was just about to circulate his cultivation method when his brows suddenly furrowed.

Hurried footsteps sounded from outside the courtyard, accompanied by the voice of his attendant, Qing He. "Young Master! Something major has happened in the sect! The Old Ancestor has emerged from seclusion and summoned all Inner Disciples to gather at the square!"

Bai Ye's heart tightened.

By his nature, he had intended to remain in seclusion until he reached Peak Primordial Core before emerging. But an Old Ancestor of the Nascent Soul Realm had personally issued a summons; clearly, something urgent had happened, and there was no room for delay.

"Understood."

He answered, rose to dismantle the formation, and swiftly left the quiet chamber.