Breakthrough

Chapter Forty: Breakthrough

Wang Ritain clutched his already-broken saber. He looked as though he had just emerged from a blood pool, drenched from head to toe. The dense, almost tangible demonic aura around him had completely dissipated, and his strength seemed greatly diminished.

Wang Xianzhi, the legendary figure who had stood unshaken in the martial world, was also covered in blood. A gory wound on his chest was impossible to miss, and the saber intent still lingered around it.

Everyone stared at the scene before them, stunned. They had never imagined Wang Ritain could actually wound Wang Xianzhi.

For a time, voices rose all around them. "Good heavens, Wang Ritain really did it—he wounded Wang Xianzhi! Among the younger generation, there's probably no one who could match such a feat!" a young martial artist said, his face full of shock and his voice trembling. "Exactly. Even among the top experts, how many could do this? Wang Ritain is truly terrifying!" said an old man beside him, shaking his head slightly, his eyes filled with awe and admiration.

Wang Ritain gritted his teeth against the pain and made his way toward the shore, one step at a time. His steps were unsteady, but his gaze remained resolute. Once ashore, he looked up at Wang Xianzhi and called out, "Wang Xianzhi, I may have lost today, but I haven't yet reached my peak. When I've fully mastered my strength, I'll come back and take the title of best under heaven from you!" His voice rang like a great bell over Wudi City, echoing for a long time. Now, within the city and beyond its walls, no one dared call him arrogant. Everyone looked at Wang Ritain with deep respect.

After speaking, Wang Ritain slowly sheathed his saber, turned, and left. The martial artists outside the city stepped aside of their own accord, watching him go. They understood that the martial world was about to be transformed by this young man. Wang Ritain's figure gradually disappeared from view, leaving behind a silent Wudi City and a crowd of martial artists too stunned to speak.

As time passed, news of Wang Ritain wounding Wang Xianzhi spread like wildfire, shaking the entire Liyang Dynasty. At Liangchan Temple, Li Dangxin was meditating in his room when a disciple hurried in to report, "Master, terrible news! Word has come from the martial world—Wang Ritain challenged Wang Xianzhi and actually wounded him!" Li Dangxin's face changed, and the prayer beads in his hand dropped to the floor. He slowly opened his eyes, shock and worry filling them. "Wang Ritain has such strength? It seems the martial world really is about to change. His current power has reached a level that makes one tremble." Li Dangxin knew that this feat would send shock waves through the martial world.

On Mount Huishan, the atmosphere was so heavy it seemed water might drip from the air. When the people of the Xuanyuan Family first heard the news, they were all incredulous. "How is that possible? Wang Ritain is only a junior. How could he wound Wang Xianzhi?" one elder of the Xuanyuan Family asked, baffled. But as the news spread and more and more evidence came to light, they had no choice but to accept it. Xuanyuan Jingcheng and Xuanyuan Qingfeng were just as stunned. Xuanyuan Jingcheng furrowed his brow slightly and thought to himself, Wang Ritain is growing too quickly. After wounding Wang Xianzhi, he'll surely achieve great things. A complicated look flashed through Xuanyuan Qingfeng's eyes. She was shocked by Wang Ritain's strength, yet also felt a measure of admiration for him.

In the Northern Liang Prince's residence, Xu Xiao was sitting in his study, attending to official matters. A subordinate came to report, "Your Highness, something major has happened in the martial world! Wang Ritain challenged Wang Xianzhi and wounded him. The news has spread everywhere." Xu Xiao's brush stopped abruptly, leaving a long streak of ink across the paper. He narrowed his eyes slightly and pondered for a moment before saying, "Wang Ritain is an interesting fellow. In that case, something big is bound to happen on Mount Huishan." Xu Xiao knew that Wang Ritain's feat would bring enormous changes to the martial world's balance of power.

In North Mang, Tuoba Pusa had just emerged from seclusion when he heard the astonishing news. His face darkened at once. The calm in his eyes gave way to shock and wariness. "Wang Ritain actually wounded Wang Xianzhi? How is that possible?" Tuoba Pusa murmured. He knew Wang Xianzhi's strength; almost no one in the martial world could match him. How could Wang Ritain's feat not shock him? Wang Ritain will surely become a great enemy of North Mang. The world is about to be stirred by him. A cruel glint flashed in Tuoba Pusa's eyes as he considered this.

Yet the commotion and shock beyond his reach did nothing to distract Wang Ritain. At that moment, he was alone in a secluded valley. He opened the system and saw the large amount of Prestige Points he had gained from challenging Wang Xianzhi. His heart leapt with excitement. "At last, I can put these Prestige Points to use," Wang Ritain murmured. Without hesitation, he spent them to heal his wounds. As the points were used up, he felt a warm current flow through his body, and his wounds began to close at a visible rate.

Then Wang Ritain turned his attention to the Summoning Demon Scripture. He decided to advance it to a higher level. He spent another large amount of Prestige Points and devoted himself entirely to improving the scripture. As his points dwindled, his martial heart gradually became clear, and his techniques grew more fluid and imbued with life. At last, after spending most of his Prestige Points, he felt a powerful force surge through him. He had successfully stepped into the Finger Profound Realm. His strength had soared, and he no longer feared experts in the Heaven's Phenomenon Realm.

After breaking through to the Finger Profound Realm, Wang Ritain recalled Xuanyuan Dapan's earlier threats against him. A murderous glint flashed in his eyes. "Xuanyuan Dapan, you've repeatedly acted against me. Now that my strength has greatly increased, it's time to settle things with you. It's time to remove this menace from the martial world." Wang Ritain clenched his fist and resolved to hunt down Xuanyuan Dapan and eliminate the threat.