Suddenly, the system's voice rang out.
[Congratulations, Host. You repelled the bandits and gained experience through battle, taking another step on the path to becoming a powerhouse.]
[As a special reward, you have received one Fifth-order Enlightenment Pill and unlocked the incantation for the first layer of the Chaos Dao Divine Art.]
The system's voice startled Yang Lingtian. He had never expected that repelling the bandits would earn him a reward.
And the reward was unlocking the first layer of the Chaos Dao Divine Art. Did that mean what he had learned before was merely skin-deep?
The part he had cultivated before had not even reached the first layer, yet it was already so powerful.
Wouldn't the true first layer be even more formidable?
And this was only the first layer. Wouldn't there be a second, third, and fourth layer after that?
Holy crap, doesn't that mean this Chaos Dao Divine Art can level up like a cultivation technique?
As expected of the strongest cultivation technique—it was truly heaven-defying.
Yang Lingtian was overjoyed. This meant he would never lack cultivation techniques again.
Unlike some cultivators, who had to search for higher-level techniques after their cultivation advanced.
Otherwise, if they continued using their previous, lower-level techniques, their cultivation would become very slow.
He could hardly wait to cultivate the first-layer incantation of the Chaos Dao Divine Art.
On top of that, he had been given a Fifth-order Enlightenment Pill, which was even better for improving comprehension than the Enlightenment Pill.
It seemed the system wanted him to comprehend the first layer as quickly as possible.
At that moment, Wang Yun walked toward Yang Lingtian, his face full of shock. Then, with gratitude in his voice, he said:
"This time, we owe it all to Fellow Daoist Chen Xiangtian. He helped hold off a Foundation Establishment powerhouse. Otherwise, I truly wouldn't have been able to hold on."
"As a member of the escort team, I was merely doing my duty." Yang Lingtian cupped his hands in response.
The other mercenaries came back to their senses and turned toward Yang Lingtian, their eyes filled with astonishment.
Their hearts had been deeply shaken. Someone at the Qi Refining Stage had actually displayed strength comparable to someone in the Foundation Establishment Realm.
This was a major leap across realms, not merely a gap between minor stages.
They were filled with admiration for Yang Lingtian, along with sincere gratitude.
From a certain perspective, Yang Lingtian had essentially saved their lives.
His standing in the caravan was now second only to Wang Liu's, after all, he possessed strength comparable to a Foundation Establishment powerhouse.
Thus, several mercenaries gathered around Yang Lingtian and expressed their thanks one after another.
Some even said that after this mission, they wanted to follow Yang Lingtian.
Others belonged to Mercenary Groups and wanted to recruit Yang Lingtian into their groups.
However, Yang Lingtian rejected them all. Being alone was easy and free; he did not want to drag around any burdens or be subject to restrictions.
After this battle, the caravan also decided to take a break and tend to their injuries.
They found a safer, less-populated place and set up camp once again.
Yang Lingtian took advantage of this time to consume the Enlightenment Pill and began comprehending the first layer of the Chaos Dao Divine Art.
The Enlightenment Pill's medicinal effects began to take hold. His body trembled slightly, and he immediately closed his eyes.
He felt his mind become incomparably clear, as if the fog surrounding him were slowly lifting.
His comprehension of the first layer of the Chaos Dao Divine Art gradually deepened.
Half a day later, just as the medicinal effects were about to fade, he finally grasped the mysteries of the first layer of the Chaos Dao Divine Art.
The system's congratulatory voice rang out.
[Congratulations, Host. You have completely comprehended the first layer of the Chaos Dao Divine Art.]
Yang Lingtian was elated as he sensed the extraordinary feeling brought about by comprehending the first layer of the Chaos Dao Divine Art.
Suddenly, the Chaos Bead within his body seemed to have been stimulated. It began to tremble violently.
It then stirred the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth, drawing it madly into Yang Lingtian's dantian.
Even the spiritual energy of heaven and earth a hundred li away was drawn over. In an instant, violent winds arose, sending sand and stones flying.
Especially within a radius of more than ten li centered on Yang Lingtian, powerful gusts formed one after another.
Even thinly built people could be blown away.
This was caused by the violent surge of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and it immediately alarmed the nearby people.
"What happened? How did such a strong wind suddenly arise?"
"How strange. I've crossed this vast grassland so many times, but I've never seen such a fierce wind."
"Could a Supreme Treasure be appearing nearby?"
"That can't be right. It feels as though all the wind is blowing toward our camp."
Everyone had no idea what was happening. It was the first time they had encountered such a strange phenomenon.
Suddenly, a powerful aura radiated from Yang Lingtian. It was the aura of a Foundation Establishment powerhouse.
At the same time, the fierce winds abruptly ceased.
Yang Lingtian had broken through. Having just advanced, he was unable to control his aura.
The powerful aura spread outward involuntarily, and the nearby mercenaries all sensed its might.
"It's Yang Xiangtian! He actually broke through!" the crowd cried out.
"Could the hurricane just now have been caused by Yang Lingtian breaking through?"
"That's impossible, isn't it? How could breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm cause such a powerful disturbance?"
After stabilizing his cultivation, Yang Lingtian opened his eyes.
He was filled with delight. Not only had he completely comprehended the first layer of the Chaos Dao Divine Art, but he had also broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Although most of the spiritual energy had been taken by the Chaos Bead, after the Chaos Bead absorbed it, the small portion it released as Spiritual Power had become extremely pure.
His dantian absorbed such pure Spiritual Power, so although he was still only in the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, the purity of the Spiritual Power in his body had reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, not far from the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
In addition, his physique possessed a trace of the Divine Ape Physique's characteristics, causing the strength of his physical body to reach the peak of the Foundation Establishment Early Stage as well.
With the two combined, his strength was comparable to that of someone in the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
He had taken another step forward on the path to becoming a powerhouse.
At that moment, the system's voice arrived as expected.
[Congratulations, Host. Your cultivation has broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, taking another step on the path to becoming a powerhouse. As a special reward, you have received the Mid-grade Spirit Artifact, Imperial Sky Boat.]
[The Imperial Sky Boat is a flying spirit artifact. Its offensive and defensive capabilities are ordinary, but its speed is extremely fast, making it a rare flying treasure.]
Yang Lingtian was overjoyed again. The system had finally given him a weapon.
The Imperial Sky Boat had already entered his Space Ring.
Although it was not an offensive Spirit Artifact, it was a flying Spirit Artifact that could be used to escape.
At a critical moment, it might allow him to escape disaster. It was a trump card that could save his life.
Just as Yang Lingtian was immersed in his joy, Wang Yun's congratulations reached him.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. You aren't even twenty, yet you have already become a Foundation Establishment powerhouse."
"With such talent, you truly are a rare sight." Wang Liu exclaimed in amazement.
Yang Lingtian smiled faintly and replied politely, "You flatter me, you flatter me!"
"There's no need to be modest. When you were at Qi Refining Level 9, you already possessed strength comparable to a Foundation Establishment powerhouse."
"Now that you've broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, your strength must have surged considerably once again!"
Wang Liu praised him, a trace of envy showing in his eyes.
"When I broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm back then, I was already over fifty. You cultivated for only a dozen years or so before breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm."
"That speed is extremely rare. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call you a heaven's chosen."
Yang Lingtian still smiled faintly. "Thank you for the praise. There are many heaven's chosen beneath the heavens."
"All we need to do is cultivate diligently. There's no need to envy others."
If they knew I had broken through from Qi Refining Level 2 to the Foundation Establishment Realm in less than three months, wouldn't they be even more shocked?
They might not believe him even if he told them. Wang Liu also assumed that Yang Lingtian had been stuck at Qi Refining Level 9 for many years.
His cultivation power had accumulated to an extremely profound level, allowing him to break through in one fell swoop with the help of a Foundation Establishment Pill.
As for the fierce wind just now, they merely regarded it as a coincidence.
As they chatted and laughed, everyone's admiration for Yang Lingtian grew even stronger.
This was the awe and reverence people held for the strong.
Soon, they continued on their way, guarding the caravan as it headed toward its destination.
For the entire day that followed, they encountered no more bandits or robbers.
Finally, several days later, they reached their destination: Liuyun City.
Their mission was complete. After going to the Mercenary Guild to settle their payment, they went their separate ways.
Li Tian planned to rest in Liuyun City for a while first.
Thus, he went to a restaurant, intending to enjoy a hearty meal.
"Honored guest, what would you like to eat?"
Just as Yang Lingtian sat down, an enthusiastic waiter approached him.
"Bring me some stir-fried tiger meat and scrambled eggs with tomatoes," Yang Lingtian said casually.
"Certainly. Please wait a moment!"
While he was waiting, several mercenaries entered through the restaurant's main door—four people in total.
All four wore Silver Badges on their chests, clearly marking them as Foundation Establishment powerhouses.
As soon as the four entered, they swept their eyes around and discovered that the restaurant was basically full.
"How unlucky. There aren't even any seats left!" complained a middle-aged man in a green long robe.
The other middle-aged man standing beside him looked around. His gaze eventually landed on Yang Lingtian, who occupied a table alone.
When he saw the Bronze Badge on Yang Lingtian's chest, a trace of disdain appeared in his eyes.
He then snickered and said, "Who says there are no seats? Isn't there a table over there? The four of us can squeeze together."
At those words, the others all turned their gazes toward Yang Lingtian, their faces revealing unfriendly smiles.
They then walked over. One of them reached out and patted Yang Lingtian on the shoulder.
With a malicious grin, he said, "Friend, we're taking this table. Go find another one!"
Yang Lingtian's brows furrowed, and he felt somewhat displeased.
He raised his head and quickly swept his gaze over the four men.
Although they were not releasing their auras, so he could not accurately determine their exact cultivation levels, the Silver Badges on their chests showed that they were Foundation Establishment powerhouses. Even so, Yang Lingtian was not particularly afraid of them.
He replied coolly, "Sorry, I need to use this table too. You should find another one."
The middle-aged man's face immediately darkened. In a deep voice, he said, "Kid, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."
"You see these Silver Badges on our chests, right? How dare someone with a Bronze Badge refuse to show us respect?"
"If you know what's good for you, get lost at once. Otherwise, you'll regret it."
The commotion attracted the gazes of many people in the restaurant, but such incidents could be seen everywhere.
It was nothing new to them, so many simply watched from the side, waiting to enjoy the show.
Before you continue