The enormous expenditure had brought equally enormous gains.
In just a few short months, Zhang Qingyuan's newly broken-through Early Ninth Stage cultivation had completely stabilized. On that foundation, he had climbed another step, reaching Ninth Stage Early Peak.
He had not broken through to Ninth Stage Mid-phase,
which left Zhang Qingyuan somewhat regretful.
But regarding this,
he was not surprised.
His foundation was simply far too profound!
The many fortuitous opportunities he had encountered along the way had allowed him to cultivate his cultivation method to the Fifth Stage before breaking through to the True Essence Late Stage, causing his True Essence to undergo a qualitative transformation that far surpassed that of ordinary True Essence Realm cultivators!
His powerful foundation meant that, even upon first entering the Ninth Stage, he had no fear whatsoever of even late ninth stage experts.
But at the same time,
his foundation was like a lake—the deeper it was, the more water it took to fill it.
Had it been any other True Essence Ninth Layer Cultivator, with so many resources and the refinement of Breath Soil, he would probably have already reached Ninth Stage Mid-phase.
Yet he had only halted at Ninth Stage Early Peak!
Zhang Qingyuan had already expected this after advancing to the True Essence Ninth Layer.
Still, disappointment was disappointment,
while the growth in his strength was undeniably real.
Compared to several months ago, Zhang Qingyuan was now more than one level stronger!
"When I had just broken through, my realm was unstable, and I had not fully mastered the surging power. Back then, I would probably have needed one or two hundred moves to defeat my Peak Eighth Layer self."
"But now, with my realm completely stabilized and having exhausted this Breath Soil to rise to Ninth Stage Early Peak,