The Teacher's Test

Xiao Yan gave a quiet hum, his steps becoming much steadier. Sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves and fell across his face, highlighting the unyielding angles of a youth unwilling to admit defeat.

He touched the Storage Ring against his chest, as though he could feel the old man's gaze within it, and suddenly felt much more at ease.

"Once I break through, you'd better teach me alchemy properly," Xiao Yan said softly.

It was as though he were making an agreement with Old Yao, and also as though he were competing with himself.

Old Yao snorted softly. "Don't worry. This old man's skills are enough to keep you learning for a lifetime."

Xiao Yan clenched his fists and quickened his pace.

He knew there was still much hardship ahead, but as long as he could grow stronger and prove himself, what did this little pain amount to?

Time was like water, always slipping quietly through one's fingers before one noticed.

Only one month remained until the coming-of-age ceremony.

The coming-of-age ceremony was held collectively; it was not conducted only after one reached the proper age.

Xiao Peng sat on the bed at home, the aura he released giving the impression that he could break through at any moment.

The Mana within him surged like a rushing stream, repeatedly battering the barrier between the Qi Foundation Seventh Layer and the Qi Foundation Eighth Layer.

Each impact sent a swelling ache through Xiao Peng's meridians, as though countless fine needles were piercing him at once.

Who knew how long passed before, as his Mana surged forth once more, the barrier that had troubled him for days finally let out a faint hum, like the soft sound of glazed glass before it shattered.

"Break!"

Xiao Peng shouted inwardly.

The flood of Mana burst through the barrier like water breaching a dam, rushing down through his meridians. Wherever it passed, the meridians that had once been somewhat narrow expanded by nearly half, and his Mana circulated more smoothly than ever.

Xiao Peng slowly opened his eyes. A sharp glint flashed through them before quickly settling back into calmness.

He spread open his palm and sensed the Mana within him, nearly twice as abundant as before. With a light flick of his fingers, a pale green current of air swirled in his palm, carrying vigorous vitality.

"Qi Foundation Eighth Layer."

Xiao Peng murmured to himself, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips.

Over this past year, his life had revolved around three things.

Practicing the Upper Clarity Sword Technique, refining pills, and cultivating.

He had barely managed to enter the Upper Clarity Sword Technique. Xiao Peng felt it was simply too difficult to practice; if he wanted to reach perfection, he would probably have to wait until after becoming an immortal.

His alchemy had reached the second grade, and he could casually refine Second-grade Pills. All of that was thanks to the Medicinal Herbs Ya Fei had provided. Otherwise, there was no way he could have become a second-grade alchemist so quickly.

Xiao Peng felt that he was rather talented in alchemy.

Reaching the level of a second-grade alchemist in less than a year should count as genius-level among alchemists in Battle Through the Heavens.

The main reason was that his teacher had directly made him absorb all the knowledge of alchemy, saving him the time needed to study and understand it. He only needed to practice slowly.

As for cultivation talent, Xiao Peng felt that his was probably ordinary.

Over this past year of cultivation, he had consumed quite a few pills to improve so quickly.

Unstable foundations?

As long as it was not the sort of pill that directly raised one by an entire major realm, it was not really a problem.

Just look at the protagonists in those cultivation novels. How many of them ever ran into that bullshit?

They ate pills like candy, and not a single one of them had any problems.

But whenever they fought enemies above their level, they would say the other person's foundation was unstable from taking too many pills. Wasn't that just nonsense?

"Not bad. Reaching the Qi Foundation Eighth Layer in less than a year is quite good."

At that moment, Sect Leader Tongtian's voice rang out.

Immediately afterward, Sect Leader Tongtian appeared before Xiao Peng.

Sect Leader Tongtian wore a blue robe, its sleeves fluttering despite the absence of wind. A faint Dao aura lingered around him, as though he had merged with the air in the room, yet he carried an unquestionable majesty.

His gaze fell on Xiao Peng with a trace of scrutiny, but even more approval.

"Reaching the Qi Foundation Eighth Layer in a year without damaging your foundation despite using pills is already rare." Sect Leader Tongtian lightly pinched his fingers together, and a thread of green air flew from his fingertips and landed in Xiao Peng's palm.

The current dissolved the instant it touched him, traveling through his meridians once. Wherever it passed, the Mana that had been slightly restless from his breakthrough immediately calmed and became increasingly pure.

Xiao Peng hurriedly rose and bowed. "Thank you for your guidance, Teacher."

Sect Leader Tongtian waved a hand, his gaze sweeping over the pill furnaces and Medicinal Herbs piled in the corner of the room. He said blandly, "The standard of a second-grade alchemist is considered outstanding in this world, but do not grow complacent. The path of alchemy values the unity of heart, hand, and intent, not merely talent and piles of Medicinal Herbs."

Xiao Peng nodded in acknowledgment. Thinking of how he occasionally lost control while refining pills due to his impatience for quick success, he could not help but flush with embarrassment.

"Though entering the Upper Clarity Sword Technique is difficult, you must persevere." Sect Leader Tongtian shifted the subject and drew a line through the air with his fingertip. A profound sword shadow appeared in the air. "This sword technique values intent over form. You have only learned its superficial aspects. Only after comprehending the true meaning of the word 'Clarity' will you glimpse its gateway."

As the sword shadow flickered, Xiao Peng felt a wave of clarity sweep through his Sea of Consciousness. The places where his sword practice had previously felt sluggish seemed to light up, and those obscure moves suddenly revealed a pattern he could follow.

Sect Leader Tongtian lightly waved his hand, and one man and one soul vanished.

The next moment, one man and one soul were in another space.

"Teacher, where is this?"

Xiao Peng curiously examined the space and asked Sect Leader Tongtian in great curiosity.

Xiao Peng looked at the boundless white Void around him. Beneath his feet was cloudlike mist that was solid, yet seemed capable of flowing at any moment.

Sect Leader Tongtian stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping across the empty surroundings. His voice was calm, yet carried a power that pierced through the Void. "This is a space I created, a place specifically meant to test you."

"A test?" Xiao Peng was somewhat curious.

Sect Leader Tongtian did not answer directly. He merely raised a hand and beckoned toward the Void.

In an instant, the white mist churned, and several black shadows shot out from within it. Their figures were swift as lightning, their longswords gleaming coldly as they lunged straight at Xiao Peng's face.

"Clang!"

Xiao Peng instinctively swung his sword to block. The crisp ring of metal striking metal echoed through the Void.

Borrowing the force of the recoil, he retreated half a step before seeing clearly that the black shadows were faceless figures. Their movements were stiff, yet every strike was vicious, clearly prearranged killing moves.

"Take them down."

Xiao Peng's pupils contracted. With no time to think, he raised his sword and charged forward.

The black shadows' sword moves were tricky and strange. At times, they struck at vital points like venomous snakes darting out their tongues; at others, they swept at his waist like a gale scattering leaves. Their techniques faintly resembled the Upper Clarity Sword Technique he had practiced, yet they twisted and changed at crucial moments, specifically targeting the flaws in his moves.

"These shadows were created based on my weaknesses?" Xiao Peng shouted as he blocked their attacks.

With a turn of his wrist, his sword traced a smooth arc, evading the thrust of the shadow on his left. At the same time, he drove the pommel backward, accurately striking the wrist of the shadow on his right.

"Consider yourself not too foolish." Sect Leader Tongtian's voice came from deep within the white mist. "If you cannot break your own shadow, how can you speak of improving?"

Xiao Peng's heart shook, and he instantly understood Sect Leader Tongtian's intention.