Several days had passed since Zhang Su became one of the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples.
Yet the Outer Sect was still abuzz with discussion.
After all, this was a major event for the Outer Sect.
However, Zhang Su had long since stopped caring about it.
He began using his status as one of the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples to apply for one-on-one instruction from an Internal Force elder.
This was one of the "benefits" of the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples.
This time, Zhang Su had applied for Elder Shentu.
Elder Shentu was gentle and amiable. Though he was not considered one of the Guiyuan Sect's foremost elders, he was highly popular among the many Outer Sect disciples. When teaching martial arts, he often made profound matters simple and explained everything with great clarity.
"This disciple Zhang Su greets Elder Shentu."
Zhang Su bowed respectfully.
Elder Shentu said blandly, "Speak. What have you come to ask this old man?"
"Reporting to Elder Shentu, this disciple has recently been cultivating Blood Qi. I have some doubts regarding the limits of Blood Qi and the birth of Internal Force, and hope Elder can clear them up."
"Oh? How many strands of Blood Qi do you have?"
Zhang Su thought about it. Around ten days had passed since his last battle with Luo Feng.
The amount of Blood Qi in his body had now reached a staggering 384 strands.
When Zhang Su honestly revealed that he possessed nearly four hundred strands of Blood Qi, a flicker of surprise passed through Elder Shentu's eyes.
"Nearly four hundred strands of Blood Qi... not bad. Even among Outer Sect disciples, you stand head and shoulders above the rest. In truth, Blood Qi has two Human Limits. The first Human Limit is one hundred strands of Blood Qi. Most martial artists cannot cultivate more than one hundred strands of Blood Qi."
"Once one breaks the Human Limit of one hundred strands of Blood Qi, it is called the First Limit Break."
"And one thousand strands of Blood Qi is the second Human Limit. Those capable of breaking the second Human Limit are as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. Once it is broken, it is called the Second Limit Break."
"As for the difference... the Internal Force born after the First Limit Break is largely similar across the board. The more Blood Qi one has, the stronger the Internal Force produced."
"But the Second Limit Break is different. Once Internal Force is born from a Second Limit Break, its quality stands above all other Internal Force. In other words, from the very starting line, those who achieve the Second Limit Break have already taken a great stride ahead. For example, if Internal Force martial artists cultivate the same Spiral Force, the Spiral Force cultivated by one who has achieved the Second Limit Break will be several times more powerful than that cultivated by one who has only achieved the First Limit Break."
"And the further one cultivates, the greater the gap becomes."
Zhang Su's eyes lit up.
"The Second Limit Break? May I ask Elder, how can one achieve the Second Limit Break?"
Zhang Su asked.
Elder Shentu said with a smile, "For geniuses like you, every one of you wishes to pursue a deeper foundation. You aim too high, each wanting to pursue the Second Limit Break."
"But in reality, the Second Limit Break is difficult! Difficult as ascending to the heavens! In the entire history of the Guiyuan Sect, the most outstanding disciples who could achieve the Second Limit Break could be counted on one hand."
"Moreover, in the last hundred years, not a single Guiyuan Sect disciple has been able to achieve the Second Limit Break. To do so, one must first cultivate Blood Qi to 999 strands, with no path left to advance further. Then, one must cultivate an unrivaled technique to the Perfected Realm before breaking the shackles and cultivating the thousandth strand of Blood Qi, thereby achieving the Second Limit Break! This is the most reliable method."
"Or one's body may undergo Ultimate Ascension, turning the impossible into the possible. There is the tiniest chance of achieving the Second Limit Break that way."
Elder Shentu did not conceal anything at all.
He directly explained both methods for achieving the Second Limit Break.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Su weighed the two methods in his heart.
What Ultimate Ascension, turning the impossible into the possible?
That was merely gambling on luck.
For the Second Limit Break, the first problem was cultivating 999 strands of Blood Qi.
This point alone blocked ninety-nine percent of martial artists.
After all, to cultivate 999 strands of Blood Qi, one had to possess an unrivaled divine art and cultivate it to the Perfected Realm.
Zhang Su had once cultivated the Great River Divine Art for a year without even reaching the Initiation Realm.
Cultivating an unrivaled divine art to the Perfected Realm was far too difficult.
Even if he reached 999 strands of Blood Qi, if he did not place his hopes on the ethereal so-called "Ultimate Ascension," then he would still have to cultivate another unrivaled divine art before he could possibly cultivate one thousand strands of Blood Qi and achieve the Second Limit Break!
With all these conditions piled together, it was simply too difficult.
No wonder no one in the Guiyuan Sect had achieved the Second Limit Break in the past century.
However, Zhang Su intended to give it a try.
If he could successfully cultivate 999 strands of Blood Qi, then cultivating a second unrivaled divine art would not be a problem at all.
After all, he still had ten Compatibility Points.
That was enough to raise an unrivaled divine art's Compatibility Rate to 100%. Cultivating it to the Perfected Realm would only be a matter of time.
"Thank you, Elder Shentu, for clearing up this disciple's doubts. This disciple understands."
Elder Shentu nodded. Thinking Zhang Su had retreated in the face of difficulty, he said with a smile, "Good. The martial path is long. There is no need to make every step perfect. After all, a person's energy is limited."
"Remember, on the martial path, choosing the road that suits you best is the kingly way!"
Zhang Su cupped his fists and solemnly expressed his gratitude to Elder Shentu.
He understood what Elder Shentu meant.
But he said nothing.
Because he had already found the path most suited to himself!
That was to continue condensing Blood Qi.
To see whether he had an opportunity to achieve the Second Limit Break.
If such an opportunity arose, he had to seize it!
Sharpening the knife would not delay the chopping of firewood.
He was only in the Blood Qi Realm now, the best time to lay his foundation.
Once Internal Force was born or his Cultivation Base became higher, it would already be too late to build a foundation.
In the Outer Sect, the second mountain peak was called Fengye Mountain.
Maple trees were planted across the mountain year-round.
Once autumn arrived, the whole mountain turned blazing red, a breathtaking sight.
Living on Fengye Mountain was Bai Junze, ranked second among the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples.
He was known as the "Madman"!
Bai Junze was a thoroughgoing martial arts madman.
And he was obsessed with the blade.
Since entering the Outer Sect, he had challenged almost everyone he could challenge.
His only defeat had been at the hands of the current number one in the Outer Sect, that "freak."
After that failed challenge, Bai Junze had kept a low profile.
Few people could catch sight of Bai Junze again.
He seemed to have been lying low all this time.
Waiting for the day he would stun the world with a single brilliant feat!
However, on this day, an uninvited guest arrived at Fengye Mountain.
It was Inner Sect disciple Lu Quan.
Lu Quan entered the room.
He saw Bai Junze, disheveled and filthy, with unkempt hair and a foul stench hanging in the air.
Lu Quan frowned deeply and directly tossed down a jade pendant.
It was Wei Yunzhou's jade pendant, serving as a token.
Lu Quan said directly, "Bai Junze, Senior Brother Wei said that no matter what method you use, if you deal with Zhang Su, the favor you owe Senior Brother Wei will be wiped clean!"
"Senior Brother also said, do it quickly!"
After saying that, Lu Quan wrinkled his nose and hurriedly left Fengye Mountain in disgust.
Swish.
Bai Junze opened his eyes.
He saw the jade pendant on the floor. It was indeed Wei Yunzhou's token.
"Zhang Su..."
Bai Junze murmured under his breath.
"Fine... I was only a little short anyway, but there is likely still a gap if I want to challenge that 'freak'... In the Blood Qi Realm, I cannot defeat that 'freak.' Then I'll go to the Inner Sect. The martial path is still long. The Outer Sect is only the beginning..."
"However, before going to the Inner Sect, I should settle this Zhang Su along the way. From then on, Wei Yunzhou and I will have no further ties!"
"Someone."
Very quickly, Outer Sect disciple Lu Xiang respectfully walked in.
"Go. Take my challenge letter to Zhang Su and arrange a battle with him three days from now."
"A challenge letter?"
Lu Xiang hesitated. "What if Zhang Su refuses to accept..."
After all, Bai Junze's fierce reputation was well known. Ranked second among the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples and known as the "Madman," no one wished to face Bai Junze.
It would be perfectly normal for Zhang Su to refuse.
"If Zhang Su refuses the challenge letter, then beat up those around him every time you see them. I will personally make a move as well, beating him until even cultivating normally becomes an impossible dream."
"I do not need to teach you how to handle such matters, do I?"
"Yes, Senior Brother Bai. I will definitely deliver the challenge letter. I will definitely make Zhang Su... accept the challenge!"
Lu Xiang took a deep breath and respectfully withdrew.
He had a headache.
Bai Junze was ranked higher and had a notorious reputation. Few people would dare accept his challenge letter.
Though Zhang Su's momentum was surging, as long as Zhang Su was not a fool, he would not accept this challenge letter.
"What a headache..."
Lu Xiang let out a long sigh and shook his head.
But no matter what, since Bai Junze had issued a death order, he had to handle this matter properly.
Thus, Lu Xiang gritted his teeth and strode away from Fengye Mountain.
Before you continue