Forging the Supreme Foundation!

Lu Tianqing still hadn't recovered from his shock.

To him, this was simply too staggering.

After all, he had wasted years in the Outer Sect, trying every possible method to achieve a second breakthrough and cultivate one thousand strands of blood energy.

Unfortunately, every attempt had ended in failure.

In the end, he had been forced to cultivate Internal Force before the age of sixteen to promote into the Inner Sect.

In this regard, he was a failure.

Yet, Zhang Su had succeeded!

One thousand strands of blood energy!

Moreover, it seemed he had already birthed Internal Force.

Lu Tianqing took a deep breath, his voice trembling: "Junior Brother Zhang, have you birthed Internal Force?"

"Yes. I have to thank Senior Brother Lu for letting me experience true Internal Force; otherwise, I probably would have needed another three to five days to birth it."

"..."

Lu Tianqing fell silent.

The fact that Zhang Su birthed Internal Force really had little to do with him.

Even without him, Zhang Su would have birthed it eventually.

"Congratulations to Junior Brother Zhang for birthing Internal Force. Promotion to the Inner Sect is just around the corner!"

After a long while, Lu Tianqing finally spoke.

His first words were to congratulate Zhang Su.

Lu Tianqing was actually quite envious of Zhang Su.

Although he had also birthed Internal Force, and had done so earlier than Zhang Su.

However, there were differences between one Internal Force and another.

Internal Force birthed after a second breakthrough was naturally stronger and forged a deeper foundation; the two could not be mentioned in the same breath.

The only pity was that Zhang Su was over the age limit.

Being over the age limit was a major issue.

Martial arts were all about speed.

The faster, the better.

The faster one progressed and the younger one was, the greater the hope of reaching the Xiantian realm.

Xiantian... one could establish a sect and become a hegemon of a region!

The Guiyuan Sect was only able to command respect in all directions because it had Xiantian experts guarding it!

If a martial artist did not reach Xiantian by the age of sixty, they basically had no chance left.

The Guiyuan Sect's screening of talented disciples was entirely aimed at finding that tiny sliver of hope to reach the Xiantian realm!

And over-age disciples were essentially lagging behind in the process of reaching Xiantian.

One step behind, every step behind!

In the eyes of the Guiyuan Sect's upper echelons, over-age disciples were not worth cultivating.

However, over-age disciples could still enter the Inner Sect.

After cultivating Internal Force, as long as one could pass the Combat Assessment, one could become an Inner Sect disciple.

This was considered the only opportunity the sect left for those over-age disciples.

"When does Junior Brother Zhang plan to participate in the Combat Assessment?"

Lu Tianqing asked.

"No rush. It won't be too late to go after I fully understand the specifics of the Combat Assessment."

Zhang Su was not in a hurry.

He was confident in his own strength, but he still needed to understand the Combat Assessment first.

He couldn't just walk into the assessment blind.

"If Junior Brother Zhang has any questions, you can come to the Inner Sect to find me."

After saying this, Lu Tianqing stood up to take his leave.

Zhang Su watched Lu Tianqing's disappearing back, weighing things in his heart.

This Lu Tianqing was very proud at heart.

But precisely because he was so proud, the fact that Zhang Su had defeated him once had actually earned him Lu Tianqing's recognition.

A person like this, with a pure mindset, was worth befriending.

Zhang Su remained on Jinyu Peak to stabilize his realm.

In the blink of an eye, another few days passed.

The Outer Sect was calm and peaceful.

There were no rumors whatsoever regarding Zhang Su's "second breakthrough," his "thousand strands of blood qi," or the "birth of internal force."

This proved that Lu Tianqing had indeed kept his mouth shut, not leaking a single piece of information.

"Without a cultivation technique for the internal force level, the efficiency of converting internal force is very low..."

Zhang Su muttered to himself.

He had been putting his full effort into converting internal force over the past few days.

This internal force was condensed from his blood qi; theoretically, the stronger the blood qi, the easier it was to convert into internal force.

However, this was the crudest method of conversion.

To convert it faster, or even to make the resulting internal force stronger, one still needed to practice a cultivation technique at the internal force level.

But the Guiyuan Sect had a rule: all martial arts at the internal force level could only be exchanged for by Inner Sect disciples.

Even those Outer Sect deacons who were at the internal force level needed to perform meritorious service for the sect before they could use contribution points to exchange for internal force level martial arts.

Zhang Su focused his attention and checked his panel.

Host: Zhang Su (Early Stage)

Cultivation: Mingjin

Yangji Blood Nourishing Technique: Compatibility 100% (Perfected)

Compatibility Value: 3

On the panel, Zhang Su's cultivation had already advanced from the ninth level of the Blood Qi Realm to "Early Stage Mingjin."

Internal force was divided into Mingjin, Anjin, Huajin, Danjin, and Gangjin!

Zhang Su was now a Mingjin martial artist.

The power of a Mingjin martial artist's internal force was very weak and could not leave the body.

Once it left the body, even if it entered an opponent's body, it had no lethality.

For instance, when Zhang Su had felt Lu Tianqing's internal force previously, it had possessed no lethality.

Mingjin could only act upon one's own muscles, bones, skin, and membranes.

When Mingjin erupted, it allowed one's physical attributes to far exceed those of an ordinary person.

For internal force to have lethality, one had to cultivate until reaching the Anjin stage.

However, Zhang Su was a Mingjin martial artist who had achieved a second breakthrough.

His internal force naturally had advantages.

First was the quantity.

Even though they were both at the early stage of Mingjin, the amount of internal force Zhang Su possessed was likely comparable to that of a mid-stage Mingjin martial artist.

Then there was the quality.

If Zhang Su unleashed his Mingjin, that extremely rigid and yang characteristic would manifest in his physical attributes, allowing his body to react faster and exert greater strength.

If he were to cultivate to the Anjin stage, that advantage would be even greater.

This was the supreme foundation forged by a second breakthrough, far surpassing other martial artists!

For the time being, Zhang Su only knew of these two advantages.

But since "second breakthrough" was something countless geniuses flocked to, there were perhaps other, even greater advantages.

It was just that Zhang Su was not yet practicing internal force level martial arts, so he was not yet aware of them.

"Senior Brother, we have gathered specific information regarding the Combat Assessment."

At this moment, Chu Dachuan and the other two returned.

Over the past few days, Zhang Su had sent the three of them to inquire about the Combat Assessment.

The three of them had gone through quite a bit of trouble to get back only now.

Zhang Su stood up and walked out of the quiet room.

"Tell me, what exactly is this Combat Assessment like?"

Zhang Su asked.

"Senior Brother Zhang, the Combat Assessment is held in the Inner Sect. If an overage Outer Sect disciple develops internal force, they must pass the Combat Assessment to be promoted to an Inner Sect disciple."

"Overage disciples participating in the Combat Assessment only need to defeat three puppets of the same realm."

"However, disciples participating in the Combat Assessment are not allowed to use martial arts techniques of the internal force level. If discovered, they will be immediately disqualified and expelled from the sect."

Zhang Su was somewhat surprised.

Theoretically, only Inner Sect disciples are permitted to exchange for martial arts techniques at the Internal Force level.

However, the backgrounds of disciples within the Outer Sect are complex.

For those with deep connections, obtaining Internal Force martial arts from outside the sect beforehand is not a difficult task.

This is precisely why the Guiyuan Sect established such a regulation.

If a martial artist is not allowed to use Internal Force level techniques, they are at a significant disadvantage when facing puppets of the same realm.

Not to mention that they must defeat three such puppets.

However, this is likely the very purpose of the Guiyuan Sect.

They intend to screen for disciples with formidable combat power.

After all, most overage disciples have essentially exhausted their potential.

The Guiyuan Sect has only one requirement for overage disciples, and that is combat power!

The stronger the combat power, the better!

"Alright, I have a general understanding. You have worked hard these past few days; take these Blood Replenishing Pills and cultivate well."

Zhang Su waved his hand, generously handing out some Blood Replenishing Pills.

He is no longer short of Blood Replenishing Pills now.

Since Chu Dachuan and the other two have been diligent in their duties, it is only natural for Zhang Su to provide some benefits.

The three were overjoyed.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

The three immediately accepted the Blood Replenishing Pills.

"By the way, if there are any other preparations Senior Brother needs, you can leave them to us."

Chu Dachuan asked.

"Preparations?"

Zhang Su shook his head.

"No need. If I cannot even pass the Combat Assessment, wouldn't the rumor that I am the 'weakest Outer Sect number one' in the history of the Guiyuan Sect be confirmed?"

He knows that the Outer Sect is full of rumors claiming he became the number one by "coasting."

That he simply got lucky.

Although he does not care much and will not go out of his way to explain, he knows clearly in his heart that he did not become number one by "coasting."

He defeated Lu Tianqing; he is the genuine number one of the Outer Sect!

Therefore, he truly does not need to make any further preparations for this "Combat Assessment."

"Let's go, to participate in the Combat Assessment and promote to the Inner Sect!"

Zhang Su said decisively.

Chu Dachuan and the other two exchanged glances, a hint of excitement flashing in their eyes.

"Yes, Senior Brother!"

With that, the group of four left Jinyu Peak and headed straight for the Inner Sect.