When the Time is Ripe

Deep in the night, behind the Ernst Institute.

Moonlight filtered through the sparse branches and leaves, casting mottled spots of light onto the forest clearing. Lin Qin had just finished a round of high-intensity sword practice. His broadsword was thrust diagonally into the ground beside him, and he leaned on his knees, gasping for breath.

Sweat cascaded like a stream from his forehead, cheeks, and neck, splashing into the soil beneath him and leaving dark stains. Every muscle in his body trembled, radiating intense soreness and exhaustion. The Battle Qi within him had become thin and restless due to the prolonged, strenuous consumption.

Yet, he did not immediately sit down to meditate and recover. Instead, he maintained his posture, carefully sensing the state of his body.

His muscle fibers were crying out, but deep within, a new strength was gestating. The depleted Battle Qi circulated slowly through his meridians on its own; with every cycle, it seemed to squeeze new energy from the deepest parts of his body, becoming a fraction more refined.

He had been feeling this way for several days. He knew he had touched that boundary.

Advancing from a Level 3 Warrior to a Level 4 Warrior was the threshold between a junior warrior and an intermediate warrior, a significant leap. This meant not only an increase in the total volume of Battle Qi but also a notable enhancement in the quality of his Battle Qi and his physical strength.

He straightened up and took a deep breath. The cool night air rushed into his lungs, bringing a touch of clarity. He pulled the broadsword from the ground, but instead of starting the next round of practice, he slowly assumed a basic starting stance.

He did not pursue speed or power; he simply sank his mind completely into his body, guiding that restless, thin Battle Qi to circulate slowly and firmly according to the path of the Basic Battle Qi Manual.

One cycle, two cycles...

The broadsword moved slowly with his intent, feeling as heavy as a thousand jun, yet as light as nothing at all. His breathing gradually became long and rhythmic, subtly harmonizing with the flow of his Battle Qi and the pulse of the earth beneath his feet.

He forgot the time, forgot the exhaustion, and immersed his entire being in this internal circulation. Everything in the outside world seemed to drift away, leaving only him, his sword, the Battle Qi flowing within him, and the solid, heavy earth beneath his feet.

He did not know how much time had passed, but when the Battle Qi reached a certain critical point—

"Hum!"

It was as if a dam had been breached, or a seed had broken through the soil. The Battle Qi within him, which had been sluggish and thin, suddenly surged! A flow of earth-yellow energy, far more robust and refined than before, gushed from the depths of his body, instantly filling all his meridians. The previous fatigue and soreness were replaced by a sense of fresh, surging power.

The broadsword in his hand seemed to sense this power, emitting a low, soft hum.

Lin Qin opened his eyes abruptly, a sharp glint flashing through them. He instinctively took a step forward and swung his broadsword down in one fluid motion!

"Shhh!"

There was no earth-shattering momentum, only a condensed, earth-yellow blade aura that flashed past and struck a waist-high bluestone in front of him.

The bluestone shuddered slightly, and a smooth, several-inch-deep cut appeared on its surface, the cross-section as smooth as a mirror.

Lin Qin stood with his sword retracted, feeling the ceaseless, stream-like, thick Battle Qi within him and the immense power filling his entire body.

Level 4 Warrior!

There was no wild joy, no excitement; his heart was completely calm, as if this was how it was always meant to be.

He raised his hand and looked at his calloused yet powerful palm. All of this was earned through countless mornings of sword practice, countless nights of meditation, and countless drops of sweat. A breakthrough was merely the inevitable qualitative change after a sufficient accumulation of quantitative change.

It was a natural result.

He walked to the bluestone he had split and touched the smooth cut with his finger. This was the effect of condensed Battle Qi being projected outward. Although it was still very weak and far from a true sword aura strike, it was undoubtedly a sign that he had officially stepped into the ranks of intermediate warriors.

The night wind blew through the forest, bringing a rustling sound. Lin Qin stood where he was, adapting to the changes in his body after the breakthrough. His strength was greater, his speed faster, and his perception sharper. He could even more clearly feel the heavy, inclusive pulse coming from the earth beneath his feet.

He clenched his fist.

Level 4 was just a new starting point. He knew that under the influence of "Heaven Rewards Diligence," as long as he continued to invest time and continue to shed sweat, Level 5, Level 6... and even higher realms would be stepped under his feet one by one.

He did not delay for long; he sat cross-legged again to meditate, consolidating the realm he had just broken through to while recovering his consumed mental energy.