It was late autumn, the day of Frost's Descent.
The vegetation had withered yellow, and cold winds swept fallen leaves into whirling dances in the air.
A grim chill settled over heaven and earth.
Today was the day of the autumn executions.
In the northern outskirts stood a dilapidated courtyard seldom visited by anyone.
Its walls lay crumbling, and dead grass covered the ground.
Xie Jinghan sat cross-legged on a crude wooden bed inside the house, his eyes closed and scorching heat radiating from his body.
After a long while, he slowly concluded his practice and opened his eyes. Lightning and fire flashed briefly in their depths.
After this period of arduous cultivation, drawing on the lingering power of the second Fire Lotus Seed, he had finally reached the fifth level of the innate realm last night.
He turned his attention inward to his personal panel to check his proficiency progress.
[Innate Breathing Method: 800,369/2,000,000 (Comprehending)]
He felt the changes within him. The true qi in his dantian's sea of qi had grown denser and purer, flowing more smoothly through his meridians.
His progress in his other martial arts had also surged with the breakthrough in his cultivation.
A trace of the Fire Lotus Seed's power still lay hidden in his flesh and blood, not yet fully absorbed.
After a night of seated cultivation, he felt invigorated, his mind clear and his body refreshed, without a hint of fatigue.
Xie Jinghan pushed open the wooden door and walked out slowly.
In the courtyard, Chu Xiong and Jiang Lingshan had finished their preparations and were waiting quietly.
Both wore ordinary cloth garments that would draw no attention in a crowd.
Sensing the change in the aura emanating from Xie Jinghan, Chu Xiong said with delight,
"Congratulations on another breakthrough,