The Qi Condensation Realm

The night was as dark as ink, devoid of stars and moon.

Three hundred miles outside Qingyang City, in a desolate mountain valley.

"Plop!"

A streak of light descended from the sky, crashing heavily onto the ground and stirring up a cloud of dust.

Chen Chen rolled off the dimly glowing Flying Sword Artifact, spitting out a large mouthful of blood mixed with internal organ fragments.

His face was as pale as paper, and every inch of his body ached.

Forcing the Flying Sword Artifact to activate, coupled with the lingering shockwave from tanking a blow from the Blood Fiend Envoy earlier, had worsened his already critical injuries.

At this moment, he was truly at the end of his rope.

But he dared not stop.

He struggled to get up, scanned his surroundings, and after confirming the spot was sufficiently hidden, stumbled into a cave. Then, using his last ounce of strength, he moved a giant rock to block the entrance.

After finishing, he could no longer hold on. He collapsed onto the ground as if drained of all energy, gasping for air.

Safe.

For now.

He leaned against the cold stone wall, his mind finally sinking into the System.

It was time to take stock of his gains.

[Name: Chen Chen]
[Realm: Body Tempering Ninth Stage (Peak)]
[Cultivation Technique: Asura God Transformation Art, Nine Nether Soul Refining Art]
[Martial Skill: Seven Shadows Step]
[Cultivation Points: 2000]
[Items: Heaven Concealing Talisman (Used), Qi Condensation Pill (Used), Ice-blue Token (Used)]

Looking at the impressive two thousand Cultivation Points, Chen Chen's heart clenched.

A gamble had paid off with immense fortune!

The Wang Family, apart from the servants who scattered, their core strength had been almost entirely annihilated by him alone!

Four elders, thirty Blood Guards, nearly two hundred guards, and Wang Wei, who was half a step into the Qi Condensation Realm!

These individuals had contributed a massive amount of Cultivation Points to him.

"System, I want to break through!"

Chen Chen didn't hesitate.

He was severely injured and being hunted by experts from the Blood Fiend Tower. Only by quickly improving his strength and entering the Qi Condensation Realm could he have a sliver of hope!

[Detected Host possesses sufficient Cultivation Points and has met the breakthrough conditions.]
[Initiating 'Perfect Breakthrough' mode. Requires 500 Cultivation Points. Confirm?]

"Confirm!"

[Command received! Consuming 500 Cultivation Points, 'Perfect Breakthrough' mode activated!]
[System commencing guidance of world Spiritual Energy...]
[Breakthrough process estimated to last three hours. During this period, Host will enter a deep meditative state. System will consume Cultivation Points to maintain an energy shield, ensuring the breakthrough process is undisturbed by external factors.]

A soft golden barrier emanated from Chen Chen's body, enveloping him.

Simultaneously, streams of pure energy began to repair the damaged meridians and organs within him.

Chen Chen closed his eyes, following the methods of the Asura God Transformation Art, emptying his mind, and began to sense the omnipresent Spiritual Energy in the world.

With the boost from the Nine Nether Soul Refining Art, his powerful soul acted like a signal amplifier, allowing him to clearly "see" countless colorful light spots floating in the surrounding space.

These were the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth!

"Draw!"

With a thought, his body seemed to transform into a colossal vortex.

The Spiritual Energy within the valley, and even within a radius of several miles, seemed to be drawn by an irresistible force, beginning to converge madly towards the cave where he was!

In an instant, a fierce wind raged through the valley. The Spiritual Energy condensed into visible white mist, forming a massive Spiritual Energy tornado that poured into the cave!

Such an astonishing phenomenon, if witnessed by other cultivators, would surely leave them dumbfounded.

Ordinary cultivators breaking through to the Qi Condensation Realm would only draw a trickle of Spiritual Energy.

However, due to the dominance of the heavenly-tier Asura God Transformation Art, Chen Chen was drawing a raging river, a convergence of a hundred streams into the sea!

The surging Spiritual Energy poured into his body, following the cultivation technique's pathways, scouring his meridians, and finally accumulating in his Dantian.

This process was excruciating.

Each surge felt like a steel knife scraping his meridians.

But Chen Chen gritted his teeth, relying on his unwavering will, tempered by deep-seated hatred, and the clear mind brought by the Nine Nether Soul Refining Art, to firmly control this berserk energy.

What he had to do was to compress and condense this rampant Spiritual Energy within his Dantian, ultimately forming a stable, rotating… Qi vortex!

This was the mark of the Qi Condensation Realm!

Time ticked by, second by second.

One hour…

Two hours…

As the third hour was about to end.

The Spiritual Energy within Chen Chen's Dantian had been compressed to its absolute limit!

"Condense!"

He let out a roar from the depths of his soul!

RUMBLE!

His entire body trembled violently!

Within his Dantian, all the Spiritual Energy collapsed towards the center, and then transformed into a slowly rotating, tiny vortex emitting a faint blood-red light!

Though the vortex was small, it contained a hundred times more energy than all his Blood Essence combined before!

A new, powerful aura, far surpassing the Body Tempering Realm, erupted from his body!

Outside the cave, the golden barrier protecting him shattered in response.

The violent surge of energy directly blasted away the giant rock blocking the cave entrance!

Chen Chen slowly opened his eyes.

In his pupils, one side held a deep, hellish blood-red malevolent energy, while the other held a cold, moon-like Netherworld divine light. Two completely different auras merged perfectly on him, creating an indescribable, unique charm.

He slowly stood up, feeling the ceaseless flow of a new power within him, known as "True Qi."

He opened his palm, and with a thought.

A wisp of blood-red True Qi condensed in his palm, forming a lifelike, blood-red miniature sword that continuously flickered with sharpness.

True Qi projection!

This was the proof of the Qi Condensation Realm!

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully breaking through to the Qi Condensation First Stage!]

[The cultivation art Asura God Transformation Art has automatically advanced to the second level, awakening the divine ability—Asura Battle Body (Initial Stage)!]

[The cultivation art Nine Nether Soul Refining Art has automatically advanced to the Minor Accomplishment realm due to absorbing a large amount of Spiritual Energy!]

[Name: Chen Chen]
[Realm: Qi Condensation First Stage]
[Cultivation Arts: Asura God Transformation Art (Second Level), Nine Nether Soul Refining Art (Minor Accomplishment)]
[Martial Skills: Seven Shadows Step (Perfection)]
[Divine Abilities: Eye of Asura, Asura Battle Body (Initial Stage)]
[Cultivation Points: 1500]

Looking at the refreshed system panel, Chen Chen's face broke into a satisfied smile.

He had finally embarked on the true path of cultivation!

He walked out of the cave and looked up at the sky.

The sunlight was just right.

"The Wang Family is just the beginning."

His gaze swept towards two distant directions.

One was a thousand miles away, the location of Heavenly Sword Peak. He had to understand the mystery of that white-robed woman and her world-shattering sword strike.

The other was in the direction of Azure Cloud Sect.

"Wang Teng…"

A flash of killing intent crossed Chen Chen's eyes.

"Blood Fiend Tower…"

"Your debts, I will collect them all, personally, one by one!"

He took a deep breath, summoned his Flying Sword Artifact, and transformed into a streak of light, soaring into the sky.