Level 10 Qi Condensation!

Before the morning mist had dispersed, Lin Qing'er came again.

This time, she was alone. Dew clung to the hem of her goose-yellow skirt, while the silver bell in her hair tinkled softly with every step.

She stood outside Qin Yuan's little cottage, hesitating for a moment before raising her hand to knock.

The door opened.

Qin Yuan stood inside, dressed in a faded gray robe washed nearly white. Yet the aura around him was utterly different from yesterday—condensed and tranquil, like a blade sheathed in its scabbard. Qi Cultivation Level 7 Peak, only a hair's breadth away from the eighth level.

"Brother Qin Yuan." Lin Qing'er looked at him earnestly. "Come to Third Peak with me."

Qin Yuan said nothing.

"Seventh Peak doesn't want you, but we do." She spoke faster, as though afraid of being interrupted. "I know you refused yesterday because you wanted to fight for your pride. But now that Zhao Hu has been crippled by you, Liu Feng definitely won't let this rest. It's too dangerous for you to remain in the Outer Sect. Third Peak can at least protect you."

The mountain path was quiet. In the distance came the footsteps of early-rising disciples heading toward the dining hall.

Qin Yuan looked toward Third Peak. It was one of the three most towering peaks among Xuan Yuan Sect's Nine Peaks, its halls glinting with the cold sheen of gold and iron beneath the morning light.

"The Outer Sect Competition is in three days," he said. "I want to settle things with Liu Feng myself."

"And after that?" Lin Qing'er asked anxiously. "Even if you win—I mean, if you win—do you think Third Peak will let you off? Liu Feng is the Enforcement Elder's Direct Disciple!"

Qin Yuan withdrew his gaze and looked at her. "That's precisely why I need to go."

Lin Qing'er froze.

"Some things can't be avoided." Qin Yuan's voice was calm. "Since they can't be avoided, let them come."

He paused, and his tone softened somewhat. "Qing'er, I appreciate your kindness. But I won't go to Third Peak."

Lin Qing'er bit her lower lip, her eyes reddening slightly. She suddenly remembered ten years ago, beneath the old locust tree at the village entrance. The young Qin Yuan had carried her on his back as he climbed the tree to pick locust blossoms. Afraid of heights, she had clung desperately around his neck. Up in the tree, he had told her, "What are you afraid of? I'm here."

Now he was saying that some things could not be avoided.

"Then... just help me once, all right?" Her voice lowered, carrying a trace of pleading. "Third Peak and Seventh Peak hold a ten-person contest every year. The winning peak gets thirty percent more resource allocation. Several senior brothers from Third Peak went out to train this year and haven't returned, so we can't gather ten people..."

She looked up, her eyes glistening with tears. "Just take the name of a temporary disciple. Once the competition is over in three days, you can leave whenever you want. Consider it... consider it repayment for that basket of locust blossoms from ten years ago."

Qin Yuan looked at her.

After a long while, he asked, "Did Senior Sister Liu agree?"

"Senior Sister, she..." Lin Qing'er's gaze flickered. "She said it was up to me."

What Liu Han had actually said was, "If he's willing to come, then let him come. But Qing'er, think carefully. Dragging him into a conflict between two peaks may not necessarily be helping him."

But Lin Qing'er could not care about that now. She only knew that if Brother Qin Yuan stayed alone in the Outer Sect and faced Liu Feng and all of Third Peak, he would die.

Qin Yuan fell silent.

At the end of the mountain path, a figure in white stood quietly in the thin mist. Liu Han had arrived at some unknown time, her arms folded around her sword like an ice sculpture.

Qin Yuan looked at her.

Liu Han spoke blandly. "Third Peak doesn't lack thugs." The implication was clear—what could he possibly help with?

Qin Yuan suddenly smiled. "Then I'll just go watch the fun."

He looked at Lin Qing'er. "I agree."

After everyone left, Qin Yuan shut the door and sat down cross-legged.

The system panel appeared on time:

[Host: Qin Yuan]

[Cultivation: Qi Cultivation Level 7 (Peak)]

[Extractable Cultivation: 10 years (can be converted today)]

[Extract?]

"Extract."

Boom—!

The familiar blazing torrent surged forth from his dantian once more, even more vast and mighty than yesterday.

Qin Yuan circulated the Qi Guiding Art, guiding the spiritual energy to scour through his meridians.

The barrier of the seventh level shattered at once. Spiritual energy flooded into Qi Cultivation Level 8 without slowing, charging straight toward the ninth level!

This time, he clearly felt some kind of shackle within his body loosening.

The Five Elements Mixed Spiritual Root was like five broken buckets leaking water, but the cultivation poured in by the system was like a towering flood. Even after some leaked away, what remained was still enough to drown everything.

At midnight, it refreshed for the second time.

Another ten years of cultivation surged into him.

Qi Cultivation Level 9, broken through!

Qi Cultivation Level 9 Peak!

On the morning of the third day, when the first ray of sunlight pierced through the window paper, Qin Yuan opened his eyes.

A sharp gleam lay hidden in his gaze. Spiritual energy flowed around him like a tangible stream, and faint sounds of wind and thunder accompanied every breath.

He raised his hand and curled his five fingers in the air. The atmosphere let out an explosive crack as it was compressed.

Level 10 Qi Condensation.

In two days, he had gone from the third level to the tenth.

If word got out, it would be enough to shake the entire Xuan Yuan Sect—no, the entire cultivation world of Qingzhou. Even a genius with a Heavenly Spiritual Root would need at least five years of bitter cultivation to advance from the third level to the tenth.

Qin Yuan rose to his feet, his bones crackling. He walked to the battered bronze mirror. The person reflected within still had the same features, but his bearing had become completely different.

Like a rough ore, forcibly forged until its edge gleamed.

He pushed the door open and stepped outside.

Lin Qing'er was already waiting outside. The moment she saw him, her almond eyes widened round. "Brother Qin Yuan, you broke through again?!"

"Mm." Qin Yuan did not explain further.

Lin Qing'er opened her mouth, wanting to ask something, but in the end, she did not. She only blinked hard and smiled. "Wonderful! Now we're certain to win!"

On the way to Third Peak, Lin Qing'er chattered on about the feud between the two peaks.

"Third Peak and Seventh Peak are the strongest peaks in Xuan Yuan Sect. Every year, they have to fight for supremacy. The Sect Master doesn't interfere, saying that only competition brings progress. The contest is held once a year. Each side sends ten people, all below the Foundation Establishment Realm, and they fight according to drawn lots. Whichever peak wins more matches wins."

She paused and lowered her voice. "Seventh Peak won last year. The extra thirty percent of resources they received helped several senior brothers and sisters break through their bottlenecks. Third Peak has been holding its breath ever since."

Qin Yuan asked, "Can an Outer Sect disciple like me participate too?"

"Normally, no." Lin Qing'er gave a sly smile. "But didn't you agree to temporarily join Third Peak? You only need to take the name of a registered disciple. The contest only looks at status, not cultivation—though if your cultivation is too low, going would only be embarrassing."

As she spoke, she secretly glanced at Qin Yuan. Level 10 Qi Condensation was nothing remarkable in the Inner Sect, but in a contest restricted to those below the Foundation Establishment Realm, it was already above average.

While they talked, they reached a training ground halfway up Third Peak.

Nine people were already waiting there. Seven men and two women, all dressed in the blue robes of the Inner Sect. The lowest cultivation among them was Qi Cultivation Level 9, while the tallest young man had reached Great Perfection of the Twelfth Layer, only one step away from Foundation Establishment.

When they saw Lin Qing'er bring over an Outer Sect disciple in gray robes, their expressions turned somewhat strange.

"Junior Sister Qing'er," the young man at Great Perfection of the Twelfth Layer said with a frown, "is this the helper you mentioned?"

Lin Qing'er pulled Qin Yuan forward. "Senior Brother Chen, this is Qin Yuan. He'll temporarily register under our peak and participate in today's contest."

"Nonsense!" A lanky man beside them sneered. "An Outer Sect disciple? What level is he at? Don't tell me he's only level seven or eight and came to make up the numbers?"

Qin Yuan said nothing.

Lin Qing'er grew anxious. "Senior Brother Wang, Brother Qin Yuan, he..."

"Level ten," Qin Yuan suddenly said.

The training ground fell silent.

Several gazes landed on him in unison, carrying scrutiny, doubt, and undisguised contempt.

"Level ten?" The lanky Senior Brother Wang sized him up from head to toe. "I underestimated you. But what does level ten amount to? The lowest among us is level nine, and Senior Brother Chen is at Great Perfection of the Twelfth Layer. Is your level ten even worth looking at?"

Senior Brother Chen raised a hand to stop him, then looked at Qin Yuan. "Since Junior Sister Qing'er recommended you, you must have some exceptional ability. But this contest concerns Third Peak's honor. If your strength is insufficient, it's not too late to withdraw now."

His words were polite, but the meaning was obvious—don't drag them down.

Qin Yuan raised his eyes, sweeping his gaze across the nine people before finally settling it on Senior Brother Chen's face.

"We'll know after a fight," he said.