His expression grew solemn. Not daring to be careless, he immediately began consolidating his newly attained cultivation.
His magical power flowed slowly through the newly opened meridians, following the prescribed route of his cultivation method to complete a greater celestial circuit.
With the distinctive rhythm of the Wood Spirit Art, he absorbed and refined the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, transforming it into his own magical power through the circulation.
After six circuits, his magical power converged in his dantian like a sea embracing a hundred rivers.
At the bottom of his dantian, it formed a "lake of magical power," much like a small pool.
Having broken through to late Qi Refining, his long-stalled cultivation could finally advance again, and the upper limit of his magical power could continue to rise.
Streams of spiritual energy were refined into magical power, continuously filling the lake within his dantian.
Only after six hours, when a sense of saturation arose, did his magical power stop increasing.
Another hour passed before Liu Yu slowly brought his cultivation to a close.
A green glow flashed across his face, then swiftly dimmed and vanished. He opened his eyes and carefully examined the changes brought by his breakthrough.
The magical power filling his dantian had increased by roughly half compared to before his breakthrough.
Whether fighting or flying on his sword, he would be able to last much longer. His strength had increased considerably once again.
He extended his divine sense in every direction and tested it carefully. Its range had grown to a diameter of roughly sixty-four zhang.
Ordinary cultivators who had completed their cultivation in the Qi Refining Period had a divine sense range of only sixty zhang.
His divine sense was already a little stronger than that of cultivators at Qi Refining perfection!
This feeling of strength...
It feels wonderful!
Liu Yu clenched both fists, feeling his body brim with strength.
It almost seemed as though he could already take his fate into his own hands!
A heartfelt smile appeared on his face, although he knew this was merely an illusion brought on by his recent breakthrough.
In reality, he was still a minor cultivator in the Qi Refining Period, someone at the very bottom of the cultivation world.
Still, the feeling of growing stronger truly was wonderful!
He spent four hours familiarizing himself with his cultivation at the seventh layer of Qi Refining.
"It's time to enter the inner sect."
Seated on his cushion, Liu Yu murmured to himself.
He planned to leave immediately for the Rectified Origin Hall and become an Inner Disciple.
Since he had already broken through to late Qi Refining and met the requirements, it was best to complete his promotion to Inner Disciple as soon as possible.
That way, he would not have to perform his assigned chores a month later and would have more time to cultivate.
According to the Primordial Yang Sect's rules, those with a heavenly spiritual root, dual spiritual roots, or mutated spiritual roots could become Inner Disciples directly.
Cultivators with other spiritual roots had to reach the seventh layer of Qi Refining—late Qi Refining—before the age of thirty to become Inner Disciples.
Liu Yu was only twenty-one that year and fully met the requirements for promotion.
The Primordial Yang Sect's Inner Disciples did not have to perform chores every three months, leaving them more time to cultivate.
Their monthly stipend was also considerably greater than that of Outer Disciples.
Outer Disciples at middle Qi Refining received only three Pure Spirit Pills and five low-grade spirit stones each month.
Inner Disciples, meanwhile, received two Purple Spirit Pills and seven spirit stones each month, nearly twice as much in value alone.
Leaving his cave abode, Liu Yu patted his Storage Bag and flew toward Clear Spring Peak on the Giant Wood Sword.
The Rectified Origin Hall stood on Clear Spring Peak, not far from the General Affairs Hall, and handled promotions to the inner sect.
Every Outer Disciple had to visit it to enter the inner sect.
Since his magical power had grown much deeper, Liu Yu did not ride a spirit bird this time, instead making the journey on his own flying sword.
Stopping only once along the way to replenish his magical power, he took six hours to reach Clear Spring Peak, arriving at dusk just as the sun was about to set.
Night was approaching, and the setting sun had dyed the entire western sky red.
There were still plenty of cultivators coming and going on Clear Spring Peak, but most hurried along with grave expressions.
It seemed as though something momentous had happened. The scene was entirely different from his previous visit.
Something must have happened to cause a change like this.
It looks like I'll have to find some time to ask a few fellow disciples about the situation.
His expression calm, Liu Yu strolled among the towers and halls, contemplating the scene before him.
Flight was prohibited on Clear Spring Peak. Since he had no urgent business, he walked at an unhurried pace, admiring the scenery along the way.
After roughly a quarter of an hour, he arrived at the Rectified Origin Hall.
It was a great hall that struck one as solemn and dignified at first glance, exuding the air of an ancient legacy, upright and honorable.
Above the entrance hung a plaque bearing the words "Rectified Origin Hall" in large, regular-script characters.
Every stroke was meticulous, dignified, and upright.
Two Outer Disciples in gray robes stood guard at the entrance. Both were at the eighth layer of Qi Refining, tasked with keeping disciples whose cultivation was insufficient outside.
Both had reached late Qi Refining only after turning thirty. Their hopes of Foundation Establishment were already slim, and they could not enter the inner sect.
Thus, they could only remain in the outer sect, carrying out assignments and serving the sect.
Both now spotted Liu Yu approaching. Once they sensed his cultivation, they immediately straightened up, not daring to treat him carelessly.
Although this junior brother's cultivation was one layer below theirs, judging by his age, he would almost certainly become an Inner Disciple once he went inside.
When that happened, they would have to address him as "senior brother."
His chances of reaching Foundation Establishment were far greater than theirs.
If they slighted this junior brother and he later became a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, they would have bitter fruit to swallow.
Liu Yu reached the entrance of the Rectified Origin Hall with a composed expression, showing no timidity before the two men whose cultivation exceeded his own.
He merely nodded to the two Outer Disciples in greeting.
"Please, go in!"
Neither stopped him. They extended their hands to usher him inside.
Without giving the two any further thought, Liu Yu stepped into the Rectified Origin Hall.
The hall was roughly ten zhang in both length and width, with extremely plain, simple furnishings.
Several portraits hung in the center of the wall, with a red offering table beneath them.
Only an incense burner stood in the middle of the red offering table. Three evenly burning incense sticks were planted in it, inspiring an involuntary sense of solemnity.
A small room stood beside the main hall, with a little window set into it.
Through the window, he could see a deeply wrinkled cultivator with a head full of white hair.
Dressed in brown, the man looked like a mortal elder in his sixties or seventies. He was reclining in a grand armchair, dozing.
Liu Yu approached with quiet steps. Seeing this, he did not dare disturb the Foundation Establishment Realm martial uncle's rest.
He simply stood at the window and waited patiently.
Only after quite some time did the elderly-looking Foundation Establishment martial uncle leisurely open his eyes.
His somewhat cloudy eyes swept over Liu Yu from head to toe, and he nodded.
He raised his teacup and took a gentle sip before speaking in an indifferent tone:
"Mm."
"Pure magical power, a steady aura."
"Good, good. You're worth nurturing."
"Hand me your wooden identity token. You may call me Uncle-Master Geng."
Geng Yuanzhang spoke at an unhurried pace.
Seeing that this junior was full of vitality and possessed pure magical power, he judged that the young man must have spent several years carefully honing his cultivation.
He did not seem to have used methods with severe hidden dangers to advance rapidly.
His aura was also quite steady, showing that his cultivation realm was already firmly consolidated. This earned Geng Yuanzhang's silent approval.
Seeing the martial uncle awaken, Liu Yu promptly bent at the waist and gave a proper bow.
Then, hearing Uncle-Master Geng's instructions, he hurriedly took the wooden token identifying him as a disciple from his Storage Bag and respectfully offered it with both hands.
This wooden token was issued when I left the Outer Courtyard and joined the outer sect.
In the blink of an eye, nine springs and autumns have passed.
Liu Yu sighed inwardly, his gaze somewhat complicated.
Thank you to readers All Readers Under Heaven 160, Little Ying Carrying Magma, I Really Really Love Reading, Likes Cultivation and Farming Stories, Cape of Miracles, Misty Rain, Hunan Warlord, An Unforgotten Thought, and everyone else for your recommendation votes!
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