Chapter Twenty-Eight: Breakthrough

Stepping into the mouth of the cave, Yuanye paused to listen carefully; inside was utterly silent, devoid of any sound or movement.

He thought to himself, “It seems that beast is truly dead. Now comes the time for harvest.”

The thought that there might be a legendary martial arts manual hidden within the cave made even Yuanye’s tranquil mind stir with excitement, and his steps quickened with anticipation.

As he entered the cave, he saw that the massive serpent indeed lay motionless upon the ground. His longsword was still firmly embedded at the serpent’s vital spot, from which blood continued to trickle forth.

Approaching the serpent’s head, Yuanye confirmed that the giant snake had drawn its last breath and finally relaxed. Pulling out his sword, Yuanye gripped the tail of the creature with both hands and dragged its corpse out into the open.

Out on the clearing before the cave, Yuanye was struck by the serpent’s true size. Within the cramped confines of the cave, he hadn’t managed to see just how enormous the creature truly was. Now, with the entire body revealed, the serpent stretched nearly a hundred meters long, as thick as a water barrel, its whole body gleaming with golden scales. The single sharp horn upon its head only added to its awe-inspiring appearance.

Yuanye couldn’t help but sigh, “If this Bosqu Serpent had been given another hundred years, perhaps it really could have transformed into a flood dragon.”

“But luck was not on your side. Of all people to provoke, you chose me. Off you go to your next life, and as for this hide of yours, it will serve me well. Perhaps you’ll be a snake again next time!”

A faint smile played at Yuanye’s lips, his mood greatly improved. He channeled his inner energy, slit open the serpent’s belly, and extracted its gallbladder.

To his surprise, the snake’s gall was a deep violet, not at all the foul, acrid thing he expected, but rather exuded an intoxicating fragrance.

“It seems my hope for a breakthrough lies within this gall.” Delighted to see the gall nearly the size of a fist, Yuanye recalled that a serpent’s gall was said to boost strength and power.

But this gall was clearly different from the ordinary ones Yang Guo had consumed in the original tale. Even those ordinary snake galls had allowed Yang Guo to leap from mediocrity to the postnatal stage in a short time. This one, with its extraordinary aura, promised effects beyond compare.

Yuanye’s anticipation grew; he could hardly contain himself. Without bothering to deal with the rest of the serpent’s remains, he gave hurried instructions to his three companions, who were processing the carcass. “Put down your work and stand guard at the cave entrance. Let nothing enter.”

With that, Yuanye took the gall and strode swiftly back into the cave.

Seating himself upon the stone bed, he regulated his breathing for a moment, then tilted back his head and swallowed the gall in a single gulp.

A wave of fragrance accompanied the gall as it slid down his throat and into his stomach. Moments later, his stomach acids began to dissolve the gall’s outer membrane.

In an instant, Yuanye felt a tidal wave of energy erupt from his belly, surging through his meridians and to every limb. Even the most minute and mysterious conduits within his body were penetrated by this overwhelming force.

He dared not be distracted. Focusing his mind, he gave his all to circulate the Pure Yang Infinity Art, channeling the immense energy through his meridians and converting it to his own true qi.

Within the dim cave, a white-robed youth sat cross-legged. His robe billowed without wind, black hair streaming, his pale face alternating between light and shadow, lending him an eerie appearance.

Half an hour passed before Yuanye at last gained control of the foreign energy, slowly converting it into his own true qi. Feeling the surging power within his meridians, he knew the time had come.

He guided the vast energy through his body, directing it toward the crown of his head. The human brain is a fragile organ; the slightest misstep could mean memory loss, madness, or even instant death.

This was why so many martial artists hesitated to attempt a breakthrough to the first-class realm. Only with the aid of the serpent gall’s formidable power did Yuanye dare make this attempt in one decisive effort.

As the qi rushed toward the Baihui point atop his head, Yuanye’s entire body flushed red, vapor rising from his skin like a great furnace.

Had his internal energy been insufficient, the qi would have run rampant, clashing within him and causing irreparable damage—what was commonly known as a deviation. The result would be ruined meridians and a life as a cripple.

Fortunately, the energy from the serpent gall flooded his system. While circulating his qi to break through the Baihui point, Yuanye simultaneously used the Pure Yang Infinity Art to refine the gall’s energy into threads of true qi.

Another half hour passed. Seeing that the gall’s energy was nearly spent, Yuanye grew anxious. By rights, with his unmatched internal strength and the added power of the serpent gall, breaking through the barrier between man and heaven and constructing the bridge between earth and sky should have been straightforward. Why, then, was it so difficult?

“It must be the limits of heaven and earth—a force in the void preventing any being in this world from surpassing the mortal realm.”

Though he could not sense this restraint directly, Yuanye understood that some greater power was hindering him.

Determined, he steeled himself for a desperate gamble.

With a single thought, a thread of pale blue energy burst from his heart and surged toward his crown.

With its addition, everything changed. In a breath, thunder rumbled soundlessly within his mind, and Yuanye was plunged into a state of profound clarity.

He knew neither thought nor desire. The world around him was reflected in his consciousness with startling clarity—this was not the spiritual sense he once possessed.

He could sense even the trembling of earthworms within the soil and the whispered communications of insects, though he understood nothing of their tongue.

Reaching outward, Yuanye perceived his three companions—Bear One, Bear Two, and Slim Monkey—standing grim-faced with blades in hand at the cave mouth. He could even sense their inner thoughts: Bear One aspired to mastery and glory; Bear Two was simple, caring only for martial skill and the thrill of battle; and Slim Monkey’s inner world was something Yuanye had never expected.

“Perhaps he is worth nurturing,” Yuanye mused.

Passing over his companions, Yuanye merged his awareness with every blade of grass, every tree, every rock and mountain, attuning himself to the great principles of heaven and earth.

His mind was as clear as crystal, pure and unsullied, almost wholly united with the impartial yet compassionate way of the universe. In this state, he perceived the essence of life in all things.

He also realized such an opportunity was rare beyond measure. Only because he had suddenly broken through the world’s restraints, before the laws of heaven and earth could adapt, did he have this fleeting chance. In worlds like the Condor Heroes or Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, where grandmaster was the ceiling, a mere breakthrough to the postnatal realm would never afford such fortune.

Otherwise, how could his meager spiritual strength compare with the immensity of heaven and earth? If he were to try, his consciousness would be instantly absorbed into the universe. The body would live, but the mind would be gone—a living corpse.

Ten fathoms, a hundred, a thousand—his consciousness spread outward, sensing the joys and sorrows of all living things. Yuanye had never felt so free.

So life was truly this wondrous!

He failed to notice the sudden change above the valley: where moments before the sky had been clear, now dark clouds gathered, thunder snaked across the firmament.

A deafening crash erupted—the heavens exploded with thunder, lightning crackling in all directions. Startled, Yuanye’s spirit snapped back to himself like a receding tide.

On the stone dais, Yuanye’s eyes flew open. He exhaled; a jet of white vapor shot from his mouth like a flying sword, piercing the air for nearly three meters and striking the stone wall.

With a bang, the stone wall shuddered, pebbles tumbled down, and a pit nearly an inch deep appeared where the vapor had struck.

“What a pity. If only I’d had a moment more, I might have glimpsed the realm of unity with heaven,” Yuanye sighed with regret.

After a moment of contemplation, his frustration faded, replaced by a gentle smile. “No matter. To touch the mental state of innate mastery, even briefly, is a gift from heaven—I would not dare to be greedy for more.”

He circulated his qi twice more. Heaven and earth’s spiritual energy poured through his Baihui, and Yuanye confirmed he had indeed broken through to the postnatal realm—the dream of all martial artists.

Now he could freely draw in the world’s energy; his true qi was inexhaustible. Even if beset by ten thousand soldiers, he would not fear defeat.

Of course, that only meant he would not tire from exhaustion; his body still had its limits, and he could not slaughter countless foes single-handedly.

Standing, Yuanye gave a slight shake; the dust upon his robes was instantly swept away, leaving him immaculate.

Smiling faintly, Yuanye strode out of the cave.

At the entrance, Bear One, Bear Two, and Slim Monkey stood shoulder to shoulder. Sensing the growing power within, their faces were stiff with tension, their hearts anxious.

They knew their young master was at a critical juncture and could only pray for his success.

When the aura within the cave finally calmed, their nerves tightened further, and their eyes fixed expectantly on the entrance.

With the lightest of footsteps, they saw a youth in white emerge. He was tall but not overly robust, nor was he thin; his sword-like brows were noble, beneath which shone a pair of silver eyes. His features were gentle, his skin as flawless as jade.

“Congratulations, young master, on your great advancement! None shall stand against you!” Slim Monkey exclaimed, his face alight with joy, bowing deeply.

Bear One and Bear Two echoed his words in unison.

“Invincible in the world? Not quite yet—only my master can best me now,” Yuanye replied with a smile.