Chapter 147: Chapter 100: Advancement, Late-Stage Qi Cultivation, Triple Transformation

"In order to fight the Evil Spirits, and even more so to win over prodigies and foster goodwill, Prince Qinghe is preparing to invest a vast amount of resources to cultivate new talent."

"There are forty-nine of these training spots in total. Thirty-six will be for the Qinghe Heroes, and the other thirteen will be for the Children of the Morning Star."

At this point, Dong Bo’s voice dropped even lower. "It’s said that this training method is related to the Star Moon Treasure Vault he acquired. If he’s satisfied with someone, he might even give them treasures from the Treasure Vault as a gift."

"And even if we can’t become a Child of the Morning Star, as one of the Qinghe Heroes, he will still give us immense support."

"This support isn’t just limited to resources and Cultivation Techniques. He will also arrange for us to be placed in important positions within the Immortal Dynasty."

"The second impact is coming soon. The Qinghe Commandery Mansion needs to change, the imperial court needs to change, and we, most of all, need to change."

"Only by adapting to the times and banding together for warmth can we survive this catastrophe. Otherwise, the second impact of the Demons and Evil Spirits could easily wipe out us and the sects behind us!"

...

Dong Bo sounded very serious. And if the second impact of the Demons and Evil Spirits was real, they would indeed need to cooperate. Zhong Ming didn’t believe the Seven Profound Sect alone could survive it.

’Wait, the Six Extremes Demon Sect... The impact of the Demons and Evil Spirits... it might actually be real.’

At that moment, Zhong Ming suddenly realized why the Frost Moon Immortal Dynasty had allowed the Six Extremes Demon Sect to enter its territory.

Evidently, as a powerful force, they had been the first to sense the crisis and had taken steps to save themselves.

The Qinghe Commandery Mansion was a step slower, but it was now following suit.

If even the Ji Family, who ruled the Frost Moon Immortal Dynasty, was acting this way, Zhong Ming fully understood the danger of the coming catastrophe.

’The world has become a dangerous place!’

...

The second impact involved a level of power and a scope far too great for Zhong Ming to be a part of.

So, after a moment of reflection, he refocused his attention on the present.

"Dong, you’re telling me all this because you intend to compete for one of the thirteen spots for the Children of the Morning Star?"

As he finished speaking, Zhong Ming raised an eyebrow. "However, your Mixed Element Sect is a Major Sect in the Prefecture City. One of the six Guardian Envoy positions is surely yours for the taking. In that case, wouldn’t a spot as a Child of the Morning Star be child’s play for you, Dong?"

Zhong Ming had never believed the world was fair. With the backing of a Major Sect, it was always easier to obtain more.

As for the Thirteen Sons of the Morning Star, Zhong Ming believed that only three to five of the positions could be won through genuine skill. The rest were all reserved spots.

Therefore, Zhong Ming was very curious why Dong Bo, who came from a Major Sect, still needed to compete.

In response to Zhong Ming’s words, Dong Bo gave a helpless shrug. "Our Mixed Element Sect is indeed not weak. If an elder had come, a Guardian Envoy position would have been a safe bet. But a situation has come up on our end, and the elders can’t get away."

"Hmm?"

Zhong Ming was taken aback at first, but he quickly thought of something. ’That can’t be the only reason. Prince Qinghe has established an Alliance Leader for his alliance. Obviously, he’s reserved that position for himself.’

’And the Major Sects of the Prefecture City are no less powerful than Prince Qinghe, so they naturally have no intention of bowing their heads to him.’

After figuring this out, Zhong Ming understood why Dong Bo, a True Disciple from a Major Sect, had sought him out. He was acting alone now, without his sect’s support, so he naturally had to rely on his own efforts.

...

Dong Bo said a great deal more, and his sincerity in inviting Zhong Ming was quite ’ample.’ He promised that if he secured a spot as a Child of the Morning Star, he would definitely help Zhong Ming obtain a position as one of the Qinghe Heroes.

Unfortunately for Dong Bo, after learning all this information, Zhong Ming had his sights firmly set on becoming a Child of the Morning Star.

Thus, the offer held no attraction for him.

"Thank you for telling me all this, Dong, but I’m sorry. I want to take a shot at it myself."

As soon as he said this, Dong Bo knew that Zhong Ming was also aiming for a spot as a Child of the Morning Star. This made him raise an eyebrow, and he seemed to want to say something but held his tongue.

But in the end, he said nothing.

However, while he remained silent, one of the Cultivators with him couldn’t hold back.

It was a man dressed as a scholar. Although he felt Zhong Ming was ’overestimating himself,’ he didn’t mock him. Instead, he spoke earnestly.

"Zhong, it’s good for a person to be ambitious. When I first heard about this, my goal was also to become a Child of the Morning Star."

"But Zhong, do you have any idea how many prodigies have come to Qinghe County? How many True Disciples from Major Sects?"

Without waiting for Zhong Ming to respond, Shu Hongwen continued on his own, "Including those from Cultivation Families, three to five hundred talents have come to Qinghe County."

"Among them, there are sixty to seventy Cultivators at the late stage of Qi Cultivation alone."

"But forget competing to be a Child of the Morning Star—these people will have to go all out just to become a Qinghe Talent."

"To obtain a position as a Child of the Morning Star, you have to be a peerless prodigy capable of a Breakthrough."

"Zhong, you’re only at the middle stage of Qi Cultivation. Compared to those prodigies who can achieve a Breakthrough, the gap is more than a thousand miles wide!"

Every word from Shu Hongwen was earnest and heartfelt, intended to make Zhong Ming face reality.

After hearing his analysis, Zhong Ming did indeed feel some pressure.

But in the end, his gaze remained firm. "Thank you for the well-intentioned reminder, Shu, but I’m sorry. I still want to compete for it."

"You... Sigh. Forget it. Do as you see fit, Zhong."

Dong Bo had an open-minded personality, and the people with him were not arrogant either. Seeing that Zhong Ming had made up his mind, they didn’t press the issue. They clasped their hands in a farewell salute and left with a touch of regret.

They were gone, but Zhong Ming couldn’t relax.

"Only a prodigy capable of a Breakthrough can compete for a spot as a Child of the Morning Star." That sentence did put some pressure on Zhong Ming.

’My middle-stage Qi Cultivation is indeed a bit weak.’

’Fortunately, I’m about to break through.’

With that thought, Zhong Ming no longer hesitated. After instructing Yi Yunya not to let anyone disturb him, he returned to the backyard, took out a handful of Elixir Pills, and swallowed them.

’It’s time to break through!’

Muttering this to himself, Zhong Ming did not sit cross-legged on the ground and circulate his Magical Power as he usually did.

Instead, he took out the Thunder Shock Flying Sword. With a thought, he made it grow, transforming it into a three-foot-long green-edged blade.

The next moment, with the longsword in hand, Zhong Ming’s figure moved, and he began to practice his Longxi Swordsmanship.

SWISH!

His body moved with his will, the Sword Light like a dragon. At this moment, Zhong Ming’s every move and stance was perfectly fluid and harmonious.

As he practiced his Longxi Swordsmanship, his Cultivation Technique, having reached the level of [Qi Circulation], could now operate on its own without conscious guidance.

This caused his Magical Power to surge endlessly through his meridians, never stopping for a moment.

The power of the Elixir Pills and the operation of his Cultivation Technique amplified each other, causing Zhong Ming’s Magical Power to swell at a rate far exceeding the norm.

At a certain moment, a HUM suddenly resonated from within his Dantian. His abundant Magical Power had overflowed!

Seeing this, without the slightest hesitation, Zhong Ming circulated his Cultivation Technique again and began to assault the bottleneck to the late stage of Qi Cultivation!

And this time, Zhong Ming’s breakthrough was completely different from before.

BUZZ—

The instant his cultivation broke through, Zhong Ming’s Sword Light also erupted, and his Longxi Swordsmanship rode the momentum to shatter its shackles, reaching the Fourth Realm!

[You have practiced Longxi Swordsmanship once. Technique progress +1.]

[Your Longxi Swordsmanship has advanced. It is now at the Fourth Realm...]

[Longxi Swordsmanship: Fourth Realm Proficiency (1/38000), Traits: ① River and Sword Convergence, ② Flow of Water, ③ ...Trait incubating]

One must understand that Longxi Swordsmanship was the last Magic Technique of Zhong Ming’s Longxi Lineage that was still at the Third Realm. Its breakthrough meant that all of his Longxi Techniques, aside from his Basic Technique, had reached the Fourth Realm. Moreover, he had now gathered several facets of the "Rhythm of Life."

The advancement of his cultivation, the breakthrough of his Swordsmanship, and the completion of the Rhythm of Life—this triple transformation occurred simultaneously, setting off a monstrous wave within his Dantian and his body.

BOOM...

The moment he broke through, a majestic aura shot up from within Zhong Ming’s body, even triggering a resonance with the strange phenomena of heaven and earth.

WHOOSH...

Wind howled in from all directions, rolling dark clouds together and casting a gloomy shadow over the area where he stood!

The next moment, with a SPLASH, a torrential downpour began to fall.

And amid the boundless wind and rain, Zhong Ming’s figure stood ramrod straight, like a sword, and like a dragon!