"Uncle Yuan, thank you."
Qin Feiyang bowed in gratitude. It would have been impossible to break through the Extreme State of a Martial Artist and open the First Layer of the Door of Potential without Uncle Yuan's help. He would never forget this kindness!
Uncle Yuan laughed, "Silly boy, Uncle Yuan can only guide you. You must walk the path ahead on your own."
"I will not disappoint you," Qin Feiyang vowed solemnly.
The second layer of the Door of Potential: the Extreme State of a martial master. The third layer of the Door of Potential: the Extreme State of the Martial Ancestor. He must break through these two major Extreme States on his own!
He could indeed choose to break through these Extreme States after his cultivation became more powerful. For example, it would be somewhat easier to break through the Extreme State of a Martial Artist after advancing to a martial master or Martial Ancestor. But this way, he would be behind at the starting line, and he would never allow such a situation.
Because Uncle Yuan had so painstakingly nurtured him and even given him the Spirit Pill—all of this was to help him get a head start.
Therefore, he must break through each and every one of the upcoming Extreme States on time, without dragging his feet. Only then would he not let down Uncle Yuan's relentless efforts.
"Let's go out."
Seeing the determined look in Qin Feiyang's eyes, Uncle Yuan nodded in satisfaction. With a wave of his hand, a familiar, robust force enveloped them.
「The next instant,」
they appeared on top of the hill.
Qin Feiyang scanned the surroundings and asked, "Uncle Yuan, where is the entrance to the secret room?"
Uncle Yuan replied, "The secret room has no entrance."
"How do we get in without an entrance?" Qin Feiyang was utterly puzzled.
Uncle Yuan laughed, "I'll tell you once you successfully gather Qi."
Qin Feiyang was taken aback and said helplessly, "Uncle Yuan, are you deliberately stringing me along? If you really don't want to tell me, just say so. Don't keep putting it off, saying tomorrow, then the day after tomorrow."
"ER!" Uncle Yuan looked surprised, then chuckled. "If I didn't say that, wouldn't you keep pestering me?"
"Alright, alright, I promise never to ask again." Qin Feiyang gave up helplessly.
There were too many questions in his heart. Where did the Marrow-cleansing Pill come from? Where did Blue Snow come from? Why could Uncle Yuan fly? And the secret room, the pills possessing dragon-shaped Elixir Qi—what was the deal with those? He wanted to know all these answers. But clearly, Uncle Yuan had no intention of telling him, and he couldn't force him, so he had to give up.
PHEW!
Qin Feiyang took a deep breath and looked up at the starry sky.
When I was seven, it took me one day and two hundred Qi Gathering Pills to successfully gather my Qi. But now, with my foundation still intact and the Potential Mark… I should be able to gather Qi successfully by dawn.
Without wasting any more time, he sat cross-legged and took out all his Qi Gathering Pills. Thirty were bought from the Treasure Pavilion, and eighty were taken from Cao Lang, totaling 110 pills.
That should be enough to cultivate his True Qi.
Meanwhile, Uncle Yuan cautiously watched the surroundings. When gathering Qi, the most dangerous thing is being startled. Someone must guard one's side; otherwise, all previous efforts could be wasted.
「Dawn came quietly.」
After Qin Feiyang refined one hundred Qi Gathering Pills, the surging energy was almost tearing his flesh apart! But he didn't even frown. He had gritted his teeth and persisted while breaking through the Extreme State of a Martial Artist in the secret room earlier; surely he could stand this bit of pain?
Gradually, the first strand of True Qi finally formed within his body! And with the formation of True Qi, Qin Feiyang's strength started to skyrocket!
It is said that everything is hardest in the beginning. But once the beginning is over, the process becomes much easier.
The second strand, the third strand, the fourth strand... Strand after strand of True Qi continuously formed.
「An hour later,」
inside his body, there were as many as fifty strands of True Qi.
SWOOSH!
Qin Feiyang suddenly straightened up. He closed his eyes and tightly clenched his hands, carefully sensing the wild power within his body.
After a moment, he opened his eyes, which sparkled radiantly.
The strength he now possessed was equivalent to that of a Savage Elephant—a force of 10,000 catties!
This was a qualitative leap! Although a Martial Artist and a martial master were only a step apart, the gap between them was indeed vast. A Nine-Star Martial Artist possessed the strength of nine bears, equivalent to a force of 4,500 catties. However, as long as one successfully gathered Qi and became a One-star martial master, their strength would more than double!
Uncle Yuan smiled, "Feiyang, congratulations. You've stepped into the rank of One-star martial master, and you're one step closer to becoming a Nine-Star martial master."
"Yeah, that was fast." Qin Feiyang was filled with emotion. In just five days, progressing from a One-star Martial Artist to a One-star martial master—this was something he hadn't even dared to dream of!
But then, his eyes glowed with hatred as he said, "If they hadn't forced me to swallow the Elixir of Misfortune, I might have already entered the War King realm by now. I might even be close to the War Emperor realm!"
Uncle Yuan patted him on the shoulder and comforted him, "The past isn't important. What matters is the present."
Qin Feiyang nodded.
Uncle Yuan smiled, "Today is your fifteenth birthday, and Uncle Yuan has prepared a great gift for you."
"What gift?" Qin Feiyang's eyes lit up. If it had been before, he wouldn't have reacted so strongly. But now it was different. Having witnessed Uncle Yuan's power and mystery, he guessed this gift would be extraordinary.
But the smile on Uncle Yuan's face vanished in an instant. Surrounding him, a bone-chilling air began to emanate!
He said coldly, "Go to the Elixir Palace. Kill Ma Hongmei!"
Qin Feiyang's body shook, and his eyes became intensely sharp. This woman indeed deserved to die!
WHOOSH!
Uncle Yuan waved his hand, and taking Qin Feiyang with him, they flew towards Iron Bull Town.
Within a few moments, Iron Bull Town came into Qin Feiyang's view.
"So quick!" Qin Feiyang murmured. "I wonder when I'll be able to fly."
Uncle Yuan, without any hesitation, flew directly into Iron Bull Town.
"HUH!"
"Did you guys see that? Someone was flying in the sky?"
"Flying?"
"I think you're dreaming. People who can fly are gods. Why would gods come to our lousy town?"
"Right, perhaps I was just seeing things."
Because Uncle Yuan's speed was too fast, no one in Iron Bull Town noticed them. Even if someone had, they would only have seen a fleeting streak of light, gone in an instant.
WHOOSH!
Uncle Yuan, together with Qin Feiyang, landed at the bottom of the stone stairs.
Qin Feiyang looked up the stone stairs. Everything that had happened five days ago uncontrollably floated into his mind. He slowly clenched his fists! The killing intent in his eyes grew stronger with each passing moment!
Finally, his gaze locked onto the great hall at the peak! A tangible murderous aura gushed from his eyes!
Uncle Yuan looked up at the great hall and said, "Feiyang, however you want to stir things up today, just go ahead. Even if the sky falls, Uncle Yuan will hold it up for you!"
These words made Qin Feiyang's blood boil!
Yes! With Uncle Yuan here, whom did he have to fear?
"Ma Hongmei, get the hell out!"
His anger flared, and with a skyward roar, he shattered the morning tranquility, shocking all of Iron Bull Town!