164: Chapter 164 Desperate Measures, Tenth Level of Qi Condensation Realm

After a few brief pleasantries with his friends Liu Ruyan, Leng Feng, and Ren Qianyang, Ye Tian politely declined their celebrations and returned to his private courtyard alone.

Inside the quiet room, the candlelight flickered.

Ye Tian did not immediately begin his cultivation as he usually did. Instead, he sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and repeatedly replayed today's two battles in his mind.

First was Shi Gandang's battle against Lei Zhen.

Shi Gandang's terrifying strength, the Mountain Shaking Fist, and the absolute defense of the Immovable Wisdom King Body... in the eyes of ordinary Ningyuan Realm Disciples, these were already insurmountable Peaks.

However, before Lei Zhen, he was as powerless as a child waving a wooden stick.

From beginning to end, Lei Zhen hadn't even unstrapped the Overlord Blade from his back!

Using only one hand, with effortless ease, he neutralized all of Shi Gandang's fierce attacks. Finally, with a single hand-blade strike, he easily broke through the strongest defense and defeated him.

“Handling heavy weights as if they were light, controlling everything with his heart... his Stellar True Essence quality and his application of power have already far exceeded the scope of the Ningyuan Realm.”

Ye Tian felt a chill in his heart.

What Lei Zhen displayed was absolute suppression in terms of Realm.

“Half-step True Martial... as expected, his reputation is well-deserved.”

Ye Tian took a deep breath.

He asked himself: if he were to face Shi Gandang with his current strength, although he could win, it would be impossible to do so as easily as Lei Zhen.

The gap between them was obvious.

He then pulled his thoughts back to his own battle with Luo Qiushui.

Luo Qiushui's Shadow Sword Art was unpredictable and mysterious—the Thousand Illusion Kill confused the mind, the Silent Kill was a needle hidden in silk, and the Absolute Shadow Kill was a one-hit certain kill!

Especially that last sword strike; if not for his powerful Divine Sense combined with the perception of the Five Elements Sword Body's sword intent to see through its reality, the outcome of the match would still be uncertain!

“Luo Qiushui is at the Late Stage of the Ningyuan Tenth Stage. To defeat her, I had to give my all, utilizing the Five Elements Sword Body and a Divine Sense power that far exceeds those of the same Rank.”

“Meanwhile, Lei Zhen's cultivation is at Half-step True Martial. It seems like he is only two minor levels higher than Luo Qiushui, but Half-step True Martial means he already has one foot in the True Martial Realm and has begun condensing a true martial core!”

“The gap here, compared to the gap between the Ninth and Tenth Stages of Ningyuan, is like the difference between heaven and earth!”

Cultivation is the most direct manifestation of a Martial Dao Foundation.

The total amount, quality, and recovery speed of True Essence determine one's sustained combat capability and the upper limit of explosive power.

Although Ye Tian was exceptionally gifted and possessed trump cards like the chaos bead, Star Qi Induction Art, and Five Elements Sword Body—enough to allow him to fight across several Ranks—this advantage would be greatly diminished when facing an opponent like Lei Zhen, who was equally talented, had a solid Foundation, and crushed him in cultivation Realm.

“If Lei Zhen were just an ordinary Half-step True Martial, I might have a forty to fifty percent chance of winning by relying on my various means.”

“But he is 'Overlord Blade' Lei Zhen! The number one person in the outer Sect! His talent, combat experience, and heritage will definitely not be inferior to mine! He might even be stronger!”

Ye Tian was very self-aware.

Lei Zhen had been able to sit firmly in the top position of the outer Sect for many years; his strength was definitely not just an empty reputation.

“The gap in cultivation is currently the biggest chasm!”

The battle with Luo Qiushui had already allowed him to touch his own limits.

If he faced Lei Zhen in his current state, his chances of winning were extremely low, unless... he used those trump cards that absolutely could not be exposed.

The Martial Dao Will Seed was one of his greatest killing moves, but once used, its aura would be difficult to completely conceal, and it would likely attract the attention of high-level Cultivators.

And the chaos bead was his greatest secret, a matter of life and death that could not be lost!

Using the power of the chaos bead in full view of everyone, especially under the noses of twelve True Martial Realm Elders, was too risky!

Once discovered, the consequences would be unimaginable!

He didn't dare to gamble, nor could he afford to!

“I must raise my cultivation before the finals! I need to reach at least the Ningyuan Tenth Stage to close the gap with Lei Zhen and have the capital to confront him head-on!”

A flash of determination crossed Ye Tian's eyes.

With a clear goal, the next step was the method.

There were only a few ways for a Martial Artist to increase their cultivation in the short term.

First, a combat Breakthrough, stimulating potential during a life-and-death struggle.

But who could he find for a life-and-death battle right now?

Moreover, a Breakthrough on the eve of battle requires an opportunity; it cannot be forced.

Second was an Epiphany. His previous entry into an Epiphany state at the Qi Wu Hall was due to a coincidence of many factors and was something that could be sought but not guaranteed.

Third was a Medicinal Pill, the most conventional and also the most direct and effective method!

“Medicinal Pill...” Ye Tian's brow furrowed slightly.

He was currently at the Late Stage of the Ninth Stage of Ningyuan. Ordinary Grade Two or Grade Three pills already had a negligible effect on him.

As for Grade Four pills, even in a great Sect like the Liuli Xuan Sect, they were incredibly precious. The contribution points required to exchange for one were an astronomical figure that he simply could not produce.

As for Grade Five pills, those were treasures even True Martial Realm experts cherished; it was out of the question.

“Wait... a Grade Four pill...”

A flash of inspiration struck Ye Tian's mind, and he swiped his hand over the qingxuan ring!

A warm jade bottle appeared in his hand.

Pulling out the stopper, a strange medicinal fragrance permeated the air, making one's spirit feel refreshed.

Inside the jade bottle lay a pill the size of a longan, its surface swirling with cloud patterns.

The true martial pill!

This was precisely the Grade Four pill he and Mu Sisi had obtained at the place where Immortal Master Han Shui had passed away!

Originally, he had planned to save it for when he attempted to break through to the True Martial Realm, as it could greatly increase the success rate of condensing a 'true martial core'.

“The true martial pill... its medicinal power is majestic. Its primary function is to assist in breaking through the True Martial Realm barrier, but the pure energy it contains is also enough to cause a Ningyuan Realm Cultivator's cultivation to soar...”

Ye Tian looked at the pill in his hand, his eyes flickering as he underwent a fierce internal struggle.

Taking the true martial pill prematurely was undoubtedly a 'waste'.

The greatest value of this pill lay in its assistance when breaking through a major Realm. Using it now to raise a minor stage was no different from using a sledgehammer to crack a nut; furthermore, it would consume this precious assistance, and the difficulty of breaking through to the True Martial Realm in the future would increase.

But... the current predicament was imminent!

“The Outer Sect Grand Competition champion... three days of cultivation eligibility in the Liuxin Pool... and those generous rewards...”

Thinking of these, Ye Tian's gaze gradually became firm. “Compared to the immediate opportunities and gains, consuming one true martial pill is worth it!”

“As for breaking through to the True Martial Realm... I have the chaos bead to nourish my Foundation, the Star Qi Induction Art which is a Heaven Rank technique, and the Five Elements Sword Body to lay down a supreme Dao Foundation. Even without a true martial pill, I am confident I can succeed!”

“It will simply cost more time and energy!”

The balance of pros and cons became clear in an instant!

“Burning the boats, it happens today!”

Ye Tian no longer hesitated, his gaze as sharp as a blade!

He adjusted his breathing, bringing his physical and mental state to its Peak.

Then, without hesitation, he placed that precious true martial pill into his mouth!

The pill dissolved upon contact, instantly transforming into a pure torrent that surged into his body!

The energy began to wash through his Meridians, nourish his Physical Body, and flow into his Dantian Qi Sea!

“Boom!”

Ye Tian felt as if a thunderclap had exploded inside him!

His Dantian Qi Sea instantly boiled!

The Stellar True Essence, which was already near saturation, began to expand frantically under the injection of this power!

He dared not be negligent and immediately circulated the Star Qi Induction Art with all his might!

The Cultivation Technique flowed through his body, guiding the medicinal power of the true martial pill.

At the same time, the chaos bead within his Dantian also emitted a wisp of Chaos Qi to merge into it.

This not only accelerated the refinement and absorption of the medicinal power but also ensured that while his True Essence was skyrocketing, it maintained the highest level of purity, minimizing the hidden danger of a shaky Foundation!

A hazy five-colored halo began to radiate from the surface of Ye Tian's body; it was the phenomenon of the Five Elements Sword Body being activated and resonating with his True Essence.

His aura rose steadily at a speed visible to the naked eye!

The Peak of the Late Stage of the Ninth Stage of Ningyuan... the Bottleneck loosened...

“Crack!”

Early Stage of the Ningyuan Tenth Stage!

The cultivation barrier shattered!

The total amount and quality of his True Essence instantly leaped to a new level!

However, less than thirty percent of the true martial pill's medicinal power had been consumed!

The Breakthrough did not stop!

The majestic medicinal power continued to push his cultivation upward!

Early Stage of the Ningyuan Tenth Stage... continuing to rise... the Middle Stage barrier then shattered...

“Boom!”

With the dual assistance of the chaos bead and the Star Qi Induction Art, another layer of barrier was forcefully breached!

Middle Stage of the Ningyuan Tenth Stage!

Only then was about seventy percent of the true martial pill's medicinal power consumed, while the remaining power continued to settle within his Meridians, flesh, and blood.

Ye Tian slowly opened his eyes, a sharp light radiating from them!

He gently clenched his fist, feeling the five-colored Stellar True Essence within his body that was several times more powerful than before; a surge of strong confidence arose spontaneously!

Middle Stage of the Ningyuan Tenth Stage!

In a single night, he had broken through several barriers, going from the Ninth Stage straight to the Middle Stage of the Tenth Stage!

This kind of promotion speed, if word got out, would be enough to frighten everyone!

Although he had consumed a precious true martial pill, a satisfied smile appeared on Ye Tian's face.

He felt that his Foundation was still stable; in fact, due to the mediation of the chaos bead and the existence of the Five Elements Sword Body, it was even more solid than an ordinary Breakthrough!

“Now, I should have the strength to compete with Lei Zhen!”

He looked out the window, Battle Intent burning like fire in his eyes.