The Yuehua Sect had a rule: anyone who broke through to the Mortal Realm before the age of one hundred could automatically enter the inner sect as a disciple.
Since reaching the Mortal Realm extended one’s lifespan by a hundred years, a hundred years old wasn’t considered old.
This rule was relatively lenient.
Zhao Zhi could have broken through earlier, but thanks to Ling Xiao’s guidance, he recognised many flaws in his cultivation and deliberately suppressed his breakthrough.
During this time, he resolved those issues, significantly boosting his strength.
Though only a Mortal Realm first-level martial artist now, even second-level martial artists wouldn’t underestimate him.
This was the benefit of accumulation, as first-level Mortal Realm martial artists were often bullied in the inner sect.
Master Baiyun was a prime example.
After breaking through, Zhao Zhi sought out Ling Xiao to express gratitude and test his strength.
Yet he was defeated in ten moves.
As he left, Zhao Zhi said with a wry smile, “Senior Brother Ling, you’re already this strong. If you reach the Mortal Realm, I doubt anyone below third-level in the inner sect could handle you.”
Having sparred with Ling Xiao multiple times, he knew that if Ling Xiao hadn’t aimed for a triple-potential breakthrough, he might have advanced even earlier.
Zhao Zhi suspected Ling Xiao’s talent was greater than he showed, though he didn’t know why Ling Xiao stayed low-key. He wouldn’t spill the secret.
Deep down, he considered Ling Xiao a true friend.
A few days later, Zhao Ci broke through to the Mortal Realm, became an inner sect disciple, and also joined the Bei Han Kingdom’s royal elder as a disciple.
Among their batch, Leng Hao had the best talent but was taken by the Golden Light Heavenly Venerable early on.
Next were Zhao Zhi and Xu Ying.
Xu Ying, however, tried to harm Ling Xiao and was killed by him, while Zhao Zhi, befriending Ling Xiao, successfully broke through.
Then came Zhao Ci and Leng Mei.
Now Zhao Ci had reached the Mortal Realm, but Leng Mei’s status was unknown.
Zhao Ci wouldn’t approach Ling Xiao. To her, he was an irredeemable demon, a merciless killer.
This view solidified after hearing he killed Xu Ying and Wang Feng.
Days later, news came that Dai Yuling had also reached the Mortal Realm.
Her talent wasn’t high, but her unique cultivation method, tied to her martial soul, personality, and knowledge, nearly matched Zhao Ci’s pace.
Her method stemmed from her background as a scion of a medical family in the secular world.
Before reporting to the inner sect, Dai Yuling visited Ling Xiao, never doubting his potential.
“Ling Xiao, I’m heading to the inner sect. Don’t lag too far behind, or no one will protect me,” she teased.
Ling Xiao replied earnestly, “If anyone bullies you, Senior Sister, Jin Ming and the others are a lesson.”
Dai Yuling left in tears.
Having grown up without siblings in a strict family, she was reserved and never imagined feeling for a man.
But Ling Xiao moved her deeply.
It might involve some romantic feelings, but it was mostly gratitude, emotion, and a sense of kinship.
In the past half-month, Ling Xiao hadn’t been idle. He successfully reached the third layer of <Celestial Phenomenon>.
His mastery of celestial power surged, and with three types—wind, thunder, and rain—he could combine them, making <Celestial Phenomenon> unmatched among same-level martial arts.
Wind and thunder were offensive moves.
Rain not only attacked but aided recovery, giving Ling Xiao another life-saving tool.
Additionally, the final move, “Ice Storm,” was taking shape, achieving about thirty percent of its potential power.
Even this was stronger than the previous three moves combined, devastatingly effective.
Paired with <Destruction>, instantly killing a Mortal Realm first-level martial artist wasn’t impossible.
And not through a sneak attack like the Sword Control Technique, but a direct one!
Of course, few understood his true strength or intentions.
In the outer sect, discussions about him abounded.
“Ling Xiao’s the top outer sect disciple, but that’s probably his limit. His talent doesn’t match Zhao Zhi or Zhao Ci, and he lacks Dai Yuling’s unique cultivation method.”
“True, it’s a pity. I like Senior Brother Ling. Despite being number one, he never bullies us. Last time, he even guided me, opening my eyes.”
“I heard the outer sect plans to make him a special instructor. That’s not bad. If he can’t join the inner sect, being an instructor ensures a comfortable life.”
Everyone respected Ling Xiao but felt pity for him.
…
Ling Xiao heard these remarks but didn’t care. He knew his situation best.
His only hurdle was breaking through to the fifth layer, which would allow an immediate Mortal Realm breakthrough.
But continuous seclusion yielded no progress, so he paused to refine several batches of pills.
He then asked Elder Bai to gather the twenty-nine half-step masters with potential to reach the Mortal Realm, excluding himself.
He gifted each ten Martial Vein Body-Shaping Pills.
He spent a day addressing their cultivation issues.
With his Mountains and Rivers Martial Soul, he easily identified their problems.
While helping them, Ling Xiao gained insights himself.
A mental block he’d struggled with suddenly cleared.
He rushed back to his cave mansion and began cultivating overnight.
Success!
Unexpectedly, this session easily pushed him to the fifth layer.
This layer transformed his body entirely, granting a complete Heavenly Dragon Bloodline, capable of rebirth from a drop of blood, leading to a breakthrough to the Mortal Saint Realm!
Simultaneously, his cultivation surged past the bottleneck, reaching the peak of Mortal Realm first level!
Normally, a breakthrough would place him at early first level, but his accumulated true essence propelled him straight to the peak.
His true essence quality had long reached this level, or he couldn’t have instantly killed Xu Ying and Wang Feng.
