Chapter 74: Preparing to Break Through

“Six units, why do you ask?”

Pfft!

Qin Wufeng spat out a mouthful of old blood.

“Principal Qin, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I’ll hang up first.”

Qin Wufeng hung up the phone, his eyes staring blankly into the empty air before him.

“I finally understand why that kid chose our Divine Capital Martial University.”

Where would Divine Capital Martial University have any extra Spirit Gathering Devices now? The three units originally allocated to Jiang Yan were reserves prepared for expanding the Spirit Gathering Chambers. Now that they had all been given away, he couldn’t possibly provide any additional Spirit Gathering Devices.

Sure enough, the next second, Qin Wufeng’s phone rang again.

“Principal, it seems these Spirit Gathering Devices are still a bit insufficient. Could you…”

“Well, Jiang Yan, just make do with what you have for now. I’ll go get more for you.”

“Then I’ll trouble you, Principal.”

Jiang Yan’s politeness was terrifying.

Qin Wufeng smacked his lips, the words he wanted to say stuck in his throat, and he swallowed them with difficulty.

“Forget it, I’ll just satisfy him.”

With that, Qin Wufeng’s figure vanished from the spot.

In the distant sky, a streak of light flew toward the center of Divine Capital.

Jiang Yan hung up the phone and withdrew from his cultivation.

The supply of Gengjin’s same-origin energy was simply too little, making Jiang Yan feel rather unmotivated during his cultivation.

Coincidentally, he had looked up the origins of the Ladder online and finally understood why everyone placed such importance on the ranking list.

“So the top ten thousand also have the privilege of exemption from battles.”

Jiang Yan estimated his own strength and felt there was still some distance to that ranking.

“At the very least, I need to break through to the Inner Astral realm; otherwise, the gap in cultivation realms is too large.”

Jiang Yan had the intention to create some benefit for Blue Star. After all, he had received considerable attention from the government all along and rarely faced suppression—Shen Donglin from Southeast Province was like this back then, and now Qin Wufeng was the same.

Moreover, exemption from battles was also a good thing for Jiang Yan, as it would allow him to develop risk-free for at least a year.

Who could guess what level Jiang Yan would have reached after a year of development?

But as the keyword “Myriad Realms Ladder” popped up, another trending term also caught Jiang Yan’s attention.

#Zou Han Defeated by You An, Misses Out on Myriad Realms Ladder Exemption Qualification

Clicking in, he saw vast swathes of abuse and slander that were truly disheartening.

Zou Han, Blue Star’s absolute genius, the top scorer in the College Entrance Exam four years ago, had crushed all other candidates with his Innate Perfection realm to claim the top spot.

During his time at Divine Capital University, Zou Han ascended directly to the Fifth Rank Comprehending Mysteries realm. It was this summer that Zou Han entered seclusion to cultivate, solely to prepare for the Myriad Realms Ladder.

After emerging from seclusion, Zou Han’s realm reached the Sixth Rank Dust-Severing, causing a stir among Blue Star’s higher-ups. A Martial Artist who broke through to the sixth rank before the age of 25 could no longer be described merely as a genius.

He had boldly declared he would charge into the top ten thousand of the Ladder rankings to fight for an exemption qualification for Blue Star.

This was originally a good thing, but he failed and underestimated human nature.

The greater the expectations, the greater the disappointment.

The public’s emotions were all vented on Zou Han.

Right and wrong became blurred under countless mouths.

Jiang Yan put down his phone and resumed his cultivation.

If the authorities didn’t handle this matter properly, perhaps future geniuses would no longer strive for the Myriad Realms Ladder—because it wouldn’t be worth it.

But for Jiang Yan, there were people worth striving for the top ten thousand of the Ladder.

Like Old Wang.

The path of a Martial Artist involves refining the body, refining the Qi, and refining the heart.

A strong body makes one invulnerable to all methods; abundant Qi keeps all evils at bay; a clear heart illuminates the vast cosmos.

Those who rely on cheats know they are cheating, but not why they are cheating; sooner or later, they will lose themselves in the illusion of cheating.

Jiang Yan: “Enough talk, time to cheat.”

Entering the Divine Martial Space, he waited for Qin Wufeng to deliver the remaining Spirit Gathering Devices before beginning his breakthrough to Inner Astral.

Breaking through to the fourth-tier Inner Astral was no small matter—it meant taking a significant step forward in the cultivation of “Qi.” Jiang Yan also planned to purchase some medicinal herbs to aid his cultivation, hoping to improve his efficiency.

[System Log Updated]

“You are executing ‘Heavenly Gap Startling Swan.’ Your proficiency has slightly increased.”

“You are executing ‘Six Path Heavenly Tribulation Slash.’ Your proficiency has slightly increased.”

“Your Saber Technique has slightly improved.”

“Your Physical Body has slightly improved.”

…

A day passed.

[System Log Updated]

“Congratulations! ‘Heavenly Gap Startling Swan’ has advanced to [Brushstroke].”

“Congratulations! You have mastered ‘Thunderstrike·Nine Heavens Shatter’ from ‘Six Path Heavenly Tribulation Slash.'”

Jiang Yan’s speed increased dramatically, his movements carrying an ethereal, almost immortal grace, each step a pleasure to behold.

The Doppelganger also executed [Brushstroke].

The three of them closed in on the fleeing Law Beast.

“Thunderstrike·Nine Heavens Shatter!”

“Congratulations! You have triggered Dual Casting.”

A torrent of thunder sabers, akin to the Yan Thunder Destruction Slash, poured down, filling the entire Battle Space.

“Hah, let’s see you escape now.”

Zzzz…

The Law Beast’s body vibrated at an even higher frequency, its speed soaring to unprecedented heights.

Its form dissolved into scattered, intangible light, gliding along the edges of the thunder sabers with leisurely ease, as if the endless bolts of lightning deliberately avoided it, merely grazing its body as they shot in all directions.

Jiang Yan stared, dumbfounded.

“Seriously, bro? You can dodge even that?”

Law Beast: Slightly soiled hem.

Unconvinced, Jiang Yan swung his saber again.

The Law Beast vibrated at high frequency once more, weaving through the thunder sabers.

“Damn cheater.”

Thunderstrike·Nine Heavens Shatter!

Thunderstrike·Nine Heavens Shatter!

Thunderstrike·Nine Heavens Shatter!!

…

The Battle Space was left in ruins, though it quickly repaired itself.

Jiang Yan gave the Law Beast a thumbs-up: “Alright, you win. I’ll come back for you after I break through to the fourth tier.”

Law Beast: Zzzz~

Jiang Yan exited the Divine Martial Space and placed an order on his student card for the medicinal herbs needed for his Inner Astral breakthrough.

These herbs, when used in a medicinal bath, could temporarily widen his meridians, activate his body’s potential, and enhance his Qi absorption speed.

“Everything is ready; all that’s missing are the Spirit Gathering Devices.”

Using the three Spirit Gathering Devices he had, Jiang Yan managed to cultivate for half the night, and soon it was the next day.

At noon, the same construction workers from before arrived to install the Spirit Gathering Devices.

They now looked at Jiang Yan as if he were a ghost. Installing one Spirit Gathering Device for him before had already been considered pulling strings; installing two more later was reluctantly accepted.

But now, their superiors had suddenly hired them to install three more Spirit Gathering Devices for Jiang Yan. This was no longer something that could be explained away as mere favoritism.

The group stared at Jiang Yan strangely, as if saying:

Does Divine Capital Martial University have some kind of dirt on you?

This installation took longer, and it was nearly dark by the time the workers left.

Jiang Yan tested the Spirit Gathering Devices, and a massive surge of Gengjin-aligned energy poured forth, filling the entire room with dense, golden Spiritual Qi.

“Good, this should be enough now.”

Jiang Yan prepared the medicinal bath, carried the barrel into the cultivation chamber, and submerged himself entirely.