Chapter 43

Chapter 43: “Three Barriers in One Word”

Time flies like a shuttle, and days pass like a blink.

Unknowingly, ten days had already passed.

Only twelve days remained until the Grand Ceremony of the academy.

Now, Changle Academy had become bustling beyond imagination.

Students were everywhere.

Some had just come out of seclusion, while others had rushed back after traveling abroad.

“Usually, the academy feels a bit quiet. Who knew that when the Grand Ceremony starts, everyone would pop out!” someone remarked, amazed.

“Our Changle Academy is situated at the center of the seven counties. Anyone wanting to practice martial arts will likely consider the academy first. How could there not be many people?”

“But cultivation is personal, and everyone has their own methods, so not everyone stays in the academy all the time.”

“That’s true.”

Many nodded in agreement.

“By the way, have you heard the recent news?”

“What news?”

“It seems our Outer Palace has produced an extraordinary figure who comprehended the Martial Dao’s momentum at the True Aperture Realm, fifth level, and broke into the top twenty of the Hidden Dragon List!”

“Are you joking? Someone at the True Aperture Realm comprehended the Martial Dao’s momentum? Even those monsters in the Inner Palace can’t do that.”

“Why would I lie to you? Go check the Hidden Dragon List yourself! His name seems to be Luo Mu.”

“He’s not lying. It’s true. I heard about it from my teacher.”

“Hiss!”

Upon hearing this, gasps of surprise echoed all around.

Generally speaking, no matter how monstrous one’s talent is, they must reach the Spirit Sea Realm before comprehending the Martial Dao’s momentum.

This is because every major realm advancement brings about a qualitative change in the understanding of the Martial Dao.

And the True Aperture Realm is just the early stage of the Martial Dao.

The foundation is not strong enough to support such comprehension.

Yet, someone had managed to do it!

And from the Outer Palace, no less!

“Who said Outer Palace disciples are completely inferior to Inner Palace ones?”

“This Brother Luo Mu’s talent is no less than those in the Inner Palace, maybe even stronger!”

“Indeed!”

Everyone nodded immediately, and excitement gradually appeared on their faces.

Since the academy had an Inner Palace and an Outer Palace, conflicts between the two were inevitable.

“It’s a pity Brother Luo Mu’s realm is still a bit low—only at the True Aperture Realm. If he steps into the Spirit Sea Realm, he might even break into the top thirty!”

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“Yeah, although he comprehended the Martial Dao’s momentum at the True Aperture Realm, his opponents won’t all be at the True Aperture Realm. Those Inner Palace monsters have long reached the Spirit Sea Realm, and they also possess the Martial Dao’s momentum.”

“It doesn’t matter. At least, he’ll have no problem staying in the top hundred!”

“Our goal has always been to keep a two-digit ranking, not worrying about specific placements!”

After all, the top thirty were mostly from the Inner Palace, and the Outer Palace could barely get a foothold.

Not long ago, the strongest disciple in the Outer Palace was defeated by someone ranked thirty-fifth in the Inner Palace.

That incident had left the Outer Palace feeling down for a long time. But thanks to Brother Luo Mu, the Outer Palace had finally regained some confidence in another area.

At the back mountain of the academy.

Atop a majestic peak.

Clouds rolled in all directions, creating a spectacular view.

A figure sat cross-legged there.

Bare-chested, his firm and well-toned muscles were exposed.

What was most extraordinary was the thick red mist floating around his skin, ebbing and flowing with his breath.

Sometimes gathering, sometimes dispersing.

It looked like clusters of fiery clouds.

At one moment!

The figure abruptly opened his eyes.

A powerful aura surged outwards, sweeping the surroundings, sending sand and stones flying.

“Perfected!”

Luo Mu smiled faintly and stood up.

This was the accomplishment of “Three Barriers in One Word.”

Ten days of immersive cultivation had yielded tremendous results.

First was his cultivation base. With the help of the remaining Silver Stripe Grass and Yuan Marrow Pill, he successfully stepped into the ninth level of the True Aperture Realm.

Second was the “Xuanyang Overlord Body Technique.” Although there were no exceptionally high critical strikes, after using up ten portions of Extreme Yang Essence, he managed to cultivate it to perfection.

Both his physical strength and external gang energy had significantly improved!

Luo Mu tested with his spirit blade—previously, the spirit blade could cause a tearing sensation in his flesh, but now it couldn’t even break his gang energy with full force!

It would be directly bounced off!

Third was the “Lifeless Blade Sutra.” As his physical strength improved, the excess death aura in his body had all been transformed into Lifeless Blade Qi.

A total of three thousand strands!

His blade technique had reached its peak!

Luo Mu wasn’t sure exactly how strong he was now.

But if he encountered the same demonic elder from before, he wouldn’t even need to use the blade momentum. Just using the blade technique alone, he could easily slay him!

Even if it was a Martial Dao momentum user of the same realm.

As long as their mastery didn’t exceed twenty percent, Luo Mu could defeat them purely with his blade technique!

It should be noted that the “Lifeless Blade Sutra” he had developed was a fusion of fifteen blade techniques, almost without any weakness. Its power was so exaggerated that even among upper-tier Xuan-class techniques, it was undoubtedly top-tier!

Ordinary upper-tier techniques couldn’t compare at all.

Even with a one or two percent enhancement from the Martial Dao’s momentum, they would still be lacking.

“My condition is perfect. I can now aim for a breakthrough to the Spirit Sea Realm!”

Luo Mu sat down cross-legged once again.

A fiery gleam appeared in his eyes.

The Spirit Sea Realm.

The third realm of cultivation.

Whether in the academy or outside, this realm already marked someone as a formidable expert!

Many rulers of powerful factions hadn’t even reached this level.

Take his family, for instance.

The strongest member was his uncle.

At the seventh level of the True Aperture Realm.

Unknowingly, Luo Mu had already surpassed his uncle, about to reach a realm that only their ancestors had ever stepped into!

The Spirit Sea Realm!

“Let’s begin!”

Luo Mu took a deep breath and retrieved a jade box from his storage ring.

Inside was the Linghai Pill!

It could increase the success rate of his breakthrough by thirty percent!

With his average talent, Luo Mu had already started struggling by the time he reached the third level of the True Aperture Realm.

Without the Linghai Pill.

Relying on himself alone, his success rate for breaking through might be less than twenty percent.

But now, the odds were fifty-fifty.

Opening the jade box, a rich medicinal fragrance surged out instantly.

Just inhaling a little made Luo Mu feel the blood in his body heat up.

As expected of a Tier 3 treasure pill.

Without hesitation, Luo Mu swallowed the pill.

Simultaneously, he guided its energy with his intent.

Boom!

Inside his body, the nine apertures he had already opened suddenly lit up like stars, shining brightly.

They began to resonate with each other, forming bridges of light that gradually connected.

Boom!

In the next moment.

Luo Mu felt his body tremble violently.

It was as if his “Heavenly Eye” had opened, or some deeply hidden barrier had been unlocked. Both his physical body and spirit were now completely exposed to the heavens and earth.

It was an indescribable sensation.

And in this state, Luo Mu finally saw the legendary Yuan Qi of heaven and earth.

It looked no different from regular mist, but it floated more ethereally.

Draw it in!

Without wasting time, Luo Mu controlled his nine apertures to start absorbing the Yuan Qi that drifted around him.

Yuan Qi had no owner.

It was easily drawn into his body by the suction from the apertures.

And it gradually flowed towards his dantian.

At the same time, his own vital energy also began to flow.

One white, one red.

Like two surging rivers, mighty and unstoppable.

In his consciousness, his dantian was a hazy, chaotic space.

It was one of the most mystical parts of the human body.

It had the nature of containing all things.

Boom!

Though Yuan Qi appeared ethereal and harmless, the moment it touched his vital energy, it became fiercely violent.

The same was true for his vital energy.

The two forces clashed like lions and tigers, refusing to yield to each other.

There was no way for them to fuse.

However, at that moment.

The Linghai Pill took effect.

Its essence transformed into countless blue radiances, calming both forces.

Gradually, they were absorbed by the dantian!

And deep within the dantian, they began to merge.

Evolving into an even stronger power!