44 Dragon Vein Cultivation's Third Realm, Dragon Sword Formation.
Having bid farewell to Liu Yan, Yang Wei strolled into one of the myriad cave abodes dotting the structure.
The cavern housed several massive pillars, their hollow cores pulsating with thin blue strings of energy— none other than the mystical dragon veins.
Yang Wei could practically feel the surge of blood vein Qi fortifying his body.
"Wow, these dragon veins are top of the line! The purity is off the charts," Yang Wei muttered to himself, reveling in the advantage his naturally impurity-free physique bestowed upon him. As he approached a Dragon Vein Pillar, three cultivators in the cave diligently practiced their arts, spaced out strategically to avoid interference.
The disciples who just joined the sect don't get their own cave right away. They have to bunk up in these common caves until their Peak Chief hands them their own spot. So, no one is courting death by sharing a space with their fellow disciples.
At the entrance, Wu Fengtian lurked, casting a watchful eye on Yang Wei.
This guy... he thought uneasily.
Whistling nonchalantly, Yang Wei retrieved various items from his storage pouch— a bamboo mat and some cultivation resources.
The Qi Gathering Talisman – a basic talisman to boost ambient Qi absorption while meditating, making it easier for beginners to soak up spiritual energy.
Then, the Qi Condensing Bead – a tiny bead helping squeeze Qi into the dantian, enhancing the cultivator's internal reservoir.
And lastly, the Harmonizing Crystal – a crystal attuned to the cultivator's Qi, helping maintain the Yin and Yang balance during meditation.
He properly arranged them around him, then unfurled the Dragon Vein Cultivation scroll.
"I'm short on time. I must finish cultivating this technique quickly!"
He wanted to add this technique to his arsenal before learning more basic ones.
Preparing to delve into the scroll, his concentration broke when he noticed Wu Fengtian.
Crap, he caught me! Wu Fengtian fidgeted nervously.
Catching Yang Wei's gaze, Wu Fengtian took a deep breath and theatrically cleared his throat.
No, no, act natural. No need to be scared - he can't do anything to me here... right? *gulp*
Deciding to play along, Wu Fengtian sat in a lotus position at a distance, pretending to be focused on his cultivation.
The other junior disciples, including the ever-watchful Wu Fengtian, gaped in amazement.
Yang Wei, now hovering in his lotus position over the bamboo mat, opened his eyes with a force that resonated with dragon vein Qi.
A shockwave rippled through the cave, causing stalactites to crumble from the ceiling to the floor.
His spiritual pressure had intensified, breaking through two realms of Dragon Vein Cultivation.
One could either say he'd reached the peak of Dragon Vein Qi Refinement or scraped the waters of Dragon Sword Formation.
The disciples stared, mouths agape, in disbelief.
Wu Fengtian's jaw hung open wider than anyone else's, utterly stunned by the display of Yang Wei's newfound prowess. "That's... that's insane! How did he do that?" he stammered, unable to hide his amazement.
...
A whole day passed, and the dense sphere of dragon vein Qi that Yang Wei was condensing gradually began to take form.
A day has passed and I haven't reached the peak of Dragon Sword Formation, nevertheless...
Yang Wei channeled more dragon vein Qi from his surroundings into the sphere.
Now, he'd completely captured the attention of every disciple in the cave. It was as if the junior disciples took a backseat to witness the emergence of a male cultivator with unparalleled innate talent.
There weren't many skilled men in the current generation of cultivators. So, if Yang Wei could actually nail the peak of Dragon Sword Formation, he'd have outshone Mu Lingxi, one of the sect's top talents, in that department.
Wu Fengtian, awestruck by Yang Wei's prowess, muttered to himself, "This... This is insane." His vocabulary seemed to shrink in the face of Yang Wei's exceptional cultivation. The other three disciples, equally dumbfounded, could only exchange bewildered glances.
As Yang Wei pressed his palms together, crushing the dense sphere, he smoothly pulled his palms once more.
Visualize... manifest the dragon's form in my inner world. Then, use that as a focal point for directing and condensing the dragon vein Qi into the form of a majestic and powerful sword... A sword that can cut steel, destroy forests and annihilate worlds! The scattered particles of energy began to whirl rapidly, and the entire cave rumbled as they coalesced into a blazing hot blue sword.
There is not a single cultivator alive who can reach Dragon Sword Formation in a day. However...
"H... HE DID IT!!" All three disciples in the cave shouted as they collapsed.
Wu Fengtian, still struggling to find words, blurted out, "He actually did it!"