Chapter 116: Breaking through a Bottleneck

Leon sighed, realizing the gravity of his mistake. He had been so focused on the next battle, the next challenge, that he had overlooked the importance of mastering his current abilities. "It couldn't be helped," he muttered to himself. "I've never had proper guidance in this cultivation stuff…"But now wasn't the time for excuses. The system had warned him, and he couldn't afford to ignore it.

He made his way back to the inn where he had been staying, a small, modest place that offered him some privacy.

The innkeeper, was surprisingly not the elderly man that worked at night time but an elderly woman with a kind smile. She greeted him as he entered.

"Back already?" she asked warmly.

Leon gave her a nod and then spoke, his tone more serious than usual. "I'll be needing some quiet time. I'll be meditating for a while, so please don't let anyone disturb me." Sёarᴄh the NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

The innkeeper's smile faltered, sensing the gravity in his voice. "Of course, young man. I'll make sure no one bothers you."

From his words, she knew he was a cultivator, and randomly disturbing a Cultivator's training meditation is a taboo in this world...

Leon sighed as he passed the place, he said that on purpose, his words had released the meditating intent of a Cultivator making it that she would take his words seriously, knowing he's someone she shouldn't dare mess with.

With that, Leon ascended the creaky wooden stairs to his room. He closed the door behind him and sat cross-legged on the floor.

The room was simple, with a small bed and a single window that let in a soft beam of sunlight. It was quiet, just the way he needed it to be.

Sitting crosslegged, Leon closed his eyes, with the system guidance, he formed a training hand seal, allowing himself to feel the energy of the world around him.

The Qi in the atmosphere was subtle, a faint hum that most mortals would never notice.

Experience tales with мѵʟ

But Leon wasn't a mortal. Mana was an enhanced form of Qi, so he could sense the flow of Qi around him, the invisible threads of energy that connected everything in this world.

But for Leon, it wasn't just Qi. His cultivation path was unique.

Instead of Qi, he circulated mana through his body, a purer and more potent form of energy that coursed through his meridians.

It was a different path, one that set him apart from other cultivators, but it was also one that required him to tread carefully.

He took a deep breath and began the process of circulating his mana. He guided it through his meridians, feeling it flow smoothly through the pathways that had been formed within him.

The mana traveled through his body, from his dantian, through his arms, legs, and torso, then back again in a continuous cycle.

It was a delicate process, requiring intense concentration. He visualized the mana as a flowing river, steady and strong, moving through his body without interruption.

He could feel his muscles relaxing, his mind becoming clearer as the mana circulated. The power within him was becoming more stable, more controlled.

The more he focused, the more he could feel the world around him, as if his senses were sharpening.

The quiet rustle of the wind outside, the faint creak of the inn's wooden structure, even the heartbeat within his own chest — all of it became clearer as the mana brought his body and mind into perfect harmony.

Time seemed to stretch on endlessly as Leon meditated, his mind lost in the flow of mana.

He could feel himself growing stronger with each cycle, his cultivation stabilizing, his power solidifying. It was as if the pieces of a puzzle were finally coming together, fitting perfectly into place.

But then, as the mana circulated through his body, Leon felt something else — a barrier, a bottleneck.

He frowned, focusing his mind on the obstacle. He knew what this was. It was the wall that separated him from the next level of cultivation, the barrier he needed to break through in order to advance.

He was currently at the peak of the Qi Condensation/Qi refining realm, breaking through would take him to the next level of Cultivation, the Foundation Establishment realm...

He gritted his teeth and pushed harder, sending more mana through his meridians, trying to break through the bottleneck.

The pressure began to build, his body trembling slightly as the mana surged through him. It was like trying to break down a solid wall with nothing but raw force.

Sweat began to bead on his forehead as he concentrated. The bottleneck was stubborn, resisting his attempts to break through.

But Leon wasn't one to give up easily. He knew that this was the way of cultivation — overcoming obstacles, pushing through limitations, and emerging stronger on the other side.

He took a deep breath, calming his mind. He knew that brute force alone wouldn't be enough. He needed to approach this with both strength and finesse.

He focused on his breathing, allowing the mana to flow more naturally, more fluidly. Instead of trying to smash through the bottleneck, he guided the mana around it, like water flowing around a rock in a stream.

Slowly, he felt the barrier weakening. The pressure inside him grew, but he maintained his focus, keeping the mana flowing steadily. His heart pounded in his chest as the tension built, his entire body vibrating with the effort.

And then, with a sudden surge, the bottleneck shattered.

The mana flowed freely once more, rushing through his meridians with newfound strength. Leon gasped as the power surged through him, filling every inch of his being with energy. He could feel his cultivation rising, his strength increasing. The man's within him was more potent, enhanced, and with greater energy than before, it made him feel slightly intoxicated at that moment.

He had done it. He had broken through. But Leon knew one thing, he's still weak, extremely weak,he's trash compared to the real experts of this world....

Meanwhile, after Leon completed his breakthrough, the surge of energy within him settled into a calm flow, leaving him feeling refreshed and revitalized.

He stood up from his meditation position, stretching his limbs and taking a moment to appreciate the new strength that coursed through his body.

Leon opened his eyes, his chest rising and falling with deep breaths. The room seemed brighter, the air clearer. He felt lighter, stronger, more in tune with the world around him.

He had reached a new level of cultivation, and he could feel the difference.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he stood up, feeling the mana flowing through him with ease.

He had taken the first step toward mastering his new strength, and he knew there would be more challenges ahead. But for now, he was ready.

As he looked out the window, the sun had long disappeared beyond the horizon, leaving the village bathed in the cool embrace of night.

Yet, the darkness was softened by the gentle glow of countless lanterns, their warm light spilling out from every window, creating a soft tapestry of flickering amber hues.

Leon stood by the window, his gaze distant, taking in the peaceful scene below. The lanterns seemed to dance in the breeze, their light chasing away the shadows that clung to the corners of the village.

For a moment, he allowed himself to feel the quiet beauty of the night, the contrast between the serenity outside and the turmoil that churned within him.

His incubus body made it that this possessiveness of his girls increased greatly, this made it that, he might really lose it if he lay his eyes on that Young Master, the son of death bringer once again.

The warm glow of the lanterns cast a comforting illusion of peace, but he knew that beneath this tranquil surface, the village held its breath, waiting for what tomorrow might bring.

Tomorrow, he would join the raid on the dungeon. But tonight, he would rest, his body and mind finally at peace.

Leon's eyes moved away from the window, But the intense focus and exertion of cultivation had left him feeling grimy and sweaty.

A bath. That's what he needed now.

Leon walked over to the small wooden tub in the corner of the room, which the innkeeper had kindly filled earlier in the day. The water was still warm, steam lightly rising from the surface. He took off his shirt, revealing the toned muscles beneath, and then removed the rest of his clothing before stepping into the tub...