Xiao Ning stood with his hands at his sides, without replying.
After a moment of reflection, Song Dachuan said seriously, "The patriarch's 100th birthday is coming up soon. The sect leader wants to make a big celebration for him. I'll be going down the mountain to buy supplies in a couple of days, so I'll leave those little brats to you!"
"Rest assured, Your Excellency, there will be absolutely no mistakes!"
Xiao Ning thought about it and agreed.
“You’ve always been a reliable and steady person, which is why I thought of having you take charge.”
Song Dachuan nodded, chatted for a few more minutes, and then took his leave.
"Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye, and Zhang Cuishan will be back soon..."
Watching Song Dachuan leave, Xiao Ning was filled with a myriad of thoughts.
"It seems I need to break through to a higher level soon..."
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Chapter 6 Breakthrough to the Innate Realm [New book seeking sponsorship!] (Revised)
For the next two weeks, after sweeping the floor, Xiao Ning performed his duties as the temporary supervisor, checking the work of the other fire-working Taoists until Song Dachuan returned.
Another month passed. After the routine sign-in and sweeping, Xiao Ning walked back to his room, thinking to himself, "I'm almost fully recovered. There's no time like the present. Today is the day I'll break through!"
After nearly two months of recuperation, Xiao Ning felt that she had reached her optimal state, with a peaceful and calm mind, and no worries on her mind.
Having made up his mind, he paused, then strode towards the back of the mountain.
The mountain valley deep behind the mountain was discovered by Xiao Ning by chance two years after he came to Wudang. It was a secluded place with a beautiful environment.
Since discovering this place, Xiao Ning has fallen in love with it and comes here whenever he has free time.
To break through to a higher level, staying in a house is inconvenient, so this mountain hollow behind the mountain has become the first choice.
Xiao Ning has been at Wudang Mountain for nearly ten years now, and can be considered a veteran. Naturally, no one cares about his whereabouts. So, when they saw him walking towards the back of the mountain, the other fire-working Taoists he met greeted him but didn't say anything more.
The back of the mountain, in a valley.
The spring chill lingered, but the tender green grass sprouted with all its might, making the desolate valley appear lush and green. Near the mountainside, there was a huge rock.
A handsome young man sat cross-legged on the large rock. He wore a coarse blue Taoist robe and looked to be about sixteen or seventeen years old. His long black hair was casually tied into a bun and had not been carefully combed, giving him a somewhat unruly appearance.
The boy's eyes were half-open, half-closed as he sat cross-legged, exuding a unique charm. Combined with his handsome face, he looked like a celestial being descended to earth from afar.
Upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that the boy's breathing is distinctly different from that of ordinary people; it is long, deep, and rhythmic.
His chest rose and fell with each breath, his strong heart emitting a dull thud, a truly terrifying sound.
Within a radius of several hundred meters around him, the air subtly distorted, as if harboring a surging and profound power.
An indescribable aura then spread outwards. Fortunately, the back mountain of Wudang was rarely visited by people; otherwise, it would have caused a great uproar.
After an unknown amount of time, it was as if a pebble had been thrown into a lake, causing ripples. The physical body, spirit, and internal energy were showing signs of merging into one, yet there was always a constraint, like a fishbone stuck in one's throat.
Xiao Ning suddenly realized that this obstacle was the key to the transition from the Acquired Realm to the Innate Realm. Once it was broken, he could successfully break through.
He mobilized all his strength and launched an attack on this constraint.
"Thump!"
"Thump!"
once…
twice…
three times…
After countless attempts, finally, a crack appeared in the barrier. Xiao Ning's spirits lifted, and he mobilized all his remaining power to launch what was now his umpteenth attack.
"Bang!"
A thousand-mile dike can be breached by an ant hole!
Finally, the shackles are gone!
Drops of sweat mixed with black impurities and blood trickled out from his pores.
The sounds he heard became clearer and more vivid. When those sounds reached Xiao Ning's ears, a synchronized image instantly appeared in his mind. Even with his eyes closed, he could clearly see everything around him.
In that instant, his mind broke through a certain limit, and the whole world became clearer, with everything within a radius of several hundred meters under his control.
"Tick-tock!"
Immediately afterwards, the first true qi was born within Xiao Ning's body!
What is true qi?
In the Acquired Realm, internal energy can only circulate within the meridians. Even in the later stages of the Acquired Realm, when one can attack outside the body, it is still just a tangible but invisible force.
However, true qi is completely different. True qi can leave the body and transform into weapons such as knives, spears, swords, and clubs. It has shape and color, and can be touched and seen.
After the first wisp of true energy was generated, a vortex of airflow quickly formed above Xiao Ning's head, rapidly absorbing the external spiritual energy like a whale swallowing its prey.
"call!"
After an unknown amount of time, the boy suddenly took a deep breath, and instantly all the endless spiritual energy of heaven and earth in the entire mountain valley surged in, transforming into a huge funnel, which he absorbed and devoured completely.
Time passed slowly.