Chapter 295: Breaking the Limit
At the border of Zhongtian Province, atop a towering mountain, stood a city. This was Zhongtian Immortal City, established by the Clear Sky Sect.
As the first branch city of the Clear Sky Sect, Zhongtian Immortal City possessed deeper foundations than the other immortal cities.
Ordinarily, more than a thousand disciples were stationed here. Disciples traveling north and south would mostly pass through this city. The buildings within the city already numbered over two thousand, and one could see many disciples flying in and out.
Amid the vast falling snow, Zhongtian Immortal City appeared and disappeared in the storm.
Inside a residence at the center of the city, Yuan Qi sat within the main hall. He held a book in his hands, and the table beside him was piled high with various volumes.
Zhongtian Immortal City was equivalent to a miniature Clear Sky Sect. Each hall had established a branch here. Even the Sword Sect and the Martial Sect had set up branch sects within the city. Yuan Qi had already begun to understand Li Qingqiu’s feelings.
He realized that sitting in this position was far from easy, and the pressure grew heavier by the day.
The most difficult matter was not development, but the adjustment of authority. Too many people came to seek his favor.
A figure strode swiftly into the main hall—it was Qiao Dingbei.
Back then, when Zhao Zhen had been schemed against by Tianxuan Mountain and demonic cultivators, Qiao Dingbei had followed all the way and released Piercing Cloud Thunder, allowing Jiang Zhaoxia to arrive in time.
After that battle, Li Qingqiu had promoted Qiao Dingbei and dispatched him to Zhongtian Immortal City. Now serving as an Immortal City Executive, Qiao Dingbei had earned Yuan Qi’s deep trust.
“City Lord, the sect has sent word. The Spirit Stones we requested will arrive within three days at most,” Qiao Dingbei said softly after raising his hand in salute.
Without lifting his eyes, Yuan Qi responded, “Mm, I know. Pass the news down so the people below won’t grow anxious.”
Qiao Dingbei continued, “Also, today someone discovered poisonous insects on the mountain—quite a number of them. We’ve never seen such a situation before.”
“Poisonous insects?”
Yuan Qi raised his head, frowning.
Qiao Dingbei nodded. “And not just one kind. It seems as though someone released them intentionally. I’ve already sent people to investigate.”
Yuan Qi cautioned, “These days may not be peaceful. The sect has just suffered an attack from demonic creatures. We must not be careless.”
Qiao Dingbei nodded. “Shall we ring the war-preparation bell?”
Yuan Qi hesitated. But thinking of the many disciples within the city, he could not afford to gamble. Even if the bell was rung in vain, he would only receive some complaints.
“In that case, ring—” Yuan Qi said in a low voice, but before he could finish—
Boom—
A deafening explosion erupted from outside the residence, startling Yuan Qi to his feet.
Qiao Dingbei’s expression changed drastically. Like an arrow, he shot out of the hall, with Yuan Qi following closely behind.
……
Winter snow drifted through the air. In the snowfield stood Yuan Li with his eyes closed, his robes billowing violently. The Gang Essence within his body boiled, causing his bones and tendons to crack like bursting beans.
In the second Grand Dao Tournament, Yuan Li once again failed to achieve a good ranking. The glory he had created for body cultivators had become a thing of the past. He had returned to mediocrity.
Zhao Zhen, Yun Cai, and Ji Ya had shone brilliantly, taking up the baton from Jiang Zhaoxia and Xu Ning to become the sect’s top combat power.
Though Hu Yan had not yet risen, nearly everyone believed he would become the number one genius in the future. All awaited his growth with anticipation.
As for Yuan Li, no one mentioned him. It was as if the Sect Master had never had such a disciple.
Even though Li Qingqiu’s attitude toward him remained unchanged, the time they spent together grew increasingly scarce. He did not blame his Master—he blamed only himself for not striving hard enough.
Yuan Li was not one to give up. On the contrary, these setbacks only made him more resilient.
Feeling the Gang Essence within his body, he clenched his teeth and mobilized it to strike every acupoint in his body. The tearing pain made cold sweat pour from him, yet he endured through gritted teeth.
Years ago, he had sensed some kind of shackle within his body. He had not thought himself special; he believed he had simply touched the limit of a mortal physique.
Now, what he wanted was to break that limit.
After a while—
“Pfft—”
Yuan Li spat out a mouthful of blood that shot like an arrow. He staggered backward several steps before collapsing to one knee in the snow.
Dizziness overcame him. The entire world seemed to sway violently. He felt unbearably uncomfortable.
“Damn it… still can’t…”
Yuan Li ground his teeth. His hand, pressed against the snow, clenched into a fist. Blood dripped onto the back of it, and his heart filled with frustration.
He could no longer count how many times he had failed.
Since reaching the Fourth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, his cultivation had been extremely difficult to advance. No matter how many Spirit Stones he used, it made no difference. He could only seek a breakthrough through his Gang Essence.
Gang Essence granted him the power to fight across realms. Yet the gap between him and the geniuses of his generation grew ever wider—so wide that even Gang Essence could no longer compensate.
He struggled to steady his mindset, urging himself not to give up.
After remaining there for a long time, he finally rose unsteadily to his feet.
He took a step forward, intending to return to his courtyard to rest.
After walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped and clutched his chest.
“What’s going on… this feeling…”
Yuan Li frowned and muttered to himself. His heartbeat inexplicably accelerated, filling him with unease. He had never experienced such a sensation before. His pounding heart seemed to ripple through the very world reflected in his eyes—the entire world trembled in rhythm with his heartbeat.
An unprecedented terror seized his heart, leaving him almost breathless.
……
Snow continued to fall heavily. Plumes of smoke rose from Zhongtian Immortal City. Flames erupted everywhere, and surging demonic energy churned above the city. Upon closer inspection, within the demonic energy, the faint outline of a giant bird could be seen.
Clang—
Covered in blood, Yuan Qi shoved aside a wooden board and struggled out from the ruins. His face was smeared with soot. One hand pressed against his abdomen, but blood continued to pour from the wound.
Never had Yuan Qi felt his body so cold. What pained him even more was the utter destruction of Zhongtian Immortal City.
With difficulty, he raised his gaze and saw many Clear Sky Sect disciples still locked in fierce battle. Their opponents were demons of varied forms.
Snake demons, leopard demons, ox demons, dog demons, and more.
Numerous poisonous insects crawled swiftly along the eaves. Firelight flickered everywhere. The scene was utter chaos.
Seeing the corpses scattered in the distance, Yuan Qi felt as though the sky had collapsed.
Even if he survived, he did not know how he would face the sect.
A figure descended from the sky—it was a handsome male disciple named Yang Chengyu, one of the Top Ten from the first Grand Dao Tournament. His cultivation had already reached the Eighth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
“City Lord, we must retreat, or casualties will only increase!” Yang Chengyu said in a deep voice.
Yuan Qi pushed him away and gritted his teeth. “Go save the other disciples—quickly! Don’t worry about me!”
“But you—”
“Go!”
Yuan Qi nearly roared. Yang Chengyu gave him a deep look before immediately drawing his sword and charging forward.
As Yang Chengyu rushed off to rescue the others, Yuan Qi tried to stand—but both his legs were broken. He could not rise at all.
“Tsk tsk, this City Lord of yours is quite responsible.”
A mocking laugh rang out, startling Yuan Qi into turning his head. On the broken courtyard wall to his right, a bloodied hand appeared.
As that hand propped up its body, Yuan Qi saw a demon with a fox head and human body. Draped in a tattered black robe, its figure was that of a graceful woman—but its fox head was hideous. Its left eye was blind, a scar slashing across half its face. Its right eye lacked a pupil, pale and ghastly.
At the sight of the demon, Yuan Qi’s heart sank.
“Confused, are you? Wondering why no one from the Clear Sky Sect has come to reinforce you?” the fox demon asked with a cold smile.
Yuan Qi did not answer, but confusion indeed filled his heart. The battle had raged for some time with such commotion. Passing disciples should have come to assist. Yet so far, only people had fled outward—none had entered the city.
The fox demon raised a hand and pointed at the demonic energy blotting out the sky. “With this formation covering the city, not the slightest sound or aura can leak out.”
Yuan Qi’s face darkened.
The fox demon leapt over the courtyard wall and approached him, her back hunched, grotesque yet greedy.
“To be appointed City Lord, your status must be extraordinary. I shall savor your flesh and blood well. The more miserable your death, the greater the blow to the Clear Sky Sect, don’t you think?”
Her words did not frighten Yuan Qi. He raised his right hand and summoned his Clear Sky Sword through the air.
Even in such a desperate situation, Yuan Qi still raised his sword against the fox demon.
At that moment, Yuan Li’s face flashed through his mind.
He did not think of his wife or children. His heart was filled only with worry for his younger brother.
If he died, what would Yuan Li do? How would he compete with the other disciples of the Sect Master?
“Roar—”
A dragon’s roar echoed from afar, startling both Yuan Qi and the fox demon into turning their heads. A golden dragon shadow vaulted over the city wall and plunged into the city.
Divine Dragon Transformation!
Yuan Qi’s eyes lit up with joy, instantly recognizing the technique.
At that very moment, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his neck. The world in his vision flipped upside down. He saw his own body—headless.
Thud!
Yuan Qi’s head fell to the ground and was crushed beneath the fox demon’s foot.