Chapter 51: Body Refining 5th Layer
When his enlightenment doubled, getting over a hundred new points, Xiang Yu experienced something transcendent. If yesterday’s sensation was intense, this was an entirely different realm of perception. His consciousness seemed to explode outward, merging with the world around him. Insights about his techniques cascaded through his mind like a torrent of crystalline understanding, each concept perfectly clear yet overwhelmingly numerous.
The sensation persisted, building in intensity that threatened to overwhelm him. When it finally subsided, Xiang Yu gasped for breath, his chest heaving as though he’d run for miles. "That was... intense," he murmured to himself, wiping beads of sweat from his brow. A genuine concern flashed through his mind—if these doublings continued at their current pace, could his body and mind withstand such profound transformations? The enlightenment felt like trying to pour an ocean into a teacup.
But just as panic threatened to overwhelm him, a sudden clarity washed through his consciousness. His racing thoughts settled into perfect order, his mind becoming as still and reflective as an undisturbed pond. This must be the effect of the doubled Mountain Heart Sutra, he realized. The mind cultivation was balancing the explosive growth of his enlightenment, providing the mental fortitude necessary to process such vast insights.
"The mind level is truly crucial," he thought, making a mental note to prioritize this aspect of his cultivation more. Without it, his accelerating talents might tear his consciousness apart rather than elevate it.
His attention shifted to his knife technique, which had undergone its own remarkable transformation. Unlike the broad insights granted by enlightenment, these revelations focused exclusively on bladecraft—pure, concentrated understanding of the knife’s every application.
Memories flowed through him like a visual montage: his first awkward grip on the weapon’s handle; vegetables yielding beneath its edge in the kitchen; the desperate, survival-driven slashes against Gu Wuqing’s men; the more calculated exchanges with Gu Hanming’s disciples; countless sparring sessions with Li Yao; and finally, that triumphant moment when he’d first managed to pressure her into a genuine defensive position.
All these experiences, once separate events, now connected into a seamless understanding. This was Great Completion—true mastery that transcended mere mechanical skill to become intuitive expertise. Xiang Yu exhaled slowly, appreciation flowing through him. "If Great Completion feels like this," he wondered, "how profound must Perfection be?"
His eyes found the system interface floating before him, noting the experience required for Perfection was double that needed for Great Completion. The magnitude didn’t discourage him—how could the pinnacle of mastery be easily attained?
Methodically, he examined his other advancements. His cooking skill had improved marginally, offering refinements to techniques he already possessed rather than revolutionary new insights. His Abyssal Void Flame had reached twenty points, progressing faster than initially predicted—a pleasant surprise.
His battle instinct had nearly reached a hundred points, though without actual combat, he couldn’t fully appreciate the changes this would bring. The movement technique showed modest improvement, granting him slightly better control over its execution. His iron body technique’s advancement was more tangible—he could feel his skin hardening further, developing the resilience he’d need for future conflicts.
The sword technique had gained a hundred points, impressive progress that confirmed the efficacy of spirit food in accelerating cultivation. At this rate, it would soon match his knife mastery at Great Completion.
Finally, he turned his attention to the Mountain Heart Scripture. Breaking through to the fifth layer of Body Refining represented a significant milestone in his journey. Strength flowed through his muscles, his physical form growing more powerful with each passing moment. Xiang Yu savored this sensation of tangible growth.
Satisfied by the day’s progress, he summoned his complete system interface, ready to plan his next cycle of advancement.
...
The system interface floated before Xiang Yu, its ethereal blue glow illuminating his face as he meticulously examined each statistic:
[Name: Xiang Yu]
[Realm: Body: 5th Layer; Mind: Level 1]
[Species: Human] [Spiritual Root: null]
[Enlightenment: Low (214/1000)]
[Battle Instinct: (92/100,000)]
[Spirit Flame: Abyssal Void Flame: 7th Grade (20/30,000)]
[Professions: Cook: 8th Grade (22/200)]
[Techniques: Mid-grade Phantom Footwork: Beginner (10/100); Low-grade Iron Body Technique: Major Success (100/400); Basic Knife Technique: Great Completion (0/1000); Basic Sword Technique: Completion (200/500)]
[Scriptures: Mountain Heart Scripture: 5th Layer (0/500); Mountain Heart Sutra: Level 1 (24/1000)]
[System Function: Double Exp (Cooldown: 24hrs)]
Satisfaction flickered across his face as he observed his growth. Just as the previous evening, Xiang Yu decided to practice the Mountain Heart Sutra rather than waste precious hours on sleep. He settled into the lotus position, his back perfectly straight as he regulated his breathing. His consciousness gradually detached from physical sensation, drawing inward until he found himself once again in the boundless void of his spiritual sea.
Unlike his earlier experiences, the seductive pull toward peaceful non-existence no longer threatened to consume him. The Abyssal Void Flame still burned steadily on his spiritual forehead, illuminating the darkness around him with its strange black radiance punctuated by tiny white sparks like distant stars. The flame’s presence anchored his awareness, protecting him from the mental demons that had nearly claimed him before.
Throughout the night, Xiang Yu cultivated within this protected space, gradually expanding his mental strength. The flame occasionally pulsed as if responding to his progress, its white sparks growing momentarily more numerous before settling back into their regular pattern. Time held no meaning in this state—what felt like minutes within his spiritual sea translated to hours in the physical world.
Dawn’s first light was filtering through his window when Xiang Yu’s eyes finally opened. He felt refreshed despite not having slept, his mind sharper than ever before. Curious about his overnight progress, he summoned his system interface once more:
[Enlightenment: Low (216/1000)]
[Battle Instinct: (96/100,000)]
[Spirit Flame: Abyssal Void Flame: 7th Grade (22/30,000)]
[Mountain Heart Sutra: Level 1 (30/1000)]
The gains were modest but significant, particularly the Battle Instinct that now stood at the precipice of crossing into triple digits. Satisfied, he closed the interface and prepared for the day’s training.
At the usual training ground, Li Yao was already waiting, her slender form silhouetted against the morning sun. They exchanged brief greetings, neither wasting time on idle conversation when cultivation beckoned.
Xiang Yu drew his knife, the weapon feeling like a natural extension of his arm. Across from him, Li Yao prepared her sword form, her movements flowing with elegance. The mere sight of her perfected technique generated a pressure that rippled through the air, creating an invisible but tangible aura of danger.
He exhaled slowly, deliberately calming his nerves as his eyes locked onto her with predatory focus. His stance shifted subtly, muscle memory from countless hours of practice positioning his body for optimal response. Without realizing it, his own Battle Instinct—nearly a hundred points now—began to manifest as an aura of its own, projecting deadly intent.
When Li Yao saw Xiang Yu’s stance, she froze momentarily, her confident expression faltering. What was that? She wondered. She felt as though she had encountered a wild beast. This senior brother right now was a whole different monster compared to before. The way he looked at her, she felt as though his gaze penetrated through her.
[Get yourself together] the Empress’s voice snapped within her mind, pulling her back to reality.
The oppressive feeling had diminished slightly when she refocused, but hadn’t disappeared completely. "What was that just now?" she silently asked.
The Empress released a contemplative sigh. [It’s called battle intent. People who have experienced countless battles hone their battle intent. At some point, battle intent can become so great that it can kill you just by glancing at you.]
Li Yao absorbed this explanation with growing astonishment. How could her senior brother possess such formidable battle intent already? She acknowledged his rapid advancement, but wasn’t this progression unnaturally swift? Even she, acknowledged as a genius, felt her own progress seemed sluggish in comparison.
[It seems your senior brother is a combat genius,] the Empress explained with admiration. [This is actually beneficial for you. Having encountered someone with such strong battle intent early in your cultivation, you can use him to hone your own resistance so you won’t be paralyzed by fear when facing truly fearsome opponents.]
Li Yao took a deep, centering breath, closing her eyes to steady herself. When her eyelids finally lifted, she charged forward without hesitation, her blade gleaming in the morning light as it sought her suddenly formidable senior brother.