Now, Zhao Ya’s Qi blood is as pure as an infant’s, and his organs are spotless and flawless. Apart from some lingering polluted evil qi in his bone marrow, Zhao Ya’s body has reached the peak of the postnatal state.
In such a situation, a significant increase in lifespan is not surprising.
Secondly, apart from the Golden Body Technique, all other martial arts skills have been elevated to peak performance or higher to the realm of returning to the essence.
As a result, Zhao Ya’s strength has reached the pinnacle of what his current realm can achieve.
Moreover, with the enhancement of various organ talents, and his strength far superior to ordinary people, Zhao Ya even has the confidence to withstand a confrontation with a Fifth Realm martial artist.
If word got out, many people would probably find it unbelievable.
After all, even though it’s only half a step difference, the gap between the Fifth Realm and half-step Fifth Realm is, if not like the difference between clouds and mud, still significant.
Yet, Zhao Ya indeed has this confidence.
The only lacking piece now is that the Lightweight Body Technique, Light as a Feather, has been stuck at peak performance for a long time; that last 1% seems like an insurmountable chasm, no matter how hard he tries.
Despite frequently exchanging ideas with colleagues from various martial arts halls during this period, especially focusing on absorbing the essence of various schools’ lightweight body techniques, aside from a slight increase in body technique speed, he has still been unable to break through.
Helpless, Zhao Ya could only temporarily abandon the idea of a breakthrough.
He sensed that he had hit a bottleneck in the lightweight skill and, unless there was a higher-level lightweight body technique to study, it would be extremely difficult to cross over.
Fortunately, his current body technique is still adequate, so Zhao Ya didn’t mind much, but he secretly resolved to find a way to obtain a higher-level lightweight body technique.
Unexpectedly, the Concealing Breath Technique also silently reached the 99% threshold of peak performance.
However, this technique for concealing breath and hiding one’s presence no longer had much use for the current Zhao Ya.
Because after reaching half-step Fifth Realm, Zhao Ya can already independently control the opening of all his pores.
After closing all his pores, with no breath leaking out, the concealing effect achieved is similar.
It’s just that with the assistance of the Concealing Breath Technique, entering this state might be slightly easier.
But it doesn’t have much impact on his actual combat ability, which is urgently lacking now, so Zhao Ya didn’t pay much more attention to it.
Besides, the most worthwhile breakthrough is the Golden Body Technique.
This horizontal refining technique obtained from the Cyan Bamboo Ridge’s fifth boss can greatly enhance one’s defensive capabilities.
The reason Zhao Ya broke through the Skin Grinding Realm so quickly before was largely thanks to it.
But now its progress has also slowed down, and no matter how Zhao Ya trains, the effects are minimal, it’s stuck at the last ten-something points of proficiency, unable to reach peak performance.
However, today’s exchange with Jin Zhenming gave Zhao Ya great inspiration.
He had been cultivating the horizontal refining technique solely through his own exploration, even his master, Lu Dingtai, couldn’t help much.
But Jin Zhenming is different.
He is a master of body refinement, with exceedingly formidable horizontal refining skills, naturally rich in experience.
In such circumstances, even a brief exchange felt like a revelation to Zhao Ya.
He has confidence now that within a day or two, he can break through the Golden Body Technique to peak performance.
While pondering the path of future cultivation, Zhao Ya suddenly sensed something, looked up towards the door.
He then told Zui’Er,
"Stay in the room and don’t go anywhere."
After speaking, Zhao Ya slipped out the door and saw someone standing on the distant wall.
Upon seeing Zhao Ya step outside, that person turned and left, disappearing into the night.
Zhao Ya didn’t hesitate and immediately followed.
With his current strength, it only took a few leaps to leave the Dingtai Martial Arts Hall and reach a desolate corner.
Then he saw a seemingly simple-minded man waiting for him on the wasteland.
Behind him stood two others.
One was a young scholar who had led him here, and the other was a beautiful woman.
Upon seeing these three people, Zhao Ya’s eyes narrowed slightly, his heart shaken.
Fifth Realm!
All three were genuine Fifth Realm martial artists!
Moreover, Zhao Ya again caught a faint scent of fragrance in the air.
No need to ask.
It was them who had been secretly watching me before.
Zhao Ya remained calm, already holding a medicinal pouch in his hand.
Inside was the poison he recently modified and prepared, inspired by a package from Yuan Chenfeng.
Although it hasn’t been tested on Fifth Realm martial artists, since those at half-step Fifth Realm couldn’t resist it, it should at least disrupt a Fifth Realm martial artist’s Qi and blood.
As long as he can delay them a little, he could take the opportunity to slip away.
But that’s only Zhao Ya’s worst-case scenario, made out of caution.
The reason he followed was that he didn’t feel the slightest hint of killing intent, only some curiosity.
Even now, it’s the same; none of the three exuded any killing intent.
Nonetheless, Zhao Ya stood at a safe distance, saying in a deep voice, "It’s unexpected for ordinary people to see even one Fifth Realm martial artist, let alone three at once."
The simple-minded man leading them smiled at these words, "No need to be so nervous, we have no ill intentions toward you."
Zhao Ya felt that this simple-minded man looked at him in a peculiar way, frowning slightly.
"As top-tier martial artists, you three must have precious time, so bringing me here in the middle of the night, surely isn’t just to chat, right? Just say whatever you have to say."
The simple-minded man was precisely Wang Tiancheng from the Golden Saber Institute. At this moment, he was looking at Zhao Ya with great admiration, as if seeing an unpolished gem, and upon hearing Zhao Ya’s words, he smiled slightly.
"Quite so, let me introduce myself first, I am Wang Tiancheng, from the Capital City Golden Saber Institute, and these two are Gu Chaoyue from the Mirror Moon Sect, and Xu Niannian from Wunian Academy."
Capital City, Golden Saber Institute, Mirror Moon Sect, Wunian Academy.
These familiar names left Zhao Ya astonished, unable to resist saying, "Three Sects, two Academies, one Manor?"
Upon this remark, Wang Tiancheng and the other two looked surprised.
They hadn’t expected Zhao Ya to recognize the names of their sects.
The Three Sects, two Academies, one Manor are famous in the Capital City, but given the vastness of the Great Yan territory, coupled with the current turmoil and disrupted roads, news from various places was cut off.
If it were closer, it would be another matter, but Yunxiao County is thousands of miles away from the Capital City, hence many people have never even heard of the Three Sects, two Academies, one Manor.
Zhao Ya’s knowledge surprised them naturally.
It was Wang Tiancheng who first laughed, "Indeed, it seems you are quite well-informed."
Zhao Ya didn’t respond.
His knowledge of these sects entirely came from Shang Luoluo’s introductions.
This Shang Luoluo, how she obtained such information, was a mystery, yet she had an intricate understanding of the situation far away in the Capital City.
But knowing is one thing; Zhao Ya didn’t feel any ties with these people, so he remained silent, waiting for the three to speak first.
"You’ve probably guessed by now, we were the ones observing you in secret," Wang Tiancheng said.
"And the reason we observed you is that I have an interest in you."
Zhao Yan’s face suddenly darkened, almost throwing the medicinal pouch away.
"Don’t misunderstand, my interest bears no malice, rather your talent and potential are impressive." Wang Tiancheng hurriedly explained.
"But at that time, you were only in the Fourth Realm, which was a bit too low for us, so I didn’t directly approach you until a few days ago when you broke through to half-step Fifth Realm."
Wang Tiancheng’s eyes glowed with a certain light, "This cultivation progress is even considered top-notch in the Capital City, which is why I decided to reveal myself and talk to you."
"After all this, what do you mean?" Zhao Ya asked coldly.
"Simple, I want you to join the Golden Saber Institute. If you agree, I can vouch for you to my master and have you accepted. From now on, you would be my junior disciple, how about it?" Wang Tiancheng said sincerely.