Name: Zhao Ya. Age: 20 years. Remaining lifespan: 1023 (+341 days) years
Skills: Eight Vajra Longevity Skill (Peak Performance 97%)
Five Tiger Fist (Returning to the Essence 99%)
Wind-Slaying Saber Technique (Extraordinary to Saint)
Light as a Feather (Returning to the Essence 99%)
Concealing Breath Technique (Peak Performance 99%)
Great Stone-Throwing Hand (Peak Performance 99%)
Great Vajra Fist (Peak Performance 99%)
Golden Body Technique (Peak Performance 99%)
Little Five Paths Chasing Soul Leg (Peak Performance 79%)
[Gallbladder unlock progress: 39%]
Looking at the data on the attribute panel, Zhao Ya felt somewhat emotional.
From struggling to survive as a handyman at an Escort Agency, to now being a Fifth Realm expert that commands respect.
The hardships along the way need not be mentioned, but fortunately, the results are gratifying.
First, the remaining lifespan finally broke through the millennium barrier, hinting at the hope of longevity.
Secondly, most of the martial arts skills have reached their realm’s limits, needing just a bit of understanding to advance further.
Furthermore, with the enhancements from the Mountain Demon Body and the Ghostly Eye talents, Zhao Ya felt his strength had at least tripled or quadrupled compared to before the breakthrough.
Next is to solidify his current realm.
After all, to advance from the Fifth Realm to the Meridian Opening, a solid foundation is essential.
However, during this period, he could first break through the Concealing Breath Technique and Golden Body Technique, both of which have reached the peak of performance. Doing so should grant another boost in his strength.
As for the Great Stone-Throwing Hand and Great Vajra Fist, which have also reached 99% of peak performance, breaking through them would be challenging without the necessary conditions.
Thinking of this, Zhao Ya took out the notebook he obtained from Jin Cunyue and began studying it carefully.
He spent over an hour on it.
After he finished reading the entire notebook, Zhao Ya closed it and contemplated deeply, eyes flickering with excitement.
Indeed, the help from this notebook was substantial.
It not only recorded various issues Jin Cunyue encountered during cultivation but also described in detail how to advance into the Meridian Opening Realm and the experiences following the advancement.
This was precisely what Zhao Ya urgently needed.
The Meridian Opening Realm, if understood literally, means opening the meridians, which is indeed an essential component, but true meridian opening involves much more.
First, to ascend into Meridian Opening, one must cultivate the Foundation of True Power in the dantian.
Of course, it goes by various names, some call it Foundation of True Power, others call it True Power Seed,
but regardless of the name, it essentially refers to the same thing.
It means developing a place within the dantian to store True Power.
As for how to obtain this True Power...
It depends on the cultivation techniques taught by the various sects and their focus.
For instance, Bright Moon Valley’s Bright Moon Force leans towards the soft and defensive type of True Power.
But regardless of the type, a complete system of cultivation technique is necessary to acquire it.
This is the foundation upon which all major sects stand.
Seeing this, Zhao Ya finally understood why Jin Cunyue dared to be so arrogant with even just one meridian opened, showing no regard for the three sects, two institutes, and one manor of Yan Capital City.
Because in his eyes, the Great Yan is merely a Wilderness Land with a crude martial system; even if they have Meridian Opening, the True Power cultivated is considered rubbish compared to his Bright Moon Force.
In fact, this thought cannot be blamed if not for his unfortunate encounter with the extraordinary Zhao Ya.
He could have dominated Yan Capital City, escaping unscathed unless overwhelmingly besieged.
Thus, Zhao Ya gained a direct and in-depth understanding of the Meridian Opening Realm, far more detailed and accurate than the information from Mo Qi.
This doesn’t imply Mo Qi withheld information, but since he himself was only a half-step into the Fifth Realm, even with his high-level Medical Skill and method to refine the Realm-Breaking Guide, the lack of mentorship due to his sect’s early destruction by Bright Moon Valley limited his martial art insights.
In addition, Zhao Ya discovered from Jin Cunyue’s notes that
Meridian Opening is far from the end; there are several higher realms beyond it. However, due to their remoteness, even Jin Cunyue knew little and only briefly described them.
Yet, those few glimpses greatly inspired Zhao Ya.
For Jin Cunyue’s portrayal suggested that above Meridian Opening lies a Half-Immortal Body, capable of feats that, while not yet flight, are extraordinarily otherworldly, potentially even manipulating objects externally.
Seeing these four words, Zhao Ya’s imagination ran wild.
Manipulating objects externally?
Could it mean sword flight?
Zhao Ya felt a twinge of excitement.
Which young man hasn’t fantasized about riding a sword into the azure skies?
But after repeated readings, he found nothing more than this simple description.
Soon, Zhao Ya calmed down, setting aside fanciful thoughts, and delved back into the notebook.
He concentrated on a section of text,
which described Jin Cunyue’s understanding and experiences while practicing the Concealing Breath Technique.
In this account, Jin Cunyue termed his practice as the Spirit Turtle Hibernation Technique.
The pride and satisfaction he had in this Spirit Turtle Hibernation Technique could be clearly sensed between the lines; he even claimed confidently that not even a Meridian Opening expert could discover him without careful examination.
Zhao Ya agreed with this view,
having personally experienced it in the forest.
He meticulously pondered over Jin Cunyue’s insights on practicing the Spirit Turtle Hibernation Technique.
At Jin Cunyue’s level, naturally, his notebook wouldn’t contain the most elementary beginner techniques.
Instead, it logged the challenges he faced.
Yet, these issues enabled Zhao Ya to gradually piece together a full picture of the Spirit Turtle Hibernation Technique.
As he read and thought, Zhao Ya occasionally jotted down notes in a side notebook.
Seeing him engrossed in this way, Zui’Er and Shang Luoluo refrained from disturbing him, placing meals by his side.
Zhao Ya was too absorbed to eat, entirely immersed in the ocean of the Spirit Turtle Hibernation Technique.
The day passed in the blink of an eye; as night fell, Zhao Ya finally laid down his pen to gaze at the ink-still-wet paper before him, expressionless.
He had nearly reconstructed the Spirit Turtle Hibernation Technique.
Its intricacies amazed even him.
This confirmed that the Wilderness Land indeed produced many exceptional figures, and the brilliance of this technique was just one example.
By mimicking a spirit turtle’s hibernation, one integrates with the surrounding environment, achieving the effect of concealing breath and evading detection — a strikingly ingenious concept.
In comparison, Zhao Ya found his previous Concealing Breath Technique lacking.
Zhao Ya held his breath and focused, quietly circulating his breath and Qi Blood according to his day’s gains.
His formidable strength and understanding quickly led him into a profound state.
This also stemmed from his advanced Concealing Breath Technique being at the Peak Performance level.
With both combined, Zhao Ya’s presence significantly diminished.
Though he sat there, the room seemed devoid of him.
Just then, Zui’Er skipped to the door.
"Huh? Brother Ya isn’t here?"
She said as she prepared to push open the door and tidy up the dishes.
Although Zhao Ya was in a profound hibernation state, he still sensed her approach.
To avoid startling Zui’Er, Zhao Ya flickered to the door’s back in an instant.
The door opened, and Zui’Er walked to the table, oblivious to Zhao Ya just beyond the door, sighed at the untouched meal laid out and commented,
"Brother Ya, you really should eat even if you’re busy!"
With that, she picked up the meal box and left.
Throughout, she remained unaware of Zhao Ya a mere door away.
Once she’d gone, a light glimmered in Zhao Ya’s eyes, a hint of joy on his face.
[Concealing Breath Technique proficiency +19%]
[Level Up: Acquired Spirit Turtle Hibernation Technique.]
Indeed.
Opening the panel, Zhao Ya noted that the original Concealing Breath Technique had been replaced by the Spirit Turtle Hibernation Technique, becoming a new entry.
Spirit Turtle Hibernation Technique (Returning to the Essence 18%)