Chapter 14: Passive "Epiphany"

Within the entire Lingyuan Sect, being accepted as a disciple by an inner sect elder was a matter of great honor. Not only would one receive cultivation resources beyond the reach of ordinary people, but also enjoy the backing of a grandmaster at the Innate Realm. Even while traveling outside, such a disciple would command respect wherever they went.

After pondering for a moment, Qingxi cupped his fists and said, “I am willing to accept Elder’s test!”

Ouyang Changfeng narrowed his eyes, his sharp gaze as though piercing straight through Qingxi, exerting immense pressure upon him. Gritting his teeth, Qingxi endured the invisible force that weighed upon his body. After a while, that overwhelming pressure receded like a tide. Ouyang Changfeng then laughed and said, “Good! I like young men with drive. From this day forth, you are my disciple. As long as you pass all the tests, you shall inherit my mantle!”

Qingxi breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as though he had just sprinted dozens of miles carrying a hundred-pound boulder, nearly collapsing from exhaustion.

“Disciple pays respect to Master!”

Though his body was weary, he did not forget the proper etiquette between master and disciple.

“Good, good, very good!” Ouyang Changfeng stroked his long beard, genuine delight gleaming in his eyes.

Tu Yongsheng was equally pleased by the scene, but quickly glared at the three dazed disciples nearby and barked, “What are you standing there for? Get out!”

“Yes, yes, yes!” The three, too humiliated to remain, scrambled and stumbled their way out of the Hall of Registered Disciples.

Ouyang Changfeng looked at Qingxi, handed him a bottle of pills, and said, “I see you’ve reached the ninth level of Qi Refinement. Tonight, use these Qi Condensing Pills to break through to the tenth level. Once you become an outer disciple, come find me.”

Qingxi accepted the pills gratefully. “Thank you, Master!”

Before he could finish his words, Ouyang Changfeng, like a great roc spreading its wings, soared into the air, landing atop the Hall’s roof. With a few agile leaps, he vanished without a trace.

All around, the registered disciples gazed at Qingxi, their eyes filled with envy and respect. To become the disciple of an inner sect elder usually required at least a mortal-grade spiritual root, but Qingxi had become the sole disciple of Ouyang Changfeng. In the future, he might even receive the true legacy—how could that not stir envy?

Tu Yongsheng swept his gaze around and snorted, “Enough gawking! With your trash-grade spiritual roots, if you don’t work harder, the gap with others will only widen. All right, let me check your cultivation progress one by one.”

With that, Tu Yongsheng stood before the hall. The registered disciples lined up, each demonstrating their cultivation aura and performing the Gale Palm technique for assessment.

Tu Yongsheng was reasonably satisfied with the results.

Afterward, he gave Qingxi a look and said, “Come with me.”

Behind the Hall of Registered Disciples, Tu Yongsheng regarded Qingxi with appreciation. “To break through cultivation so swiftly, and master two martial techniques to perfection—on some counts, you’re no less than those with spirit-grade roots.”

Qingxi dared not grow conceited and replied humbly, “It is thanks to Elder Tu’s guidance.”

“Hmph, spare me the flattery!” Tu Yongsheng’s face turned stern. “You broke through so quickly—was it thanks to the Qi Condensing Pills?”

Qingxi did not dare conceal the truth. “A few days ago, I accompanied Linfeng to the Pill Peak, gained some insights, and received a few Qi Condensing Pills.”

“Taking pills can indeed raise your cultivation quickly, but remember: all medicine contains some poison. Relying solely on pills makes one’s foundation unstable. Keep this in mind,” Tu Yongsheng admonished.

“Disciple understands!” The care in his words warmed Qingxi’s heart.

“Very well. If there’s nothing else, break through to the tenth level as soon as you can. Tomorrow, I’ll personally take you to be promoted to an outer disciple.” With a wave, Tu Yongsheng headed back to the front hall.

“Yes!” Qingxi did not linger. He hurried to his room, took out the bottle from Ouyang Changfeng, and opened it to find seven dark red pills lying quietly within.

“As expected from an inner sect elder—the purity of these pills is actually eighty percent!” Qingxi rejoiced inwardly and swallowed a pill at once.

With the aid of the assistant’s refining effect, he could remove the impurities from the pills, so even if he relied solely on medicine to advance his cultivation, it would not undermine his foundation. This was something Tu Yongsheng could never have imagined.

By the time the sun set over the western hills, Qingxi exhaled deeply, awakening from meditation. After refining two Qi Condensing Pills, his cultivation not only broke through to the tenth level, but even reached its peak, just a step away from the eleventh level.

But lacking a technique beyond the tenth level, he could not break through further.

“It looks like I’ll need to get promoted tomorrow to receive the next part of the ‘Qi Condensing Art—Refinement Chapter’,” Qingxi thought, putting away the remaining pills and making plans for the next day.

“Ding! Host’s cultivation has reached the tenth level of Qi Refinement. The first passive function, ‘Epiphany’, is now unlocked.” The assistant’s voice chimed in.

Qingxi raised an eyebrow. “A passive function? Does this require special conditions to activate? Epiphany… could it be like sudden enlightenment?”

The assistant immediately explained, “When the host is fully focused on something, there is a chance to trigger the ‘Epiphany’ function, temporarily increasing comprehension twentyfold.”

“A twentyfold increase in comprehension!” Qingxi knew well what that meant.

Had this function been available a few days ago while practicing the Gale Palm, he might have perfected the technique in one fell swoop.

“Still, only twentyfold?” Qingxi was not fully satisfied; twenty times seemed impressive, but the duration was short.

The assistant said, “The strength of the Epiphany function is tied to the host’s spiritual root grade. Trash-grade roots yield a tenfold increase; with each grade higher, comprehension multiplies by ten.”

Qingxi suddenly understood, “So, since I have a mortal-grade root, it’s twentyfold now. If one day I attain a divine-grade root, wouldn’t that be a hundredfold?”

“In theory, yes. But host, you are still weak—keep your feet on the ground and don’t aim too high too soon!”

Hearing the assistant’s earnest admonition, Qingxi rolled his eyes and agreed perfunctorily.

The next day, he arrived at the Hall of Registered Disciples.

“Oh, you’ve really reached the tenth level. Come with me!” Tu Yongsheng was only mildly surprised, then led Qingxi into a grand hall.

“Well, if it isn’t Elder Tu himself. What brings you here today?” An elderly man in white robes and hair welcomed them with a smile. Upon seeing Qingxi, he was taken aback. “Isn’t this the young fellow from a few days ago? What brings you here?”

Following the voice, Qingxi realized this was Steward Xu Shan, who had overseen the bone-testing ceremony days prior.

“Reporting to Steward Xu, I am here to participate in the promotion to outer disciple,” Qingxi replied respectfully, having a favorable impression of the man.

“Oh, here for promotion—wait, promotion to outer disciple? Are you toying with me?” Steward Xu’s eyes widened, feeling as though his intelligence was being insulted.

Just days ago, this boy had tested his bone structure—now he claimed he was ready for outer disciple promotion? Was this a joke?

Qingxi had anticipated Xu’s disbelief and released his cultivation aura.

Sensing the profound force, nearly at the eleventh level of Qi Refinement, Steward Xu’s jaw dropped in shock.

After a long moment, he finally grasped a possibility and exclaimed, “Could it be that you are one of those rare geniuses with all twelve meridians open?”