The morning sun slowly rose above Cloud Mist Market.
Within the Jia Region, a quiet courtyard sat nestled among spirit trees and flowing streams, spiritual qi drifting through the air while birds occasionally chirped from nearby branches.
Standing within the center of the courtyard was Lin Yan.
Her eyes remained closed as she maintained a cultivation posture, strands of faint purple-gold light descending from the horizon and entering her body little by little. The moment the first rays of sunrise appeared each morning was often considered the purest period between night and day, a brief moment where special energies existed before disappearing completely.
One of those energies was Purple Morning Sun Qi.
A precious spiritual energy sought after by countless cultivators.
As the purple strands entered her body, they traveled through specific meridians before eventually gathering within her Upper Dantian, accumulating little by little over time.
The process continued for nearly half an hour before Lin Yan finally opened her eyes.
A faint purple glow flashed within them before disappearing.
Exhaling slowly, she revealed a satisfied expression.
Although her cultivation remained at Foundation Establishment Mid Stage, her accumulation had already surpassed most cultivators of the same realm.
After all, ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivation methods only allowed users to condense around one hundred and fifty drops of liquid magic power before reaching their limits.
The cultivation method she practiced was different.
Far different.
Its origins were mysterious.
Years ago, while exploring a cave ruin during one of her missions, she had accidentally discovered an inheritance left behind by an unknown predecessor.
Within that inheritance was a cultivation method capable of condensing nearly two hundred and fifty drops of liquid magic power.
Not only that—
The manual contained special secret arts.
Secret arts designed specifically to prepare cultivators for future breakthroughs.
The Purple Morning Sun Qi she absorbed each day wasn't meant to strengthen her current realm.
Instead—
It was preparation.
Preparation for the Purple Palace Realm.
When the time came for her breakthrough, the accumulated Purple Morning Sun Qi would erupt within her Upper Dantian and assist her in opening her Purple Palace.
Such methods were incredibly valuable.
After all, major realm breakthroughs were always the most dangerous obstacles on the cultivation path.
Anything capable of increasing success rates was considered priceless.
Most such techniques had long since been monopolized by major sects and powerful families.
Rarely did they appear in the outside world anymore.
Even now, Lin Yan had never revealed this cultivation method to anyone.
Not because she distrusted her family.
But because she understood human nature.
If news of the technique spread, countless people would become interested.
Perhaps even the Lin Family itself.
Some things were better kept secret.
A cultivator's greatest trump cards should remain hidden until absolutely necessary.
After all—
The cultivation world was never as peaceful as it appeared.
---
Meanwhile.
Several days had already passed since Bai Ling's appointment as the temporary Guardian of Phoenix Ridge Market.
Throughout the Training Center, cultivation enthusiasm had reached unprecedented heights.
One breakthrough after another appeared among the trainees.
Many hoped to follow Bai Ling's example and step into the Xuan Gang Realm.
Within Lin Sheng's group, progress had also been remarkable.
After months of cultivation, everyone had finally succeeded in opening the Tenth Acupoint.
The hidden acupoint.
The first of the three hidden acupoints.
Reaching this stage meant they had already surpassed the majority of ordinary Innate martial artists.
Among them, Lin Shou's progress was undoubtedly the fastest.
Possessing a Yang Body naturally made him extremely compatible with his cultivation method while the purity of his True Essence far exceeded ordinary martial artists.
As a result, the process of opening hidden acupoints appeared considerably smoother for him.
Lin Xiaolu had also entered seclusion.
Since comprehending her Ice Sword Momentum, her cultivation speed had increased noticeably. Most of her time was currently spent cultivating the Ice True Essence Method, attempting to push it toward Minor Achievement.
As for Zhao Feng—
The group saw him less and less.
Ever since Bai Ling's banquet, he seemed to have become unusually busy.
No one needed to ask why.
The satisfied grin on his face whenever he returned explained everything.
Even Lou Han occasionally shook his head when discussing Zhao Feng.
Some people cultivated.
Some people trained.
Some people chased women.
Zhao Feng somehow managed to do all three simultaneously.
Lin Sheng occasionally wondered whether that required its own special talent.
---
At this moment.
Inside his immortal abode.
Countless formation flags were arranged throughout the room.
Some emitted faint spiritual fluctuations.
Others were covered in complex runes.
Several sheets of parchment filled with calculations and diagrams lay scattered across nearby tables.
Lin Sheng sat cross-legged at the center.
His eyes continuously moved across various notes while countless streams of information flowed through the Chip.
Over the past few days, he had temporarily shifted his attention away from cultivation.
Instead—
He was studying formations.
More specifically.
A formation capable of concealing his breakthrough phenomenon.
The upcoming Xuan Gang breakthrough was too important.
More importantly—
His foundation was too terrifying.
If he broke through normally, the resulting phenomenon would immediately attract attention.
The last thing he wanted was becoming the center of discussion throughout Cloud Mist Market.
Thus—
He needed a solution.
A way to display enough talent to remain reasonable while simultaneously hiding his true foundation.
To achieve that goal, Lin Sheng had begun researching the differences between martial arts and immortal cultivation.
The more he studied—
The more fascinating the results became.
The first major difference involved the nature of energy itself.
Magic Power.
True Qi.
Although both originated from Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, they behaved completely differently.
According to his current theories, Magic Power possessed an inherently active nature.
One possible reason was spiritual roots.
Spiritual roots weren't merely cultivation talents.
From the Chip's observations, they behaved almost like specialized living cells.
Each possessed unique characteristics yet simultaneously functioned as part of a greater whole.
This resulted in Magic Power becoming lively and responsive.
Because of this activity, cultivators could easily resonate with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.
Spells.
Talismans.
Formations.
Artifacts.
Runes.
All required active energy.
The moment Magic Power entered them, they awakened and responded.
Like sleeping creatures being roused from slumber.
True Qi was different.
Completely different.
Martial artists refined spiritual qi through their bodies.
Their True Qi became increasingly condensed and pure.
Yet unlike Magic Power—
It remained inert.
Calm.
Heavy.
Difficult to influence externally.
This was why martial artists struggled to use talismans, artifacts and formations.
Their energy simply lacked the necessary activity.
However—
The inert nature of True Qi also provided advantages.
When Magic Power entered an opponent's body, it could usually be removed relatively easily.
True Qi was another matter entirely.
Once it invaded an enemy's meridians, removing it became significantly harder.
Especially if the invading martial artist possessed stronger cultivation.
This was one reason martial artists often possessed frightening combat capabilities against cultivators of equivalent realms.
The second major difference involved where energy was stored.
Immortal cultivators primarily focused on the Lower Dantian before gradually connecting it to the Middle and Upper Dantians.
Throughout this process, Magic Power continuously interacted with the spirit.
This constant interaction likely contributed to its active nature.
Martial artists were different. It starts with internal energy from the lower dantian to the meridians.
Then True Qi is born in the middle dantian within the body. Then it's sent into the Meridians and Acupoints.
Very little interaction occurred with the Upper Dantian.
At least—
Until the Xuan Gang Realm.
The moment this realization appeared, Lin Sheng's eyes brightened.
The Chip immediately highlighted several possibilities.
Xuan Gang.
Protective Aura.
Divine Sense Resistance.
Artifact Usage.
Flight.
Many seemingly unrelated phenomena suddenly began connecting together.
Why was Protective Aura permanently active?
Why could Xuan Gang experts finally use talismans and formations more effectively?
Why did their abilities seem partially similar to cultivators?
The answer appeared increasingly obvious.
Because the breakthrough connected True Essence with the brain.
The spirit.
The Upper Dantian.
For the first time, martial energy would directly interact with consciousness.
The result was Gang Qi.
A higher form of power.
A power existing somewhere between ordinary True Qi and Magic Power.
Perhaps—
This was why Xuan Gang experts could finally utilize certain cultivator tools.
Although not as efficiently as Foundation Establishment cultivators.
The thought continued expanding.
Then another possibility appeared.
Astral Gang.
If Xuan Gang represented initial contact with the spirit—
Then Astral Gang might represent complete integration.
If so—
Astral Gang experts might eventually use talismans, formations and artifacts almost as smoothly as immortal cultivators.
The more Lin Sheng analyzed the matter, the more excited he became.
Because for the first time—
He wasn't merely cultivating.
He was uncovering principles.
Fundamental truths regarding the two cultivation systems.
---
Several hours later.
The Chip finally completed another round of calculations.
A notification appeared.
[Formation Model Complete.]
[Estimated Suppression Rate: 83.6%]
Lin Sheng immediately reviewed the results.
The formation wouldn't suppress his actual foundation.
That would be impossible.
Instead—
It would interfere with the visible phenomenon generated during breakthrough.
Specifically—
The Gang Qi projection.
Normally, the height of the Gang Qi pillar reflected a martial artist's foundation.
Lin Sheng had no intention of revealing his true limit.
Thus, the formation would distort the phenomenon and cap the displayed height.
Not ten zhang.
Almost ten zhang.
That difference was important.
A ten-zhang breakthrough was already considered monstrous.
Anything higher would attract excessive attention.
Nearly ten zhang, however, remained explainable.
A talented trainee.
Excellent scripture proficiency.
Strong accumulation.
All reasonable explanations.
No one would suspect anything unusual.
Most importantly—
The formation wouldn't weaken his actual breakthrough.
Only the visible display.
Thinking this far, Lin Sheng finally revealed a smile.
The path ahead was becoming increasingly clear.
Everything was slowly falling into place.
Now—
All that remained was the final step.