The Science of Cultivation [Xianxia]

Chapter 203: Breakthrough Testing Pt.3

A few months after a good portion of Li Lang’s students had reached the peak of Energy Gathering, adequate results were collected. With six of the dozen students actively taking part in the test, the sample size was no longer as pitiful.

This new round of testing was a lot more complicated than the previous rounds. Not only were there more participants, but there was also more content as well.

Wei Ping had returned from his travels, bringing back a technique said to be able to aid in a cultivator’s breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm. He naturally shared it with Li Lang.

The contents of the Qi art involved a technique that could allow the user to strike the target twice with one attack. A punch would hit the target and then, a few seconds later, another impact would occur at the same spot. It was called the Lingering Impact Technique for that reason.

While the contents of this Qi art were straightforward, analyzing how it could contribute to a breakthrough was not. The only thing Wei Ping knew was that many experts in the higher realms agreed learning this technique did indeed improve a cultivator’s chances of breaking through. However, he didn’t know exactly how.

When Li Lang learned about this Qi art, he quickly incorporated it into his experiments. It added a new variable to the equation, making it more difficult to identify what exactly helped, but he didn’t mind. There was time to figure all that out later. Instead, he prioritized getting his students into the next major realm by trying everything that seemed like it would help.

There was also another reason he so readily incorporated the Lingering Impact Technique. He believed the secret behind it was the missing piece in the puzzle. So far, his new Ascension Technique helped his students invoke a breakthrough by increasing the concentration of Qi in the dantian to a degree that triggered a qualitative change.

However, Xiao Dong had failed in all his breakthrough attempts. While this may not be uncommon, he always believed that there should be a way to increase the chances of overcoming that last hurdle if things like the Ascension Pill existed, allowing anyone to reach the next major realm. He surmised that while his students managed to start the breakthrough process, their ability to exert control of their Qi had fallen short.@@novelbin@@

Normally, one would remain stuck in the peak of Energy Gathering, training their Qi control until they could converge enough Qi by themselves. Unfortunately, the threshold to be able to do that was too difficult for those with only rank one aptitude. Using the Ascension Technique to bypass that didn’t change the fact that their strength of control over their Qi was lacking.

After learning about the Lingering Impact Technique, Li Lang believed that this Qi art could remedy that exact issue.

The technique involved compressing one’s Qi and maintaining control over it. When the practitioner struck a target, they would transfer over some compressed Qi. That compacted energy could then be erupted to create the second impact.

The act of compressing one’s Qi and maintaining control of it was exactly what was needed to finish the breakthrough process. The technique was a perfect tool to train this ability.

“I can’t b-believe all six of them managed to learn t-the Lingering Impact Technique already. I s-spent more than a year learning it,” Wei Ping muttered as he finished the last of his breakfast.

Sitting around the small table with him were Li Lang and Long Yi. They were overlooking a much larger table beside them, where all their students sat and ate.

“Only in training, though,” Li Lang replied. “I doubt they could use it in a combat situation like you can. It doesn’t qualify as truly having learned it.”

“Still, y-your Ascension Technique is amazing. It c-can even be used to help learn other techniques.”

“Well, that’s because it’s not much of a singular technique, but a collection of how your Qi flows in relation to specific sets of movements. They just used that as a basis to master what your Lingering Technique requires.”

Studying The Lingering Impact Technique, Li Lang found that it used surprisingly similar principles that he had been studying. It involved converging streams of Qi together to compress it, which was what his Ascension Technique was all about.

“Still, I’m surprised you managed to obtain this Qi art. I’ve been told techniques of this quality are usually a cultivator’s trump card or closed inheritances.”

“It t-took a lot of convincing from a certain senior b-before they agreed to teach me. Even then, t-they only showed me the basics.”

“Hey, is this Lingering Impact really that hard? I managed to learn it after a month,” Long Yi chimed in.

“It’s obviously just the first chapter of a more comprehensive technique. I think it is only challenging for Energy Gatherers, too. The skills required to use it should be similar to what one needs to succeed in their breakthrough. You having already accomplished that, naturally means it wouldn’t pose much of a challenge for you.”

“Hmm, where can I find this expert?” Long Yi turned to ask his masked friend. “I wouldn’t mind learning the other parts of it. It seems pretty useful in combat.”

Their chat continued throughout the morning before they all got back to work. With the focus now on practicing the Lingering Impact and Ascension Technique, everyone in the estate would gather in Li Lang’s room to cultivate after breakfast.

The three adults could oversee the tests while they cultivated themselves. They had been proceeding like this for months.

Today was yet another day where Xiao Dong and his companions would tackle the big bottleneck that separated true cultivators from mortals.

After training their Qi control for a few hours, they would then move on and consume a Foundation Pill to attempt a breakthrough. The frequent use of Foundation Pills could only be maintained thanks to Li Lang’s secret agreement with Nightmoon Valley.

As the premier organization in the entirety of the Luminescent Realm, Nightmoon Valley had small branches throughout every major city. That included Emberglow City. Previously, there was little to do there as Li Lang didn’t know anyone from that branch. Now that he had an official agreement with the organization, it was the place where he could stay in touch with his collaborators and reap the benefits of their deal.

He was supplied with these valuable pills whenever he wanted, but it wasn’t free. Only the first batch was. The subsequent pills required him to buy them, albeit at a discounted price compared to the open markets.

Thankfully, he had a healthy income from the constant printing of Warding Talismans. The Brushweaver Guild had even established a new deal with the Merchant Guild to supply them with his work. Selling thousands of talismans allowed him to barely keep up with the Foundation Pill expenses for half a dozen people. It made his growing wealth stagnate.

Like any other day, his students’ dantian began to glow shortly after they consumed the pill. They had begun practicing the specific movements catered to the layout of their meridians and started the breakthrough event.

It was quite a scene when six people tried to break through together. It prompted Li Lang to buy a barrier talisman to keep the building contained and avoid prying eyes.

One by one, the ordeal intensified for each student as they furrowed their brows. It was something that happened every few days. Just like always, the students who had stepped into the peak of Energy Gathering more recently failed first. They spewed out blood or slumped over powerlessly as Qi slowly leaked out of their body.

One of their fellow students would then come to take care of them, but today, everyone in the room suddenly froze. Although some time had passed since starting his breakthrough, Xiao Dong still hadn’t failed!

It drew everyone’s attention, as they usually only lasted an hour or two.

“Could it be that he’s actually going to succeed today?” Long Yi muttered.

His words caused even those focused on their training to snap out of it in order to observe the situation.

Just like with Long Yi’s ordeal, the breakthrough became more strenuous the longer it lasted. Xiao Dong’s robes were soaked, and he wore a painful expression. Only he knew what he was going through.

Long Yi had recounted his experiences before, but it didn’t make much sense. It was as if they were confronted with a dream that tested their mental resilience.

As everyone watched on with bated breath, sunset approached. It marked the start of the ambient Qi turning more turbulent as they swirled around Xiao Dong.

A few of the younger students yelped out in surprise, but it only caused the three adults in the room to get closer to the source of the disturbance. They knew this was the critical part, and they didn’t want to miss a thing!

By the time the sun fully set, a crashing noise could be heard, followed by a bright light. Li Lang quickly got the weaker students to distance themselves as Long Yi stepped forward protectively.

Before long, things settled and everyone in the room let out a gasp. That was because Xiao Dong had succeeded and stepped into the Foundation Establishment Realm!