Chapter 20

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Chapter 20: Stepping Into Innateness

Yi Qianmo made his way into the Spirit Room. Inside, he found an array of medicinal herbs—ingredients essential for crafting Qi Nourishing Pills. After some thought, he carefully selected a few and moved on to explore other rooms in the cave.

However, his exploration yielded little excitement. Both the scripture pavilion and treasure room were disappointingly empty. Feeling let down, he returned to the Pill Room.

The sight of the roaring furnace drew his attention. Yi Qianmo placed the herbs he had gathered into the Pill Furnace, activating the flames with his inner energy to start the melting process.

Half an hour later, he adjusted the temperature of the furnace to its original state and left the room. Then, he retrieved a bottle of Qi Nourishing Pills from the Spirit Room. Pouring out one pill, he swallowed it without hesitation.

The pill dissolved instantly, unleashing a surge of medicinal energy within his body. Yi Qianmo quickly channeled this energy through his meridians with his inner energy.

After two complete cycles, the energy reached his dantian. His inner energy solidified into true energy, and in a moment of profound transformation, he broke through from the peak of the acquired stage into the innate realm.

Yet, the pill’s potency had not been exhausted. The circulating energy continued to flow, expanding his meridians and strengthening his body. The flames of his deep Nine Yang True Qi refined his very essence.

In less than thirty minutes, Yi Qianmo ascended from the early innate stage to the mid innate stage, finally stabilizing at the late innate stage.

If anyone from Green Cloud City had witnessed this miraculous transformation, they would have been utterly astounded. Achieving such a leap in cultivation with a single pill was unheard of, especially when many so-called geniuses never reached the innate stage in their lifetimes.

“The power of this fairy medicine is extraordinary!” Yi Qianmo muttered, marveling at the pills in his possession.

He counted his treasure: forty lower-grade Qi Nourishing Pills, thirty middle-grade pills, and ten top-grade pills.

With excitement, he calculated the potential these pills held. A single lower-grade Qi Nourishing Pill could help an acquired martial artist ascend to the innate stage, while half of such a pill could elevate a first-class martial artist to the acquired stage.

Yi Qianmo’s eyes lit up. “With these pills, the Yi family could produce dozens of innate experts.”

After stabilizing his cultivation, he returned to the Pill Room, ensuring the furnace’s fire continued burning without any mishap. Then, he left the cave.

The Battle with the Green Back Bear

By the time Yi Qianmo exited the valley, dawn had broken. He erased his tracks and moved swiftly toward the valley’s entrance.

A thunderous roar echoed through the air.

The Green Back Bear spotted him and charged. Its massive frame hurtled forward, exuding a terrifying presence.

This time, Yi Qianmo stood his ground. Drawing his black sword, he dashed toward the bear.

The clash was fierce. The bear’s powerful paws collided with his blade, each strike resonating like metal on metal. Despite his newfound strength at the late innate stage, the bear’s ferocity made his hands tingle from the impact.

“A strange beast is still a strange beast,” Yi Qianmo muttered under his breath. “But today, your end has come!”

Channeling his energy into the black sword, he struck again. The blade emitted a faint glow, searing the bear’s hide upon contact. Yet, its thick skin and dense flesh withstood his attacks.

After a grueling exchange, the bear began to falter. Sensing its exhaustion, Yi Qianmo seized the opportunity. With a decisive thrust, his blade pierced the creature’s chest.

The Green Back Bear roared in agony, its massive body collapsing. Moments later, it ceased to breathe.

Yi Qianmo exhaled deeply, his grip on the black sword steady. As he prepared to withdraw the blade from the bear’s chest, an eerie phenomenon unfolded.

The sword glowed a faint red, and the bear’s body began to wither. Flesh, muscle, and blood seemed to drain away, leaving behind only dry skin and brittle bones.

Yi Qianmo stared in shock. The once-majestic beast now appeared as if it had been dead for decades.

“What is this?” he murmured, examining the black sword.

It looked unassuming, yet it had just consumed the vital essence of a mighty beast.

“Could this be a magical treasure?”

Yi Qianmo attempted to channel his energy into the sword, but it remained unresponsive. Puzzled, he recalled its earlier behavior.

“The sword only absorbed the bear’s essence after piercing its chest,” he speculated. “Could it be that this sword feeds on the vital blood of beasts with demonic lineage?”

He sheathed the sword, deep in thought. If his guess was correct, the black sword might hold even greater potential.

Clearing the area of any evidence, Yi Qianmo hefted the bear’s remains and began his journey back to Green Cloud City.

A Family Secret

By the next afternoon, Yi Qianmo arrived at his room in Green Cloud City.

A knock at the door interrupted his brief rest. He opened it to find his uncle, Yi Tianyang.

“Qianmo, get ready,” Yi Tianyang urged. “I’m taking you somewhere important.”

“Where are we going?” Yi Qianmo asked, confused.

“To the Yi Family Ancestral Land,” his uncle replied. “Your grandfather has decided you will lead the family, and there’s something you must know.”

Yi Qianmo studied his uncle’s expression and quickly saw through him. “Uncle, you’re lying. You want to take me away, don’t you?”

Yi Tianyang faltered, avoiding his nephew’s piercing gaze. After a pause, he admitted, “The Huang family and the Lei family have joined forces. If we flee now, we can preserve our lineage. Otherwise—”

“No need to say more,” Yi Qianmo interrupted. “I won’t go.”

His voice was firm, resolute. “Where is Grandpa? I want to see him. Also, gather all the top masters of the clan. We fight, not flee.”