The quiet of Lin Yuan's courtyard was only broken by the soft whisper of leaves in the wind. He stood beneath the ancient pine, a simple wooden sword in his hand, his gaze focused and steady. Each swing of the sword felt like a ritual, the blade cutting through the air with a purpose. But this was not just ordinary sword practice—each movement carried a deeper meaning, the flow of energy subtly infused with the Whispering Flame technique, which Lin Yuan had learned to harness with precision.
Though his swordsmanship was becoming increasingly refined, his true focus lay elsewhere—his cultivation. He had reached Qi Condensation Level 9, but unlike many others, he felt no limitations in his path. It wasn't the typical bottleneck that stopped his progression. Instead, Lin Yuan's connection to his Orb had deepened, and it continuously absorbed the surrounding energies, unlocking his potential without restriction.
"Almost there," Lin Yuan muttered under his breath, his focus unwavering as he completed another series of sword strikes, his body moving with fluid grace. His wooden sword seemed to hum with the spiritual energy he channeled through it. With each strike, he could feel his cultivation growing, the Orb feeding him with more energy.
> [ORB INTERFACE ACTIVATED]
— Environmental Absorption Continuous
— Accumulating Pure Essence Energy
— Refinement Progress: 70%
Lin Yuan's fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword as he felt the pulse of energy surge through him. It wasn't just about swordsmanship today—he was here to break his limits. He could feel his cultivation advancing further, layer by layer, and it was time to take the final step.
The Orb within him pulsed in response, sending waves of energy throughout his body. The natural spiritual energy around him seemed to respond to the Orb's call, intensifying as if drawn toward him. The air itself rippled as Lin Yuan's cultivation reached a critical point.
> [ORB INTERFACE]
— Energy Absorbed: +60
— Realm Elevated: Qi Condensation (Level 10)
Lin Yuan's cultivation breakthrough was swift and smooth, the spiritual essence from the surrounding environment flooding into his body, seamlessly merging with his dantian. His meridians expanded, and his Qi sea grew larger, brimming with spiritual energy. A low hum resonated within him, signaling the successful completion of his breakthrough.
But as the usual barriers of Qi Condensation Level 10 faded, Lin Yuan could feel something strange. It was subtle but undeniable—his progress wasn't like that of any ordinary cultivator. Where others would have remained at the pinnacle of Qi Condensation, still bound by the laws of cultivation, Lin Yuan had transcended it. His energy didn't just stop at the peak—it continued to expand, his dantian glowing brighter as it absorbed and refined more than what seemed possible.
The Orb pulsated gently in his body, continuing to feed off the surrounding energy, but now it wasn't just about absorbing—it was about something far more profound. He could feel the very core of his being change, as though a door had opened, one that others couldn't even see.
> [ORB INTERFACE]
— Energy Absorbed: +40
— Unique Progress Detected
— Unconventional Cultivation Pathway Detected
— Realm: Beyond Qi Condensation (Unique Advancement)
The system's interface displayed a new message, one that Lin Yuan had never seen before. It was not a warning, but an anomaly—a hint of a cultivation pathway that had never been walked by anyone else in his world. His breakthrough had not followed the typical route that cultivators would take to advance to the Foundation Establishment Stage. Instead, he had created a new path, one that was entirely his own.
But this was not a time to celebrate. Lin Yuan's mind sharpened, his focus intensifying as he quickly subdued his rising energy. The fact that his cultivation was progressing so uniquely was a double-edged sword. While it was a great advantage, it also made him stand out—something he was desperately trying to avoid.
A sudden rustle from the trees snapped him back to reality, and his senses immediately became alert. He turned his head, and there, stepping from the mist, was none other than Xia Zhi. Her cold, detached gaze locked onto him as she stepped forward with purpose, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Lin Yuan, you've been hiding something, haven't you?" Her voice was smooth but carried an underlying sharpness, like a blade just waiting to cut through the quiet air.
Lin Yuan didn't flinch. His expression remained calm, though inwardly he was more alert than ever. Xia Zhi was no ordinary disciple—she was perceptive and quick to notice things others would miss. But Lin Yuan had learned how to remain inconspicuous. Still, he didn't want to outright lie to her.
"I've just been practicing," he replied, his voice steady. "The techniques I've been refining are not of much significance."
Xia Zhi's gaze softened slightly, but she remained silent for a moment. She seemed to study him, as if trying to decipher the truth in his words. "You're hiding something," she murmured, more to herself than to Lin Yuan. "I can sense it—the fluctuations in spiritual energy that shouldn't be here. Something's different about you."
Lin Yuan maintained his calm demeanor. "The fluctuations could simply be from the formations I've been practicing. It's nothing to worry about, Senior Sister."
Xia Zhi didn't reply immediately. Her gaze lingered on him for a long while, as if weighing his words carefully. Then, without another word, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the mist as silently as she had appeared.
Lin Yuan let out a quiet breath, his muscles relaxing as he watched her leave. There was no need to make an enemy of her just yet. He couldn't afford to be careless. Xia Zhi might not know exactly what he had done, but she was observant enough to pick up on his unusual behavior. The last thing he needed was for someone to suspect him, especially someone like her.
With the encounter over, Lin Yuan returned to his training. But today, something had changed. He could feel it deep within his core—his cultivation had reached a new level. He wasn't just a normal disciple anymore; he had surpassed the limits of ordinary cultivation.
The Orb pulsed again, and Lin Yuan allowed it to absorb the surrounding energies, refining his body and soul further.
> [ORB INTERFACE]
— Energy Absorbed: +50
— Realm Elevated: Qi Condensation (Level 10, Peak)
— Unique Cultivation Pathway Activated: Unseen Potential Rising
Lin Yuan's Qi surged with new intensity. He had reached the peak of Qi Condensation, but this was not where his journey would end. In fact, it was only the beginning. He could sense the faint boundary between this stage and the next—something beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators. It was the next level that no one in the sect had ever reached—something that would take him far beyond the boundaries of Qi Condensation.
"Not yet," Lin Yuan murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. He wasn't ready to reveal his true potential. Not yet. Not until he could control every aspect of his power.
And so, as the days passed, Lin Yuan continued to cultivate in silence, refining his swordsmanship and formation techniques. In secret, he prepared himself for the inevitable moment when his cultivation would transcend all boundaries.