Is This Still the Five Directions Realm?

Quarters Jia Twenty-Five. Feeling the surging power pulsing through his palms, Huang Tian crossed his hands and slowly dispersed his qi and blood. The crimson-gold dragon coiled upon his palm gradually faded away, its terrifying might dissolving into thin air. Yet even after it dissipated, the heat in the room remained sharply elevated; staying inside felt like being trapped within a boiling cauldron. *Thud—* Huang Tian opened the door, and a cool breeze rushed in at once. Outside, a long night had fallen; the moon was bright, the stars were sparse, and insects rustled in the grass. "I didn't expect it to take so long. It's late into the night again..." He stepped outside and drew a bucket of water. The brisk, cold water poured over his knotted muscles, glinting faintly beneath the moonlight. As he washed, he thought to himself, *With this breakthrough, my body can now hold spiritual qi and convert it into true qi—something only martial artists at the culmination of the third qi and blood transformation can accomplish.* *Moreover, my muscles, bones, skin, and membranes have already been tempered. Only my qi and blood strength falls slightly short of a seventh-rank martial artist, but the gap isn't large. By my estimate, if I take three Blood Condensation Pills every day, then ten days! In ten days, I'll be able to break through again and become a seventh-rank martial artist!* Yet over the past few days, he had completely consumed all the Blood Condensation Pills Xia Hong had gifted him. Furthermore, Xia Hong had taken men out to hunt down the vicious criminal and would not be returning anytime soon. *Still, that doesn't matter. Tomorrow, when I go to the drill ground and announce that I've broken through again to become an eighth-rank martial artist, it's bound to draw even greater attention. This time is different from the last.* *When I broke through to the ninth rank last time, some might have chalked it up to luck. But this time—breaking through to the eighth rank in ten days! Who could keep deceiving themselves? Besides, an eighth-rank martial artist carries far more weight than a ninth-rank one. I'm certain figures from higher up will reach out to me...* Xia Hong was a Battalion Commander of the Martial Restraint Guard, which certainly made him a figure of influence within the commandery, but the true heavyweights were the Martial Restraint Guard's three Pacification Commissioners! Every single one of them was a bona fide fourth-rank martial artist! "I wonder who I'll meet after announcing my breakthrough tomorrow..." Circulating his qi and blood, he instantly baked away the moisture lingering on his body, leaving himself clean and fresh. Returning inside, he tidied up casually before lying in bed for the first time in a long while. Listening to the rustling of insects and the gentle whisper of the breeze outside his window, beneath the hazy moonlight, he slept exceptionally soundly. ... ... Faint rays of dawn broke through the dense layer of clouds. Splendid rosy clouds spread from isolated patches until they carpeted the horizon. High winds blew, scattering the thick clouds as they drifted across the sky. A brilliant golden sun hung in the east, and a lone bird glided across Drill Ground Tian One of the Guard Academy, casting a fleeting shadow beneath the sunlight. On the drill ground, when Huang Tian arrived, almost everyone else had already gathered. Many of them crowded around Luo Chan, who was dressed in black martial attire, offering words of congratulation. "Congratulations! Ten years of practicing martial arts, and you've finally broken through to the eighth rank!" "Brother Luo, now that you've broken through, you'll soon be assigned an external posting. I wonder whether you'll stay in the commandery seat or be sent down to a county." "Why not grease some palms with silver or pills to see if you can stay in the commandery city? It's so prosperous here, with plenty of resources. If you build up merits, you might even catch the eye of the big figures. How could a county seat offer so many opportunities?" "Indeed, staying in the commandery city is much better. If Brother Luo becomes a Platoon Commander in one of the wards, those of us who fail to break through to the eighth rank might have to serve as squad commanders under you. Please look out for us when the time comes, Brother Luo..." "..." It was quite a lively scene. Surrounded by the crowd, Luo Chan smiled broadly and repeatedly cupped his fists to thank the martial students for their well-wishes. Suddenly, his sharp eyes caught Huang Tian walking onto the drill ground. He hastily excused himself to the others, strode briskly through the crowd, and came before Huang Tian. "Brother Huang, thank you for your guidance that day. I will never forget your great kindness!" Luo Chan bowed with an earnest expression; his sincerity was plain to see. "You already thanked me last time. There's no need to be so polite." Huang Tian took two steps forward and helped him up. Rising to his feet, Luo Chan laughed heartily. "Brother Huang is right! We martial artists ought to be bold and free-spirited, not bashful and reserved! Brother Huang, tomorrow happens to be the Guard Academy's rest day. I intend to host a banquet for our peers at the Crane Soaring Tower in Baoqing Ward. I'd be honored if Brother Huang could spare the time to attend." The city of Kunyun Commandery covered a vast expanse, comprising thirty wards. The long street where the Martial Restraint Guard and the Guard Academy stood belonged to Baoqing Ward. Huang Tian smiled faintly. "All right. I'll be there." Seeing Huang Tian agree, Luo Chan's smile grew even warmer. Just then, steady footsteps echoed, accompanied by a mellow, resonant voice: "What's going on? Why is it so lively today?" Everyone looked up to see that Head Instructor Liu Kuo had arrived. "Head Instructor, Luo Chan has broken through!" Yang Mo, who was closest with Luo Chan, immediately spoke up with a smile. "Yes! We were just congratulating Brother Luo!" "..." Hearing news of Luo Chan's breakthrough, Liu Kuo's eyes lit up. Striding over in a few paces, he asked in pleasant surprise, "You truly broke through?" Luo Chan extended his palm. Channeling force together with his qi and blood, a hazy, faint crimson aura emanated from his hand. "Good! Good!" Liu Kuo laughed heartily and patted Luo Chan on the shoulder. "Exceptionally well done!" After offering his praise, he looked over at Huang Tian, a hint of worry concealed deep in his eyes. As far as he knew, ever since Huang Tian received the token from Xia Hong, he had been running to the Book Pavilion every single day, neglecting to temper his qi and blood in the afternoons and casting his cultivation aside. This made him deeply anxious. He wanted to advise Huang Tian, yet feared being too harsh—both dampening the youth's drive and straining their rapport. *No, even if it displeases him, I must give him a word of advice later. No matter how many martial techniques you master, they can never match the solid foundation of a cultivation realm. If someone is a rank higher than you, what will you use to block a single strike from their palm? The strong crushing the weak is the supreme truth of the martial path...* His thoughts churning, he resolved that once today's session was dismissed, he would pull Huang Tian aside and have a serious talk with him. Right at that moment, Huang Tian suddenly spoke up, his tone as calm as ever: "Head Instructor, I have also broken through." As the words left his mouth, he followed Luo Chan's earlier demonstration, extending his hand and rousing his qi and blood. A faint crimson halo emerged from beneath his skin. "You... you broke through as well?!!" Liu Kuo's eyes bulged and his jaw dropped, freezing in sheer stupefaction. Beside him, Luo Chan was completely stunned, staring blankly at Huang Tian. It took a long time for Liu Kuo to close his mouth. His lips quivered and trembled as he stared at Huang Tian in disbelief. "Y-You... ten days... another ten days..." He couldn't even speak coherently, his mind clearly muddled in chaos. Taking several deep breaths, he looked at Huang Tian as if gazing upon a monster, while Luo Chan went so far as to slap himself across the face with moderate force. *This isn't a dream!* A clear sting of pain registered, filling Luo Chan with a profound sense of absurdity. Only now did it suddenly dawn on him why Huang Tian had smiled so strangely when he invited him to the celebratory banquet. *So he broke through too! Ten days—ten days to reach the ninth rank, and ten days to reach the eighth rank! Is he even human? Am I still in the Five Directions Realm?!!*