Chapter Thirty-One: Four Years of Harvest

When the two of them left, no one had told them that only those who had reached the innate level could be considered true disciples! That senior brother of theirs, in a rather offhand manner before descending the mountain, simply told them that from now on, they were official disciples of the sect. He said nothing more!

With such a casual attitude, the two of them assumed that becoming a true disciple was nothing special. As a result, neither of them took it very seriously. Even though Zhou Yi suspected there was more to being a true disciple, seeing his senior brother’s nonchalance, he let go of his concerns.

It was only now that he understood—being a true disciple was far from simple; it was a trap! He and his companion, both at the peak of the acquired stage, were now expected to shoulder responsibilities meant only for those who had attained the innate realm.

“It seems I can give up on the idea of earning any more energy points,” Zhou Yi reflected silently as he opened his attributes panel.

Name: Zhou Yi
Spirit: 5
Body: 33.32
Qi: 18,050
Number of cells: 9,999 (Second Transformation)
Energy: 999,900
Martial Art: Mountain Reliance Blade 99/100
Mountain Reliance Internal Method, Fifth Level (Green Mountain Realm) 80/100

His physical strength had reached thirty-three times its original state; his internal Qi was equivalent to more than 180 years of cultivated power, with each hundred points of Qi equaling a year of inner strength. His cells numbered 9,999, at the peak of the second transformation, and his energy neared a million.

Just as he had predicted, after his second cellular transformation, the cell count cap rose from 999 to 9,999, and each cell could now store up to 100 units of energy instead of ten. Yet now he found himself stuck.

By all accounts, his energy reserves fully met the requirements for a third cellular transformation. However, since each cell could now hold 100 units of energy, once he awakened the last cell, he would need to fill it entirely before the transformation was complete, which meant not only the energy to awaken the cell, but also to fill it—a total of 200 units.

Based on his prior calculations, every slash he delivered in the secret realm only generated one unit of energy, and the window for cellular transformation was one second. Unless he could slash two hundred times in a second, the third transformation was impossible.

He had already reached the pinnacle of the Mountain Reliance Blade technique three years ago: 99/100 proficiency, and that final point had held him back for over three years now. It seemed he would remain stuck for some time yet.

The preceding ninety-nine proficiency points could be augmented with energy, each requiring ten thousand points, but the final one remained obstinately unattainable, as if there were some hidden condition not yet met.

As for Spirit, despite four years of cultivation, Zhou Yi still had not found a way to raise it; it had only increased significantly during his second cellular transformation, reaching five.

Each level of the Mountain Reliance Internal Method could be improved by one hundred proficiency points, with energy points directly increasing these. This was why, relying on his talent, Zhou Yi had not only caught up with prodigies like Song Hai over the last four years but even surpassed them.

Now, his Mountain Reliance Internal Method had reached the fifth level, with eighty proficiency points; just twenty more and he would break through to the sixth level, the Blue Mountain Realm.

Each proficiency point at the fifth level required ten thousand energy points; twenty points thus meant two hundred thousand. But that was not the end. Breaking through in internal methods was like changing the vessel that held water—from a basin to a bucket—but to fill the bucket, more energy was still needed!

One hundred points of Qi equaled a year of inner strength. One thousand energy points provided one Qi; ten thousand energy points gave ten Qi; one hundred thousand provided one hundred Qi, or one year’s worth.

If he spent two hundred thousand energy to break through, he would have seventy-nine thousand left, enough to gain less than eight more years of inner strength. If he forewent the breakthrough and used all his energy for Qi, he would gain less than ten years, for a total of around 190 years—hardly a substantial increase, and not much of an advantage.

If a task could not be accomplished with 180 years of inner strength, 190 would make little difference.

Zhou Yi scratched his head, feeling a bit despondent. He admitted to himself that he was feeling vulnerable; faced with the inevitable appearance of innate-level enemies, he truly did not know where to find the confidence to face them.

Though his inner strength was profound, the gulf between the acquired and innate stages was vast. Without having fought such an opponent, who dared claim to be their equal?

What worried him most, though, was not himself, but Song Hai—after all, in terms of strength, Song Hai was somewhat inferior to him.

“Don’t worry. Since the two of us have accepted this box, we’re also accepting the trouble that comes with it. Whatever good or ill may follow, we brothers will shoulder it together. Rest assured,” Zhou Yi said with a smile, seeking to reassure the three big-bearded men who stood before him looking anxious.

Upon seeing Zhou Yi’s smile, the bearded man wanted to say, “In that case… why not…” but in the end, he said nothing. If this treasure remained in their own hands, their lives might not be immediately forfeit, but things would hardly go well for them. Being caught between factions was never easy.

If the treasure was instead held by these two, even if their strength was not as formidable as rumored, there would likely be no trouble. At worst, they could simply hand it over—who would dare reproach them?

After all, though it was unclear why these two had become true disciples with only acquired-level cultivation, it could at least be confirmed that they were indeed of the Mountain Reliance sect, and that alone was enough.

Regardless of others’ views, the item absolutely could not remain in their own hands, or the consequences would be dire.

Many thoughts flashed through his mind. The bearded man’s expression shifted from gloom to relief; after a long silence, he finally stood, bowed deeply to the two, clasped his fists in apology, and left with his two companions.

How many in this world can face life and death with perfect composure?

The bearded man had lost his nerve—or perhaps, the moment the thought crossed his mind, he had already surrendered.

Zhou Yi sat straight-backed, watching the three leave with calm eyes. He did not stop them, nor did he say more.

By rights, having been given such a precious treasure by the three, he should have been grateful. But if the treasure brought with it nothing but trouble—grave trouble at that—then gratitude was another matter entirely.

“Hai, innate-level enemies, you know! And not just one. Are you afraid?” Zhou Yi asked after a while, his head still turned away.

“Afraid?” Song Hai laughed. What was there to fear? He had mastered the Mountain Reliance Blade, his technique was formidable—three months to split the waves, a year to cleave the sea, more than two years to part the mountains. What others had achieved, he might not, but what he had achieved, others might not either.

There was no essential difference except in realm. But was the gap in realm truly insurmountable?

Song Hai, for one, did not believe so.