Chapter 285 - 40: Heart Inquiry Knot

Chapter 285: Chapter 40: Heart Inquiry Knot

As a result, Chen Ye’s demeanor had changed dramatically. His usual composure was now tinged with a keen edge, like that of an unsheathed blade.

One day, Chen Ye, who was in his Quiet Chamber, slowly opened his eyes.

He exhaled a turbid breath, which surprisingly condensed in the air instead of dispersing. It formed a small, blade-like shape that hovered for a moment before slowly dissipating.

Then, Chen Ye opened the system panel, which he hadn’t checked in a long time.

[Name: Chen Ye]

[Cultivation Realm: Sea Condensation (Peak)]

[Profession: Hundred Tribulations Blade Master Level 3 (Your understanding of the blade has surpassed the realm of technique and has begun to touch the very source of the Dao. You no longer see simple strikes, but the inherent tribulation within all things. The goal of your blade is no longer to sever, but to detonate this innate tribulation.)]

[Talent: Tribulation Eye—Your eyes can see the flow of Energy and perceive the Tribulation Lines entwined around all things. A Tribulation Line is an object’s most fundamental weakness. Once touched by the edge of your blade, it will trigger a chain reaction of collapse that defies all logic.]

[Dharma Gate: Star River Qi Refining Technique Level 8, Golden Toad Qi Swallowing Technique Level 5]

[Martial Arts: Thorn Blade Technique Level 9]

In three years, the Levels of his various Skills had progressed significantly.

His Hundred Tribulations Blade Master Profession reached Level 3, giving him much more masterful control over his Tribulation Eye.

His Star River Qi Refining Technique had risen several levels to Level 8, allowing him to absorb the Power of the Stars several times faster than two years ago.

The greatest change, however, was in his Thorn Blade Technique. Through countless life-and-death battles, he had honed this Saber Technique, which focused on ultimate defense-breaking, to Level 9, just one step shy of Max Level.

Though he was still in the Sea Condensation Realm, his true combat prowess was now enough to contend with an Inner Realm Cultivator.

"How do you feel?" Yuan Lan’s voice came from outside the Quiet Chamber.

Chen Ye rose and walked out of the Quiet Chamber, bowing respectfully to the imposing figure beyond the waterfall.

"Better than ever," Chen Ye said, his voice brimming with confidence. "I feel like I could break through that final barrier at any moment."

He could clearly feel that the True Essence in his Dantian Qi Sea had been refined to its absolute limit. That star-like Qi Sea was vast and boundless, containing more than ten times the power it had two years ago.

Chen Ye had a strong premonition that with the right catalyst, he could induce a qualitative change in his Qi Sea and manifest his own Inner World.

However, when Yuan Lan heard this, he simply shook his head.

"No, you’re still far from ready."

"Far from ready?"

Chen Ye was stunned, not quite understanding Yuan Lan’s meaning.

"Your foundation is indeed incredibly solid. In terms of the abundance and purity of your True Essence, you’ve even surpassed many Inner Realm Cultivators," Yuan Lan’s calm voice drifted from beyond the waterfall. "But that is merely on the level of technique."

"The transition from the Sea Condensation to the Inner Realm isn’t a simple accumulation of power. It’s a qualitative leap in one’s very existence, a sublimation of the Dao."

"What you need to do is not make your Qi Sea larger, but allow your heart to resonate with the world. Only then can you manifest an Inner Scenery of your own within your Dantian Qi Sea."

"And right now, your heart is not yet calm enough, not yet pure enough."

Yuan Lan’s words were like a pail of cold water dumped over Chen Ye’s head.

’My heart isn’t calm enough?’

Chen Ye frowned. He had thought that after two years of arduous cultivation in the mountains, his mind had been tempered until it was as still as a deep well.

But what happened next only served to prove Yuan Lan right.

From that day forward, Chen Ye discovered he had hit a bottleneck—one unlike any he had ever encountered before.

He sat cross-legged in meditation, attempting to assault the formless barrier. But every time he focused his spirit to its absolute limit, stray thoughts would inexplicably surface in his mind, causing his efforts to fall short at the final moment.

His Cultivation was stuck fast at the Peak of the Sea Condensation Realm, as if blocked by an invisible wall, completely unable to advance.

’How can this be?’

This feeling of power he couldn’t wield was driving Chen Ye mad. He could sense the gate to the Inner Realm was right in front of him, close enough to touch, but no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn’t push it open.

He became agitated and even short-tempered.

Once, a foolish mountain snake wandered into the area where he was cultivating. Normally, Chen Ye would have just shooed it away, but on that day, he was utterly enraged. With a single slash of Sword Qi, he cleaved the snake in two.

As the fresh blood splattered onto his face, Chen Ye was jolted back to his senses.

He looked at his hands, a chill rising in his heart.

’What is wrong with me? How could I have been driven to kill over such a trivial thing?’

This was no longer a simple bottleneck. There was a problem with his state of mind. If this continued, he was in danger of succumbing to Qi deviation.

He recalled something Shan had once told him.

Experienced old Hunters, if they felt restless or uneasy before a hunt, would never enter the mountains. They would put down their bows, have a good drink, and get a long sleep. Only after the wicked fire in their hearts had subsided would they set out again.

’Perhaps I should also stop and take some time to think.’

Having made his decision, Chen Ye left the Quiet Chamber behind the waterfall and went once more to the Immortal Cave.

"You’ve come."

Yuan Lan’s calm voice rang out, as if he had been expecting him.

Chen Ye walked into the cave and looked at the figure floating in mid-air, a bitter smile on his face.

"I’ve run into some trouble."

"I have seen," Yuan Lan nodded. "Your heart is in turmoil."

"I don’t know why this is happening," Chen Ye said, dejected. "I truly felt I was ready, but I just can’t break through. The more I rush, the more chaotic my mind becomes."