Chapter 523 - 180: Seizing the Time, Full of Drive

Meeting Yang Jing’s stunned gaze, Sun Ningxiang smiled, her eyes curving into beautiful crescents. Her tone was gentle, yet carried an undertone that brooked no refusal. "A gift for you."

At her words, Yang Jing’s heart skipped a beat. He quickly stoppered the small porcelain bottle and handed it back to Sun Ningxiang, his expression solemn. "Senior Sister, this is too valuable. A single Bone Marrow Tempering Pill costs over fifteen thousand taels on the market. Six of them would be ninety thousand taels of silver. I can’t accept this."

Sun Ningxiang looked at the porcelain bottle Yang Jing was handing back, and her delicate brows furrowed slightly.

She didn’t reach out to take it. Instead, she extended her slender, pale fingers and gently pushed Yang Jing’s hand back. Her tone was serious. "Junior Brother, you know my situation. With my previous breakthrough experience, I’m confident I can reach the Force Transformation stage without the help of a Bone Marrow Tempering Pill. But I’m still a long way from breaking through to the Qi Eating Realm, so these Bone Marrow Tempering Pills are of no use to me right now."

Yang Jing still shook his head. The porcelain bottle felt heavy in his palm—not just from the weight of the elixirs, but from the weight of her kindness. He felt these six Bone Marrow Tempering Pills were far too valuable, and he would feel guilty accepting such a gift for nothing.

Seeing his reluctance, Sun Ningxiang continued, "Don’t overthink it. Father sent these six Bone Marrow Tempering Pills from Yuhe County. He said in his letter that he knew the two of us needed Cultivation Resources at the Xuanzhen Sect, so he sent these specifically for us. I don’t need them right now, so you should use them first. When I need them in the future, I’ll just ask you for them back."

Hearing this, Yang Jing’s resolve finally began to waver.

He was currently worried about his lack of Cultivation Resources, and the Bone Marrow Tempering Pills could drastically increase his training efficiency.

But the six Bone Marrow Tempering Pills were simply too valuable. He was still hesitant, unwilling to accept such a generous gift for nothing.

But Sun Ningxiang was especially insistent, her clear eyes fixed on him with a stubborn glint.

Resigned, Yang Jing had no choice but to tuck the porcelain bottle into his robes, sighing inwardly.

’Anyway, I’ve already borrowed plenty of silver coins from Senior Sister Ning Xiang. What’s the difference with these six Bone Marrow Tempering Pills?’

’When I have the means in the future, I must repay this kindness to my Senior Sister several times over.’

Yang Jing looked up, his gaze toward Sun Ningxiang full of gratitude as he said solemnly, "Senior Sister, I will remember this favor."

He truly did need the Bone Marrow Tempering Pills right now; this timely gift was a true godsend.

In truth, the moment he saw the six round, pearly-white Bone Marrow Tempering Pills in the porcelain bottle, he was first stunned, then his heart couldn’t help but be stirred.

He knew full well that if he wanted to make it to the very end of the Fushan Grand Competition, relying solely on his Indestructible True Skill and Mountain-Breaking Seal—both of which had reached the Qi Eating Realm—was far from enough.

Yang Jing reckoned that the three of them—Chu Yunhai, Bai Ziyu, and Lu Shaohua—were not famous for nothing. They had probably cultivated more than just one martial art to the Qi Eating Realm; their foundations ran very deep.

Moreover, they had broken through to the Qi Eating Realm earlier than he had. They had been immersed in this realm for a long time, and their cultivation was formidable. They were all basically at the Peak of Qi Eating Realm, just one step away from the Qi Absorption Realm.

As for Yang Jing, his two martial arts that had broken through to the Qi Eating Realm were still far from reaching the Peak of Qi Eating Realm.

Therefore, even though the body-tempering might of the Indestructible True Skill was tyrannical and the offensive power of the Mountain-Breaking Seal was overwhelmingly dominant, Yang Jing didn’t have much confidence he could defeat those three monstrously strong opponents: Chu Yunhai, Bai Ziyu, and Lu Shaohua.

However, if he could use the medicinal power of these six Bone Marrow Tempering Pills and the efficiency of the Training Room to also cultivate the River-Crossing Art to the Qi Eating Realm before the Fushan Grand Competition finals, then he would command Three True Skills that had reached the Qi Eating Realm. With his attack, defense, and speed all at an extremely high level, his strength would surely rise to a whole new tier. Only then would Yang Jing have real confidence in facing those three.

With only the Indestructible True Skill and the Mountain-Breaking Seal cultivated to the Qi Eating Realm, Yang Jing didn’t have much confidence in facing Chu Yunhai, Bai Ziyu, and Lu Shaohua.

But once he also refined the River-Crossing Art to the Qi Eating Realm, his Three True Skills would complement each other. Equipped with attack, defense, and speed, Yang Jing would have complete confidence to face any opponent in the Fushan Grand Competition.

No matter how talented or powerful Chu Yunhai, Bai Ziyu, and Lu Shaohua were, they were still under thirty years of age.

In the centuries-long history of the Xuanzhen Sect, anyone who could break through to the Qi Eating Realm at that age was already an undisputed genius.

To be able to cultivate two martial arts to the Qi Eating Realm made one a top-tier genius.

As for mastering three martial arts to the Qi Eating Realm, Yang Jing gently shook his head. The difficulty was simply too great. A genius like that, once they matured, was almost destined to become a high-ranking member of the Xuanzhen Sect, ranking among the seven Peak Masters.

There are no shortcuts in the cultivation of the Martial Dao. Every bit of progress requires an accumulation of time and resources. Even if Chu Yunhai and the others were exceptionally talented, without enough time for immersion and refinement, it would be impossible for them to have cultivated three martial arts to the Qi Eating Realm.

Just as Yang Jing was lost in thought, Sun Ningxiang slowly stood up and smiled at him. "Junior Brother, you still have the Fushan Grand Competition tomorrow. You should rest early and conserve your energy. I’ll be heading back now."

With that, Sun Ningxiang turned and walked toward the door.

Yang Jing quickly rose to see her off, walking Sun Ningxiang all the way to the entrance of Qing No. 4 Courtyard.

Before the courtyard gate, moonlight cascaded down, draping the world in a thin, ethereal veil.

Sun Ningxiang, who had been walking away, suddenly stopped. She spun around, her gaze burning as she looked at Yang Jing, who was still standing at the courtyard gate.