Yi Fan reached the place where the Sanguine Society's mining area was situated. He saw so many disciples gathering one by one in that place. The air smelled of dust and oil from the mine. The ground was hard beneath his feet. Around him voices mixed into a low murmur as more people arrived.
Hours later, when all the disciples were gathered, an elder of the High Heaven Pavilion shouted, "Silence! Silence, everyone!" He had a black beard and long hair, and he looked a bit old. His voice carried clearly over the crowd. He wore the pavilion's dark robe and stood with both hands folded before him.
He then said, "The Caves of Legacies have been a long-sought myth across the whole Great Han dynasty. Not a single one of these has appeared in a thousand years!
There may be miracle pills, martial cultivation methods, secret arts, heavenly treasures of all sorts, but more importantly, the legacy left behind by the original owner of the cave. However, there was an age limit of less than thirty years and a cultivation limit of Nascent Soul Realm.
Other than that, Only those who had reached the Initial stage would be allowed to enter this trial. If you lacked the requirement, you were dismissed!"
Those words made Yi Fan worry. He thought, "My cultivation was only at Body Tempering seventh stage. That meant he did not fulfill the requirements. Then how would I enter the cave?" His thinking grew heavy. He looked at the other disciples. Many of them were stronger. His heart beat faster.
But some moments later the elder's next words eased his anxiety. The elder said, "You're dismissed for now. Find a place to rest, and we'll call you when the time comes!" The elder's words gave a small hope in Yi Fan's chest. He thought, I have some hours to prepare. Should I ask my new master so that he will help me?
For a few breaths he almost decided to ask. Then he dropped the thought. He thought, "No. I must find another way. My master is my last trump card."
Suddenly, when he looked at the sun, he remembered something. The sun hung high and bright. He thought, "Breakthrough to Initial stage will be possible if I successfully master the first layer of the Scorching Meridians technique and unlock its second layer."
Yi Fan found an empty place where sunlight was bright and there was no shadow in the nearest area. He sat cross-legged and told himself, If I fail to maintain it then my meridians can be damaged. But I have to do it.
He started gathering Solar Yuan Qi from the sun and circulated it through his dantian. The warmth slowly spread through his meridians, burning away impurities and beginning to forge resistance to heat. Sweat rolled down his temples. Each breath felt hotter than the last.
Some time later he vomited blood from his mouth in backlash. He thought, Solar energy is not something I can play with. But he did not stop. He tried again and again, forcing himself back to the sun's energy. Pain bit through his skin. He clenched his teeth and endured until he finally mastered the first layer.
After several hours it was already time for the disciples to enter the Cave of Heaven. At that moment Yi Fan was still cultivating. He was in full focus. In those few hours he rose from Body Tempering seventh stage to Body Tempering ninth stage. He had also completed the first layer of the Scorching Meridians.
Then the system panel appeared before him.
[Congratulations Host. You successfully mastered the 1st layer of Scorching Meridians technique and unlocked its second layer.]
[2nd layer
Burning Veins
Guide Solar Qi directly through all meridians. Each channel experienced pain as the Qi refined flesh and blood, forcing adaptation.
Effect: Greatly increased heat resistance; internal Qi flow became faster and more forceful.
Special effect: When first used it will help to breakthrough Initial stage.
Visible Sign: Veins glow faintly red under the skin during cultivation.]
A small smile came to Yi Fan's face. He began practicing the second layer immediately.
He read the panel quickly and then started training the second layer. In the beginning his inner Yuan Qi rose ten times more than before. He felt intense pain, but it was not as severe as his first body refining. The burning moved through him like a living thing. He forced his mind to steady. Sweat soaked his robes, but his hands did not tremble.
Yi Fan successfully broke through to the Initial stage. He had not yet fully mastered the second layer, but his cultivation had increased by a realm.
At that time another system panel opened and gave him more information.
[Congratulations Host on breaking through to Initial stage. From now on another system function opened.
Host can break through a small realm by two ways:
*Cultivating by Scorching Meridians technique.
*Host will get breakthrough points by completing missions, which can be used for breakthrough directly.
Note: Host can't break through from one stage peak to another stage by using breakthrough points. For that type of breakthrough host must cultivate himself. Breakthrough points can be used for breakthroughs later within a stage.]
Yi Fan read this and then headed toward the secret realm. When he arrived he found that almost all the other disciples had already entered.
He thought, Oh, I was a bit late.
The elder of the High Heaven Pavilion looked at him and said, "It seems you are late, but I can see you broke through to Initial stage recently. If you want, you can enter the secret realm."
Yi Fan bowed and thanked the elder. Then he jumped into the cave.
Inside the cave Yi Fan found himself in an open land. There was nothing at first glance. Seeing this place, his eyes filled with shock as if he recognized it. Yi Fan murmured, "Am I really here? I didn't think I would teleport to this place. This is an ancient cultivator inheritance ground. It is called 'The Field of Emptiness.'" The place was so silent that no one could hear their own voice there. Even his own breathing seemed small.
There was only one way to get out of here: find its creator's special technique. This place did not exist in the novel I had read, but it existed in the game I had once played. To come here, there had been only one method — teleport directly into it."
He began walking across the plain. The land was full of purple grass. The grass bent and bowed in one direction, as if it were following a hidden wind. Yi Fan did not walk randomly. He carefully followed the pattern of the purple grass. The grass was not simple. All of them bowed in one direction. That was the direction he had to go.
In that wide space the bowed grass was the only clue. No stones, no markings — only the grass showed the way. Yi Fan's eyes shone with determination.
He remembered finding this inheritance while he had been in the game. Unfortunately, the technique he had chosen then had not been good. He had picked a defensive martial art, while the person who had left this place had a true path of the sword. He tightened his grip on his will and walked on, following the silent, purple tide until the next sign revealed itself.