Twenty-four days remained.
The outer sect was louder than usual.
Word of Lin Xuan pushing Zhao Liang back had spread faster than wildfire in dry grass. Outer disciples who once ignored him now looked twice. Some with curiosity. Some with hostility.
In cultivation, rapid growth attracted attention.
And attention was dangerous.
Lin Xuan walked toward the mission hall at dawn. The stone steps leading down the mountain were still wet from night mist, and faint threads of Spirit Qi drifted like smoke in the air.
He needed Spirit Stones.
Without them, Ninth Layer would remain out of reach.
The mission board was crowded.
A new notice stood out.
"Deep Forest Spirit Mine Investigation.Rogue cultivators sighted.Possible Ninth Layer threat.Reward: Three Low-Grade Spirit Stones."
Three.
His eyes sharpened.
A single mission worth nearly what he had risked two missions for before.
Which meant it was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
He placed his identity token forward.
The formation light flickered.
Registered.
Behind him, a voice spoke casually.
"You're taking that?"
Lin Xuan turned.
Zhao Liang stood a few steps away.
Body Tempering Ninth Layer aura steady as a mountain.
"Yes."
Zhao Liang studied him for several seconds.
"That mine is two days away. The forest near the eastern ridge has been unstable lately. Two outer disciples went missing last week."
"I know."
Zhao Liang nodded slightly.
"I'll take it too."
Lin Xuan said nothing.
If Zhao Liang joined, the risk decreased.
But the reward would be split.
Unless…
The notice updated as Zhao Liang registered.
"Reward: Three Spirit Stones per qualified participant."
Lin Xuan exhaled silently.
Good.
The sect wanted results.
They departed before noon.
Five outer disciples again.
Zhao Liang.
Lin Xuan.
Three Seventh Layer cultivators.
The deeper forest near the eastern ridge was different from previous routes. Trees were older. Taller. Sunlight barely reached the ground. Spirit Qi density fluctuated strangely, sometimes thicker, sometimes abruptly thin.
As night approached, they made camp near a shallow river.
Zhao Liang sat opposite Lin Xuan.
"You improved mid-fight yesterday," Zhao Liang said calmly.
"Yes."
"Technique mastery or breathing method?"
"Both."
Zhao Liang studied him but did not press further.
In this world, asking about cultivation secrets was rude.
And dangerous.
On the second day, they reached the abandoned mine entrance.
The air was colder here.
The mine tunnel descended into darkness.
Spirit Qi density inside was irregular.
Lin Xuan activated his breathing method instinctively.
Inside his mind—
[Basic Qi Circulation Method][Grade: Mid Mortal][Stage: Major Completion 391/600]
They entered cautiously.
The tunnel walls were reinforced with crude wooden beams. Some had been recently damaged.
Halfway inside—
A body lay on the ground.
Outer sect robes.
Dead.
Chest pierced cleanly.
Zhao Liang crouched briefly.
"Seventh Layer. Killed instantly."
No further words were needed.
They moved deeper.
Then—
Footsteps echoed from ahead.
Four figures emerged from the shadows.
Not masked this time.
Open hostility.
Two Eighth Layer.
Two Ninth Layer.
The air grew heavy.
Zhao Liang stepped forward without hesitation.
"Ninth Layer rogue cultivators."
The tallest rogue laughed softly.
"You sect dogs guard stones like they're sacred."
Lin Xuan's eyes scanned quickly.
Their robes were mismatched.
Weapons worn but well-maintained.
These weren't random bandits.
They were organized.
The rogue leader pointed his blade at Zhao Liang.
"You first."
The mine erupted into combat.
Zhao Liang engaged one Ninth Layer immediately.
Lin Xuan was forced into combat with the other.
The pressure was immense.
Ninth Layer organ-tempered body meant superior endurance and impact tolerance.
The rogue struck fast.
Lin Xuan ignited flame instantly.
[Crimson Flame Twelve-Form Tyrant Sword Art +61 EXP]
[Perfection 61/1000]
The clash sent shockwaves through the tunnel.
Stone fragments fell from above.
The rogue sneered.
"Eighth Layer?"
He pressed harder.
Lin Xuan's forearm absorbed a strike.
Pain vibrated through bone.
Even at Perfection, Mid Mortal body technique had limits.
He retreated two steps.
Breathed.
[Basic Qi Circulation Method +18 EXP]
The rogue lunged again.
Lin Xuan changed angle suddenly.
Instead of slashing—
He thrust forward.
Azure Piercing Spear technique applied through sword grip.
The rogue barely dodged.
Improvisation granted EXP.
[Azure Piercing Spear +44 EXP]
The battle intensified.
Every clash granted more growth.
But the realm difference remained real.
The rogue's blade grazed Lin Xuan's side.
Blood spilled.
He clenched teeth.
Combat was the fastest growth.
But also the fastest death.
Suddenly—
Zhao Liang roared behind him.
His opponent staggered.
Zhao Liang's Iron Mountain Body technique flared faintly — defensive Qi condensed around his torso like dark stone.
Spirit-grade.
Not fully.
But near.
The rogue leader noticed.
"Retreat!"
The two Eighth Layer rogues were already dead.
Lin Xuan had eliminated one during the chaos with a direct flame thrust to the throat.
The surviving Ninth Layer rogue disengaged.
They fled deeper into the mine.
Silence followed.
Breathing echoed heavily in the tunnel.
Zhao Liang glanced at Lin Xuan.
"You're injured."
"It's shallow."
They searched the corpses carefully.
This time, Lin Xuan was methodical.
First rogue.
One Low-Grade Spirit Stone.
Second rogue.
Two Spirit Stones.
Third rogue.
A storage pouch.
Panel activated automatically.
[Unbound Storage Pouch Detected]
[Bind?]
[Binding Successful]
[Storage Pouch Capacity: 2 Cubic Meters]
He opened it mentally.
Inside—
Four Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
And something else.
A small jade slip.
He picked it up.
Zhao Liang noticed.
"What is it?"
Lin Xuan scanned it carefully.
The panel flickered faintly.
[Technique Detected: Black Vein Crushing Palm]
[Grade: High Mortal]
[Unlearned]
[Simplify?]
Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly.
High Mortal.
Palm technique.
He pocketed the jade slip.
"We return," Zhao Liang said firmly.
The rogue Ninth Layer might regroup.
They exited the mine and began the journey back.
Total gained privately: Seven Spirit Stones.
Official reward upon completion: Three more.
Ten total.
More than enough for Ninth Layer attempt.
Twenty-two days remained.
That night, inside Cave Seventy-Three, Lin Xuan placed ten Spirit Stones before him.
He did not rush.
He opened his panel first.
[User: Lin Xuan][Realm: Body Tempering — Eighth Layer][Days Until Inner Sect Evaluation: 22]
[Crimson Flame Twelve-Form Tyrant Sword Art][Grade: High Mortal][Perfection 248/1000]
[Azure Piercing Spear][Grade: Mid Mortal][Perfection 512/1000]
[Stone Body Conditioning Art][Grade: Mid Mortal][Perfection 677/1000]
[Basic Qi Circulation Method][Grade: Mid Mortal][Major Completion 577/600]
He inhaled deeply.
Then activated absorption.
[Absorbing 10 Low-Grade Spirit Stones]
[Qi Surge Critical]
Spirit Qi flooded violently.
His breathing technique hit threshold.
[Basic Qi Circulation Method (Major Completion 600/600)]
[Skill Advanced]
[Basic Qi Circulation Method — Perfection 0/1000]
[Qi Absorption Efficiency Increased]
The surge was massive.
Bone marrow vibrated violently.
Eighth Layer barrier cracked.
He focused everything inward.
Pain exploded through organs.
Liver.
Heart.
Lungs.
This was organ tempering.
The Ninth Layer wall.
Spirit Qi crashed repeatedly against the barrier.
The stones dimmed one by one.
Crack—
Something inside shifted.
Then—
A deep internal resonance.
[Realm Breakthrough]
[Body Tempering — Ninth Layer]
[Internal Organ Tempering Initiated]
[Overall Physical Strength Increased Significantly]
He exhaled slowly.
The cave air felt thinner now.
His body heavier.
Denser.
Stable.
Inside his panel—
[User: Lin Xuan][Realm: Body Tempering — Ninth Layer][Days Until Inner Sect Evaluation: 22]
All skills advanced slightly from breakthrough stabilization.
He leaned back against the stone wall.
Ninth Layer achieved.
Twenty-two days remaining.
Now—
The next realm.
Qi Gathering.
Where Spirit Qi condensed into liquid form inside the dantian.
Where true cultivators began.
And where Spirit-grade techniques became accessible.
He opened his eyes slowly.
The mountain was no longer high.
But the sky above it—
Was still far beyond reach.