Chapter Forty-Five: Cultivation, Breaking Through to Fighter!

Early morning in the mountains.

A ray of sunlight filtered slowly through the forest, illuminating the pond so that its waters reflected scattered points of light. The surface was still and smooth as a mirror; only when the breeze passed over did ripples stir, swaying water and light in gentle waves.

Beside the pond, heaps of massive stones lay in disarray. Some bore large cracks, while the ground was littered with fragments. Not far away, a patch of soil appeared darker than its surroundings, out of place, as if freshly dug.

Suddenly, the tranquil earth shifted, rising and falling as though something beneath was struggling to break through. The soil cracked, and a pale hand emerged, grotesque and ghastly.

As the fissure widened, a body gradually surfaced, breaking free from the earth, standing upright. The figure stretched vigorously, then brushed soil and dust from his face and clothes, revealing a handsome countenance.

This youth who had climbed out from the ground was Su Yi. Last night, after discovering he could breathe through his skin and thus venture deeper underwater, he sensed the pressure and resistance at the pond’s bottom, prompting him to begin training his punches below the surface. It was his first attempt and somewhat unfamiliar, so he did not practice for long before coming ashore.

Once back on land, Su Yi was struck by a curious thought: he wished to experience what it felt like to be buried alive. Digging a pit, he buried himself within. To his delight, even in the earth, he felt no suffocation. Though it was not quite as comfortable as direct contact with air, it was still quite satisfactory.

“It’s not bad,” Su Yi mused as he tidied his freshly changed clothes. “Hiding in water or earth—used wisely, these could be excellent methods of survival.”

With the idea easing his worries about the future, Su Yi decided to spend the coming days training here, strengthening his body and cultivating his qi, striving to reach the ninth stage as soon as possible. Then he would try the Cyclone Pill, hoping to condense the Qi Cyclone and become a Fighter.

…

For the next several days, Su Yi remained in the mountains, dedicated to his cultivation. He trained at the bottom of the pond, pushing his strength to its limits; several times, his body was wracked with burning heat, but gritting his teeth, he endured, and his power grew.

After training in the water, Su Yi wanted to measure his progress and further toughen his body. He began attacking the great stones with fists and kicks, using every part of his body as a weapon. Days passed; one block of stone shed chunks, its size diminished considerably.

Even with his enhanced physique, Su Yi was battered and bruised from clashing with the hard rock. His body was covered in wounds streaked with dark red blood, especially his hands, which often bled from the impact. His healing seemed slower, but he persevered.

He could sense his strength increasing, yet a vague feeling lingered—his power had grown, but he had not broken through some invisible barrier, much as it had felt when advancing from Fighter to Combatant.

On this continent, magical beasts and qi cultivators of the same rank were comparable, but the beasts were often slightly stronger, their formidable physical strength a key factor. After comparing his own strength to various beasts, Su Yi estimated he was around the first rank.

Now, what he most desired was to break through from the first to the second rank—a leap that would mark a qualitative transformation and greatly boost his power.

But despite his relentless training, Su Yi still sensed no sign of the breakthrough.

…

One day, with some time free, Su Yi began to cultivate his qi, meditating beside the pond. His breathing settled into calm rhythm, qi circulating smoothly within him, and as the circuit formed, energies around him stirred.

Time passed; the restless energy swirled around Su Yi, rising and falling, gradually absorbed into his body.

Ever since he had discovered the strange breathing ability of his skin, he was delighted to find that his speed and capacity for absorbing energy had increased markedly. With his strengthened body, he could withstand the impact of powerful energies.

Within, energy surged and roiled. Su Yi exerted control, directing it to merge with his internal qi. As more energy was absorbed, a sense of fullness swept through him. His steady breathing and the slow rhythm of his heart worked together to strengthen his qi.

The energy’s fluctuations even raised faint ripples on the pond’s surface, converging upon Su Yi, who sat motionless, accepting the flow. Yesterday’s cultivation had hinted at a breakthrough; today, the process felt effortless and natural.

Suddenly, energy surged like a torrent, rushing into Su Yi’s body. After a time, the turbulence subsided, tranquility returned, and Su Yi kept his eyes closed for a long while before exhaling deeply and opening them. In his heart, he thought—

At last, the ninth stage!

In theory, after reaching the ninth stage of qi, one can condense a Qi Cyclone. But each person’s condition is unique; the body’s various traits can differ greatly, and attempting to condense the Cyclone rashly seldom succeeds. Only by formulating a thorough plan based on all the body’s indicators can success be hoped for.

It’s not easy to fully comprehend one’s bodily state—when each stage was broken through, the growth rate of meridians, their capacity, the degree of qi convergence, and a myriad of other complex, subtle issues must be understood and mastered.

This can only be achieved through gradual insight during cultivation; only after reaching the ninth stage can one keep the body balanced and prepare for the Fighter’s breakthrough. There’s no shortcut: without diligent accumulation, urgency at the crucial moment is futile.

This is why most people spend ten or even twenty years cultivating their qi, and many "fortunate ones" never succeed in their lifetime, remaining ordinary folk.

But for Su Yi, this was not a major issue. Perhaps because he had once become a Fighter, he was adept at balancing the body’s various states. Last time, it took him only a day and night to reach equilibrium; this time would be little different. With the Cyclone Pill, he should soon begin condensing the Qi Cyclone.

After reaching the ninth stage, Su Yi did not rest; instead, he continued to focus, preparing to charge toward the Fighter realm.

…

Time flowed on; shadows in the forest lengthened, the sunset painted the sky with a thousand hues. Su Yi sat in meditation, unmoving, but he knew that after all his adjustments, he was at his peak.

He took out the Cyclone Pill, inhaling its faint herbal fragrance, which filled him with serenity. Smiling slightly, he placed it in his mouth.

The pill dissolved instantly, transforming into a warm current that quickly flowed into his body, forming a cluster of green energy that lingered in his abdomen. Su Yi wrapped it with his internal qi.

As the green energy touched his qi, it began to transform into qi, while generating a powerful suction that drew his own internal qi tightly together and attracted vast amounts of external energy.

Suddenly, a torrent of energy and qi surged into every meridian, swelling with explosive force, causing Su Yi to convulse with pain. He gritted his teeth to endure, grateful that his body, after that night of hellish torment, had been transformed, and his meridians strengthened.

Though the Cyclone Pill’s medicinal power was gentle—its taste cool and refreshing—once inside the body, it relentlessly gathered and absorbed internal and external qi and energy, straining his meridians. Fortunately, it was only pain, with no lasting harm.

Still, it was more than enough for Su Yi to bear. After some time, his internal qi was all gathered around the green energy cluster, which was rapidly converting into qi; external energy grew wild, pouring into his body.

The pure medicinal power gradually faded, but Su Yi felt all his meridians flooded with energy, his body charged with explosive force at the brink of transformation—a sign that the critical moment had arrived.

No! He had to condense the Qi Cyclone quickly! Su Yi’s spirit sharpened; relying on his own strength, he compressed and spun the qi in his abdomen, feeling it shrink within. Delighted, he increased the force.

The energy filling his meridians powered this effort, but it also made his body feel like a balloon ready to burst—any movement brought stabbing pain, threatening to explode.

Yet this energy would not last forever; to avoid failure, he had to condense the Cyclone before it was depleted.

Every exertion brought fresh agony; Su Yi’s eyes twitched, his lips curled in pain. But he pressed on, determined to give his all, desperately compressing the qi.

(Flowers and collections requested!)

Martial Peak, Chapter 45: Cultivation, Charging Toward Fighter! End of update.