Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

"Xu Yang is Breaking Through to the Qi Gathering realm."

Everyone looked at Xu Yang, who was completely absorbed in his Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist. They all realized what was happening and were utterly shocked.

Some took the opportunity to carefully observe Xu Yang’s Fist Technique. Others tried to get closer, but Qiu Wenjie stopped them.

Zhang Hong and Zhang Yong rushed over and joined Qiu Wenjie, forming a protective circle around Xu Yang.

"With only a ten-percent success rate, he can’t possibly succeed!"

Qian Jiaxing subconsciously clenched his fists.

He and Xu Yang had once been on good terms, but he had sided with Lu Ren and stopped associating with Xu Yang, believing he would never successfully reach the Qi Gathering realm.

’Trying to keep up with Lu Ren is just a fantasy.’

Luo Dehu scoffed inwardly. Attempting the breakthrough meant nothing; it only counted as a success if you actually gathered your Qi.

"Quick, go get Brother Lu Ren!"

After a moment, seeing that not only had Xu Yang not failed, but his aura was growing stronger, he quietly ordered Qian Jiaxing to go find Lu Ren.

As for trying to sabotage the breakthrough, he didn’t have the nerve. If he dared to interfere, Lin Cheng would surely kill him.

"Right!"

Qian Jiaxing hurried away.

...

Xu Yang had no idea how many times he had practiced the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist. Only when the True Qi in his meridians stopped increasing did he slowly withdraw his power.

[Cultivation: Qi Gathering, Entry Level]

[Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist·Minor Achievement (2/500)]

"Success!"

The progress of his Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist had increased by a point. And under Cultivation, the display had changed from "None" to "Qi Gathering, Entry Level."

Even though he already knew his breakthrough was a sure thing, a hint of joy still appeared on Xu Yang’s face. He had finally, truly stepped into the hallowed halls of the Martial Dao.

Two months of bitter training had finally paid off today.

At this moment, he finally understood why Qi Gathering Martial Artists held such an exalted status. Right now, he could kill his former self with a single blow.

"Congratulations on your successful breakthrough, Brother Xu."

Qiu Wenjie was the first to run over, looking even happier than Xu Yang. ’I can’t believe Dad’s gamble actually paid off!’

Even if Xu Yang didn’t become a Tributor Martial Artist for the Qiu Family, the bond forged by this timely aid would remain.

Zhang Hong gave a thumbs-up. "I knew you could do it."

As he spoke, his eyes were filled with envy.

The crowd began to surge forward to congratulate Xu Yang, including the brothers Zhou Yang and Zhou Yuan, with whom he had a contentious history.

Right now, they only wanted to adopt a humble attitude, because they could no longer afford to provoke Xu Yang.

Zhang Yong stood in the distance, not approaching. But in his heart, he had already admitted that he was inferior to Xu Yang.

"He was only three days behind, but Brother Xu’s talent truly rivals Brother Lu Ren’s."

"Once is an accident, twice is a fluke. But for something like Breaking the Gate and Gathering Qi to happen like this too... you can’t call it luck anymore."

...

The surrounding crowd recalled past events and began to discuss the talents of Xu Yang and Lu Ren. Many believed that Xu Yang’s talent was by no means inferior to Lu Ren’s.

"They’re not the same. I’d say Brother Xu is the greater genius. Think about the massive support Lu Ren gets from the Huang Family. How much has Brother Xu received in comparison?"

Some even argued that Xu Yang was more of a genius than Lu Ren, because Xu Yang’s Cultivation Resources had always been inferior to Lu Ren’s—not even half as much.

"That’s where you’re wrong. This month in the Medicine Hall, Xu Yang spent even more money than Brother Lu Ren."

Luo Dehu’s sneering, passive-aggressive voice cut in. "Xu Yang succeeding in his breakthrough was probably just a stroke of luck. With a thirty-percent success rate, maybe good fortune just happened to fall on him.

Someone like Brother Lu Ren, on the other hand, has real strength. He said he’d break through this month, and he did. The two of them aren’t even in the same league.

And don’t forget, Xu Yang only has a Lower C-class Root Bone. Brother Lu Ren, however, possesses an Upper Grade B Root Bone."

As soon as he said this, those who had just been calling Xu Yang a genius now thought Luo Dehu had a point.

Success or failure in a breakthrough did involve an element of luck. Some people managed to break through by sheer luck, only to remain stuck at the Entry Level of Qi Gathering, their cultivation unable to advance.

Besides, many of them came from knowledgeable backgrounds. They knew that while Root Bone wasn’t the most critical factor *before* Qi Gathering, its importance became paramount *after*.

From the same portion of Qi Blood Powder, a person with a good Root Bone could absorb eighty percent of its medicinal efficacy, while someone with a poor one could only absorb fifty percent, or even less.

Luo Dehu was inwardly pleased with this result.

His task was to make everyone understand that even if Xu Yang successfully broke through, his potential was still far inferior to Lu Ren’s.

If the Huang Family came to believe their talents were comparable, Lu Ren’s status would be threatened.

Since he had chosen a side, he knew he had to go all in.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over him.

He looked up and saw that Xu Yang had walked over at some point without him noticing.

"Xu Yang, you..." Luo Dehu’s voice trembled.

After all, the man he had just been disparaging was no longer an ordinary person, but a Qi Gathering Martial Artist.

Without wasting words, Xu Yang struck out with his palm.

’So when Lu Ren breaks through in two months, it’s innate talent, but when I do it, it’s just dumb luck? What about my two months of hard work?’

He could understand the previous passive-aggressive remarks; they were born of jealousy, which was only human nature. He hadn’t held it against him.

But to be doing it now was clearly malicious, and it was highly likely that Lu Ren had put him up to it.

"Stop!"

A hand suddenly shot out from the side, intending to intercept Xu Yang’s palm on Luo Dehu’s behalf.

It was none other than Lu Ren, who had rushed to the scene.

But Xu Yang seemed to have anticipated this. At the very instant before the two palms collided, his hand suddenly dropped, bypassing the intercepting hand and striking Luo Dehu.

BAM!

With a miserable cry, Luo Dehu was sent flying back three or four meters.

"You..."

Lu Ren was enraged. For the past few days, everyone had been showing him respect. He had even shouted, yet Xu Yang still dared to follow through with his attack.

With a flick of his wrist that sent a crisp crack through his joints, he chopped at Xu Yang with his palm.

This strike could only be described as a sneak attack. After all, Xu Yang had just sent Luo Dehu flying. For Lu Ren to launch a palm strike at this moment—it would be nearly impossible for Xu Yang to block.

A sharp gust of wind from the attack blew through Xu Yang’s hair. Yet, just as before, he seemed to have predicted it. A series of CRACKLES erupted from his body as his True Qi circulated, and his other hand shot out with a powerful slap.

The next moment, their palms collided. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

BOOM!

Vigorous Energy erupted. Xu Yang felt as if he had struck an unyielding boulder, and his palm went numb.

His body shuddered as he felt his True Qi get blasted back into him, forcing him to stumble backward.

Looking over at Lu Ren, his reaction was much the same.

He felt that Xu Yang’s Palm Force was not much weaker than his own. His own palm was numb, and the rebounding force compelled him to retreat as well.

’He just broke through, yet his Palm Force is already so powerful. The sheer volume of his True Qi is no less than mine.’

Lu Ren was shaken. He realized that he had been underestimating Xu Yang all this time.

His foundation in the Martial Dao was just as solid as his own, perhaps even a cut above.

When he had first broken through, he could have never produced such a powerful Palm Force. If he hadn’t had the advantage of breaking through a few days earlier, he would have never been able to force Xu Yang back.

He had no idea that Xu Yang’s method of breaking through was completely different from his own.

"What are you two doing?"

Just as both were about to raise their palms again to test each other’s depths, Sun Tao walked over from the Inner Courtyard.

Xu Yang lowered his raised hand. "Leash your dog. Don’t let him run his mouth."

Without a word, Lu Ren turned, helped Luo Dehu up with Qian Jiaxing, and returned to the Inner Courtyard.