My Swordsmanship Has No Upper Limit

CRACK!

Mu Huai’s invitation made Law Enforcement Elder Wei Jingcheng grit his teeth so hard they nearly shattered. His gaze, fixed on Mu Huai, was filled with blazing fury.

The other members of the Seven Profound Sect felt the same. One even took a step forward, about to say something to Zhong Ming.

But in the end, the words died on their lips, and they swallowed them back down.

Even though their hearts were filled with reluctance, they had to admit that much of what Mu Huai said was true.

The Seven Profound Sect truly couldn’t compare to the Six Extremes Demon Sect. Zhong Ming would have better prospects for development there.

At the same time, the frowning higher-ups of the Seven Profound Sect understood perfectly that trying to stop Zhong Ming from leaving in the name of loyalty would only create a bitter, mortal enemy.

Besides, with the Six Extremes Demon Sect backing him, if Zhong Ming was willing to go, they would be powerless to stop him.

But they were even more unwilling to let Zhong Ming just leave like that. He was the Seven Profound Sect’s most outstanding disciple, the hope for Longxi Peak’s—and even the entire sect’s—resurgence.

They were naturally unwilling to just hand over such a peerless prodigy.

In his anxiety, Wei Jingcheng suddenly had an idea, and his eyes lit up. He quickly shot a meaningful look at Mo Shuying, hoping she would use their bond as fellow disciples to persuade Zhong Ming.

Mo Shuying saw the look, but her expression was bitter.

’My relationship with my junior brother isn’t that close!’

At that moment, Mo Shuying was filled with regret. She regretted being so blind, failing to recognize Zhong Ming’s Talent. She regretted even more that she had focused all her attention and resources on Xue Yao. Now, she wanted to salvage the situation, but she had no idea where to start.

"..."

Her silence made Law Enforcement Elder Wei Jingcheng let out a heavy sigh. In the end, helpless, he could only hold his breath and wait for Zhong Ming’s answer.

And he wasn’t the only one. On the viewing platform, the Patriarchs and the people from the Golden Jade Tower all waited with bated breath for Zhong Ming’s response.

Zhong Ming took a deep breath. Finally, he clasped his fists and spoke, his voice steady and firm, "Thank you for your high regard, Elder Mu. But I’m sorry. Longxi Peak is my home, and I have no intention of leaving for now!"

The next moment, Zhong Ming raised his eyes, a sharp light flashing within them. "Besides, I believe that at Longxi Peak, in the Seven Profound Sect, I will receive the best possible training. My future achievements won’t lose to anyone."

"Excellent!"

Zhong Ming’s answer made the usually stern and unsmiling Law Enforcement Elder let out an involuntary cry of approval.

The others from the Seven Profound Sect all let out a collective sigh of relief.

"Whew, that’s great."

"I knew it! Senior Brother Zhong Ming is the most loyal and honorable."

"Hmph, our Longxi Peak’s Cultivation Techniques aren’t bad either..."

"...With Senior Brother’s Talent, he can crush all the other prodigies even if he stays at the Seven Profound Sect!"

Everyone else thought Zhong Ming stayed at the Seven Profound Sect out of confidence or loyalty.

To this, Zhong Ming just wanted to say that those were part of the reason, but the bigger part was a calm, calculated assessment of his own interests.

’People despise betrayal. If I immediately defect the moment they invite me, they’ll see me as a treacherous turncoat who abandons loyalty for personal gain. Even if the Six Extremes Sect is a Demon Sect, they would never entrust someone like that with great responsibility, let alone cultivate them properly.’

’Secondly, I can’t be sure if their invitation is sincere. I haven’t forgotten that they are a Demon Sect. If I switched over and they immediately refined me into a puppet, I’d be completely screwed.’

’Besides, even if the invitation is genuine, the Six Extremes Demon Sect is powerful and filled with prodigies. It’s impossible for them to pour all their resources into cultivating me. The Seven Profound Sect, on the other hand, is different.’

’It’s better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. At the Seven Profound Sect, the resources I receive won’t necessarily be less than what I’d get at the Six Extremes Demon Sect.’

As Zhong Ming was thinking this, Wei Jingcheng, now past his initial excitement, didn’t dare to delay. Fearing another poaching attempt, he bypassed Mo Shuying and directly announced the benefits for Zhong Ming.

"Zhong Ming, please rest assured. We will pour the entire sect’s resources into cultivating you. We will absolutely not let you fall too far behind."

"From this day forward, you are a True Disciple of my Seven Profound Sect, and the First Senior Brother of Longxi Peak."

"You may use all of the sect’s facilities and benefits at will, without needing to report it!"

"Your Spiritual Root is third-grade, correct? I will go to the Golden Jade Tower later and purchase a treasure to raise its grade for you..."

"That won’t be necessary." The speaker was Yi Qing. Looking at Zhong Ming and thinking of his performance, she said with a beaming smile, "Our Yi Family happens to have a treasure that can upgrade a Spiritual Root. Consider it my gift to you, Zhong Ming."

Hearing this, Zhong Ming immediately clasped his hands and said, "Thank you, Lady Yi."

This made Yi Qing’s expression turn stern. "What’s this ’Lady Yi’ business? I am Yun Ya’s aunt. You should call me that as well."

Zhong Ming: "...Yes, Aunt."

Zhong Ming still had to give Yi Yunya some face.

...

With Zhong Ming willing to stay and the Seven Profound Sect promising to cultivate him with all their might, a harmonious atmosphere settled over the scene.

Even Mo Shuying, who had just lost her position as First Senior Sister, didn’t feel particularly upset.

Having grown up on Longxi Peak, her feelings for the sect were much deeper than Zhong Ming’s. She only wanted to see Longxi Peak rise again and didn’t mind losing the status of First Senior Sister.

However, just as this warm and harmonious moment settled in, Li Feng, who had been defeated by Zhong Ming, suddenly spoke with a cold sneer.

Though his face still showed some vexation, his gaze towards Zhong Ming held no hatred.

He was remarkably frank, even showing a hint of admiration. "Although you used some tricks, to be able to defeat me with a mid-stage Qi Refining Stage cultivation... Zhong Ming, you are very strong. You are worthy of being struck down by me."

"As a reward for defeating me, I’ll give you a piece of advice."

At this point, Li Feng’s expression turned solemn. "Zhong Ming, if I were you, I wouldn’t indulge in the comfort of this minor sect, nor would I play these little house games here. If you stay here, you will never become truly strong. Your Talent will be buried."

"I can tell you plainly, if you remain in the Seven Profound Sect, in half a year, you won’t even be able to see my back."

"Arrogant!"

"Hmph, have you forgotten that you just lost to Senior Brother Zhong Ming?"

"It seems Senior Brother’s lesson wasn’t harsh enough for you..."

Li Feng’s words ignited the fury of the Longxi Peak disciples. And because Zhong Ming had defeated him, the others were not particularly afraid of him. At this moment, a barrage of angry rebukes and taunts flew his way.

CLANG!

In response, Li Feng simply drew his long saber half an inch, and a murderous aura enveloped the entire area, silencing the Longxi Peak disciples.

Of course, that was all he could do. Zhong Ming’s figure flickered, and he appeared in front of his fellow disciples, his own formless aura pushing back the murderous pressure.

Seeing this, Li Feng raised an eyebrow but made no further moves. However, he didn’t stop talking.

"What I just said wasn’t an empty boast, but a fact. You probably don’t know that after the late Qi Refining Stage and the perfected Qi Refining Stage, there is also an Extreme Realm, do you?"

"The Extreme Realm?!"

Those words truly made Zhong Ming’s brow twitch.

He knew about the late Qi Refining Stage and the perfected Qi Refining Stage.

The beginning of Cultivation is to open the Qi Sea Acupoint and, through nourishment, transform it into a Dantian.

But at this point, the Dantian is not in a perfect state. Just as an infant must go through several stages to become an adult, the Dantian Qi Sea also has several stages to reach perfection.

The first transformation is at the mid-Qi Refining Stage, where accumulated Magical Power expands the Dantian Qi Sea.

The late Qi Refining Stage is the second expansion.

And perfected Qi Refining is when the twice-expanded Dantian is once again filled with Spiritual Qi. At this point, a Cultivator can begin to attempt a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.

Of course, the probability of such a breakthrough succeeding is very low.

"The Extreme Realm after perfection... Could it be that during the Qi Refining Stage, the Dantian Qi Sea can be expanded a third time?"

Combining this with his existing knowledge of Cultivation, Zhong Ming made a few deductions.

Zhong Ming didn’t mutter that last sentence to himself; he directed the question to Li Feng.

What made Zhong Ming frown was that upon hearing his words, Li Feng simply burst out laughing.

"You really don’t understand."

Hearing this, Zhong Ming didn’t ask him any further, instead turning to look at Yi Yunya beside him.

He felt that with the Yi Family’s heritage, she should know the secrets of the Extreme Realm.

In fact, Yi Yunya did know.

"Senior Brother, this is knowledge one only comes into contact with upon reaching perfected Qi Refining. I had originally planned to tell you then."

After saying this, she explained everything she knew about the Extreme Realm.

"After reaching perfected Qi Refining, it is indeed possible to expand the Dantian a third time. But this is extremely difficult. Without great fortune and destiny, it is nearly impossible to achieve..."

Before she could finish, Li Feng waved his hand dismissively. "Just as I’d expect from someone from a backwater place. Fortune, luck, heheh... To attribute the Great Dao to something as ethereal as fortune! It is only because the foundation of your Cultivation Techniques is shallow that you must rely on luck."

"For us in the Six Extremes Demon Sect, we only need to follow our sect’s Cultivation Technique step-by-step and cultivate it to the Fourth Realm before Foundation Establishment to guarantee entry into the Extreme Realm!"

"At that time, my Dantian will have undergone three expansions. The depth of my foundation will be more than ten times yours... No, your Cultivation Technique is too weak, and the quality of your Magical Power is low. Once I reach Great Success in the Extreme Realm, with a thrice-expanded Dantian and my higher quality Magical Power, my basic foundation will be thirty, fifty, or even a hundred times greater than yours!"

"Now, are you still confident you can defeat me?!"

"..."

Li Feng’s words made Zhong Ming understand why some disciples from Major Sects could, while still in the Qi Refining Stage, fight and defeat those in Foundation Establishment.

And what made Zhong Ming’s brow twitch was that even then, Li Feng wasn’t finished speaking.

"Also, that is just the Qi Sea Breakthrough. Besides that, there is also the Physical Body Breakthrough, the Divine Soul Breakthrough, and the Intent Resonance Breakthrough."

"These, combined with the Qi Sea Breakthrough, are known as the Dao Foundation Four Celestial Gates. They are the fundamental requirement for forging a Supreme Dao Foundation!"

At this point, Li Feng’s gaze towards the Seven Profound Sect disciples grew even more contemptuous. "You people are probably still worrying about how to reach Foundation Establishment, right? I recall that when you reach perfected Qi Refining, even with a Foundation Establishment Pill, your success rate is less than thirty percent."

"Heheh, it’s because you’re too weak."

"In our Six Extremes Demon Sect, a true Inner Sect Disciple never worries about Foundation Establishment, let alone needs to take some Foundation Establishment Pill. What we pursue are the Extreme Realm’s Four Celestial Gates!"

"Oh, right, Dao Foundations also have grades. If you don’t even manage a single Extreme Realm breakthrough, the Dao Foundation you forge will be, at best, Human Grade."

"As for us, the worst we get is Earth Grade. The better ones are Heaven Grade!"

"Do you think a Heaven Grade Dao Foundation is the same as a Human Grade Dao Foundation?"

"Also, aren’t you curious why your sect has so many Foundation Establishment Cultivators, yet so few achieve Dragon and Tiger Convergence to form a Golden Core?"

"..."

Li Feng’s speech made Zhong Ming truly feel the chasm-like gap between a Major Sect and a minor one.

This wasn’t just a gap in combat power. It was obvious that besides combat strength, a Heaven Grade Dao Foundation definitely had the effect of increasing cultivation speed.

It was even possible... that to form a Golden Core, one needed a Dao Foundation of sufficiently high grade.

Otherwise, a Cultivator’s cultivation could stagnate at a certain stage, unable to advance an inch for the rest of their life.

...

Li Feng’s words had genuinely moved Zhong Ming. If it weren’t for his Heaven Rewards Diligence panel, giving him the confidence to overcome gimmicks with raw power, he absolutely would have agreed.

’Whew...’

’The Seven Profound Sect’s Cultivation Techniques might be lacking, but I can cultivate to a High Realm and use my realm to crush all obstacles!’

’To reach the Fourth Realm, I need some good fortune to break through. In that case, I’ll just cultivate my Basic Technique to the Fifth Realm, or even the Sixth Realm! I refuse to believe that the so-called Extreme Realm could still stop me then!’

’If I cultivate a few more Cultivation Techniques to the Fifth and Sixth Realms, then those so-called Dao Foundation Four Celestial Gates will be nothing special!’

Although he was confident, he also knew that doing this would inevitably take more time.

And this made Zhong Ming frown slightly.

Seeing his expression, Wei Jingcheng’s heart instantly went cold.

With his Heaven Rewards Diligence, Zhong Ming was certain he could achieve the breakthroughs even without going to the Six Extremes Demon Sect, but others didn’t know this.

Zhong Ming’s frown made Wei Jingcheng think he was having second thoughts.

He couldn’t blame him for it. Even he coveted the opportunities offered by the Six Extremes Demon Sect.

’Sigh... In the end, the sect won’t be able to keep him!’

Wei Jingcheng closed his eyes, already sighing in his heart, feeling utterly dejected.

It was at this exact moment that Zhong Ming spoke.