After returning to his quarters, Yi Xiaoyao first had a proper meal.
He planned to throw himself completely into his cultivation for the next few days, and figured he wouldn’t even have time to eat.
After he finished eating, Yi Xiaoyao took out the seven Spirit Enhancing Pills.
"I wonder how much these Spirit Enhancing Pills will raise my cultivation," he murmured, looking at the elixirs.
There were only eight days left until Tang Ruoxue was to take over as Fortress Master.
Raising one’s cultivation to the seventh layer of Qi Condensation in eight days would be an impossible fantasy for anyone else, but Yi Xiaoyao was different from ordinary people.
At the same time, news that Yi Xiaoyao had defeated Tang Zhuang and crippled Tang An in the tavern spread like wildfire, sweeping through the Tang Family Castle like a storm.
The entire Tang Family Castle was abuzz with the news. Everyone from the lowest floor-sweeping servants to the esteemed Elder Council was talking about it.
"Hey, have you heard? That good-for-nothing Yi Xiaoyao can actually cultivate now!"
"I heard ages ago. Apparently, Yi Xiaoyao defeated Tang Zhuang and even crippled Tang An’s cultivation! It’s just that those two started the trouble first, and since Tang An is only from a side branch of the family, the Elder Council isn’t getting involved."
...
「Tang Ruoxue’s quarters.」
Tang Long was speaking to Tang Ruoxue with a frown on his face.
"Ruoxue, I heard that Yi Xiaoyao can cultivate now. Not only that, but he defeated Tang Zhuang today with a cultivation at the third layer of Qi Condensation!"
As he spoke, Tang Long’s frown deepened.
He still remembered what Yi Xiaoyao had told him a few days ago—that he could cultivate even without the Immortal Soul inheritance. At the time, he’d just assumed Yi Xiaoyao was delusional from the shock. He never expected it to be true.
"He can cultivate?"
When Tang Ruoxue heard this, she too looked incredulous.
But then, her expression relaxed, and she said dismissively, "So what? He’s only at the third layer of Qi Condensation. At best, he only received the inheritance of a third-grade Immortal Soul."
The grade of an Immortal Soul corresponds to the inheritor’s starting cultivation. A third-grade Immortal Soul can only raise an inheritor to the third layer of Qi Condensation, which is considered an extremely poor quality.
So when she said the words "third-grade Immortal Soul," Tang Ruoxue’s tone was filled with disdain.
But Tang Long’s frown remained. "I’m still worried he’ll cause trouble for you. After all, the old Fortress Master’s will still exists."
"What does a dead man’s will matter? The Elder Council has already decided that I will inherit the Fortress Master position. They can’t go back on their word now. Besides, the Elder Council would never offend a seventh-grade Immortal Soul genius like me for the sake of some good-for-nothing with a third-grade Immortal Soul."
Tang Ruoxue finished with a cold laugh. "As for Yi Xiaoyao claiming he’ll defeat me in eight days to seize the Fortress Master position, that’s just utterly ridiculous. It’s not worth a second thought."
"Exactly. Ruoxue, you’re at the seventh layer of Qi Condensation, while Yi Xiaoyao is only at the third. The idea that he could catch up to you, the number one genius of the Tang Family Castle, in just eight days is the biggest joke I’ve ever heard!" Tang Long joined in with a smug, cold laugh.
’Break through four layers of cultivation in eight days? Any sane person knows that’s impossible!’
Unwilling to talk about Yi Xiaoyao any longer, Tang Ruoxue’s face flushed slightly as she asked Tang Long, "Father, how are the marriage alliance talks with the Jin Family coming along?"
Hearing this, a smile spread across Tang Long’s face. "Is my daughter eager to get married?"
"Father!"
Tang Ruoxue pouted coquettishly. In that moment, she was just as she had been with Yi Xiaoyao—a shy, innocent maiden, a far cry from the cold, ruthless woman who had just been discussing him.
Tang Long chuckled. "I actually came here to tell you about this. The Jin Family has agreed to the alliance. It’s just not confirmed yet whether their first young master will marry you, or the second."
"I’ll marry whichever of them will inherit the Jin Family Patriarch position! Once I become the Fortress Master of Tang Family Castle, I’ll marry our entire castle into the Jin Family!"
Everyone knew that for one family to be "married into" another was an act that shamed one’s ancestors and would bring eternal disgrace upon its members.
Yet Tang Ruoxue spoke with absolute certainty, as if she had been planning this for a long time.
"That’s an excellent idea. After all, the Jin Family is a great family, far more powerful than our Tang Family Castle. If you marry into their family and bring the entire Castle with you, your status will be truly extraordinary."
Tang Long was in full agreement. He suddenly recalled something else and added, "And I’ve also heard that both Jin Family young masters have been accepted as Closed-door Disciples by the Sect Leader of the Cloud Transformation Sect! They are truly dragons among men!"
"The Cloud Transformation Sect!"
Tang Ruoxue’s eyes lit up as she exclaimed, "That’s the number one sect in our Great Shang Dynasty!"
All of this pointed to one thing: her future, Tang Ruoxue’s future, would be boundless.
’That Yi Xiaoyao is completely out of my league!’
With that, the father and daughter exchanged a knowing smile.
...
Yi Xiaoyao was completely unaware of this insidious father-daughter duo’s conversation. He had already consumed a Spirit Enhancing Pill and re-entered a state of cultivation.
Inside his Dantian, the Vortex Sea of Qi began to spin rapidly. The Devouring Power within him activated, and a continuous stream of Spiritual Qi was converted into tyrannical Dark Spiritual Power.
As the Spiritual Power gathered, the black Qi Sea grew larger and larger.
However, the area to the right of his Dantian still showed not the slightest sign of condensing the Source of Sword Qi.
For the next while, Yi Xiaoyao was completely immersed in his cultivation, lost to the world. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say he was savoring this terrifying rate of improvement.
Time passed in a flash, and in the blink of an eye, seven days had gone by.
Yi Xiaoyao sat cross-legged as the surrounding Spiritual Qi surged rapidly into his body.
His aura was now much stronger than it had been seven days prior!
HUMMM!
A powerful ripple of Spiritual Power emanated from Yi Xiaoyao’s body. In the next instant, his aura grew stronger still!
At that same moment, Yi Xiaoyao, who had been deep in cultivation, snapped his eyes open. A sharp glint, like the edge of a sword, shone in their depths.
He then leaped to his feet. Dark Spiritual Power flared in his palm, instantly engulfing his entire arm.
Seven days ago, his Spiritual Power could barely cover his fist. Now, his entire right arm looked as if it were wreathed in black flames, its aura staggering!
The sound of rushing air cut through the room. The moment Yi Xiaoyao landed, he swung his right arm in a vicious arc, his fist crashing into the ground with destructive force.
BOOM!
The deafening boom shook the entire house. Looking at the massive crater in the floor, Yi Xiaoyao couldn’t stop a look of pure excitement from spreading across his face.
"Haha! Seventh Layer of Qi Condensation! I’ve finally reached it!"
Within Yi Xiaoyao’s Dantian, the black Vortex Sea of Qi on the left was now incredibly condensed, and he was one huge step closer to forming the Source of Sword Qi on the right!
Yi Xiaoyao lifted his arm, still wreathed in Spiritual Power, and clenched his fists. Feeling the surging power within his grasp, his blood began to boil with excitement.
Although Tang Ruoxue possessed a seventh-grade Immortal Soul inheritance that directly boosted her to the seventh layer of Qi Condensation, she didn’t have a heaven-defying inheritance like his from the Sword God. It was unlikely she could raise her cultivation much further in ten days.
Therefore, Yi Xiaoyao had already caught up to Tang Ruoxue.
"Tang Ruoxue! It only took me nine days to catch up to you! From now on, I’m going to leave you further and further behind!"
Yi Xiaoyao murmured, his eyes narrowed to slits.
’Nine days. From an ordinary person to the seventh layer of Qi Condensation!’
’Who could possibly match this cultivation speed?’
’Between Tang Ruoxue and me, who is the real good-for-nothing?’
"Tomorrow is the day Tang Ruoxue inherits the position of Fortress Master! I will defeat her completely, take back the position, and make her regret everything she’s done!"
A faint smile played on Yi Xiaoyao’s lips.