"..."

As for why the Cultivation Techniques of Longxi Peak didn’t cover Breakthroughs, Zhong Ming... could guess the reason.

In his past life, Longxi Peak would have been an ordinary high school, or maybe even a vocational school.

A school like that naturally wouldn’t teach "Advanced Math." All they wanted was for their students to graduate normally (achieve Foundation Establishment).

Besides, the faculty here was extremely limited. The elders themselves had never achieved a Breakthrough, so how could they write a textbook on it?

"..."

Zhong Ming now understood even more clearly why Li Feng had said a few days ago that staying in a small sect would hold him back for his entire life.

He also understood why the Six Extremes Demon Sect had been so confident in inviting him.

It hadn’t been an empty boast. The Cultivation Techniques of the Seven Profound Sect were indeed limited.

Fortunately, the sect was aware of this, and the Sect Leader saw him as the hope for the sect’s advancement. That was why he was supporting Zhong Ming with all his might.

And this, in turn, gave Zhong Ming hope for achieving a Breakthrough.

’My first hope for a Breakthrough is the Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation. If I awaken a Divine Treasure related to qi or my Dantian’s Magical Power, I might achieve a Breakthrough on the spot. But that relies too much on luck. It’s not ideal.’

’My second option is—to cultivate other techniques!’

Shaking his head, Zhong Ming sighed softly. ’If I hadn’t revealed my abilities and wasn’t so valued by the sect, my path to a Breakthrough would probably involve finding the Cultivation Techniques from all the other peaks of the Seven Profound Sect. Then, I’d secretly cultivate them to a very high level and finally merge them, achieving victory through quantity.’

When quality is lacking, you make up for it with quantity. It was certainly one way of thinking.

But now, Zhong Ming didn’t have to take that path.

’With the sect’s full support, I can just tell the Sect Leader my troubles and have him find me an Earth-Level High-Grade Technique.’

’I’d still have to cultivate a secondary technique, but I’d only need one.’

’And since my own abilities have reached the late stage of Qi Cultivation and I have a deep understanding of Cultivation, if the compatibility is high enough, it won’t take long for me to master it.’

As Zhong Ming’s thoughts concluded, his cultivation session came to a complete end.

The next moment, spirit and flesh merged. As Zhong Ming manifested a faint Dragon Aspect, his right, deep blue eye twitched, and the torrential wind and rain scattered as if under his control.

Then, as Zhong Ming’s left eye opened, with a VMMMM, it was as if a Great Sun had risen in the backyard of the Seven Profound Sect.

The scorching light completely evaporated all the lingering moisture and dampness left by the storm.

Just like that, in the blink of an eye, tranquility returned to the Seven Profound Sect’s grounds. After this small test of his new abilities, Zhong Ming retracted his Dragon Aspect, feeling a renewed sense of confidence for the upcoming contest for the Child of the Morning Star.

’Right now, a Magical Power Breakthrough is indeed out of reach in the short term. And because I lack a Body Forging technique, my physical body is actually on the weaker side among the other prodigy Cultivators.’

’However, when it comes to the four barriers of the Extreme Realm, I’ve likely already broken two of them. Because I’ve grasped so many conceptual insights and used my pinnacle Sword Seed to focus and fuse them, I’ve overcome the Heart Barrier, which represents mental fortitude, and the Will Barrier, which represents insight into Daoist Skills. The resulting Dao Seed, a combination of both, even contains a trace of the essence of Foundation Establishment!’

With a Two Realms Breakthrough, Zhong Ming was no longer afraid of the upcoming contest for the Child of the Morning Star.

"Senior Brother, have you finished your cultivation?"

Just as Zhong Ming’s confidence was soaring, Yi Yunya cautiously pushed open the courtyard gate and walked over.

"Yes."

Seeing Zhong Ming nod, Yi Yunya stepped aside and led the Sect Leader and an unfamiliar middle-aged Cultivator into his small courtyard.

Their arrival prompted Zhong Ming to immediately stand up.

"Sect Leader, you’re here. You could have come straight in. There was no need to have Yun Ya announce you."

"Hahaha, your cultivation is of the utmost importance. How could I disturb you rashly?"

Zong Chengze wasn’t the least bit displeased at having been made to wait outside. At this moment, he was far more eager to learn about Zhong Ming’s situation. "Was that phenomenon just now your doing?"

Looking at the Sect Leader’s expectant and excited gaze, Zhong Ming nodded and said:

"Yes, my cultivation just broke through to the late stage of Qi Cultivation. It caused a small commotion."

"..."

His words left both Zong Chengze and Hong Jing speechless.

After a long moment, Hong Jing finally spoke, his voice full of bitterness, envy, and jealousy. "’A small commotion’ doesn’t even begin to describe it. The disturbance we caused during our own Foundation Establishment was only about the same as what you just did."

This statement made Zhong Ming look at the middle-aged Cultivator with a hint of confusion in his eyes.

"This is Sect Leader Hong Jing of the Golden Armor Sect," Zong Chengze quickly introduced.

"Greetings, Sect Leader Hong." Zhong Ming clasped his hands in a salute.

After learning the man’s identity, the group exchanged another round of pleasantries.

This didn’t last long. A moment later, an obviously excited Zong Chengze pulled Zhong Ming and Hong Jing into a secret chamber in the inner courtyard to begin a private meeting.

"Zhong Ming, are you confident you can compete for the position of Child of the Morning Star?"

As he asked this question, it wasn’t just Zong Chengze whose gaze was filled with tension; Hong Jing, standing beside him, was the same.

His expression was even somewhat apprehensive.

This made Zhong Ming realize that his bid for the position of Child of the Morning Star likely had far-reaching implications.

Realizing this, Zhong Ming had no intention of backing down. The sect had been supporting him with everything it had recently. If he could help the sect in return, he was more than willing to do his part.

"I have some confidence." After saying this, Zhong Ming continued without a hint of false modesty, "It’s a bit early to guarantee victory, but if the sect continues to support me, then by the day we enter the Star Moon Treasure Vault, I’m about eighty percent sure I can do it."