Cave Refuge-Chapter 337 - 303: The Barrier and the Idea of Returning to Pengcheng

It seems that Qi Cultivation and Energy Cultivation may sound the same, but in essence, there still are some differences.

Although there are many similarities between the Martial Path and Cultivation of Truth, the outcomes they produce are ultimately quite different.

"Zachary, do you want to try breaking through now?"

Upon hearing Robinson William’s question, Dong Tianyu certainly couldn’t attempt a breakthrough in front of them, after all, he was not truly a Martial Artist.

"Brother Lei, didn’t you just make a breakthrough? A thought occurred to me just now, and I wanted to ask for your advice."

"What’s on your mind?"

"For example, if I stay in the Inner Breath Realm without breaking through, and I cultivate for a long time, would I become stronger than a Martial Artist in the Energy Realm?"

Hearing Dong Tianyu’s question, Robinson William suddenly paused, then after a bit of thought, he answered with great caution, "I’m not entirely sure about the specifics, but although I’ve just broken through, I can explain it to you from what I understand.

The cultivation in the Inner Breath Realm is like an Archer using a bow and arrow; the higher the Cultivation Level, the better the physical condition of the Archer, the stronger the bow that can be drawn.

On the other hand, the cultivation in the Energy Realm is more akin to a soldier using firearms; as the Cultivation Level increases, it’s as if the soldier goes through prolonged training, which certainly improves physical condition, but the most important factor influencing a soldier’s combat power is the advancement of the weapons they wield.

If I am now just entering the Energy Realm, it’s like holding a single-shot musket as a soldier; then as my Cultivation Level continues to rise in the future, the weapons in my hands will also be continuously upgraded.

From a single-shot musket that needs to reload gunpowder after each shot, it slowly evolves to a revolver that uses specialized bullets, and ultimately the weapon can be replaced with more advanced automatic firearms, or even a sniper cannon with an ultra-long shooting range.

I’m sure you can understand what I’m trying to convey with this example now!"

"Hmm, now I get it. Martial Artists can always stay in the Inner Breath Realm without progressing to the Energy Realm, although staying in the Inner Breath Realm will also slowly enhance strength.

Just as a supremely skilled Archer can completely outclass a rookie armed with a flintlock musket, but when the rookie becomes a veteran, and their weapon evolves from a flintlock musket to an automatic rifle.

Unless the soldier gives up resistance, in a normal battle, an Archer will never be able to defeat a soldier armed with an automatic rifle."

Hearing Dong Tianyu explain this way, although her Cultivation Level was still in the Body Tempering Realm, Madeline understood the gap between the Energy Realm and the Inner Breath Realm. Suddenly, Madeline couldn’t help but ask, "What about the Body Tempering Realm and Path Entry Realm?"

Hearing Madeline’s question, Robinson William didn’t start talking immediately but looked to Dong Tianyu, indicating for him to continue: "The Body Tempering Realm is actually equivalent to a rookie entering the camp; the initial training doesn’t involve weapons but focuses on enhancing physical fitness."

After a moment of silence, Dong Tianyu continued, "Because there is no specific information, what I’m about to say is just speculation based on existing intelligence.

The Path Entry Realm should be like a military driver in charge of operating war machines; though they don’t have firearms, the war machines they control possess far greater destructive power than firearms.

To use a more vivid metaphor, if at the beginning of entering the Path Entry Realm, they operate a cannon cart, as their Cultivation Level rises, the caliber of the cannon on their cart will grow larger, and they may even replace the cannon cart with a Missile launcher."

No one, neither Robinson William nor Madeline, objected to Dong Tianyu’s speculation.

"Zachary, I understand your choice not to break through right now. You want to cultivate your Inner Breath more robustly before taking that step, right?"

Seeing the confidence in Robinson William’s expression when he spoke, Dong Tianyu didn’t argue as if he were tacitly agreeing.

Noticing Dong Tianyu’s response, Robinson William felt he probably guessed right about the reason for Dong Tianyu’s current hesitation to make a breakthrough.

"Zachary, your thoughts might not be wrong, but have you ever considered that cultivating in the Inner Breath Realm is like getting water into a pond using a spoon, whereas cultivating in the Energy Realm after a breakthrough is like using a basin?

Even if you use a spoon for a while, those who use a basin will only need a few trips to catch up with what was initially transported by the spoon.

So believe me, Zachary, if you can break through, try to do it as early as possible, the earlier the breakthrough, the greater the gains.

I also just tried cultivating with my original Cultivation Technique, and found that even though the Inner Breath in my body has completely converted to Energy, the technique still operates normally, and the result of cultivation is also Energy.

Looking at it this way, although the cultivation efficiency might not be higher than the Imperial Court issued Xia Wu-Energy Cultivation Chapter, it is still possible to continue cultivating with the Cultivation Techniques passed down by our sect while we don’t have the new one."

Hearing Robinson William say this, Dong Tianyu had no particular reaction, but Madeline’s face lit up with joy. Just as she had been dismayed at not getting the Energy Cultivation Chapter and worried about her elder brother not being able to continue to enhance his strength, the knowledge that her brother could continue practicing with the original Cultivation Technique cheered her up considerably.

Madeline was acutely aware that the reason she could live so carefree in Pengcheng and be treated with respect by others, in addition to her successful business, was primarily because she had a capable elder brother. Robinson William was not only individually powerful but also had command over a dedicated force of pure Martial Artists.