Mo Yin Continent, East Continent, Second-class Kingdom, Wangyou Country, Yuanji Province, Purple Sandalwood Royal City, Zhang Family, inside a first-level cave mansion, Zhang Tao was sitting cross-legged in cultivation.

First-level cave mansion——

’Calming the mind’ and ’regulating gravity’ and ’gathering primordial qi’.

’Compressing essence qi’, ’imprint of intent realm’, ’five elements harmony’, ’heavenly thunder and earth fire’.

The first-level cave mansion combines functions of practice rooms of the first, second, and third ranks; its overall coordination greatly enhances efficiency, even for Fourth-rank and Fifth-rank Divine Generals engaging in inner cultivation. For a First-rank Divine General like Zhang Tao, success comes with incredible speed.

"Hoo!"

"Three levels already!"

Zhang Tao opened his eyes, bright and clear.

For descendants of families like theirs, improving cultivation is the easiest thing. With access to resources such as ’cultivation quiet rooms’, ’cultivation cave mansions’ and guidance from elders, advancing in cultivation is as simple as drinking water or tea.

But the premise is that the person must demonstrate sufficient value and talent.

Like Zhang Tao.

He indeed had enough talent.

"Good brother!"

"I never thought that after proving Dao innate, you’d seem enlightened, and in just four months, you mastered the third ultimate move in the ’Nagua Chapter’ of the ’Tiger Soul Divine Spear’. You’ve really brought honor to your sister!"

Zhang Yun returned, finding Zhang Tao, stunned.

She had reached Dao innate earlier and was even more gifted than Zhang Tao, surging ahead with family resources until the fourth rank before stalling. Later, Zhang Yun managed some family businesses in the capital while seeking further advancement.

Yet, she hadn’t expected that while she was still aspiring to the fifth rank, back home, her brother not only reached Dao innate but also mastered the third ultimate move of the ’Innate Chapter’ in the ’Tiger Soul Divine Spear’ within just four months.

This speed surpassed her own, ranking him within the top twenty of their generation in the family.

"Those at your pace almost all became Fifth-rank Divine Generals within three years. Two even became Sixth-rank in ten years." Zhang Yun couldn’t fathom: "My brother might truly reach the sixth rank!"

Sixth-rank Divine General!

Mastering the impression!

At this level, one is significant anywhere, even in the Zhang family, commanding considerable influence. Regardless of age, anyone who achieves the sixth rank receives substantial support and resources from the family for at least the first two or three decades.

Genius path!

Sky-reaching path!

Zhang Yun believes Zhang Tao has hope.

"Sister, actually, I——" Zhang Tao attempted to clarify to his sister that he wasn’t a genius; he merely had a ’fortuitous encounter’ in the Heavenly Ladder City.

But Zhang Yun was intent: "There’s no need to say more, don’t tell me, nor our parents, and certainly not anyone else. Just focus on your cultivation; the matter of earning money falls to me and our parents. If you need Primordial Pills, just say the word, I can transfer funds from the capital anytime."

Zhang Yun knew what kind of person her brother was and understood his transformation had occurred just in this past month and a half, after she transferred funds from the Feiyu Trading Company.

In just over a month, she transferred 46 Primordial Pills, equal to nearly a year’s earnings.

But——

"46 Primordial Pills to make Zhang Tao one of the top 20 geniuses in the family!"

"Worth it!"

Zhang Yun was curious about Zhang Tao’s opportunity, but not in a hurry: "Let him steadily cultivate to the sixth rank, and then ask."

Sixth-rank Divine General!

Steady!

Zhang Ye supports her brother silently with funds, never interrupting.

"Sister." Zhang Tao felt touched and understood her intention, though he didn’t think it was a secret: "A month ago, I met a strange person in the Heavenly Ladder City——"

Zhang Tao described to Zhang Yun the entire event of his encounter with ’Yun Zhonghe’ in Heavenly Ladder City, followed by ’monthly viewing battles’ and ’paid teaching’.

His tone was cheerful——

"The first time we met, in just six hours under his guidance, I comprehended ’Qiankun One Qi’ on the spot."

"Afterwards, during the month, I watched Crane God fight daily. Starting from one match per day, lasting six hours in total, Crane God helped me master and smoothly execute the third form’s ten moves from the ’Innate Chapter’ of the ’Tiger Soul Divine Spear’. I felt a breakthrough was near. Therefore, ten days ago, I had you help me transfer 20 Primordial Pills for a private lesson with Crane God, promptly achieving a breakthrough after mastering the third ultimate move. Since then, in another ten days, I’ve mastered the first two of the fourth form’s eleven moves, accumulating forty-six variations. At this rate, in two to three months, I’ll have mastered the fourth ultimate move of the ’Innate Chapter’!"

Zhang Tao was jubilant.

Ever since observing the Crane God’s battles and listening to his martial arts lectures, his progress was rapid, seeing daily improvements with every hopeful and fruitful day.

This feeling was intoxicating.

"So that’s how it is!" Zhang Yun was astounded.

She had imagined many causes and even considered if her brother had truly been enlightened, but the idea that Zhang Tao’s ’opportunity’ was both ’plain yet astonishing’ hadn’t occurred.

A serendipitous meeting with a friend in Heavenly Ladder City, progressing through sparring, was all too common and plain.

Yet, this friend met in Heavenly Ladder City, with a Heavenly Ladder score not much different from Zhang Tao’s, nevertheless allowing him to consecutively master the second and third ultimate moves of the ’Tiger Soul Divine Spear’ within just over a month. This was too strange, and if it spread, it’d be earth-shattering.

Zhang Yun thought it inconceivable.

So did Zhang Tao.

But—

"Too bad that in ’Innate Realm Heavenly Ladder City’ you can’t add friends outside of matches, or I’d have already had you add Crane God as a friend. A month costs only 2 Primordial Pills; his teaching exceeds even Sixth or Tenth-rank Divine Generals. He’s the ultimate mentor!" Zhang Tao had a strong connection with his sister, Zhang Yun willing to spend for her brother; Zhang Tao had good things in mind for his sister: "Even though I can’t add Crane God as a contact, I requested an additional 22 Primordial Pills be sent for consulting Crane God during his instruction, focusing on the ’Autumn Wind Ten Leaves Cloud Water Sword’. His pinpoint martial lectures might aid your comprehension of ’Feng Hong’."

’Autumn Wind Ten Leaves Cloud Water Sword’.

This too was part of the Zhang family’s true skill heritage, with which Zhang Yun was best aligned. Yet, having mastered the fourth ultimate move of the ’Innate Chapter’, she had been stuck at the fifth move, unable to integrate and comprehend the ultimate move, thus unable to progress to the Fifth-rank Divine General.

Zhang Tao wanted to help.

But Zhang Yun shook her head: "Since you need to pay for observing battles, the instruction also requires payment. Though you’re the one observing, not paying or notifying might annoy him, leaving you regretful should he delete you out of anger."

Zhang Yun certainly wanted to attend and observe, but she thought ahead.

"This isn’t an issue." Zhang Tao laughed: "I asked Crane God long ago, and he affirmed that with payment, anyone can watch and listen. Your monthly fee was already included; from the 46 Primordial Pills, my double monthly observation and single guided battle cost 24 Primordial Pills, and the 22 Primordial Pills sent recently cover your monthly observation and a guided battle."

Zhang Tao had prepared this surprise for his sister, though technically paid with Zhang Yun’s own Primordial Pills——

...

[Your ’Autumn Wind Ten Leaves Cloud Water Sword’ has improved, First Realm: Beginner → Second Realm: First Glimpse.]

...

[Your ’Dugu Nine Swords’ has improved, Skill Level +1]

[Dugu Nine Swords: Peak Eighth Realm (30)]

...

[Fifth Rank·Purple Gold Secret Technique: Inspiration +6]

...

[Task Three: Fifth Rank Purple Gold Secret Technique (Geng★★★★★)]

[Inspiration: 100]

...

"Fourth Absolute Skill."

"Fourth Absolute Skill achieving Mid Stage of Eighth Realm."

"’Fifth Rank·Purple Gold Secret Technique’ Derivation Skill completed."

In the twelfth year of Great Yan Hongwu, April 21st, Yan Chuan walked out of the Heavenly Ladder City, brimming with delight.

Two matches and two martial arts lectures in the Heavenly Ladder City today broadened his knowledge, acquiring a new true skill. Riding this East Wind, the ’Dugu Nine Swords’ also reached a breakthrough, achieving Mid Stage of Eighth Realm, comparable to the true skill’s innate Chapter’s third ultimate move, already at the level of a Third-Rank Divine General.

But these achievements were seamless; what delighted Yan Chuan even more was the completion of the ’Fifth Rank·Purple Gold Secret Technique’—

"Go!"

Yan Chuan leaped out of Earth Gate, activating the newly attained Innate Fourth Layer cultivation, instantly propelling his normal maximum speed to 130 meters per second.

Swift as the wind!

This extreme speed consumed considerable energy, and Yan Chuan could maintain it for at most an hour, but even so, at 130 meters per second and a speed of 468 km/h, he could travel 1,872 li in an hour, spanning more than half of Jian Province!

Sky-reaching and earth-penetrating!

This was the speed of the Innate Realm.

But Yan Chuan wasn’t done; upon speeding past the King City, he employed ’Wave Riding Micro Steps’, his late stage of Eighth Realm Qinggong skyrocketing, easily doubling his speed again, surpassing 300 meters per second.

At this speed, Yan Chuan could maintain it for half an hour.

Yet this still wasn’t Yan Chuan’s limit—

"Purple Gold Shuttle!"

"Fifth form: Purple Gold Battle Boots!"

As Yan Chuan darted away from the King City, 365 small shuttles flew out, forming a pair of ’Purple Gold Battle Boots’ with 36 small shuttles each beneath his feet—

Feet shod in ’Purple Gold Battle Boots’.

Executing ’Wave Riding Micro Steps’.

Yan Chuan’s speed doubled once more, forcefully breaking the sound barrier, reaching 400 meters per second.

Limit.

Qinggong.

Battle Boots.

In a triple surge, Yan Chuan’s speed increased more than threefold, covering 400 meters in a second—

Boom!

meters per second!

Surpassing the speed of sound, shattering the sound barrier.

A month ago, Yan Chuan burst forth with maximum speed at Nanyue Lake, then with a normal maximum of only 120 meters per second, and managed around 200 meters per second by employing the late stage of Eighth Realm ’Wave Riding Micro Steps’, further enhanced by the explosive burst of the ’Divine Light True Seed’ and the ’Nine Yang True Seed’, barely reaching 400 meters per second.

Yet this was merely the normal maximum limit of a Fourth-rank Divine General.

But this time——

Innate Fourth Layer.

Late stage of Eighth Realm.

Purple Gold Battle Boots.

Yan Chuan hadn’t even fully maximized his burst, yet his speed already surged effortlessly beyond 400.

"I am invincible!"

Surpassing the speed of sound, Yan Chuan felt his eardrums hum and his vision blur. The overpowering and fast supersonic burst lacked corresponding vision, hearing, and other capabilities to match, even his physique suffering as blood burst from his body in the supersonic motion!

...