Chapter 39: Enduring Scalding Pain to Enter the Ultimate Realm

Back in the secret realm, Qin Anyu resumed his ascetic training. Every day, he practiced the thirteen fundamental sword techniques, tempered his body, and sought out beasts in the Qi-Refining realm for combat. He would return covered in bruises and wounds, only to soak in medicinal baths at night.

Qin Youqin continued her own routine, practicing the thirteen fundamentals and fighting beasts in the Qi-Cultivation realm. Though she exhausted herself daily, her efforts were rewarded with clear progress as she reached the late stage of the sixth level.

Seeing their dedication, Qin Lingxue refused to fall behind. Casting aside her impatience to reach the Qi-Refining realm, she began practicing the thirteen fundamentals and engaged with beasts in the Qi-Cultivation realm. She pushed herself to the brink of collapse, using medicinal baths to temper her body each night.

On the evening of the third day, Qin Anyu announced, "I am going out tomorrow. You two are to continue your cultivation here."

"Big Brother," Qin Lingxue asked, "are you going to fetch the magnetic stones? May I accompany you?"

Qin Anyu looked surprised. "You just arrived three days ago and have only just begun re-tempering your heart. Why leave now?"

"I want to bring my second brother here," she replied. "The environment here is far superior to our sect; the progress is much faster."

Unable to refuse her, Qin Anyu could only say, "I am not sure how much longer this secret realm will exist..."

Qin Youqin tilted her head, looking around. "Young Master, how do you know that?"

He pointed upward. "Do you see those black lines in the sky? They are signs that the realm is beginning to collapse. Once it collapses, the medicinal herbs will rapidly degrade into mundane items or perish. The area will soon be choked with miasma, making it unsuitable for cultivation."

Qin Youqin looked up. "You’re right. I didn't see those lines when I first arrived. I haven't been paying attention, but there are so many now. If the realm collapses, won't those Qi-Refining beasts escape? And what a waste of all those herbs!"

It was surprising how much the girl had suddenly realized.

"I have already harvested most of the high-quality herbs," Qin Anyu said. "The mundane ones have also been collected in large quantities, so there won't be much waste." His expression grew grave. "The collapse of the realm implies the collapse of the formation. It is dangerous to be near the array; you could be crushed to pieces. While I am away, watch those black lines closely and stay alert for any abnormal sounds."

Such a simple, artificial realm would not cause a massive catastrophe, but caution was necessary, especially since both were only at the Qi-Cultivation level. Even a low-level formation, when collapsing, could cause spatial instability that was not to be underestimated.

He did not want them to leave, primarily because of the vast amount of herbs remaining and the unique, dense spiritual energy that surpassed any place he knew of. Despite the impending collapse, he was determined to risk it, aiming to reach the Qi-Refining realm here. Both he and Lingxue required significant amounts of spiritual energy to advance; if the collapse held off long enough, the girl might even breakthrough here too. Internally, he hoped no other Qi-Refining cultivators would arrive.

He could not manage more than this; he could only ensure that the three of them improved as quickly as possible.

Qin Anyu’s trip went smoothly. He not only secured the magnetic stones and herbs from the Listening Wind Tower—with the stones being of high quality and some herbs matching them—but he also exhausted his funds, even selling off some of his own aged and high-quality herbs.

On the way back, he encountered no trouble, though he did run into Ji Yuan, with whom he shared a drink. Before they parted, Qin Anyu gifted him the "Breath Absorption Technique," a foundation-level method that could support cultivation up to the Nascent Soul stage, commonly used by human cultivators in the Immortal World. He gave it as a parting gift, perhaps never to meet again, to commemorate their time together in the Linxia Sect.

Upon returning to the secret realm, the sight of the two women moved him. Qin Youqin had reached the seventh level, and Qin Lingxue had re-tempered five minor stages; they were advancing with incredible speed. Both possessed great talent, and in this environment of intense conflict, their growth was rapid. While Qin Youqin still sparred in the Qi-Cultivation zone, Qin Lingxue had begun challenging beasts in the Qi-Refining zone.

After two consecutive days of watching them emerge from the Qi-Refining zone, he felt the time for the "Ultimate Realm" had arrived. That night, he boiled fifty-six types of aged herbs—both high-grade and mundane—together with the magnetic stones. He suspected the sect that created this realm didn't know of the Ultimate Realm, as they lacked the three essential primary ingredients and the magnetic stones.

Once the medicinal broth was ready, he poured it into the stone basin in his cave and plunged in. Instantly, he nearly leaped out. The sensation was boiling, agonizing—both scalding hot and searingly painful. It felt like a soul-tearing torment. Every one of his five million pores was drinking in the liquid, each one pulsing with pain. He groaned, struggling to suppress his voice so the two women wouldn't hear him.

They heard him anyway and rushed over. Seeing him submerged in the broth, occasionally letting out pained groans as bubbles rose to the surface, they realized they could do nothing. They stood by, clenching their fists and gritting their teeth, as if sharing his burden.

Three hours later, the broth cooled and faded in color. Feeling no more absorption into his pores, he sprang up, dashed out of the cave, and headed straight for the Qi-Refining beast zone. "I am going to fight! Do your own work."

He had to fight to stabilize his breakthrough and unlock his greater potential. If the conditions were insufficient, he would use "self-mutilation"—a brutal substitute.

The two watched him leave, then dutifully drained and cleaned the basin.

"Miss, are you going to cultivate or continue your medicinal bath?"

"My bath has just begun; my body needs to recover before I can continue. I must go fight. Sister Youqin, are you finished with yours?"

"Not yet, I need to fight a match first. Miss, I realize how little we know. The Young Master warned us that the Ultimate Realm bath is agonizing and told us not to interfere, yet we panicked and delayed him by a day."

"Heh, a day’s delay is worth the lesson. Next time we undergo the bath before the Ultimate Realm, we won't panic."

"True. I'm off to practice my fundamentals."

"I'll join you."

As they went to practice, Qin Anyu sought out beasts in the Qi-Refining realm, moving from single targets to entire packs. He abandoned his sword, using only his flesh and blood to battle, defeating them until they fled at the mere sight of him.

After clearing half the zone, he walked out, covered in wounds. Qin Lingxue, just heading out to practice, asked with concern, "Big Brother, are you alright?"

He laughed heartily. "I am excellent—better than I have ever been."