Chapter 5: Breaking the Limits, True Qi Generates Itself (Please bookmark and vote)

"Although the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training has reached the realm of perfection, there is still a significant gap compared to an official Demon Slayer."

Despite his breakthrough, Shen Changqing did not dare to be arrogant or complacent.

The sixth level of the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training could only be used to show off in front of apprentice Demon Slayers; it was simply not qualified to be compared with an official Demon Slayer.

He composed his mind.

He cast his gaze once again upon the flesh and blood in the cell.

Confirming that the entity could no longer provide him with any Slaying Value, Shen Changqing moved on to the next cell.

In the next cell.

What was imprisoned inside was also the remains of a demon.

But unlike the arm and flesh from before, what was imprisoned in this cell was an eye.

A dark green eye.

The moment Shen Changqing saw the eye, he fell into an illusion.

A terrifying demon was pouncing toward him, and endless fear surged from the depths of his heart, driving his body to flee.

But just as he lifted his foot, Shen Changqing suddenly snapped back to reality.

"I am in the Demon Suppression Prison!"

"In the Demon Suppression Prison, all demons and monsters are sealed. How could there be a demon attacking me here!"

"Besides, if a demon were truly attacking, with my current strength, I wouldn't be able to escape even if I tried. It's an illusion, everything is an illusion!"

Shen Changqing comforted himself inwardly, standing still as he watched the demon charge toward him.

Because it was so close.

He could even see every scale on the demon's body and smell the thick, nauseating scent of blood.

The scene was too realistic.

It caused the fear that Shen Changqing had barely managed to calm down to surge once more.

However—

No matter how much fear he felt in his heart, he never moved his feet.

Finally.

The demon passed through his heart, but there was no sharp pain.

The next second.

The illusion vanished.

Shen Changqing broke out in a cold sweat. He no longer dared to look directly at the demon's eye in the cell, instead settling his mind to check his panel.

Sure enough.

The Slaying Value, which had returned to zero, had now become two points.

"Only two points?"

Shen Changqing frowned slightly.

The previous two times had both yielded three points, but this time it was only two; it was likely related to the strength of the demon.

But having two points of income was better than having none at all.

His furrowed brow immediately relaxed.

Not daring to look at the demon's eye again, he headed straight for the next cell.

—

In less than an hour, Shen Changqing had walked through the entire third floor.

Unlike the second floor, the third floor did not house any monsters; it only contained the remains of demons.

Moreover, compared to the number of cells on the second floor, the third floor had fewer.

After finishing the last cell.

Shen Changqing checked his panel.

The two points of Slaying Value had become fifteen.

The reason for this was that some demon remains only provided one point of Slaying Value, or even less than a full point, resulting in him only gaining fifteen points after touring the entire third floor.

Of course.

To Shen Changqing, having fifteen points of Slaying Value was still a considerable harvest.

If the requirements for upgrading the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training had not changed, fifteen points would be enough to raise this martial art to perfection, with plenty left over.

Standing at the entrance to the fourth floor.

Thinking of the risks he had encountered on the third floor, Shen Changqing did not enter lightly, choosing instead to digest his gains on the spot.

Consume one point of Slaying Value!

Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training upgraded to the seventh level!

Consume one point of Slaying Value!

Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training upgraded to the eighth level!

Consume—

Soon, the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training reached the twelfth level.

By this moment.

Shen Changqing's physical defense had reached a formidable level, and his passive strength and speed had also improved significantly.

Looking at the remaining nine points of Slaying Value.

He did not hesitate much and chose to upgrade again.

Boom—

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, three points of Slaying Value vanished instantly. Following that, an extremely tyrannical force rose from his body, quickly sweeping through his entire being.

His Qi and blood were boiling!

His bones were cracking and humming!

His flesh and blood were trembling!

At that moment, Shen Changqing felt as if his entire body had undergone a transformation that could be described as a rebirth.

Unlike the intense pain of previous upgrades.

This time, there was no pain at all; on the contrary, it was very comfortable.

Time passed.

Just as the activity in his body gradually subsided, a warm breath was born in his Dantian, as thin as a strand of hair, quickly flowing through all his limbs and bones.

In an instant.

The warm breath returned to his Dantian and became still.

It's over!?

Shen Changqing woke up from his breakthrough state.

The first thing he did.

He opened his panel to check.

Name: Shen Changqing

Faction: Great Qin Demon Suppression Division

Identity: Apprentice Demon Slayer

Martial Arts: Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training (13th Level, Upgradable)

Slaying: 6

"Hmm?"

Shen Changqing looked at the martial arts section on the panel, his heart trembling.

The Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training had a maximum level of thirteen; he had never heard of a fourteenth level.

Yet, the "Upgradable" text on the panel.

Clearly told him that the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training still had room for improvement.

"Could it be—"

"Does the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training really have subsequent levels?"

Shen Changqing was filled with doubt.

But looking at the "Upgradable" text, he still chose to upgrade.

Suddenly.

Three points of Slaying Value were consumed, and the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training broke through from the thirteenth level to the fourteenth.

After the upgrade was complete.

Three points of Slaying Value remained, and the "Upgradable" text still appeared after the martial art.

Clinging to the idea of maximizing his strength, Shen Changqing did not hesitate for long and chose to upgrade again.

His body vibrated.

The Slaying Value was instantly cleared to zero.

At this time.

Looking at the panel again, the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training had reached the fifteenth level, and the "Upgradable" text had changed to "Not Upgradable."

"Fifteenth level Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training!"

Shen Changqing stood where he was, closing his eyes to feel the changes in himself.

According to the records in the manual, when the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training reached the thirteenth level, the physical body would reach a stage of perfection.

Physical perfection!

True Qi is self-generated!

As a martial art for tempering the body and laying a foundation, when it truly reaches perfection, the body will give birth to a faint trace of True Qi.

Once True Qi is born.

It proves that a person has crossed the threshold of the Body Tempering Realm and reached the higher Pulse Opening Realm.

Noticing the warm breath in his Dantian, now that the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training had reached the fifteenth level, it had grown from the size of a hair to nearly two or three times that size.

"This must be the True Qi that only appears after the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training is perfected!"

Shen Changqing came back to his senses, a smile on his face.

True Qi!

Monsters have rank classifications, and warriors of the Demon Suppression Division have them as well.

Initial apprentice Demon Slayers might not have crossed the threshold of the Body Tempering Realm, while others might be lingering within it.

Official Demon Slayers.

Basically, their strength is at the Pulse Opening Realm or above.

In other words.

After the birth of True Qi, he was no longer inferior to an official Demon Slayer in terms of realm.

Just a day ago.

Shen Changqing was still someone who hadn't crossed the threshold of the Body Tempering Realm; now, he had perfected the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training and directly entered the Pulse Opening Realm, equivalent to an official Demon Slayer.

Such a transformation.

To say he wasn't happy would be a complete lie.

But he also understood.

Entering the Pulse Opening Realm was just a new beginning; compared to the experts in the Demon Suppression Division, the Pulse Opening Realm was nothing.

"Although the Pulse Opening Realm is just the beginning, I have already completely left the other Demon Slayers of my batch behind."

"To achieve this in just one day will surely arouse suspicion; I must not expose too much—"

Shen Changqing's smile faded.

Advancing to Pulse Opening within a year is normal talent.

Doing it in half a year makes one a genius.

Two or three months makes one a peerless genius.

If it takes only a month, that is a monstrous talent.

But if it only takes one day—

Shen Changqing shook his head; that was beyond the description of a monstrous talent.

Until he grew to the point where he didn't fear anyone, he didn't want to become a target too quickly.

"But there's no need to hide it too much either. I'll find an excuse, go into seclusion for a month or two, and then show that I've broken through to Pulse Opening."

"Hiding my strength too much is actually detrimental to my development in the Demon Suppression Division!"

He couldn't be too shocking, as that would invite disaster, but there was no need to hide too much; as long as it was explainable, it would be fine.

Shen Changqing believed.

If his talent were leaked, he would receive some preferential treatment in the Demon Suppression Division.

After all, any monstrous talent would surely not be treated the same as everyone else.

As long as he didn't act rashly.

No one should be able to tell that he had already perfected the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training.

After realizing he had cultivated True Qi.

Shen Changqing could be almost certain that the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training indeed only had thirteen levels; the fact that he could raise it to fifteen was likely due to the advantage of the Slaying Value.

He looked at his empty Slaying Value, then at the entrance to the fourth floor.

In the end.

He walked down.

The Slaying Value of the third floor had been completely harvested; to get more, he had to go to the fourth floor.

Upon entering the fourth floor.

Suddenly, a terrifying chill surged toward him.

In that instant.

Even with Shen Changqing's strong Qi and blood, he felt as if he were instantly frozen by the chill. Only by having True Qi surge from his Dantian was he barely able to disperse it.

"Hiss, what a powerful chill!"

Shen Changqing gasped.

Back when he was about to step onto the fourth floor, he had made an estimate of it.

But now it seemed he had still underestimated it.

If not for the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training being upgraded to the fifteenth level, he would have died instantly upon stepping onto the fourth floor.

Even though he could now resist the chill temporarily with his True Qi.

Shen Changqing felt.

He wouldn't be able to hold on for long.