Chapter 27: Successful Promotion
In Motan Valley, it was also bustling with excitement for the great battle three days later.
In terms of strength, Mò Tán Gǔ was only in the middle of the ten sects in the past. However, with the Deputy Master Zhuō Yì entering the mid-5th rank five years ago, it instantly brought about a leap for Mò Tán Gǔ, and now it can barely squeeze into the top four.
Deputy Master Zhuo Yi has always been focused on his cultivation and is not interested in worldly affairs. However, since this matter concerns the important interests of the sect, as the strongest and most powerful person within the sect, he naturally cannot ignore it.
"This time our strong enemy is the Golden Crow Sect. If things go as expected, the final match will be between them and us, Mo Dang Valley. As for the once glorious but now insignificant Wei Yin Sect, with Xie Ping's disappearance, it has become a stepping stone for all sects to step on. ... Zhuo Yi, during this period of time, you should study Hao Wu Xie thoroughly, and in the final battle, be sure to use your trump card at the last moment, avoiding early exposure."
Zhuo Yi slightly nodded: "Senior brother, please be at ease, I will definitely go all out to take back the two major mineral veins, and give our Mo Tan Valley a future where we can dominate the Shou Jing Mountains, laying the most solid foundation."
Zhang Jiao Li Duan continued: "In addition to the Golden Crow Sect, there is another formidable opponent worth noting. It's the Hong Shui Sect. This time, they abandoned their sect's fifth-grade initial stage and didn't use it. Like the Ti Yin Sect, they also adopted a policy of introducing external aid, bringing in a mysterious woman at the fourth-grade later stage. Unlike the Ti Yin Sect, which was forced to do so out of desperation, the Hong Shui Sect's move is extremely unusual."
"The relationship between Hong Shui and Qing Yu Xian Jing is not ordinary, even the mysterious Tian Tian sect avoids them. In my opinion, this woman must be from Qing Yu Xian Jing. The fact that she can reach the late stage of 4th rank before the age of 30 is something to be guarded against."
Zhuo Yi secretly admired him. At such a young age, he had already entered the fourth rank, and even among billions of people, there was no one like him, let alone in the later stage of the fourth rank.
He couldn't help but think of the young warrior from the Tui Yin Sect and asked, "Senior brother, I heard that the reinforcement from the Tui Yin Sect was able to heal the wound caused by a fourth-grade late-stage strike. Is this true?"
Li Duan picked up the cup of clear tea in front of him, took a sip and said: "This is true, I have sent someone to investigate the details. The great elder Yang Desong of the Hidden Sect was indeed killed by this person, and judging from his age, he may not be twenty years old yet."
"Under twenty?" Zhuo Yi's eyes widened, able to kill a fourth-grade late-stage cultivator before the age of twenty?
He took a deep breath, originally thinking that he had entered the middle of the fifth rank in his 90 years of cultivation, and his cultivation speed was already unmatched. But he didn't expect to hear one by one that was more abnormal than himself.
"It's just that this person is only a third-grade late-stage, even if his ability is high, he can't deal with fifth-grade! In this world, there hasn't been anyone who can surpass two grades in single combat and kill higher-ranking warriors. ...This person's future is bright, but potential is just potential, not equal to current strength, he won't be able to achieve anything in this war."
It's obvious that a mid-3rd rank is no match for an upper 5th rank, it's impossible to win! Even if you use the strongest treasure and defense. A strong 5th ranker can kill a late 3rd rank in the blink of an eye.
"This man has a boundless future, is a rare talent, unfortunately let Tieyun Zong get ahead. If he can be poached from Tieyun Zong, it's not much worse than getting those two big treasure mines..."
Li Dui showed a disappointed look and muttered to himself.
At this time, Lin Heng was inside the cave mansion, concentrating all his efforts on refining his inner elixir to break through to the fourth grade. He had no idea about the various sects outside, sharpening their swords and polishing their fists.
Before this surge, he had a faint intuition: this time it might be successful.
In the spiritual sea, the third "potential vortex" slowly occupied the highest point. As the medicinal power of the inner elixir continued to surge in, a crisp sound rang out, and the light of the divine nucleus seed suddenly accelerated its rotation. In the dark gray space, a drop of transparent crystal liquid slowly condensed on the surface of the divine nucleus seed. Suddenly, the "crystal liquid" dropped down, suspended three feet away from the divine nucleus seed in mid-air.
Soon afterwards, another drop formed and fell slowly.
Drop by drop, it gradually coalesces into a whirlpool-like shape at the bottom.
Success! Four-star Impact Success!
Lin Hong looked at the fourth potential vortex that was initially condensing in the Sea of Consciousness, and his heart was overjoyed.
Fourth-rank strongman! Lin Yun finally became a fourth-rank strongman! He almost shouted out in excitement.
As the essence continued to merge, the whirlpools inside were slowly taking shape. Lin Hang only felt that his bodily functions seemed to be pouring into an endless vast energy. Every tiny cell was nourished, and each one joyfully and wildly absorbed it, rapidly condensing and growing stronger. In an instant, every tiny essence underwent a transformation, bursting out of their old outer layers. The newly transformed essences shone brightly, and Lin Hang's body had an additional hint of bright silver-white color.
In the sea of consciousness, "water droplets" continuously condense into vortex outlines, a large amount of potential energy flows in and is absorbed into the interior of the vortex, gradually condensing into fluid.
Lin Heng took out a second-grade inner elixir and began to refine it.
Before, he had only taken one pill at a time. But he felt that at this moment in the special stage of rushing up the ranks, his dantian was undergoing drastic changes, and it seemed as if he could accommodate another burst of medicinal power from the inner dan.
As the inner elixir is tempered, a surge of energy bursts into the sea of consciousness with a "whoosh", like a layer of white mist, and then rushes towards that new "energy vortex".
Lin Heng was overjoyed, and indeed it was so.
After one inner elixir is refined, the flow of liquid inside the vortex obviously rises a bit, and at this time, the outline of the new "vortex" has only condensed halfway.
Lin Heng felt that the dantian could still withstand it, and another one was stuffed into his mouth. As such, he continued to swallow until the fifth one, when the fourth "Energy Vortex" finally took shape.
Lin Heng jumped up with joy, unable to contain himself: "Damn it, I'm a 4th-grade strongman now! Haha..."
Moreover, during the breakthrough, he continuously took five elixirs of demonic beasts to assist him. At this time, he had already left the initial stage of the fourth rank and was taking a big step towards the middle of the fourth rank.
The fourth rank is the final stage of a low-ranking warrior. The fifth rank, which is above it, is the qualitative dividing line that separates one from being a low-ranking warrior.
In the spiritual sea, four "potential vortex" have appeared. Once the fourth vortex is fully formed, it can merge with the other three vortex and the divine core seed to undergo a spiritual transformation. If the fusion is successful, the legendary "Spiritual Heaven and Earth" will appear, and those who possess it are far more terrifying than the lower-level warriors of the Spiritual Sea.
On the way from fourth rank to fifth rank, merging with the Sea of Consciousness is an unavoidable step and a special threshold on the path of cultivating martial arts.
It's not just a matter of cultivating the inner classics to succeed, but rather it requires the assistance of rare medicinal materials to have any hope of successful fusion. Under the stabilization of special medicinal materials, "Divine Awareness" can only then successfully transform. This is also why the realm of martial artists transcends the higher the better, and the more they need to enter a major sect.
Because the elixir for advancing to "Divine Perception of Heaven and Earth" is extremely rare, it's not something that can be possessed by an individual through personal effort or resources. It can only be obtained with the power of a sect. Moreover, even for a sect, such a precious elixir is extremely scarce and is treated as a most valuable treasure, strictly sealed away.
Take Yang Desong, the great elder of the Weiyin Sect, for example. In order to obtain one of the "Xianyu Lingye", he did not hesitate to sell out the Weiyin Sect and let the sect follow the Xuantian Sect. It can be seen that these medicinal materials are rare and precious. To know that even a sect like Weiyin is not spared.
Lin Heng didn't bother with such distant worries, for now he just needed to fully savor the wonderful feeling that the surging energy brought to his body after advancing.
It's so cool, it's really too cool! Lin Heng narrowed his eyes and savored the endless aftertaste for a long time.
He only felt that every inch of his muscles, bones and skin contained endless power, like a turbulent sea crashing against him. There was even an illusion that as long as he poked his finger out, he could poke a huge hole in the solid cave in front of him.
The energy of the four products is indeed not trivial and far surpasses that of the three products.
Although this is a cliché, Lin still spoke from the heart.
And after entering the fourth stage, the quality of his divine core seed has reached a brand new height, making it even more effortless for him to wield "Exterminate Evil Stab", with an even more abnormal speed.
Lin Hang stepped out of the formation, just about to try out his new fourth-grade power.
Little did he know that when he looked up, Xie Yin's brother was approaching him from afar. The two brothers saw him and Xie Li was fine, but Xie Yin had a face full of joy, running over to scold him, "Lin Shixiong, you're finally back! Where have you been for the past month? There was no news from you at all?"
Lin stretched his body and then said: "I'm going on a long trip."
Xie Yin pouted: "We thought a big battle was imminent, you were afraid of losing too badly, so you quietly deserted before the battle."
"You think I'm such an irresponsible person?"
"Of course not, and I know you will definitely win this battle, you will definitely defeat those arrogant strongmen who are showing off their claws!" Xie Yin said with a smile.
Xie Li was infected by his sister's emotional outburst and smiled: "Don't blame my sister, you haven't shown up for a month, and the clan has been discussing it nonstop. Those few elders even asked me to prepare a replacement candidate, just in case."
Lin Heng looked at this young man who was far from his age and felt the pressure he bore, and a wave of admiration surged up.
This war is a matter of life and death for the Yu Yin Sect, and they can only win, not lose. If they lose, all their foundations will gradually decline and be swallowed up by others. As the master of the Yu Yin Sect, at this critical moment, every minor decision he makes concerns the rise and fall of the sect's honor and shame, yet he never shirks responsibility.
Of course, his strength is also superficial. When facing those powerful sects, it's clear that he, like everyone else, is timid and lacks confidence. So even though Lin knows he's only a third-grade cultivator in the later stages, with a slim chance of winning, he still maintains a lucky mentality, tightly grasping this lifesaving straw.
Lin Heng patted his frail little shoulder and gazed at the distant clouds, saying: "Don't worry, I will definitely win this battle!"
Xie Yin and Xie Li simultaneously felt a shock throughout their bodies, and then the two small faces were filled with frantic excitement.
They had known Lin Yang for quite some time and knew that he was always low-key and humble. Now, he actually said "I will win this battle!", so there's no doubt that he already has a well-thought-out plan to win this battle against those five powerful opponents!
"Lin Shi... Brother Lin... do you really have the confidence to win against those fifth-grade powerhouses? You're... you're too amazing, I'll definitely show up in person to cheer you on. I want to witness you defeating those fifth-grade powerhouses and see the faces of those people who looked down on our Yi Yin Sect and you before. They will be ashamed and humiliated for underestimating us! This time, everyone is looking forward to Jin Wu Sect and Mo Tan Valley, and they all think our Yi Yin Sect doesn't exist. They will definitely regret their blindness and arrogance! I want to see with my own eyes Brother Lin Shi suddenly appear and shock the Shou Jing Mountains, will those arrogant people's faces turn red like a child's butt?"
She was so excited that she spoke quickly and unclearly, stuttering and saying a string of words.
Xie Li suppressed his excitement and enthusiasm, exhaling hot breath, saying: "Lin Shixiong, whether the Weihui Sect lives or dies this time depends entirely on you."
Lin Huan nodded slowly and said: "I promised to help you win this battle, so I must be able to do it. However, I have a condition."
Xie Li hastily said: "Please speak."
"After victory, after getting Huojing Rock Vein, I need fifty boxes of 'Huojing Stone'."
Xie Li listened and nodded, there was no reason not to agree. To know that if they failed, it wouldn't be just the "Huojing Rock Vein" that would fall into others' hands, but even the original "Lianjing Mine Vein" would have to be surrendered. The "Huojing Rock Vein" Lin Heng wanted didn't originally belong to the Wei Yin Sect anyway, so there was no need to hesitate, and he immediately nodded in agreement.
At this time, a light blue cloud floated from mid-air.
Lin Heng looked up and saw another guest elder Li Shi, and immediately said: "Lin Heng has seen the senior."
The other two also respectfully said: "We've seen you before, Senior Li."
Li Shi smiled and said, "Lin Heng, you and I are still equals. If you don't mind, we can address each other by name. With your cultivation, I wouldn't dare to be considered a senior. Moreover, if you call me 'senior' like these two juniors, it would imply that I'm an old lady."
She smiled lightly, revealing a subtle maturity and elegance that only a mature woman could possess.
Ever since Lin Huan revealed his mastery of formation techniques, she didn't dare to underestimate this unremarkable-looking young man again.
Although Lin Huan knew that her scolding was just a joke, since the other party said so clearly, she had no choice but to follow suit.
Xie Yin's younger brother was shocked on the side, this Li senior is actually a sixth-grade strongman, she actually let Lin Yang and her be equal? What kind of ability does Lin Yang have that makes her put down the attitude of a sixth-grade strongman? It's worth knowing that Lin Yang is only a late-stage third-grade!
When Lin Huan helped Li Shi set up the "Stiff Plum Array", he had warned Li Shi not to reveal that it was his doing. So although the two of them knew that a new, formidable magical array had appeared in the sky above Li Shi's cave, they thought it was Li Shi's work and would never have guessed that Lin Huan was a master array strategist.
"Huh? Lin Hong, you've reached fourth rank?" Li Shi suddenly sensed Lin Hong's fourth-rank aura and exclaimed in surprise.
Lin Heng didn't expect her to find out, and slightly nodded: "Not bad luck, just successfully leveled up."
"What! Lin Shixiong, you broke through to the fourth rank!" On the side, Xie Yin's younger brother and sister exclaimed in unison, their voices loud with surprise.
The faces of the two people showed a crazy excitement, and Xie Li, who was usually calm and composed, was even more so. His heart was racing: "I've won! This time I've definitely won!"
