Compared to before, Wang Li had become… unfathomable.
It wasn't just strength.
It was depth.
His blood and Qi alone could now rival early Martial Origin Realm experts.
And yet—
he still couldn't break through.
His cultivation remained stuck at the Sixth Level of the Martial Genesis Realm.
The reason was simple.
He lacked accumulation.
His *quality* had far surpassed his realm—but his *quantity* couldn't keep up.
Ever since he fused that ancient technique into the *Mountains and Seas Art*, his body's potential had expanded thousands of times over. Every breakthrough now required a terrifying amount of Qi and blood.
An ordinary path was no longer possible.
Wang Li stood at the edge of the Tidal Abyss, staring into the thick, poisonous miasma below.
It churned slowly.
Like something alive.
Watching.
Waiting.
A faint chill crept up his spine.
For a brief moment—
he felt *seen*.
Not threatened.
Not targeted.
Just… *noticed*.
Wang Li's lips curled slightly.
"I'll come back," he said softly. "Next time… I won't be the one standing outside."
The abyss remained silent.
But something within seemed to stir.
---
He turned and vanished.
His figure blurred into an afterimage, his speed far surpassing before. Even his shadow lagged behind him.
Four hours later—
he stood at the sect gates.
Before he could take another step—
a voice exploded in his mind.
"Good disciple! Where have you been all this time? Is this what you promised me when I let you leave?"
Wang Li paused.
Then muttered under his breath:
"…You really believe you have the right to ask that?"
Silence.
Dangerous silence.
"…What did you just say?"
Wang Li froze.
That tone—
He turned his head slowly.
Wang Lu stood beside him, smiling faintly.
Which was worse than being angry.
"Pei! Pei! Pei!" Wang Li slapped his mouth lightly. "What nonsense am I saying? Master! Why are you here personally?"
He immediately stepped forward, grabbing her arm with exaggerated enthusiasm.
"Master, have you been well? Eating properly? Sleeping well? Your health is important—"
"You're worried about my sleep?" Wang Lu asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Of course!" Wang Li nodded seriously. "If Master doesn't sleep well, she might—"
**Bang!**
He was sent flying.
"Master! Why?!" he groaned, struggling back to his feet.
He dusted himself off and muttered loudly—very deliberately:
"Sigh… serving under a master is like living beside a tigress. One wrong move and you become food…"
"Good disciple," her voice echoed sweetly from nowhere, "repeat that."
**Bang!**
He flew again.
Wang Li lay flat on the ground, staring at the sky.
"…I should've stayed at the abyss."
"Come back," Wang Lu's voice sounded again. "This old woman has something to tell you before the Netherworld opens."
Wang Li sighed.
*Master… you've made it impossible for me to walk.*
Even so, he dragged his battered body toward the Tenth Peak.
---
When he arrived, Wang Lu was already seated on the stone steps, watching him approach.
"Not bad," she said, glancing at him. "You won't die immediately in the Netherworld."
Wang Li twitched.
"…That's encouraging."
"In the Netherworld," she continued casually, "resources are alive."
Wang Li's expression sharpened instantly.
"You kill them—they kill you."
A pause.
"Simple."
Wang Li narrowed his eyes.
"Define 'resources.'"
Wang Lu smiled faintly.
"When a Netherworld creature dies, it condenses into a drop of grey essence. That drop contains its vitality, power, and accumulated strength."
She leaned forward slightly.
"That… is what you need."
Wang Li's heartbeat slowed.
"So that's how I solve the accumulation problem…"
"Exactly," Wang Lu said. "In the Martial Genesis Realm, the greatest obstacle isn't talent—it's accumulation."
She tapped the stone lightly.
"Most cultivators stagnate because they don't understand their techniques deeply enough."
Her gaze flicked toward him.
"You, however… are the opposite."
Wang Li smirked.
"Too talented?"
"Too reckless," she corrected calmly.
Then, more seriously:
"In the Netherworld, don't chase opportunities. Don't try to be clever."
A brief pause.
"Grow first."
For once—
Wang Li didn't joke.
"…Understood."
---
"Oh right," Wang Lu said suddenly. "I have something for you."
She raised her hand.
Seven-colored energy gathered, swirling into form.
Slowly—
a saber appeared.
Elegant.
Cold.
Deadly.
The moment it solidified, a faint hum echoed through the air, as if the blade itself was alive.
Wang Li's eyes narrowed slightly.
*A good weapon…*
A sheath appeared in her other hand. She slid the blade in and tossed it toward him.
He caught it—carefully.
Very carefully.
"This saber accompanied me in the past," Wang Lu said. "Don't disgrace it."
Wang Li didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he inspected it from top to bottom.
Balance.
Weight.
Intent.
"…It's sharp," he said finally. "Seems real."
Wang Lu stared at him.
"…Seems real?"
Wang Li nodded.
"Just making sure you didn't give me a fake to test me."
Wang Lu smiled.
Dangerously.
"Rebellious disciple… explain yourself."
"Thank you, Master!" Wang Li corrected instantly, gripping the saber tightly.
*Not giving this back.*
---
"By the way," Wang Li asked, "when does the Netherworld open?"
"It already has," Wang Lu replied impatiently. "Go to Netherpeak. I've made arrangements."
"…Arrangements?" Wang Li asked cautiously.
"Go."
"…Understood."
---
On his way down, Wang Li unsheathed the saber slightly.
A faint chill brushed against his fingers.
"What a blade…" he murmured.
Then sighed.
"Shame I don't have the skill to match it yet."
He sheathed it again.
But his eyes had already begun calculating.
---
Netherpeak felt different.
Colder.
Not just physically—
but spiritually.
Each step upward made the air heavier, quieter.
"What kind of people cultivate here…" Wang Li muttered.
Ahead, voices drifted down.
"Senior Sister Cao, why are we going up there? It's freezing!"
"Did I ask you to follow me, Junior Sister Mei?"
"I'm just curious! The master said some outer disciples are coming to compete early for inner disciple status—"
"Hmph. Ignorant."
Wang Li walked past them without even a glance.
"…Was that an outer disciple?" one of them said deliberately.
"Probably one of those who don't know the immensity of heaven and earth."
Wang Li didn't stop.
Didn't respond.
Didn't even slow down.
His figure blurred—
and vanished.
The two women froze slightly.
"…That speed…"
---
At the peak, disciples had already gathered in groups.
Clear divisions.
Clear factions.
Wang Li scanned briefly, then chose a raised rock and sat down cross-legged.
Outer disciple robes.
Purple token at his waist.
A strange combination.
Some inner disciples glanced at him—
tempted.
But no one moved.
That token wasn't for decoration.
Wang Li ignored them all.
He took out the manuals, flipped through them, and selected one.
"Seven forms… this will do."
He closed his eyes and began studying.
The world around him faded.
But not everyone looked away.
"Why are you all staring at him?" a voice said with disdain.
An elite inner disciple stepped forward.
"Don't tell me you feel threatened by an outer disciple."
A fat disciple chuckled.
"Senior Brother Long, we're just helping them understand reality. The Netherworld isn't a playground."
Long sneered.
"Do you even believe that?"
Silence.
"The sect allowed this," he continued coldly. "Which means… they expect something."
His gaze flicked toward Wang Li.