The shock etched upon the faces of Yan Kai Long, Wang Mei, and Wang Ling as they listened to Ye Fang had begun to transform into deep, profound suspicion. The ethereal waterfalls flowing all around, the vibrant flowers glowing like fireflies, and the pure Spiritual Energy floating in the air were enough to intoxicate any cultivator. In the distance, the cultivators of the Holy Sun Clan, Blood Coffin Sect, and Mystic Fog Valley were already jubilant, believing this place to be the 'Fire Emperor's Paradise,' and were frantically racing to hoard the glowing flora.
However, far from this dazzle, the atmosphere within the small detachment from Sanmiao City was entirely different.
Ye Fang swept his gaze across the surroundings. Seeing that the grand Elders and arrogant heirs of the other sects were still busy admiring the magical nature and boasting of their superiority, he signaled his companions with a sharp, chillingly calm voice.
"Come here, all of you. Listen to me carefully..."
In a hushed, whispering, yet grave tone, Ye Fang summoned his companions—Yan Kai Long, Wang Mei, Wang Ling, Commander Zheng, Shi Mao, and Murong Yun. His face was blank, and a deep intelligence shone in his eyes, making it impossible for anyone to mistake him for a mere Qi Refining novice.
The cultivators formed a small circle around Ye Fang. Amidst the divine melody of the waterfalls, Ye Fang's soft voice reached only the ears of his comrades.
Ye Fang looked directly into the eyes of Yan Kai Long and Wang Mei. "None of the great, so-called mighty sects of the Tianxia Continent present in this valley know that the Fire Emperor's 'Ancient Flame' is truly hidden here. They have all been blinded by the deceptive beauty of this paradise and this external Spiritual Energy. They believe that this grass and these waterfalls are the true treasure of this realm."
He paused for a moment, his sharp gaze falling upon the arrogant heir of the Holy Sun Clan, who was busy dusting off his golden attire. Then, he looked back at his group and said:
"If these wolves get even the slightest whiff that the true treasure here is not some trivial herb but an 'Ancient Divine Flame,' they will turn this entire domain into a Kurukshetra. Therefore, the safest path for us is to move away from this crowd, quietly seeking shelter behind a secluded rock or cave. We must concentrate our energy without drawing any attention and search for the source of that Secret Flame. So... you all understand me clearly, right?"
The strategic depth and grave respect in Ye Fang's advice stunned even seasoned warriors like Commander Zheng and Murong Yun.
Yan Kai Long suppressed his energy and nodded slowly. "Brother Ye Fang, I must applaud your insight. These major sects are only great in name; their greed has blinded them. We shall do exactly as you say."
Wang Mei also tightened her grip on the hilt of her blue sword and whispered, "You are right, Ye Fang. The peace in this place is not normal. We should quietly slip away and cultivate."
Before Wang Mei could even finish her sentence, something occurred within Ye Fang's soul that seemed to freeze the flow of time.
'DING!'
A familiar, crisp, and digital voice echoed in the deepest corner of Ye Fang's mind. This voice could not be heard by any external cultivator; it belonged solely to the playful yet ruthless System within him.
A brilliant blue screen flickered into existence before Ye Fang's eyes. Notifications floated on the screen in golden characters:
[ "Congratulations, Host! Your marvelous cunning... pardon me, your exquisite politics and your successful entry into the Secret Domain within the precise timeframe have been acknowledged!" ]
[ "Since the Host has successfully set foot in the 'Fire Emperor's Secret Domain' despite the pressure of overwhelming odds and formidable titans, the System rewards your monumental effort." ]
'DING! DING! DING!'
Red and golden digital fireworks burst on the screen, and the Little System's voice in his mind grew more excited:
[ "Task Reward activating..." ]
[ "Host's current cultivation stage: QI REFINING - FIRST STAGE" ]
[ "Upgrade processing... 3... 2... 1..." ]
'BOOM!!!'
It felt as though celestial lightning had struck within Ye Fang's mind. The screen displayed in bold letters:
[ "Host's cultivation stage bypassed from 'Qi Refining - First Stage' directly to 'QI REFINING - PEAK STAGE'!" ]
[ "As a reward, 100 'System Points' are granted to the Host!" ]
As the announcement concluded, Ye Fang didn't even have a moment to steady himself. The 'God-Demon Meridian' he had forged into a diamond foundation just last night began to pulse frantically.
'Zhoooosh!!!'
A ferocious and unprecedented vortex of Spiritual Energy erupted from the very center of Ye Fang's body, causing the lush grass where they stood to tear apart in a circular radius. The pure Spiritual Energy floating in the air rushed into every pore of Ye Fang's skin like a starving lion.
A normal cultivator would need months of arduous meditation to advance from the first to the second stage of Qi Refining. Reaching the 'Peak Stage' after crossing nine stages would make even the most talented cultivators sweat, requiring years of tempering their very bones.
But here? There were no boundaries. In a single stroke, the System shredded all constraints of cultivation within Ye Fang's meridians like a house of cards.
'First stage... third stage... sixth stage... ninth stage... and straight to the Peak!'
The balance of the God Qi and Demonic Qi circulating within his veins reached a climax with a massive explosion. An impenetrable aura of deep white and light black smoke manifested around his body, increasing the air pressure in the vicinity tenfold. His eyes glowed with a golden and black luster for a fleeting second.
This sudden, unprovoked Mega Breakthrough was so violent that Yan Kai Long, Wang Mei, and Commander Zheng, who were standing close by, were forced to retreat. A terrifying shockwave slammed into their feet.
"This... what is this vortex?!" Commander Zheng gasped. His heavy voice trembled in the explosion of Spiritual Energy.
Murong Yun and Shi Mao, the elite warriors of the Long Tian Sect, immediately adopted defensive stances. Murong Yun's eyes widened in horror, his hand frozen on his massive blue sword. "This boy... the pressure emanating from his body... he has reached the Peak Stage of Qi Refining directly! But how is this possible?!"
Wang Mei and Wang Ling were stunned. Wang Ling covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes filled with such fear and wonder that it was as if she had seen a ghost. "Sister! Just a moment ago, Ye Fang was speaking to us in a whisper... and suddenly, how did such a massive explosion come from within him? Did he have some secret medicine hidden?"
Wang Mei had no answer to this question. She couldn't believe her own eyes. In the entire cultivation world, she had never read any text or heard any legend where a cultivator, while standing, without entering meditation, and without breath control, could leap from the first stage directly to the 'Peak Stage.' It was a blatant violation of the natural laws of cultivation.
Yan Kai Long stood bewildered. Sensing this new, ferocious aura, his own meridians crackled in response. He wondered what the truth behind this boy was. He stammered, "Brother... Brother Ye Fang... what have you done? Upon arriving here... just by setting foot in this Secret Domain, you had such a rapid breakthrough?!"
Not only the Sanmiao City detachment, but the echo of this unimaginable explosion was so loud that even the two Elders at the pinnacle of the 'Golden Core' stage from the Holy Sun Clan turned back with a start.
"What?! Where did that aura come from?" The arrogant young heir of the Holy Sun Clan, still recovering from the dread of Yan Kai Long, was dumbfounded by this new maelstrom. His eyes pierced through the dust and smoke, locking onto Ye Fang. "That boy... he was just a minor Qi Refining disciple from that weak Sanmiao City group, right? How did his aura suddenly become so ferocious?"
Every sect present in the valley—from the sinister elders of the Blood Coffin Sect to the mysterious women of the Mystic Fog Valley—was left aghast. Whispers and sensations spread everywhere.
"How can anyone breakthrough so quickly? Is this boy a hidden divine talent, or does he possess an ancient technique that enhances strength in a heartbeat?" an Elder of the Mystic Fog Valley rose from her lotus to stare at Ye Fang.
"Impossible! The laws of cultivation state that the faster the speed, the weaker the foundation!" an Elder of the Holy Sun Clan stroked his beard and spat, though terror was clearly visible in his eyes. "Is this boy's foundation so weak that he forcibly pulled his strength to breakthrough this early? If so, this cultivator will never progress further in the future. His body will not be able to withstand this sudden increase in pressure, and his meridians will burst!"
"Yes! His foundation must be weak! Or perhaps, upon arriving here, this boy secretly swallowed a 'Forbidden Pill' that boosts the cultivation base for a while, only to leave the person crippled afterward!" The arrogant heir of the Holy Sun Clan laughed loudly to mask his humiliation, though his heart trembled within. "The insects of Sanmiao City only know how to put on a show!"
In this crowd of cultivators, where surprise, jealousy, and suspicion reigned, Ye Fang emerged slowly from the smoke, standing at the center of the maelstrom.
His body appeared more toned and radiant than before. A faint divine glow emanated from his skin, reflecting the perfect balance of his 'Permanent God-Demon Meridian.' The 100 points awarded by the System were safely tucked into his inventory, and his cultivation base was now firmly anchored at the 'Qi Refining - Peak Stage.'
Was his foundation weak? Hearing this foolish speculation, the Little System sitting within Ye Fang's mind shook her tiny feet and burst into loud, mocking laughter.
Ye Fang adopted a mask of supreme innocence, bewilderment, and simplicity. Looking at his companions, he said with utmost humility:
"Oh... why are you all so stunned? Brother Kai Long, Commander Zheng... I myself do not understand what happened. The moment I entered this holy and beautiful place and felt the pure Spiritual Energy here, an old teaching given by my revered Master flashed into my mind. Perhaps due to this environment and my Master's blessing, the shackles on my meridians suddenly unlocked. Please forgive me if my sudden breakthrough caused any trouble for you."
'My Master's blessing!'
The moment the name of that 'imaginary Master' left Ye Fang's lips again, the suspicion in the eyes of Yan Kai Long and Wang Mei instantly turned into profound reverence. Yan Kai Long stepped forward and placed a hand on Ye Fang's shoulder, his eyes gleaming. "Brother Ye Fang! Your Master is truly a deity walking this universe! Just by his blessing, your cultivation reached the Peak the moment you arrived here? Magnificent! Now I have complete faith that no one can stand in our way in this Secret Domain!"
Commander Zheng also breathed a sigh of relief and bellowed toward the Holy Sun Clan in his heavy voice, "Did you see that, you wolves of the Holy Sun Clan? Every cultivator of Sanmiao City is a miracle in their own right! Your eyes are burning because none of you possess such sacred talent!"
While the Sanmiao City detachment bowed before Ye Fang's 'Master-preaching' and the Holy Sun Clan gnashed their teeth in jealousy, inside his mind, the Little System's face turned bright red with annoyance again. Pressing both palms against her cheeks, she shrieked:
"Oh my god, Host! You started again?! I facilitated the breakthrough, the points were spent from my system code, and you credited everything to that imaginary 'holy Master' in a heartbeat?! And these naive fools of Sanmiao City are ready to cry, believing your trickery as the absolute truth! Host, you truly are the most ruthless and deceitful cultivator of all!"
Ye Fang smiled internally and said to the System, 'Stay calm, Little System. This is what you call politics. Now that my strength has increased, let us begin the search for that 'Ancient Flame' you mentioned. Let these wolves graze in this fake paradise; we shall begin our real hunt.'