Chapter 52

As the sun set and the moon rose, Yang Ji stood alone in the forest, undisturbed. For the entire night, apart from necessary rest and physical recovery, he practiced the "Taihe Devil Tiger Fist" in the meteorite crater, continuously absorbing the scorching celestial essence into his body.

Yang Ji's energy grew increasingly vigorous, and the initial pain from the blood circulation gradually disappeared, leaving only a sense of powerful satisfaction!

Xiao Ji patrolled around the crater, keeping watch for Yang Ji. Time passed quickly, and before he knew it, a day and a night had gone by.

"Hmm? There's still celestial essence underground!"

After a day, Yang Ji thought the essence underground should have dissipated, but unexpectedly, more essence was still surging up, instantly invigorating him.

"It's probably because the enormous heat from the meteorite's impact scorched the land, causing the surface to crystallize, which sealed the residual energy underground, preventing it from dissipating too quickly."

Yang Ji's eyes flickered with contemplation.

Although the source of the essence in the meteorite crater hadn't been cut off, it was clearly not as abundant as on the first day. Yang Ji didn't know how long this absorption could continue, but for him, every moment that passed meant more gains.

The essence continuously merged with his blood, forming the "blood qi" of the Martial Path, and gradually became more concentrated. Gradually, a faint blood color appeared in Yang Ji's eyes, and he felt that he was not far from the true Martial Path.

"When I reach the first level of the Martial Path, the blood qi will circulate, and my entire body will be filled with dense blood qi. My current blood qi is just beginning to form and is still too thin. If I could have a few more days, it would be better."

Yang Ji thought to himself.

The celestial essence underground was clearly dissipating, and Yang Ji could only leave it to fate. The only thing he could do was to intensify his practice. This was a rare opportunity, and if he hadn't come to visit Yang Erniu or had arrived later, the celestial essence here would have dissipated.

Boom!

A fierce wind howled in the meteorite crater, like a storm. Yang Ji's figure was completely enveloped in it, pushing the "Taihe Devil Tiger Fist" to its limits, and the roar of a giant tiger echoed through the forest.

In the blink of an eye, another day and a night had passed.

The blood qi in Yang Ji's body became increasingly concentrated, and the blood circulation was no longer as difficult and sluggish as it was at the beginning. His every movement was more powerful.

Unexpectedly, the "celestial essence" underground was still surging up.

"Great!"

Yang Ji was overjoyed. He had thought that absorbing for a day would be good enough, but now, after two days, it still hadn't completely dissipated.

The "celestial essence" underground had further weakened, but it was still surging up continuously, though not as abundantly as the first two days.

Three days later, when Yang Ji was practicing his fists, a faint, almost imperceptible blood light began to seep out of his pores.

"Just a little more."

Yang Ji's eyes sparkled with determination. He felt that he was almost within reach of the "threshold" of the Martial Path.

The "celestial essence" in the meteorite crater further decreased, but it hadn't completely dissipated.

The gains from this were already far beyond Yang Ji's expectations. He didn't know how much more he could gain in the future.

Four days later!

Boom!

Yang Ji's body trembled, as if breaking through the last layer of paper. With a loud boom, he finally took the final step. The blood qi in his body surged, and a dense blood light burst out from all 48,000 of his pores.

"Martial Path... I've finally reached it!"

Yang Ji felt the surging power within him, his heart swelling with excitement, and he couldn't help but let out a long, triumphant roar, the wind and thunder rumbling around him.

Excitement, surprise, and a sense of achievement... the long-standing grievances and injustices he had endured were instantly swept away the moment he reached the Martial Path.

One step to heaven, one step to hell!

Countless martial artists remained at the Breathing Realm for life because they couldn't break through that final step.

Once upon a time, Yang Ji was confined to a small shed, living cautiously under the tyranny of the First Lady, living a life of dependence.

He had once fantasized about reaching the Martial Path, but the relentless reality forced him to temporarily put aside his dreams.

Now, his long-held wish had finally come true, and Yang Ji felt an unprecedented sense of liberation!

"The First Lady must never have expected... that I would reach the Martial Path!"

At this moment, Yang Ji truly wanted to let out a long, triumphant roar.

In the past eight years, he had endured too many cold glances, exclusion, and oppression, even having to silently endure the theft of his father's inheritance.

Now, a broad path of martial arts lay before him. The Martial Path was enough to look down on all Breathing Realm martial artists, and in a remote place like Pingchuan County, it carried significant weight.

"Vast seas allow fish to leap, and high skies let birds fly." No matter what means the First Lady used, Yang Ji was no longer afraid. Even if he left the family, he was indifferent.

"Father, Mother, can you see? Your child no longer needs to live in dependence. One day, I will rise to prominence and bring honor to you both!"

Yang Ji shouted to the sky.

Four and a half days later, all the energy at the bottom of the meteorite crater had dissipated, and Yang Ji left to prepare for the imperial examination.

In the Han Dynasty, to rise to prominence, one must participate in the imperial examination, which was held every three years and open to all. Only by ranking high on the golden list could one truly achieve success!

...

The Han Dynasty's imperial examination required registration a month in advance. Yang Ji had spent over ten days comprehending the "Fist Intent Unity Diagram" and absorbing the residual energy from the meteorite crater. Now, he had to hurry to Pingchuan City for the examination.

After returning to the city, Yang Ji first bought several sets of fitting brocade clothes and then went directly to the "Carriage Shop" in Jin'an City.

"Sorry, young master, all our horses have been rented out."

To his surprise, the shopkeeper waved his hand and looked apologetic after hearing Yang Ji's request.

"Rented out? How is that possible!"

Yang Ji was shocked.

In the remote area, transportation was inconvenient. The journey from the Yang Clan to Pingchuan City was long, and without horses, it would take an unknown amount of time to walk.

With his current strength, although he could run almost as fast as a galloping horse, human endurance was no match for that of horses.

"Has the city suddenly received so many merchants that all the horses have been rented out?"

Yang Ji asked in surprise.

Jin'an City was a hub for merchants, and the carriage shop usually kept a surplus of horses and carriages to avoid such situations.

"It's not that. The Yang Clan in this city has rented all our horses and carriages."

The shopkeeper patiently explained. He had encountered many such customers in the past few days and had to explain repeatedly.

"What! The Yang Clan?"

Yang Ji's heart trembled, and he instinctively felt a sense of foreboding. "When did this happen?"

"About half a month ago, by the First Lady's order. At that time..."

Yang Ji stopped listening to the shopkeeper's explanation, his mind fixated on those few words.

"Half a month, the First Lady..."

Yang Ji recalled that half a month ago, he was still comprehending the "Fist Intent Unity Diagram" and had not yet officially broken through. The imperial examination registration had not even started. Yet, the First Lady had already begun to rent out all the horses and carriages!

"What a despicable woman!"

Yang Ji took a deep breath, knowing that the First Lady was clearly targeting him.

She first found an excuse to control and lock the "True Martial Hall," preventing him from comprehending the "Fist Intent Unity Diagram," and then rented out all the carriages, making it difficult for him to reach Pingchuan City on time for the examination.

The imperial examination registration had strict limits, and if he couldn't register in advance, he would lose his examination eligibility.

"I must have been discovered when I secretly studied and practiced calligraphy to prepare for the examination. So, she took two measures to deal with me."

Yang Ji thought to himself.

The "Literary Examination" was a crucial part of his plan. The "Martial Examination" was highly competitive, with many Martial Path experts, clans, families, and powerful figures, and even many hidden experts and geniuses.

No one could guarantee success in the Martial Examination. Throughout history, many geniuses who had reached the Martial Path had been eliminated.

Yang Ji didn't have as many resources as others. Only by obtaining the imperial reward of elixirs from the "Literary Examination" could he stand a chance in the "Martial Examination"!

Time was running out, and Yang Ji had to reach Pingchuan City as soon as possible.

Leaving the carriage shop, he visited several others, and as expected, all the horses in Jin'an City had been monopolized by the First Lady.

"This woman..."

Yang Ji's eyes flashed with anger. Although he had guessed that the First Lady wouldn't leave him any opportunities, the reality still made his heart sink and increased his anger.

"She started preparing over half a month ago, truly a deep schemer. But do you think this can stop me?"

Yang Ji's mind raced. To reach Pingchuan City, he needed horses, but this wasn't absolute.

Half an hour later, Yang Ji left the city and entered the deep mountains...

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