Chapter 63

"Is this... the Inner Qi Realm?"

After crossing the sandstorm, both the Su family and Hao Qi's group decided to pause due to the death omen they felt when they saw the oasis. The others didn't sense it, so they were left out, but the six Inner Qi Realm practitioners sat together and began discussing the death omen.

The one who first brought it up was an elder of the Su family, Su Shiyun's uncle. After he asked, he shook his head, and the others didn't respond either.

The Inner Qi Realm is currently the highest known realm in Blue Sea. As for whether there are any hidden, legendary True Qi Realm experts, no one knows. For martial artists, from ordinary martial artists to quasi-Inner Qi Realm, they are all in the Mortal Realm. Only when one truly possesses Inner Qi and an energy circulation system forms within the body does this mark a true elevation of humanity. Although still human in genes, flesh, and consciousness, from a strict biological perspective, they are already a different, semi-energy being.

There are said to be 100,000 Inner Qi Realm practitioners, but this doesn't mean Blue Sea has 100,000 Inner Qi Realm experts. It means that if you combine all the nobles, families, sects, royal families, and even commoners, poor people, and slaves, and average it out, one in 100,000 might achieve the Inner Qi Realm. This is why Inner Qi Realm experts are so rare and have such high status.

What about the Inner Qi Realm?

As the most populous, socially advanced, economically developed, and culturally prosperous region in the eastern part of Blue Sea, there is now one confirmed Inner Qi Realm expert, and there might be another in seclusion, but no one is 100% sure.

According to Su Shiyun, there are two Inner Qi Realm experts in the northern part of Blue Sea, but only one is a native of Blue Sea, the other being from Red Sea. As for the western and southern parts of Blue Sea, there are currently no known Inner Qi Realm experts, at least none who have publicly appeared. From Lan Ling'er, they learned that the Sutuka tribe has one Inner Qi Realm expert, making the total number of Inner Qi Realm experts in Blue Sea four and a half, an incredibly small number.

So, how strong is the Inner Qi Realm?

Everyone talks about the power of the Inner Qi Realm, but how many people really know how strong it is?

The historical records of Inner Qi Realm battles in various countries are from a long time ago, and the descriptions of earth-shattering, mountain-moving scenes are quite exaggerated. The most realistic record is a battle that took place about 80 years ago in the northern mountains of Blue Sea. One of the combatants was said to be an Inner Qi Realm expert from the northern part of Blue Sea. No one knows the details of the battle, not even the identity of the Inner Qi Realm expert's opponent. However, the aftermath of the battle, even 80 years later, is still awe-inspiring. Dozens of small mountains, each hundreds of meters high, were completely collapsed, and several thousand-meter-high mountains had varying degrees of damage. The ground looked as if it had been plowed by ground-to-ground missiles.

After a large number of experienced Inner Qi Realm practitioners investigated and exchanged information, they concluded a set of data that left all the Inner Qi Realm practitioners who saw it in despair. To achieve all this, whether in terms of the endurance of Inner Qi, the physical strength after incorporating power into the body, or the total amount of Inner Qi, the Inner Qi Realm's Inner Qi and physical strength are roughly seven times that of an ordinary Inner Qi Realm practitioner.

Don't think that an Inner Qi Realm can be countered by seven Inner Qi Realm practitioners. The data doesn't work that way. As the saying goes, in battle, a slight advantage in strength can make a huge difference. Ten Inner Qi Realm practitioners attacking an enemy, due to coordination, positioning, and the distribution of attack power, can only match an enemy with twice the strength of an Inner Qi Realm practitioner, and this is only if the ten Inner Qi Realm practitioners work seamlessly and are willing to sacrifice themselves for each other.

An Inner Qi Realm, with seven times the strength of an Inner Qi Realm practitioner, if quantified and described in detail, can kill 100 Inner Qi Realm practitioners while only sustaining minor injuries, or even just serious injuries. This is a completely different level of combat power, a realm that Hao Qi and the others can hardly reach. If the people in this oasis, specifically the chief of the Sutuka tribe, are the source of the death omen, then everything makes sense.

After the six people discussed it, they didn't reach a definitive conclusion. Out of desperation, they had to ask Lan Ling'er, as she seemed to have a deep connection with the Sutuka tribe and might know some detailed information. If the Inner Qi Realm expert really posed a threat to them, they should be cautious, after all, he is an Inner Qi Realm expert.

"It's not true. Grandpa Sutuka is very kind and wouldn't easily resort to violence. Moreover, the Sutuka tribe is different from other desert tribes. It's very difficult for people to enter here, and those who do won't be robbed. This place is very different from the outside desert tribes," Lan Ling'er gave a negative answer.

Everyone was speechless. After all, everyone knew the situation in the western part of Blue Sea. It's so barren that people can't survive without robbing others. The oases are small, and human reproduction is difficult, only able to support a certain number of people. There are also the top tribal elders and chiefs who exploit the people, making the population always exceed what the land can support. Moreover, the oases in the western part of Blue Sea are so limited, meaning there can't be a tribe like the one Lan Ling'er described.

"It's true," Lan Ling'er said seriously. "The situation in the Sutuka tribe is very special. You'll see for yourself when you visit the tribe. Seeing is believing, and rumors are never accurate."

So, Lan Ling'er didn't provide any valuable advice. Hao Qi and Su Shiyun were still indecisive. Even the Su family elder, considering human nature as inherently evil, suggested that Lan Ling'er might have deliberately led them to this tribe with an Inner Qi Realm expert, perhaps to eliminate them all.

However, another Su family elder had a different opinion. The existence of an Inner Qi Realm expert, even in this harsh environment, is far beyond what an Inner Qi Realm practitioner can imagine. If he wished, what wealth could he not obtain? It's just that he is bound by his tribe and cannot leave. But an Inner Qi Realm expert is enough to support his tribe, no matter how many people there are, as long as it's still a tribe and not a country. Perhaps, as Lan Ling'er said, the tribe has its special characteristics.

Su Shiyun's two cousins also had different views. One believed that since a merchant group could discover a ruin here and an Inner Qi Realm practitioner could leave, this place is not a dead end. It might be a treasure trove in the eyes of elite merchant groups in the western part of Blue Sea, a secret they guard closely. They wouldn't hesitate to push forward to the ruins.

The other believed that, as the Su family elder suggested, the Inner Qi Realm expert here might have hostile intentions, not because Lan Ling'er deliberately lured them, but because he might have some secrets, like being in a closed retreat. The merchant group that was wiped out might have encountered him, and only one Inner Qi Realm practitioner escaped, only to be poisoned later, which might be related to this.

In short, except for Su Shiyun and Hao Qi, the other four Inner Qi Realm practitioners from the Su family couldn't convince each other, and the situation became deadlocked. Su Shiyun didn't care and secretly asked Hao Qi for his plan. Hao Qi shook his head and gave a three-word answer that left Su Shiyun speechless.

"Golden Bone Pill."

Yes, Su Shiyun's greatest regret is that after achieving Inner Qi, she learned the truth about the Jade Skin Pill from her family. She felt deeply aggrieved, though her regret also had a touch of self-pity and ingratitude. After all, her family raised her, and the Jade Skin Pill is an extremely rare Inner Qi Realm pill. She achieved the Inner Qi Realm, a one in 100,000 chance. There are too many "after all," but this regret is the only one... She is very aggrieved!

So, no matter how difficult it is, she must go!

This is not just known to Su Shiyun; the other four Inner Qi Realm practitioners from the Su family also know. The reason they can't convince each other is just a matter of hesitation and fear.

That day, everyone set up camp on the spot. The next day, the Su family members, including Su Shiyun, were all prepared to move forward. The five Inner Qi Realm practitioners from the Su family were silent, as they had already mentally prepared themselves.

With the Jade Skin Pill, the Su family's status as a noble family is secure. They can produce five to six Inner Qi Realm practitioners every fifty years, which is already a luxury for a noble family. However, the inability to further enhance their strength makes these five to six Inner Qi Realm practitioners a bitter pill, a time bomb that can trigger many covetous eyes, such as the royal family, many noble families joining forces, or even Inner Qi Realm experts.

To advance further or to maintain their noble status, the Su family must have the Golden Bone Pill, especially now that the royal family of the Thousand Mountains Empire has started to pay attention to them...

They have no choice but to move forward!