Chapter 41

Can a cultivator qualify for a breakthrough from the Root Entry stage to the Root Birth stage? The most important factor, naturally, is the accumulation of Primordial Energy. Only after reaching this standard can one attempt a breakthrough.

Following the mantra, the method of breaking through is not difficult; what is difficult is reaching the limit.

Gu Xuyao immediately returned to his Daoist chamber after leaving the training room, clearing his thoughts along the way to prepare for the final breakthrough to the Root Birth stage.

"Gu, remember, you must not be careless about the breakthrough. When you expand your Immortal Root to a certain extent and are about to reach the limit, take the two pills I gave you. They will provide some assistance, more or less."

This was one of the precautions Ren Wuyou mentioned. The two pills were given to Gu Xuyao by Ren Wuyou when he was refining his Immortal Root, and he had not used them yet.

"Primordial Energy Pill, a precious-grade pill, its quality should be around fifth-grade." The two pills were kept in Gu Xuyao's Daoist chamber, hidden very well.

In the cultivation world, pills, magical treasures, and spirit beasts are all classified into grades and qualities, with a total of seven grades: Precious, Rare, Void, Illusory, Life, Universe, and Peace. As for the quality, each grade has its own standards.

Among the most common precious-grade magical treasures, there are six qualities. The Primordial Energy Pill is generally recorded in books as being between third and sixth grade. Those who know can determine the quality by smell, while those who are not skilled can use their thoughts to distinguish.

Placing the two Primordial Energy Pills in front of him, Gu Xuyao sat cross-legged.

"Come on..." Finally, the moment of breaking through the realm had arrived.

The first step was to immerse his thoughts into his body. Through the gathering of thoughts, Gu Xuyao transformed his thoughts into a large hand, passing through flesh and entering the bone marrow.

At first glance, he saw his Immortal Root, which was tightly connected to his bone marrow, appearing and disappearing. It was very clear that the size of the Immortal Root was still far from that of the bone marrow.

The next step was to expand the Immortal Root, making it overlap with the bone marrow, thus achieving a breakthrough. This process sounds simple, but many have failed.

Without hesitation, Gu Xuyao controlled the large hand and grabbed his Immortal Root!

"When pulling the Immortal Root, the movement must be slow. Remember, you must first pull all the Immortal Roots to a limit before breaking through together. This is the experience of countless predecessors, and only by doing so can the success rate be higher." Ren Wuyou's words echoed in Gu Xuyao's ears again.

Slow, must be slow! The pain of the Immortal Root being pulled was unbearable, but Gu Xuyao had to endure the pain and slowly pull the Immortal Root, gradually expanding it.

Gu Xuyao's Immortal Root was originally as thick as a toothpick. After three hours of effort, the Immortal Root in his left arm had grown to the size of a bamboo chopstick. At this thickness, Gu Xuyao felt a significant resistance, knowing that this was the limit Ren Wuyou mentioned.

Stopping the movement, Gu Xuyao continued to pull the Immortal Roots in other parts of his body. The pain was inevitable, but after a series of cultivation, the pain had become less significant for a physical cultivator.

Five days passed quickly, and Gu Xuyao's Immortal Roots throughout his body had all reached the limit. At this point, Gu Xuyao only needed to absorb external Primordial Energy into his body, allowing the Primordial Energy to re-temper the newly expanded Immortal Root to smoothly reach the Root Birth stage. However, this was just a regular breakthrough, not what Gu Xuyao wanted.

"When breaking through the limit, you must start with the Immortal Root at the Heavenly Spirit Bone. This way, you can affect the whole body. Besides enduring the pain, you must also test your strength. Just like a nine-year-old child cannot draw a three-stone bow, the limit is like a bowstring. If you break through, the arrow will be shot out, and you will succeed. If you fail, it will snap back violently. If you pull too far and ultimately cannot succeed, the rebounding force will be enough to shatter your entire Immortal Root."

Ren Wuyou's analysis of this extreme breakthrough was thorough, laying a solid foundation for Gu Xuyao's success.

"Go!" Finally, Gu Xuyao began to pull the Immortal Root at the Heavenly Spirit Bone. From the start, he felt how correct Ren Wuyou's words were.

Resilience, this was Gu Xuyao's first feeling. His large hand could not pull it at first!

"If the Immortal Root cannot be pulled, then increase the power of your thoughts. If your thoughts are not strong enough, do not attempt an extreme breakthrough!"

Veins bulged on Gu Xuyao's forehead as he gathered more thoughts in his mind, significantly increasing the pulling force.

A crisp sound of bone breaking came, just like the pain Gu Xuyao felt in his body. As the Immortal Root was pulled beyond the limit, Gu Xuyao felt a bone-breaking pain, and at that moment, his thoughts almost dissipated.

But he ultimately held on. With another crisp sound, Gu Xuyao pulled the Immortal Root a bit more!

Success is built up bit by bit!

"No one can accurately determine the limit. Just like when you refined your Immortal Root, everyone sees different things and faces different tests. But I can tell you that the closer you get to the edge of the Immortal Root's collapse, the more benefits you will gain. However, you will also need to introduce a large amount of Primordial Energy to temper the newly expanded Immortal Root, which may cause it to expand further. If you break through the edge, you will face death."

On the path to the limit, every step can lead to a cultivator's death!

Calm down, Gu Xuyao continued to pull the Immortal Root, cold sweat drenching his back!

Time quietly passed, and ten days and nights went by. Despite Gu Xuyao's relentless efforts, his Immortal Root did not reach the so-called limit.

"When you cannot make progress, do not let the Immortal Root remain outside the limit for too long, or it will collapse. Remember, remember." At this moment, Ren Wuyou's warning echoed again. Although Gu Xuyao was very reluctant, he ultimately gave up on further attempts.

Gradually retracting his thoughts, the large hand that was pulling the Immortal Root slowly loosened, and finally, the Immortal Root returned to its normal state.

Dissolving his efforts, Gu Xuyao opened his eyes, feeling weak all over.

Looking at the two Primordial Energy Pills in front of him, Gu Xuyao had an impulse to take them and try again immediately.

"Failure in attempts is common. Breaking through from the Root Entry stage to the Root Birth stage is actually very safe, testing the cultivator's patience. The endurance of the Immortal Root will never be as strong as the cultivator's."

Thinking of Ren Wuyou's words, Gu Xuyao restrained this thought, took a deep breath, and the image of Zibì appeared in his mind.

"She is probably preparing for the test to enter the upper level now." The graceful figure always made Gu Xuyao think of her.

Shaking his head to clear his mind, Gu Xuyao closed his eyes again, beginning a regular meditation to relax his nerves.

Speaking of the upper and lower levels of the Taiheng Sect, the disciples in the lower level always envied those in the upper level. The requirements to enter the upper level are not high; one must reach the Root Birth stage, which is a necessary condition. After reaching this stage, one can apply for the test to enter the upper level. If successful, one can enter the upper level for cultivation. If not, one can try again after half a year.

"Upper level..." Gu Xuyao opened his eyes, his sweat-soaked clothes already dry. His eyes no longer showed impatience. "I will get there..." After saying this, Gu Xuyao continued to pull his Immortal Root.

While he was constantly trying, in the training room, the two old men gathered again.

"Senior Brother, it has been so many years, and you actually call a twenty-something-year-old boy your brother. This makes me, your junior brother, lose face." Ling Sanshi came to the training room again. He had not stepped into the training room for many years, but since Gu Xuyao came to the Taiheng Sect, the two brothers met more often.

This time, Ren Wuyou did not drive Ling Sanshi away as he did last time but sat face to face with him.

"Ling Sanshi, you have your reasons for cultivating Gu Xuyao, and I have my own thoughts. This boy is indeed extraordinary, and in this matter, I agree with you." There was no incense or strong tea between them, only dust and an empty hall.

Ling Sanshi chuckled. "Senior Brother, I haven't heard such recognition from you in a long time. All these years, I have done so much for the sect, but I never got a word of praise from you. I didn't expect to have the same opinion on this boy, which is rare, very rare."

Ren Wuyou did not laugh, and his tone was hard. "You did things for the sect? Are you kidding me? How many disciples have reported to me in the training room? Do I not know better than you?"

Ling Sanshi sighed. "Senior Brother, you know, since the incident a hundred years ago..."

"Shut up." It seemed to have touched a nerve with Ren Wuyou, who suddenly shouted to stop Ling Sanshi.

Ling Sanshi stopped speaking but seemed to have a lot to say.

"You go, I'm tired." Ren Wuyou said, lying down on the ground and snoring.

"Ah..." Ling Sanshi sighed, shaking his head helplessly and slowly walking towards the door of the training room, step by step, as if he were not a cultivator but an ordinary old man.

"Master." Outside the door, Yixia was waiting.

Ling Sanshi smiled at her with relief. "Yixia, you have worked hard these years. You have done a lot for me, and the current state of the sect is partly due to your efforts. As a woman, to have such courage and determination is rare. Grandfather can rest easy with you."

Yixia did not show any joy, just lowered her head and said nothing.

Seeing this, Ling Sanshi did not say anything more, just sighed and left the Daoist chamber, flicking his sleeve.

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