Returning to his room, Mo Liangye didn't immediately bask in the afterglow of achieving the Sprouted Seed stage. The initial wave of fierce joy was quickly suppressed, replaced by his usual ice-cold rationality. He spent the rest of that day simply sitting cross-legged, eyes closed, meticulously stabilizing his newfound internal state.
He focused on the tiny, vibrant sprout within his Dantian. It pulsed with a life force entirely distinct from his standard Qi reserves. He could feel its subtle connection spreading through his entire body, a network finer than meridians, strengthening his flesh, bones, and even his senses in ways Qi Refining alone never could. His hearing seemed sharper, his vision clearer even in the dim light, his body felt tougher, more resilient.
"Alive," he thought, a sense of awe mixing with cold calculation. "This Ancient God Path… it doesn't just refine energy, it fundamentally reforges the body. A true path towards an indestructible form?" The potential was staggering, terrifying.
But the hunger… it was undeniable. The sprout constantly craved energy, leeching subtly from his replenished Qi reserves and the ambient air. It was a slow drain, manageable for now, but he knew it would only grow stronger as the sprout developed. "These last few spirit stones… they won't be enough to feed it and push my Qi Refining realm. But I need that breakthrough. Late Stage Qi Refining is essential for the competition."
He looked at the five remaining low-grade spirit stones glittering faintly on the floor. A pittance, yet his entire fortune. "No more holding back. The competition is less than three weeks away. I need every advantage."
With renewed determination, he arranged the last five stones and lit the Qi-stabilizing incense he had purchased. Its calming fragrance filled the small room, helping him focus his mind. He drew upon the first spirit stone, directing its pure energy not towards the hungry sprout, but towards the bottleneck separating the Mid and Late stages of his Qi Refining cultivation.
He slammed the energy against the invisible barrier again and again. The Tier 2 wolf core had pushed him close, priming the way, but breaking through required a final, concentrated push. The first stone crumbled to dust. Then the second. His meridians strained, aching under the pressure. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite his focus.
The third stone. He felt the barrier tremble, hairline cracks appearing in his perception. He gritted his teeth, pouring every ounce of his will, guided by the stabilizing incense smoke, into the assault. The fourth stone. The cracks widened. He could feel the denser, more potent Qi of the Late Stage just beyond reach.
The fifth and final stone. Its energy surged, a final battering ram against the weakening bottleneck. Mo Liangye let out a silent roar in his mind, focusing everything on that single point of resistance.
CRACK!
The barrier shattered. A torrent of refined, powerful Qi flooded his Dantian and surged through his meridians, wider and stronger than before. The world seemed to sharpen, his connection to the ambient Qi deepening. He had done it. Late Stage Qi Refining!
He spent the next hour consolidating the breakthrough, circulating the new, denser Qi until it flowed smoothly, acclimating his body to the increased power. He felt significantly stronger, faster, his standard techniques now capable of packing a much greater punch.
The following two weeks passed in a blur of intense, secretive training. Mo Liangye pushed himself relentlessly. During the day, he practiced the 'Flowing Cloud' techniques in the crowded training grounds or secluded corners he found. His movements became faster, sharper, imbued with the power of his new realm, yet he deliberately held back slightly, making it appear as a natural, albeit rapid, progression for a diligent disciple who had just broken through.
He sparred against imaginary opponents in his mind – Wang Hu's brute force, Li Mei's blinding speed, Zhao Feng's resource-fueled arrogance. He devised counters, planned strategies, analyzed weaknesses based on his observations.
In the privacy of his room, he focused on integrating his two sources of power. He practiced controlling the enhanced physical strength and resilience from the Sprouted Seed, learning to channel it subtly through his standard Qi techniques. A simple 'Cloud Pushing Palm' could now carry unexpected weight and stability. A basic 'Cloud Step' allowed for sharper turns and more explosive dodges due to the improved balance and leg strength. He was forging a fighting style uniquely his own, hidden beneath a conventional facade.
The atmosphere in the outer sect grew increasingly tense as the competition drew near. Alliances shifted, rivalries flared. Mo Liangye remained an aloof observer, gathering intel. He saw Wang Hu shatter three training dummies in a single session, drawing gasps from onlookers. He witnessed Li Mei move so fast during a spar that her opponent didn't even see the strike that defeated him.
He also saw Zhao Feng, more arrogant than ever, showing off a new, intricately carved wooden pendant hanging from his neck. Mo Liangye overheard Zhao's lackeys boasting about it being a low-grade defensive artifact, a gift from his inner sect cousin. "A defensive artifact," Mo Liangye noted coldly. "Predictable. It might absorb one or two blows, but it won't save him if I find the right opening."
One afternoon, as Mo Liangye walked back from the dining hall, his path was deliberately blocked by Zhao Feng's main lackey – the one who had slapped him weeks ago. The lackey smirked, clearly intending to provoke him.
"Well, well, if it isn't Mo Trash," the lackey sneered, puffing out his chest. "Heard you got lucky on some mission. Still think you stand a chance in the competition?" He stepped closer, bumping his shoulder against Mo Liangye's.
Previously, Mo Liangye might have stumbled or been forced back. Now, anchored by the subtle power of the Sprouted Seed, he stood firm, solid as a rock. It was the lackey who staggered back slightly, surprised by the unexpected resistance.
Mo Liangye didn't react physically beyond that. He simply turned his head slowly, his dark eyes locking onto the lackey's with an unnerving, predatory stillness. "You should watch your own step," Mo Liangye said, his voice quiet, level, yet carrying an edge as sharp and cold as his hidden dagger. "Wouldn't want to fall before the competition even starts."
The lackey, usually full of bluster, found himself momentarily speechless, caught off guard by the directness and the chilling intensity in Mo Liangye's gaze. He felt an involuntary shiver trace its way down his spine. He stammered, trying to regain his bravado. "Y-you… Just you wait! Senior Brother Zhao will crush you in the arena!" He then hastily retreated, unnerved.
Mo Liangye watched him go, a flicker of cold amusement in his eyes. "Let them underestimate me. Let them think I'm just lucky, or slightly improved. Their shock will be all the more satisfying when I break them."
The day before the competition arrived. A tense silence seemed to hang over the outer sect. Mo Liangye spent the day in his room, meditating. His Qi flowed smoothly, stable in the Late Stage. His body felt honed, brimming with latent power from the Sprouted Seed. His mind was calm, sharp, focused.
He took out his dagger, running a whetstone along its edge, not because it needed sharpening, but as a ritual, a focusing exercise. The blade gleamed dully in the lamplight. He wouldn't use it tomorrow, not openly. But its presence was a reminder of his true nature, the path he walked.
"Tomorrow," his thoughts were cold, precise. "It begins."
"Late Stage Qi Refining. Sprouted God Seed. My foundation is stronger than anyone suspects. It should be enough for the initial rounds, perhaps even enough to deal with Zhao Feng and his ilk."
"But Wang Hu's power, Li Mei's speed... they are real threats. And there might be others, hidden talents emerging under pressure. Underestimation is a luxury I cannot afford."
"The goal remains unchanged: Top Five. Secure the resources. Secure the chance to leave this stagnant pond. Eliminate anyone who stands in my way."
"Zhao Feng's debt comes first. The humiliation, the stolen stone... payment is due. The others? Merely obstacles on the path, stepping stones to be kicked aside or crushed."
He closed his eyes, visualizing the arena, the opponents, the flow of battle. He would hide his true strength, the resilience granted by the Sprout, using it only to augment his standard techniques subtly, decisively. He would rely on strategy, precision, timing. And when necessary, ruthlessness.
"This isn't a game," the final thought echoed in the chilling silence of his mind. "This is survival. This is the hunt for resources, for power. This is the first bloody step on the long climb towards the Dead Heaven..."
He opened his eyes. They held no trace of nervousness, only the cold, hard glint of polished steel, ready for the dawn.