Chapter 612 - 205: Great Impact (Part 2)

After reviewing Yang Jing’s detailed file, he had an intuition that the young man’s hidden talent was immense. If he could be nurtured with the sect’s full resources, his future achievements would surely be limitless.

But the Xuanzhen Sect’s style had always been conservative and cautious. They would never pour all their top-tier resources into Yang Jing, which would undoubtedly stifle some of his potential.

It was just a pity that Yang Jing had not joined the Yunxiao Sect, but had chosen the Xuanzhen Sect instead. He could only face such an outcome.

Elder Wang thought to himself, ’If Yang Jing could join our Yunxiao Sect, with our sect’s consistently bold and aggressive style, daring to bet everything on potential and supported by our profound resources, his path of growth would surely be much smoother. His prospects would be far greater than at the Xuanzhen Sect.’

Ren An’s gaze landed on Elder Wang, and he gave his orders in a steady voice. "Elder Wang, I want you to summarize the key points of this dossier and circulate it to the sect’s elite disciples, Elders, and Stewards. Make sure everyone understands who this Yang Jing is and is properly informed."

Elder Wang bowed. "Yes, Sect Leader."

He then looked up for permission. "If there is nothing else, I will take my leave and handle this matter at once."

Ren An grunted softly in acknowledgment and nodded. "You may go. If there are any further arrangements, I’ll have someone find you."

Elder Wang bowed once more, replied with a "Yes," and then turned and walked steadily out of the hall.

Once again, only Ren An remained in the hall.

He slowly closed his eyes, his fingertips still tracing the edge of the desk as he mulled over Yang Jing’s profile. The hall fell silent, the only movement the slow drift of sandalwood incense through the air.

...

As Elder Wang passed the summarized profile of Yang Jing down through the ranks, the elite disciples, Elders, and Stewards of the Yunxiao Sect who had access to core intelligence all gradually learned about this new, rising prodigy from the Xuanzhen Sect.

For a time, Yang Jing’s name sparked considerable discussion within the Yunxiao Sect.

The ordinary disciples of the Five Great Sects might have been too immersed in their own training to be keenly aware of shifts in the power dynamics between factions, but most elite disciples at the Qi Eating Realm and above had already begun to take an active interest in the overall state of the five sects.

Yang Jing was currently the most prominent prodigy in the Xuanzhen Sect. He was bound to represent them at the Golden Platform Grand Competition, competing against the disciples of the other four sects. For them, learning about this potential rival in advance could only be beneficial.

In a steward’s office on the Yunxiao Sect’s back mountain, sandalwood smoke curled in the air as three Stewards sat talking around a table.

One of them, a round-faced Steward, looked at the middle-aged man across from him. The man had a square jaw and a grave expression. "Senior Brother Qin," the Steward asked with concern in his voice, "are you really planning to make your third attempt at breaking through to the Qi Absorption Realm in the coming days?"

This man with the square jaw was none other than Qin Ligang, a Steward of the Yunxiao Sect. He took a slow breath and nodded, his expression solemn.

He had long since reached the Peak of the Qi Eating Realm and was only a single step away from the Qi Absorption Realm. But that single step had proven to be a chasm, trapping him for decades.

He had attempted the breakthrough twice before, and both times he had failed. The attempts had severely depleted his True Qi and taken a toll on his foundation, and he had never managed to cross that crucial threshold.

At that moment, a middle-aged female Steward beside him looked at Qin Ligang, her voice laced with worry. "Senior Brother Qin, are you prepared for this attempt? What do you think your chances of success are?"

In the cultivation of the Martial Dao, a Martial Artist was given three chances to break through to a new realm.

As long as one succeeded within those three attempts, they could advance smoothly to the next realm.

But if all three attempts ended in failure, the meridians and Inner Qi within the body would solidify. Barring some heaven-defying Spirit Medicine or a supreme stroke of luck, their journey on the Martial Dao would be cut short, all hope of further breakthroughs lost.

This was an ironclad rule every Martial Artist understood, which was precisely why the third attempt was so critical.

Qin Ligang nodded slowly at the female Steward’s question. A bitter look crossed his face as he spoke in a heavy voice, "I’ve spent years collecting Spirit Medicines to aid the process, and I’ve mentally rehearsed the breakthrough method countless times. I suppose you could say I’ve made thorough preparations.

"As for the chances of success... I’d say around twenty percent. Maybe even less."

He couldn’t help but give a faint, bitter smile as the words left his lips.

’To spend decades of painstaking effort, to make every possible preparation, only for the probability of success to be less than twenty percent... It felt truly ironic to say it out loud.’

The female Steward and the round-faced Steward next to him, however, found nothing to smile about.

They had known Qin Ligang for decades and had witnessed firsthand how much effort he had poured into breaking through to the Qi Absorption Realm.

Now he was about to make his third attempt, which would very likely be his last chance to ever reach a higher realm.

And yet, his chances were so slim. Their hearts were filled with both regret and concern for him.

The round-faced Steward chose his words carefully, trying to dissuade him. "Senior Brother Qin, why not wait a little longer? If you build up your reserves for a while more, you might be better prepared and your chances of success will be higher. It wouldn’t be too late to make your third attempt then."

The female Steward nodded eagerly, her gaze fixed on Qin Ligang, full of hope that he might change his mind.

But Qin Ligang slowly shook his head, his eyes showing a sliver of resolve. "Nothing in this world is ever perfect, least of all a life-or-death matter like a realm breakthrough.

"A twenty percent chance is enough for me."

"Besides, at my age, my vitality is already beginning to wane. If I delay any longer, I fear I won’t even have the strength left for a third attempt. I would rather risk it all now than live with a lifetime of regret."