[Sword Intent And Breackthrough]

Jian Ning continued to swing his sword, adjusting to his newfound strength.

After all, today his strength had increased exceptionally.

"Ling, show me my current status," Jian Ning requested.

[Name: Jian Ning]

[Cultivation: Qi Gathering Level 3 [10,000/30,000] (+)]

[Age: 14 years]

[Body: Storm Body "Dormant"]

[Talent: Low-grade Earth Cultivation Talent [0/256,000] (+) // Middle-grade Sky Lightning Element Talent [0/2,480,000] (+) // Low-grade Sky Wind Element Talent [0/1,240,000] (+) // Low-grade King Sword Talent [60,000/10,000,000] (+)]

[Cultivation Technique: "Jian Family Technique" (Middle-grade Yellow) – Perfected – [2,185/3,200] (+)]

[Martial Skills: 'Leaf Sword Technique' (Middle-grade Yellow) – Perfected – [1,000/3,200] (+) // 'Mystic Phantom Steps' (Middle-grade Yellow) – perfected – [230/1,600] (+) // 'Shadowless Sword Technique' (High-grade Yellow) – Great Achivement – [1,250/2,400] (+) /// 'Wind Breeze Steps' – peak – [0/4,800] (+)]

[Weapon Understanding: Sword Intent at 10% [0/100,000] (+)]

[Luck: Sky-grade Luck [101/800]]

[Total Energy: 25,000 White Energy]

[White Energy per Minute: 16 White Energy / Minute]

Jian Ning stared intently at his status screen, focusing on the new 'Weapon Understanding' option.

He understood that sword intent was a different form of artistic conception, but he didn't yet grasp its full meaning.

"Can I enhance my sword understanding with white energy?!!" Jian Ning felt like proclaiming to the world that he was the best.

Although he couldn't fathom how Ling could effortlessly impart these ideas and boost his understanding, Jian Ning was ecstatic.

"Should I advance my cultivation? I can increase it on my own, unlike my talents," Jian Ning pondered.

He wrestled with two main questions:

1 - Should I allow white energy to accumulate to upgrade my talents?

2 - Should I immediately break through to the next cultivation level?

"If I ascend to Qi Gathering Level 4, it could significantly boost my passive white energy gain, which is incredibly beneficial. Plus, at this rate, it will take several days to enhance any of my talents," Jian Ning reasoned.

After reflecting for a moment, Jian Ning decisively opted to advance to Qi Gathering Level 4.

"Ling, allocate 20,000 white energy to my cultivation level," Jian Ning commanded.

[Ding, congratulations to the host for advancing to Qi Gathering Level 4. Your white energy gain per minute has increased from 16 W.E / minute to 18 W.E / minute]

A surge of power coursed through Jian Ning's body, making him feel lighter and sharpening his senses to their peak.

Soon after, exhaustion set in. After all, he had undergone significant transformations recently, though he knew the rapid growth would soon stabilize over the coming weeks and months.

Jian Ning remained in a state of surreal disbelief.

"But before I rest, Ling, show me my status," Jian Ning requested.

[Name: Jian Ning]

[Cultivation: Qi Gathering Level 4 [0/60,000] (+)]

[Age: 14 years]

[Body: Storm Body "Dormant"]

[Talent: Low-grade Earth Cultivation Talent [0/128,000] (+) // Low-grade Sky Lightning Element Talent [0/1,240,000] (+) // Middle-grade Sky Wind Element Talent [0/2,480,000] (+) // Low-grade King Sword Talent [60,000/10,000,000] (+)]

[Cultivation Technique: "Jian Family Technique" (Middle-grade Yellow) – Perfected – [2,185/3,200] (+)]

[Martial Skills: 'Leaf Sword Technique' (Middle-grade Yellow) – Perfected – [1,000/3,200] (+) // 'Mystic Phantom Steps' (Middle-grade Yellow) – perfected – [230/1,600] (+) // 'Shadowless Sword Technique' (High-grade Yellow) – perfection – [1,250/2,400] (+) /// 'Wind Breeze Steps' – peak – [0/4,800] (+)]

[Weapon Understanding: Sword Intent at 10% [0/100,000] (+)]

[Luck: Sky-grade Luck [101/800]]

[Total Energy: 5,000 White Energy]

[White Energy per Minute: 18 White Energy / Minute]

-------

Jian Ning furrowed his brow and queried, "Ling, why does it require 60,000 white energy to breakthrough instead of 40,000?"

[Ding, in response, the host, cultivation follows an exponential curve, so it's natural for the requirement to make a new breakthrough to increase significantly. Even your talents, after being boosted once, will become much more costly the second time]

Ling calmly replied.

Jian Ning listened attentively to the Ling's explanation, absorbing its insights.

He understood the dynamics of talents well; indeed, the body preceding Ling's existence had already possessed those abilities, making it less economically burdensome to refine existing skills and talents. However, duplicating such an achievement would likely remain beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators.

Yet, a cascade of questions flooded Jian Ning's mind: Would the quantity need to double to break through to the next realm? And what would the second upgrade of talents entail?

Ling's mention hinted at the potentially high cost involved.

With a deep sigh, Jian Ning thought to himself, "Perhaps I'm overthinking this. I should rest now and ponder these matters over the next two days before returning home and embarking to the Lingyun Sect for the upcoming test."

Before succumbing to sleep, Jian Ning responded to his fortunate brother, "I wonder how Jian Shi is faring. Being a fortunate son he should have no trouble qualifying for the Lingyun Sect competition."

Within the Jian family estate,

In one of the chambers belonging to the fourth elder.

A figure could be discerned diligently cultivating, seated on a simple futon. The silhouette belonged to a youthful man appearing to be around 16 years old.

After a few more minutes of intense cultivation, gusts of wind emanated from his body, a clear sign of a successful breakthrough.

Opening his eyes, which gleamed with a golden hue in the moonlight, the young man murmured confidently, "It appears this futon I acquired in the cave has proven exceedingly beneficial. Coupled with my Saint-ranked cultivation technique, The problem of my weak talent can be easily overcome."

Contemplating further, he mused, "Thanks to this mysterious futon and the saint-ranked technique I discovered in that ancient cave, no one will dare to call me trash anymore. I will become so powerful that they will all have to kneel before me. I will surpass all those so-called geniuses, and even Jian Ning will be left behind. I will have dozens of beautiful women in my harem, and I will reign at the pinnacle of the Celestial Cloud continent."

Raising his head, he allowed the moon's gentle radiance to illuminate his visage more clearly.

His dreamy gaze was filled with passion and determination. He would do everything to take revenge on those who had humiliated him and become someone they could only admire from afar, like the moon and the sun in the sky

This young man was none other than Jian Shi, who had just ascended to the 7th level of the Tempering Body.