Night falls, stars shine. In the Shenwu Continent, Behuang Realm, Namin courtyard.

In a humble dwelling, a boy of fourteen or fifteen years old wore a troubled expression on his face, letting out sighs from time to time.

Ye Xie, who was only fifteen years old this year, was the lowest-ranked outer disciple of Nanming Academy.

Ye Xie was originally an orphan, adopted by a peculiar old man since childhood. At the age of twelve, he was sent to Nanming Institute, and that old man vanished from then on.

Now, Ye Xie has been in Nanming Courtyard for the third year. According to the rules of Nanming Courtyard, disciples who cannot enter the Qi Hai realm within three years will be expelled from Nanming Courtyard.

Now, if you count it up, there is just one last month left until three years.

"In three years, those who entered Nanming Courtyard with me are at least at the seventh level of refinement. Some have even entered the inner courtyard, yet I'm still stuck at the first level..." A soft voice filled with bitterness and helplessness escaped her lips.

The martial arts path has nine realms: Refining Realm, Qi Sea Realm, Innate Realm, Soul Realm, Profound Realm, Heaven and Earth Realm, Saint Realm, God Realm, and Sovereign Realm.

Nine realms, each realm divided into nine levels. With the aid of mental techniques and martial arts, strong warriors can fly through the heavens and earth, chase stars and moon, and with a flick of their finger, cover the sky with one hand!

While Ye Xie had cultivated for three years, he only managed to reach the first level. What difference was there between his speed and that of a cripple?

For some unknown reason, Ye Xie was unable to gather heaven and earth spiritual energy every time he cultivated. He couldn't wash his marrow and cut his bones; the heaven and earth spiritual energy would always be dispersed by a mysterious force.

Now, with one month left, if he cannot enter the Qi Hai Realm, he will be expelled from Nan Ming Courtyard.

Being an orphan, leaving Namin's Institution, where else could he go? Besides, as someone who has only reached the first level of cultivation, no matter where he goes, he will always be considered a low-level person, subject to abuse and humiliation. He can't even see a future for himself.

"No! We can't give up!" Ye Xie said in a deep voice, crossed his legs, and began to cultivate.

After Ye Xie entered the Nán Míng Courtyard, he did not practice the heart method of the Nán Míng Courtyard, but practiced the heart method "Wú Shǐ Wú Zhōng Jué" that his adoptive grandfather had given him before leaving.

This mind method is very profound, seeming extraordinary.

But Ye Xie was unable to condense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Even if the method was profound and extraordinary, it was useless.

He sat cross-legged, and a gust of strong wind suddenly arose, causing the surrounding heaven and earth's spiritual energy to surge towards him.

But as these heaven and earth spiritual energies neared Ye Xie, a dark force appeared, instantly shattering them and sending the spiritual energies vanishing into thin air!

This wasn't the first time Ye Xie had encountered this situation, which is exactly why his cultivation realm remained stuck at the first level of the Refining Realm.

"Why is this happening?" Ye Xie roared in his heart, unable to understand why he couldn't condense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

The elders of Namin Temple had also examined Ye Xie, and found nothing abnormal. Logically speaking, this shouldn't be the case.

Bang bang!

At this very moment, the doors of the dwelling are being knocked upon, and figures can be seen through the opening.

"The outer disciple Ye Xie, open the door quickly!"

A cold voice rang out, imbued with spiritual power that caused Ye Xie's ears to tingle and his breath to churn.

Ye Xie's heart skipped a beat. He knew this voice well, it was Mo Zhi!

"What's Mo Zhishi doing here in the middle of the night?" Ye Xie whispered, a sense of foreboding creeping into his heart.

creak!

Mo Shi stepped out into Ye Xie's view, followed by a Jinyin.

Mo, the steward, donned a black robe and stood tall, exuding an air of authority as the steward of Nanming Courtyard. A single glance from his eyes sent a chill down Ye Xie's spine, making him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

Following Mo Zhi's death, he lived for another year, around the same age as Ye Xie. He was handsome, but a hawk-like glint in his eyes ruined his bearing.

"Qin Lie!"

Ye Xie recognizes this Jin Nian, he is his sworn enemy during his time in the outer courtyard, and even more so, the city lord of Youcheng, a thousand miles away from Nanying!

"Ye Xie, I'm here to inform you that your deadline has been moved up. If you can't reach the Qi Hai realm within half a month, then you'll be asked to leave on your own!" Mo Zhi said, his eyes flashing with coldness.

Ye Xie, upon hearing this, felt his heart sink to the bottom of a valley.

I knew Master Mo wouldn't come over late at night for good news, but I didn't expect him to tell me the deadline had been moved up!

Ye Xie's heart burned with anger at the sight of Qin Lie, who was sneering beside him.

Without a doubt, this must be Qin Lie's doing!

Qin Lie was the lord of You City and quite well-connected in Nan Ming Courtyard. Even Mo, the steward, would give Qin Lie some face.

But for Mo, it was just a simple task to remove Ye Xie ahead of time.

After all, Ye Xie has been cultivating for three years and is still at the first level. Even if he is expelled half a month earlier, it won't make much difference.

"Ye Xie, where is the spirit you had when you first entered Naming Academy? Where is the courage you boasted about to become the number one person in Naming Academy? Look at you now, what's the difference between you and a stray dog!" Qin Lie sneered.

Ye Xie, hearing this, felt bitter in his heart.

Ye Xie and Qin Lie entered the Nanming Academy at the same time. Both of them hadn't cultivated back then, yet they had a dispute and fought.

As a result, Qin Lie was beaten black and blue by Ye Xie.

At that time, Ye Xie was also young and arrogant, claiming to be the first person in Nanzhao Academy.

But as time passed, Qin Lie's realm rose steadily, while Ye Xie's remained stagnant. The gap between the two widened with each passing day.

Qin Lie was filled with vengeance. Ever since his realm had improved, he frequently sought out Ye Xie's trouble, trying to find a way to get him out of the Southern Ming Courtyard.

Now that three years are almost up, Qin Lie can't stand it any longer and wants to kick Ye Xie out of Nanzhiyuan. So he finds Mo Shifu and uses his connections to advance Ye Xie's deadline by half a month!

Ye Xie fell silent, clenching his fists. He wasn't Qin Lie's match, even if he was burning with anger, he couldn't do anything to him. Besides, there was also Mo Shi present.

After making a few sarcastic remarks, Qin Lie left with Mo the Attendant. As they left, the disdain in his eyes was something Ye Xie would never forget.

Plop!

He collapsed to the ground, Ye Xie didn't know what to do at this moment. There was still half a month left until the deadline. Could he reach the Ninth Layer of Refining and enter the Qi Sea Realm in just half a month?

It's impossible to imagine!

Anger and unwillingness welled up within me, a complex mix of emotions surging throughout my being.

Unknowingly, a layer of golden glow emanated from Ye Xie's body, very faint.

As golden light appeared, Ye Xie's internal energy circulated faster, his tibia was enveloped by a layer of gold, and divine radiance flickered.

Finally, a surge of powerful energy erupted from Ye Xie, like endless magma spewing forth, causing him to tremble violently.

"What's going on?" Ye Xie was startled, not knowing what had happened to himself.

However, Ye Xie could feel at this moment that he was becoming stronger!

Full of vitality, with smooth meridian flow, bones imbued with gold, like steel being cast.

This feeling, it's clearly the refinement of a second level realm!

And this change is still continuing, the gold becoming increasingly brilliant, finally transforming into pure red gold.

At this moment, Ye Xie was startled. His color shifted again, from red to gold, then from gold to crimson gold!

An unprecedented power surged forward, accelerating its flow like a surging river that never stops.

Meridians flow like a coiled dragon, winding and turning. Bones vibrate, as if the sound of drums echoes through them.

"My God! What's happening to me?" Ye Xie was shocked. In just a short moment, Ye Xie felt his power surging, now reaching the third level of Refining!

A thousand meters from Naming Academy, on top of a mountain, an old man stood here, gazing south towards Naming Academy.

His eyes seemed to see through all obstacles, taking in Ye Xie's every change.

"An indomitable will, an inextinguishable fury, a belief that refuses to bow. When all of this converges, the War God's Pulse awakens, and the Undying Saint rises!" The old man whispered softly.

If Ye Xie saw this old man, he would surely be astonished, for wouldn't this old man be the divine old master who had raised him since childhood?

Since Ye Xie entered the Nanming Courtyard, he had never seen this old man again. Unexpectedly, he had been by Ye Xie's side all along, silently watching him!

"Spirit Binding Seal, Open!"

A seal emerged from the old man's hand, transforming into a misty rain that descended from the mountain peak. It flew into Nanming Courtyard and finally, without drawing any attention, landed on Ye Xie.

"Pop."

A light sound rang out, and Ye Xie suddenly felt a lightness, as if something were shattering.

At this moment, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged around wildly, overwhelming Ye Xie.

Shock! Surprise! An indescribable feeling fills Ye Xie's heart.

He never expected that after the mutation, he could absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth!

Without a second thought, Ye Xie adjusted his mindset and plunged into cultivation.

Heaven and earth's spiritual energy surged forth, gathering around Ye Xie and forming a vortex of spiritual energy.

Sitting within, being washed by spiritual energy, cleansed of impurities, and reforged bones.

The tibia was washed again and again with spiritual energy, and the crimson brilliance became even more dazzling.

Until dawn, Ye Xie woke up from his cultivation, shockingly discovering that his realm had reached the fifth level of refinement in just one night!

This speed, like a shooting star chasing the moon, is too fast!

Though Ye Xie wasn't sure what exactly happened to him, being able to cultivate now was a good thing for him!

"There's only half a month left, I must enter the Sea of Qi before the deadline!" Ye Xie thought to himself.

Before, Ye Xie was preparing to enter the cultivation chamber in Nán Míng Courtyard.

Within the cultivation chamber lies a Gathering Spirit Array, possessing abundant spiritual energy from heaven and earth for cultivation. Practicing within for one day is equivalent to practicing outside for three days!

Just as Ye Xie opened the door, a man with a sneer on his face walked over.

"Thank you!"

Seeing this year, Ye Xie's face sank.

This Xie Ting entered Nanming Courtyard a year after Qin Lie, but he has already cultivated to the fourth level of refining. He is even Qin Lie's dog, acting arrogantly and recklessly in Nanming Courtyard because of Qin Lie's power. He hasn't caused any trouble yet.

"Ye Xie, Qin Ge asked you to see him." Xie Ting sneered, looking down at Ye Xie with disdain.

"I'm busy." Ye Xie said coldly, turning to leave.

But Xie Ting seemed unwilling to let Ye Xie go, taking a step forward and blocking Ye Xie's path.

"Well, you've got some guts, even daring to disobey Brother Qin?" Xie Ting said, striking a palm towards Ye Xie, intending to give him a lesson.

(Editor in charge:novel rick riordan)