Still injured, Liu Mei crawled across the infirmary floor, trying to make her way outside to see what was happening."Damn it! What does all this concentration of Qi mean?"
Outside, all the cultivators—and even the city's citizens—were staring up at the sky beyond Hope City.
For ordinary citizens, the sky was a magnificent blue, with a strengthening wind. But for cultivators, it felt as though a dragon was forming from the very accumulation of Qi itself.
It was even more impressive than when Branch Master Fang Qin had advanced to the Rebirth Stage.
At the center of the branch courtyard, Fang Qin appeared and ordered all the cultivators present,"Observe carefully! Focus on the Qi in the sky and circulate your Qi throughout your bodies!"
"Yes, Master!"
Fang Qin wondered what would become of their branch if this situation became commonplace. Feeling the Qi in the air, it seemed that even at this distance, the ambient Qi had increased slightly."Could we turn this city into a land of cultivation?"It was only a fleeting thought—far more than a few Heavenly Tribulations would be required to permanently alter the region's Qi density.
According to legend, the Empire's capital—where countless cultivators had undergone their tribulations over the centuries—was the land with the highest Qi density in the entire Empire.
That was why it was said that an Empire could only fall if its capital collapsed. As long as the capital stood, the Empire would always possess the means to recover and hold the line.
Finally reaching the outside, Liu Mei looked up at the sky and stood frozen, her mouth agape.
Before her, countless clouds were rapidly forming, gathering a level of Qi she had never felt before.
This is not the ascension of a cultivator to the Rebirth Stage!
The Qi was far too abundant—and the clouds far too numerous!
Recalling the dark-clad man in the forest who had saved them, a connection formed in her mind. "Could this be because of that demonic cultivator? Has he reached the legendary Body Destruction Realm?!"
…
Akeno, Chikara, and the others were also seated in meditation, using the accumulation of Qi in the atmosphere to improve their cultivation.
At this level, it was better than any pill.
Above them, clouds gathered as lightning accumulated, illuminating the ground.
The young ninjas held their heads high, though traces of doubt flickered across their expressions.
"Stay strong!" Akeno shouted."You will only receive a single lightning strike!"
Daigo Kaguya clenched his teeth, recalling his death."Come on… this little lightning bolt won't kill me," he reassured himself.
Maiko, watching Daigo carefully from afar, seemed to have found a way to crack the perpetually stoic expression of her right-hand man.
And then, the heavenly lightning struck.
…
Watching the lightning fall in the distance, Liu Mei counted each strike in terror.
"Fourteen."
"Fifteen."
"Sixteen."
"When will it stop!?"Her entire body trembling, the image of a humanoid monster surrounded by dark, sinister energy formed in her mind."We must flee this city!"
…
"Twenty-nine."
"Thirty!"
Yu Fenghuan—the former captain of the guard and new mayor of Hope City—stared in shock as lightning continued to fall outside the city."Thirty times! It struck thirty times!"
Seeing the clouds begin to disperse, he gradually regained his composure and turned to issue orders."Contact Branch Master Fang immediately! We must clarify these events at all costs!"
…
Beneath the dissipating clouds, the Heavenly Tribulation had gathered an immense density of Qi in the atmosphere, allowing the young ninjas to open all their meridians and properly advance to the Qi Condensation Realm in barely ten minutes.
As for Akeno, he seemed capable of breaking through to Muscle Purification at any moment.
Chikara, Izaya, Kaede, Maiko, Renji, and Fubuki had also fully benefited from the Qi accumulation, reaching the peak of Bone Reinforcement.
The Qi surrounding them was not something that could be accumulated through pills. No matter how refined a pill was, it always contained a base level of impurities. But the tribulation had gathered a wave of completely pure Qi—in vast quantity.
As time passed, the Qi gradually weakened, returning close to normal.
It would take thousands more tribulations to begin producing permanent changes in the region's Qi density.
Looking at his six young brothers, Akeno felt a twinge of jealousy. What talent!
In less than four months, they were on the verge of breaking into the Organ Fortification Realm—a level that had taken him fifteen years to reach."The power of bloodlines…"
Even in this world, the bloodlines of powerful clans remained the most effective path to the peak of power.
Yet this did not surprise him. Take monsters like Madara Uchiha or Hashirama Senju—without even advancing to a higher life level, they could likely exterminate seventh-level cultivators with ease. Adding Qi to that equation, it was only natural that they would surpass everything known in the cultivation world.
…
Back in the city, Akeno allowed the children to rest and went to meet Fang Qin, who was calmly waiting at the branch entrance.
"Master."Greeting him warmly, Akeno was genuinely happy to see the old man in such good health after two months of seclusion."I apologize for disturbing your closed cultivation."
"Oh, oh, oh… I lock myself away for only two months, and so many things have changed."Scanning the city with his spiritual sense, he could see parts of it—particularly the residences where the young ninjas were staying."New children?"
"Nothing can be hidden from you." Akeno said cheerfully. Then, noticing the mayor running toward them, he didn't elaborate further.
"Oh, oh, oh… isn't this the famous city captain?" Fang Qin remarked.
Cupping his hands, Yu Fenghuan hurriedly greeted them."Master Fang! Vice-Master Akeno! Do you have any idea what caused this tribulation?!"
Sweat trickled down his forehead, panic clearly visible on his face. As the city's ruler and protector, the lives of thousands of inhabitants rested on his shoulders.
A thirty-strike tribulation had fallen just a few kilometers from Hope City—Yu Fenghuan could only assume the worst. The birth of an eighth-level cultivator!
Fang Qin first glanced at Akeno. Seeing that he wasn't in a hurry to answer, Fang Qin spoke calmly, without panic."We don't know. We're asking ourselves the same questions as you."
"I intend to send scouts to investigate, but it's clear that no matter what's happening there, my men won't be able to do much. Should we contact the Empire?" Yu Fenghuan asked.
Hearing the possibility of involving the Empire, Akeno immediately refused."There's no need to go that far. Our branch will also participate in the investigation. But unless a direct threat appears, there's no need to act rashly."
The Empire no longer seemed to want anything to do with them—and that suited Akeno perfectly. There was no chance he would call them back.
Seeing the calm attitudes of Fang Qin and Akeno, Yu Fenghuan hesitated, then finally accepted Akeno's proposal."I'll place my trust in you, Vice-Master."
After a few more minutes coordinating with the Thousand Lotus branch, Yu Fenghuan returned to his post, doing nothing more than preparing an additional scout unit and placing all city soldiers on alert against any external threat.
On his side, Akeno accompanied Fang Qin into the branch building. But after only a few steps, Instructor Su appeared and called out to him.
"Akeno, it seems the young lady of the Liu clan has awakened. She wants to leave as soon as possible and is requesting our help in preparing horses for herself and her people."
"I thought they were still severely injured?"
"They are. But the young lady saw the tribulation and seems terrified of staying here. Some of her men are still unconscious, but she says leaving is urgent—and that they'll carry those who can't walk on their backs if necessary."
Exasperated, Akeno still understood Liu Mei's decision."Very well. The Liu clan is trustworthy—we'll lend them horses. But we still need to know what dangers they may have brought upon us."
Walking alongside Instructor Su and Fang Qin, Akeno revealed what had happened a few days earlier."The truth is, a squad of ten beastmen at the Organ Fortification level followed them here. I dealt with them—but who knows if others will come."
Exploding on the spot, Instructor Su felt a chill run down his spine."I knew it! Trouble! Why didn't you say anything sooner?!"
Raising his hands innocently, Akeno laughed."I recall you saying you didn't want to know what had happened to them."
"…Damn it!"