Chapter Seventy-Eight: Rapid Advancement

The Great Hong World, previously: The myriad monsters attacked Baihe County, the Jiang clan was beset by disaster, Jiang Fan’s Diagram of the Profound Way achieved perfection and transmitted him into the Inheritance Space, and Elder Yu set three tasks for assessment.

That was the prelude (short enough, right)!

Qin Ming—no, now his consciousness had transferred into the body of Jiang Fan in the Great Hong World.

Inheritance Space, in the stone courtyard, within the stone house, upon the stone bed, Jiang Fan opened his eyes.

Without the slightest hesitation, he stepped outside.

What needed thought, what required action, had already been decided in another world.

Jiang Fan entered the courtyard, stopping by the Spirit Spring. He opened his mouth wide, inhaled, and the spiritual liquid shot up, flying into his mouth.

A small portion entered his stomach, the rest was stored in his mindspace, replenishing what had been consumed.

He walked out of the courtyard, paused briefly.

Ahead stretched a vast lake; to the east, forest; to the west, mountains; behind, endless green plains.

Without much deliberation, Jiang Fan headed west.

Crossing the boundary, a pack of wolves appeared before him—eighteen in all, each possessing innate strength.

Howling filled the skies.

Jiang Fan’s figure flickered, employing Arrow Step, swift as lightning, charging into their midst.

In this world, his Profound Way Art had reached the second tier—equivalent to the War God realm of his previous world, corresponding here to the Entry into the Way stage.

Power gathered, inch-fist unleashed.

A wolf lunged, and with a single blow, he reduced it to a mist of blood.

Arrow Step twisted, his form flashed like lightning.

Nine forms of inch-fist, from the first to the last, each move precise, fierce, indomitable—no wolf could withstand a single punch.

Though cultivation from his former world could not carry over, his consciousness remained unchanged, his insights intact.

The inch-fist’s refinement progressed rapidly, from clumsy beginnings to near mastery.

Thirty-six wolves fell, dead in the blink of an eye.

He pressed onward, momentum rising.

He hid nothing.

Turning past a massive boulder, two black bears emerged ahead.

“Black bears at the Entry into the Way stage? Perfect!”

Jiang Fan let out a long cry and launched the attack.

The sixth punch exploded with sevenfold force, sending one bear reeling.

The seventh punch, with eightfold amplitude, shattered the shoulder of the charging gray bear.

The eighth punch slew one.

The ninth, another.

His fists struck like arrows, his movement like lightning.

His control over the first nine forms of inch-fist grew ever more deft—within half a day, he achieved mastery.

Jiang Fan’s steps did not cease; he pressed onward, the mountains undulating, the rocks piled high.

Blocking his path, more beasts appeared.

This time, their number was considerable: three black bears, six gray wolves, five leopards, three pythons—all at the Entry into the Way stage, joining forces to surround and kill.

“What is there to fear?”

Jiang Fan, like a war god, his aura surging ever higher.

He leapt, wind howling past his ears.

As he fought, his movement techniques reached their limits, yet faced with the beasts' attacks, he was still pressed hard.

A leopard’s claw tore open a gash on his shoulder.

Behind him, a python’s tail lashed out.

“Faster, faster, faster—give me speed!”

Jiang Fan roared inwardly, the insight of wind he had grasped in another world began to merge here. In an instant, a strange sensation flooded him.

Wind ceased to be resistance, instead becoming a spirit that encircled him.

In a blink, heart and nature were as one; wind arose beneath his feet; his speed soared, evading the python’s strike.

“The insight of wind—achieved!”

Jiang Fan felt neither joy nor sorrow.

His speed surged, and he began to counterattack.

The earth trembled, stones scattered.

Explosions resounded, beastly cries rang out.

At last, all was silent.

Jiang Fan’s clothes were torn, his body stained with blood; he turned and walked back.

Behind him lay a field of beast corpses.

“It’s done!”

A smile tugged at his lips, confidence radiating from his face.

Returning to the courtyard, his wounds healed automatically, his tattered garments restored.

Even now, he did not know if this was illusion or reality.

Unable to discern, he chose not to ponder.

Jiang Fan sat cross-legged by the Spirit Spring, practicing the Golden Radiance Technique.

The Golden Radiance Technique had five layers: first, energy refinement; second, innate stage; third, entry into the Way; fourth, soul origin; fifth, earth immortal. Last time, he had reached the limit of the second layer, unable to break through.

To reach the third layer, insight was essential.

Now, he had attained it.

Insight—the refinement of essence, energy, and spirit; unity with heaven and earth; comprehension of nature; the ultimate extension in a given aspect.

Once understood, it is understood.

When the time comes, it flows naturally.

Jiang Fan’s Golden Radiance Technique broke into the third layer with ease; the true energy in his dantian condensed to the extreme, transforming from gas to liquid. Insight achieved, energy transformed to liquid—this was the hallmark of entry into the Way.

He remained seated, continuing his cultivation; heaven and earth’s spiritual energy poured in through every pore, refining within to become true essence.

His cultivation did not halt, but continued to rise, until he reached the peak of the early entry stage—only then did it slowly stop.

“Excellent!”

Jiang Fan stopped, opened his eyes, and smiled.

He stood, gazing up at the vast heavens.

There was neither day nor night, only white eternity.

Without the forests and lakes, it would surely drive one mad.

Retrieving two books from the house, Jiang Fan went to the lake, boarded a small boat, and let it drift gently across the water.

After consecutive cultivation, his spirit was weary.

He needed rest.

He flipped through pages, rested for a while, leisurely at ease.

When his spirit was restored to its peak, Jiang Fan sat cross-legged on the boat. In his mindspace, the millennium willow heart brought from the other world was split open; the liquid of fortune within flowed straight into his mouth, into his belly.

This was a supreme spiritual item for tempering the body.

He hurriedly activated the second tier of the Profound Way Art.

The second tier of the Profound Way Art corresponded to the entry into the Way stage.

Jiang Fan had reached it last time, but only at its very beginning. He was in no rush to cultivate, wanting to use the power from another world to rapidly advance and save time.

As the technique operated, his body underwent earth-shattering transformation.

Bones, bloodlines, marrow, muscles, fascia, organs—all were being refined and enhanced at incredible speed.

The improvement was swift.

Jiang Fan’s vital energy flourished vigorously.

He cared nothing for external changes, nor for the passage of time.

He was wholly immersed in cultivation.

Ahead, soundlessly, a figure appeared—phantom-like, as if not existing in reality. This was Elder Yu, white-haired and bearded, master of the inheritance grounds.

At this moment, he hovered before Jiang Fan, his indifferent gaze fixed upon Jiang Fan’s brow, piercing into his mind, then to his mouth, and finally through to his stomach.

Elder Yu’s brows rose, doubt flickered across his face, then curiosity, and a hint of madness accumulated from endless ages, as well as hope.

Suddenly, he looked up, a trace of mockery flashing at his lips.

Just then, Jiang Fan finished his cultivation and rose.

“Profound Way Art, second tier perfected. Two of three tasks completed; only the Golden Radiance Technique remains!”

Unconsciously, a smile appeared at his lips.

He was truly delighted.

By normal standards, finishing these tasks within a year would be impossible.

Now, most were already complete.

The remaining time was more than sufficient!

Jiang Fan had not noticed Elder Yu’s presence.

Elder Yu had already disappeared.

The next moment, his voice rang out overhead.