Uncle Yuan stood on the mountain top, protecting Qin Feiyang.
The Hall Master of the Martial Palace had brought Ma Hongmei back to Iron Bull Town, but they hadn't undertaken any missions. Iron Bull Town was surrounded by mountains on all sides. The Baili expanse of land around it was all barren hills and wild ridges. Searching for two individuals, especially two who were deliberately hiding, was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Therefore, rather than wasting energy searching, it was better to wait calmly. They believed Qin Feiyang would surely reveal himself, and it wouldn't take long.
At noon, Qin Feiyang's body shook, and his Qi instantly soared, reaching the Nine-Star Martial Artist level!
WHOOSH!
He abruptly stood up and, with all his might, struck the ground with a punch.
BOOM!
With a deafening bang, a large, deep pit instantly formed in the ground.
"Power of Nine Bears!"
Qin Feiyang was elated.
Four days ago, he had been a weakling, incapable of even tying up a chicken. Four days later, he surprisingly possessed the Power of Nine Bears—a formidable strength of 4,500 jin!
If news of this speed were to spread, it would undoubtedly leave countless people astounded.
However, Qin Feiyang also knew that the reason he had progressed so quickly was because his foundation was still intact.
Uncle Yuan chuckled. "Feiyang, it won't be too late to rejoice once you've broken through the Martial Artist's Extreme State."
Qin Feiyang nodded. "Alright." After calming his emotions, he asked, "Uncle Yuan, I've tried all the conventional methods, and none worked. Do you have a better way?"
Uncle Yuan replied, "Breaking through the Martial Artist's Extreme State isn't that difficult."
Qin Feiyang's eyes lit up. Could it be that Uncle Yuan really has a way?
"Whether human or fierce beast, apart from existing potential, there is also a hidden Door of Potential," Uncle Yuan said.
"Even ordinary people possess it."
"The only difference lies in whether one can open this Door of Potential."
"According to my current understanding, the Door of Potential has ten layers. As for whether there are more beyond that, I do not know."
"The Martial Artist's Extreme State is the first layer."
Qin Feiyang nodded. This knowledge was recorded in the ancient texts of the Imperial Capital, so he knew a little about it.
He asked, "Has anyone ever opened the tenth layer of the Door of Potential?"
"Yes. He is your ancestor, the first emperor who established the Great Qin Empire," Uncle Yuan replied.
So it was him. Qin Feiyang murmured.
The only person he had mentioned earlier who had broken through the Martial Artist's Extreme State was indeed his ancestor.
He didn't know what his ancestor looked like or how strong he had been. But historical records depicted his ancestor as the foremost prodigy of his era, unmatched by any, the founder of a great and prosperous nation, who governed all lands.
However, for some unknown reason, after the Great Qin Empire stabilized, his ancestor mysteriously disappeared. At the time, his ancestor's subordinates and descendants searched the entire continent for him, but no trace was ever found. His disappearance became an age-old enigma.
Qin Feiyang shook his head, clearing his mind of these thoughts, and asked, "Uncle Yuan, how many layers have you opened?"
"That's a secret for now. You'll find out in the future," Uncle Yuan said with a mysterious smile.
Qin Feiyang pouted.
"The ten layers of the Door of Potential become increasingly difficult to open," Uncle Yuan chuckled.
"Many people spend their entire lives desperately trying to tap into their potential, yet can only manage to open one or two layers."
"Those who can open three or four layers are extremely rare."
"As for five layers or more, there is no one in the entire Great Qin Empire."
"You've talked for so long but still haven't gotten to the point," Qin Feiyang grumbled, unwilling to listen to any more rambling. He asked directly, "How exactly can one break open the Door of Potential?"
"Come with me to a place."
With a wave of Uncle Yuan's hand, Qin Feiyang instantly felt an immense power envelop him.
His vision blurred.
「The next instant.」
He appeared in an unfamiliar place.
Looking around, he discovered it was a secret chamber. The room was square, about a hundred feet across. But despite searching for a long time, Qin Feiyang couldn't find any door for entry or exit.
However, at the front of the secret chamber, there was a rectangular altar. Upon it rested a pitch-black iron box, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.
"Uncle Yuan, how did we get in here?" Qin Feiyang asked in confusion.
"We'll discuss that later. First, I want to show you something."
Uncle Yuan led Qin Feiyang to the altar, his gaze fixed intently on the iron box. Qin Feiyang could clearly see that the expression in Uncle Yuan's eyes was rapidly changing, encompassing joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.
"What is this?" he frowned.
Uncle Yuan suddenly said, "Feiyang, only you can open this iron box. Drip a drop of your blood onto it."
"Only I can open it?"
Qin Feiyang was momentarily stunned, countless questions surfacing in his mind, but he didn't press further. He bit his finger as instructed, squeezed out a drop of blood, and let it fall onto the iron box.
A magical scene unfolded.
The blood actually fused with the iron box!
And then, with a click, the iron box opened automatically.
A potent medicinal fragrance immediately wafted out from the iron box.
Could this be some kind of divine elixir?
Qin Feiyang greedily inhaled the medicinal aroma, his eyes fixed on the opening of the iron box.
Gradually, a pill entered his sight.
Next to the pill, there was also an iron-bound book.
However, Qin Feiyang completely ignored the iron-bound book, his gaze firmly locked onto the medicinal pill.
The pill was only about the size of a fingertip, entirely blood-red, and radiated a dazzling, precious light!
Furthermore, a blood-red divine dragon was coiling and soaring above the pill.
"Dragon-shaped Elixir Qi!"
"Only a legendary, peerless divine pill could give rise to such a phenomenon!"
"Uncle Yuan, this pill... could it truly be a divine pill?" Qin Feiyang asked, his hands clenched tightly, his blood boiling, his mouth dry and his throat parched.
"Whether it's a divine pill or not, I don't know," Uncle Yuan said.
"I only know that by consuming it, you can break through the Martial Artist's Extreme State and open the first layer of the Door of Potential."
"Of course, the process is somewhat painful. Can you endure it?"
"Yes!" Qin Feiyang nodded without hesitation.
"Then let's begin!"
Uncle Yuan took out the pill and handed it to Qin Feiyang.
HUFF!
Qin Feiyang took a deep breath, grabbed the pill, and thrust it directly into his mouth!
The pill instantly melted.
It transformed into torrents of blood-red energy, surging into his limbs and his entire skeleton!
"AHHH..."
Immediately, Qin Feiyang collapsed to the ground, screaming in agony.
He felt as if those blood-red energies were like countless sharp blades, tearing through his flesh, intent on shredding his physical body to pieces!
Very soon, blood began to seep from every pore on his body.
In an instant, he became a man drenched in blood!
"Uncle Yuan, you didn't say... it would be this painful!"
"AHHH..."
Qin Feiyang howled hysterically. His facial features twisted, his expression savage!
The excruciating pain was even more intense than having his heart ripped out! It felt as if countless insects were frantically devouring his flesh and blood!
At this very moment, he finally understood the taste of a suffering worse than death!
"If you cannot endure it, you will die!" Uncle Yuan said in a low voice, his expression more solemn than ever.
"If you endure it, you will be completely reborn!"
"I don't want to die!"
"For five years, I have endured endless humiliation!"
"Every moment of despair pushed me into a bottomless abyss, but I never once gave up!"
"I've struggled so hard to make it this far; how can I falter here?!"
"The word 'lose' will never appear in my, Qin Feiyang's, dictionary!" Qin Feiyang roared, sitting down cross-legged.
No matter how agonizing it was, he gritted his teeth and endured!
"Perseverance and fighting spirit are essential qualities for any formidable individual," Uncle Yuan murmured, a smile spreading across his face. "Feiyang, you already possess them."
"As long as you maintain this spirit, your future achievements will undoubtedly be extraordinary."
However, Qin Feiyang was in dire peril at that moment! Excruciating pain assaulted every nerve in his body. He had already reached his limit. His consciousness was gradually being devoured by darkness! He was powerless to stop it. Death was approaching, one step at a time!
Qin Feiyang had a very vivid sensation; he felt as if he had arrived before the gates of the underworld. One more step forward, and he would be in hell!
BOOM!
Suddenly, a deep, muffled rumble echoed from within his body, as if a Thunder Shock had detonated inside him!
Qin Feiyang immediately felt the pain lessen significantly. His consciousness was also rapidly receding from the darkness.
Furthermore, he vaguely sensed that his body and mind seemed to be undergoing some kind of transformation.
Have I succeeded? Qin Feiyang wondered.
"Yes, you have succeeded," Uncle Yuan's voice entered his mind.
Qin Feiyang sighed in relief.
Once the pain had completely vanished, he stood up and stretched his limbs. Astonishingly, there wasn't the slightest hint of soreness!
Uncle Yuan chuckled and said, "How do you feel?"
Qin Feiyang said with lingering fear, "I felt like I was about to check in at the underworld."
Uncle Yuan said, "I mean, do you feel any different?"
Qin Feiyang nodded. "There are changes, but I can't quite describe them. The feeling is very ethereal, and my entire body feels an indescribable comfort."
Uncle Yuan chuckled. "That's it. It's because your entire body, including your blood, has undergone a transformation. Look at your chest."
Qin Feiyang quickly removed his upper garment and wiped away the blood on his chest.
A white mark instantly appeared!
This mark, shaped like a door, seemed to have fused with his skin; it couldn't be wiped away no matter how hard he tried.
"Potential Mark!"
Qin Feiyang's eyes immediately lit up.
Gazing at this mark, he was finally certain that he had truly broken through the Martial Artist's Extreme State!
For this was the Potential Mark signifying the opening of the first layer of the Door of Potential. From this day forward, his cultivation speed would be double that of others.
This meant that while others might need two days to cultivate, he would only need one!