There was only one night left to the birthday banquet when Lin Yun returned to the Locket Mountain. He had a great harvest over the past seven days of bitter cultivation. The Aquaselenic Sword had reached greater mastery, and it also grasped the essence of it.
Aside from that, his cultivation also improved thanks to the astronomical sum of second-grade spiritual jades. After all, his aptitude was the eighth grade spiritual physique, and it was rare even in the Sword Firmament Pavilion.
With the Iris Sword Sutra, his cultivation could improve at a rapid speed as long as he had sufficient resources. But over the past seven days, he used up 2,000 second-grade spiritual jades. Even the sect’s elders would be shocked to know such huge exhaustion if they knew.
They will be leaving tomorrow. If it was someone else who was about to meet the princess, they would surely feel nervous about it. After all, the four prestigious sects, Heavenly Qin Institute, and nobles of the capital will be attending it. This was a great event, one that would shake the empire.
If they were lucky, they might even catch the princess’ attention. Although the odds weren't high, it wouldn’t harm to imagine it. But Lin Yun did not have such thoughts. After all, he might not even be willing to go without Guardian Plum designating him to go.
But since he had already decided to go, then he wouldn’t treat it lightly. He could expect a fight with so many geniuses gathered, not to mention that Lin Yun was in the limelight. He rang the Phoenix Plum and became the Alliance-Union Battle’s champion. His name was long spread beyond the sect.
With so many geniuses gathered, he would be challenged even if he didn’t challenge anyone. And he would be humiliated if he lost. Lin Yun took out a dozen second-grade spiritual jades and started cultivating in the courtyard.
His cultivation was at the late phase fifth stage of the Profound Martial Realm, and he was only one step away from the sixth grade. Although he couldn’t make a breakthrough anytime soon, he still wanted to give it a try. After all, the second-grade spiritual jades he had weren’t something that others come to be compared to.
Furthermore, the disadvantage with his cultivation was too obvious compared to other inner disciples. Although he could fend off disciples in the seventh stage with the Iris Sword Sutra, he would have a higher chance of winning if he was in the sixth stage.
It didn’t take long for the second grade spiritual jades in his hand to shatter. Lin Yun sighed in his heart; he felt conflicted. He was happy that he had undergone a transformation with the Iris Sword Sutra at the eighth stage. It was just a matter of time before he caught up to everyone. But he was worried because the second grade spiritual jades he had wouldn’t last him long. Once he exhausted them, it would be harder for his cultivation to improve in the future.
After he exhausted a hundred second grade spiritual lades, he was only one step away from the sixth stage. If someone else exhausted so many second grade spiritual jades, they would have reached the sixth stage by now.
“This won’t do. I have to reach the sixth stage before dawn tomorrow.” Lin Yun made a resolution. A brief moment later, a crimson fruit appeared in his hand. It was the Dragonflame Fruit.
Four of the eight titles in the Great Qin Empire gathered for the Dragonflame Fruit, but it ultimately fell in his hand. He initially wanted to give it to Xin Jue, but it was shoved back to him by Xin Yan. This was a fruit that could increase the chances of stepping into the Violet Palace Realm by 30%.
If any one of the eight titles reaches the Violet Palace Realm, they’ll become the strongest in the Great Qin Empire. This fruit increases the odds of the breakthrough by 30%. But it should have a hundred percent chance of reaching the sixth stage.
But the only flaw was that it was wasteful for him to use it to make a breakthrough to the sixth stage. If the eight titles knew that he was using it to reach the sixth stage, they would probably skin him alive.
“I should use it when I need to.” Lin Yun’s eyes flashed. He tossed the Dragonflame Fruit into his mouth without any hesitation. When the fruit entered his system, it turned into crimson liquid that coursed through his body.
It made Lin Yun feel as though he was burning. Lin Yun was slightly shocked. If this carries on, he would be enveloped by the Dragonflame Fruit’s spiritual energy. So he didn’t dare to be careless and started circulating in the Iris Sword Sutra.
Lin Yun’s cultivation soared. There wasn’t any obstruction, and Lin Yun easily made a breakthrough to the sixth stage a brief moment later. After forming the sixth vein, the energy coming from the Dragonflame Fruit didn’t decrease as it coursed through his body.
His origin energy was like a sword that went through the refinery. But the situation had already stabilized. After reaching the sixth stage, Lin Yun circulated the Iris Sword Sutra. There was a second where Lin Yun regretted taking the Dragonflame Fruit.
As dawn approached, Lin Yun opened his eyes and let out a breath. His eyes glowed brightly, and he emitted a powerful aura, which made him seem unfathomable. He was at the pinnacle sixth stage of the Profound Martial Realm.
After consuming the Dragonflame Fruit, it brought his cultivation from the fifth stage to the pinnacle sixth stage. It was truly worthy of the fruit that four of the eight titles were fighting for. He guessed that the effects would be better if he was in the late phase of the Profound Martial Realm, and his strength was boosted by twice over one night.
Even with Lin Yun’s composure, he still found it unbelievable.
“Junior Brother, it’s time to leave.” Xin Yan’s voice sounded out, which jolted Lin Yun awake. He replied to Xin Yan and washed up before leaving the door. When he pushed the door apart, Xin Yan’s clothes couldn’t conceal her breathtaking figure.
“Our Junior Brother seems to be getting more handsome.” Xin Yan examined Lin Yun. He was donned in azure clothes with refined features. She smiled, “Hehe, perhaps the princess might take a liking to you.”
Lin Yun had undergone a transformation in six months. He looked more mature now.
“Senior Sister, you stop messing with me,” replied Lin Yun.
The princess was known to be the most beautiful woman in the Great Qin Empire, the dream lover of countless cultivators. But to Lin Yun, Su Ziyao or Yue Weiwei were more breathtaking. He didn’t think that the princess’ beauty could surpass those two.
“Wait up.” Xin Yan sensed that there was something unusual in the atmosphere, and she smiled, “Junior Brother, you made a breakthrough?”
Lin Yun replied by nodding his head.
“I’m not surprised. After all, you have 6,000 second grade spiritual jades after the Alliance-Union Battle. It’s not surprising that you made a breakthrough with so many resources,” Xin Yan smiled.
Lin Yun had nothing to hide from Xin Yan. He revealed, “I also refined the Dragonflame Fruit.”
Xin Yan was shocked when she heard that. But he didn’t blame Lin Yun for being wasteful. She merely smiled, “Wow. But that doesn’t matter. Let’s get going. Big Brother is still waiting for us.”
The two rode their horses towards the Sword Firmament Pavilion. When they arrived, there were five people waiting for them. Luo Feng and Xin Jue were among the ranks, along with three disciples whose cultivation weren’t any weaker than Xin Yan. They must be elites on the Earth Ranking, and Lin Yun even recognized one of them, Tang Tong, which Tang Tong gave Lin Yun a smile.
“Greetings, Elder Luo Feng, Senior Brother Xin Jue.” Lin Yun cupped his hands together.
Luo Feng stroked his beard and nodded his head with a smile, “Lin Yun, how’s your cultivation for the past seven days?”
When Luo Feng asked, everyone’s gaze fell onto Lin Yun. They had long heard of Lin Yun’s name, and how he defeated the Eight Vajra a few days ago. This junior brother might’ve just joined the Earth Ranking, but he didn’t embarrass the name of a monster.
“I made some improvement in my sword technique. On the other hand, I made a considerable improvement in my cultivation,” said Lin Yun.
“A considerable improvement in your cultivation?” Luo Feng was shocked before he smiled, “Good! It has only been a few days, and you’re already at the sixth stage.”
His words left Tang Tong and everyone else shocked. They now knew why they felt Lin Yun was different from before. When they thought of Lin Yun’s gains in the Alliance-Union Battle, their hearts jolted.
If they had 6,000 second-grade spiritual jades, they could also make a breakthrough to the sixth stage easily. Rather than feeling shocked, they felt more envious. The 6,000 second-grade spiritual jades wasn’t a small sum even for an elder.
Luo Feng wasn’t surprised. He gave it to Lin Yun because he noticed that Lin Yun’s foundation was lacking.
“Good. Come, throw a punch at me.” Lin Yun might have just made a breakthrough, but he wasn’t all for snow. Luo Feng wanted to test Lin Yun and see if Lin Yun ruined his foundation in the process. He wouldn’t let Lin Yun join the banquet if Lin Yun didn’t satisfy him.
After all, Lin Yun’s fame was nigh, and many people would definitely challenge him. And if his foundation wasn’t sturdy enough, it would make him a laughingstock.
Lin Yun nodded his head and took a deep breath. Everyone’s gaze gathered on him. Many people were discussing among themselves and looked at Lin Yun with envy and jealousy.
“His cultivation is improving real quick. He’s already in the sixth stage…”
“But won’t it ruin the stability of his foundation? Isn’t his cultivation improving a little too quickly?”
“It’s a little too fast. Elder Luo Feng probably has such concern and wanted Lin Yun to throw a punch at him.”
“Does that mean that Elder Luo Feng won’t let him go to the banquet if it’s not up to satisfactory?”
“Let’s just watch.”
Many people were really looking forward for Lin Yun to fail. With Lin Yun’s cultivation, he could naturally hear the surrounding discussion. But Lin Yun was confident about it. After all, they didn’t know that he made his breakthrough using the Dragonblood Fruit, not the second-grade spiritual jades.