Chapter 150

At this moment, every gaze in the hall fixed upon Li Yuande.

Facing these intense stares, Li Yuande remained as composed as ever,

his breathing steady and his Qi Palace brimming with true essence. The gentle smile on his face showed no trace of a man facing imminent death.

The appointed time arrived. Li Yuande tilted his head slightly toward the third-class Viewing Platform.

"Watch carefully, children. Remember every detail of today’s performance."

Though his quiet words seemed meant for all young cultivators present,

Zi He and Li Qingwan alone understood this as their Elder’s final lesson.

Li Yuande activated his cultivation methods, channeling all energy into his Qi Palace to refine true essence.

He dissolved every concealment technique, standing completely exposed before the observing cultivators – every transformation within his body laid bare.

"It’s going to blow!"

Within moments, spectators gasped as Li Yuande’s first condensed true essence began destabilizing from refinement errors.

An unstable essence exploding in the Qi Palace could cripple one’s cultivation foundation, dooming the Condensing Essence attempt.

Young cultivators couldn’t help holding their breath. Yet Yang Lingrui observed

Li Qingwan and Zi He standing motionless – the Li Family descendants knew

better than anyone the capabilities of their genius Elder.

As Yang Lingrui watched, Li Yuande diverted the unstable true essence

toward a specific meridian point with flawless precision.

Snap!

The explosion at his left wrist vaporized half his forearm into crimson mist.

Four Condensing Essence cultivators immediately mobilized their techniques,

reconstructing the shattered limb within heartbeats.

"Incredible! Simply incredible!"

"True mastery! Elder Yuande’s methods defy imagination!"

"Learning this could triple my Condensing Essence success rate!"

Cheers erupted across the Viewing Platform as Li Yuande resumed refining.

He repeated the demonstration four more times through deliberate errors –

right arm, both legs, then right chest detonating in scarlet bursts.

Each crimson explosion drew roaring applause. Yet behind Zi He,

Yang Lingrui detected his friend’s briefly hitched breath. Across the platform,

Ye Lan felt Li Qingwan’s fingernails digging into her palm.

The agony of pulverized flesh – this pain Yang Lingrui knew too well.

The pain of being physically torn apart was unbearable, forcing him to scream.

Yet Li Yuande never even flinched while his body exploded and reformed five times consecutively.

Spectators marveled at his precise techniques and iron will, oblivious to the excruciating agony he endured.

Zi He could only watch helplessly as the Elder suffered before him.

Li Qingwan had the luxury of weeping openly.

But Zi He, bearing a new identity, buried his turmoil deep within, revealing nothing.

Li Yuande then shocked everyone by condensing five strands of true essence in mere moments after correcting refining errors.

The four Condensing Essence cultivators nearby paled.

He handled true essence like kneading clay!

Such extraordinary talent!

Even the West Concubine atop pink clouds tilted her head toward Xuan Zhou. "Why hasn’t such talent been recruited?"

"Your Highness, he was Solitary Moon Mountain’s Dao Stone. He joined us only to protect his bloodline."

Xuan Zhou bowed.

The concubine murmured "Pity" before falling silent.

Within half an hour, twenty strands of true essence materialized.

Li Yuande then crushed them all.

He repeated the refining faster this time – twenty strands in under thirty minutes.

Then smashed them again.

"Elder Yuande’s a genius!"

"We’re unworthy!"

"Demonstrate again for slow learners like us!"

Young cultivators on the Viewing Platform praised loudly while secretly craving more demonstrations.

Ye Lan stared transfixed until teardrops splashing her hand revealed Li Qingwan’s streaming face nearby.

True essence becomes part of one’s flesh once refined.

Destroying it meant enduring lingchi torture!

"Zi He, Elder Li’s talent’s incredible."

"Hm."

Chu Hao watched the essence-crushing continue. "Pity he backed the wrong faction. Getting Li Qingwan into the academy’s his only victory now."

"Hm."

When Zi He didn’t elaborate, Chu Hao assumed he was focused on the display. But Yang Lingrui saw Zi He’s hidden fist trembling with protruding veins.

Yang Lingrui edged closer, pretending keen interest while shielding Zi He from observers.

After four hours and eight refinement cycles, Li Yuande concluded.

The audience groaned in disappointment.

Sweat finally gleamed on the Elder’s forehead. The four Condensing Essence cultivators channeled energy to revive him.

After steadying his breath, Li Yuande commenced his final breakthrough attempt – forming the primordial dan at the Condensing Essence stage!