People often unlock their hidden potential in times of extreme danger, and Ye Tian was no exception.
In fact, the circumstances only made him calmer. He focused on understanding the fundamentals of the Light Body Technique taught to him by the Divine Dragon Remnant Soul, all while circulating the Dragon Spiritual Power within him. He was so absorbed that he didn't even notice his body slowly sinking into the deep well.
Normally, Ye Tian could only last underwater for about a quarter of an hour, and that was only because his Power Realm had reached the One Vein Sixth Layer.
But now, it was as if he'd forgotten the danger, forgotten his surroundings entirely. He was completely immersed in understanding the Light Body Technique, much to the gratification of the Divine Dragon Remnant Soul in his mind.
After some time, Ye Tian moved, shooting up to the surface of the water. He could feel the immense Energy coursing through him; a breakthrough to the One Vein Seventh Layer seemed possible at any moment. He knew, however, that now was not the time. He had to suppress it until he was out of the well.
The Light Body Technique was essentially about channeling Dragon Spiritual Power to one's feet to launch the body into the air in an instant. The better one's control over their Spiritual Power, the more agile their body became—as nimble and light as a swallow—allowing for higher leaps.
Upon reaching a certain Realm, a martial artist could borrow the Power of Heaven and and Earth to fly, covering vast distances in an instant. Of course, such feats were only achievable by true masters. For Ye Tian, with his current strength, it was still a distant dream.
'Time to get out of here!' Ye Tian thought. Then, with a powerful push of his feet, he shot up from the depths of the well. The single leap carried him several meters into the air, right to the lip of the wellhead.
Ye Tian was more than satisfied with being able to leap so high. He quickly grabbed the edge and scrambled out, a profound sense of relief washing over him, like he had just survived a catastrophe.
Had he been on solid ground, Ye Tian knew he could have jumped even higher; the water's resistance had naturally limited his ascent. Still, this was his first time using the Light Body Technique, so he was completely unfamiliar with it. Achieving such results was already impressive.
Taking a deep breath, Ye Tian smiled. 'This Light Body Technique is incredible. Once I have time to cultivate it to the Perfect Realm, traveling over mountains and across ridges will be much easier!'
Seeing that it was still pitch black outside, Ye Tian quietly returned to his room, shedding his wet clothes for a clean, dry set.
Ye Tian got back onto his bed. The Energy inside him was now incredibly potent; the Pure Yang Qi had fully converted into Dragon Spiritual Power. It surged through his Dantian and meridians, creating an uncomfortable, bloating sensation.
"Looks like I have to break through. I wonder if my Mental Realm can keep up!" Ye Tian muttered to himself.
'Your Mental Realm is more than strong enough to open the Second Vein! What are you worrying about? You exasperate me!' the voice of the Divine Dragon Remnant Soul echoed in his mind.
Ye Tian didn't really understand his own Mental Realm or have a clear grasp of what level it had reached. But hearing the Divine Dragon Remnant Soul say that, his worries completely dissolved.
He might not trust other people, but he had one hundred percent faith in the Divine Dragon Remnant Soul's words. After all, it had no reason to harm him.
The Divine Dragon Remnant Soul's words were not without basis. Ye Tian had been constantly practicing various Martial Skills in his mind, which had greatly enhanced his Spiritual Power. The so-called Mental Realm was, in essence, a measure of one's Spiritual Power. As Ye Tian's was now comparable to that of a Two Vein Martial Artist, he was naturally qualified to break through.
"I hope I can still make it to the family competition!" Ye Tian chuckled, glancing out the window.
The Dragon Spiritual Power in his body began to circulate frantically, flowing from his Dantian through all his meridians and back again. After this repeated for several full Circulations, a crisp crack echoed from within his Dantian.
That sound signified that Ye Tian's Power Realm had broken through to the Seventh Layer! Upon entering the Seventh Layer, Ye Tian could finally feel the true extent of the power within him. If he were to face Qin Lin now, he was confident he could defeat him with a single blow.
The transition from the Sixth Layer to the Seventh Layer was a major watershed. Many martial artists remained stuck at the Sixth Layer for a long time, unable to break through. A successful breakthrough meant one's power would more than double.
Ye Tian didn't stop after his breakthrough. Instead, he continued to circulate the vast Dragon Spiritual Power within him, needing to consolidate his new Realm. By the time he was done, the sun was high in the sky.
The Ye Family's Martial Arts Training Ground was already packed with people. All of the family's Outer Disciples and Inner Sect Disciples had arrived for the special occasion. The only one missing was Ye Tian.
In the center of the Martial Arts Training Ground stood a massive arena, dozens of meters long and wide, built for the disciples' tournament.
Several tables and chairs were arranged on the arena for the judges who would preside over the family tournament. The seat in the very center was reserved for the Patriarch, Ye Weitian.
To the left of the stage, however, stood a massive stone pillar, over three meters tall and thick enough that one could barely wrap their arms around it. Beside it was a white screen. While all the Inner Sect Disciples knew the purpose of the pillar and screen, some of the Outer Disciples were still in the dark.
The family disciples below the stage were all beaming with confidence for the upcoming tournament. Ye Hu, in particular, wore an exceptionally smug expression.
"Today is the Ye Family's grand martial tournament. I trust you all understand the situation. In this world where the weak are prey for the strong, only the powerful survive. It is my hope that every one of you will grow stronger, and in doing so, make our Ye Family stronger," Ye Weitian declared, standing on the stage and addressing the crowd below.
The crowd below was silent, listening intently. Ye Weitian was quite pleased with this, but as he scanned the disciples, he was surprised to find no sign of Ye Tian.
"Entering the Inner Sect is the aspiration of every Outer Disciple, and becoming a Core Disciple is the aspiration of every Inner Sect Disciple. How many will make it into the Inner Sect today? And how many will become Core Disciples? Your efforts will soon decide!
The rewards for this tournament are quite generous! Disciples who enter the Inner Sect will receive fifty Spirit Stones and a bottle of Spirit Charm Pills! As for those who become Core Disciples, the reward is one hundred Spirit Stones and a bottle of Celestial Melody Pills!
I hope that every disciple will be able to remain with the Ye Family, and that one day, you will be able to enter Linyuan Academy for even better Cultivation. That is my greatest wish!" Ye Weitian continued.
As his voice faded, thunderous applause and a wave of excited discussion erupted from the crowd, making the scene incredibly lively.
"Alright, we have many disciples here today. Inner Sect disciples to one side, Outer Sect disciples to the other. We will follow the usual rules: the Outer Sect disciples will compete first, and those who advance will then compete against the Inner Sect disciples. Be careful during your matches. Swords and blades have no eyes; do not cause any fatal injuries.
Now, let the Outer Disciples come forward and draw a numbered token! Once you have your token, you will come up in order to strike this Energy Stone and see if your rank qualifies you to compete!" Ye Weitian announced.
And so, the Outer Disciples below the stage began filing onto the arena one by one to draw their numbered tokens. At that moment, the Ye Family's tournament officially began…