As Zhang Haoyang understood these things, the reason why his Cultivation had not advanced an inch for three years became perfectly clear, and everything was resolved.
This red stone was a gift from his parents, and he did not blame them for it. His parents also did not know that this stone would absorb True Qi; if they had known, how could they have given him the stone and affected his Cultivation for three years?
As the saying goes, fortune and misfortune are intertwined. Who could know what this True Qi-absorbing stone would bring to Zhang Haoyang? Was it truly just misfortune?
Looking inward at the red stone in his Dantian, Zhang Haoyang's eyes welled up. This made him miss his parents even more, as it was the only memento they had left him.
After another moment, he slowly sat up and calmed his excited heart. Zhang Haoyang tried to circulate the breathing Cultivation Technique he learned at Shangwu Academy to absorb external Spiritual Qi. He planned to absorb a large amount of Spiritual Qi and convert it into more True Qi for the red stone to absorb, until the red stone was saturated.
However, what Zhang Haoyang didn't expect was that no matter how quickly he absorbed the surrounding Spiritual Qi, the moment it transformed into True Qi, it would be absorbed by the red stone.
Just as Zhang Haoyang was at a loss, he suddenly remembered the scripture in his mind. That scripture had only appeared in his mind after the white-bearded elder appeared. Since that was the case, he decided to treat a dead horse as if it were alive. He didn't know the true meaning of the scripture or how to circulate it, so he simply recited it silently while circulating the absorption Cultivation Technique he learned at Shangwu Academy to absorb external Spiritual Qi.
The moment Zhang Haoyang silently recited the 40-character scripture and used the absorption method to absorb Spiritual Qi, the Spiritual Qi around him surged into his body like a bursting dam. The Meridians in his body were like a country road being impacted by a thousand troops, and the surging Spiritual Qi instantly filled his Meridians, expanding their inner walls. His parched Dantian was instantly filled by the surging, majestic Spiritual Qi. His Meridians and his Dantian were constantly scoured by the massive amount of Spiritual Qi, causing him immense pain.
Zhang Haoyang's face was distorted and his body trembled uncontrollably. He was on the verge of fainting, but with his unyielding willpower and the powerful motivation to avenge his parents, Zhang Haoyang endured the excruciating tearing pain in his Meridians and the pain in his Dantian, which felt like ten thousand swords piercing it.
The scripture Zhang Haoyang recited silently did not stop. After the Spiritual Qi entering his body transformed into True Qi, the scripture guided it into his Eight Extraordinary Meridians, eventually converging in his Dantian, which gradually became full.
After about two hours of True Qi guidance, his Meridians and Dantian were extremely swollen and full, as if they were about to burst at any moment.
The Bottleneck of Zhang Haoyang's Body Tempering Realm fourth stage began to show faint cracks. Under the continuous impact of True Qi, the cracks gradually widened.
After a moment, a muffled 'bang' was heard from Zhang Haoyang's body. His Cultivation, which had not advanced an inch for three years, and the Bottleneck of the Body Tempering Realm fourth stage, was finally shattered at this moment. His Cultivation naturally entered the Body Tempering Realm fifth stage.
Zhang Haoyang's Cultivation did not stop after breaking through to the Body Tempering Realm fifth stage but continued to advance: Body Tempering Realm fifth stage Minor Achievement, Major Achievement, Perfection, Peak; Body Tempering Realm sixth stage Minor Achievement, Major Achievement, Perfection, Peak; Body Tempering Realm seventh stage Minor Achievement, Major Achievement, Perfection, Peak. This Breakthrough finally stopped only when he reached the Peak of the Body Tempering Realm seventh stage.
Along with his Cultivation breaking through to the Peak of the Body Tempering Realm seventh stage, Zhang Haoyang's Dantian expanded by more than double. If Zhang Haoyang's original Dantian was the size of a chicken egg, after the Cultivation Breakthrough, his Dantian was already the size of a goose egg.
Not only that, but his Dantian also shimmered with a seven-colored glow. After careful inspection, Zhang Haoyang realized that his Dantian was actually seven-colored, emitting a dazzling and stunning light. An ordinary person's Dantian would not glow, let alone emit a seven-colored light.
Zhang Haoyang carefully sensed his Cultivation at the Peak of the Body Tempering Realm seventh stage. After his Cultivation improved, the Martial Skills and Cultivation Techniques he had previously Cultivated all showed varying degrees of power increase. If only considering strength, a simple punch from him had a force of 12,000 catties, more than double that of the Body Tempering Realm fourth stage, showing its immense power.
Feeling the changes in his Cultivation, Zhang Haoyang's eyes were somewhat moist. For three years, his Cultivation had not improved at all. The Disciples of his age in Shangwu Academy mocked him, and the young masters from the same city also ridiculed him, all pointing fingers behind his back, saying he was a fake Genius, a Genius who was fed Medicinal Pills.
At first, he was also a little angry and annoyed by these things, but later he slowly got used to this pointing and ridicule. Because he was clear about his abilities, he always firmly believed that he would definitely be able to return to his original state, and even surpass it.
Now it seemed that his Cultivation had not improved for three years, but now, with a single Breakthrough, he had broken through three levels in a row, from the Peak of the Body Tempering Realm fourth stage to the Peak of the Body Tempering Realm seventh stage. His talent and Prodigy had returned.
At this moment, Zhang Haoyang was not yet aware that he was no longer comparable to his three-years-ago self. His talent had far surpassed his former self from three years ago. Now, his Cultivation talent could not simply be described as extraordinary or as a Genius; it would be more accurate to evaluate his current self as extremely Prodigious.