Chapter 22: Genuine Improvement

Inside the cave, Bai Yue Ning stood tall, her aura full and harmonious. She was now unmistakably a cultivator at the sixth level of Qi Refinement, her foundation unusually firm, and the next breakthrough seemed only a step away.

The transformative effects of the Stone Marrow Spiritual Liquid were nothing short of rebirth: not only had it propelled her past her bottleneck, it had also solidified her Dao foundation to an unprecedented degree.

“How does it feel? Isn’t your whole body light, as if you’ve shed hundreds of pounds of burden?”

Ye Ming’s voice drifted over, lazy and smug after a satisfying meal.

“My body finally feels like something worth having. Now, even if I were to try splitting rocks, it’s the stones that would go dull, not my blade.”

The gains from this experience were equally significant for Ye Ming. Bai Yue Ning gently flexed her hands and feet; her joints crackled softly, and a surge of power coursed through her limbs.

She tried circulating her cultivation method—the spiritual energy responded like an extension of her will, faster and smoother than ever before.

“It’s truly different,” she replied tersely, suppressing the waves in her heart.

The improvement in her strength was tangible, granting her newfound confidence for the journey ahead.

Returning to the shadowy passage, the omnipresent pressure of sword energy in the outer Sword-Sunken Valley washed over her once more.

Yet now, Bai Yue Ning’s perception had changed completely. The once razor-sharp energies that made every step arduous still retained their edge, but could no longer exert absolute oppression.

Her robust spiritual power ran on its own, dissolving most of the pressure, and her fortified physique could withstand much of the stray sword energy dust.

Her steps grew lighter, weaving through the chaotic currents of sword energy like a fish in water, moving with ease.

“Hey, this spiritual liquid is a marvel. Even walking feels like a breeze now.”

Ye Ming reveled in the changes within Bai Yue Ning’s body, as well as the greater stability of his own sword form.

“Now, if we run into those wild sword energies again, it’ll probably just feel like a tickle.”

Ye Ming’s senses seemed to sharpen with this advancement, his guidance ever more precise.

He could anticipate the gathering and flow of energies ahead, allowing Bai Yue Ning to evade danger in advance and greatly improve their efficiency.

Soon, they left the cave behind and returned to the valley.

The surroundings remained bleak and perilous, but through Bai Yue Ning’s strengthened eyes, the oppressive despair lessened, replaced by a sense of opportunity and exploration.

She needed real combat to familiarize herself with and master her new strength.

The chance quickly arose.

Ahead, on a relatively open stretch of rocky ground, three beasts resembling leopards but covered in dark silver scales moved about. Their tails, sharp as steel whips, were busy tearing at the remains of an unknown cultivator.

Their movements were swift, claws slicing through stone with ease—clearly fierce native creatures of Sword-Sunken Valley.

“Are those… Silver-Armored Leopards?”

“Judging by their aura, they’re peak grade-one beasts: extremely fast, tough scales, and their tails are their deadliest weapon.”

Ye Ming analyzed swiftly.

“Well? Want to try your hand? Perfect opportunity to consolidate your new cultivation.”

Bai Yue Ning’s gaze sharpened, not a hint of fear—only eagerness.

She quietly drew a long sword she had acquired earlier. Though modest in quality, it sufficed to test her strength.

Instead of charging in, she observed the leopards’ movements and the spacing between them.

“The one on the left is keeping watch, the other two are eating.”

“We can start by disturbing them from afar, break their formation,” Ye Ming suggested, tactical as ever.

Bai Yue Ning gathered spiritual energy at her fingertip and flicked it—sending a thin bolt straight at the watchful leopard’s eye.

The beast reacted instantly, dodging with a jerk and growling in annoyance, alerting its companions.

All three Silver-Armored Leopards stopped feeding, their crimson eyes locking onto Bai Yue Ning, crouched and baring their fangs, emitting low, threatening growls.

“Here they come!”

The largest leopard pushed off its hind legs, becoming a silver blur as it lunged forward—so fast it left only a shadow.

Before her breakthrough, Bai Yue Ning would have struggled greatly, but now the leopard’s movements seemed a fraction slower, its trajectory clearer.

She advanced rather than retreated, her footwork deft, slipping past the attack at just the right angle.

Her sword, charged with spiritual energy, slashed diagonally, pinpointing the softer joint in the leopard’s belly scales.

A soft sound, not quite piercing the scales, but the force vibrated through, making the beast howl in pain.

The other two leopards closed in from the flanks, claws whistling through the air.

Bai Yue Ning’s figure moved like the wind, agile within the confined space.

Her movements were not flashy, but extremely efficient.

Every dodge, parry, and counterattack employed the force techniques she’d learned in “class,” concentrating power to a single point, achieving maximum effect with minimal expenditure.

Sword light flashed, clashing with claws and scales, filling the air with the sound of metal upon metal.

She no longer met force with force, instead using skill—deflecting, borrowing strength, or targeting joints and weak spots.

The robust spiritual energy of the sixth Qi Refinement level supported her every move, leaving her with strength to spare.

“Excellent—your reverse slash carries power without dispersing it!”

“Watch your footing—don’t trip on the stones!”

“That one on the right is about to whip its tail—step back half a pace!”

Ye Ming commented and reminded her in real time.

The rhythm of the battle was entirely under Bai Yue Ning’s control.

Soon, the three leopards were ragged and wounded, their movements sluggish, fear gleaming in their eyes.

Seizing the moment, Bai Yue Ning surged her spiritual energy, her sword glowing with dazzling light.

A basic sword strike pierced straight ahead!

The sword light shot through the leading leopard’s eye socket, burying itself deep in its brain.

The beast let out a dying howl and collapsed, twitching briefly before lying still.

The remaining two, seeing this, lost all will to fight, whimpering in terror as they tried to flee.

Bai Yue Ning gave them no chance—she flashed after them, and with several swift strikes, slew them both.

The battle