Time flies, three days slip by quietly.


    Over the past three days, the news of Xiao Yi causing a ruckus at the Royal Martial Arts Academy has spread far and wide.


    There''s nobody in the capital of Tianqing Kingdom who doesn''t know the name Xiao Yi.


    Especially after Xiao Yi slew Zhuge Shuangdao and took his ce, bing the twenty-fifth on the Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List''s Flying Tiger Board.


    In an instant.


    The name Xiao Yi became an idol to countless people.


    However…


    Xiao Yi himself had no opinion on the matter; to him, whether it was the Flying Tiger Board or the Teng Long List, everything still depended on one''s own strength being sufficiently strong. Over thest three days, aside from taking meticulous care of Fang Qingzhu, he devoted himself entirely to cultivation.


    Besides Gu Junhe and Jiang Tai, there were only eight of them in the entire Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, so there was no talk of sses. Apart from not being able to leave the academy at will, it was extremely free.


    On the back mountain.


    Xiao Yi stood bare-chested under the waterfall, holding the Fire Qilin Sword in his hand, swinging the longsword again and again.


    He didn''t use a trace of Yuan energy, but just mechanically waved the longsword.


    The power of Sword Intent allowed him to merge as one with the Fire Qilin Sword.


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!N?v(el)B\\jnn


    With each thrust of the sword, the swiftly falling water in front of him was forcefully torn apart, and suddenly Xiao Yi thrust out mightily with his sword.


    Whirl!


    This sword, akin to a carp leaping through the Dragon Gate.


    Moving against the stream.


    Wherever the sword edge passed, the waterfall''s waters were torn asunder, extending for over thirty meters before stopping.


    Only then did the curtain of water from the waterfall slowly heal.


    Simultaneously, Xiao Yi leaped up andnded by thekeside, thrusting the Fire Qilin Sword into the ground, then sat cross-legged, carefully contemting the sensation of that sword stroke: "Dao Yan divided Sword Intent into five stages, the first stage being rity of Sword Heart, the second stage, the Sword Follows the Heart, the third stage, Unity of Man and Sword, the fourth stage, the Sword Moves at Will, and the fifth stage, All Swords as One. I have now truly mastered the first stage, rity of Sword Heart. If I were to face Zhuge Shuangdao again now, I could defeat him without the need for the Blood Explosion Skill!"


    The understanding of martial arts is a profound realm.


    Ordinary martial artists may not reach the first stage in their lifetimes.


    Xiao Yi, being able to grasp the first stage, rity of Sword Heart, within the Spiritual Realm Cultivation, certainly rtes to the inheritance from the Life-Taking Schr, but it''s also inseparable from his own talent.


    "Xiao Brother!"


    Jiang Tai''s figure approached from a distance, carrying two jars of strong liquor, tossing one to Xiao Yi and sitting down next to him.


    Xiao Yi pped open the y seal, took a few big gulps, exhaling a long breath of turbid air: "Who would have thought that His Highness the Seventh Prince would not fancy exquisite spirits but rather this throat-shing strong liquor?"


    "Exquisite spirits are too mild, just like a man without any vigor, not suited for me!" Jiang Tai tilted his head back and took a few gulps, casually wiped his mouth, and nced at Xiao Yi, "How is Fang doing in her recovery?"


    A rxed smile appeared on Xiao Yi''s face: "She woke up yesterday, but she will need another month or so of recovery. I must also thank you, Jiang Brother, for bringing those healing pills. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have recovered so quickly!"


    "Why the formality between brothers?"


    Jiang Tai smiled and after a moment of hesitation, he said, "Xiao, have you heard that today within the Tianqing Kingdom, a secret realm of a Tao Tribtion Realm expert has been discovered?"


    Xiao Yi nodded his head.


    He had heard Xue''er mention this.


    Zhou Yuan and Elder Wang had gone before to explore that secret realm.


    Otherwise...


    If Elder Wang had personally been stationed at the Royal Martial Arts Academy, none of the subsequent events would have happened.


    Jiang Tai''s voice became grave, "The Dean has already decided topete for it, and my father has also sent people there. The information I got shows that it''s the tomb of a Tao Tribtion Realm expert, with the lifelong treasures of a Tao Tribtion expert inside. As is customary, after these big shots finish their exploration, they will allow our junior generation to go there for training..."


    Xiao Yi''s action of drinking suddenly halted.


    The tomb of a Tao Tribtion Realm expert would surely have many treasures.


    This was a great opportunity!


    Xiao Yi, with a solemn voice, asked, "Is the news reliable?"


    "Reliable!"


    Xiao Yi pondered for a moment and then said, "What do you mean by that, Jiang?"


    Jiang Tai lifted his head to gulp down two mouthfuls of strong liquor, his eyes shining with sharp intent, and he said in a grave tone, "The tomb of a Tao Tribtion Realm expert is an immense opportunity. In addition to the experts from the Royal Martial Arts Academy, families like Mingjian Manor, as well as the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple and the Nine Profound Sect, will send their strong ones to enter. Even the younger generation from the neighboring countries wille. Although their strength is not bad, they still fall shortpared to true geniuses. I want to invite Xiao to join me and travel together!"


    Although Xiao Yi was tempted, he did not immediately agree and instead frowned while looking at him, "With your strength, Jiang, wouldn''t partnering with you just slow you down?"


    Jiang Tai was a prominent expert at the Eighth Layer of the Golden Core Realm.


    Among the younger generation, possibly only that prince at the Ninth Layer of the Golden Core Realm could beat him; he was just at the Fourth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm. Even though he had thebat power of the Ninth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, he was far from being a match for a Golden Core Realm expert!


    Jiang Tai said seriously, "I know a little about your affairs in Nanhuang. In just three months, you went from having no cultivation to bing a Divine Skills realm expert. After those big shots conclude their exploration, there will be at least two more months. I don''t believe that in two months, Xiao will still have the same cultivation level. Of course, if I feel that Xiao''s strength is not enough to form an alliance with me at that time, I will go by myself!"


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, sizing up Jiang Tai seriously, then suddenlyughed, "You speak quite directly, but I like to associate with straightforward people. Rest assured, if at that time my strength can only slow you down, you won''t need to speak. I will know to keep my distance."


    "Hahaha, then let''s toast in advance to our sessful return from the secret realm!"


    "To our sessful return!"


    The two swung up their pots of liquor and finished them off in one go.


    "Xiao, you must train hard during this time. I will keep an eye on the situation there and inform you immediately once there''s any news!" After giving his advice, Jiang Tai left with the empty liquor pot in hand.


    Xiao Yi squinted his eyes and fell into deep thought.


    The tomb of a Tao Tribtion Realm expert was a huge opportunity, one that he would definitely need to explore whether Jiang Tai invited him or not.


    But it was also a great risk.


    When the time came, the experts from the Royal Martial Arts Academy would go as well, and considering his rtionship with them, they would surely not let him off easily.


    "Two more months of time... I must at least break through to the Golden Core Realm to have the qualifications to fight for it."


    In Xiao Yi''s palm appeared the Iron de King''s golden core. He took a deep breath, "Once this golden core ispletely refined, I should be able to step into the Seventh or even Eighth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm. Then, it will be time to visit the Iron de King''s residence again to fulfill the promise I made to the Iron de King."


    And then...


    Xiao Yi once again entered the waterfall, his palms facing each other with the golden core suspended between them, while circting his profound skills to refine the energy within the golden core...