Chapter 20: The Academic Genius and the Prodigy

  Under Qinglian's repeated explanations, Hu Gao finally understood the whole story.

  At that time, Hu Gao was stabbed by Bai Xiao's sword and his body was pierced. Although he was lucky enough not to be directly exploded by the yuan force, there was no aura left on his body, leaving only his heart still beating slowly. It could be said that one foot had already stepped into hell.

  Many warriors skilled in healing techniques, under the instruction of the clan leader, used all sorts of powerful moves and secret methods without regard for cost, some even using their trump cards. Unfortunately, after a day's hard work, there was not the slightest effect, leaving the entire medical team including Elder Hu Haisheng completely hopeless.

  The high priest learned of the news and was furious, personally going to the medical team to visit Hu Gao's condition. At that time, only the high priest was present, so no one knew what had happened. However, soon after, the clan leader Hu Zhen Tian stepped forward and took Hu Gao directly from the medical team back to his own home.

  What was most surprising was that the old slippery head discovered that Wu Duan had gone out to practice, so he simply stuffed Hu Gao into her boudoir ahead of time. Because there was an early decision to let Wu Duan marry Hu Gao, the other elders couldn't say a word either.

  Anyway, when Qinglian rushed over with the news, there was only Hu Yinxue in the room, standing motionless by the bed like a human sculpture, muttering to herself repeatedly, "How could he have recovered on his own?"

  After that, Qinglian found that Hu Gao's body was fine, but his soul seemed to be in a strange state, so he reached out to try and pull him back from the brink of death.

  Hú Gāo savored the entire process, and it further convinced him that his body could recover due to the healing effect of the jade pendant. Perhaps the Priest had already discovered some secret, which was why he suddenly turned into a fragrant steamed bun, causing the big shots in the clan to lose all dignity and come crawling on their knees.

  Alas, why is it so unstable! Hu Gao was a bit speechless, having not had a good day since arriving a few days ago, really frustrating.

  Since Hu Yin Xue has expressed her desire not to stay here, Hu Gao also doesn't want to linger. As the saying goes, a golden nest or silver nest is not as good as one's own doghouse. Anyway, his injuries have fully recovered, so it's better to go home and relax!

  "Qinglian, let's make a bet!"

  "What's that supposed to mean?"

  "It means saying goodbye here..."

  "What does 'bye-bye' mean?"

  ……

  Hu Gao and Qing Lian left the clan leader's house with laughter, perhaps because Hu Yin Xue had greeted them, so they didn't see any guards appear. The people in the clan leader's house seemed to be scarce as well. They walked along the winding path, passing through several pavilions and gardens, without seeing even a single person's shadow. It was unknown what such a large mansion was used for.

  If it weren't for Qinglian's frequent visits to the clan leader's house, Hu Gao would be afraid of getting lost. When he walked out of the gate, he almost collapsed. If he were to marry Hu Wushuang, that proud and arrogant girl, wouldn't he have to stay in this terrifying place forever? "Qinglian, let's make a promise for the future - we mustn't live in such a big place. Life should be about two people snuggled up under a small roof, reclining on chairs, eating and chatting aimlessly. That's where the romance is!"

  "Uh, big brother......" Qinglian's face turned red instantly, "Qinglian will go back first."

  Hu nodded, the clan leader's house was very close to his current residence, but it was in a different direction from Qingfen branch's residence. "I'll report to the War Institute tomorrow, and Qinglian must come find me when she has time."

  "Alright!" Qinglian nodded heavily, then turned around and walked in the opposite direction. However, just as Hu Gao was turning to leave, she suddenly turned her head again, watching Hu Gao's back fade into the distance until her eyes became moist, muttering to herself: "Big brother...brother, goodbye..."

  It wasn't until much later in the future when he met Qinglian again that Hu Gao realized how much he should have turned back to take another look at that time.

  "It's still better to be back in one's own home." Hu Gao returned to his residence in Qingyuan, stretched his limbs and couldn't help but sigh.

  Her gaze swept casually around the room, and after a few days of not being there, her home was still spotless. Was this to deliberately tell herself that someone was always watching her?

  Forget it, I'll just focus on cultivating now! Hu Gao felt that his spirit had been much better since he woke up. He sat cross-legged and started circulating the "Returning to One Qi Flow". Who knew that as soon as he entered a state of cultivation, the heaven and earth energy would go crazy, rushing into every pore of his body like it was possessed.

  These energies were transformed into yuan force by the secret method and rapidly surged through Hu Gao's body like a flood, with a faint humming sound, such a big commotion, can only burst his entire meridian.

  "Gurgle!"

  It was not just the aura of yuan force, when he looked inward to the sea of qi, Hu Gao suddenly discovered that the five-clawed golden dragon totem, which was less than half a foot in size, was now opening its dragon mouth, with golden light flashing in its eyes, spitting out a piece of dazzling golden light, penetrating into Hu Gao's flesh and bones.

  "It's not the Yuanli refining my body, but the golden light spat out by the five-clawed Golden Dragon. What's going on? And also, my body seems to be getting stronger and more powerful?"

  Hu Gao was extremely perplexed, as Hu Feng had once explained to him that during the initial stage of the Condensed Shadow Realm, one couldn't refine their physical body, but rather condense their Totem. Yet now, he could feel a surge of energy strengthening his physique, which left him incredulous.

  As the yuan force continued to surge in, the blood light snake diagram inside the air sea also began to condense rapidly. The small snake that had shrunk into a ball after being injured also started to move slowly.

  The convergence of yuanli and totems gradually formed a cycle, Hu Gao's aura began to rise wildly, and his realm also started to climb rapidly out of control.

  Condensed Shadow Realm First Stage!

  Condensed Shadow Realm Second Stage!

  Condensed Shadow Realm: Third Stage!

  But in just a short while, Hu Gao actually broke through to the third stage of the Condensed Shadow Realm without fully understanding it, and it can be said that he only used an hour's worth of effort for the entire initial stage of the Condensed Shadow Realm.

  Is this what they call the rhythm of "hearing the Tao in the morning and becoming a immortal by evening"?

  The third to fourth stage of the Condensed Shadow Realm is a threshold. If one can break through, it means that they have risen from an initial-stage Condensed Shadow Realm martial artist to a mid-stage Condensed Shadow Realm martial artist. Although it's just a difference of one word, it's still considered a major breakthrough.

  Although somewhat unclear, Hu Gao did not want to give up on this inexplicable upgrade journey.

  The golden light emitted by the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon was becoming increasingly unbearable for his body, it felt like eight horses were pulling him apart, and he was about to be torn into pieces. Moreover, the expansion of his dantian made him feel as if his abdomen had been struck, and tears were almost streaming down his face.

  Fortunately, Hu Gao was also tempered by the previous life's high school entrance examination. At that time, he slept only three hours a day, and when he felt tired, he would put his head into a bucket of cold water prepared in advance. Every day, he wouldn't move his feet, eat only one meal, and go to the toilet only once. This kind of hardship was still something he could endure!

  Very soon, Hu Gao's Yuan Li had accumulated to the peak of the third stage of Condensing Shadows.

  Hú Gāo endured the pain, gritted his teeth and continued to frantically operate the secret method to absorb more of the heaven and earth's energy. With the Five-clawed Golden Dragon present, his dantian was like a bottomless pit, absorbing energy at an astonishing speed.

  After a night of cultivation, Hu Gao's yuan power had accumulated to an unprecedented level of purity and grandeur, only one step away from the fourth stage of Condensed Shadow Realm.

  "Give me a break!"

  As the sunlight of the second day had just arrived, piercing through the window gap, Hu Gao let out a loud roar, his dantian suddenly shrinking violently, as if an invisible gate was opened, and the yuan force in his body surged like a flood, causing his breath to soar instantly.

  Condensed Shadow Realm: Fourth Stage!

  Hu Gao opened his eyes and stood up, with excitement and confidence filling his eyes. From today on, he was a mid-stage Wielder in the Condensing Shadow Realm.

  Of course, more importantly, Hu Gao's incredible cultivation speed proved that he was absolutely a genius in this foreign land!