It took a full quarter of an hour before Zhong Lin felt his internal meridians fully recover, and all that violent sensation was completely vented.
With both hands drawn in, the powerful innate true qi instantly converged, and the tornado in the sky vanished without a trace, while the turbulent Heaven and Earth Essence Qi around also calmed down.
Looking at the surrounding chaos, Zhong Lin slowly stood up, feeling the powerful innate true qi within him and the omnipresent Heaven and Earth Essence Qi around him, it seemed as if with a mere thought, he could harness the power of heaven and earth.
"No wonder martial artists in the Grandmaster Realm are so powerful; a casual strike is not something a First Grade Martial Artist can withstand, and mobilizing the forces of heaven and earth is not something the human body can oppose."
Zhong Lin sighed with emotion.
If a martial artist, regardless of First Grade or Ninth Grade, is merely a fish swimming in a pond, then breaking through the Grandmaster Realm, drawing Heaven and Earth Essence Qi into one’s body, is like transforming into a bird, named Peng, truly soaring three thousand miles through the clouds.
Sounds of clamor came from outside, not heard, but sensed.
Within a hundred-meter radius centered on him, nothing seemed able to escape his senses.
This was a wonderful feeling, as if after absorbing the essence of heaven and earth, he had formed a subtle relationship with these energies. And it was through these omnipresent energies in heaven and earth, through the absorption, exhalation, and exchange with the body, that he could magically sense the images within a hundred-meter range, as if a three-dimensional image was projected in his mind.
Without lingering, Zhong Lin took big strides out of the ruins.
Outside, people had long gathered, and at the forefront was naturally Sect Master Yu Jinglei, beside whom was his master Yin Daoyan, followed by the three Supreme Elders, a group of elders, and sect disciples.
Zhong Lin glanced at the crowd, just about to speak, when he saw that apart from Sect Master Yu Jinglei, everyone clasped hands and bowed, loudly proclaiming.
"Greetings to the Deputy Sect Master."
Zhong Lin was momentarily bewildered, as per sect rules, once a true disciple attains the Grandmaster Realm, they can become the Deputy Sect Master.
With a single step, as if shrinking the ground into inches, he instantly appeared in front of Yin Daoyan, supporting him with both hands, and lightly reprimanded, "Master, it’s one thing for others to bow to me, but how can you? Are you not trying to shorten your disciple’s life?"
At this moment, Yin Daoyan was also so excited that his face was slightly flushed, his hands tightly grasping Zhong Lin’s arm.
"Zhong Lin, did you... did you really break through?"
Zhong Lin’s face was full of smiles, "Master, your disciple was fortunate to break through, causing you worry."
"Hahaha, good, very good."
Upon hearing Zhong Lin’s acknowledgment, Yin Daoyan burst into hearty laughter, filled with immense joy.
My disciple has broken through to the Grandmaster Realm, becoming one of the strongest on this continent.
Elder Lu Ming also stepped forward, bowing deeply with a broad smile, "Congratulations to the Deputy Sect Master for breaking through to the Grandmaster Realm, and from now on, the sea is wide for fish to leap, the sky high for birds to fly."
Supreme Elders Qi Qingfeng and Men Qing’an followed Elder Lu Ming, bowing in respect without the slightest negligence, especially Men Qing’an, who was especially anxious.
Just yesterday he had a fight, cursing him for not knowing etiquette, and who would have thought that just overnight the situation would change , not only in terms of status but also in power.
Men Qing’an had experienced the power of the Sect Master before, which is why he was even more fearful of Zhong Lin, who had broken through.
Zhong Lin smiled and helped up Elder Lu Ming, saying, "Elder Lu is too courteous; I just happened to take a step ahead. I imagine it won’t be long before Elder Lu also experiences the wonders of a grandmaster."
Zhong Lin was referring to the Breakthrough Pill, and he could see that the other two Supreme Elders were centered around Elder Lu, and barring any surprises, the Breakthrough Pill would be refined for him to use to become the sect’s next Grandmaster Level powerhouse.
"Deputy Sect Master, yesterday Elder Men offended you many times, may you be magnanimous and..."
Elder Lu Ming cautiously pleaded for Men Qing’an, who stood behind him.
Zhong Lin glanced at Men Qing’an, who remained bowed, and perhaps sensing Zhong Lin’s gaze, Men Qing’an’s body stiffened, bowing even lower.
Zhong Lin’s mouth curved into a slight smile, "Let’s talk about it later! We’ll see how he behaves from now on."
At this moment, Yu Jinglei also waved his large hand appropriately, "Everyone, disperse!"
The Sect Master had spoken, and no one dared linger, even though their curiosity was nearly overwhelming, they could only obediently withdraw.
Soon, only three people remained, and they moved to a nearby pavilion and sat down.
"Zhong Lin, how did you break through?"
Yu Jinglei’s eyes were burning as he directly inquired.
He had only obtained the Secret Technique yesterday, and merely overnight he broke through to the Grandmaster Realm. This was truly incredible, and he felt like he was dreaming.
In the sect, every disciple who cultivates to the First Grade Realm is given a Secret Technique for breakthrough, but although it’s a secret technique, it’s not something one can break through merely by reading it, otherwise the three Supreme Elders wouldn’t have been stuck in the First Grade Pure Essence Realm for a whole sixty years.
"It’s all thanks to the Secret Technique given by the Sect Master, otherwise how could your disciple have broken through." Zhong Lin said with a smile.
Yu Jinglei was momentarily stunned, then seemed to realize something, exclaiming in horror, "You... could it be that you are dual cultivation?"
Zhong Lin smiled slightly, extending both palms, golden sword qi swirling in the left palm, while water flowed in the right.
"I see, I see, I didn’t expect you to cultivate dual attributes of gold and water, and refine them to great success, a genius, truly a genius!"
Yu Jinglei sincerely exclaimed, the genius of dual cultivation of elements had only appeared in the sect’s records once in the third generation Sect Master’s time a thousand years ago, and now it appeared again, how could he not be shocked.
"The Sect Master praises too highly."
"Not at all, you deserve such praise. Since the third generation Sect Master, you are the first in these millennia to break through to the Grandmaster Realm by your own cultivation, even I relied on elixirs to break through back then. Elder Yin, you have taken an excellent disciple!" Yu Jinglei praised.
The smile never left Yin Daoyan’s face, and being praised by the Sect Master, his old face beamed with joy like a blooming chrysanthemum.
"Zhong Lin, consolidate your cultivation for these few days, and then I will pass you the Grandmaster Level Martial Arts ’Spiritual Heart Sword Technique,’" Yu Jinglei said as he stood up.
"Thank you, Sect Master."
Yu Jinglei nodded, turned around, and left, leaving the space for the master and disciple.
Yin Daoyan said no more, patting Zhong Lin heavily on the shoulder, his face filled with emotion.
"Ah, who could have imagined a painter from a rural county could now become a Grandmaster. Zhong Lin, you truly did not disappoint me."
"It’s all thanks to your teachings, Master. Without you, your disciple might still be struggling for survival in Black Mountain County, how could I achieve today’s accomplishments."