...When Anjin clashes with Mingjin, it’s like an adult fighting a child.

And for Huajin against Anjin, it’s the same!

This was practically a qualitative leap.

It represented the pinnacle of the Mortal Realm!

However, Senior Brother was still worried... because if the breakthrough failed, it would cause considerable damage to the body.

"It’s fine even if I fail. This Giant Bee Meat and the mysterious liquid both have impressive healing effects. I’ll be able to recover quickly."

But Master had already steeled himself for it.

Hearing this, Qin Fang and Senior Brother didn’t try to persuade him further, only wishing their master swift success!

For the next few days, Master took over the waterfall where Qin Fang trained. He meditated and practiced his Standing Pile daily, and also began consuming the Bee Meat every day, making his final preparations for the breakthrough.

Five days later, Master began his attempt to break through.

Qin Fang and Senior Brother came over to watch.

They watched as Master’s originally withered body began to swell inch by inch as he started to circulate his Qi Blood and surge his Qi Force with all his might. Explosive muscles bulged high, and in an instant, he transformed from a shriveled little old man into a brawny, muscular giant!

This extreme transformation left both Qin Fang and Senior Brother utterly amazed, their eyes shining with wonder.

Force, a mix of Ming and An, surfaced on Master’s body, looking like dancing arcs of electricity. There was even a CRACKLING sound, like thunder.

Master’s eyes were tightly shut. He circulated all the strength in his body, as if trying to smash through some internal barrier. His face alternated between flushed red and deathly pale.

Time ticked by, second by second. The aura around Master grew stronger and stronger.

Qin Fang and Senior Brother unconsciously held their breath.

Until a certain moment...

PFFT!

Suddenly, Master spat out a mouthful of blood, and the aura around him instantly plummeted.

His once-swollen muscles deflated, withering away rapidly.

"Master?!"

The sight made both Qin Fang and Senior Brother gasp. They rushed forward and caught their staggering master, holding him steady.

Master’s face was deathly pale, his Qi Blood in utter disarray. Supported by his two disciples, he steadied himself and quickly worked to regulate the chaotic Force within his body.

After a good while, he let out a long breath, and a bit of color returned to his face.

Only then did he open his eyes. Seeing the anxiety on his two disciples’ faces, he shook his head and gave a wry smile. "It seems I was just a step short... Don’t worry, I’m fine."

Qin Fang had learned some pulse-reading techniques from his master during this time. He subconsciously placed his fingers on Master’s wrist and immediately sensed his internal condition...

His Qi Blood was depleted, and his body was riddled with internal injuries caused by the backlash of his own chaotic Force.

"So, ’Seeing God’ isn’t so easy after all..."

Master lamented.

The so-called "Seeing God" is the final step in breaking through from Anjin to Huajin.

Break through the celestial gate, and one may see God!

Only at this stage can one’s Qi Force become perfectly smooth and free, allowing one to extend and retract all Force at will. The Qi Blood becomes as solid as a fortress, and one’s Control over their own body reaches the absolute peak.

It is a near-Extraordinary state where "not a feather can be added, nor a fly can land" on one’s body without being noticed.

Beyond that lies the "Divine Domain."

But unfortunately...

Master had failed.

This was the first time Qin Fang had ever seen a Martial Artist fail while Breaking Through.

It was only then that he realized just how incredible his "Golden Finger" was!

...As long as his proficiency increased, there were no barriers for him. He could not fail!

Even though the proficiency gained from consuming Bee Meat was starting to diminish, as long as his Golden Finger existed, he would continue to walk his path step by step, moving steadily forward, never backward.

...This was the most heaven-defying aspect of his Golden Finger!

When Master returned to the bamboo forest, having failed his breakthrough and sustained heavy injuries, he gave his wife and the others a terrible fright. They all rushed forward at once.

Master smiled and reassured them, saying he was fine. With the Bee Meat and the mysterious liquid, he would recover after a period of rest.

His wife tearfully chided him, "At your age, you’re still doing these things that make us all worry!"

Master shot her a look. "You’re just a woman, what do you know? Go on, go make dinner."

His wife shot him an indignant glare, but in the end, she didn’t chide him any further.

...As the old couple bickered, everyone else stared at their own feet, not daring to say a word...

The old couple had been squabbling for the better part of their lives. Everyone was used to it.

Master failed his breakthrough and began to recuperate. Life went on, as tranquil as an ancient well.

It was as if the Mysterious Power had vanished completely.

In the blink of an eye, another month passed. It was now November, and the end of the year was drawing near.

During this time, Senior Brother would often stare off in the direction of True Martial, lost in a daze... The end of the year was always the liveliest time in True Martial County Town.

Every household would hang up red and green decorations. A joyous atmosphere would be everywhere, with firecrackers and colorful lanterns...

Children would run through the streets in droves.

The adults would also set aside their year of hard work, gathering at one house today and another tomorrow, drinking and chatting, teasing each other, reminiscing about the past, and looking toward the future...

But scenes like that would never be seen again.

Because those people... were all dead, in some corner of True Martial County Town.

By now, they had probably turned to heaps of white bone.

Watching Senior Brother’s desolate figure, Qin Fang could only sigh to himself. He understood the grief and despair in his senior’s heart.

But there was nothing he could do.

In the blink of an eye, it was December.

For the past month or two, they hadn’t returned to True Martial to check on the situation.

Qin Fang’s Cultivation improved steadily. In two months, his Spiritual Snake Listening Wave Pile had broken through the four-thousand mark and was steadily approaching five thousand.

His Body Refining was a little behind... but with daily Inner Refining, it too was approaching four thousand.

He was very close to breaking through to "Endless Circulation."