After each significant stage of cultivation, the cultivator's understanding of cultivation and the world itself changed. This explains the vast differences in power among individuals at different stages, as elucidated in many books I have read.

The transition between Body Tempering and Qi Gathering constitutes a considerable bottleneck. The inner sect places great importance on raw talent because, without it, the likelihood of naturally reaching the Qi Gathering stage is slim to none.

Some regard the Qi Gathering realm as the stage when one truly becomes a cultivator, as it alters their perception of the world. Most people cannot perceive Qi unless it condenses into a dense form. This is why legends speak of cultivators reshaping landscapes with a swipe of their hand. They used Qi which was invisible to ordinary mortals.

Qi becomes visible to normal people only when concentrated. It wasn't until someone mentioned it that I realized I had been instinctively sensing Qi.

Was I perhaps super talented?

As soon as the thought crossed my mind, I dismissed it. If there were such a significant change in talent, it would have been noticeable. The only plausible explanation is that due to coming from a world where Qi didn't exist, I might be more sensitive to it than those born and raised here, constantly immersed in Qi.

Regardless, this revelation was irrelevant at the moment. I was engaged in a fight, and that demanded my full attention. Seizing the opportunity while my opponent was surprised, I charged at him, employing Rushing Bull Step and Piercing Fang Fist simultaneously. As I closed the distance, unleashing the devastating power of my attack, his eyes widened in shock, barely managed to defend himself as I struck.

Unlike previous encounters, I executed my techniques flawlessly in full combination. He staggered backward, crashing through a multitude of trees before halting. Though he lowered his arms, there were no visible injuries.

"How unpleasant," the inner disciple muttered, strangely calm. "Despite being an outer disciple, you remind me of those elites. No wonder something about you made me uneasy. You're just like those despicable core disciples, always looking down on us, treating us as mere toys. I understand them; they possess the power to do so, being among the most talented in our sect. But what about you? What gives you the right to look down on me?"

For once, his young master's demeanor shifted, revealing glimpses of vulnerability. Just like bandits, individuals don't become arrogant overnight; circumstances shape them.

Unfortunately for him, unlike with the bandits, I couldn't afford to show mercy. Only the strong could afford such luxury. Compared to an inner disciple, ensuring my survival was paramount, and mercy was a luxury I couldn't afford.

His arms trembled once more, moving like snake-like whips.

Whatever technique he was using, it was undoubtedly a good one and much more versatile than my Piercing Fang Fist which was essentially just a super-powered normal punch. However, now that I had seen the technique in use multiple times, I was getting used to it.

It was kind of like xianxia novels themselves, if you read one, you had essentially read them all.

As he charged at me, I couldn't help but think that his technique wasn't meant to be used like this. The way he used it showed no versatility, and only used to get behind someone's guard and land their attacks.

What a boring way to use such a technique. At least he could have gone for lethality and held some daggers while using it. Perhaps the technique made his grip weak, but he should still try something like spiked gloves.

This time I didn't bother blocking his attacks, or even moving out of the way. Instead, it became an exchange of blows as he aimed for my throat, likely to repay my previous attack on him.

On the other hand, I aimed for his arms. As they got closer to me, a marriage of Piercing Fang Fists hit his arms and there was a blur of motion in front of me as this happened. Some of his attacks passed through and hit my forearm and the left side of my neck. But in the end, he winced and ended up backing away.

The long sleeves on his arms were ripped to shreds and showed the dark and purple slips running from his wrist to his elbow. He looked surprised at this.

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Couldn't he see why he lost that exchange?

He was faster, stronger, and much more durable than me. Even his techniques were better than mine. However, even when it came to mastery over our techniques, the difference was like night and day. While he had only learned how to use his technique, I had mastered mine.

“Is this a bad dream? How could I be losing to some trash?” He asked out loud.

Don’t tell me this was enough to break him? The dude talked a big game and now with one little setback, he was going to start crying.

But whatever notions I had about him before, there was that chilling feeling in the air that put me on guard again and I quickly jumped back. But it was already too late as the man was already in front of me, his fist cocked backward and it turned into a blur as it rammed into my side. This wasn’t a normal hit, and I felt the wind knock out of me and something loud snapped within my side and I went flying away like a ragdoll.

After smashing through one tree, I righted myself and stood on my feet immediately even though the pain to my side made me wince. No doubt this one attack had broken my ribs.

The inner disciple walked toward me and with the broken trees around us, his figure became visible in the moonlight. Unlike the broken look from before, he had a smile now, “You see this, trash? This is the difference between someone who can use Qi and someone who can’t. Even if you can feel when I’m using it, there is nothing you can do.”

I imagined the gap would be wider if I faced a more competent opponent. Little doubt lingered in my mind that this guy reached his current level through pills, rarely breaking a sweat in training. Life-or-death battles probably never crossed his mind.

Even with broken ribs threatening my lungs, I felt strangely devoid of tension. His attacks lacked the intent to kill; arrogance was his only driving force.

Despite mastering my techniques, Qi seemed to be the decisive factor. Closing the gap in raw strength seemed impossible without resorting to underhanded means.

Observing the arrogant young master, I searched for weaknesses. He breathed heavily; was he truly tired or feigning exhaustion? If my theory held, his stamina might be lacking due to arrogance.

Yet, I couldn't shake the paranoia that he might be playing dumb. I had no room for error.

How could someone be so foolish? What life led to such baseless arrogance? His cultivation lacked foundation, evident in his struggle against someone a stage lower.

Physically, he outmatched me at least twice over. The gap between Qi Gathering and Body Tempering extended beyond Qi alone.

I had to cast aside the doubts and focus on testing my theories.

Crouching down, I prepared for Rushing Bull Step, noticing the inner disciple's guarded stance. Despite the rib injury, could I outlast him? His stamina seemed lacking, contrasting with my rigorous training regimen.

"What? Not attacking?" I taunted, mustering a smile.

His reaction sparked a shimmering aura, setting my senses on edge. Despite his tough façade, a bead of sweat betrayed his composure.

Certainly, even he didn't possess an endless reserve of Qi, especially since he appeared to be in the early stages of Qi Gathering. Though I lacked experience in gauging the strength of a Qi Gathering Cultivator, if he surpassed one-star Qi Gathering, this encounter was embarrassing for him.

"You trash!" He charged at me, repeating the same words like a broken record.

Though I couldn't directly sense his Qi, he likely enveloped himself in it, creating a shimmering effect akin to invisible steam.

With him utilizing Qi, the chances of me reaching the ritual place in the training grounds plummeted. I needed to improvise. The only way to gain an advantage against someone like him was by trapping him in an array. Fighting a Qi user meant using Qi myself, and the only chance I had was through arrays that utilized the Qi in our surroundings.

I hadn't mastered array techniques like the librarian. Who could execute basic arrays to trap opponents. His last advice, vague as it was, urged me to observe my surroundings.

The Bind array required four key points, usually represented by candles... four key points.

Surveying our surroundings, I noticed we were encircled by trees. Four points...

How hadn't I seen it before?

In a moment of realization, in my eyes, each tree became a pillar of life akin to kindling flames. I no longer needed to reach the training grounds; the forest became my domain.

Pointing two fingers at the inner disciple, I drew him closer. With all my might, I executed the Rushing Bull Step, leaping backward for distance and a better view. Four trees formed a cross, with the arrogant young master at the center.

"This is mostly improvisation from now on. Even I'm not sure how this will go, so go easy on me here," I warned jokingly, taking a deep breath before chanting. "Climb the mountain, grab the sky, chain rocks! Bind!"

As I landed, the inner disciple stared wide-eyed, his body twitching uncontrollably as he attempted to move. He was now trapped by the Binding Array.

For the first time since the fight began, I had the advantage!