Hao Gongming focused her gaze on her opponent, a formidable man in his forties, towering over her with a robust physique that indicated his dependence on physical strength in combat.

Following the match rules, each participant had to disclose their cultivation level. Therefore, she knew he was at the third level of Qi condensation.

The old man officiating the match announced, "Begin!"

Without hesitation, Jia Qiu charged toward her, his size creating a stark contrast between them.

To an ordinary observer, a single punch from Jia Qiu could reduce Hao Gongming to a mere splatter of meat sauce.

However, she quickly realized that Jia Qiu's speed was slower than expected.

While he was undoubtedly more powerful than the previous fighters she saw, he didn't overwhelm her physically.

Hao Gongming effortlessly evaded his attack and swiftly delivered a powerful kick.

Jia Qiu let out a pained scream and was sent flying several meters away, struggling to keep standing.

Hao Gongming felt a mild surprise.

In that kick, she utilized approximately 70% of her strength.

She noted her current power and pondered, "My physical strength alone should be at the fourth or fifth level of Qi Condensation."

To the surprise of everyone, Jia Qiu surrendered after taking one kick from Hao Gongming.

It was widely known that his strength primarily stemmed from his robust physique, and rumors circulated that even someone at the sixth level of Qi Condensation would struggle to match his raw power.

Yet, when faced with Hao Gongming, he was defeated in terms of physical strength.

He was smart and knew that if he continued fighting, he might be ended up badly injured, so he surrendered.

The old man announced, "Hao Gongming wins!"

The spectators were taken aback by what they witnessed. One person exclaimed, "Who is this girl? Despite her thin appearance, she has incredible strength."

Another speculated, "Could she be a disciple of Elder Wu? I remember Elder Wu being physically petite, yet very strong."

A nearby individual chimed in, "That's unlikely. Elder Wu left the sect for a mission five years ago and only recently returned; we would have known if she was Elder Wu's disciple."

…

The matches continued one after another.

Half of the participants were eliminated, and the old man announced that the next round would occur the following night.

Hao Gongming also returned to her house to reflect on the battle.

Hao Gongming returned to her house and decided to try her skills.

She began with the low-level spiritual sense, which expanded within a 10-meter radius around her as soon as she activated it.

With her spiritual sense, she discovered a human skeleton buried seven meters underground, a chilling reminder of a past tragedy, many insects, and some coins.

Everything else within 10 meters radius was extremely clear in her mind, and she could see outside and inside.

The spiritual sense wasn't limited to sight.

It included sensing sounds, tastes, and smells, and she could feel what materials things were made of.

She was impressed by her spiritual sense as it surpassed the combination of all 5 body senses combined.

Next, she turned her attention to the low-level sixth sense.

Though unable to actively test it, Hao Gongming hoped she would avoid situations that required its use frequently.

She cautiously explored her third skill, soul out of the body.

Aware of the inherent dangers, she took great care as her soul separated from her physical form.

Witnessing various invisible elements like radiation and spiritual energy, she was fascinated by the hidden complexities of the world.

These things were only seen when she directly watched with her soul or used her spiritual sense.

After a brief exploration, she returned to her body, mindful of the risks of leaving it unattended.

After that, she sat up, started preparing something to eat, and then got to bed and slept well.

Even her robust physique needed time to rejuvenate.

…

As morning arrived, a deep vibration reverberated within her body, signaling a breakthrough.

A challenging barrier had been shattered, and her meridians surged with qi, circulating autonomously without her conscious control.

She ascended to the first level of qi condensation in her sleep. This event marked the official start of her cultivation journey.

After dedicating two days to cultivation, Hao Gongming entered the realm of qi condensation.

This can be considered extremely talented.

Assessing her progress, she noticed a moderate improvement in her physical strength.

Still, it was less substantial than she had anticipated. She wondered if her already strong body limited the extent of enhancement or if qi cultivators, in general, had inherently weaker bodies.

Realizing her understanding in this area needed to be improved, she decided to seek further knowledge at the library.

…

Arriving at the library, Hao Gongming was impressed by the vast collection of knowledge it housed.

The expansive facility comprised five floors, with the first three freely accessible to all sect members.

This pleasant surprise contrasted with her expectation of books being sold or rented for spirit stones, reflecting the sect's generosity in sharing knowledge.

As she perused the shelves, she discovered various book titles.

"Introduction to Spirit Stones," "Why Monsters Have Cores," "Two-Headed Snake and Its Weaknesses," "Five Easy Ways to Strengthen the Physical Body," "Simple Formations and Their Uses," and numerous other fascinating topics that caught her attention.

Keen to expand her knowledge, she selected several books and began immersing herself in their pages, eager to absorb the wisdom they held.

Immersed in her studies, Hao Gongming lost herself in the pages, utterly engrossed in reading and learning.

After ten hours of study, she set the books aside and stretched her body.

Because of her exceptional physical prowess, she only felt a slight hunger and wasn't particularly tired.

Satisfying her appetite with a fulfilling meal, Hao Gongming returned to the competition area.

Following a series of boring matches where one side was clearly stronger, it was finally her turn to compete.

The old man's voice resonated, announcing, "Hao Gongming and Teng Fang."

Both competitors radiated confidence as they entered the arena. With a nod from the old man, the match commenced.

Aware of Hao Gongming's formidable physical strength, Teng Fang immediately took a defensive stance, conjured a small fireball, and shot it at her.

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Remaining composed, Hao Gongming effortlessly evaded the fireball with a last-second maneuver.

She closed the distance between them with lightning-fast speed and delivered a powerful punch to Teng Fang's stomach.

Caught off guard, he had no opportunity to defend himself. He was sent hurtling through the air, crashing to the ground nearly 10 meters away, and landed outside the ring.

Despite Teng Fang's higher cultivation level at the fourth layer, he paled compared to Hao Gongming's extraordinary physical abilities.

The contests seemed almost uneventful for Hao Gongming, and she left the area after her match concluded.

...

Several days later, the time for the final match had arrived.

One of the finalists was, unsurprisingly, Hao Gongming.

At the same time, the other contender was Jiang Jun, a woman whose muscular physique bordered on the inhuman.

Jiang Jun had reached the formidable 10th layer of Qi Condensation.

She was powerful and had defeated all her opponents in matches in less than 5 moves.

As the old man's voice resonated, proclaiming, "Start!"

both competitors approached each other cautiously.

Hao Gongming sensed a hint of danger from Jiang Jun, so she heightened her vigilance.

After a few tense moments, Jiang Jun closed in and unleashed a powerful punch.

Hao Gongming skillfully defended herself with her hands.

Although the impact left her hands numb, she was otherwise fine.

The force of the attack even caused a shockwave that affected those in the vicinity.

Realizing that she couldn't overcome Jiang Jun with her current strength, Hao Gongming swiftly made a decision and allocated an additional point to her physical power.

Her updated stats now read: "Physical power: 9.9, Magical power: 7.4, Soul power: 10.5."

Instantly, she felt a significant surge in strength.

Eager to test, she punched Jiang Jun's abdomen.

Jiang Jun guarded with both hands, bracing herself against the full force of the attack.

She was propelled several meters backward, her hands numb, but she managed to avoid injuries.

Astonished by Jiang Jun's strength, Hao Gongming realized she needed to improve her physical power further and promptly allocated another point.

At that moment, an expected system notification echoed in Hao Gongming's mind, "Congratulations, host, for unlocking a significant milestone. Here are the following rewards:

Low-grade Thick Skin: All physical damage received will be significantly reduced.

Low-grade Blood Strength: the host can gain physical strength by burning their blood.

Low-grade Inexhaustible: The host will experience minimal exhaustion from physical activity."

Passing this crucial milestone filled Hao Gongming with an indescribable sense of strength.

She glanced disdainfully at the onlookers, perceiving them as insignificant ants.

A triumphant smile adorned her face as she propelled herself forward with astonishing speed, delivering a devastating punch to Jiang Jun.

Caught off guard, Jiang Jun had no chance to react. She was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing into the protective formation that shielded the onlookers.

The impact was so immense that even the sturdy formation cracked under the force of the collision.

Jiang Jun's injuries were mitigated a little by the intervention of an Elder, a woman with a muscular physique, who rushed forward, shouting, "Jun!"

Jiang Jun's body was covered in blood, her bones broken, and her survival uncertain.

If she were to recover, it would be considered fortunate if she didn't end up permanently disabled.

The elder glared venomously at Hao Gongming before departing with her disciple.

Breaking the silence, the old man declared, "Hao Gongming emerges as the victor. Come forth and claim your reward."

Hao Gongming stepped forward and respectfully received a bottle of pills, and discreetly left the area as swiftly as possible.

…

In the solitude of the meditation room, Hao Gongming found herself seated, carefully opening the bottle of pills.

She discovered three pills with a captivating yellow hue emanating a rich scent.

Recalling the information she had read in the book, she recognized these pills as powerful Qi enhancers during the Qi cultivation stage, capable of helping when one tries to break through the barriers between qi condensation realms.

She thought and concluded, "With my talent, I don't require assistance breaking through to the next small realm. However, I can make use of one now."

She promptly placed one of the pills in her mouth and swallowed it.

Immediately, a powerful surge of Qi erupted within her stomach. Entering a meditative state, she began absorbing the Qi.

After several hours, she opened her eyes, astonishment evident on her face.

"The fourth level of Qi condensation! I never expected such a profound effect from this one pill." Encouraged by her progress, she swallowed the second pill.

"The sixth level! At this rate, it won't be long before I reach the foundation establishment stage!"

Without a moment's hesitation, she consumed the last pill.

"Seventh level! In just one night, I've achieved the seventh level of Qi condensation!"

Hao Gongming exclaimed, excited at her rapid progress.

As the morning sun illuminated the room, she decided to nap for a while before further exploring the changes in her body.

Several hours later...

Noticing a significant surge in the flow of Qi within her, Hao Gongming realized she could now manipulate and control objects from a distance using her Qi.

Additionally, she sensed a subtle improvement in her physical strength, although it wasn't a dramatic change.

"It appears that Qi cultivation doesn't have a profound impact on the body, or perhaps my already formidable physique makes the effects less apparent,"

Hao Gongming pondered. "Before venturing into the jungle to test my true power without holding back, I should acquire some knowledge of spells."

As an outer disciple, she was entitled to learn four spells for free.

Hao Gongming went to the library, ascending to the restricted fourth floor where the books were not freely accessible.

Only introductory information about each book was available, and to obtain a copy, one had to approach the old man sitting in the corner.

She perused numerous titles, including "Fireball Technique," "Waterball Technique," "Simple Illusion," "Small Healing," and "Flying Technique," and she carefully considered her options.

After much contemplation, she settled on four spells:

Small Fireball Technique: This spell allows the manifestation of a small fireball in one's hand, which can be launched toward a target.

Fire Boost Technique: By utilizing fire as a propellant, this spell enhances the practitioner's speed.

Fire sword Technique: This spell materializes a sword made of fire in the wielder's hand, though extended use may lead to burns.

Fire Healing Technique: this spell use fire to heal wounds, but it can be more harmful to individuals with low fire resistance.

Opting for fire-based techniques aligned with her talent, Hao Gongming approached the old man, who silently handed her a copy of the four spells, reminding her, "Remember, these spells are not to be lent to anyone."

"Thank you, senior. I fully understand," Hao Gongming replied respectfully.

With a smile, the old man closed his eyes, returning to his meditation.

Hao Gongming left the library, clutching the spell books tightly, eager to learn them.

Hours passed as she immersed herself in studying each spell. With anticipation, she made her way to the training grounds, ready to test the magic spells.

Noontime arrived, and as Gongming surveyed the empty training grounds, she couldn't help but question their perpetual vacancy. "Weirdly, nobody seems to utilize this training area, and they only use it for matches," she mused.

She was unaware that everyone else was busy working to earn spirit stones and improve their cultivation base.

Not everyone had the luxury of the system like she did.

Selecting an unoccupied space, Gongming prepared herself and cast the small fireball spell.

Within moments, a massive fireball materialized in her hand, hurtling toward the vacant space ahead.

The impact reverberated with a vast explosion, obliterating an area with a radius of 20 meters and engulfing it in flames.

Gongming stood in awe, astounded by the immense destructive power of the spell.

"Could my dragon blood be why a small fireball spell got this strong?"

she wondered aloud. Despite the minimal mana expenditure, she had managed to create such a devastating fireball, leaving her astonished and contemplative.

Eager to explore further, Gongming decided to test the Fire Boost Technique.

However, she exercised caution due to the limited space on the training grounds.

Boosting herself excessively could result in colliding with nearby structures. With consideration, Hao Gongming chose to propel herself upwards instead.

"Let's do it," she thought, activating the Fire Boost Technique.

The world around her blurred as she reached the sky like a rocket!

Then she started observing and looking around and was again surprised.

She marveled at the view with a sweet smile and pondered her altitude. "Am I one kilometer up? Ten kilometers?"

She could discern the training grounds and its surroundings from this elevated position.

Notably, a peculiar-looking statue caught her attention to the north. Still, for now, she decided to focus on her descent!

"I could be injured if I were to fall from such a height," she realized, prompting her to activate the Fire Boost again, albeit with a more conservative allocation of mana.

Her descent slowed considerably as she repeated this maneuver several times, eventually landing safely not far from her starting point.

"This technique provides an invaluable means of escape when facing an opponent I cannot overpower. It is very convenient," she recognized.

She changed her clothes, which were burned in critical places from the fire, and then looked at the next spell.

Eager to explore the next spell, Hao Gongming readied herself for the Fire Sword Technique.

In her right hand materialized a two-meter-long sword composed entirely of fire.

It emitted an intense heat, causing even Hao Gongming, with her innate resistance to fire, to feel discomfort.

Her clothes got burned again!

"I really need some fire-resistant clothes," she thought

Swinging the blazing sword downward, she effortlessly cleaved through the earth as if it were mere butter.

"The power is amazing! Choosing fire-based spells is indeed the fastest way to increase my power," Hao Gongming thought.

She dismissed the fire sword skill and deliberately cut her palm with a small knife in her hand.

As the blood trickled forth, she cast the fire healing spell.

A soothing warmth enveloped her wound instantly.

Then the wound started getting healed with speed visible to the naked eye.

"Yet another skill that increases my chances of survival" She was happy with all the spells she chose.

Realizing that the time had come to embark on actual combat training in the jungle, Hao Gongming changed into fresh clothing.

Her previous clothes were utterly reduced to ashes.

After obtaining the necessary permissions, she eagerly ventured into the dense wilderness, prepared to face genuine challenges and further earn XP and strengthen herself.