Chapter 106: The Embarrassed Xia Ming

"This boy actually made it to the center of the Pill Vault, this..."
Everyone around exchanged looks, all startled and utterly shocked.
"Didn't Master Mo say earlier that the pressure in there is terrifying, and told us not to get too close?"
"But look, that boy walked right into the center with such ease. I remember all three masters saying that even they couldn't withstand the pressure in there..."
"And now he's cultivating inside? Doesn't that mean he's even stronger than the three masters? This is unbelievable..."
On the other side, Xia Ming's expression shifted slightly.
He snorted coldly and said,
"Tch, maybe those old men were just trying to scare you. Maybe there's no pressure in there at all. Otherwise, how could that boy walk in so easily?"
"Young Master Xia's words seem to make sense."
"Should we go in and have a look as well?"
"Uh... better not. The three masters did say that barging in recklessly could be life-threatening. I wouldn't dare take the risk."
The people around hesitated. After all, none of them were willing to take such a dangerous gamble.
"Hmph, let me go in and show you," Xia Ming said, and charged toward the center of the Pill Vault.
Since that boy walked in, I must as well, to prove my strength.
With a rumble, Xia Ming rushed toward the core.
But he hadn't gone far before a terrifying pressure crashed down on him.
"This pressure... why is it so overwhelming?"
Feeling as if a mountain was crushing down on him, Xia Ming was stunned. It seemed those old men's words weren't just for show.
Under this immense force, Xia Ming's face turned deathly pale, his legs weakened, and he almost dropped to his knees.
But he gritted his teeth and endured.
He stared at Li Jiansan in the center, his face dark as iron. "Damn it! This boy's body is so strong. No wonder those old men value him so highly..."
"Look, why has Young Master Xia stopped moving?"
"Is this his limit?"
"Impossible, Young Master Xia is a genius of the Imperial City. How could this be all he has?"

"Exactly. You see, Li Jiansan has already reached the center, yet Young Master Xia can't even compare?"
At that moment, Xia Ming was enduring a pressure that was almost at his limit.
But hearing the voices around him, he resolved that, no matter what, he must enter the center today, or he'd lose all face.
With a roar, an intense power burst from Xia Ming, and he took another step toward the heart of the Pill Vault.
But just as he moved forward, the pressure intensified several times over, instantly crushing his strength.
In a flash, the dreadful force from the Pill Vault sent Xia Ming flying.
Blood spurted from his mouth under the onslaught. "Damn it, this pressure is monstrous. Forget entering, it’s a struggle just to withstand it.
But why can that boy walk in so easily, and even cultivate inside?"
The crowd was dumbstruck by the scene, frozen in disbelief.
"How can this be?"
They looked at each other in shock.
"Young Master Xia is a genius of the Imperial City, yet he can't even reach the center?"
"Is there truly such a terrifying pressure in there, one that threatens your very life?"
"Good thing I didn't try to enter earlier. That would have been the end of me."
"No, wait. If it's really so dangerous, how did Li Jiansan get in?"
"Moreover, look at him—he seems perfectly at ease, as if he's walking on level ground."
"Could his talent surpass even Young Master Xia's?"
They stared at Li Jiansan in the center, their bodies trembling violently with shock.
"Impossible. Young Master Xia is the Imperial City's genius. If Li Jiansan is even stronger, that means..."
"Heavens, this is terrifying. The 'Pill Young Master' is even more gifted than the genius of the capital..."
When Xia Ming arrived, he outshone everyone, completely eclipsing Li Jiansan and his title as the 'Pill Young Master.'
But now, it was clear that the 'Pill Young Master' possessed the most astonishing talent of all.
At that moment, a disciple suddenly recalled something.

"Could it be that the vanished spiritual energy from before was absorbed by the 'Pill Young Master'?"
"Very likely. Before that energy disappeared, the 'Pill Young Master' was still cultivating here."
"That's it! He must have absorbed all the spiritual energy here, and when there was nothing left, he entered the center of the Pill Vault."
A disciple voiced his doubt, "But earlier, didn't Young Master Xia say he was the one who absorbed the energy?"
As soon as he spoke, all eyes turned to Xia Ming.
Under their gaze, Xia Ming's face grew even more unsightly.
Meanwhile, Li Jiansan was completely unaware of the commotion outside the Pill Vault.
He was focused solely on madly absorbing the spiritual energy within its heart.
Enveloped in a dense aura, Li Jiansan circulated the Heaven-Swallowing Scripture, drawing in the surrounding spiritual energy as if it had a will of its own.
In just a moment, a vortex formed around him, ferociously devouring the ambient spiritual energy, while the heart of the Pill Vault continued to replenish it.
Witnessing this, the three old men standing outside could only sigh bitterly.
"This boy's cultivation speed is monstrous."
"At this rate, the Pill Vault won't recover for three years after he's done."
"I almost regret letting him in..."
Though they said this, they were clearly pleased by Li Jiansan's progress.
Judging by the absorption speed of his two Martial Spirits, it seemed the white portal Martial Spirit was even stronger.
Another hour passed.
Li Jiansan's aura soared, and his cultivation broke through again, reaching the fourth level of the Foundation Establishment stage!
Yet he did not stop, but continued to consolidate his strength.
And so, time passed in this relentless cultivation.
No one knew how long it went on...
Suddenly, a restless power surged forth.
"Hmm?"
"What is that?"