Chapter 38: The Depths of Power

The echoes of Lin Yun's last technique, **Earth's Wrath**, reverberated through the forest. The ground was still cracked from the massive tendrils of energy he had summoned, and the air was thick with the tension of the aftermath. His breath was labored, his body feeling the backlash from using such a powerful move. The **Core Formation Realm** cultivators, though still standing, looked far from unscathed. They were visibly shaken, their robes tattered, their breathing labored.

"You've grown stronger since our last encounter," one of the cultivators, a man with a weathered face, spoke first. His voice betrayed the hint of respect, albeit grudging. "But don't think this will be enough to stop us."

Lin Yun, despite his exhaustion, stood tall. His eyes gleamed with determination. This was his moment—he wasn't just fighting for survival. This was the moment when his mastery over the martial arts world would begin.

He took a slow, deliberate step forward, the ground beneath him seemingly responding to his every move, vibrating with latent power. His hand clenched into a fist, a silent promise that he would never back down.

Mei and Yu Xian stayed on high alert, their gazes fixed on the two cultivators. The latter were undoubtedly powerful, but Lin Yun had already demonstrated that his techniques could rival their strength.

"Don't be so sure," Lin Yun responded, his voice steady and unwavering. "I've only just begun."

The cultivator with the scarred face sneered and unsheathed his blade. "We'll see how long you last."

Before the two could react, Lin Yun raised his hand, and an aura unlike anything they had felt before emanated from his body. His Qi surged, more stable and controlled than ever before. The energy within him pulsed as if responding to his desire for power. In that moment, it wasn't just the earth around them that stirred—it was everything. It was as though the very fabric of nature itself was listening to his call.

The **2nd Realm** Qi Gathering cultivators—strong, but no match for his newfound abilities—were no longer his primary concern. His mind shifted to higher levels of cultivation. His thoughts reached into the **3rd Realm: Core Formation Realm**, where martial artists shaped their inner Qi into something more tangible, more dangerous. It was here that Lin Yun realized the gap in his cultivation. His techniques had reached new heights, but his **Body Refining Realm** training couldn't carry him further without a stronger foundation.

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Lin Yun began to understand the true depth of cultivation as he stood facing the two **Core Formation Realm** cultivators. The **3rd Realm** required more than just powerful techniques—it required balance, mastery, and control. Without a Qi Core, a martial artist couldn't hope to enter higher realms.

He had no Qi Core—at least, not in the conventional sense. His body was still in the **8th Body Refining Minor Realm**, and his Qi was unstable. His earlier technique, **Earth's Wrath**, had been powerful, but Lin Yun knew that true mastery wasn't just about raw power—it was about control.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Yun called upon his knowledge of the world. He reached within himself, seeking out the resonance between his Qi and his surroundings. The forest, the rocks, the air itself—all were alive with energy. This was the path forward: not brute force, but finesse. By refining his control over Qi, he could advance beyond the limits of his current realm.

A flicker of light appeared in his mind—the concept of **Qi Integration**. He had heard whispers of this technique in the old scrolls, but its meaning had always eluded him. **Qi Integration** wasn't about simply absorbing more Qi—it was about merging with it. By harmonizing his Qi with the world, Lin Yun could bypass the traditional limitations of cultivation. He could forge his own path.

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But before he could explore this new concept fully, the two **Core Formation Realm** cultivators attacked. The first one, the scarred man, moved like a blur, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. Lin Yun reacted just in time, his body swaying to the side, narrowly avoiding the blade.

His body may not have been strong enough to match the cultivator's raw power, but his mind was quick. Lin Yun countered with a precise strike, using a technique he had been refining during his meditation: **Shadow Step**. The technique allowed him to move in and out of his opponent's blind spots, attacking from unexpected angles. He didn't need to match their power directly; he could outmaneuver them.

The second cultivator, a woman with raven-black hair, unleashed a torrent of Qi, firing multiple blasts of energy toward him. Lin Yun's eyes narrowed, his mind calculating the trajectory of each blast. He moved swiftly, twisting his body in a fluid motion, dodging the attacks by mere inches. His heart raced, but his mind was calm. This was the culmination of his training in martial arts and his recent breakthroughs—his ability to read his opponents, to predict their movements, was now on another level.

"Impressive," the woman said, her voice laced with admiration. "But how long can you keep this up?"

Lin Yun didn't answer her. Instead, he focused his mind on the flow of Qi within his body. Each movement, each strike, each dodge—it was all part of a greater rhythm he was starting to understand.

"Not long enough for you to win," Lin Yun said, his voice steady as he executed another strike, this time with more force. His energy had stabilized, and his attack connected with the woman's Qi shield, causing it to crack slightly.

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It was at that moment that Lin Yun felt a profound shift within him. A resonance between his Qi and the world seemed to click into place. His Qi no longer felt like a foreign force within him—it was an extension of himself, and he was one with it.

The concept of **Qi Integration** was no longer just theory—it was reality.

Lin Yun stepped forward, his body moving with newfound grace and power. His aura had stabilized, and his Qi flowed freely, as though it had always been part of him. The very earth beneath his feet seemed to hum with energy as if it had recognized his newfound mastery.

The scarred man lunged at him again, but this time, Lin Yun was ready. With a swift movement, he flowed around the man, his hand coming to rest on the cultivator's back. A pulse of Qi surged through him, and the man's body froze, his Qi momentarily disrupted by Lin Yun's mastery of **Qi Integration**.

The second cultivator, seeing her partner's sudden falter, hesitated. Lin Yun's aura had grown to a level where even the **Core Formation Realm** experts felt the pressure. His Qi was no longer simply powerful—it was perfectly balanced, harmonized with the forces of nature itself.

"You can't defeat me," Lin Yun said, his voice low but filled with authority.

The two cultivators shared a glance, their expressions turning from confident to cautious.

"You're not like the others," the woman said, a hint of wariness in her voice. "You've tapped into something… deeper."

Lin Yun didn't respond. He didn't need to. His next move would speak for him.