Above the Galaxy
Chapter 138 - 103, Breakdown!

Chapter 138: Chapter 103, Breakdown!

Shen Anyuan hurried to Luojia Mountain and stood respectfully in front of Shen Boyu, saying, "Uncle, you sent for me?"

"Yes, I already know about the situation," Shen Boyu looked at Shen Anyuan and spoke, "Are you very unwilling to accept it?"

"Yes," Shen Anyuan nodded and said, "I didn’t expect things to turn out this way."

"Time and fate. This is both our fate and his. Now that things have come to this, let’s stop here."

"Uncle, we’ve done so much, only to end up benefiting that young man... How can we just give up? You believe me, I definitely won’t fail next time. And he definitely won’t be so lucky again," Shen Anyuan pleaded.

"I called you here because I worried you wouldn’t let things go and would attempt something again," Shen Boyu said seriously. "Don’t forget the lesson from Qingping’s previous mistakes."

Shen Anyuan’s heart sank; he knew his uncle was using the example of Qingping’s unprovoked provocations as a warning.

If he did not heed the advice, he would end up like Qingping, guarding Ghost Mountain.

He missed his son, but he couldn’t go to guard Ghost Mountain.

If he went, there would be no one left here to help Qingping anymore.

By then, the position he held would be gone, and both father and son guarding Ghost Mountain might never be able to return.

At least, many people would prefer that he and his son never return.

"Yes, Uncle," Shen Anyuan bowed in agreement.

"I know you’re not feeling at ease, and neither am I. This failure is not your fault or mine; it is down to bad luck," Shen Boyu comforted him aloud. "But this is not the end of the matter; our actions were not without meaning. When the time is ripe, someone will naturally act on our family’s behalf..."

"Uncle, do you have another plan?" Shen Anyuan asked excitedly.

He knew the cunning of this old man; as long as he took action, there was no one he couldn’t deal with or no issue he couldn’t resolve.

He didn’t care who would finish off Tang Fei; he just wanted Tang Fei to die.

"Let’s wait and see," Shen Boyu said. "I will not disappoint you eventually."

"Thank you, Uncle."

"Before that, I hope you do nothing at all. Good or bad, you must act as though it has nothing to do with this matter. Otherwise, you might as well join Qingping on Ghost Mountain."

"Yes, Uncle," Shen Qingping immediately nodded in agreement.

"Go on, cover your tracks well."

"Yes, then I won’t disturb you any longer, Uncle."

Shen Anyuan bowed to Shen Boyu, nodded at Chang Biao, then turned and left.

"Xing Lan is coming back, isn’t he?" Shen Boyu asked aloud.

"Yes, next month is Princess Xiu Xue’s seventeenth birthday celebration."

"I see..."

Shen Boyu frowned slightly, as if pondering something important.

As he thought, he fell asleep...

Chang Biao waved his hand, signaling the opera-singing young girl nearby to step back, then personally fetched a blanket to cover him and quietly stood guard.

"Hiss..." Ran Ran made a sharp intake of breath and said, "That cut is really deep. Are you always this harsh on yourself?"

"If I didn’t go hard, how would the Disciplinary Supervision Committee believe it was him who injured me?" Tang Fei said with a smile.

He then looked at Ran Ran with curiosity and said, "You are a teacher from the Ancient Martial Department, you must have seen plenty of fighting and killing... Haven’t you seen others get injured before?"

"I have," Ran Ran responded. "But every time I see it, I still feel uncomfortable, as if the wound was on my own body."

"I’m used to it," Tang Fei said with a cheerful demeanor, treating such matters as commonplace. "If one is not careful, a Mutant Beast could swipe and tear a chunk of flesh from your body. What’s this cut compared to that? Although it looks terrible, I was very precise and didn’t hit any vital areas."

"Alright, no need for stitches. I’ll apply some Genetic Potion on it, and it will heal quickly without even leaving a scar."

"Thank you, Mr. Ran," Tang Fei said gratefully.

After Ran Ran had cleaned and disinfected the wound on Tang Fei’s chest with a sanitizing wipe, he sprayed the injury twice with a bottle of Genetic Potion.

In the blink of an eye, a white film formed over the wound, sealing the gash tightly.

Ran Ran looked at Tang Fei and said, "Why do I always feel that you live your life on edge? You put so much effort into everything, even at the cost of harming your own body... Is it because you just arrived at New Star and are still not adapted to life here?"

Although Ran Ran hadn’t spent much time interacting with Tang Fei, she felt that this young man lived his life urgently, as if some dangerous threat was constantly at his heels.

Was it habits from life on the Old Land that he brought to New Star? Or the unease of moving to New Star?

Logically speaking, he should be living more comfortably and leisurely than many others.

He had a close relationship with Princess Xiu Xue, and his younger brother was a disciple of Shang Xiulin at the Imperial First Military Academy; both had exceptional talent in martial arts...

Even by progressing step by step, their futures were boundless.

What exactly was he nervous about? What was he afraid of?

Tang Fei got dressed, lay comfortably on the treatment bed, and looked up at the ceiling, yet his gaze was unfocused.

"Probably," Tang Fei said aloud. "Although Old Land was fraught with crisis, I had become familiar with its patterns, so I still had confidence to cope. New Star is great, but all its dangers are unknown, which makes it hard to guard against. Hence, I feel particularly insecure."

"I understand that mindset," Ran Ran nodded, then asked, "What can I do to help you?"

"I need to elevate my realm," Tang Fei stated. "Right now what can give me a sense of security is strengthening my own martial powers."

"No problem," Ran Ran nodded in agreement, saying, "I’ve designed a training program specifically for you, codenamed ’Devil’. If you follow the program I’ve created, I’m confident that within three months you’ll advance to the Superior Tier of Controlling Qi and within a year you’ll enter Tongyou..."

While talking, Ran Ran had remotely sent Tang Fei the information.

Tang Fei looked over the data on his phone, then shook his head.

"What? Are you worried that the training schedule is too intense and you won’t complete it? Or are you worried that there’s not enough time for you to advance?"

"I want double," Tang Fei declared.

"Double the time?"

"No, double the training," Tang Fei replied. "I want to reach the Superior Tier of Controlling Qi in one month, and enter Tongyou in three..."

Ran Ran objected, saying, "No, my training program is already quite rigorous and scientifically reasonable... As I’ve told you before, too much can be as bad as not enough. I understand your eagerness to elevate and breakthrough, but everything needs a gradual progression. If you harm your body, you’ll regret it for life..."

"I won’t," Tang Fei said firmly. "I know what I am capable of."

"Tang Fei, I’m the teacher here, you should trust my professionalism."

"Mr. Ran, I’m Tang Fei, you should trust my explosive power."

"But..."

"There’s no ’but’, it’s decided."

"Am I a teacher or a sparring partner?"

"What would you like me to call you?"

"..."

------

In the following days, Tang Fei entered a mode of intense training.

Under the tutelage of Mr. Ran, he completed double the daily Devil’s training sessions at school.

After returning home, he practiced ten thousand sword strikes of the "Netherworld Scroll" in the basement training room.

Efforts would yield rewards, Tang Fei felt the Yin Yang Qi inside his body rapidly improving.

Moreover, the insurmountable wall he had been unable to overcome began to show signs of loosening.

He knew that he was about to step into the higher echelon of Qi Mastery.

This was another breakthrough after a year in the middle echelon of Qi Mastery...

Crack!

"Nine thousand nine hundred ninety-seven."

Crack...

"Nine thousand nine hundred ninety-eight..."

Crack, crack...

"Nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine..."

Tang Fei’s forehead was dripping with sweat, his clothes soaked through.

He felt extremely fatigued and knew that he was about to overexert himself again.

He was like a barrel of oil, exhausting every last drop with each training session, not even having the strength to stand.

After resting for a night, with the boost and adjustment from the Yin Yang Qi, his body would recover as before.

This is the formidable aspect of a Cultivator; their Qi and strength circulation is endless.

Released, and then not regained.

Little Fatty didn’t understand cultivation, so after each punch, his strength would dissipate.

Once he exhausted all the strength in his body, a long period of adjustment would be needed.

Crack!

"Ten thousand swords..."

Bang!

Tang Fei collapsed to the ground.

"Big brother..."

Little Fatty, who had been guarding him, rushed over.

When Tang Fei regained consciousness, it was the next morning.

The sun was rising, thin mist enveloped the air.

Pine needles in the yard were dotted with droplets of dew.

Birds chirped and the sound of insects fluttering their wings buzzed in his ears.

"Hmm?" Tang Fei rejoiced inwardly.

Due to being a Cultivator, his hearing and vision were already exceptional.

But, they had never reached this level before.

Is this... advancing a rank?

Tang Fei’s movement woke up Little Fatty, who had been sleeping soundly by the bed; rubbing his eyes, he said excitedly, "Brother, are you alright?"

"I’m fine," Tang Fei replied. "What happened last night?"

"Brother, you had a fever all night, I was so scared you were burning up..." Little Fatty said, still terrified.

"A fever all night?" Tang Fei thought and said, "That must have been the cleansing process, expelling all the impurities from my body."

Tang Fei looked at Little Fatty seriously and said, "I’ve reached the upper Qi Mastery."

"Ah? Really? Brother, you’re amazing, I knew you were about to breakthrough..." Little Fatty was overjoyed.

Tang Fei’s success made him happier than his own.

"Yeah, from now on, no one can deceive us," Tang Fei declared.

"Brother, even with upper Qi Mastery, you can’t defeat everyone."

"That’s why I said ’deceive’... I think I’ve become smarter now."

"..."

While Tang Fei and Little Fatty were having breakfast, the doorbell rang.

Little Fatty, peering through the video doorbell, happily announced, "Brother, Sister Phoenix is here."

Phoenix entered with a grin, "I knew you guys would be having breakfast..."

She handed over a food box to Little Fatty, "Here, this is for you guys to add some more to your meal."

"Thank you, Sister Phoenix." Little Fatty took the food box and ran back to eat, leaving the empty yard to Tang Fei and Phoenix.

Phoenix scrutinized Tang Fei closely and remarked, "Ah, Student Tang Fei, you seem different today."

"I advanced a rank last night," Tang Fei revealed. "I’m now in upper Qi Mastery."

Phoenix was genuinely happy for Tang Fei, "Wow, that’s great. Congratulations, Student Tang Fei."

Tang Fei smiled calmly, "How come you had time to come by?"

Phoenix feigned anger, "What? You think because I gave you the house, I can’t visit?"

Tang Fei stared straight into Phoenix’s eyes, knowing she understood that wasn’t what he meant.

Unable to meet Tang Fei’s gaze, Phoenix handed over an invitation, "I came to deliver invitations to you and Little Fatty. According to Empire traditions, seventeen is officially considered adult... I’d like to invite you both to my coming-of-age ceremony."

Tang Fei accepted the invitation, "We will surely be there."