Chapter 4 Sky Gate Realm Level Three

• From a young age, Francis possessed poor aptitude. Despite ten years of cultivating, he made no progress. He was mocked and scorned, looked down upon by everyone except Queben. The magnitude of such pain was immeasurable.
• But right then, he was finally able to cultivate.
• His vital energy had taken a full tour within his meridians and returned to his elixir field. Nonetheless, it continued surging violently and remained restless, refusing to settle down.
• A thought sparked to life within Francis. Immediately, the vital energy in his elixir field burst forth and rushed out of its confines, coursing through his various meridians. As it did so, vital energy manifested from the corners of the various meridians and merged into the main flow. The stream of vital energy grew nonstop and soon expanded from the thickness of a strand of hair to the size of a finger.
• The vital energy that manifested from the corners was accumulated during his daily cultivation.
• With his meridians clogged, he couldn't cultivate, and his cultivation level stagnated. Logically speaking, he shouldn't have been able to cultivate any vital energy at all. However, the Bedoro Leaf Scripture he cultivated was miraculous. Not only did it solidify his foundation but also astonishingly enabled him to cultivate a substantial amount of vital energy, hidden in various places throughout his body.
• It had gone unnoticed previously due to his clogged meridians that prevented the circulation of vital energy. But since vital energy could flow freely then, it naturally made its presence known.
• As his vital energy circulated, Francis shuddered, sensing vibrant power filling his entire being.
• A hint of joy suffused him.
• “What a miraculous cauldron and dragon blood! Just a strand of dragon blood was enough for me to have a breakthrough! Of course, Bedoro Leaf Scripture also deserves some credit. I used to think that it was useless, but it now appears that I was wrong. It's truly magical, enabling a good-for-nothing like me to cultivate vital energy! Moreover, it seems that the momentum hasn't faded yet. I can still aim higher!”
• Following that thought, the vital energy within him surged like a spring.
• Even after Francis had attained Sky Gate Realm Level Two, he was still not satisfied and wanted to break through to Level Three.
• Breaking through to Sky Gate Realm Level Three required an enormous amount of vital energy. He drew out all the vital energy within him. The stream of it in his body thickened further to the size of a pinky finger. Eventually, his whole body began to tremble violently once again. Every meridian in his body groaned in agony as vital energy surged like a tidal wave.
• Astonishingly, he had broken through to Sky Gate Realm Level Three.
• Francis clenched his fists, sensing the surging power within him.
• Suddenly, he shot his fist out. A thunderous boom rang out, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.
• He could sense that his punch carried a force equivalent to eight hundred kilograms, amounting to the strength of one and a half tigers.
• At Sky Gate Realm, Level One translated to a strength equivalent to a hundred kilograms, and Level Two was double that at two hundred kilograms. Level Three, on the other hand, equated to five hundred kilograms, and Level Four was again twice the amount at a whopping one thousand kilograms, and so on. Five hundred kilograms was regarded as the strength of a tiger. Although Francis had only attained Level Three, he had the strength of eight hundred kilograms, surpassing the average strength of other Sky Gate Realm Level Three experts by a significant margin.
• With a single punch at a tree next to the grave, the trunk that was as thick as a log instantly snapped in half.
• Francis threw his head back in hearty laughter, in incredibly high spirits.
• Needless to say, he was thrilled to go from a good-for-nothing who couldn't cultivate to a Sky Gate Realm Level Three expert.
• Moreover, the absence of Queben's body gave him a glimmer of hope.
• “Where on earth have you gone, Master? Your body isn't in the grave, so it seems that you're still alive and even left this treasure for me. In that case, I can rest easy. Don't worry, for I will cultivate diligently and find you one day!”
• The fact that he was able to cultivate and having learned that Queben was still alive naturally made him overjoyed.
• Francis thoroughly inspected the box. After ascertaining that there was nothing else inside, he replaced the box where he found it and filled the grave back.
• He glanced down at the dirt on him. Catching a whiff of the stench emanating off him, he gave a bitter chuckle and muttered, “You truly are a mess, Francis Chevalier.”
• After saying that, he turned around and found a river nearby. He jumped right in and washed up thoroughly.
• When he was all spotless, he changed into a set of simple and clean clothes. Only then did he go back to the grave and sleep at the side of it.
• Soon, it was April fifteenth.
• The fifteenth of every month was the day when the disciples of Quadriga Sect received their resources.
• In Dragonvein Continent, martial artists were held in the highest regard. They absorbed spiritual energy and condensed it into vital energy or even something superior. At peak-stage, they could destroy the heavens and the earth, possessing supreme might.
• Absorbing spiritual energy was not just limited to drawing it directly from the surroundings. There was another crucial method—from spiritual stones. The amount of spiritual energy they contained far surpassed the average found in the world, making them an incredibly fast way to boost one's cultivation.
• Outer disciples of Quadriga Sect were entitled to receive three spiritual stones each month.
• As an outer disciple, Francis was naturally no exception.
• On that day, he packed his belongings and set off for the outer sect of Quadriga Sect.
• Quadriga Sect was situated on the western side of Evergreen Mountain Range, occupying seven to eight mountains. The one housing the outer sect towered over three thousand feet high, reaching into the heavens. The mountaintop was dotted with an array of palaces and buildings. The higher one went, the more prestigious the residents. Apart from the residences on the mountain, there was also a small town at the foot of it, home to many servants and guards of the outer disciples.