Just like how it was when he was at the pinnacle of the 3rd heavenly layer of the Ancient Strengthening Technique, Qing Shui felt that he could win against someone who was at the pinnacle of a Martial Commander. However, he did not compare to a Xiantian cultivator. It was just that his techniques were unique. In a life and death battle, he was stronger than a Xiantian cultivator because his training in the Ancient Strengthening Technique had strengthened his bones and muscles.
Therefore, when he was at the pinnacle of the 3rd level of the Ancient Strengthening Technique, he could unexpectedly kill a low level Xiantian cultivator. When Qing Shui broke through to the 4th heavenly layer of the Ancient Strengthening Technique, his abilities were at least comparable to a 4th grade Xiantian cultivator. He could scrape through by a close call and won against the person who was training the Nine Waves Great Golden Buddha Palm.
Now, he was even able to break through to reach the 76th cycle from the 49 cycles back then. Qing Shui had gain a considerable increase in powers when he had reached the 50th, 60th, and 70th cycle respectively. It was much more than when he broke through to the other cycles.
Qing Shui still did not know how strong he was, but he knew that he would not be able to win Canghai Mingyue. After all, it was tough to reach the pinnacle of Xiantian from the 10th grade. Of course, the benefit received by one who had reached the pinnacle of Xiantian was also immense. Even 3rd grade Xiantian cultivators would not be able to win against someone at the pinnacle of Xiantian. This was the greatest gap between those of the same grades. One could rely on powerful techniques to challenge someone of a higher grade. However, amongst those in the same grade, it was almost impossible for one who was not at the pinnacle of their cultivation state to win against one who was.
For a warrior to reach the pinnacle from the 10th grade, it was like breaking through the accumulation of the powers from the 1st to the 10th grade. This was also why it was so hard for a Martial Commander to achieve a breakthrough and become a Xiantian, for a Xiantian to break through and become a Martial King, and why there was no Martial Saint in the vast land of Greencloud Continent for the past thousand years.
He thought of how Canghai Mingyue had asked him to act as her husband to deal with that powerful 8th grade Xiantian cultivator who chased her. Qing Shui felt that while he might not be able to defeat someone who was at the pinnacle of Xiantian, he should be able to handle someone who was at the 8th grade with his abilities at the 4th heavenly layer of the Ancient Strengthening Technique.
If he were to reach the pinnacle of the 4th layer of the Ancient Strengthening Technique, would he be able to challenge someone from the next grade like how he did when he was at the pinnacle of the 3rd level of the Ancient Strengthening Technique? In other words, would he be able to scrape a win against someone who was a beginner Martial King if he were to reach the pinnacle of the 4th layer of the Ancient Strengthening Technique?
While letting his thoughts run wild, he completed his daily training and slowly took a look around the Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal. This place belonged only to him and he walked to the banks of the pond which seemed very large now.
The growth rate of the black fishes and turtles had slowed down considerably. Each of them were even more swift and harder to catch than before. Qing Shui knew that this was due to the fire bird which would always grab its food from here. Those who were slower would lose their lives. Animals have a strong sense towards danger, and those who grew in the Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal were even smarter than those in the outside world.
“This is good as well. The fire bird gets to eat, and the black fishes and turtles would not grow too much as it would be disastrous.” Qing Shui thought about it happily. He felt happy again when he saw the Golden Medicinal Turtle and the 1000-Year Clam. These two were treasures which every alchemist would dream of. They were able to become an ingredient for alchemy by themselves or even replace another ingredient.